Life Springs Eternal

I look around, and signs of new life abound.  All of my senses are engaged.  The scent of pines, warmed by the sun, wafts on the wind.  The pre-historic, rattling bugle calls of a pair of Sandhill Cranes bounce between the hills, coming closer as they make their approach to the lake.  Soil, moist from the winter's recently-melted snow, yields easily to my trowel.  The yellow flowers of Oregon Grape, nestled in a fresh green basket of pine grass, catch my eye.  Newly unfurled aspen leaves twinkle and dance in the breeze.  Bees angle for space among the clusters of flowers on the apple trees.  I sit back on my haunches and soak it all in.  I am seized with wonder and joy at these seemingly every day miracles.

I have always been attuned to nature and its cycles, but my appreciation of the miracle of creation has deepened ever since we learned we will be grandparents at the end of September!!! 

On an April trip to Cincinnati to visit our daughter and son-in-law, they surprised us with the news - our first clue was this banner in the kitchen.  Upon hugging our daughter, the BUMP also made itself known!!!  

When our creative daughter posted the news on FaceBook, I adored this picture of the three pairs of wellies.  What some may not realize is that this photo was taken in the UK garden of my in-laws.  My parents are not here (physically) to witness the birth of another (34th) great-grandchild, and hence it is so meaningful to me that she planned for this in my second home, with the couple I have called Mom and Dad for over three decades.

The same night as the announcement, the happy parents-to-be presented Man With Hat with a new name - Granda - via a beer mug engraved with the name that has long been chosen.  And in my case?  I have long dithered about what to be called - how appropriate to be given a book with name options, and a gift certificate for a garden sign with the yet-to-be-selected moniker.

At first, I thought I would just let the baby give me a name, organically.  But then it occurred to me that I would eventually be "introduced" to the baby - I envisioned the hospital room, and our daughter saying "Baby, this is your ... "  Well, that just wasn't going to work, was it?  It took me two weeks to arrive at a name I really like - "Ya Ya" - it is an informal Spanish form of Grandmother.  Perfect!

 

 

 

 

In the meantime, the Bump is growing, and the nursery is being painted. Plans for the baby shower in August are progressing.  Anticipation is building. I might just have a tear or two in my eyes as I am typing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two will become three - a miraculous event that is almost beyond our comprehension.  While I wait, I will gaze in joy upon the world just outside my windows.  I imagine the days when I can show a toddler the yellow flowers of Oregon Grape, nestled in a fresh green basket of pine grass.  We will raise our noses to the scent of pines, warmed by the sun.  Our hands will be dirty with soil, moist from the winter's recently-melted snow.  We will race to the lake, to watch the landing of Sandhill Cranes, their rattling bugle calls bouncing between the hills, coming closer as they make their approach.  The bees will buzz overhead in the apple blossoms, counting ... one, two, three, as high as we can go.  We will lie on the ground, watching the newly unfurled aspen leaves twinkle and dance in the breeze.  Yes, I will lie there and soak it all in.  Every day miracles.

***

I am linking to LeeAnna's I Like Thursday - prompt is "What does Memorial Day mean to you?  Are you participating in a party?"

We were in the UK on May 8, which was the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Victory in Europe, when Germany unconditionally surrendered its armed force at the "end" of WWII.  On TV, I watched the concert on the Horse Parade in London, which featured several videos of living military personnel and civilians, describing their experience.  It was extraordinary.  While I may not know many US military who have given their lives for a greater purpose, I can certainly honor and appreciate it, especially after watching such an impactful program.  

We did not participate in a party on Memorial Day - we enjoyed fajitas and margaritas at home.

Linking up with Eileen at Saturday's Critters

Linking to Mosaic Monday

Mosaic Monday #97: Gone to Seed

I am feeling a little under the weather.  Maybe it's a side effect from the second part of the shingles vaccine that I took yesterday.  Or perhaps it's a type of seasonal affective disorder, brought on by the ongoing smoky environment and the shortening days.  As I thought about writing a blog post this week, it took some effort to screw up the energy to do it.  I decided I would take an easy route, and stroll the back forty for some inspiration.  Do you suppose it is just a coincidence that most of the pictures are plants that have gone to seed? Gone to seed: showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect.  (Merriam Webster)

Despite ongoing spraying, thistles are abundant in our lower prairie.  A plant can produce up to 6,000 seeds that can persist in the soil for over 9 years.  As the saying goes, it's a marathon, not a sprint.  I have taken to cutting off the heads to at least halt the seed production.

The Labor Day wind storm brought down a couple of our aged aspen trees, with collateral damage on the younger aspens nearby.  A close look at the stump shows that it was becoming hollow; sawdust would suggest that termites were hard at work.  In the end, it was no contest for the 40+ mile an hour winds that day.  I used to put my trail cam near here, since the deer have worn a path through this grove of aspens.  They will have to adjust their route!  For now, they have been continuing to frequent the area to eat the aspen leaves that are suddenly within reach.

Shorter days and lower night-time temperatures are wielding Nature's paintbrush, revealing yellows, oranges and reds that have been hidden by abundant chlorophyll.

Not everything in my world of Nature is rolling up the carpets for the winter.  I can't tell you how many of these ant hills we have around our property, but I can tell you that they are still very active, as you can see in the video below.  I could spend hours watching this activity and trying to make some sense of it.  How tall does the hill need to be for it to be done?  Are any of the sticks food?  If not, who is focusing on the food part of the equation?  

I have written before about the beaver family that occupies the lake at the bottom of our property.  When the beavers moved in, they applied their superior engineering skills and very effectively dammed the creek and raised the water level.  While this is a boon for the wetland ecosystem around the lake, it had the undesirable consequence of dramatically reducing water flow to several of our neighbors, some of whom rely on the water for their cattle.  The battle of the brains began, man versus rodent.  How to restore some water flow without impacting the beaver, and in a way that the beavers would ignore?  Initially, every solution the team created was thwarted by the beaver; ditches were filled in overnight, pipes with holes were plugged with mud, strategically placed boards were removed and added to the dam.  It was equal parts funny and frustrating.  At this point, it seems the latest man-made engineering feat has worked, but only time will tell.  On my last visit to the dam, I observed that the beaver has begun constructing a secondary dam, 15 feet below the original dam.  It has not stopped the water flowing into the creek, but I am not sure the critters are done yet!  Watch this space!

If you look hard enough, you can also find some plants with blooms. 

I try to ignore for the moment that the daisies and knapweed are considered invasive here.  If I get too focused on them, this walk would turn into a weed-pulling exercise rather than the diversion it is meant to be!

Update: it has been a couple of days since I started this post, and I am glad to report that, physically, I am back to myself.  I do think it was the vaccine; no regrets about taking it, but it just reminds me that I do not make a good patient!  Mentally, I am still working on my attitude.  The forecasted rain for last night and today has not materialized; the skies are gray and the smoke lingers.  Logically, I know I should count my blessings and find myself a rich woman.  Thinking that music often helps bring me around, I went looking for "autumn" songs, and came across "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire.  I hope this post finds you well, but if you need a little pick-me-up, maybe this will lift your spirits and send your toes tapping!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.

The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Tuesday (U.S. Mountain time). 

Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog. 

Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back. 

As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by. 

Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully. 

Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

My Hiking Journal - Entry 8

Monday, May 29, 2017 - Echo Broken Leg Trail - 9 miles out and back

Larkspur

Yesterday morning, I was sipping my coffee and working up the motivation to get out of bed.  (Nothing bad - just nowhere particular to be, and my window offered a view onto the snow falling heavily outside.  So, why get up?)  My mind turned to my next blog post, and with amazement I considered that in 16 weeks, it will have been a year since we roamed this trail.

Wow.  That means Montana has been home for almost 8 months.

Starry False Solomon's Seal

That means we will soon be hiking again (without Traxx or snow shoes)!

That means spring flowers ARE under yesterday's snow, slumbering peacefully.

While we are waiting, let's pretend it's May, and go for a stroll.

In my hiking journal, this trail earned a couple of exclamation points. 

For the first time in the 2017 season, we saw bear grass in bloom!

Bear grass is an iconic symbol of Glacier National Park - you will find it on postcards, t-shirts and mugs everywhere.  A unique aspect of this plant is that its colonies typically only bloom every five to seven years.

Since you see bear grass every summer, it means that there are always colonies in bloom while others are 'resting.'  The plant is found mostly in western North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to Wyoming, in subalpine meadows and coastal mountains.  My heart exploded with joy when I saw the ethereal blooms along the path!

Payette Beardtongue - only found in Idaho, Montana

and Oregon

This trail was an easy trek, as it roughly winds along a hillside without gaining much elevation.  And the south-facing aspect delivered a proliferation of wildflowers relatively early for the time of year, hence another exclamation point!

Upper left - Western Meadow Rue (male); Upper right - Heartleaf Arnica and Oregon Grape

Lower left - Coreopsis; Lower right - Fernleaf Biscuitroot

We crossed three major streams along the way.  Given the spring run-off, we were grateful for bridges over each of them.  Here's a video near one of the crossings.  Don't you just love the sight and sound of running water?

The last half-mile of the trail, trees became sparser, opening vistas to the valley and even more wildflowers on the rock screes above and below the path.  I was beside myself with the variety and quantity of the flowers - I couldn't wait to get home and identify all of them. Man with Hat was very patient as I snapped away with my phone camera.  Can you see him waiting for me, ahead at the turn of the trail?

Middle - Yellow Violets; Lower left - Fernleaf Biscuitroot and Chokecherry

Lower right - Thimbleberry

Paintbrush

The track continues over Wolf Creek; without a bridge, your choices are to

1) get your boots (and more) wet, 2) take off your boots and slip your way across mossy rocks while withstanding the bone-chilling water, or 3) attempt to use a fallen log for the crossing (only recommended if your last name is Wallenda).  Look how fast the water was running here ...

Left -  Biscuitroot and Larkspur; Upper right - Wood's Rose

Lower right - Foothill Death Camas

So we followed the spur above Wolf Creek, which led to a rocky outcropping, an ideal location for our picnic lunch.  Flattened plants and signs of a recent campfire let us know that someone had taken advantage of the spot for camping.  Come May 2018, that might be us!

Left - Arrowleaf Balsamroot; Right - False Solomon's Seal

Linking to:

All Seasons

Floral Friday Fotos

Mosaic Monday

Nature Notes