Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: January 2019

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Mosaic Monday #12: Glory Days

False Hellebore

I miss the light of summer. Don't get me wrong; winter here delivers bountiful snow and a magnificence all its own. But lately, I have seen a few posts from you, my fellow bloggers, featuring summer vistas that launch me into daytime reveries about a sun high in the sky. A sun that dapples everything below it, even revealing the veins of leaves, pulsing with chlorophyll. A sun that pulls plants out of the earth, turning all flower heads in her direction. A sun that warms reptiles basking on rocks.

Bog orchid

So, here I am, re-winding the clock to a hike we completed on July 25, 2017 - My Hiking Journal: Entry 17. As Bruce Springsteen croons: Trying to recapture a little of the glory of … Glory Days.

Clayton Lake (our destination) sits on the northeastern edge of the Jewel Basin Hiking Area (links to previous Jewel Basin Hikes: One, Two). Since most people access Jewel Basin via Camp Misery and never make it as far as Clayton Lake, this is generally a quiet hike even on weekends in the summer. Even better when it's a Tuesday!!! (We didn't see a soul even though there was a van parked at the trailhead.)

Clayton Lake with aged beargrass in the foreground

Cow parsnip

The trail climbs through a more recent burn (the snags are bleached out but are still standing) which has opened up the area for views all around. It was quite brushy along the trail with elderberry and cow parsnip.

Elderberry

The trail gradually ascends, following Clayton Creek, for almost 2 miles. After a creek crossing, a couple of switchbacks and a steep quarter of a mile, the trail flattens and meadows open before us with the lake beyond. Nirvana. I look back at these meadow pictures, and I tell you that none of them do it justice. An abundance of wildflowers, in a jumble the defies description or a capture by a camera. You'll just HAVE to hike it!

Fish jumped at random throughout the lake, but Man with Hat came up empty. I don't think he minded, too much.

This hike is 4.8 miles out and back, plus 1.6 miles if you go around the lake (which, of course, we did)

A hummingbird flew up to me nearly striking me in the face. Could it have been my reflective sunglasses that looked like a flower? Or maybe it saw me as competition since I was spending so much time among the blooms.

Top: Fleabane and Paintbrush

Middle left: Spotted Frog Middle right: Unidentified butterfly on Pearly Everlasting

Bottom left: False Hellebore Bottom middle: Fleabane and Groundsel Bottom right: Willow

Clockwise from top: Fireweed and Man with Hat; Yellow Columbine; Death Camas, Monkeyflower, Groundsel

Showy Aster. Center: Garter Snake

Lupine seed pods

It's hard to wrap your mind around the accelerated life cycle in these mountains, at these elevations. In early May, only the glacier lilies are blooming. But now, 10 short weeks later, some plants have grown, bloomed and are already in seed. Rock on!

Fleabane and Paintbrush along the trail

Glory days well they'll pass you by

Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

Glory days, glory days
- Bruce Springsteen

Maggie of Normandy Life once asked me when a walk becomes a hike. I think it's about purpose and environment - walking to the bus stop is not a hike. But walking among the splendor of northwestern Montana, to experience the glory of its flora and fauna - that will always be a hike.

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. Monday (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.

FYI - InLinkz has made some changes to protect your personal information. Before you submit a link, you need to verify your entry, which only takes a few seconds and you need to do it only once. After verification, you can add links to all InLinkz link parties without the need for re-verification. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Mosaic Monday #11 - Our Trip to the Heartland

Mom also has the nickname "GG" since she has

20 great-grandchildren and one more on the way!

1928. Calvin Coolidge was the U.S. President. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Mickey Mouse appeared in Steamboat Willie. And in December, my Mother was born. We've come a long way in 90 years, and it's a milestone worth celebrating in style. Off we went to Centerville, Ohio, where my Mom and Dad raised 7 children. How appropriate we should come full circle for her birthday bash!

We began with a Friday-night dinner at Bravo, organized by my oldest brother. Our private room was the perfect venue for the kids to play and the adults to visit, circulating around the room to catch up with family that had traveled from Mexico, Texas, Utah, Missouri and Montana. Inevitably, a conversation with 'seasoned' adults leads to health discussions; my Mother and one of my sisters and I compared hands, and notes on joint pain.

The next day, 35 family members gathered to fete our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. The private room at her senior living community had been decorated with a silver and red theme, red being one of her favorite colors. My oldest sister, the florist, created the centerpieces and a corsage for the guest of honor. As a special touch, she included cardinals (my Mom's favorite bird) in the arrangements. One of my nephews brought balloons for the cake/gift table, which quickly filled up with packages and gift bags. The afternoon flew past with visiting time, the brunch buffet, group photos, and opening gifts.

The entire family contributed pictures that I compiled into a book covering the last 10 years (one of my nieces had previously created a book for Mom for her 80th birthday). In addition to presenting the book to her, I also prepared a slide show that replicated the book. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house as we watched the show, accompanied by songs such as "Mother" by Sugarland and "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. While Centerville may be a scant 50 miles from where my Mother was born, in her lifetime she has traveled to Hong Kong and Guam, Germany and the UK, and many states throughout the US. Yes, GG is Still on the Go.

But no family gathering with my Mom is complete without euchre, a card game for 4 that is played with a partner. This day, we conducted a tournament, which meant players moved tables and changed partners after 8 hands. It was an ideal way to mix with each other, with lots of laughter along the way. (Ironically, our daughter won the tournament, and the next highest score was obtained by her boyfriend, a rookie euchre player. Beginner's luck?) The day began to wind down as we enjoyed the chocolate cake with a ganache filling and coconut frosting (Mom's requested cake). And we began to talk about where to hold her 95th party - I have no doubt we'll be having one!

A bar of Huckleberry chocolate was first prize

The next day, Spousal Unit and I went to Mass with my Mom, my younger brother and his wife, and then we drove to Columbus to visit #1 Son. He had planned a couple of activities for us; the first stop was North Market. An indoor public market, it is home to "butchers, bakers and candy makers; fishmongers, greengrocers and restaurateurs". Presented with endless photo opportunities, I had to rein myself in so that we could focus on choosing lunch items from the diverse ethnic options. All three of us selected items at the Polish counter, and the servings were massive.

Fortunately, our next destination was the Columbus Museum of Art; strolling the exhibits staved off the inevitable food coma that sets in after a big meal. Being Sunday, admission was free, and I was delighted to see so many people in the facility, especially with families. Many of the exhibits had areas set aside with activities for kids and adults - what an engaging way to involve everyone in art! And the museum encourages you to take pictures - how refreshing - I did not have to be asked twice. I can't remember the last time I was in an art museum with our kids; viewing the art with our son as a young adult was quite intriguing as we exchanged opinions on the various art forms.

This is for all my crochet buddies out there - a whole room was

decorated in this manner, and had textile-based activities

Artist: Dale Chihuly Work: Isola di San Giacomo in Palude

We concluded the day at a Buffalo Wild Wings, strategically chosen as the venue to watch the Cleveland Browns- Baltimore Ravens football game. Unfortunately, the Browns lost, but they wrapped the season with their best record in over a decade, 7 wins, 8 losses and 1 tie!!!

On Monday morning, we returned to Centerville for lunch with my Mom (you just can't resist her sauerkraut soup with home-made bread), and a few rounds of Kings in the Corner.

Back on the road, we motored south to Cincinnati in time to check in at our hotel, catch 40 winks and get dressed up for the 1920's-themed New Year's Eve party hosted by our daughter's employer, a theater in downtown. It felt like an authentic speakeasy; a three-piece band played lounge music downstairs by the bar, and upstairs the crowd was fully vested in gambling with "Monopoly" money. Roulette, blackjack, a money wheel … your winnings could be used to "purchase" raffle tickets - I couldn't believe it when we won a bottle of wine in both drawings!

On New Year's Day, we toured Krohn Conservatory, a Cincinnati favorite at the holidays due to the extensive displays arranged just for the season. The 2018 Holiday Show included fragrant holiday florals, model trains and miniature Cincinnati buildings constructed of natural materials. Applied Imagination, the creative force behind the buildings, also erected small replicas of key American monuments such as The Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Mind-boggling creativity and attention to detail.

Of course, a US holiday is not complete without some sporting event; we took in the first half of the Rose Bowl, featuring the Ohio State Buckeyes (#1 son is currently attending the school) versus the Washington Huskies. But I needed some shuteye (not as young as I used to be). My oldest sister hosted us for the next two nights, and she didn't bat an eye when we showed up at her house and I practically went straight to bed! (OSU won 28 to 23.)

We had a slow start the next morning since my sister had some business to conduct, and then we had lunch at a Cincinnati institution - Skyline Chili. Driving south into Cincinnati proper, we arrived at Union Terminal, only recently re-opened. The soaring Art Deco masterpiece and a National Historic Landmark, the building is also a museum and cultural center.

We bought Discovery Passes, which offered entry to all the exhibits other than three, special limited engagement displays (IMAX tickets are also sold separately). Dinosaurs, model trains, Legoland and more! The "Public Landing" section re-creates Cincinnati's river heritage as it might have looked in the mid-century. You can walk through historic shops and a steamboat, and learn stories about real-life Cincinnatians. I was transported!

Union Terminal is known for its intricate mosaics, which dominate the main hall

That evening, we chilled out at my sister's house, stitching (that is, my sister and I were stitching) and watching movies. It was a relaxing conclusion to a few days of back-to-back action. An opportunity to ponder and chat about all that had happened since our arrival a few days before. And a chance to gaze forward, to the places, people and events that will be woven into the fabric of 2019.

Mosaic Monday

1. Su-sieee! Mac

2. Tom The Backroads Traveller: Reflective Moments.

3. Sallie (FullTime-Life)

4. The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

5. orchid(Japan)

6. Welcome to the Garden Spot: Walking the Dog

7. Floral Passions: My Walking Routes

8. soul-and-mind-and-so-on: Mitten im Januar

9. Of Snowdrops, Lemon Pie, and the Moon

10. Life Images by Jill: Australia

11. Tom The Backroads Traveller: Monday Mish-Mash.

12. a spirit of simplicity: I have a dream

13. gillena

14. HOLIDAYS

15. Viewing nature with Eileen: Blowing Rocks Preserve

16. PUZZLING BIRDS

17. Lavender Dreams : Birthday Fun!

18. TRIPTYCH

19. Art and Alfalfa: Where is everybody?

20. Margy Meanders

21. Winter Cyclamen Blooms – Comfort Spring

22. Linda, Shenandoah Valley, VA

The collection has closed. Let other people know about it through twitter.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Mosaic Monday #10 - Under the Tree

If you were expecting a post about our trip to Ohio and my Mother's 90th birthday, you are going to be (temporarily) disappointed. I won't bore you with the technical details; suffice it to say I am having issues with my photos from the trip. So, 2019 is already presenting me with an opportunity to exercise my flexibility. Yippee!

Yes, our tree is still up and decorated!

What better time to show you my treasures from Christmas? It's a win-win because it's surely time to move them from the under the tree, where most of them have been on display since Christmas Day. Yes, Christmas Day. I have good reasons … the day after Christmas we skied all day, and the very next day we traveled to Ohio. See?

Oh, and yes, life has been chock-a-block since our return. But you grow weary of the prologue - let's get on with the main event!

It seems appropriate to start with new tools - namely, a new wireless MOUSE! Josie is not impressed but it sure makes my computer 'work' a breeze. Thanks, #1 Son!

Does your family give out 'gift certificates' for Christmas? We do. A perfect example? Spousal Unit presented me with a gift certificate good for several Adventures for 2019, dates to be scheduled. Dog sled ride, dance lessons, Indian dancing event and a Grizzlies football game (that's University of Montana in Missoula, if you don't know). You can bet you'll hear about our escapades in a future post!!!

Gift certificate, address plaque and spa gift card. Ooh la la!

Window bird feeder, red sweater,

phone bracket and pillowcase

with words to our Bruce Springsteen song

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that all of my pictures are taken with my phone. And in some posts I might have complained a time or two about its limitations when capturing small objects at a distance. Well, now I have another option - a bracket especially designed to pair with a spotting scope; I can take close-ups THROUGH the spotting scope. Last year, we saw some spectacular grizzly bear photos taken in this manner. I am very excited about the potential to share some stunning wildlife pictures with all of you - watch this space!

Window bird feeder installed outside our dining room

And where will I find said wildlife? On hikes, of course. The book "Day Hikes Around the Flathead" promises to point us to new terrain and heavenly vistas. I put the book on my wish list because the author prides herself in writing about hikes she has actually completed, and recently. I can't tell you how many times we have followed directions to or on a hike, only to find the information is wrong. And this book contains pictures, such as confusing junctions, with helpful arrows and guidance to ensure you do not stray. Sounds simple, right? I call it brilliant.

Hiking book and Botanical Hand-lettering Workbook, with pens

A number of my fellow bloggers are talented artists, and you know that I have admired your creations. This Christmas I took a miniscule step toward drawing with "The Botanical Hand-Lettering Workbook" from #1 Daughter. We all start somewhere, right?

"Remember, there are no mistakes in hand lettering - find

BEAUTY in the IMPERFECTIONS."

The workbook provides examples on the left and a blank page for

practice on the right. I am experimenting with various pens ..

Christmas would not be complete without something for your sweet tooth; in my case, it came in the form of two of my favorites - Licorice All Sorts and Classic Christmas Candies. Who can resist those chunky ribbon candies or the miniature 'pillows' or the broken stick candy with a shape in the middle? How it takes me back to my childhood!

What are your Christmas treasures, past and present?

Mosaic Monday

An InLinkz Link-up

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Mosaic Monday #9 - December Delights

Josie cat-napping by the Christmas pillow

Welcome to Mosaic Monday 2019! As I begin this post, I am typing from a concourse at the Cincinnati Airport. I look around at my fellow passengers, and wonder about their stories. I imagine that most of them are returning home after a holiday trip, as we are. College kids heading back to school. Or business people wrapping up a short week. Yes, Christmas and New Year's are once more in the rear view mirror. But I can extend my holiday spirit by scanning my photo gallery from December. Will you join me?

FESTIVE FARE

Preparing fruitcake at the beginning of the month is one of our Christmas customs (see last year's post on this topic). Every year, we exercise the ultimate patience until Christmas morning to enjoy the rich, brandy-infused flavor of the cake, accompanied by a slice of cheddar cheese.

In the meantime, neighbors and friends spoiled us with delicious foodstuffs and food-oriented gifts.

Breakfast made with deer sausage from our neighbors

"Hedgehog" Chocolates from former neighbors in Cleveland

Handmade cupcakes from one of our neighbors

Santa platter from one of our neighbors

FAMILY TIME

The family that plays together, stays together! I got my fill of board games after #1 Son arrived home, and I won't even hold it against him that he had the winning record.

On Christmas morning, the stockings were full and the tree surrounded by gifts; what a relief to know that Santa could find our new house! Josie hid among the bags and boxes when she wasn't nibbling on ribbons …

As we lounged in front of the fire throughout the day, the aroma of turkey, ham and other mouth-watering vittles wafted through the house. As always, Spousal Unit fed us well, and a clean kitchen with all the dishes and pots washed was our payback - a win-win for everyone! (Christmas crackers are customary at our Christmas table - this party favor consists of a decorated cardboard cylinder that typically contains a paper crown, a joke/riddle, a snap that opens with a BANG and a gift or novelty item.)

And a winter in Montana is not complete without skiing and snowboarding - although #1 Daughter was only home for four days, we managed to squeeze in a family outing at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

FOREST SPLENDOR

A glittering winter wonderland is only as far as our back forty at this time of year. The barren aspen branches reveal the summer nests that were previously hidden from view. How cute they are with their elfin caps of snow!

Animal tracks are prolific; you could spend many a happy hour following them. Despite my best efforts, I have yet to locate the burrows of the snowshoe hares that hop in a seemingly willy-nilly way throughout the woods. I've been a little luckier with the trail cam, capturing squirrels, a healthy buck and one of my favorites, the coyote.

On one of our walks to check the trail cam, #1 Daughter and I spotted a pygmy owl high atop a pine - I couldn't believe it was out in the middle of the day in such a conspicuous spot! Both shots are poor, but you get the idea!

FAST-FORWARD TO 2019

In my next post, I'll write about our trip to Ohio, which was centered on the celebration of my Mother's 90th birthday. For now, I am eager for home. To see fresh-fallen snow around the log house. To be greeted by our cats at the mud room door. To sleep in my own bed. To have time to re-connect with all my blogging buddies. I pray that Christmas and New Year's brought you joy and peace, and I merrily anticipate all that 2019 will bring as we share our journeys.

Mosaic Monday