I am on the front porch, and the birds serenade me from the trees. I feel blessed to be alive and healthy, but thoughts of others who are not so fortunate crowd my mind. It seems almost sacrilegious to write a post knowing others are suffering, but I speculate that most people would want me to carry on. This may not be my most creative of posts, but a post it is.
Back in April, I borrowed a Thai Fish Curry recipe from Jan at the Low Carb Diabetic blog. In my house, we are not too concerned about the low carb element, so we served it over rice, and had broccoli on the side. So good!
I have volunteered at the Whitefish Historical Museum for almost three years, and in April a new sign was installed. I think the sign will attract more visitors since it is much more obvious that there IS a museum in the Depot! On the National Register of Historic Places, the Depot was built in 1927 by the Great Northern Railway, and shares the same architecture as other structures built by the railroad in and around Glacier National Park.
This sign caught my eye at the airport when I was on my way back from the trip to see my Mom in April. I immediately texted it to #1 Daughter, who loves the J.R.R. Tolkien quote. This sign fits both of us well since we are coffee fiends!
It's no surprise that spring was more advanced when I was in Ohio, and I snapped a few flowers while I was waiting to go to the airport.
Our property borders a stream, and it is a boon for flora and fauna. As the summer proceeds, grasses, shrubs and cattails will overtake the stream, hiding its winding flow. Only in the spring can you get this view of the creek.
I moved the trail cam to face the meadow, and was not surprised to see many deer. At least one of them was a young buck. And then there is the camera-hogging sandhill crane. I think he considers the camera his own personal selfie stick!
In the afternoon, the sun strikes the front porch just right. Although there might be a slight nip in the air yet in May, the sun is strong and unfiltered, keeping that chill at bay. The perfect setting to enjoy a margarita for Cinco de Mayo!
In town, which has a lower elevation than our house, flowering trees cause me to stop in my tracks. How is it possible for one tree to have so many blooms?
A week ago, just two days after we celebrated being fully vaccinated (read: two weeks after the second shot), we hosted a dinner party with four vaccinated couples, all from our mountain Ambassador group. One of the ladies brought these Gerber daisies. For me, the flowers and the gesture were symbolic -- bringing color back to our lives after 12 months in the "desert" of the pandemic. In the past, receiving flowers on such an occasion might be expected; now it brings a rush of joy and delight. For those who might still be in the "desert", for whatever the reason, I offer these daisies as hope that better times might soon return for you.
the pansies are really gorgeous!! jan shares some great recipes, i may have to try this!!
ReplyDeleteit is suppose to hit 93 degrees here today, i could go for a little nip in the air on the back porch!! i adore gerber daisies, that friend is a keeper!!
spring is a wonderful time of the year. Nature comes to life, solorful anv vibrant.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots Angie :)
That crane selfie got a laugh out of me.
ReplyDelete...the color of spring are the reward for making it through winter. Thanks Sami for hosting the party.
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful photos and you sure got some goodies on your trail cam!
ReplyDeleteI've been away from blogging for a bit. Just getting caught up and see you are starting to get some spring green and flowers. We spent time in our RV in Arizona and it was a shock to come back from tans and browns to greens in Bellingham. We got our vaccinations in March so our April RV trip felt a bit safer. - Margy
ReplyDeleteI am literally and figuratively in the desert right now. :( It is amazing when one tree can be filled with so many beautiful blooms. I saw an IG post from Kit that there was a snow storm to hit Bozeman and other parts. The trail cam of the bird is priceless. Take care.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Angie! I am so glad you are fully vaccinated--I know what a relief that is. We have also met with other vaccinated friends and we even had our first indoor restaurant meal after 14 months! Who knew how exciting all these simple events would become? I loved seeing the sandhill crane on your cam photo. They stop in SE Colorado on their migration but not in our area. we have had rain, rain, rain...but now everything is green, green, green!
ReplyDeleteProsit... to the fine Magarita, it looks delicious. Yes we wish being outside. Here it's raining and cold since over 10 days.
ReplyDeleteWith enthusiasm I read about your volunteered time at the Whitefish Historical Museum. I worked before Corona sometimes in a Mill Museum and loved this work. We made paper on different Events.
Wish you a very good week. Stay healthy and well, dear Blogfriend. 😘
I did enjoy your bits and pieces blog today. Spring is heading your way as we delve into winter. So cold here today, our fire was on early. SO interesting to see what your trail cam captures. Enjoy your week, and spring, and stay safe. We've had our first vaccination and the next will be in a few weeks. Thanks again for the link up.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI love all the flowers and blossoms, they are a cheery sight. We are celebrating being vaccinated, with small family gatherings. Your meal looks delicious, Jan does share great recipes. The Sandhill Crane selfie is cute, I believe your unknown ducks are the Northern Pintail. Awesome wildlife cam photos. Have a happy day and a great new week!
I've been blogging for so long and always making collages, and yet it's the first time I've discovered your Mosaic Monday ... Thai curry! We love that! (Of course also with rice ;-)) And we love coffee - the coffee quote hits it perfectly! You live in Montana? Wonderful! This country is on my bucket list for a long time - I hope I'll see it in this lifetime ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best from Austria
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/05/ausflug-auf-die-perchtoldsdorfer-heide.html
I love the animals and the flowers. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Angie. No need to feel guilty about enjoying life. It is our duty to strive to be happy but to do so without making others unhappy.
ReplyDeletePS: Thank you for hosting, Angie!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the vax, and the dinner party. We won't get our 2nd until August. Canada has to buy all of ours, as we don't have the means to manufacture it.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the "wander" quote. Even the coffee variety.
ReplyDeleteChuckling here because my Monday post is titled this and that, too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty color Gerbera, sort of coral. I will be 2 weeks after second vaccine later this week! I'm excited to go to thrift stores again! (I've been avoiding them for more than a year, since last March when a cashier had a really terrible cough at Goodwill, right when they were letting us know about the cough!)
ReplyDeleteI love all of your Spring flowers and the wildlife you see there. I have the Amtrak route map up on my computer in a tab. I am dreaming of taking a train trip! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, gotta' love the color!! And the daisies are a great metaphor for our improving times. I really did enjoy every bit and piece of your miscellaneous collection. I have found some great funny signs in coffee shops, but that one is new. Like your daughter I have always loved the original (which fit us perfectly during our full-time years) and coffee is a vital food group in this household.
ReplyDeletePS: Never feel you have to apologize for being happy!
ReplyDeleteAngie, Congrats on being fully vaccinated and getting back to some normal! I would say that the ducks are Redheads. Love the crane selfie. The stream is wonderful. Thanks for sharing and hosting. Have a great week. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteI love how some critters stare at a trail cam! Perhaps they just like shiny things, but it makes for good pictures.
ReplyDeleteHello!! Your pics are great! Our whole family is now fully vaccinated and it feels great. We are still choosing to stay away from restaurants and anywhere we don't know the people. I just can't trust if folks are vaccinated or not. But I don't mind, shopping is over rated...lol Take care. Kit
ReplyDeleteLovely images in your post. Jan has shared some really delicious recipes on her blog. I have one bookmarked to try for tonight. So glad you were able to have your friends over!
ReplyDeletelovely post, it is great you can enjoy time with your friends now. I had a giggle at the photo of the crane.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteBeautiful items Angie.
ReplyDeleteWe have a coffee ritual. Wherever we are in the world, home or away. We must have coffee before 1030am or we feel ill and deprived. I think it started in The Balearics and Spain where it is impossible to buy a poor cup of coffee, unlike England.
ReplyDeleteI'd love some gerbera daisies!! What a pop of color. I can't get shot 2 (had allergic reaction to #1) so I am not about to shop with the unmasked and unvacc'ed people here. Congrats on having friends there to enjoy dinner with and the building is really charming too. I'd like a margarita!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Love that coffee sign!
ReplyDeleteIt must have felt delicious to have dinner with friends. I am trying to remember what that was like! Our restrictions are slowly being relaxed, very tentatively and gradually, but perhaps by doing it in this way we can finally emerge from this COVID nightmare. We have been in lockdown three times now, so it is evident that what we have done so far has been ineffective, and as in all jurisdictions we have our share of idiots. Montana in spring looks gorgeous, Angie, but I suspect that Montana at any time of they year looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post, Angie. How wonderful to get together over food somewhere outside the house...a novel idea to me at this stage of our continuing lockdown. You have so many shots of the critters and the growing things there in your beautiful state. Enjoyed it all and thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Angie and some awesome trail captures too. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteA very pleasant post filled with lots of interesting photos. I love the trailhead cam shots of the deer and the crane.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the Thai Fish Recipe reminded me we hadn't had it for a while! Must do something about that! Thanks for the link back to the low carb diabetic.
ReplyDeleteThose pansies are so pretty.
Keep well, my good wishes.
All the best Jan