Sunday, October 2, 2022

Mosaic Monday #192: Summer Farewell

My dear friends, this will be my last post as the host of Mosaic Monday, so it is fitting that I close this chapter with a final set of summer photos.

August featured no less than 3 backcountry camping trips.  Too many pictures for one post, but I can sure show you some highlights.




Our first trip, with an intended destination of Gray Wolf Lake, is a story in itself.  We fell short of our destination, and it rained while we gobbled our dinner, and for most of the night.


Rain is such a unique event during the summer in Montana that we were a bit surprised by this rainstorm.  The thunder and lightning that accompanied the storm ignited one significant wildfire some 15 miles from where we camped for the night.  But I will never complain about rain in the summer, given the extreme drought conditions in the Mountain West!

Between two camping trips, we spent one night in a hotel situated midway from the trailheads.  We were a bit early to check in, so we stopped at a nearby eatery for a treat of coffee and ice cream.


The next day, we worked off that ice cream with more than 3,300 feet of elevation gain in 5 miles.  But this is the reward: Mollman Lake.




The day of these photos also happened to be our 31st anniversary.  I had drawn this card and brought it with me.

"Husband" is just a title every man can have.  But it takes a heart and life to live by it.  You have never failed to show me how much I mean to you.  Happy Anniversary!"

Can you believe we had this whole place to ourselves?  Priceless!!!!

Of course, you don't always have to go far from home to capture beauty.  The next two photos were taken on August 16, right in our own neighborhood as I came home from town one evening.



August brings the Northwest Montana Fair to the fairgrounds, complete with wall-to-wall 4-H competition, food you shouldn't eat and rides that light up the night sky.  I went two days to support the grandkids of my Dear Neighbor Friend, and trust me when I say the kids cleaned up in most of their events!  I continue to learn the finer points of showmanship, and the importance of udders and other body parts on goats, sheep and cattle!  On rodeo night, I worked the funnel cake booth for St. Matthew's Church - I think I can still feel the skim of frying fat on my skin, and smell funnel cake batter in my nostrils.  I took a little time to spin through the quilts/home-made crafts section - always inspiring.

 




In this post in December 2021, I wrote about discovering Spanish blackwork.  I was thrilled to see this example of it at the Fair!  (By the way, I have purchased a design utilizing blackwork, and I am anxious to get started on it!)


At the end of August, rolling over into September, a three-night backcountry camping trip in Glacier National Park checked all the boxes: wildlife, fishing, jagged mountains, glacier-blue lakes.  Let's take a look!


Video of waterfall along the trail.



Video of bighorn sheep ewe and young one.



Back at home, it was wildlife of a different sort and proportion that attracted my eye.  Check out this video of the largest bumblebee I have ever seen.



Grasshoppers pick on the Russian Sage, climbing its stalks and nibbling through the very peak, toppling the lovely, symmetrical flower pyramids.  In the process of hunting the grasshoppers, I spotted this precious little frog.  It is you, my dear, that I hear singing after the sun goes down. 

In early September, we were delighted to welcome my oldest brother and his wife, who flew their "Blue Eagle" plane from Morgan County, Utah, to Kalispell.







Over the five days of their visit, we kayaked on Lone Lake, hiked in Glacier National Park, and were treated to aerial touring in the Blue Eagle.  I was thrilled to provide a garden tour, and Head Chef kept us well fed as usual.  A lovely visit all around.



Flying over the landscapes we see every day, but flat-footed, is a gift.  Is that hill really that steep?  Does Ashley Creek wind in such a serpentine manner?  The area around Whitefish has many more lakes than I realized.  Do they have fish?

I love this video of Ashley Creek in Smith Valley.




The latter part of September has brought wildlife of every description.  One night, sitting in the great room, I imagined an owl calling.  Going out on the deck, I was thrilled to hear Barred Owls echoing each other.  One is a blessing; two or more feels like a miracle.


The cygnets that I featured in this post are growing up.  On September 17, they were swimming together, but without their parents.  And they came so close to me - no fear?


While I was at the lake's edge, Spousal Unit called me.  "Can you see the elk?  It's a mama and a baby, in the water."   I scouted the lake, with the binoculars and without.  Nothin'.  I worked my way north, and then I heard the splashing.  Mama saw me or sensed me first.  The best I got was the baby running away through the woods.


Meanwhile, our neighborhood black bear has been roaming, building up fat for the winter.  We have seen him at least once a week, and in one case, I saw him while running out in the woods ... I took the long way around that day!  These shots were taken as I came home from town one day - less than a half mile from our house.



Thistles are one of the many species that we combat for preservation of the native habitat, but before I cut the seeds off and put them in the trash, I momentarily admire their beauty.  In many ways, they represent the fleeting nature of summer.  Weightless. Perfectly designed for purpose.  Ephemeral.  Majestic simplicity.


And so, we bid farewell to summer and to Mosaic Monday.

*****

My dear Mosaic Monday friends: I am pleased to tell you that Heidrun @ Soul and Mind and so on will be taking over Mosaic Monday, starting next weekend.  She carries on the fine tradition established by our previous hosts – Mary @ Little Red House through August 4, 2014, Judith @ Lavender Cottage from August 10, 2014 through July 24, 2016, and Maggie @ Normandy Life from July 31, 2016 through October 29, 2018.  I hope that you will continue participating in Mosaic Monday – your posts through the years have inspired me more than you know!

Some of you have asked if I am leaving the blogosphere altogether; I will still be posting occasionally, and linking to Mosaic Monday as well as other link parties.  So, I will see you around, my friends!


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

34 comments:

  1. Angie, your area has beauty in every season, but stay warm.

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  2. Wow and then some. Soooooo many beautiful pictures. What scenery. I got a bit dizzy seeing you way up there on top. Too high for me, thanks. Sounds like you ended the summer with several awesome trips. When we were younger we did lots of hiking, camping, and backpacking. But, nowdays, my dance card is full and I like to camp at the Marriott. My knees and back prefer that too.

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  3. There are many Highlights on your travel, Angie ... the Mountains, the river and of course the lovely animals.


    Congratulation to your 31st anniversary!


     But this time I have a special interest on the fantastisc quilts ... we have had an exhibition in the Art Museum Tim here in Augsburg.


    Happy MosaicMonday 

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  4. A truly wonderful post, Angie.
    So much beauty to behold.
    Happy Belated 31st Anniversary! I love the card you made.
    Wonderful quilts. And what a wonderful bird's eye view.
    With appreciation, I thank you so much for hosting Angie!

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  5. Angie, Thank you so much for all you've done for blogging! I hope you do find time to post once in a while -- your home and your home state are so beautiful. And I would especially miss seeing the natural world through your eyes. Very best wishes for success in your next volunteer endeavors (and I can't imagine you having any problems with anything in the world you decide to do!.) Thank you for giving us the link to the new MM.

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  6. Thank you for your beautiful images - your area is so wonderful.

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  7. Such beautiful photos as always. We'll miss seeing your wonderful adventures here.

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  8. Oh I am so sorry to hear you are leaving us, but so happy and relieved to know that we are not looisng Mosaic Monday as it has been my mainstay for so many years of blogging - my first every linkup years and years ago in fact. I have enjoyed your posts over your time as host and watching you create your home and followed you on your walks and camping trips. I hope we continue to meet you in the biosphere. All the best, stay well, enjoy your week, and thank you again for your hosting of Mosaic Monday. .

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  9. The Singer sewing machine tapestry is a thing of beauty as, of course, are all the wonderful scenes you've shown here and through these past years. Thank you for all that you've done for blogging. It's good to know you'll be posting once in a while as you would be missed. Very nice of Soul & Mind to take on the task! :)

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  10. That was a busy summer for you. Beautiful photos, Angie! A Very Happy Anniversary to both of you. Although I will miss seeing Mosaic Monday here, I am very happy to hear that it will continue on over at Heidrun's! Stay in touch.

    -Soma

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  11. Angie thanks for being a most gracious hosts. I appreciate all the stories photos and mosiacs you shared with us. I always looked forward to your vist and comments at my blog. Best Wishes dear Angie.

    Much💛love

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  12. Dear Angie, thank you for being such a gracious host of Mosaic Monday and to Heidrun for taking it over! I loved your end of summer retrospective which shows how very busy you are. I always admire all your beautiful photos of Glacier NP and surroundings, wildlife and life in Montana in general. Happy Anniversary! Out 48th anniversary is this month. Time flies! Cherish each and every day.

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  13. Dear Angie, a wonderful last post as host of Mosaic Monday. I thank you for your wonderful photos and lovely words, your exemplary hosting of this great meme, as well as your thoughtful and insightful comments. I wish you all the best in your new endeavours ! I look forward to Heidrun's tutelage of the meme.

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  14. Despite your best efforts, Angie - and I applaud them, I fear that thistles are here to stay! In these parts they are decorated with goldfinches at this time of the year. The seeds are a significant source of food for their young.

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  15. Dear Angie,
    it seems to be a time of goodbyes at the moment: you are saying goodbye as the host of Mosaic Monday (and I'm glad you wrote that you will continue blogging!!!) and my husband and I had to say goodbye to our cat Nina.
    For me, that means I'm going to take a break from blogging - my posting with memories of our Nina is also the last link on Mosaic Monday for an indefinite period of time. Anyway I want to thank you for your hosting, it was wonderful with you and I've always loved your posts - including today! There was a lot of beautiful nature to see, even from a great height, very special animal encounters, and I also really like the quilts and blackwork you show. (By the way, I own such an old Singer sewing machine; unfortunately it doesn't work anymore, it's just decoration.)
    I wish you a wonderful October!
    All the best,
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/10/abschied-von-nina-und-blogpause.html

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  16. I'm sorry to see you go! Thank goodness I hooked up today to say a sort-of goodbye and thank you. I hope you still photograph in colorful mosaics, all the beauty around you.

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  17. Wonderful Pictures especially those of the mountain lakes and the coloured clouds - all the best
    Violetta

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  18. Hello Angie,
    Wonderful photos from your camping trips, the views are just beautiful.
    I love all the critters, I would love to see the Black bears, the elk and cygnets. It is neat to hear the Barred owls calling to each other. I hope to see some blog update posts from you even though you are ending the Mosaic Monday meme. Take care, enjoy your new week!

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  19. Such beauty in the world around us, and you live so close to it. Marvelous stories.

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  20. The landscapes stand out beautifully.

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  21. What beautiful lakes! I’m glad that the linkup will continue.

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  22. So much loveliness in one post, Angie. I enjoyed it. And I adore your anniversary card, just the sweetest.
    Amalia
    xo

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  23. Angie, Thanks so much for hosting Mosaic Monday for the last several years! Enjoy your life.

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  24. A wonderful jam packed farewell to summer and Mosaic Monday post. That spot you had all to yourselves is amazing, so beautiful. Are you in England yet? Hope you have a wonderful time. We had a great time. Cheers!

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  25. Thank you for being the host of Mosaic Monday for so many years. I love the pictures and the stories from your country. Wishing you all the best in your life!

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  26. Wonderful post Angie, I do hope you continue blogging, it is so interesting to see and hear the wildlife and the beautiful flowers around where you live. Also interesting to hear about your hikes.

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  27. I am so happy that Heidrun is taking over! She will do a great job. I appreciate all the work you did to keep in going over the years. It's meant a lot to me! I'm glad too that you are going to continue to blog. I love your posts about your beautiful state and also your hikes and trips! Thank you SO much for making the blog world more beautiful! Hugs, Diane

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  28. Great narrative and photos as always, Angie. Whatever you do, you will do it with all the gusto that resides in you. I enjoyed seeing your photos from the day you arrived in Montana until this post. Do stop by and let us know how you're doing. Take care and have fun!

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  29. A lovely post Angie.
    Enjoy your up-coming trip to the UK.

    Safe travels.

    All the best Jan

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  30. Hi Angie! ♥ I'm happy to hear that you'll be continuing to blog, and I hope that Mosaic Mondays will thrive. Heidrun will take very good care of it! Lovely photos! ☺

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  31. your drawing on the card and words are charming. And true. Love the sound of barred owls... loved glacier park when I went through. I haven't had chocolate ice cream in donkey years!
    LeeAnna

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  32. A good tale and great pictures again Angie. Don't you ever take a rest? I'm afraid my trip across America is via a book, not for real. Wish It was then I could pay you a visit.

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  33. Waving hi as I make my blog rounds, hoping you're enjoying the wkend.

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  34. Hi Angie! First, 31 cheers to you and Spousal Unit! Whoot, whoot! And, cheers to you for being such a grand Mosaic Monday host! Hurrah, Angie! I loved catching up with all your adventures in this post. Your photos of Montana, wowza! That sky! ❤️

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