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

Mosaic Monday #73: Lockdown

March 2020 will be forever fixed in my brain as the month our world was turned upside down.  It began simply enough.  Head Chef concocted comfort foods; we enjoyed winter splendor; I waited for my Dear Neighbor Friend to return from a trip to visit family and friends in California/Mexico. 

Steak Pie with Roasted Potatoes and Mushy Peas

Frozen waterfall - a 20-minute drive from our house

March 15 dawned bright and crisp; the dash temperature gauge warned us to layer up as we headed to the mountain for a play day.  

We couldn't get enough of the views and the time together.

So it was that we stopped for lunch later than normal, only to hear the news that the resort would be closing THAT DAY.  The resigned dismay hung like a pall over our Ambassador locker room; each of us had our own reasons to regret losing three weeks of ski season.  Word spread quickly through Whitefish, and locals thronged to the mountain that afternoon to get in the last few runs of the season.  Later, you could see the shock on people's faces as they cleared out their lockers, toting skis, poles, helmets and all manner of other equipment to their cars.  Little did we know it was just the beginning. (Montana had 4 cases.)

Maggie says "What's all the fuss about?"

Spousal Unit and I made the tough decision to begin self-isolation right away.  We skipped the traditional Ambassador St. Patrick's Day party, and chose not to attend the Employee Ski Day on March 20.  This was particularly difficult for my social butterfly of a husband!  After that, most organizations began dropping events, thereby resolving any dilemma.  All Masses and church gatherings were cancelled until at least March 30, following the Governor's March 17 directive limiting gatherings to less than 50 people.  Email starting flowing in from every organization that has my address - craft stores (buy supplies to stay busy), pharmacies (free delivery), Expedia (recommendations for current and future travel), the dentist (my appointment might have to be re-scheduled), my congressmen (join a town hall).  

Social media exploded with humorous videos, memes and suggestions for coping with everything from isolation to home-schooling to cooking EVERY DAY.  Of course, cooking is not a problem in our house, and I have never been more grateful.  For all those cooks out there - thank you.  And hopefully, like my Head Chef, you are finding some escape in the kitchen.

Breakfast frittata

For my part, getting outside delivers tranquility and restores my faith.  Nature continues on her way, oblivious to the virus.  I walk the "back forty" most days, and with no time constraints, I observe small things that I might otherwise miss.

Otter tracks - bottom picture is a "slide" mark going into the creek

Far right: coyote tracks

On March 20, the Governor closed high-risk businesses such as bars, restaurants and workout facilities.  Spousal Unit and I began to talk about alternative activities to keep ourselves entertained.  Hikes.  Cooking together.  Movie nights.  Spring cleaning. (How did that get on the list?)  And some distractions continued unabated, such as adult beverages!  If we can't go to the bar, we'll bring the bar to us! (Montana had 27 cases.)

Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but that same day I spotted a new bird visiting our suet feeder.  It came three times that day, but I haven't seen it since.  And I have been engaged in lengthy bird-watching, let me tell you.  It was a male Varied Thrush.  The still picture is from the Web, and the video is mine (not super quality, but proof that it was here!)  Isn't it a handsome specimen?

Andouille sausage - those tiles in the

background are two we are considering

for a future backsplash

On March 23, our kids (both in Ohio) became subject to that state's shelter in place mandate.  I have been so impressed (and relieved) by how they are handling the constant change and ongoing ambiguity.  Our daughter's theatre had to cease productions, and is adapting by streaming past performances.  Our son will finish his college degree from his apartment, and is highly unlikely to "walk" in the classic graduation ceremony since it has been postponed indefinitely.  That day, I was sous chef for Head Chef as we prepared Red Beans and Rice, with cornbread on the side.  I tried to add some levity by texting the recipe to the kids, complaining that we have no bay leaves!  (Click here if you need a refresher on how I named my blog!)  (Montana had 34 cases.)

March 24 saw Governor Bullock extending school and high-risk business closures to April 10, and reducing the size of gatherings from 50 to 10.  His announcement pointed out that the previous day saw a 25% increase in cases in Montana.  In our house, we took comfort in regular routines such as yoga, cooking, listening to music, and running on the treadmill.  The isolation also presented new opportunities, such as contacting old friends and starting up a genealogy project that has been on my to-do list for eons.  Spousal Unit offered to play Scrabble - you know we are in desperate times now - and I was only too tickled to accept (and win!)

Canada Geese have returned to our lake,

leaving adorable tracks in the snow

As many have pointed out, COVID-19 has affected the entire world in a way that has not been seen since the Spanish Flu of 1918.  Not even world wars or 9-11 suspended daily life to such a great extent.  Everyone has a story.  A wedding that has been postponed.  Small businesses that have been shuttered, putting their future in jeopardy.  Cancelled vacations.  People laid off from work, who are now struggling to pay their bills.  First responders and health professionals who continue to put their lives on the line for the greater good. In the moments when I get down, I try to remember that my "problems" are miniscule compared to others.  I am grateful that I have my faith.  I continue walking outdoors, reveling in little signs of spring.

The proverbial clouds of this crisis do offer some silver linings.  We were able to view our daughter's last show - Alabaster - via on demand streaming.  Otherwise, as with most of her shows, this would be a powerful performance we would have missed.  On a day that we would have normally been working on the mountain, Spousal Unit and I went on a hike in Glacier National Park.  I retrieved the trail cam disks for my neighbor, yielding innumerable fabulous wildlife photos.  (Watch for a future post for the hike and the critters.) A fellow blogger pointed us to live streaming coverage of a Barred Owl nest.  Even when Mama Owl is just sleeping, I find the background chirping and singing birds to be soothing.  A group is organizing a Virtual Catholic Women's Conference the first weekend in April, and I hope to participate in part of it with my daughter.  Ample free time has translated to more progress on my Violet Protest square.

And then, just as I sat down to begin to compose this post (March 26), the email arrived from Governor Bullock.  7.04 PM. "Today I issued a Directive requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily closing all nonessential businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19.  The order goes into effect at 12:01 am on March 28 and will buy us time for health care workers on the frontlines to limit long-term impacts to the state's economy."  Yes, lockdown has arrived in Montana and will last until at least April 10.  Get the hot chocolate and light the fire, darling, we are here for the long haul.  (Montana had 90 cases and its first death.)

Ants emerge from winter "hibernation" - now that's a group hug!

The next day, Glacier National Park announced its temporary closure.  This profoundly impacted me. More dismay and more unanswered questions.  Will they continue working to process back-country camping applications?  Will the park re-open in time for our earliest application (June 15), assuming it gets approved?  When is COVID-19 likely to peak in the U.S. and in Montana in particular?  Out of a desire to maintain our sanity, we have been limiting our news consumption, but at times you just want some answers.  I think it is human nature to need "the light at the end of the tunnel".  We've pretty much accepted that we are not going to Ohio as planned on May 1 (our son's graduation was scheduled for May 3), nor to Grand Cayman on May 7 for a family vacation.  But I need a glimmer of hope that life will eventually return to normal.  (A friend texted me - on the lighter side, there will be no question what my natural hair color is!)  Perhaps it was to have an event, any event, scheduled, or maybe out of sheer defiance, I booked a hotel for August 15-16 so that we can attend the 102nd Annual Crow Fair Celebration Powwow & Rodeo.  Take that, COVID-19! (March 27 - Montana had 121 cases and 1 death)

What are you anticipating post-virus?  It seems selfish and cavalier to even think of these things when people are dying from COVID-19.  But I need to look past today and have plans.  I can't wait to see my Dear Neighbor Friend, and to exchange hugs.  To go to church again.  A sloppy burger with fries at a restaurant teeming with people.  Rescheduling our trip to Cayman and seeing our kids.  Dancing to the New Wave Time Trippers at the Great Northern Bar in Whitefish.  Hosting friends at our house for a dinner party.  In the meantime, I pray that you and your families are well.  Special thoughts to all those leaders and health professionals who are working diligently to protect us.  Keep the faith!  (At the time of publication, Montana had 154 cases and 1 death.)

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. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter