Shaking my head in disbelief, I begin to pen this post about July 2020. How can it already be August 2? If you’re like me, August rouses memories of back-to-school shopping, and last-minute attempts to collect on all of summer’s unfulfilled promises.
A few days ago, I was weeding along the roadside, and a neighbor paused
to chat while walking her dog. She
listed the summer visitors she had been hosting, and then switched gears to
describe the fall activities for her kids.
“And then it will be Christmas,” she said. It might have been the heat and the dazzling
sun, but I almost passed out.
Christmas? Stop the bus, I want
to get off! It feels like summer has
just arrived, and it may disappear again with the blink of an eye. Even Whitefish Mountain Resort joined the
conspiracy by sending out an invitation for past employees to re-apply for
winter positions. Really? So, this post is my deliberate attempt to
drag my feet, to savor summer, to deny that fall is around the corner.
It has been a full month, when I pause to reflect. Three hikes plus one
over-night camping trip.Several doctor’s
appointments (all is well) and a lengthy visit to the dentist for a crown.Volunteering at the museum.Coffee chit-chats and kayaking with my Dear
Neighbor Friend.Ongoing job search
support with #1 Son.And of course, joyful
intervals in my beloved garden.Activity
seemingly makes the hands of the clock launch into overdrive. Occasionally, I long to simply lounge on the
deck, gazing out on the beauty right in front of me.When these feelings occur, I rationalize that
the season of “lounging” will come of its own accord, when I can no longer be
so active. And I jump back into the
fray!
Non-human animals have it much simpler, and maybe we (you know I mean me) would be wise to take some lessons from them.
First: take a nap in the heat of the day (not my strong suit)
Second: Eat well (A+ on this one thanks to Head Chef)
Third: Avoid predators (in my case, it's mosquitoes and ticks that threaten my health, and dare I mention the c-word?)
On July 21, I was working in the garden and the badger strolled within 5 feet of me. I was caught by surprise and didn't get him on video. But wouldn't you know he stuck around most of the afternoon, apparently hunting chipmunks, and for your viewing pleasure, I have two videos below. Don't worry, no death and carnage in either one. But if you watch the second one closely, you will see a chipmunk escape the foliage and run under the deck, literally under my feet and then the badger follows.
Fourth: Hang out with buddies (COVID has put a bit of a kibosh on this; I've relished my coffee/kayaking dates with Dear Neighbor Friend, and we invited a couple for dinner on two separate occasions.)
Our back forty is a popular location with the swallows given the lake and the multitudes of flying insects that congregate there. A dead aspen has become a gathering spot for the swallows, until something triggers them to all take off at once, as you can see in this video below.
Fifth: stay hydrated (I don't have any animal pix for this one. And I don't think alcohol and coffee count toward the 90 ounces of liquid I ought to be drinking ... maybe I should move on ....)
Sixth: look after your offspring (this is a joy, not a "task". We are so excited #1 Son is moving to Montana while he continues his job search, and #1 Daughter and her boyfriend are visiting in August. The family reunited!)
July is the month when
most plants in Montana progress rapidly from leaves to blooms to seeds. As many times as I have walked our property
and the surrounding land, I still make new discoveries. And I rejoice in seeing old favorites as
well.
My garden is also
flourishing; you can expect another post on that soon. For now, I am tickled “yellow” with the
success of the yellow penstemon since in previous summers it seemed weak and prone to insect infestations. Sometimes,
gardeners have plants that tend to crowd out others, and we have to actively
restrain them. I am not quite ready to
do that with the coreopsis (the yellow plants in the pictures below), but I can see the time is coming. Just look at how prolific they are and all
from three plantsat the time the landscaping was installed.
I have managed to tear
myself away from the outdoors long enough to draw a birthday card for a close
friend in the UK, and for my father-in-law.
Note: if you are planning to send anything overseas, allow plenty of time. Two weeks passed before my friend received
her drawing, and it was three weeks for my father-in-law. Yikes!
I was also proud and honored to have my Violet Protest square included
in a display of Montana-made squares at Honey’s Café in Red Lodge,
Montana. Organized by Maggy Hiltner, the
installation features 24 squares that will be forwarded to Phoenix to join
squares from all over the U.S. for the main Violet Protest organized by Ann
Morton. My second square is halfway
complete and will be ready in time for the November 15, 2020 deadline. You can still participate!
No summer is complete
without a “campfire” and S’Mores. As
faithful readers know, I always take the makings for S’Mores on our camping
trips, so this summer “promise” has been partly fulfilled. But you may be shocked to learn that we had
not yet used our firepit this summer!
That was rectified last weekend, and at the end of the night, Spousal
Unit said “We need to do this more often.”
In Montana, it’s never too hot in the evening for a fire – as soon as
the sun begins to dip, the temperatures drop dramatically and the stars blink
on. You are likely to spot several
satellites tracing their way across the sky.
Night sounds are distinct, and identifying them (or letting your
imagination run wild) is entertaining.
That evening, we saw a crane fly up from the lake and land at the
tippy-top of a pine tree some distance from our house. So special.
If you live in the
Northern Hemisphere, what remains on your wish list for the summer? I am dreaming about swimming, attending an
outdoor concert, and a picnic at the lake.
Oh, and definitely more ice cream!
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.
Northwest Montana just wrapped up the coldest February on record since 1936. What does one do when the temperature peaks at less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit? Add an extra layer or two, folks, and get on out there. Even my oldest sister saw fit to visit us from Cincinnati during the month. Check out these adventures in the great white, frigid north. ONE: CARVING UP THE MOUNTAIN Skiing and snowboarding on Big Mountain is a weekly event, especially given our roles as Ambassadors for Whitefish Mountain Resort. On one of my workdays, we took my sister to the 'office'. Visitors can buy a walk-on pass for $24 and ride Chair 1 to the Summit. Unfortunately, on that day, visibility was poor.
On a clear day, the mountains of Glacier National Park
would be in the background
At least she got a sense of our responsibilities as Ambassadors, and observed our operating environment first hand. She worked her cross-stitch and chatted with skiers stopping into Summit House for a warmer-upper. In the photo to the right, the temperature on the sign is unclear, but I recall it was minus 4 degrees at the time of that photo. TWO: SNOW SHOEING We thought we might take my sister to Glacier National Park to see the contrast between summer and winter (she had previously visited the Park in August 2017). So, in preparation for her visit, we did some reconnaissance. At this time of year, the Going to the Sun Road is plowed only as far as Lake McDonald lodge.
Beyond that point, cross-country skiers as well as snow-shoers can peacefully traverse a road that is bumper to bumper with traffic in the summer. On the day of our investigation, everyone was using the same trail, when protocol calls for snow-shoers and hikers to be in a separate track from the skiers.
So Spousal Unit and I performed a little bit of community service by breaking trail for 2.5 miles. It was quite the workout so we took turns at the lead. It was amazing how much easier it is when following someone, and even more so on the return journey. It was gratifying to see other snow-shoers using our trail as we re-traced our steps.
After some consultation with my sister, we decided to limit our snow-shoeing to a trek around our property.
THREE: HIBERNATING
Middle left: Josie helps my sister with her Monsters quilt
My sister's stated goal for her trip was to hibernate, so we worked hard (!) to make that happen.
Hibernating is easier when you have Spousal Unit for your chef - no need to go out to a gourmet restaurant when these dishes are on offer.
Top: spaghetti with Brussel sprouts
Left: Chicken tortellini and home-made focaccia
Right: Goetta and eggs
We did take a couple of walks on the roads of our neighborhood, and I couldn't resist the temptation to snap the shot below of the entrance to our neighborhood. The sign actually reads North Hodge Creek Reserve!!!
We also introduced my sister to a couple of "institutions" around here - Moose's and the Montana Club. She marveled at the Bloody Mary at the Montana Club; the one she was served upon returning home was "no comparison". I told her she would just have to come back!
Moose's
Left and middle: Montana Club; Right: back in Ohio
FOUR: VIEWING WILDLIFE No monthly summary is complete without a list of wildlife that we have witnessed. Although deer, and trail cam photos of them, are ubiquitous, what makes the photos more interesting at this time of year is the depth of the snow, or catching them plodding through a snowstorm.
I am currently monitoring three trail cams, two of which belong to a future neighbor. In photos taken on February 3, I observed two coyotes that were captured on my trail cam at 3.14 pm, and then on my neighbor's trail cam at 3.30. I am sure it is the same two. What do you think?
Of special note this month is our ongoing "battle" with Mr. Bunny. Earlier in the winter, we placed chicken wire around our burning bushes because I could see from tracks in the snow, as well as nibble marks on the shrubs, that Mr. Bunny had taken a liking to them. A week ago, I noticed tracks and bunny kaka INSIDE the chicken wire - the snow is now deep enough to enable him to jump over the wire. Argh. So, we determined to pull the wire cages up higher. As I rounded the front porch, heading for the last cage, there he was, inside it. He jumped out and bounded onto the porch, WITH A BRANCH OF THE BURNING BUSH IN HIS MOUTH. The cheek - he sat there and munched it as I went about adjusting that cage!
Left: track to Mr. Bunny's den Middle: branch broken off bush by Mr. Bunny
Right: Mr. Bunny in front of his den
Thwarted, he has now turned his attention to my dried arrangement on the front porch. Did you know rabbits would eat pine and juniper? I didn't. When I got home yesterday, he was basking in the sun where the porch joins the house. Maybe this was his way of thumbing his nose at me? He didn't give a lick that I was taking pictures ...
FIVE: DOG SLEDDING
Knowing what I know now, I wish we had taken my sister dog sledding … but it means she has at least one reason to return in winter! Dog Sled Adventures Montana is a family-friendly operation, with Alaskan sled dogs that are just hankering to pull you through 12 miles of winter wonderland. The mushers choose from nearly 130 Alaskan huskies to staff the 10 spots on each sled (each dog only does one run a day; most days the sleds go out at 10 am, 1 pm and 3.30 pm). As you can see and hear in the video below, the dogs are all ASKING to be chosen.
But once the sleds took off, the dogs in the yard all fell silent. The next video is just a small slice of our ride - when we weren't talking to Hannah, our driver, the only sound was the swish of the sled through the snow and her commands to the dogs. Lightly falling snowflakes added to the romance of the experience. We were astonished by the energy and stamina of the dogs, not to mention their personalities - that entertainment alone was worth the price of admission!
I suppose I can put up with the deep freeze if it means making memories like these.
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.
