It's 8 am, and the sun edges over the hillside to my far right - every day, its appearance is later, and the arc of its daily journey is lower and lower in the sky. The golden coats of the aspens seem lit from within, a satisfactory outcome of shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures. Mist rises in lazy curls from the lake's edge, as the warmer air over the water encounters the cooler surface of the land. Autumn has arrived, and I like it.
Numerous plants in my garden offer their seeds to all those who would help with propagation - birds, the wind, me, and perhaps even the grasshoppers.
Plenty of blooms remain in the garden, whether from plants that produce all summer, fall bloomers or young specimens that got a late start.
Many of my fellow bloggers showcase the beauty of their gardens with cut flowers displayed in stunning arrangements. I will admit to envy. Until this year, I did not feel comfortable harvesting any flowers, reckoning that every cut flower represented lost propagation opportunity. At a dinner party we hosted last week, I created a few posies with Aster, Prairie Coneflower, Russian Sage, Yellow Clover, White Clover, Aspen leaves, and Kinnikinnick branches with berries. I am learning what has staying power as a cut flower - Russian Sage is long-lasting; Aster? Not so much!
Wild mushroom hunters know that Autumn brings the prime season for collecting these delectables. Make sure you know your varieties, and pick responsibly. (Shaggy Mane Mushrooms first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. Shaggy Manes should not be eaten raw.)
Autumn is as predictable as taxes, but Nature can still bring pleasant surprises. On June 22, a friend gave me some Autumn Crocus (Colchicum Autumnale) bulbs. Autumn Crocus? I had never heard of an Autumn Crocus! I planted them and gave them a little drink every three weeks or so. Imagine my delight when they started to emerge on September 14! Here's how they look today.
But we can be honored witnesses of these miracles only if we are IN Nature. This week, Dear Neighbor Friend and I braved the morning frost and fog to kayak. The lake had a serene quality, shrouded in mist so thick we could not discern any familiar landmarks. Only the sound of our dripping paddles accompanied us. Slowly, the lake's margins were revealed, and we glided silently along copses held firm by Alder, wild grasses, and Red Osier Dogwood. Hundreds of cobwebs glinted in the sun, seemingly bedazzled by a band of fairies overnight.
I marveled at the realization that the cobwebs have always been there, but it took the mist to unveil them to us.
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.
My goodness, the first of August! July spun past like a ride on the Scrambler at the county fair - fun, fast and leaving me just a little bit breathless! So this post will be quick and quirky - a few happy highlights from July!
Summer just isn't complete without some guacamole and a margarita (or two) to wash it down.
Spousal Unit celebrated a birthday during the month. In keeping with the fish theme, he received a new fishing rod, a reel and some new line. (Truth be told, he ordered it and I put bows on the packages!)
I am sure we are not the only couple that gives presents this way ... And then sometimes you just go ahead and get something you need want. Such as the new binoculars I bought this month!
The trail cam didn't deliver much in July, but sometimes one terrific picture is enough!
Of course, one of my posts would not be complete without a few plants ...
I think it's fitting to close with a sunset from a recent evening, kayaking with my Dear Neighbor Friend. I hope July was a sweet month for you!
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.
Whew. You came back. Without further ado, we'll pick up where we left off - the trail cam photos, deer specifically.
I love the next collage. I know we should resist anthropomorphizing animals, but I do see a very tender look passing between the two fawns. And the doe seems to be barely tolerating this late-season feeding session with her fawn. Then we have two different bucks. If you examine the left-hand photo closely, you can see the fine layer of velvet on the antlers. Wow. The one on the right has no velvet and appears to have more points, and these photos were only one day apart. Fascinating.
And there's more. I originally put the trail cam here in the hopes of capturing the beaver in action. Early in the month, I got a shot or two, but since then the beaver engineering team has been distracted dealing with the dam (see post here). But I got quite a few surprises, which more than made up for it.
Montana is home to three species of weasels: short-tailed, long-tailed and the least weasel. The least weasel does not have a black tip on its tail. All of the weasels turn white in the winter; the short and long-tailed retain the black tips on their tails! This is the first time I have captured a weasel on my trail cam; I once retrieved a photo of a weasel in the winter on my neighbor's trail cam - do you remember this post? I was also thrilled to see the muskrats; another first! Until this photo (and quite a few others of 1 - 2 muskrats), I didn't even realize we had muskrats in our lake!
This month, we've seen a herd of elk on the hill opposite us. A dozen strong, shepherded by a bull elk, it is a majestic sight. Occasionally, when I have been outside in the early evening, the unique bugle call of the bull comes to my ears. I was pleased to get the bull (at least partial shots) on my trail cam, as you can see above. Thank goodness for the reflection - you get to see much more of him!!!
Now, sometimes people don't like surprises, and there was one set of trail cam photos that fall into that category - the orange tabby feral cat. Another first on my trail cam, and not a happy sight. Now, before the cat lovers get upset with me - you know I adore furbabies, but I am not enamored with the impact that cats have on our domestic birds. One to four billion (that's B for billion) birds per year fall to the ninja talons of cats that roam outdoors. And that's not to mention small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. I am grateful that this is the only time I have ever seen it on my trail cam.
As I look out the window at the gray, scudding clouds, and watch the wind carry off the last of the aspen leaves, the memory of kayaking on a nearby lake seems a lifetime ago. This particular lake is known for large pike, and #1 Son wanted to try his hand at hooking one. I have also regularly seen kingfishers at this lake, and # 1 Son was eager to glimpse one as well. So, off we went.
The lake was a sheet of glass, and the clouds joined the sun to form fancy reflections.
Unfortunately, the pike did not cooperate - not a single one went for the flies that night - and the one kingfisher we spotted flew into the trees, beyond the view of our binoculars. We had to "settle" for one beaver and pretty panoramas!
Although the clouds have become more prevalent toward the end of the month, they have rarely dropped any precipitation. One evening, I was out for one of my "stress-reduction" strolls. I could have taken a million photos of the gathering clouds, reflected in the lake at the bottom of the property.
Imagine my surprise when the heavens opened. I laughed out loud with the sheer joy of feeling the water on my skin, and I envisioned all of the plants and other living things, turning toward it with relief. I headed home in the slanting rain, and just before I shucked off my boots and put my hand on the door handle, I turned for a final look. A rainbow arced through the clouds. The middle was hidden, but the ends were undimmed, seeming to touch the ends of the earth in my view. A fitting end to the month, a promise of rain to come, a reward for patience through the drought. What a blessing.
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.
Hello everyone - thanks for returning after a week's break from Mosaic Monday! The visit from #1 Daughter and her boyfriend was memorable, and extra special since #1 Son is already here and joined in the frolic when he wasn't occupied with job search activities. On their first day, it was already mid-afternoon by the time we got home from the airport, so we made no plans other than showing The Boyfriend around the house and property. Vacation calorie intake began in earnest with a afternoon snack of huckleberry pie and ice cream. (And of course, Head Chef prepared a dinner fit for kings - ribs, smoked turkey, cornbread, salad.)
As we planned the activities for their visit, the duo asked us to challenge them physically. "Wear us out," The Boyfriend said. So, the next day, the Montana workout began. Kayaking on the river sounds simple enough, but it requires logistics such as dropping off one vehicle at the takeout point, and ensuring that the right gear is in the correct vehicle. We managed to get all five of us out of the house on time, but the takeout point was not well-marked, and we arrived at our first destination, Polebridge, with 2 rigs. Oh well. Not the end of the world. We snagged some home-made baked goods from the famous Polebridge Mercantile, settled all of us into one vehicle and drove the short six miles to Bowman Lake. Its spectacular surroundings never get old.
We backtracked to the put-in point near Polebridge, and left the "kids" to inflate the kayaks and pack raft while Spousal Unit and I took his truck to the takeout at Coal Creek. A Mercantile member of staff gave us directions, and in no time we had returned to inspect the boats and were ready to float nine miles of the North Fork of the Flathead River. At this time of year, low water means rocks and log jams are nearer to the surface, requiring vigilance and carefully chosen channels. Early in the trip, Spousal Unit and #1 Daughter collided with a tree and tipped over, but in such shallow water that it was not a major event. It was a warm, blue-sky day and we made one stop to swim.
We had hoped for smoke-free skies during their stay, and we got our wish. Haze can make for interesting sunsets, but I would prefer my air without particulate! That night we enjoyed tasty lasagne on the deck, with an ever-changing sky for entertainment.
On Day 2, Spousal Unit and The Boyfriend went fishing while #1 Daughter and I engaged in retail therapy followed by a picnic at the beach. In keeping with the "workout" theme, fishing entailed a 2.5 mile hike (one way) to Lupine Lake, and paddling a pack raft as needed throughout the day. Lifting a margarita at the beach was a little less strenuous!!! The Boyfriend caught a half-dozen fish, and perhaps more importantly (from my perspective), he saw a bull moose on the way to the trailhead. We call that visitor's luck!!!
Now, Day 3 would be the true test. Destination: the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park. 13.4 miles and 2700 feet elevation gain. I have written about this hike in a previous post, in which I note that we left the house at 6.45 AM in order to secure a parking spot at the Loop and catch a shuttle. That was 2017 and this is 2020 - departure was advanced to 5.30 AM. Glacier has become an extremely popular place, and the fact that half of the Park is closed has exacerbated parking issues. Even with 45 extra minutes, we still experienced parking challenges! But, as always, it was worth the anxiety.
It was lightly raining as we began our adventure; later in the day, with the hot sun and dusty trail conditions, we would have welcomed that precipitation! Immediately, the hike began to deliver on our expectations, with a mountain goat, massive cliffs, and abundant flowers along the Garden Wall. It had been at least 10 years since #1 Daughter had done this hike, so both members of the duo could be heard exclaiming over the beauty, or shaking their heads at the wonder of the views.
Although this was my fourth time experiencing the Highline, we typically go earlier in the summer. I was fascinated by the difference in the flowers one month later in the season.
This hike offered another first for all of us - the Grinnell Glacier Overlook. After seven miles, intrepid explorers have the "opportunity" to ascend more than 900 feet in less than nine-tenths of a mile. In keeping with the challenge to "wear us out", it was a no-brainer. The climb is mostly steady, but there are sections that are very steep. I am pretty sure that we were pausing to catch our breath rather than letting other people have the right-of-way as they descended the narrow path that pitches straight down if you take a wrong step! And here is the reward!
You may have already noticed the lack of other people in my photos. Trust me, that requires some patience and some camera agility. The Highline Trail is an incredibly popular hike; I would guess that we shared it with at least 250 people that day. And yet, you can still reliably see wildlife - goats, marmots, bighorn sheep. And this time, we saw a new animal for me - a pika. No picture, but so adorable!
Shortly after our descent from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail, we arrived at the Granite Park Chalet. The west side of the building offered the only shade, and we sank onto the benches for a well-earned break. Built 1914-1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable back country accommodations, it was the last chalet constructed by the railroad. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, it is one of only two back country chalets that have survived and it continues to provide lodging to adventurers from around the world.
Are you still with me? Yep, now you know how the duo felt. Four miles of down, down, down still remained to close out this hike. But along the way, you earn fabulous views of the terrain that we had already traversed. Can you see the faint line in the center of the picture below? That is the trail to Grinnell Glacier Overlook.
Would a close-up help?
The switchbacks seemed endless and only the thought of the creek at the end kept the team moving. Upon arrival, all of us threw off our boots and socks and plunged knee-deep into the glacier-cold water. Aaahhh. The Boyfriend didn't hesitate to go all the way in - after all, ice baths are de rigueur for athletes! He was smiling even as he professed that the trail had "kicked his patootie". Mission accomplished!
Even pro athletes need rest days, and as master vacation planners, we had the forethought to schedule nothing for Day 4. Some folks caught up on podcasts, or read a book. The kids raided the toy closet and we played Scattergories, Sequence and Euchre. I recently began a new cross-stitch project that will become a throw pillow for #1 Daughter and The Boyfriend. What a treat to sit on the deck and stitch! We closed out the evening around the firepit, with s'mores to boot.
And suddenly, we only had one full day remaining. Day 5 began with a short (2.7 miles one way) but technical hike to Leigh Lake. Steep sections and rock scrambles keep your focus sharp! (Spousal Unit and I completed this trail on May 9 and it was covered with snow. So watch for a future post with comparison shots.) For this post, I will just show you the family shot at the lake, courtesy of a fellow hiker.
From there, it's a short ride down the road to Kootenai Falls and the Swinging Bridge. Once again, it was a warm day and the cool waters of the river were a welcome respite. We marveled at the falls, once the site of filming for the River Wild. The water flow seemed higher than normal, and I said the same, reflecting that it is odd for the time of year. Upon further thought, it must mean that they are releasing more water from the dam upstream. Check out the video.
#1 Daughter and I enjoyed ice creams as Spousal Unit drove home. Ah, summer! The duo treated us to dinner that night at the Kila Pub, and everyone was sleepy by the time we pulled into our driveway. Sigh, the end of another family visit. My only consolation is that I am sure the mountains will soon be calling them back!
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.
