Mosaic Monday #3 - Water, Water Everywhere

Swallowtails on the river shore 

It's quite gray outside today, and I am wavering on my choice of topics for my next post.  Something about the holidays?  It would be timely and cheery … Trail cam photos?  Probably not enough material … A continuation of my summer series?  The sunny shots could warm my bones, and make for some bright mosaics as well.  Ok, that's settled, then.  Call this Chapter 5 of my summer 'book' - see Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4.

Pictures from first four chapters

Beargrass

How do you write your posts?  Do you sit down and just start typing?  Maybe you prepare an extensive outline, college style.  Some of you have your furbabies compose at least part of your post!!!  I usually begin by perusing the pictures I plan to use in the post.  And then I wait for inspiration.   Hmmmm … most of the time it works!

Foamflower in front of waterfall

Today, my photos feature water - water in the form of lakes, and rivers, and waterfalls.  It reminded me of a recent comment from a fellow blogger who had noticed the predominance of water in my pictures.  You know, I hadn't really thought about it before!

Water is a destination for many of us.  Summer arrives and we head to the beach, or the pool, or the lake.  The North Fork of the Flathead River, as you follow it north, leads you to Polebridge, and the gateway to Bowman Lake.  It is a go-to day trip that delights visitors every time, and it delivered for my in-laws in July.

Looking north toward Canadian Rockies with Flathead River in foreground

Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake and Bog Orchid

I have written a number of posts highlighting Glacier National Park, mainly the west side of the Park.  If you want to spend serious time on the east side, it means staying on the east side, or at least mid-way.  In this case, we booked a 2-night stay at the Izaak Walton Inn (more about that in a future post), which meant we could linger on the beauty of the east side, starting with Two Medicine.

Two Medicine Lake - Sinopah Mountain on the left

Two Medicine Lake is one of three lakes in Glacier that offers summer boat tours.  Taking the tour provides several benefits: in addition to learning fascinating information about the environment and local history, you cut out some of the hiking necessary to access special terrain - like waterfalls!

Left: Thimbleberry  Middle: Pumpelly Pillar  Right: Beargrass 

Left: Elderberry  Middle: Twin Falls  Right: Pumpelly Pillar - Spousal Unit and his parents in the meadow below

After we returned to the boat launch site, we devoured a picnic while sitting along the lakeshore - we might have refreshed our feet by dipping them in the cool waters!

Our final stop that day was - you guessed it - another waterfall.  Running Eagle Falls, also known as "Trick Falls", has a wide, well-maintained path suitable for everyone in the family.  The waterfall receives its nickname, because there are actually two separate waterfalls in the same location.  As you can see here, during spring run-off, water rushes over the top ledge for a 40-foot drop, while obscuring the lower falls.  However, as the volume of water decreases by late summer, the upper falls 'dries up', allowing a clear view of the lower 20-foot falls. 

The formal name of the falls comes from Running Eagle, a female warrior of the Blackfeet Nation in the early 1700's, who experienced a four-day vision quest in the mountains high above the falls.  Running Eagle led war parties on many highly successful raids, and was the only woman in the Blackfeet tribe ever to do so, or to be given a man's name. 

Scenic Point mountain

You know what?  My bones are warm and the gray skies have turned to blue!

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. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday #2 - Moose Medley

Are you a collector?

What do you collect?

Why do you collect it?

Is your collection something that you can and do use?

Since I began following Mosaic Monday, I have been fascinated by collections featured by so many of you - tableware with a checkered pattern, holiday decorations, flamingos, old books, yarn, mugs …

Pajamas, Apron and Slippers

I looked around my house and realized that I probably have several categories that approach collections, of varying magnitude.  Today I will highlight my obsession with moose (oops, I guess my title might have given it away).

My moose mania most likely began on a backpacking trip to Baxter State Park in September 1994.  Spousal Unit and I bunked in a cabin on Russell Pond, and thrilled to the sight of a cow moose feeding on pond weed in the lingering light of a Maine fall day.  I have been hooked ever since.

When our kids were young, family camping trips to the Adirondacks delivered great enjoyment.  But no moose.  We had to settle for this decal.

Over time, moose objects have made an easy gift for family members - most years, my Christmas list says "anything with moose".

Retirement gift from my oldest brother and his wife

Occasionally, I will purchase a moose for myself.

In recent years, moose (and all things 'rustic') have become quite popular, and so many everyday items feature moose.

Retirement gift from our

financial advisor

Pillow in upstairs guest room

I do use most of these items regularly.  Some were saved until we moved into the log house, such as hand towels given to us by my in-laws.

I will leave you with a little 'moose' inspiration from this hand towel - 

Enjoy the great outdoors

It's OK to be a little wild

If you have a great rack, flaunt it

Be like a moose - be strong and carry on

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.  

An InLinkz Link-up

October Oasis

Fall Fiesta Maple in our back garden

Oasis?  In Montana?  Yes!  Oasis is defined as "a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled or hectic place or situation".  Pleasant?  Check.  Mother Nature graced us with several weeks of blue-sky, 60-degree weather.  Peaceful?  Check.  Visitor bookings were slow, at only four days.  Difficult situation?  Check.  The world has plenty of troubles; I keep my head down and focus on my 2018 goals.  It might be a bit of head-in-the-sand, but it's my refuge, my safe haven and my sanctuary.  Come join me at the oasis.

ONE: COLOR

Orange has always been a favorite color, so it's no surprise that I enjoy autumn, with its many shades of ginger.  Decorating for Halloween is a bonus that involves an outside display of pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales and mums.

Inside, my focus is our dining room table.  We've had this Halloween tree for many years; normally the kids would split up the 'ornaments' and place them on the tree.  A little sad that I do this on my own now …








Of course, Mother Nature outperforms all of us with Her decorating.

Cotton clouds over the house

Upper left: sand cherry; Upper right: burning bush

Bottom: Larch framed by scudding clouds

TWO: CONCOCTIONS

Kung Pao Chicken

My cooking mo-jo revs up in the fall - maybe the cooler days and a craving for comfort food is the gas for that particular engine.  (And it helps that weekly cooking is one of my 2018 goals.)  Spousal Unit and I have created a bit of a routine with the cooking thing - I look up recipes on Pinterest and he reviews them for process, ingredients and overall interest.  If a recipe passes muster, he buys the ingredients during his normal shop.  Then, it's a joint session in the kitchen with his fine assistance as Sous Chef.  We've had pretty good luck lately with our choices; only the Savoy Cabbage recipe failed to make it onto the 'keeper' list.  (links to all the recipes except the bread are at the end of this post)

A family recipe for Pumpkin Bread

Lemon Fettucine Alfredo

Pad Thai with spaghetti squash

Savoy Cabbage Casserole

THREE: CREATURES

The trail cam has not delivered much this month; I tried out some new locations that were a bust, apart from the ubiquitous deer, some dim shots of a coyote and dark visions of a hare.  More interesting was the parade of turkeys near the fire circle, which I captured in the video below; this mama was quite intent to get her young'uns across the open space!

And then there are creatures of the Halloween kind … a couple of weeks ago we made an inaugural stop in the Tailing Loop Winery, and lucked out that someone had organized a jam session as part of a Halloween party.  As musicians rotated on and off the stage, the harmonica player would be struck with inspiration, grab a mike and wail away.  Check out this video of his talent.

Of course, following last year's post about Halloween and the Whitefish costume contest,  I am sure you all have been tortured by pins and needles, waiting for this year's entry.  Wait no longer … behold James Bond and his date from the Spectre movie.  Surely you see the resemblance?

Now, folks, we were not the only loonies to adopt an alter ego …

FOUR: CROSS-STITCH

Progress continues on my 30 Christmas cross-stitch ornaments.  I snatch some moments during car rides with Spousal Unit, but I usually double down while watching Dancing With the Stars (I favor Juan Pablo or Milo for the mirrorball) or football.  When I most need to escape, cross-stitch is my retreat.

FIVE: CHANGE

But change is definitely afoot.  I recently ordered my Day-Timer pages for 2019, and I thrilled to a fresh motif, a vibrant color scheme and the clean sheets.  Just a coincidence that January says "Seek Peace"?





Autumn is prime time for planting, and we've transplanted no less than 2 juniper, 18 aspen, 5 Engelmann spruce, 2 Douglas fir and 9 larches.  Throughout the winter months, I will dream about my babies; only in the Spring will we get a grade on the quality of our process.

Snow has dusted the landscape several times during the month, but has quickly yielded to the sun and warming temperatures.

Note these pictures were taken by the trail cam on the

same day, only six hours apart

But it's as good an excuse as any (if one was ever needed) to crank up the fireplace.  Come on November; I'm ready for you.

Kung Pao Chicken
Lemon Fettucine Alfredo
Pad Thai
Savoy Cabbage Casserole

Linking to:

All Seasons


I Like Thursday

Nature Notes


Orange You Glad It's Friday!

Our World Tuesday


Saturday's Critters

Skywatch Friday

Wednesday Around the World

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday #1 - The Legacy Continues

I am honored to welcome you to my first post as the new host of Mosaic Monday.  Honored because I am a lucky lady to carry on the fine legacy 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.  Please join me in thanking them!

My Mom's crochet - published 7/16/2017

Afternoon tea at Fairmont Banff Springs

Published 9/10/2017

How and when did you first come across Mosaic Monday?  My history with MM is relatively short, but then my blogging only began on March 2, 2017.  At that time, I was looking for other bloggers in Montana, and I found Kit @ A Montana Life.  Kit's blog roll contains both Maggie @ Normandy Life and Tammy @ T's Daily Treasures.  Tammy pointed me to PicMonkey as a tool for creating mosaics, and I was tickled with myself to publish my first three mosaics on April 3, 2017.

Making cookies for the neighbors

Published 12/8/2017

Then, on May 20, 2017, I linked to Mosaic Monday for the first time.  (I didn't learn about permalinks until later, so I am sure some of you that tried to find that post through Maggie's linky party got to read some other post … sigh.) Despite my mistakes, I was overjoyed to be welcomed by so many of you - 17 months later, I feel I am part of a community that shares its joys and sorrows through beautiful pictures and creative collages.  In honor of my first post as host, I have chosen 5 favorite mosaics to decorate this narrative.  I look forward to sharing many more collages, and to be inspired by your collections.

Scenes in Whitefish, Montana

Published 3/9/2018

A special thank you to Maggie @ Normandy Life, for her patience with my questions over the last couple of weeks.  As she says "Keep calm and keep asking questions … it's the only way to learn."  So, I hope you'll be patient with me if there are technical bumps along the way - as some of you know, techie stuff is not my forte!





Here's to many more years of Mosaic Monday!

Holy Cross Chapel, Durham, UK - published 3/16/2018

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. 

An InLinkz Link-up