Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Going Home

I feel like I’ve written ad nauseum about my love for Montana and I think it gets even “worse” when I go away in that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” kind of way. I have lived in northwest Montana for 15 years and the love has had its cycles as all love does. My other love of exploring sends me out and about and I always enjoy the adventure but there is also that ache for the place that is the place right for me.

“Home” – it is different things for each of us I suspect. I feel a lot of at homeness when I travel in the motorhome as I have the companionship of Bob and Karl, this rolling home which is comfortable and familiar no matter where it is parked, the company of family and friends via email and blogs. I love the routine of traveling this way and spending time in different places.

But there is always the “pine” for Montana and my small spot there. I tamp it down so as to enjoy the experience of where I am – else, why go? But on the way home, especially as I get to those places that have reminders of home, the excitement grows. The return trip is always so exhilarating and wonderful and I like to draw it out and enjoy that feeling of knowing that I’m on my way home. It is an odd paradox of wanting to be there and yet wanting to take my time and enjoy the getting close.

This morning, I am 404 miles from my house. I am at Western Wings RV Park. I believe that its main reason for being is as a shooting spot (clay), but there are level sites with water and power and a self-check in/out system. There are 2 of us here. I found it two years ago travelling to Colorado to see my folks. There is nothing else around – Roberts, ID is not a large town and it is some distance away. I took a lot of photos last night and am just off to catch sunrise over the pond and then be on my way home. Photos from here after I get home. But what a place to spend this night before the run to home…quiet except for the birds, so isolated and perfect temperature – I left blinds and windows open.

I’m on my home road: I-15 over Monida Pass, turning west on I-90 and 93 north from Missoula. This part I know and love and the miles go by almost too fast when I’m going home.

Rolling north

It is calm and clear this morning and looks to be a beautiful morning so will roll as soon as we’re ready and it is full light.

Another route modification to stay on the interstate but out of Utah…: I-80 to Wells, NV, north on 93 to Twin Falls, ID, east on I-84 then I-86 to Pocatello and I-15 North. If I don’t have to stop for weather we should make Pocatello or further.

Noon Mountain Time – quick stop to check weather. Just crossed the Snake River at Twin Falls. Have new respect for Evil Kneivel – WOW!…more like the Snake River Gorge! Sky is blue with puffy white clouds so far. On to Pocatello.

4:30 p.m. Arrived Western Wings RV Park, Roberts, ID – about 20 miles north of Idaho Falls. God willing and the creek don’t rise we will be sitting on the front porch tomorrow this time.

Pics from today in a bit.

A day of remembrance

Without the sacrifice of so many, I would not be doing what I am today, in the place I am today. To say “Thank you” to all who paid with their lives, is not enough. Those of us reaping the benefits of their payment can best say “Thank You” by continuing to fight for what they fought for. It is a particularly scary battle at the moment.

Also not forgotten are the families who supported the fallen, who went and go on without them. May they have peace.

Memorial Day – A day of remembrance.

More on light

Tuesday, I took photos in Somers between rain squalls. Dark clouds on the east side of the valley were offset by blue sky and puffy white clouds on the west side. The air was crystal clear. The afternoon sun through the clouds and the clear air with the dark backdrop to the east made the colors of everything their most vivid.

In comments for that post, reader and blog bud Buck (Exile in Portales) asked about the altitude here. It is just under 3000 feet on the valley floor/lake level where the Tuesday photos were taken (per NOAA). My house is about 200 foot higher (per my GPS). Buck lives in New Mexico, home to many artists who comment on the New Mexico light. Buck explained his question with a theory that altitude contributes to an artistic light.

I certainly believe altitude has something to do with quality of light. I think humidity plays a roll as well. On Tuesday and again today with these photos, the clouds also come into play. The sun in today’s photos is again at an angle opposite the dark clouds. There is that light that happens when bright sunlight has dark clouds as a backdrop.

Where is our physics person???

Whatever the explanation, I love light like this. The light, the colors, the clouds rolling, the wind blowing… the uncertainty…intriguing.

Easter candy

Over to the right in “Snippets of Life”, I commented last week that I suddenly had a craving for a chocolate creme egg. I had the wrong name and still not sure of the right name, but when I was a child we always had this rather large chocolate egg, dark chocolate on the outside and a creamier, lighter chocolate with nuts inside. It was very rich and I remember being allowed to have a small slice daily. It was in a box with a cellophane window. That’s my memory – I don’t always get the details :) !

Saturday, running a few errands, I stopped at a drug store that I knew would have a variety of Easter goodies. I don’t know… drugstore lighting, the garish colors – and no “box” as I remembered. Everything I saw just made me think of old, too sugary candy and I was not tempted.

I’m not sure of the exact date, but I think it is approaching a year since “ The Apple Trolley” opened in Bigfork. In a little retail space on the way out of town to the south, a young woman and her mother opened a “gourmet carmel apple” shop.

And it is thriving – Big Time! And at $5 an apple. I am thrilled for them and for Bigfork and for me – delicious treat, nice owners, pleasant little shop – it is fun.

Standing in the drugstore with everything looking unappealing to me, I suddenly thought of “ The Apple Trolley“…

My Easter candy.

**Lest you think they will not make it with $5 caramel apples, they were nearly sold out when I stopped just before noon on Saturday. And they had made extra for Easter, along with special bags and baskets available. Good on them!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled programming…

I have fallen in love with Leesa’s photography and the aura of gentle goodness at her site: Peace of my mind

Today, she posted “My Little Rocky” aka Rocky, the Flying Squirrel

When I was something around pre-teen, my family took care of a flying squirrel. I don’t remember the exact circumstances, but he was “Rocky” naturally (Rocky and Bullwinkle….) …oops, he was “Pocket” because he liked to be in a Pocket (my mother took care of him for a Sunday School student of hers who couldn’t take him when he went off to college. Peter originally got Pocket from camp which was overrun with the squirrels) and my memory is of being locked in the bathroom with him while his cage was being cleaned and of him swooping around the bathroom and eventually climbing up the inside of my pajama leg :) ! It was an incredible experience and wonderful memory. (My mother writes that I screamed….)

I had no idea there were flying squirrels in Montana before seeing Leesa’s photo. Despite squirrels giving Karl fits, I may just have to put a feeder up and check it in the wee, small hours…