Posts from the ‘Nature’ category

there’s snow on them thar hills…

Road HomeI woke in the night 2 nights ago and heard rain – a good sound considering the fires and dryness of this area.  And it was a nice gentle rain so good moisture.

Yesterday afternoon, I was driving in to town (Kalispell) – blue skies, puffy white clouds and belatedly I noticed – SNOW on the mountain tops!  It is high – probably 3500-4000 feet higher than my home and a bit higher than that from the valley floor, but beautiful.  Mountain tops are made to have snow on them…

On the way to town, I stopped in Somers, MT – a little town that lives on the northwest border of Flathead Lake.  There is a bit of an historic railroad trail that Karl and I walk.  It’s on the way to the grocery I prefer.  There is a restaurant along the trail and they have a garden to grow their own veg and herbs.  The sunflowers below are from that garden – the lake and mountain view from along that trail.

Sunflowers

Lake

Rainy day Monday

RaincoatRain – finally!!  It has been cooler and fall-like but we really needed some rain to put a final end to fire season.  Today’s rain will not put everything out but it is supposed to continue through the week and hopefully things will get damp enough to be rid of smoke for good.  Skies have been mostly clear, but when a breeze kicks up, the sky gets hazy and smoke seeps into the valley.

The leaves are starting to turn, the sun is more southerly, no frost yet but we have been close a few nights. 

As grumpy as everyone was during the heat and smoke – we are now kind of “over the top” happy.  Everyone saying “What a beautiful day!” all over the place.

Let Fall begin!

a new perspective

I wrote the title above having an idea of what I intended to write about and then started wondering if I had the word right?  Or, if there were varied meanings so did I need to make clear which I was thinking about…

From Merriam-Webster (online)

per·spec·tive  noun

Etymology: Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at

From Wikipedia – (which is not necessarily accurate as the entries can be submitted by anyone..) 

Perspective may mean:

Literally, in visual topics:

Metaphorically, in relation to cognitive topics:

Onward, then… “perspective” – “to look more at” and “the way in which objects appear to the eye” – that’s behind today’s thoughts.  Pine Tree  Walking yesterday, I turned to check on Karl and saw this tree – backlit by the late afternoon sun.  I walk past this tree once or twice a day – I’m usually looking out at the mountains which are beautiful and majestic in the opposite direction.

But today, by accident of timing, I turned at a moment when this ordinary tree was cast in extraordinary beauty – at least to my eye.

Years ago, during a difficult time for me, I was seeing a counselor and had related some incident that was upsetting to me.  His comment when I finished my rant was simply: “You could look at it that way or you could look at it this way” and he told the incident from a “different” [new to me] perspective.  Either one could have been the “truth” or even some other scenario…

A valuable lesson – actually more than one:  Most of us are not mind readers and it is so easy to look at things, events or people from a point of view unique to our own experience but not necessairily accurate.

Sometimes, we need to turn around, take a step forward, backward, to the side, cock our head – look more at – the world and the people we care about. 

A slight change in perspective can change the ordinary into the extraordinary.

A Goose Story

This “story” is not mine… last year about this time I kept hearing geese flying over – flight after flight of them, directly over my house. They were just above tree top and lots of honking and flapping of wings to be heard.  I got to wondering – why all of the honking, how did they decide who flew with who, how do they decide when to leave – some leave early, some late – I know why the V formation but the other ???  I googled “goose” and this is my favorite even though it doesn’t answer all of the questions.  Here is the exact link to the original:  The Goose Story

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in ‘V formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following it.  By flying in a ‘V formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own.

Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they cooperate.

When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who are going the same way as we are.

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point.

It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. The lead goose (on the point) never honks

The power of praise and recognition is critical to success.

Finally, (get this) when a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group.

If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.

Sat-ur-day… in the Park

Back to Whitefish – post eye Dr….beautiful day and SO grateful that my eye is ok.  Karl was with so we stopped at our walking place – now the Soccer fields…

daughter, Dad and ??? in the trailer:

Family always something special about Dad’s and daughters…maybe because I’m a daughter.  This little girl was interested in Karl and she and her dad had a short discussion about his color and white “socks” as they passed.  I couldn’t see “who” was in the trailer…

The photos following show the soccer fields which were being used for their intended purpose today. 

 Also below is a view into Glacier National Park with the pond in the foreground that is home to a variety of birds at least – this entire area is a bit of a wetlands – reclaimed by manmade methods for the soccer fields, a church and housing subdivision.  Privately, Karl and I preferred it as open land… but change – progress are inevitable – even in Montana…

Soccer

GNP

A walk in the park

Along the northeast shore of Flathead Lake, about 7 miles from my house is a state park – Wayfarer’s State Park.  According to a marker in the park, Harry Horn made the funds and/or the land (it’s not clear) available so that this area would be a place for families to stop and enjoy the lake and the woods.  There is a boat launch, picnic areas along the shore, 20 tent/rv sites, 2 bath houses and a small system of walking trails.  In Montana part of the vehicle registration fee goes to the state park system so day use is free if you have Montana plates. 

I take Karl there year round – we walk 2 loops – maybe 3 miles – that start at a parking lot near the entrance, go up a hill which gives a view of a lake…then down to the lake and a loop along the shore.  The trails are maintained with chip shreds and although have the up and down they are good walking.  The park borders a dude ranch called Flathead Lake Lodge – they call it a dude ranch and it has the activities you’d assocate with a dude ranch but it’s location on the lake allows for it to also have lake activities like kayaking, swimming, and fishing.  There are peek-a-boo views into this property from the park.

Dude Ranch 

Dude Ranch II

When we go in the summer we often just do the “top” loop as between the rv/camping, boat launch and picnic areas there are often more people and other dogs than is fun – usually during the week we have the place to ourselves and we ignore the rules and go off leash – it’s a great running around area.  The “beach” area is rocky and treed – not wide open but  walkable.

Lake

Boat

Yesterday, a holiday, things were very quiet.  People had put in boats but the launch area and beach were not crowded like the middle of summer.  A few campers and rvrs were in residence but the 2 camp hosts were getting ready to leave the park for the winter – the bathhouses stay open until the end of September but you are on your own as far as getting into spots.  It was warm midday at 80 and Karl and I were both hot at the 1/2 way point of the first loop so we skipped the lake for probably the last time this summer and walked just the first loop. On the way back we passed a group of 2 families with what appeared to be all of the grandparents.  Karl always gets a lot of attention – he is a handsome dog and many people have never seen a Karelian.  He loves children and will stand waiting with tail wagging to say hello but he is not forward and will not approach them or other people unless they speak to him.  And sometimes they don’t – his size, blackness, still and quiet wolfish appearance frightens some.  This day he was hot, so panting slightly and the kids were not comfortable although their parents and I said they could pet him.  One of the boys remarked that it looked like he had very sharp teeth!  Karl has a gorgeous set of teeth – very straight and white – they ARE sharp but he’s never used them on a person or child – but mouth open, panting – I took a look – it was a bit frightening if you don’t know him.  So no petting and on we went and finished our walk.  A nice walk in the park and in the coming days we will have both loops to ourselves as the summer visitors dwindle.