the start of my Saturday

The week’s foot of new snow and very cold temperatures will not be the last of Winter that we see here in Northwest Montana, but it might be the last cold, powdery, heavy snow. It is beautiful beyond words this morning as the sun made the crystalline surface glimmer as if in a fantasy. It is supposed to rise above freezing in today’s bright sunshine. I will be out every second I can enjoying nature’s sparkle while it lasts.

Karl and I are headed to Missoula to fetch the Winnebago. It looks to be a perfect day to drive around the lake and through the valley bordered by the Missions to east and Bitteroots to the west. And back, hopefully…

Soft morning light

First thing in the morning, I flip on the front outside spot as fair warning to the outdoor wild things that us indoor wild things will be making an appearance soon. As I walk through the house, I turn on a few low lamps – just enough light to navigate by as I start coffee, fire up the woodstove, feed the cat – the morning routine.

That first cup of coffee and I, followed by Karl, begin the morning with quiet reflection from a loved old wingback chair in the sunroom. The sunroom is a small bump on the end of the house, off the kitchen. My desk sits beneath the front-side window. From the wingback chair, I can see through the back slider into a living room window… and out the other sunroom windows, the trees illuminated by the outdoor spot.

This morning, the view of Bob and the trees covered with snow, made me grateful once again for a fresh new day.

And this new, soft snow? – Beautiful always, but especially so in the soft morning light.

It’s not always pretty

It is not always pretty from the front porch…

It has been above freezing for several days and nights. The snow is melting and shrinking but what is left is a slushy, puddly, icy mess. The snow is covered with pine needles and sticks. It is not pretty.

Bob ventured out to see what he could see. He didn’t notice his reflection. He was too busy looking for bubbles. (Bob and Bubbles)

When the outside view is not at its best, I look for something pretty inside.

On my kitchen window sill: the single red rose and lilies I bought almost 2 weeks ago and what is left of the live basil after making pesto last weekend. The lilies are in a vase that was hand painted by my grandmother Ruth. And I had a little Photoshop fun with a watercolor filter.