When I first moved to Montana, I lived in Whitefish at the base of Big Mountain Ski Resort.  I moved from Whitefish in Fall, 2002 south to Bigfork area.  I still see Whitefish Doctors, Vet, Hair salon and friends…  Yesterday morning, I was there for some appointments - it was cool enough to have Karl with and we always stop at what is now the Soccer Fields and a monstrous subdivision called “The Lakes at Whitefish” - very la-di-dah!  When Karl was an itty-bitty-puppy-boy, for off leash training we came here and walked in the dirt tracks and it was just a nice, big, kind of wild place - well, things change…   It is pretty, just different.

Above right - Cowgirl Coffee - on the way to Whitefish…my favorite Cowgirl Mocha a spicy mocha latte… at least the coffee has not changed!

Things continue to get more “normal” - temperature/air quality-wise.  Karl and I took a long walk yesterday for the first time in many weeks.  The sky was cloudy, but patches of blue and the clouds were just clouds, not smoke.  The air smelled clean after the rain and I was comfortable walking in shorts and sweatshirt.  They have allowed a lot of evacuees back to their homes and are starting to get containment on the fires that were threatening structures.  It is still far from over and the “wrong” weather could kick things up again but for the moment it feels more normal.

Blue sky! - not a lot but the first that I’ve seen for awhile.  And the other bits are clouds and NOT smoke.  A little rain last night cleared things for a bit and more rain forecast for this afternoon and this week.  The wind in front of the rain made everyone nervous and they evac’d some around the active fires, but everyone back home today.  Engine 7 from my district is back as well as the Fire Chief and Dept President that went to the Black Cat Fire.

Everyone is talking about Fall - this will be one of the most anticipated and appreciated Fall seasons since I’ve lived in Montana - although most everyone enjoys the color, the cool, crisp days…the lack of tourists.  Even though the tourists provide the foundation of our local economy…they take up parking spaces, and restaurant room - and this weekend… I was entering the grocery and nabbed by one who wanted to know what there was to “do”, where was a farmer’s market??? And when I hesitated - because most of the farmer’s markets are on Thursday and I was trying to remember if the one at the mall was on Saturday - and while I was thinking, he had the nerve, I say THE NERVE to laugh AT me and make a comment about having asked the wrong person.  I should have laughed back and walked away but felt compelled to defend myself and made some suggestions all of which he shot down as his wife had already done those things -  a blown dry, CA - yuppie baby boomer - WHY did they even come to MT???  And why was I not smarter in response??  Plus, I was at the grocery story in town that I HATE and always swear to never go in again, but went because I wanted just a few things - arrgggh!  Luckily, it was cool enough to have Karl in the car with me and he kissed me on my return and all was well - we went home, had a good lunch and played nerf football - all better!

My impatiens…I bought them late after returning from Colorado - 1/2 price at the nursery - gorgeous… I put them in the shady part of the garden when I went to Missoula thinking they would get plenty of water from the garden sprinklers, but on my return they looked dead - I wish I had taken a photo.  I almost threw them out, but decided to see if they would at least partially revive and so I apologized to them - over and over - and gave them a good drink and by the next morning they looked well, although no blooms.  So I kept it up and after the foilage seemed good, gave them some food and WOW - you would never know that they had suffered a drought. 

Sunday morning - FROM THE FRONT PORCH!!!  The smoke is not entirely gone, the fires are not near being out and in fact the Black Cat fire near Jim n Mary’s RV Park crested Evaro Hill last night and is bearing down on the town of Arlee, MT - which I know from a fire department email alerting us (fire dept volunteers) that Engine 7 manned by the Chief Mahugh and Fire Dept president John Klippel left the district at 8 p.m. last evening, responding to a statewide mutual aid call on this fire.  Two men with wives, children and businesses on an at least 24 stint on a fast moving wildland fire - God Speed to them and all the firefighters.

Here - at my home, things seem much improved.  The sunrise was pinkish and there is still a lot of smoke but not as much and no ash and it is very pleasant at 53 degrees.  A favorite breakfast of chicken fried steak, pan gravy, poached eggs, fried potatoes and strong black coffee started the day.  I’m enjoying the last cup of coffee on the porch as I write - I’m also enjoying the company of Karl and Bob and what, except for the interruption of the hot, smoky, waspy summer - had been our routine - enjoying the early morning outside together.

Actually, it is just after 9 so hardly “early” but it’s Sunday - a slower start…and we were all up at just before 3 a.m. as a group of coyotes were “singing” close enough to wake the house and all of the dogs within earshot.  Karl joined in the chorus…  It is one of those things that is eeirie and beautiful at the same time.  I have always liked waking in the night and walking around a dark house or better - a moonlit house.  Luckily I have a dog so can excuse myself for venturing outside to look at the stars and moon because “the dog wanted out” - truth is he rarely does unless he’s ill and he doesn’t go far in the dark - sticking close to backup - me!!! And often I have to coax him out with me on my middle of the night ventures - it’s not like we go far - I just like to step off the front porch and look up.  I don’t have “security” lighting so there is no “light pollution” to get in the way of seeing the night sky. 

Wow - it is so quiet and peaceful … and beautiful in a smoky/misty way - there is a forecast for rain today and more this week and hopefully in enough quantity to offset the wind coming with - hopefully to be help and not hindrance to the fire fighters.   It is late August with September just around the corner - the start of my favorite time of year. 

I read something awhile ago that comes to mind on occasion… along the lines of “if you think of everyone the same then no one is special.”  …as in if there are no valleys then you cannot have the mountains - I thank God for the special people, special pets and special times in my life - gifts from a GOD to whom all are truly special.

I have Karl to thank for the opportunity to see these clouds and the chance to get photos…

On the alert - a herd of deer ran through the woods and Karl was barking so I went out to see - otherwise would have missed this…. Happy Birthday to ME!