The skies have continued to be mostly gray. The air is damper than usual making temperatures in the 40’s (F) feel bone chilling cold. There have been snow squalls, periods of pouring rain and sleet, mornings when there is a dusting of snow but except for the bizarre early October blizzard, this late fall has been mostly dry.
The larch have lost maybe half their needles, leaving a barren bit of gold in the foothills underneath the gray skies of November.
On the way to the bridge…
MT Hwy 82 bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River not too far before it empties into Flathead Lake.
Another favorite spot…I love the barn and the silos, the lake, mountains and clouds in the background, the fence and grass in the foreground. It is a favorite view – made favorite first by a day last winter when the entire scene was frosty.
Today, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in the year of our Lord, it was beautiful as always.
This day has seen clouds, sunshine, cool, nearly hot and at the moment it is beautifully blustery and cool. I am in my sunroom – office with all of the windows and doors in this little house wide open. It is 63 outside and close to that inside. I am comfortable. Karl and Bob are napping near. The wind is whistling its low, dull, comforting whoosh through the pines.
A favorite spot for a Sunday.
Photo taken on Somers Rd. near Somers, MT on 9/6/2009.
My favorite way to start a Sunday morning.
Yes, the painting is done, the front porch has been water sealed.
My idea of “peace on earth”.
And then the morning walk with magic clouds and the bluest of blue skies.
And my good dog for company.
The mountains, the sky, the grass, the dog…on a Sunday morning walk.
Completing the circle.
Sunday: From the Front Porch
The neighbors have gone home and we are back on our mountain loop walk…
After morning rain showers, the afternoon and evening cleared – SO clear!
Beautiful green, green, green, high in the back country.
We sat and looked and smelled and felt…the clean, crisp, western mountain air.
My driveway has a curve to the west as it meets the road. West on my road leads to Montana highway 35 from which I go most everywhere. This week MT Hwy 35 is being chip sealed 4 miles in both directions from my road. I plan on avoiding it until they are through.
But, my road is also a road to Echo Lake, a medium-small lake that lies in the foothills just a few miles away.
This morning, I turned East on my road.
Looking between the bug splats on my windshield, you can almost make out that the road changes from asphalt to gravel. I am thankful to live on the asphalt part!
Along the road is mostly thick forest but there are beautiful meadows in some spots.
That is Blackies Bay to the south along the road. There are a number of small lakes/large ponds in this area.
The lake was quiet when we arrived. Karl puttered along this access and then we walked a road that borders the end of the lake and a marshy area.*
As we returned, an early morning water-skier approached. I was ready to take a photo of the geese taking off as the ski boat turned…
…but they were unfazed by the boat and it made the turn without getting too near them.
On the drive home, with the sun behind me, it was easier to see into the woods and get a glimpse of some of the cabins and homes. Every once in awhile I would see one that seemed so appealing to me.
And then I turned into my own drive and caught the first glimpse of my home…
…and it looked so very nice to me. It looked wonderfully nice to me and I had this overwhelming feeling of gratitude that I have this place to live, in this beautiful woods…
…a good dog to walk with and a good cat to come home to.
* Below are links to posts with Echo Lake photos from Fall 2008
