Look down

As a kid I was always told to look up

 watch your step

 don't look down or you'll trip and fall

grownups say the stupidest things

 often what was on the ground was more interesting than then the surroundings!

forever an expert at avoiding the cracks in the pavement

skipping or jumping over them

 

There are all kinds of cool stuff on the ground

bugs, bottle caps, rocks, feathers 

 not to mention money

money to buy a piece of candy at the kiosk

 these days I find dimes on the ground

aware that dad drops a few from heaven 

so that I know he's watching me

Magic

Reading Pippi Longstockings as a child and to my kids

a particular chapter I loved- when Pippi taught Annika and Tommy to become a "thing finders"

when out with my kids and the distance became to long for their short little legs

I challenged them to become "thing finders"

which turned the whole walk into something fun

scouring for treasures

These days I do it for myself especially when my camera takes me for a walk

 Montana is still really grey makes the surroundings rather bland

so I look I down.

On my walk I found rocks displayed into interesting designs

compliments of mother nature

Lichen, delicate yet rugged

the perfect balance

the lime blends so beautiful with the greens and teal-

I get inspired to knit a sweater when I see the colors and texture it offers

contrasting with pretty whites and pinks of the birch tree

Lilly’s soft cream colored tail against the brown pebbles and the debris

The pitter patter of rain drops on the asphalt – also a secret favorite smell of mine

wet asphalt

I found a spot where fairies live in the “Moss Woods"

snuck up on one or two as they were gathering some fire wood

my last shot do you see what happened?

A Viking split a stone in two while in  fierce battle

..it's all true.

look down you might see some magic too

Up the road

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.- Lewis Carroll

It was one of those days, grey winter days in Montana. Earth still frozen and too cold to do anything in the garden, itching to be in nature and too restless to sit inside by the fire. We took a drive up the gravel roads up the North Fork, enjoying the view and talking about how spring feels like it's almost around the corner, new hikes that needed to be explored. I found some new fishing holes it's easy to walk the river beds as the snow is still holding strong on the mountains, finding these new spots and visiting these views always remind us how we are in search of a cabin of our own up here for our family...one day.
I have come to the conclusion no matter how bad it is inside - going outside makes my insides feel better...always. When "grey" is the weather forecast, nature always has something to new up her sleeve to draw you outside and explore. In Montana all you have to do is take a road, any path or trail it will lead you to peace of mind a place of contemplation and appreciation. Nature and wilderness is where it's at and in Montana that's what's it all about.

But love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need - if only we had eyes to see."

Edward Abbey

Winter sunshine

It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake,

the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam.

This crisp winter air is full of it.

~John Burroughs, "Winter Sunshine"

Wishing you all a Happy Valentines day!

Beach

 In Montana there are many things to explore, some are seasonal because of weather conditions-  quick example is "Going to the sun road" in Glacier it closes during winter at Avalanche- if you want to got to the top - you're hiking it or skiing most likely because the snow pack is unreal. Hence the summer months are a better time to explore.
This beach is very special to us because is open seasonally as it becomes protective bird sanctuary, when the weather is at it's best, open only till March for the public- this, the north end of Flathead lake. For someone that grew up near the ocean, Oslo and then Coronado I miss the ocean and the salty air. Jumping in the ocean waves, watching sandpipers skittering about the shore, hot sunshine on my shoulders, sea shell picker upper, sand castle builder... my middle name, mermaid.
~I love the beach.


My father an avid sailor would "coerce" me to crew on his sailboat during the weekends...as a teen I hated it. Dad loved it- he felt as if he was flying, for me it was hard work and exhausting.
" Saga" his 52 ft Swan sailboat, was one that took us on many adventures from San Francisco to Coronado, sailing around the Coronado islands outside Mexico with flyfish flying over the bow, deep dark blue waters, seals sunning on the buoys. Vacations were spent sailing in British and U.S Virgin Islands. I felt my first baby's "kick" sailing in the San Juan islands on the coast of Washington.
I miss my dad, and I miss sailing with him.


Though Flathead lake ends and begins unlike any ocean, the water reminds me of him.
No salty air but sand, non the less- as the surrounding lakes have beautiful rocks, here there is sand, add a beautiful blue bird day and sun warming high in the sky, you just can't beat that... Montucky in winter.
 We brought Lily and her Christmas present -Wolfie. Off leash- they went from zero to 100 mph with miles of beach to run, explore and skid on ice. In the morning the little frozen puddles in the sand are fun to slide across- melt into clear puddles in late afternoon. A little girl ice skating on the beach on a frozen puddle, unusual... yet clever, her dad watching, sitting on a log with their little dog dancing all around.
This beach is a perennial favorite of ours- a true feeling of Big Sky country with the blue skies, Swan mountains white capped and rugged backdrop, the calm lake that stretches forever into the distance. A remedy for anything that ails you- this beach on the right day will rejuvenate you and lift your spirits.
Returning home I looked at my husband and said; you know for the first time, in a long time, I'm really happy. My soul feels deeply happy.


It's been 2 years since dad died it's been hard to come to peace with it all.
He was like the ocean to me- never ending.
Though I have let go, tears have become smiles as he comes to mind. As I walk on the beach and I find him- in my thoughts...somewhere out there he must be sailing amongst the stars.


Dad has the sea- I have my mountains, we meet in the middle somewhere on the beach.