Montana Mountain Magic

Walt decided we should do something fun today since it was his last day at home before he goes back to work in Ecuador.  We've traveled this summer, but when we've been home it's been work, work, work.  (There's always plenty of that around here in the summer!)  So he got on the lawnmower and I harvested a huge batch of rhubarb, then got my camera to snap some pics of the house.  So beautiful!

It looks pretty darn good with nice green grass and beautiful blue sky.  And today has been a glorious day.

I know.  I know.  Most people have peonies blooming in May or early June ----- not mid-August.  Guess that's just a mountain climate for you!  We enjoy them whenever they come.  (Remember, you can click on the images to view them full-size - in all their glory!)

So, we're off.  Headed up into our backyard mountain playground.  The air up here is pure and clear and clean.  And the fragrance of the mountain pine cannot be matched.  Awesome.

We're up behind our house with a good view of the ski hill where we spend our winter free time.

As we traveled along the road, we saw numerous signs of bear hunting for grubs and insects.  They are hungry this year.  It's been cold and rainy and everything is late.

This is the steepest part of our trail today - the photo really tends to flatten it out, but it is steep and even steeper in the winter when it's covered with snow and we're trying to make it on our snowmobiles!  FUN!!

Along the way somewhere way up there on the mountainside,we found an old falling-down cabin and this very well-preserved little building.  I didn't explore, but assume it is something other than an outhouse.

This is the falling-down cabin beside it.  Not in very good shape!

Walt on his four-wheeler (ATV to some folks).

This was pretty high up, but not nearly as high as we sometimes go.  Nice view of the ski hill.  Maverick Mountain to be exact.

This is a view of the area where we live - picture I took as we were returning home after a glorious two-hour ride in our backyard mountain playground.  How magnificent.  And how blessed we are to live here - in the Last Best Place.  God's Country.  Land of the Big Sky.