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The Smell and Sights of Autumn in the Montana Mountains
Certain smells and sights belong to fall in the mountains of southwest Montana, and every year I wait for it. As the beautiful sunsets gradually become stunning sunrises- a shift is taking place. It begins in the cool of morning, when summer has finally released its hold. The light feels clearer. The aspens begin to…
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Gathered Along the Way
Bringing a little of the outdoor adventure home is a simple pleasure that I’ve been enjoying since childhood. Collecting natural mementos of my outings keeps me remembering wonderful walks long after I’m back to the hustle and bustle. The texture of weathered wood, the shape of a stone smoothed by water, a handful of pinecones…
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Fall is Beginning in the Southwest Montana Mountana
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The Vision Board and When Someday Became Now
Long ago a couple of my girlfriends and I created vision boards. The idea was to find photos to represent a life wanted in the future, paste them on a cork board and visualize a similar outcome. I put pictures of mountains on my vision board. Winding trails. Little cabins tucked beneath evergreens. Wildflowers along…
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Hot Springs, Cowboy Boots & a Montana Weekend
Montana weekends spent in a slow manner is the crown jewel after a busy work week. No rushing. No overthinking. Just cool mountain air, a hot spring waiting somewhere down the road, and a day that doesn’t need much of a plan. This weekends agenda: soak, wander, and dance under the Montana sky. The day…
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When the Fog Rolls Into the Southwest, Montana Mountains
A different scene emerges in the mountains when the fog rolls in. One minute, the familiar peaks are standing tall against the sky. The next, they disappear behind a soft gray curtain, and everything becomes quiet, mysterious, and still. I stepped outside with my coffee and could barely see the mountains. This morning, that fog…
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Falling Asleep to Crickets Beneath a Smoky Montana Sky
Living in the mountains of southwest Montana means getting used to conditions that change quickly and don’t always feel predictable. Some days are clear and sharp, with long views across ridgelines and valleys. Other days, especially in late summer, the air fills with smoke from wildfires burning somewhere in the region. Lately, it’s been smoky.…
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The Simple Rhythm of Mountain Living
Something I cherish about mountain living is that there’s always something to do. The work never really ends, but somehow it never feels like a chore. Instead, it becomes part of the lifestyle. Some mornings are spent splitting and stacking firewood for the seasons ahead. There’s something satisfying about turning a pile of logs into…
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A Hot Weekend In July Through the Cattle Drive and to the River
Summer mornings in Montana have a way of making you believe the day holds more hours than anywhere else. The sun had just started climbing over the mountains when we eased the truck down a dusty county road, headed for the Yellowstone River with fly rods, coolers and sunscreen in the back and the raft…
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What Nobody Tells You About Living in the Mountains of Montana