Summer, Condensed

While it happens every year, it seems that this summer went by particularly fast.  The last snow graced the mountain tops June 28, and the first one whitened them on August 24.  We've had two hard frosts in town and there's a nip in the morning air that feels like fall. 

June 28, fresh snow on the Sphinx

 Even though it may not feel like it, we did fit a bunch into the very short season known as summer.  Carl's family came west for their reunion over the 4th of July and we got to show them all the wonders of living in southwestern Montana.  They quickly came to realize that things are very far apart here.  We marveled at the wildflowers atop the Gravelly Range, experienced the 4th of July festivities in Ennis, and soaked in the Norris Hot Springs.

Wildflowers on top of the Gravelly Range

Carl's dad Ed worked at a fire lookout in the 60s outside of Butte, and we took a field trip to find the trail head.

 The wet and late spring resulted in a really low fire year for Montana while the rest of the West was burning up.  All that smoke did result in some spectacular sunsets.

 We fit in excursions whenever we could - having three dogs is enough to keep anyone busy.

Monkeying around up Papoose Creek

Swimming and paddling at Cliff Lake, one of our favorite places

Oh, yes, and we both have jobs, which are particularly crazy during the summer.  While Carl was kept busy managing folks on the Madison, I was planting, harvesting, and selling pounds and pounds of veggies for restaurants and the farmers market.  

Harvested 80 lbs of golden beets in a day - whew!

One weekend we ditched our responsibilities and took our van out for a spin to White Sulphur Springs, site of the Red Ants Pants Music Festival.  We did indeed dance our pants off to the likes of Corb Lund, Brandi Carlyle, and Jason Isbel.

 Come August I got to be in charge of two high school interns who helped out at the greenhouse and the farmers market.  It was great having extra hands around, and they may have even learned something.

 August means winter is right around the corner, which means firewood.  Lots and lots of firewood.  While Carl was busy felling trees, I was stuffing my face with wild raspberries.

And now that the summer season is over, we got ourselves some new toys - inflatable stand-up paddle boards.  As a last hurrah we pumped them up and took them to Ennis Lake to see how they worked.  We discovered you need a couple extra PSI when you add 100 lbs of wet dog.

Now that fall is closing in, I'm glad the squash plants are all frost-bitten and dying.  The leaves are turning, the geese are flocking, and it's time for a new season.  I leave in two days for my working vacation in Greece, and when I get back it will be time for flannel shirts and boots, warm soup and the wood stove.  Bring it on!

Axolotl Birthday Bash, or Better Late Than NeverM

So Carl had a birthday.  In June.  And apparently I got so busy with things that I completely forgot to actually post all these wonderful pictures.  Highly ironic, given that we are once again seeing snow in the highest elevations.  Enjoy the flashbacks.

Raining out?  No problem - just roast your s'mores in the fire place.

Good morning, Madison Range.

Outdoor bacon grilling

Mojo's first overnight trip

Off for a walk in the sage brush

Thistles, invasive yet visually striking

Columbine

Scotch bells

Awesome mystery fungus

Mmmmmm, dinner

Wet, tired pups at the end of another awesome Axolotl stay

Cliff Lake Stay-Cation

Spring is a crazy time for both of us, when everything is gearing up and all the kinks are getting worked out.  There's nothing like taking a few days off to clear your mind and restore your sanity (well, what little I had in the first place).  It's incredibly liberating to just throw some stuff in the van and drive out of cell service.  In this case, it was a short excursion south and across the river to Cliff Lake.  

Have van, will travel

 We were followed there by a steady stream of dark, drizzling clouds and a few peals of thunder.  Carl took his fishing pole for a walk by the lake while the dogs and I read a book and kept an eye out for intruders.  There were plenty to keep the dogs busy - somehow a whole contingent of MSU students had picked out our little corner of paradise for a massive end-of-school get-together.  There were frisbees flying and ironic trucker hats by the dozen.  For the most part we really couldn't hear them over the sound of the rain on the roof, and nothing exploded or caught fire that we could tell.  Still, we were plenty happy when they all trickled off and left us with blissful solitude.

Bubba in his happy place

 There's an old road that runs from the camp ground along the lake, offering plenty of opportunities for me to dork out over the newest batch of wildflowers.  If I take enough pictures, maybe one of them will actually capture the beauty of those things.

Shooting Star

Arrowleaf Balsam Root

Checkered Lily

Fairy Orchid

The cooler temperatures didn't temper the enthusiasm of our dogs for water.  In true puppy fashion, Mojo plunged right in after Luna, only to discover that she was all wet and couldn't touch the ground.  Her look of perplexity had us busting a gut.  Lucky for her she's a natural-born swimmer.  I expect she'll be a pro before long.

Fishing for puppies

 Thunderstorms and showers created the perfect atmosphere for a well-deserved nap.

 Carl had the good sense to bring along my kayak.  He tried to take it for a spin, then realized that it wasn't designed for a man-sized man.  He quickly returned to shore and we switched places.

Carl trying out the little blue boat

 Even though it was mid-morning the water was still glassy-calm and crystal-clear.  I could see trout darting away from my shadow, and watched osprey wheeling and feinting overhead.

 At one point I came around a corner and surprised three river otters sitting on the bank.  We stared at each other for a few moments, then they slipped into the water and started heading away.

 That evening we sat in the sun and enjoyed the noise.  Between the osprey and eagles fighting over fish, mergansers flapping madly over the water, fish jumping, insects humming, and trees whispering, it wasn't anywhere near silent - it was much, much better.  After the sun went down we started a fire and made mountain pies, the perfect camping food.  Grilled cheese for dinner, followed by blueberry for dessert.

As we stood around the coals, we looked across the campground and noticed a solitary moose on the hillside.  It was small, probably a yearling, and slowly grazing along in the dusky light.  We watched until it disappeared beyond the rise and the last of the light faded.