playing 9 pins

Dark clouds are hanging over the Sleeping Giant today. Threatening and invigorating--fall is on its way! I can almost hear Rip Van Winkle’s snore. Later in the evening, with their full ale, the giants will play nine pins. Time for apple picking then pumpkin picking. Little Big Man is 3 and I think the real fun has just begun. He has told me he wants to be a blue man from the BLUE MAN group for Halloween. I have to figure out how to plaster him blue?? Any suggestions? Maybe he will change his mind and want to be a pirate or a gypsy. I know how to make him up in those things.

Easter Eggs

I think I had a boy. Those eggs on the bottom are real eggs. I didn't use them for deviled eggs.

Is this the LockSAW?

In a Pickle

We are collecting the ingredients for the pickling party! We are using the method below but upping the salt to 1 cup. Can pickles be too salty? This is the Grandma Tiny recipe we used last year and they were delicious! Remember last year?


#41 "Sabra" DILL PICKLES Wash 4-5 in. slim thin kirby cucumbers (about 50). Slice in half lengthwise.Sterilize pint jars and lids.Prepare BRINE: Boil 2 qts. water, 1 qt. vinegar, 3/4c salt. Bring to boil and keep hot.Pack jars with halved cucumbers along with one dill blossom and one large clove garlic per jar. Keep brine hot!Fill each jar with brine (tilt/rotate to remove air) to 1/4in. Seal. Invert 5min. Stand away from drafts. [Do not process.] Makes 12 pints.

It is that funny.

That is a lucky little boy.

Ask Alice. I think she'll know.

Gratuitous Blossoms. Just cause I found the super close-up feature today. The flowers are pretty too.

Ready Set Go. Walk the Round.

No digital manipulation here!

Remains of the Gods and Godesses

It makes me happy to think of original folk living in pockets around Europe. The Seto people are alive and fighting for a way of life that was extinguished so many Christmases ago. The BBC has a beautiful photograph collection of the Seto people.

Fear and Longing for Mountains and Meadows

Down Paradise Valley way there is a little restaurant/bar/live music venue called Pine Creek Cafe. My mom, little big man and I went down there for lunch. I haven't eaten there for a solid year before this month and now I have eaten there every week for a month. My little big man loves to explore the great outdoors and therefor I explore with him. Just behind the little red cabin that is a cute store named Feathers we found an enchanted fence. I had breadcrumbs but I would not let him have them because I was afraid Baba Yaga would swoop down in her chicken legged house to pluck him away from me.

The hike up to Pine Creek Falls is easy and pretty if you get there before the Tourists take over. see photo. While Eve was here I wanted to share the beauty of Paradise Valley because the last time she was here (for my wedding) it was snowy and rainy (in May). So here are some photos from flickr.com that do the Absaroka Mountains a little bit of justice.

Jeff blue ribbon photo of Paradise
Wesler gorgeous image of Emigrant Peak
TWHarris something about UFOs but stunning Mountain shot

Then here is one of a landscape that haunts me. I get long distance stares and come to realizing I was there in the Beaver Meadows up West Boulder. These colors are true to life up the West Boulder. If you hike(d*) the 4 miles up the you would come across this:

*this burned up in the 2006 Jungle Fire left this clean as a whistle and ready for new growth.

7 things and 1 thought from Crazy Mountain Deluxe

I used to hate but now like:
1. bacon
2. butterscotch
3. dill
4. reality tv
6. pop music
7. stinky cheese



There are lots of things that I used to love and can love no longer. Smokey bars with lots of Kamikazes and drunken friends. Sleeping in -- well I can love it but it is an unrequited affection so I might as well love getting up early. Art museums and walks through downtown Portland. Wet lush green springs. I love the arid golds with veins of purple and orange that run through my home lands. So my point of today is to love where you are and what you have. The big toothy machine that is American Pop Culture only wants us to want and consume so my little house with my little boy and husband is perfect for me. (that is me 5 years ago).

A good boy on my shoulders.

By this time he was tired of being there, but I was trying to watch the fancy dancing. He won out and we left the A. I. C. of MSU Pow-Wow shortly after this. I just thought it was a cute photo.

Bozeman Pow-Wow

We went to the American Indian Council of MSU Pow-Wow on Saturaday. It was lots of fun, but a little noisy for little big man. He is sensitive to loud general noise and confusion. He loved looking at all of the beautiful people in beautiful dress. We couldn't get a very good picture but these show the overall hustle and fun of the event. I am thankful that there is some diversity (and it is growing) around here to share with my son.

Yesterday's Apples are Tomorrows Pearly Chompers

Little big man loves his apples. The bigger the better. He carries it around working on eating it as he rearranges his toys. He says apple "bapple" and demands them at odd times. Here is a time when he wanted it and I could give him an apple.

Covered Ash

The Mountain Ash still have their berries. Our annual Halloween Freeze and Snow out has begun. It is currently 1 degree. The geese and the ash are beautiful. I snapped some photos of geese and ducks as the nefarious bastards tried to rush me. I am terrified of birds that size. I think it is from the mean turkey gang that chased and pecked me as a 6 year old. I am slowly healing but along with my snake phobia, I don't care to cure it. Which is why the only good turkey is a dead turkey.

Watch out for the goose in the middle, she ain't going softly into the fois gras.


I love little man here he was carefully reading his elephant book when he just couldn't read another word. Elmo, his new bud, was there to comfort him in his rest.

Big Bull

North from here wild things grow. Wild family and wild posts. Americana still lives and breeds heading toward the 48th parallel. Following the directions from a sometimes reliable source we drove north till we came across a Hereford bull. I didn't say anything at the time, but I thought he was kinda cuckoo. I was wrong here it is.


We didn't stop, but we did get stared at as I made papa drive around the parking lot for the best picture angles.


What I really loved was the watery blue eyes.
I guess this does get attention. I wonder what it is made out of. Papa says it must be 40 years old or more. Note the Conrad Burns sign. I never would have guessed that this was Republican Country. Perhaps the bull is made out of Asbestos too so they don't have to rely on lazy firefighters.


Next i want to share the amazing beauty of Tamarack trees in Fall. The yellow trees are not diseased this is the natural fall needleage of the larch trees. I find it amazing. Their branches are black against the inner golden glow of the needles and it contrast perfectly with the clear sky of northern Montana.I want you to meet a dog. A dog that reminds me of Futurama. It is a lovable furry old thing. The eyes aren't like that all the time, but if they are give it black licorice.




This is part of a family portrait so I thought I would get rid of the jack-o-lantern eyes.
I didn't work. good thing he doesn't look like queequeg.

Mini Whats?

Does this picture have any resemblance to a certain part of female anatomy? This picture may be intended to resemble said part. Perhaps it sells more of the product. I'm not a fan of the fake strawberry flavor or the pink milk but my husband is. So what is the "fresh indulgent aroma" or "rich creme flavor" The bottom line gets me every time: " A classic flavor the whole family can enjoy" Boo Yeah!

House painting bah humbug

So we are painting our little house and I am having great trouble picking the colors! I wanted sagy green base with black trim, red accents, and cream eves. It looks awful. dreadful really. The red is hunters orange the cream is yellow. So much for foxfire and ivory lyric. Take a look. Now what can I do with sage green base and black trim? Our new roof looks great though.

Here is my little guy saying no to these horrid colors!