It’s a beautiful evening for a maiden fly fishing adventure. Bob & Steve took Mary Grace out on the Madison.
First, she needed a rod, reel, tippet, and some flies. Steve Hundley made a box of ’em for her!Then he taught her how to tie one on.
Every flyfisherperson needs a good pair of boots. Thank you, Fran McNiell!!
Every fisherperson needs a license, too. Next year Mary Grace will be a resident and it won’t cost as much, we hope! It was $120 for non-residents this year. That was quite an increase!
Mary Grace watched carefully as Bob readied the boat.
Three happy fisher(wo)men!! Almost ready…
OK, boat’s in the water… now hop in!
The weather was warm (92 degrees) – but it will be cooler on the river.
I watched to be sure they were on their way… (They put in at 8 Mile Fishing access) Then I drove the pick up with trailer home.
Happy Fly Fishing, Mary Grace. I hope you have a great time!!
Stay tuned, friends. I’ll give you a report tomorrow to let you know how they did. I hope they are able to catch a few big ones. They will call when they are ready for me to get them at the “take out” in Ennis. Bob says, “The tug is the drug.”
Here is the Madison Valley and Range as seen from the Gravelly Range
We went on an adventure today into the Gravelly Range with our friend, Julie, and her dog, Zeke. Come enjoy the Montana Vistas with us!
The Gravelly Range is just south-west of Ennis. We were looking for wildflowers. This is the time of year when they usually are prolific. However, it has been a relatively dry spring and summer so far, so the flowers were not as colorful or plentiful as usual.
This field of flowers is irrigated – so they’re not the “wildflowers” we were looking for.
See that line up the mountain? That’s where we are headed.
We drove the pick-up with trailer to the base of our destination and took the ATV up from there.
Julie & Zeke rode in the back. TazE sat in my lap. Bob’s the driver.
TazE enjoyed the views. That mountain above TazE’s head is called the Sphinx.
The clouds made the sky so beautiful and interesting today, but they also threatened rain. Fortunately we had about an inch or two of rain last night, so it settled the dust. And it held off until we were headed back home this afternoon.
On the way up, we saw a lot more cattle than usual. Definitely more cattle than wildflowers!
Zeke was quite interested in the beauty of the Madison Valley vistas.
This is Caroline’s tree! We always think of her when we see it. Caroline loves tree skeletons!
As we climbed, the clouds moved out from the Madison Range and began to cover the valley.
This is a purple sticky wild geranium. Julie has an app on her iPhone that allows her to take a picture of a flower and then have the phone tell her the name of that flower. What a cool app! “Picture This” is the name I think. I need to check it out.
I can’t remember the name of this hairy wildflower. Isn’t it interesting?
We reached a place where the road was closed and we could go no further. So, we stopped and rested a while and let TazE and Zeke run around.
Julie took our photo, and while we were distracted, Zeke went out exploring.
Zeke found some wet, runny cow poop and thought it was great fun to roll in it!
Like I said, there were more cows than wild flowers, so of course, there were plenty of places for an inquisitive pup to explore!!
Julie was intrigued by some of the leaves.
I walked beyond the closed gate and took this photo of the US Forest Service sign and the field of wildflowers beyond it.
They were more brilliant than this photo shows.
Heading back down the mountain, the cows bellowed at us! They were not happy that we were disturbing their peace.
The one we enjoyed earlier was still there on our way down.
TazE continued to enjoy the views with us.
The sprinkler systems keep the fields green in spite of our near drought conditions.
The storm clouds threatened … and we got a few raindrops on our way back to the pickup.
See the squall on the other side of the valley? You can see that it is raining there.
Ah, home – with great memories of beautiful Montana Vistas!
And a beautiful sunset ended our day…
Thank you for sharing our beautiful Montana Vistas with us.
I hope you had a beautiful day, too. Embrace Montana Vistas. Come visit us!
Vistas Broad, expansive Ridge to Valley Valley, Mountains, Big Sky Beauty
Poetry Embrace Elfchen It’s eleven words Set in number pattern Fun!
View from Pintail Ridge at Ducsay’s
Montana Mountain Majesty Expansive blue sky Delightful precious generous friends Home
Our neighbors’ new flagpole A great addition to the “Hood”
Neighbors Beautiful “Hood” Always making improvements Delightful to have around Friends
Look carefully! That’s the Hockings’ flagpole from a different angle
Changes Always beautiful As evening came, The shadows grew longer Moon
Sundown Pink reflection in the north-east Cool, crisp, refreshing air Beautiful
Mmmm… steak and wine!
Invitation To dinner On Father’s Day Couldn’t have been better Delicious
Thank you, Charley & Janet for your food, your friendship, and your love!
Visitors From Alaska Friends from Pakistan Young man I tutored Gratitude
Zahid & Maryam with cup of gratitude
Gifts Beautiful Friends Staying in Touch Long after they move Blessings
Meantime Back Home Father’s Day roses Showing evidence of love Forever
Father’s Day Roses
Flowers God’s Beauty In full bloom They always are appreciated Roses
Elfchen is a form of poetry Sometimes called Elevensies Because it consists of 11 words In this configuration: 1+2+3+4+1 = 11 (You probably figured that out by now.)
Write an elfchen for me in the comments below, will you? Be sure and use the word BEAUTY in your poem!!
Home Embrace Beauty Come visit us We’d love seeing you Welcoming
Music Tells stories Ed Sheeran sings In a musical video Beautiful
Define What’s beauty? I’m not beautiful… Beauty’s as Beauty does Hugs
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a wo(man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. … Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your lord.
When a friend comes up with an idea And you concur, what do you do? Do you encourage your friend to progress? Do you join in and help the idea come true?
My neighbor, whom I had not seen in a while, Said, “We need to have a get together.” I concurred and suggested a dinner – A progressive dinner – pray for good weather!
Well, the weather cooperated, and so did The “Hood” – our neighbors on our ridge. Last night we had a wonderful time… Time to set aside masks – cross that bridge!
So we did it… the first hosts had appetizers. Then it was lasagna at our house with yummy bread. Across the road we went for dessert — Our tummies and our hearts were well fed!
“The Hood” dinner at Beekmans
Rex & Penny served cake for dessert The Hocking House is a perfect gathering place!
We are blessed to live in a place where we All get along with our neighbors as friends. We’re so relieved this pandemic’s isolation Has finally subsided – The separation ends!
Penny & Rex’s cat supervised the event
When a friend comes up with an idea, Encourage the thought and run with it! You never know til you give it a try How very much you’ll have fun with it!
Back at home – beautiful evening sky
The outcome of Karen’s idea to get together As more successful than we could have guessed So – if you have an idea, my friends, share it! Don’t keep the outcomes buried in your chest!
What idea are you ready to share and run with? Trust your instincts. EMBRACE the OUTCOMES!
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Come join us for dinner!
See ya tomorrow. (God willing!) Have a great weekend.
Are you waiting expectantly for something? Somewhere in time what you long for Is out there for you … you just need to EMBRACE EXPECTANT WAITING.
(I recommend you listen to that gorgeous piano and orchestra as you read this blog. “Somewhere in Time” – so beautifully played From Maksim Mrvisa/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
I have been waiting – trying to be patient – This past nine months has felt a little like The nine months of pregnancy: Expectantly waiting for a new beginning!
But unlike the birth of a baby, This wait has birthed for us A new pastor for our church… And now we have to wait.
Wait for the Presbytery to approve – Wait for Mary Grace to check out of her college dorm And check back into her home in Tennessee And check out of there to drive here.
Meantime, as we wait expectantly, God says, “Live in the now! Every day is a new beginning. Don’t waste today waiting for tomorrow.”
What are you looking forward to? Are you waiting expectantly for retirement? Are you planning a cruise or a vacation of some sort? Are you anticipating a visit from special family members?
DeAna’s new toy
Our daughter, DeAna, who lives in Switzerland, Is anticipating a trip to Turkey this September. She bought herself a motorcycle so she can Ride her own bike – not sit behind on her hubby’s.
I would not be looking forward to such a trip. I’d be shaking in my boots! But Bob & I are Eagerly anticipating a trip to England and then On to Switzerland to spend time with De & family.
We also are expectantly waiting For our trip to California next month. We’re going there for my sister’s memorial – We’ve waited half a year for this closure.
What are you expectantly waiting for? It seems to me that life is more exciting If you have something to look forward to. Never stop dreaming about tomorrow’s joys!
While Mary Grace, our new pastor, was here last week, The weather decided to rain and snow and blow. It was mid-May for crying out loud! S’posed to be spring! So we eagerly anticipated springtime’s return.
Yesterday when Mary Grace flew back to Virginia, Montana was gray and cold – not looking like spring at all. But today we had the most beautiful blue sky with Puffy clouds and warm temperatures. Go figure!!
Our Madison Range was hidden behind grayness, But today the gray lifted and beautiful snow-capped Mountains emerged. That’s Jack Creek Canyon And Fan Mountain out there. Come back, springtime!
Knowing I was missing the colors of spring, My friend, Lisa, in North Carolina, sent me Photos of her gorgeous roses in her garden. I am expectantly waiting for our flowers now, too.
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Because the future SOMETIMES (often) depends On what you do today, look for the joy and hope around you. Do whatever you can to make today the best it can be. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Just live today with joyful expectation.
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
We waited for the pastor candidate we did not see. We waited for the congregation to vote affirmatively. And now we wait for our Mary Grace to return And begin her spiritual leadership in our church.
It’s hard to wait with patience, but we are told Like those beautiful roses that sprang from a plant That was brown and leafless in the winter, The blossom will bloom – and it’ll be worth the wait.
My mom often told me when I was Eagerly, anxiously, anticipating something, “Cross that bridge when you come to it!” Good advice! Go back now to the top now… and watch that musical video.
The images are wonderful. This bridge is one of them. “Edited video Leonidas” – magnificent! Worth the wait!
Tell me, what are you expectantly waiting for?
Thank you for taking time to visit JanBeek today. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
