Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘Ennis’

Favorite Place in My City

Hmmm… the prompt for today
asked me to tell what is
my favorite place to go
in my city…

Is that question assuming we all live in a city?
Thank God, I don’t!

cars on road in city during night time
Photo by KEHN HERMANO on Pexels.com

Now, I don’t mean to offend those of you in cities
who love living where there are bright lights,
lots of traffic, big buildings, and crowds of people.
BUT,

Give me one main street,
cars I can count on my two hands,
businesses who know customers by name,
plentiful opportunities for building friendships
as well as volunteering to help others,
mountains in the background,
and a river that runs through it…
and I’ll be happy!

My favorite places to go in my little town?
1. Our independent version of McDonalds is “Sugar High”
(It has great burgers and terrific huckleberry shakes)
2. The Manor Nursing Home
(I love helping the residents there – it’s such a loving place)
3. The Madison Valley Library
(We have a five star library… doesn’t get any better!)
4. Lion’s Club Park
(The walking trail bordering the Madison River is divine)

In a little town like Ennis,
you can see the stars at night.
No bright lights to block out their beauty…

Now, why would I want to live in a city?

What’s your favorite place to go in your “city”?

Hugs to you wherever you are…
JanBeek

Category:

contentment, Fishing, Gratitude, happiness, Love, Montana, mountains, nature

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July 4 in Ennis, MT

This coming week is a big one in Ennis, MT. People come from all around to enjoy:
1) the Fireman’s Pancake breakfast 7:-10:am at the FireHall,
2) the old fashioned (step back 50 years) parade at 10:00 am,
3) a walk around our quaint little town for a couple hours,
4) the Lion’s Club BBQ at Lion’s Club Park at noon, and
5) the rodeo at 4:00 PM … or is it later? (there’s also one the night of the 3rd)

Here are a few pictures from years past to help you see what a great set of events it is:


The parade is an event not to be missed!

The rodeo is always fun!

I love the way little kids dress up for the holiday!
The adults go all out, too!

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Fortunately, this year we don’t have to wear face masks!

The Boy Scouts, the 4-H Club,
various churches, the Lion’s Club,
cowboys, and our school kids
all join in the fun!

This year, I will again
help the folks
in our nursing home
(the Manor)
get front row seats
on the parade route.

Come to Ennis this week!
Enjoy the festivities!
I wish our daughters
could be here again this year.
Alas, they’re too far away!

DeDe & Laina,
we’ll miss you!

Ray Easter will be in the parade
with his pristine old convertible!
Look for him!!

Of course, little kids on their ponies
must always be a part of the fun!

Carts, dogs, clowns, fire trucks…
you name it! They’ll all be there!

Will we see you?
I hope so!!

You’ll love our little town!!

And our neighborhood celebrates, too!

I send my Love to you,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, children, Fishing, happiness, holidays, Love, Montana, music

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Montana Adventure

Today was a perfect day to take Lucille (Our ATV with a red head who is a Ball), And go up into the mountains – Up on Mt. Baldy, more than 10,000 feet tall!
On our way up to Mt. Baldy (10K ft ahead of us)
Lucille is a trooper with Bob at the wheel. TazE loves riding with us on the mountain trails. Some of the roads are so rough, I cringe, But I am happy to have an “Oh My!” bar instead of wails.
Hang tight to the “Oh My!” bar. Secure TazE with her leash.
TazE crowded me as she leaned out the window of Lucille
Going with friends makes it extra fun; Five guys and three gals in five 4-wheelers. The area in the Tobacco Root Mountains Is full of rough terrain, rocks and squealers.
Me (Jan) with Caroline & Penny
Bob, Rex, Gene, BW and Chuck
The views from up on top of Baldy Are breathtaking to be sure. The sky was a little hazy today, But the air was clean and pure.
Gene, with a recent new knee, made the rigorous climb from our ATVs to the top of the mountain (a steeper climb than it looks here!)
We were above the snow level Where the clouds seem so close We felt like we could touch them. I have more pictures than I can post!
Our lovely, protected setting for lunch on top of Mt. Baldy
The view from my lunch spot
Dilapidated old mining building
Over my right shoulder a dilapidated mine Indicated that people once lived and worked In this place miles from civilization – For gold, lead, silver and copper – no one shirked.
Old mining site on Mt. Baldy
Old mines dotted the trail as we headed down. I wished those old beams and rocks could talk. They would have wonderful stories to tell – Lived through many a death and untold shocks.
Jan in Bob’s fishing cap
On down the mountain on rocky trails, We were careful to not tip over the edge. The paths were narrow with no side rails – I held TazE and tried not to look at the ledge!
Bob driving Lucille – in a rocky spot with a wider ledge than most
Bob, Jan, TazE – top of Mt. Baldy
Old mine on Mt. Baldy
Ennis Lake from the Tobacco Roots to the Madison Range
We tried to stay in view of the Polaris Traveling on the trail in our lead, But we didn’t want to be too close To eat his dust as he picked up speed. That’s our Madison Valley and Ennis Lake In the middle of this view. As we headed back, the sun was warmer And we wished we could share this trip with YOU!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek Come back soon for more adventures and inspiration.

See Ya Tomorrow!
See ya tomorrow!

Category:

friendship, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Poetry, Travel

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Change is Challenging

Change is inevitable
Change is challenging
Resist or embrace?

May as well embrace
To resist change is futile
Change is inevitable

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This is my grandson, Chris. I told you I would write more about him. He has been the center of life for Bob and our family since he arrived in the USA from Switzerland last Thanksgiving. When you first met him (if you have been following my blog), this is what he looked like:

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See the change?

And when you first met that pup he has under the blanket in his lap up there, this is what TazE looked like:

HappyTazE

Well, he is so covered up in that first picture up there, you can’t really see the gray in his face and the change in his body, can you? But, trust me… now at age 8 1/2, he has changed from that frisky guy you see there. Here’s a current one that shows you what I’m talking about:

TazE in bed

Yes, change is inevitable! And it can be scary. And it can be very exciting. But it does not do any good to resist it. Much of change is healthy and invigorating. It’ll happen whether you bid it or not. May as well plan for it!

When our grandson came last year, he knew he was in for a year of changes. He had the courage to fly into a new life here – with new opportunities – different in countless ways from his life in Sierre, Switzerland.

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Today we are driving in Montana snow (really came down yesterday… and more is expected today) from Ennis to Anaconda. It’s about a two hour drive. We will stay overnight there, hoping to find a place that will allow pets. TazE will go with us.

We are taking Chris to the Job Corps in Anaconda. He will check in at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning. He has qualified (US citizen between the age of 16-24 with a clean record who is interested in training in one of 7 manual labor areas that are deemed understaffed by the Federal Government) and has been accepted into the program.

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We took a tour there in December and we were wonderfully impressed with the site, the program, the facilities, the instructors, the equipment, the ambience, and the students. About 200 young people are there. More than 75% of them are from out-of-state. Chris will be the first who was born and raised in another country. (Our daughter is his mom… and as such, Chris has dual USA-Swiss citizenship).

There are 4 dorms, 3 for men and 1 for women (that’s the ratio of the students). Not surprising since the trades they are learning include:

  • Heavy equipment Operating
  • Heavy equipment Mechanics
  • Welding
  • Painting (buildings inside and out – not oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc.)
  • Carpentry
  • Culinary Arts
  • Brick-laying

Chris will have a month to explore the various options and then he will select the one he wishes to concentrate on. Each student is self-paced. The training could take as little as three months and as much as a year, depending on prior experience, work ethic, skill, etc.

Stay tuned. I am sure our grandson is in for changes he cannot even imagine at this time.

We are excited for him.

Aren’t you glad to know our Federal Government is supporting this kind of internship/apprenticeship program for young people?

 

Category:

Animals, children, Family, Haiku, learning, life, Life's Challenges, Love, Montana, pets, work

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Spreading Christmas Joy

Spreading Christmas Joy – Ennis, Montana – Community Christmas Stroll 2018

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‘Tis the season for caroling,
A time to spread the joy
Of Christmas and its meaning
To every girl and boy.

So tune your voices, friends,
And get in the Christmas mood.
Join the bundled-up singers, and
Share some holiday food.

beverage blur candy candy cane

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Open up your hearts, friends,
And see what you can do
To spread a little Christmas cheer
To more than just a few.

adult building business clean

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Wash away the loneliness
By spreading infectious smiles.
Let your Christmas joy be genuine
And be felt for miles and miles.

Merry Christmas Season to you!
Be generous and sincere.
Help to keep this season’s light
Shining brightly though out the year.

red lighted candle

Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com

Get out the real message
Of Jesus and His grace.

nativity scene christmas decor

Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com

Paint love, peace and happiness
On every person’s face.

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Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels.com

SMILE!!
God loves you –
and so do I!!

Category:

children, Christmas, Giving, God, happiness, holidays, Jesus, Love, music, peace, Serving One Another

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H = Hospitality & Hugs

Day #8 of A – Z “What Makes Me Happy?”

 

HOSPITALITY

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Hospitality

Invitation to my heart

Blessed happy home

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Yes, I love sharing
My lovely, welcoming home
All times of the year

 

huggy friends

HUGS

Give heavenly hugs

Because the world needs more of

Pure and loving touch

.

Haiku, home, hospitality and hugs make me happy.

 

Check out this darling YOUTUBE of generous hugs!

 

What is your “H” word that makes YOU happy?

Category:

Haiku, happiness, Love

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Antelope

Recently I posted an A-Z list of what makes me happy. One of my blogging friends responded and suggested I use those items as titles for future blogs. I like that idea, and decided I’d take her suggestion. But I had two items for each letter of the alphabet. I’ll choose just one of the two each day and see if I can keep at it for 26 consecutive days. I’ve never made it to more than 9 in a row in the past. So here we go!

Day #1 = Antelope

Meet Little Annie

She was the neighborhood pet

Fish and Wildlife killed her

Well, that little Haiku didn’t end the way you expected, did it? Why would the Fish and Wildlife authorities euthanize such a precious creature?

Annie was abandoned by her mother. Neighborhood kids found her in the bushes on their property. Not wanting her to starve, they began feeding her milk from a baby bottle. The mama antelope never returned. Eventually, Annie followed the children to their home.

As the weather turned colder, Annie began sleeping in their garage. During the day she roamed free. She made friends in the “hood.” Folks loved her. Naturally. She became bolder, and would enter people’s garages if their door was left open. One person decided she was a nuisance. She called the Fish & Wildlife (F&W) folks and told the children that she had done so.

Alarmed that they may have done something wrong, they told their folks about the disgruntled neighbor lady. Afraid of what the authorities might do, they called a friend whose house borders a nature preserve. The friends relocated Annie to their beautiful property that has a creek running through it.

Before Annie’s location was discovered by the F&W, and before she was able to be adopted by an antelope herd in the preserve, we visited her one last time.

Annie kissed us, ate out of my husband’s hand, and bid us good-bye, blinking her beautiful, long eyelashes. We all prayed that she’d link up with a herd.

No such luck! F&W found her, put her in their truck, brought her to their local headquarters and euthanized her! 😪

I know there are laws. I know people aren’t supposed to feed or tame wild animals. But, come on!! Wasn’t there a place she could have lived happily? A petting zoo somewhere or an animal preserve where she could have been placed far from people?

We live on a piece of property in Montana where the antelope come through daily. It’s the antelope freeway in our back yard. I often film them in that space between us and the neighbors. I love them! I’ve learned so much about them as I watch their migration from the mountains behind us to the Madison River east of us. But, I let them keep their distance. And I pray those Mamas keep good track of their babies!

Enjoy one of my videos! That’s Bob and me talking to them.

❤️ Rest In Peace, Annie ❤️

Category:

Animals, children, Haiku, Heartache, Life and Death, Love, Montana, pets, Poetry

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Share Your Smile

Mother Theresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”

I believe it.

Do you?

Shortly after we

Moved to Montana,

I joined the

Madison Valley

Writers’ Group.

Smiles helped me

Make friends.

Shared writing

Helped us

Get to know

One another better.

.

Here is a poem

I wrote back then.

It’s still pertinent

(maybe even more so)

Today… don’t

You agree?

.

A Smile

.

“If you see someone without a smile,” the old saying goes,

“Give ’em one of yours.” It’ll chase away their woes.

It won’t hurt you a bit and it don’t take no time.

Might even be returned, and won’t cost you a dime.

.

If you see someone without a smile, maybe they just need

The kind of cheer you got – to bring ’em up to speed.

You might throw in a handshake, or a “Howdy, how ya be?”

Might be their first friendly touch in a day or two or three.

.

Might be they’d like to tell you how they truly are,

‘Cuz usually when folks ask that, they don’t really car.

So, add some hospitality to the smile you send their way,

And shucks, you never know, ya might just make their day!

Oh, and by the way,

That’s my DollyWolly,

DeDeBee’s Smile.

Ain’t it great?

“Peace begins with a smile.”

Category:

Giving, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, Sharing

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Ennis, Montana

Our little town of Ennis, Montana has in it some of the most interesting people in the world. There are less than 1000 residents in the city limits. Another 1000 (perhaps) live in the surrounding area of Madison County.

They come from all over the United States and from every background imaginable. I am constantly amazed as I get to know people at what their previous (or other) life involved (involves).

Many of them are part-time residents who come here to hunt, fish, golf, hike, ski, or take a break and enjoy the gorgeous scenery seasonally. It’s a relaxing, slow-paced place; a little like stepping back fifty years in time.

People here are friendly, inclusive, and welcoming. A typical first question is, “Where are you from?” Montana natives are far outnumbered – hard to come by! A treasured rarity! But because they welcome us “transplants” with open arms, strangers aren’t strangers for long.

There are more than 50 service organizations in Madison County. Each of them, from the Woman’s Club (👍yup, spelled singular on purpose) to the Lion’s Club, the Aquatic Club to the History Association, the various churches (7 of them) to the Friends of the Library and the Madison County Writers’ Group, all are anxious to help people find a way to serve, to connect, to feel a sense of purpose and belonging.

In his daily devotional, Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life) wrote today, “… being a member means being a vital organ in a body, an indispensable, interconnected part… ” Quoting from Romans 12:4-5, he reminded us, “We are created for community. Don’t just come, belong!”

It’s such a privilege to BELONG to a community where folks are encouraged and welcomed and valued. You might think such a place only existed in “The Good Old Days.” Guess again. Come to Ennis, Montana! It’s a place where The Wild West still is. The deer and the antelope roam. And the sky is not cloudy all day!

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Don’t just come. BELONG!

Category:

Living in Harmony, Serving One Another, Travel

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Where the Money Goes

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In my last blog, I told you about the many helping hands in the Madison Valley Woman’s Club and shared a song we sang to the tune of “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.” I indicated that the ladies of the MVWC donate countless hours as well as gently used clothing and household goods to the Nearly New – the thrift store owned and operated by the club. They sell the items for an affordable price (like $4 or $5 for a nice pair of jeans or a shirt or pair of shoes, and $2 for a t-shirt). Over $51,000 of the proceeds from the store in fiscal year 2012-13 went back into the community.

As promised, here is a list of the individuals and organizations to whom the money was donated:

Woman’s Resource Center
Ennis Caring and Sharing
Madison Valley Public Library
Senior Companion Program
Montana Dentist Outreach
Piecemakers of the Madison Valley
Madison Valley History Association
Montana Talking Books
Madison County Volunteer Respite Care
Meals on Wheels
Madison Valley Manor Auxiliary
Madison Valley Manor
Ennis High School Booster Club
Pennies for the Arts
Ennis Children’s School
Madison Farm to Fork
Ennis After Prom
Ennis Lions Club
CASA
HOBY
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Ennis Arts Association
Madison Meadows Golf
George Ball Australia Trip
Madison Valley Medical Center Foundation
Ennis Community Choir
Giving Tree
Madison Byways
Madison Valley Aquatic Center
Ennis Ambulance Service
Madison Valley Rural Fire Department
14 Scholarships (ranging from $500 to $1000 each)

The total giving actually was closer to $52,000 (exact amount was a whopping $51,890.00). Remember, our little community of Ennis has less than a thousand residents! This is an impressive undertaking. It takes many hands working together to make all that giving possible.

Isn’t it amazing what the sale of other people’s castaways can do? If you have items to donate, be sure to come by the Nearly New in Ennis, MT. You can be sure your cast-offs will find a new home – and the proceeds will be put to good use!

God Bless the Madison Valley Woman’s Club and their incredible generosity!

Category:

Love

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