Loving One Another

Posts tagged ‘lakes’

Come Ride with Us!


Bob is a wonderful driver You can feel very safe going in our ATV, Lucille, up to Sureshot Lake and the lookout… with TazE in your lap. Here we are on the top of the world.

The following video was taken just outside of McAllister, Montana as we were headed up to Sureshot Lake and the lookout above it.

We had the fun of friends, Julie & Mike joining us … and Julie’s sis, Megan, & her friend, Martello. Julie & Mike brought their dog, Zeke, and of course, we had TazE.

This location on Sureshot Lake is about a 30 mile drive on our ATV from our home.

Just down the hill from this single thistle
was a collection of fireweed.
Beautiful prolific lavender groupings –
God’s flower bouquets along the route.
Derrick, you & Jackie would have loved these.

From the lake we went up to the lookout at about 7500 feet and had our lunch.

From this view at the lookout, you can see Willow Creek in Petosi Canyon.

The trip up to the next lookout (which is 9,600 feet) is rather scary for me… especially since it is so rocky and this was my first ATV ride since my hernia surgery about a month ago. But, I need to relax. Bob is a careful driver!

That’s Upper Twin Lake near our ridge view. As you look way out into the hazy Madison Valley, you can see Ennis Lake below.

The wild flowers were beautiful.
Bob is such a good sport!
Pictures just don’t give you the depth of field…
Turn around from this view,
and you see the snow-crested Tobacco Root Mountains.

Martello and Megan enjoyed that view, but Megan was not content to sit there. She spied those rocks to her right and decided to climb up and see what it was like from up there.

Megan’s more sure-footed than a mountain goat!
Can you spot her up there?
Then it was time to head back down.
It doesn’t look as bumpy on the video as it felt!!
We stopped at the McAllister Presbyterian Church
and checked out the condition of the roof.
The cattle came by while we were there. Fun to see them!
Two horses greeted us as we entered the valley floor.
Back home. Time to relax.
It’s been a beautiful day.here.

Thanks for joining us.
Someday you need to come to Montana
and take this ATV ride for real!!

Have a good Wednesday!

See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, flowers, happiness, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, Travel

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4 Ways to Keep Positive


There are many ways
To keep our spirits rising
Let’s take time for four

Take a Walk

Take your dog outside
Or invite a friend to join
Get yourself fresh air

Even through a mask
The outdoors is refreshing
Get up and go move!

My path to the Madison River
Keep your distance from others
Enjoy people watching!
Marvel at and appreciate our unity in diversity
Bring a picnic lunch and a friend – sit awhile!
Put on your walking shoes and come join me!

Visit Your Neighbors

Our neighbor Charley with “TMW”

Keep six feet apart
And join your neighbors outside
Share flowers and wine

Share love and friendship
Keep the loneliness at bay
There’s no better way

T – M -W
Is the best invitation
Charley’s “Too Much Wine!”

Janet, our wonderful neighbor
Refill time for Bob
What a view, huh?

Let Go Anxiety –
Adopt Humor & Practice Faith

There’s no better way:
Practice positivity
With the Bible and your faith

Hang around fun folks
And keep in touch by the Web
Share all God’s blessings

Don’t dwell on “Don’t Haves”
Concentrate on what you HAVE
Practice gratitude

Go ahead and laugh!

Son-in-law, Andre’
Decided – save some bucks and
Avoid the virus

He knew just the way:
He could do his own haircut
Well, the front is fine!!

Don’t worry about
Not going to the hairdresser
Just do it yourself

Have clippers, will do!!

Lisa’s South Carolina clouds

Find yourself a friend
Who will be your prayer partner
Daily trade pictures

Pray together and
Exchange positivity
Watch your spirit soar

Connect with the hearts
Of the people that you love
Share each others’ love

Andre’ and our 3 grandsons in Switzerland
Our church services have moved outside now.
The weather has permitted worship on the lawn.
It’s so good to see our friends.
Fran and I text each other daily

Let God Music Lift You


As I write this blog
Susan Boyle lifts me up
Non-stop I listen

I ask Alexa
“Repeat” and she repeats this
Until I say “Stop.”

Listen to the words
Let them sink into your soul
You can’t help but smile

Be raised by music
Let the Love of Christ lift you
You must not stay down

Let God live in you
Let the Holy Spirit speak
Be strong and be well

There are many ways
To keep our spirits rising
Take time for these four

Take a Walk
Visit Your Neighbors
Let Go Anxiety
Let God and Music Lift You

Thank you for your encouragement after my “Blue” post.

See ya tomorrow.
Have a blessed day.
Love,
JanBeek



Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, Family, friendship, Giving, God, Gratitude, Haiku, happiness, health, humor, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, peace, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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Let’s Go Swiss


A couple of months ago we took a little stroll through my home state, Montana, via the lenses of several very talented photographers.

Then the next day I invited you to Switzerland where our daughter, DeAna, lives with her husband and family. It’s our go-to place when we have saved up enough to travel… and are free to do so. Three of our grandchildren are there. Of course, it’s a wonderful place to “have to” go!!

Today in my “Antelope and Attitude” post I told you I dream of traveling in 2021 back to Switzerland. For my new followers, I dug out this old post and decided to update it and let you see why I love Switzerland so much.

We sat on a patio with this view eating raclette with our daughter last time we visited her in Sierre, Switzerland, spring of 2018.
We visited that quaint village and attended the wedding of a Swiss friend.
Here are our three Swiss grandsons, Mike, Nick & Chris. That was several years ago when we visited at Christmas time. They’ve changed considerably since then!
Here’s their mom, our daughter. DeDe. Such a sweetheart! She never changes.
Her sons, on the other hand, do! But, okay, let’s look at some of their Swiss scenery. That’s why you came, right?
The lakes are sites to behold!
Castles are plentiful!
Riding in the car with my son-in-law driving on these switchbacks is an experience to remember!!
Flowers in springtime are everywhere!
Towns often were built almost to resemble fortresses.
Grape vineyards border towns and cities where the ground is fertile.
How they built castles on such high, rocky mountain peaks is beyond me!
Every square inch of the sunny mountainsides of Switzerland is terraced and planted with grapes. (This is Lake Geneva). It is near Valais, the canton where De & Andre’ live).
The lakes in Switzerland are numerous, clear, clean and so picturesque!
Castles in Switzerland are plentiful and always points of great travel interest.
In every town and village, the church steeple is always the highest point!
The way they tuck houses into crevices is amazing!!
Trains are a wonderful way to see Switzerland.
You can set your clocks by the trains and their arrival/departures.
The train system is amazing in Switzerland. Andre’s uncle was an engineer who helped design some of these bridges!
Mmmm… Cheese Fondue!
Delicious melted cheese with potatoes, pickles and onions
is “the best” delicacy of Valais! (Of course that’s in my biased opinion).
Raclette is my favorite Swiss cheese.
I love the Swiss cows. We have one of the queen cowbells hanging in our kitchen here in Montana!! I’ll show you that another time.
We usually visit in springtime or in winter (Bob loves to ski), but autumn is a gorgeous time in Switzerland, too.
The Matterhorn is one of Switzerland’s most famous landmarks.
This year De & Andre’ were working at a mountaintop restaurant at a ski resort where the only access was by chairlift. Can you imagine the views??
I love the springtime the most. Flowers are everywhere and the mountains are green and alive.
Oh, here are some more of those gorgeous Swiss cows!
Switzerland is beautiful in every season!
Thank you for visiting a few scenes with me. Thank you to #IloveSwitzerland for most of the images. Some are mine, though. Isn’t it an amazing country?
This is my oldest grandson, Mike with his significant other, Tania. We can hardly wait til the next time we get to go and visit with them. Kids grow up so fast, don’t they?
Doesn’t matter what season it is, we know our “DollyWolly” will be there to greet us!!

Thanks for visiting with me for a while. Hopefully someday we will go back… and I hope you can visit Switzerland for real yourself someday, too.

The Lord be with you and keep you safe.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
See ya later!

Category:

blessings, children, Family, flowers, food, holidays, Love, mountains, nature, photography, relationships, Travel

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Montana ATV Father’s Day


If you lived in Montana – west across the valley from the Madison Range – with two mountain ranges north and south of you filled with trails for All Terrain Vehicles, and you had an ATV, how would you spend Father’s Day?

Yup, you guessed it! We went on “Lucille” (our red-headed ATV who is a BALL) up into the Tobacco Root Range to the top of the world this afternoon.

Come and take a ride with us… way up to the snow area where snow drifts caused us to have to turn around and head back down. We’ll start up there and head down

Below that snowy area, there is a gorgeous lookout where we can view the valley below. I took a few photos from that lookout to share with you.

Looking east to the Madison Valley and the Madison Range.
See our Boston, TazE, by the road there?
Looking west from the Lookout
The fields were covered with beautiful little flowers.
On our way up to tha lookout, we stopped at Sureshot Lake.
TazE appreciated the break after the bumpy ride down.
You can see the lake below to the right of the window.

We saw twice as many campers in the camping areas this trip compared to any other year, and we’ve been traveling this route for nearly ten years. During this COVID-19 pandemic, word has gotten out. Montana is a great Big Sky place… with lots of fresh air, space, and unbelievable beauty.

And this “crowd” of campers is nothing compared to what you’d experience in California or Florida or other vacation destinations!

Time to head toward home…. there’s our Madison Valley down there.
These are called “Jack Fences.” They don’t have to be buried, so they survive the snow and freezing temperatures longer than posts that need to be pounded in.
Tucked back into these mountains are some really beautiful horse farms.
TazE knows when we get close to home. She gets up and goes on high alert!
We’re happy you joined us for our Father’s Day adventure.
Back to the pickup near this lily pond in McAllister.
Time to put “Lucille” on the trailer and go home for a barbecue.

Here’s lookin’ at you!
Happy Father’s Day, my friends.

Til next time – Happy Trails to You!
See ya tomorrow.
Love, JanBeek

Category:

flowers, holidays, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, pets, photography, Travel, trees

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Be at Peace


Seek the stillness
Seek the tranquility
See the peace within
The calm in you and me

Photo by Lisa Glines

Imagine a peaceful lake
Breathe contentment into your life
Relax and be a gentle presence
Turn away all stress and strife

Pintail Ridge, Ennis, Montana
(Video from the end of our driveway)

Philippians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in all situations,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.”

Photo by Nick Kwan on Pexels.com

Do not let the wind
Disturb your tranquility
The wind moves the clouds

The clouds paint pictures
The clouds bring much needed rain
Wind whips them away

Let the wind help you
Blow away any distress
And just be at peace

Smile, my friends!

I gotcha covered in prayer.
Have a peace-filled weekend.

Bob & I are headed out
in the boat
to float the Madison River.

Taken on my TOPS walk


I’ll take photos this afternoon and post ’em here.
See ya later.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Family, Fishing, God, Gratitude, Haiku, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, mountains, peace, photography, Poetry, relationships, Travel

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Wordless June Sunsets


Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com
Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

Good night!
See ya tomorrow….
JanBeek

Category:

Love, Montana, nature, peace

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Beautiful Montana Photos


Montana is home
It’s a most beautiful state
Photographer’s Dream!

Larry Stolte
Mike Flaherty
Urs Keller
Tom Hartley
Tom Hartley
Shelia Shaw
Jesse Vargas
Curtis Wallace
Ed Coyle
Danette Woods

Montana’s my home
Coming here was our best move
Come and visit us!

The snow is meltng.
I know spring is on its way.
Yes, green is coming!
When COVID-19
Allows us to travel again
Come to Montana!

Thanks for taking a virtual visit with me today
via all these wonderful photographers’ lenses.
I pray for you and your health and safety.
Bee well, my friends, and have a Wonderful Weekend.

Love ya,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, contentment, Haiku, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, photography, Poetry, Travel

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Image

Wow! Wordless Wednesday


Written

on September 18, 2019

Touring Homes


Today was the annual parade of homes
in Ennis, Montana.
It was a fundraiser for our local Madison Valley Med Center.
As a MVMC volunteer, I was hostess
all morning at one of the homes.
I lucked out because this was a marvelous,
gorgeous place to spend the morning.
Let me share some of the views with you.
Maybe you will get some decorting ideas.

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The design from the outside is quite square and modern. But once you step inside the front door, you see an early 1800s chair – inherited from the owner’s great-grandparents – and brought here in the early 1900’s from Germany.

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You know you’re in for a treat when you see the art work on the walls and the other family heirlooms dotted throughout.

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The owners’ almost life-sized painting in the entry gives you a clue to their vibrant personalities. And the dog by the hearth shows you their hearts of warmth and love.

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Keep going, and look out. The house seems to be floating on Lake Ennis. There are no guard rails on the deck to interrupt your view of the lake.

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The window to the right of this continues the spectacular view.

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Step outside and dream awhile.

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Sit in the hammock and read a good book.

IMG_8448

Choose a chair and we’ll tell each other tales of the last 24″ trout we caught in that lake.

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Wait for the next fisherman to drift by.

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Back out the front door, join me for a swim in the exercise pool in the guest house. You can rent it for a couple of nights and really enjoy this Montana wonderland.

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To your right is the bedroom with a small kitchenette and the bathroom. Do you feel like you could stay here awhile – no problem?

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I hated to leave, but life must go on. Hope you enjoyed the house tour. Oh, can’t leave wihout going back into the main house to thank the owners for their hospitality. Don’t you love this kitchen?

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All this – and nice people, too.
What a great way to spend a day, huh?

 

Thanks for visiting with me.

pexels-photo-887349-2
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Love, Montana

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Montana Four-Wheeling


Montana Four-Wheeling

flowers+snow-peaked mtns

Up, up, up we went on our Polaris side-by-side

Until we felt like we were at the top of the world –

The top of the Tobacco Root Range

ATV at mtn top

We took a very rocky, steep mountain trail
and passed by some phenomenal scenes
to get to that high mountain view
where the air was so fresh and clean.

The skies were threatening, but the rain held off.

Fence w Lake

Sureshot Lake always is an inviting place.
There were kayakers out on the water.
It’s quite a trail to get there!
We stopped at the one out-house available on the trek.

IMG_7406

Four guys and a dog… all chatted while Caroline and I used the facility.
(Tom, who let me ride along with him, is on the right)

4 guys + dog

No friend like a like-minded, outdoorsy, ATV-ing friend!
I am blessed to know this wonderful lady.
Thank you for your love, Caroline!

Caroline & Jan

I wish this panoramic picture was brighter for you to see the vista better!
Pictures just don’t do it justice!

caroline-panorama-40-lake.jpg

The wildflowers were beautiful.
Hard to capture their charm!

We traveled back past the rushing stream as we headed home.

Rushing Stream

It was a long, windy road back down the mountain
before it leveled off…

Gravelly Range road

Then a long, scenic road home
through sheep and goat farms
(should have got some pictures of them) …

long road home -ATV

Many thanks to Tom Riggs for letting me ride along
on his Polaris Ranger side-by-side!

From Gravelleys to MadisonValley

There’s our Madison Valley down there.
We were a long way up (above the 8,000 ft level).
Home is at 5,000 ft
I love our view!

Home Sweet Home

DFC65354-507F-47A1-A36B-3055C71E4C91

When are you gonna visit Montana?

Come and go ATV-ing and then
come sit awhile on the porch with me!
heart of love
See ya tomorrow

Category:

flowers, friendship, Love, Montana, nature, pets, Travel

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