Winter, lovely Winter

for us, winter has been mild

in my little snow belt

we have but a few inches of snow

and

some ice crystals to brighten our days

always a joy to have the natives pass through

all fluffed up in their winter coats

most our days are cloudy

and when the sun shines upon us

joy rises naturally

sunsets light

dances upon some trees longer than others

spring cleaning in winter

a squirrel's underworld home

~

I hope this finds you all well

and

enjoying your days and nights

~

*

autumn holding on

nearing the threshold of winter

autumn lingers on

the path through the forest was coated in an inch of snow 

wound this way and that to the lake, the frozen lake

reeds now held firm, leaned and stood with grace

reminiscent of masterful zen brush strokes

 we have had frosty mornings

for a couple of weeks

new expressions (for me)

like this spiky rime frost

(thank you Romping and Rolling in the Rockies,

for sharing the name of this frost!)

the frost grows in the direction that the weather arrives from 

the west

among the gray day

i did find a splash of color

 ~

soon Autumn will turn to winter

it has has a good long season this year

though in some parts of Montana they are in winter already

with deep snow falling a few times

Lovely ending days of autumn to you 

and yours

~

*

 

 

Late Autumn

autumn rains were most welcome 

after a dry summer

(I wish I could send it to California, along with the snow we got)

peppermint drop lichen

on an old log in the woods

seeing aqua logs in the woods is always a joy

they can be found, but not that many

autumn colors are past now

it was a lovely season

then the snow arrived....

so darn pretty

I thought winter arrived

but in most places it has melted away

( I live in a snow belt, the snow is still here )

the gentle lovely light of sunset

autumn leaning towards winter

(you can also find me on Instagram)

~

lovely days and nights to you

~

*

Autumn Glory

Glacier National Park is an hour drive for me.

Enter the park and it's spirit is tangibly. 

Certainly crossing a threshold into the sublime and earthy. 

'Going to the Sun'

is the name of the road that travels through the park, 

west to east. 

It travels high into the Rocky mountains to Logan Pass and back down the east side. 

do you see the road over on the right side of the mountains? (above)

They closed the road in the summer due to wildfires. 

Thankfully they opened it up a bit ago. 

Soon the road will close due to snow until next summer. 

There is a small bit of days that one can journey the road to see these views and colors.

it was a gorgeous blue skied day

but the clouds were there too 
adding to the drama, light and shadows

water is still flowing

even after a long hot summer

the high peaks are kissed with light snow

even though the grand views got our attention

the little ones captured my heart as well

raindrops

 I nearly covered the tiny island 

by the branch of the tree

but there it is

a glimpse of treasure.

Lovely days and nights to you!

~

*

Blessed Equinox to You!

as the sun nearly kissed the evening horizon

i saw it perched

listening into the shoulder high grass meadow

waiting on dinner

(30 seconds) 

the seasons changed quite fast

one day 

after months of hot days

the air was more refined, the heat gone, night's even colder

the colors have begun

we are off to a colorful beginning to a new season!

 Kokanee salmon spawn up the creeks now

so many fish this year: 

swimming/spawning:

(13 seconds)

sometimes it rains

and 

cottonwood seed wool captures the drops beautifully:

such an amazing season

these skies

these colors

Lovely Equinox to you

be it Autumn or Spring

Blessed Mabon

~

Though today is officially autumn

it has been feeling like and looking like autumn  

for weeks now.

~

*

American Mink

(you might enjoy this in 'full screen', click on the square in the bottom right corner to see this video larger)

a mink visit

new sounds in the ponds

the muskrats were running and leaping off the island

onto the water

like a belly flop splash

also

a quiet slinky mink

swimming as well!

I have only seen a mink 3 times now

they are nocturnal

but there it was, hunting in the day

the pipe (in the video) 

is how the water flows from one pond to the next

it is also how the muskrats and mink travel from one pond to the next

I hope you enjoyed the little video

it was joy inspiring to be so close

as long as I stood still the mink seemed to think me a tree

a few days later

at a friends home

we saw a mink fishing in the lake

two minks in one week!

~

*

Spots and Dots

a week ago

I found this mushroom rising through the earth

a splash of dirty color:

I visited it and photographed it every day

It took 7 days from beginning to end

it was the only mushroom around

it was a fun and interesting thing to do

out in the back meadow 

the grasses are now taller than I

and 

they are speckled with ladybugs

this is the first summer that I have seen so many of these 

little gem-like bugs

this seasons fawns are quite dapper in their spots

sharing a scattering of spots and dots 

from my forest

~

*

Season of Flowers

some views

change one's breathing

meadows of flowers

can right one's spirit

 at my elevation 

most flowers have gone to seed

but the mountains

still offer flowers galore

colors divine

mixed with mountains and sky

and 

one's heartbeat comes true

Wandering paths and mountain roads are such a nice way to enjoy summer wildflowers!

I am sharing this with Whims & Fancies
last Thursday of each months:
Wandering Camera
~

Season of Flowers!

~

*