Travel Adventure #9

On June 13th, I took another drive up to the Harlow Ranch Bison Co in Thompson Falls to show them some of my photo note cards to see if they might stock some in their gift shop.  I was so pleased that they did.   

Before we discussed the note cards I went on the 10am bison tour, this time riding in the cab instead of in the back of the truck.  I thought it would allow me to get some photos closer to ground level instead of from up above the bison.  Boy oh boy, was I surprised!!

It was quite a hilarious experience.  Almost every time I put my camera part way out the window, a large bison stuck its head right up to me to get some treats.   It was shocking just how huge these full grown bison are.

Then I got to watch a tussle between a couple bulls.   Not quite the same as the calves butting heads.  I'm sure they get bloodied up a bit from this activity.  

After a delightful time with the bison and with Maggie (the driver / gift shop manager), I drove a couple miles up the road and camped at the Thompson Falls State Park for the night.  I bought some fire wood, roasted a couple hot dogs over the fire and wished I had brought along some marshmallows.  I won't forget them next time!

Deeper Thoughts #4

I lead a weekly Bible study.  Last week’s lesson was on “the Potter & the Clay,” a reference taken from Isaiah 64:8 (shown below).   God is the Potter and we are the clay.  It's a marvelous picture that puts God in the highest place and us in a very lowly place.

Can you picture the clay on the Potter’s wheel shouting up at the Potter while he tries to form his design, “Wait a minute; this isn’t right; you’ve got it all wrong”?  How crazy to think the lump of clay has any say in what the Potter wants to make, or its arguments making the Potter reassess His plans for the clay.

I think we often question how we were made and why we face such difficult circumstances.  So is God fair?  Is God good?  Does He really care about me?  Is there a plan and purpose for my life?

Looking back at my life and all I have walked through,  I will confidently answer all those questions with a “YES!”

“…now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our Potter;

we are all the work of Your hand.”

Isaiah 64:8  (ESV)

Photo by Meruyert Gonullu: https://www.pexels.com

Travel Adventure #8

Usually on Father's Day each year the Camas blossoms cover the field at Packer Meadows, about a mile from the Lolo Pass Visitor's Center on the Montana/Idaho border on Highway 12. I decided to go a few days early since the other wildflowers in our valley seemed to have peaked early.  

I found a few other wildflowers close by as well and a ground squirrel checking on what I was doing up there.

I was so glad I went early as half the field had blossoms and some were already wilting at the same time others had not yet opened their blossoms. The Camas blossoms are in abundance and the sound of thousands of bees was totally amazing.  They were having a feeding frenzy with the blossoms.  

I decided to camp nearby overnight.  You can see the early morning fog over the Camas field in the background behind the buck.

WIldflowers in the Bitterroot

On June 4th, I drove up in the hills around here and found some wildflowers but for the most part I was late in my wildflower hunting as most were looking quite wilted already. But I did find some Arrowleaf Balsamroot, some bluebells and some bear grass that looked pretty decent.

On June 5th, I went looking for the Bitterroot blossoms that grow plentifully this time of year on State land west of Corvallis (MT).

According to the US Forest Service the Bitterroots were "a culturally significant plant for several Native American tribes in the West. Traditionally, the roots were gathered, dried for storage, and used for food or trade. The root is bitter, so it was cooked and often mixed with meat or berries. Meriwether Lewis first collected the species for western science in July of 1806, in what is now called the Bitterroot Valley in Montana."  

(https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lewisia_rediviva.shtml)

Travel Adventure #7

Looks like I'm getting behind already... too many adventures and not enough time sitting still.  :-)

On May 29th, I took a drive up the Skalkaho Highway to see how much water was coming over the falls.  

I stopped to take pictures of a couple other places where water was coming down with great force and beauty. 

Once I got to Skalkaho Falls I thought I may as well keep on going over the pass to the town of Phillipsburg and to Granite ghost town. The candy store in Phillipsburg is always a perfect stop. The road to Granite was really washed out and rough so did not explore there as much as I had hoped. 

Here's a barn near Phillipsburg that was just calling for me to stop and take some photos.

By the end of the day I made it safely back over the pass to Hamilton.

Deeper Thoughts #3

Today is June 1st already.  How time seems to fly by when I’m not paying attention.  As I get older I am more aware of the limited time I may have left on this earth.  One friend shared with me this profound statement years ago.  “We are all on the conveyor belt of life… but we just don’t know in which order.”

The Bible tells me God knows when my first day and my last day would be, and He knew this before I was ever born.  So He alone knows how many days I have left.  How do I make the most of them?

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, 

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

You saw me before I was born.  

Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.  

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

Psalm 139:15-16 (NLT)