Photo Friday

Yet another very busy week, with lots to do and not much interest in taking photos. However, that will change today, as I head to Glacier National Park with my parents and my friend Amy.

Last week was a bit difficult for me, as my ex-boyfriend returned from Taiwan to Montana for just about a week. It did to me just what I thought it would; put me in a tailspin so to speak. I never thought that I was over him for the month that he was away but I did feel that I was doing great. I'm doing fine now again, and hopefully I can let go of our relationship for good this time. No one said moving on was easy, but perhaps I can learn something from it.

It was a fun weekend in Helena with his family, as always. His sister is in town for a while and I have enjoyed her company since I met her last Christmas. Such a great family, and so many great memories. I feel blessed to have met this family, and will miss seeing them as frequently as I have in the past. Must learn to let go...

Just yesterday I received my new 50mm lens for my camera. Oliver has always been a great subject, and I'm sure I will have many more subjects to experiment with this weekend.

Too busy...

I've been so busy as of late, I am now overwhelmed with many things to do. Good thing I can multi-task or I'd be sunk! Tomorrow, my parents arrive from Iowa for their first visit to Montana together. I'm not really sure what we are going to do, but a trip to Glacier is definitely in the plans.

I've been hanging out with friends and getting out in the sun. Every weekend since the middle of June has pretty much been filled with either backpacking, road trips, or visitors.

While I enjoy being busy, and seem to make my life that way, I am starting to feel stretched thin. The last evening that I had completely to myself was August 10...I think. With my mom and dad in town through the 30th, it's looking like September 1st will be my day. Just work, no phone, no email, no facebook...just me.

When it seems that my life is starting to settle down, something comes up, and everything is up in the air. I don't want to say such is life, but it is what it is. I'm just busy...busy being me, finding my happiness, and getting resettled into this life that is starting to seem all too short. So many different directions that it could lead me, and I have only to choose which path to take. Making decisions has never been easy for me. Ask me what I want for supper and it could take an hour to decide. Ask me where I want my life to lead me? Hmm; best be making that decision so that I have time to enjoy it.

Photo Friday

This past weekend I celebrated my 31st birthday with Kristen at the Grand Targhee Bluegrass festival just outside of Driggs, ID. Yet again, this week has been super busy with visitors and friends so I have not gotten out with my camera, so all I have to share are weekend photos.

We headed out in a light rain from Missoula on Friday morning and arrived around 4pm to cloudy skies and cool temperatures. We set up our tent and headed into the venue for the evening. Unfortunately, it started raining around 8pm and we were completely soaked and cold for the rest of the night. However, we still managed to hav

e a great time, meeting several new and interesting friends.

On Saturday and Sunday, the weather was perfect, with no clouds in sight all day. The music was wonderful, as was the food and microbrews!

Monday morning we took the ski lift up and were greeted with a fantastic view of the Grand Tetons. It was a great weekend and I am looking forward to going to another festival sometime.

These last two photos were taken with my phone so I thought I'd share them as well. The monstrous zucchinis were grown in my backyard garden, as were the carrots. Last night I started shredding one of the zucchs and made a batch of zucchini raisin cookies. So delicious! The rather large beaver is one that has been visiting my backyard sporadically to munch on the apples. As long as he stays out of my garden he is a welcome visitor!

Photo Friday

This week has been so busy with preparations for this weekends Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, that the only photos I have to share are from last week's backpacking trip to Stuart Peak. It was a great trip and the pictures hardly do it justice.

I'm still on the fence about bringing my camera on this trip, as I'm not really wanting to have it with me 24/7, but also don't want to miss out of the beauty of the area...should probably get a move on if I want to leave within the hour.

Here's a shout out to my twin sister: Happy Birthday to us!! With every year, it seems that life keeps getting easier. May we both enjoy many more years on this earth, and hopefully be able to celebrate together again.

Stuart Peak

I feel blessed to live in Missoula Montana, where just a short car ride away is an awesome trail head. On Saturday morning Amy, Kim, and I left the Rattlesnake trail head for Stuart peak at 10 am. A bit late for a backpacking trip if you ask me, but it was nice to get some extra sleep and have a leisurely breakfast. I was carrying 4 liters of water and my pack weight was a total of 37 pounds. I'd guess that at the height of our hike in, the temp was around 82 degrees with a slight breeze that felt oh so good. We had all done a little searching for the length of the trip, and had found that is was around 10.5 miles to the peak. The sign at the trail head said that it was only 8 miles. I'm pretty sure our research is correct but who knows.

We set up camp at the first spot we found; about 3+ miles from the summit, right in the middle of a huckleberry patch and just a short walk away from a little trickle of a creek. The weather was perfect for just hanging out and picking berries. We laughed and told stories, and talked about our hopes for the future and the adventures we all want to go on. As the sun set and the stars came out, we gazed out into the distance at the lights of Missoula. The calm and quiet of the wilderness at night was rejuvenating and something that I must get out into more frequently.

Sunday morning we awoke to a light rain that lasted for about an hour. We attempted to make huckleberry pancakes in a nonstick pan (not recommended) and settled for eating trail mix and carrots. We left camp just after 11 am for the summit, and arrived 2 hours later, just after 1 pm. We enjoyed lunch an just hung out for an hour. We could see for miles, all the way south to Lolo, and the Mission Mountains to the north.

We took our time making it down the mountain, all of us sore and tired. By the time we reached the car at 6:30pm, we were anxious for Bridge pizza and cold beer. My feet couldn't take me any farther.

Two days later, my quads and especially my calves are extremely tight. My knee, however, is doing just fine.

Which peak around Western Montana should I conquer next?

Photo Friday

Here it is already the first Friday in August. How time does fly when the weather is wonderful and there is so much fun to be had! Missoula's farmers market has been great for fresh spinach, carrots, a various other goodies. Of course, the people watching is just as good. Montana's big sky is especially beautiful after a quick evening thunderstorm, and with willing participants, pictures are even more fun.

Enjoy your weekend. I'm off to summit Stewart Peak, just north of Missoula this weekend.

Time alone

Getting used to being single is...strange. Strange in that it is different than what I thought it would be. I've spent plenty of time with friends, and have had a blast of course, but I've also spent time alone. In fact the last two nights I have chosen to stay home alone and regroup.

After a busy weekend with Eve, Jackie, Blake and Joe, it seemed that the only thing I should want to do was to spend time alone. Monday I turned down a walk along the river with a friend and instead spent the night nesting and hanging out with myself. Tuesday was much the same; I made dinner and read for most of the evening. I also did something I haven't done in ages; went to bed shortly after 10pm.

I'm still getting used to living alone, only because I have yet to finish settling my things where I want them. What I do miss is that when I come home from work, there isn't anyone to ask how my day was. It's the little things I guess. I'm not really lonely, or depressed at all. Just reminiscent over the past two years that I've been here, most of which has been in a relationship. I'm getting to know myself all over again, and working on making being happy from the inside, which is all that really matters.

Ironically, I am reading "Happiness" by Matthieu Ricard. I haven't gotten that far into it because it seems as though I am scrutinizing it too much. Already it is making a lot of sense and I think it will help. My favorite quote so far is "To love oneself is to love life." Considering that I'll be 31 a week from Friday, it seems as though I should have quite a bit of life left, so I should start to love it...and myself, faults and all.