big sky dreams

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Kalispell | Montana

The road less traveled is always the more interesting one to me; who wants to follow the crowd.

slipshodphotog:

The road less traveled on Flickr.

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Yellowstone Photography | 

Mountains, Montana and horses; I always imagine Heaven to look like this.

yellowstonephotography:

© 2012 Ryan M. Bell Photography

Montana on Etsy | Montana Roots Map (ChildrenInspire)

Which part of Montana owns your heart?

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Road-tripping Yellowstone National Park | 

Even with sandwiches from the Pickle Barrel, drinks from the Coffee Creek drive-thru in Livingston and animal spotting along the way, it can be a very long day’s drive in Yellowstone National Park if you are two years’ old.

On this particular trip, we had to ‘entertain’ my daughter on the way home by burying her with jumpers in her car seat, so she could play hide and seek and then break out of them; again, and again, it was a LONG drive home. Yellowstone you are worth it.

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Montana on Etsy | Grain Elevator, Wilsall, Montana

Along with Paper and Canvas, I also found this building fascinating; you can see my photograph, taken in 2009, here. More about grain elevators; an icon of the American west here.

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Beartooth Pass | Montana 2007

Charles Kuralt proclaimed it to be ’the most beautiful drive in America’. The Beartooth Highway is the section of US Highway 212 between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana. It has a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks to the 10,947 ft high Beartooth Pass. I was so glad to be in the passenger seat on this drive.

Days Aren’t Long Enough | Steve Earle and Allison Moorer

The husband and I heard Steve & Allison sing ‘Days Aren’t Long Enough’ in Bozeman; great song.

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Fading Snow | Kalispell, Montana

Loving these shots of Kalispell, it is many years since I made it that far North, so it’s nice to get a glimpse again through this recent series.

slipshodphotog:

Fading Snow on Flickr.

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Montana Acrostic | 

Loving Montana is a family affair here; we are all equally obsessed. My kids collaborated to create this acrostic with seven reasons why they love the state.

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Big Sky, Montana | Sneaker Love Marco Boulais

Big Sky Reads | This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind Ivan Doig

I bought this book in September 2000 from The Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana. Or rather, that is where I bought my first copy. I have read many, many books inspired by Montana, a love of the West, landscape, sky and family; to this day this remains my favorite book. Perhaps because on first reading, I was falling in love with the story and the land; but this book left me with an indelible mark. The writing is inspired. I find it amazing that in his preface Doig explains that when his manuscript returned from the first edit, only the smallest changes were recommended. When you read this book, when you share his life, you get that; it is written from the heart in such a pure and true way. This book moves you; to tears, to joy, to longing, to love, to appreciation, to treasure, to remember, to honor. 

I decided last week, to re-read this book again. I wondered if the second read would live up to my first impressions; it is better, sweeter. Now, I read with a different perspective, not that first love for the land and the people, but with a deeper understanding of the landscape, the towns, the culture. I had the privilege of hearing Doig speak during a book tour; it was quite wonderful to listen first hand to his stories. 

My second through fifth copies of this book were purchased on return from my inaugural trip to Montana and shared with my family. I wanted them to understand how I felt about the place, but also to understand how I felt about them.

I would be delighted to gift this book to someone, so you can discover this treasure for yourself. Leave me a comment/tweet/follow/heart, etc. and I’ll pick one person at random. 

This giveaway will end on February 28th, 2012 at which point one of my children will randomly select one winner. To enter, please retweet/like/reblog or comment before that deadline. 

Montana National Guard Class A Patch

“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!” John Muir

Labellum | A contemporary flower boutique in Gallatin Valley, Bozeman

Remy Greco-Brault has worked as a floral and event designer in LA and NY; on many high profile events. Recently, she and her husband, Frederic, moved to Bozeman, Montana to open a contemporary flower boutique - Labellum Flowers - in the Gallatin Valley.

The Gallatin Valley is a magical place, it has been deep in my heart since I first visited 12 years ago; but I believe it might just have become even prettier.

Encountering Space: The Fire Lookouts of Montana | Tom Persinger

“What I really enjoy is how I become entombed with the time of nature; not the time of a clock. ……. I get to live the moment.” Alex Hussan

(Source: sniffyjenkins)

Wonderland | Christopher Cauble

A time-lapse journey through Yellowstone National Park.