Summer . . . well it hasn't really arrived yet!

The summer solstice came and left.  We still don't really have summer.  I am not really complaining at all as heat is not my thing!  I lived in Africa and the middle east.  I know heat and I know I don't like it like other people.  The flowers are all doing great with all this rain and cool temperatures. Whitefish is green, lush, and colorful.  The heat of summer is just on slow-mo this year.  Rumor has it after the 4th we will be in the 90s!  One extreme to the next!

Biking has been great! I am not injured this year, we are riding or hiking just about every day.  I would be on the river paddling more as we have wheels to haul our Native Boards down easily to the Whitefish River.   At 46ºF this morning I am not too eager to get on the river and freeze—-been there and done that enough in my lifetime!

Reading the 3rd book in "Summer King Chronicles" YA fantasy series by Jess E Owen.  I am in awe of Jess's work.  She even made time to meet up with me and to share her thoughts on self-publishing. 

MTN Bike riding on the Whitefish Trails

Feeling so grateful that I can bike, paddle, ski and move after my small knee surgery!

Here in Whitefish after decades of dedicated folks, the Whitefish Trails were established, built and now used/loved by walkers, bikers, runners, young & old!

Dogs have many swimming spots along our rides and on the trails if you pick wisely.

Yes, I am a wimp when it comes to the twists and turns of the downhills!

My best buddy Miss Sadie she is my companion!  Although she loves to scope out the surrounding area around the trails at times.  Sadie is an explorer!

Riding up Taylor Creek in the fog this weekend.  It was really cool and mysterious and I just love it when the mountains are covered in fog.

Indian Paint Brush in the background.

So far this summer has been rather cool and rainy.  This photo was taken in earlier June when summer came by for a visit.

Cooling off in Haskill Creek at the end of a mountain bike ride.

Earlier June snow on the ski hill.

I am loving these geraniums I planted this summer.  They just remind me of an old fashion floral print for a summer dress.  Which I will point out is nothing I would ever wear----

Sadie loving her dog ice cream from #sweetpeaksicecream.

Look at that tongue and empty ice cream dish!

Christian and his Haskap berries and crisp below.

One of the things I carve all winter up north is the Farmers Market here in Whitefish!  Oh so crunchy!

Witches feet from the Wizard of Oz!  Nice early morning bike ride under the Montana Big Sky looking up Whitefish Lake.

Stumptown DK yarn hand dyed right here in Whitefish at the Knit'N Needle!  I needed up some fingerless mittens for my sister.  I am going to work on this simple design a bit to come up with a better pattern.

Ah, Huckleberries are beginning to turn bluey-purple and I am sure would be bursting with ripeness when the rain stops and the sun arrives!

South-Western Montana--Spectacular Country!

We recently went on a trip to the south-western part of Montana.  Amazing country!  We stayed in a few more forest service cabins in some of the most beautiful country ever.  One certainly gets very spoiled living in Montana and then you find yet another hidden treasure . . . under Montana's Big Sky!

This little gem of a cabin is called Beaver Creek and we love this place!  However, this is the first time we have ever seen it in summer!  We have been coming to this cabin since the early 1990s.  There is great backcountry ski touring out of this camp, hiking and mtn. biking.  In the winter you have to ski into the cabin 5k.  In the summer you can drive all the way in to a wonderful little cozy home.

Yes there is wildlife there and that would be a big ol'grizz print.  This area has one of the highest concentrations of grizz.

Great mtn. biking and look at that view!

We love this place and each other and our lives!  Grateful for it all!

Over the years to stove has been replaced and the outhouse has been updated.  The inside of the cabin is still in great shape and very basic just how we love it!

Poor Tally is a magnet for mosquitoes!

Tally has various mosquito hiding devices!

Knitting away on the recently completed Crown Jewel hats all five are done and should be arriving to their new home as I type.

Tally and her boy . . . these two are pretty much inseparable!

Biking down through an old burn area.

The loft and bunks.

The next cabin we went is called Black Butte and this cabin is in a wonderful area of Montana.  It is remote, high elevation, and spectacular country.  We will be heading back tot his spot again I am sure!

High open alpine is one of my favorite eco-systems!

Sadie loving her time exploring the flowers and open spaces.

This little spot would be perfect for a little cabin for me to hide out in for the rest of my life!

One of our meals at Black Butte.

Yes still knitting on Crown Jewel hat project!

About 9,700 feet biking slowing but biking.

Stellar little place!

These 3 photos are all Indian Paint  Brush but look at the color difference.  The red is the most common I would say, followed by upper lefts orange and then yellow.  I have never seen the yellow in north-west Montana.  I will keep an eye out for it now.

Lichen I am always enthralled by lichen.  This vibrant orange caught my eye.

Biking and Paddle Boarding

We had a great day yesterday!  We all need to get out and enjoy what Montana has to offer during the summer.  We are right on the edge of a heat wave for Montana and luckily for us we have not gotten the higher temperatures that others have been recording.

Single track riding in the green.

Sadie cooling off as she always does-she will just lay right down in the stream and chill for a bit.

Christian cooling off as well after he fully submerged himself in the creek.

Sadie in her Ruffwear vest and I enjoying a hot afternoon on the river cooling off.

Tally sporting her wonderful Ruffwear life vest.  This great fitting vest has a handle which makes  it easy to get her onto the Versa board.

Heading home at the end of a great day outside in the sun!