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!

Summer Goal: YOGA!

Summer Goal: YOGA!  All school year I would head either to my ski room or my classroom to do my routine of yoga, sit-ups and some kind of upper body work out on the Ski Erg.  I never had been to a formal yoga class, but have been trying to learn a bit on my own. This summer one of my goals was to get to a yoga studio and to learn more about the art of yoga. I want to be able to do more challenging yoga DVDs once back up north but I want to make sure I am doing things correctly.

Yesterday, I signed up online for a 1.5-hour class at the Shanti Yoga Studio in downtown Whitefish.  I loved it!  My instructor was Ingrid and the class was hatha yoga foundations---I loved it!  Ingrid corrected me and showed me how to do moves properly---this is just what I wanted.  Ingrid was very patient and clear. Of course, I have a lot to learn. I liked that many of the yoga moves I have been doing from my two DVDs were used in this class so I didn't feel totally out to lunch.  

The Shanti Studio is small but with great light, everyone was very pleasant upbeat and welcoming.  Another added bonus is the walk is about 2 blocks max from my back door.  This morning I am heading over to another class which will be vinyasa flow.  All the classes I will go to will be for all levels.  There were folks there who were advanced and have been doing yoga for years I am sure.  I would say everyone enjoyed the class and left with huge smiles on their faces. 

I am thrilled to have found such a nice yoga studio close to my house that offers a wide variety of classes to help push me to learn more about yoga!