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!

Thank You All For Stopping by in 2017! Happy & Healthy 2018 To All!

My Miss Sadie who I just love to ends of the earth! She is my buddy who can be by my side or on a village walkabout--ugh!  Sadie has made me a better person. 

Little Miss Tally who loves her guy so much!  She is a dear who is always ready "To Go!"

Skiing is what I love to do . . . nothing is better than gliding on snow on Nordic gear with my Ninja Turtle Dog, my husband and a bunch of ski team kids! 

My dear husband who is nothing but a treat to spend time with and loves to groom ski trails!

Christian with the girls working on ski trails.

Wishing all of you who stop by for a visit now and then a wonderful 2018!  Good health to you all and may you get to spend quality outdoor time with all those people and animals you hold near and dear to your hearts.

Our living room with worn out dogs and drying dog booties which are all the rage for 2018 interior home design!

Tundra Time and The Knee

We are of course all the way back up north for another school year. Classes have started up in full force. We (as in us and the village) are all back to the school routines.

I am up five days a week at 5:00 a.m. to take the dogs out, enjoy that precious first cup of coffee, check email and then off to "The Refugio" as I call the waxroom this time of the year.  The village is usually silent at this early hour. I love greeting my day in peace and quiet.  We have had some northern lights when we were first back. HOWEVER, major bummer since being back almost every morning our skies have been cloudy. Even with all the solar flares which give us great northern lights due to the clouds, I was not able to view the lights!

I am now at week 8 after knee surgery.  I am really doing very well and I have learned to be patient, to go easy when my knee is feeling a bit rough, to push myself with my PT routines, and that time is the major factor in recovery.  Some weeks were painful with a good dose of discomfort, other weeks my knee felt great.  I can say both of my legs are now in far better shape and have equal strength.  I am thrilled that Whitefish Therapy & Sprot Center is willing to help me through emails as I really needed a bit more support and new goals being out here 400 air miles from anything!

Tally and her boy back on the tundra.

A bit buggy back in Aug. I am not using poles as I forgot them. I now always take ski poles with me to help with the rough tundra surface.

Since we got back a bit later the fireweed was over flowering but thick as can be this year.

The traditional tea break on the tundra.  We were out picking blueberries.

Miss Sadie who loves to be outside even more than me!

She also enjoys a great rest once back home.

Sweet Peas from the beach.

Nice cappuccino and dark chocolate . . . really who could ask for more!

The SkiErg and The Refugio my mornings five days a week.

My workout partner who is patiently waiting for the walk back home.

I can now walk on the uneven beach surface.  I don't go there often as I am waiting for all the dead fish that litters the beach to go out to sea.  Dogs roll in and eating dead salmon is a rather gross affair either we stink or puke!

Tundra Gal

Soon we will be skiing on that hillside!

Tundra blues with a few cranberries tossed into the mix.

Here is how I kept track of wall sits for my knee rehab---rocks for counting out how many . . . I had to do something!  I am of the theory if you screw up counting you have to start from the beginning!

Yet more time in The Refugio

Ground cover has changed fast this year however the temps are fairly warm still which seems kind of strange!

Cotton Grass and this always makes me think of the Jan Brett book: Trouble With Trolls, Jan is one of my favorite kids' authors and illustrators.

Hiking with poles and look at that color!  One of the things I will miss when our time on the tundra is done.

Nice colors to make the black dog show up!  Tally loves a log not a stick!

Fall colors dance across the tundra . . .

Fall Invitational running race and my WolfPup runners!