morning harvest

Sweet peas and beans. I picked them before the afternoon rain.

Shady spike

Yesterday Cali and I chased this guy away from the shade of the lilacs. It's hot today and he didn't want to leave another shady spot because of some pesky human and her even more pesky dog. He's still in this same spot after an hour.

Velvet

I found this guy hanging around behind our shed. I'd like to find his antlers when he sheds them.

flowers and wildlife

The wild rose went crazy this year after all that spring rain we had.

Gaillardia.

Snake in the grass. Actually it's in the Vinca.

The little brown bat hiding out under the deck. This is a little bit more in focus than last year's attempt, but still not perfect. It's pretty dark under there.

dinner on the river

You can just make out the "M" on the hillside.

New residents

Cute. Cute.

Trip to Portland

My mom and I with my grandmother's picture in the background. We had a private memorial at my aunt's house on what would have been my grandmother's 95th birthday.

Hubby and I on the sofa. We look so color coordinated, but it wasn't on purpose.

My mom and cousin, Sherri, with their vino!

My mom, cousin Mary and aunt Anne getting ready to cut the cake. In the background is my uncle, Butch.

bluebird dinner

The male Western bluebird with food for his babies. I wasn't able to see how many nestlings are in the box. I think they must be close to fledging by now.

Indian paintbrush

It took some hill traversing, but we were able to get to the few paintbrush plants on our hill. They are in full bloom and so pretty.

sunrise

Lolo Peak this morning. Beautiful.

hiking Ward Creek

Beautiful cedar trees line this creek. We had the trail all to ourselves.

A family portrait along the creek.

Our neighbor, Cate, with a lichen headdress.

Cali by the huge trillium.

shades of red

A beautiful rusty colored moth. I saw him on the patio and thought it was another chipping sparrow that had hit the window. This moth is huge!

What to do with all the rhubarb the remaining plant is producing??? Make gingered rhubarb jam. Yummy and so pretty, too.

morning mushroom hike

Cali with her pleading look..."can we please go up the hill this morning???".

It's been raining everyday for 3 weeks. This morning it rained and then cleared up for a bit. We went looking for mushrooms and found them.

Then we found more morels. Yippee!!!

A baker's dozen. Enough for dinner tonight.

Fishing trip

Dad and Dennis went fishing with a guide on the Blackfoot River.

Here is Dennis with the brown trout he caught.

Dad with the bull trout he caught.