An early taste of winter

 Yesterday was just another warm, dry, late summer day in Montana and this morning we wake up to this! Thank   God for the moisture...it was nearing a virtual dust bowl!  It happens this way most every year, where we get just an early taste of winter then roll into a long gorgeous fall season...my favorite time of year when it's finally neither too hot, cold nor windy and skies are an intoxicating shade of blue!

 
I love the golden aspens constrasting against the white snow!

A family of chicadee actually made their home in cute birdhouse we placed for outdoor decor!

Farewell my lovely petunias, I am going to miss your cheerful faces! 

Extreme Flyfishing in Montana

Here is Roger's idea of the perfect fly fishing location!  Needless to say why I carry the pepper spray and make him carry the 357!...both of which I feel are a rather false sense of security because when you're on the stream you can really only hear so far around you as the current is drowning out most surrounding noise,  but sometimes a 'false' sense of security is better than none I guess, so long as you are aware of the limitations AND your surroundings.

I would also add to this sign:  Fly fishers-be aware of competition for the fish!
Actually, I would love to capture a shot of a bear fishing here rather than catching one myself here any day!

                                            My favorite shot of the trip, Late afternoon sun.

Guess the Montana Lake Location Contest

I thought it would we fun to start a weekly contest to give away a fine art photo featuring one of my favorite subjects: Montana scenes, floral, pop, vintage and more. This one will be a 8x10 or 8x12 scene of a beautiful lake in Montana or a 3 note card set featuring different scenes from this special place. Simply subscribe or follow by email to to stay attuned to each new contest! Just be the first person to guess what beautiful lake in Montana this is and you win! Winner will be announced as soon as the right response is guessed. Hint: It is not in Yellowstone Park or Glacier Park. It has crystal clear water where you can see the bottom a long ways from the shore. Sorry no family members, as you all know my whereabouts (usually)!

Fly fishing on the Madison

We got away for a few days last week to visit Emily and Spencer in Bozeman. It had been sooo long since we'd gotten out of town on a fun trip, that it felt like an escape from Alcatraz! Bozeman, MT was bustling with young people, as the home of MSU and was a nice change of scenery and especially eateries! Emily even showed us a gluten free cafe where the bread actually almost tasted like bread and not the usual cardboard with butter! We where planning on canoeing at Highlight Reservoir but alas it was closed for the season for yet two more days! So instead we went shopping for some fishing supplies and a new fly pole for Emily. She found the perfect one...an 8ft 5lb (line) pole in a brand called "Fly Girl"! We checked out the Madison River just a short ways away. (In Montana that means under 100 miles!) The water was eerily warm for the middle of May and there where actually peoples floating in inner tubes and other casual crafts which were unfamiliar to me...something like a wide surfboard in which you stand and paddle with a long stick like paddle. This is on a river mind you and not a lake! I was picturing myself on that thing and losing my paddle! (not a pleasant picture) I really wished I'd had my long lens when, almost on the other side of the river, came one of these board crafts with two dogs in the front leading the way and slowly meandering down the river with their captain paddling in the rear! The fishing wasn't great that day due to the warm water I suspect, but all in all, it was a perfect day to be in, on and near the water in Montana!

Which fly to use this time? Of course...the elk hair caddis again!

Decisions, Decisions. Soo many flies, so little time!