Mother’s Day Sale

I hope everyone is having a great day. Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Celebrate the women in your lives by giving an original artwork piece they can enjoy for years. Enjoy 20% off all Fine Art by entering MOM2023 during checkout.

Art All Around Us

I admire those who see a landscape and paint it. I enjoy painting abstract art when the chance arises but landscapes still elude me. My camera has helped my creative side blossom. All around the change of light and shadow creates mood-inspiring moments. Capturing these moments to share with others brings me the same joy as when I look at other artists' work. Some famous places get photographed or painted thousands of times but art created from these famous places can still inspire and evoke emotion because we are all wonderfully unique thus what we see and create is as well.

Before Easter, while driving on a beautiful sunny early spring day in Hodges, Montana this hayfield caught my eye. The late afternoon sun was casting light and shadows across the landscape. Light shimmered off the dry grasses like glittering highlights. Pulling over I grabbed my camera to see if I could catch the enchanting scene before me. 

Try pausing for a moment in your day and notice how light and shadow interact or how laughter can create beautiful art in your world.

Late Summer Hayfield

On a hazy late summer evening, we drove by this hayfield. The warm sun was casting long quiet shadows across the landscape. Dirt and rock outcrops added an excellent contrast to the gently rolling hills. Breathing in the sweet air of the cut hay with the soft light on my face a relaxed calm came over me. In these rural areas with wide open spaces, the cares of the world seem far away. Breathing deeply and centering myself helps me feel at peace. For me, nature helps this process. Do you ever feel more at peace in nature? 

Dreaming of the First Spring Flowers

Each February I watch my first tulips of the season start to poke through the soil. I tell them “don’t come up yet, we are going to get more cold weather” but they never listen. There is an orange variety that comes up every year, these small little plants are the hardiest of all my tulips. The transition from winter to spring is slow in Montana. My childhood memories of lush green grasses, blossoming trees and a kaleidoscope of flowers in March and April are dear to my heart. Wild daffodils growing around homesteads in March left such a strong impression as a child they grow in my garden to this day. We have long cold winters so that first pop of color is a treat. In early spring I look forward to watching which colors are going to come up first. Dark colors, bold colors, pastels, and whites show up each spring in my little garden. 

Understanding the climate and soils in Montana is important to the success of my flower garden. The soils in my garden are a mixture from heavy clays at the back transitioning to a clay loam at the front. I enjoy keeping my soil ecosystem healthy. My goal is to keep color going from early spring into late fall. 

Feel free to leave a comment if you have a special flower or enjoy gardening. I hope your day is going well.

Spotlight on a Small MT Business

Photo Copyright Backroad Designs used with permission.

I am inspired by small business owners who have an idea and turn it into reality. It takes courage and creativity. The owner of Back Road Designs embodies these traits and more. Her artistic talent flows from her original designs to her product photography. Strong attention to detail and materials research create a beautiful quality for all to enjoy. Her efficacious ability is strengthened by her delightful personality. For foolproof, Montana-inspired gifts check out https://www.backroad-designs.com/ and don’t forget to get something to enjoy for yourself. Check out the store on Facebook as well https://www.facebook.com/backroaddesignsMT.

Quietness of Dawn

I walk by this park often, in the very early mornings it is peaceful and quiet. Sometimes it's nice to sit on one of the benches and enjoy the quietness before the noise of the day starts. This morning was crisp contrasting with the warmth of the sun. My dogs were playing with my cat under the trees. Breathing deeply I sat in the moment, listening to the birds, feeling the warmth of the sun, and watching the happy playfulness in front of me. The cares and stressfulness of life were gone for a moment.

Our lives pull us in so many directions hitting the pause button and being in the moment can really help us recharge and face the challenges of life.

Off Road Fun

On a day trip or vacation, getting out to more remote areas is good mental relaxation. Having explored nature by hiking, horseback riding, and using off-road vehicles, I have enjoyed each type of transportation. Using an offroad vehicle makes exploring the winter trails a little nicer in very cold temperatures.

Loaded up with snacks, hot chocolate, and safety gear we headed out with a local 4-wheel drive club to drive on a jeep trail through a winter wonderland. There were moments of sunshine and snow showers before we reached our stop for lunch. We slowly worked our way through the trail, snow glistening in the sunlight. Watching the clouds come in as it started to snow created a moody landscape. The open vistas of roughed steep mountains added to the drama created by the snow shower. Other parts of the trail wrapped us tightly in a pine tree forest where snowflakes floated lazily to the snow-covered ground. 

The snow created a calming landscape with soft colors so different from traveling this trail in the spring with a kaleidoscope of vivid wildflowers. In spring and summer melting snow gives life to small soothing streams in the dense forest perfect to sit and relax by.

As delightful as it is to climb over rocks in the mountains and badlands if you are fortunate to have a friend who lives in a very remote area and creates a mud pit there is even more fun to be had with your off-road vehicle. 

A Piece of History on the North Dakota Montana Boarder

No matter where you are in the world taking the backroads can lead to unexpected finds and stories. While driving on a backroad from Wibaux MT towards the North Dakota border old homesteads and rugged land formations popped up here and there. On this warm sunny late afternoon, we bumped along in a caravan of six or so vehicles all heading to a small but significant church surrounded by wide open spaces and rugged hills. Coming around a curve in the distance a small white church came into view. That day we were celebrating a wedding anniversary which had taken place years before the couple was blessed with kids and grandkids. On the day of the wedding, 400 people stood outside of the church to watch the couple exchange vows. The sense of togetherness between the communities in this and surrounding areas touches my heart deeply. 

Getting out of our pickup truck the mowed grass crunched under my boots, the sagebrush was scatted on the grassy hills, and the sun was bright making the white of the church really stand out. In the distance, there was a ranch house with barns for livestock and equipment. The sound of children playing and adults laughing brought my attention back to the church. Walking towards this lovely scene one can’t help but smile. I have seen very impressive churches in the United State and Europe, large or tiny they are the outcome of love and hard work. In this remote area, this church was built and loved for over 100 years. 

The facts tell you, Scandia Luthern Church was originally organized in 1911 as part of the Norweigian Luthern Church of America. In 1934 the church moved from the local Blue Mountain Area to its current location in Skaar, ND, literally next to the Montana and North Dakota border. The first service after the move was held in December 1934. In 1961 the name was changed to Grace Luthern. In 2011 a celebration was held to mark its 100-year anniversary

Walking up the well-worn wooden steps through the open double doors I paused to take in my surroundings. In the small entryway before entering the Sanctuary on the side table lay the guest book and announcements. In the sanctuary, warm honey-toned wood pews matched the warm honey-toned wood walls and red carpet accented the floors. At the back of the sanctuary, two narrow long arched stained glass windows encased with dark wood accented the wooden cross between them.

Standing gazing across the pews to the windows and listening to people talk and tell stories about the church the identity of this church surfaced. More than the walls it was the life story of so many people, births, weddings, hardships, celebrations, philanthropy, and death. Coming together to worship they came together to help and care for one another. 

Sunset shining through the windows of Grace Luthern Church Skaar ND

Kindness the Heart of Friendship

Friendships are everywhere in our world. These relationships are not just human traits.  Traveling back to where I grew up in Southeastern Kansas, I went to check in on my goat Moggie. She has always been a very sweet and friendly girl. As a young kid, she would play hopping games with my nephews. As she got older a shy skittish kitten befriended her. They are often seen snuggling and loving on each other. Now the little kitten is five years old and friends with everyone and all of the goats. Thanks to the kindness of Moggie the sweet goat, Kitty Kat as he is known, is kind and friendly to all.

I have formed friendships with people from all over the world and in my opinion, kindness is like a universal language. My friends may have extremely different backgrounds but they all have kind loving hearts. I have been blessed to have wonderful friends that have inspired me to do better and be better. I love all my two-legged friends but I love all my four-legged friends as well. 

The countless heartwarming stories we hear and experience help us get through life's rough and good times. So take a moment and be thankful for kindness and friendships of all kinds. It is true small acts of kindness can lead to the extraordinary.

Finding History Driving the Backroads of Eastern Montana.

If you’re traveling on Interstate 94 going east through Montana, right before you cross over to North Dakota you will see the sign for Wibaux Montana. This quaint little town nestled in the rolling hills of the beautiful short-grass prairie has a population of just under 600 people. The area has a rich history. As pioneers moved west to live out their dreams, settlements sprung up. The vastness of the grass-covered landscape was a strong draw to cattlemen and sheep herders alike. Montana is known for extreme temperature changes as those who settled in this area quickly found out. The summers are hot and the winters are bitterly cold. Learning to survive plus caring for livestock, and the land was hard back-breaking often heartbreaking work. Why then would anyone want to endure the hardships associated with this lifestyle? Think of a time when you were faced with challenges that seemed impossible, maybe not sure of how to get through but you kept going even though it might have taken a long time to get through the challenges, once through instead of losing yourself you found more of yourself and were stronger. 

The settlers found strength through sweat and tears. Often times the hardest experiences bring out the best in us. They had the opportunity to own land creating their own destiny. There are stories of immigrants leaving comfortable homes and going across the ocean with their wives and when asked why?  They picked up a handful of soil and let it slide out as they explained before we didn’t own this much land now we own acres. So people came west for ranching, farming, sheep herding, or to own businesses and provide services  In these remote areas, they learned the rewards of hard work, helping others, and forming communities working together. Far from a utopia. In moments when they delivered a newborn or stood at sunset after a long hard day breathing in the clean cleansing air and looking over rolling hills that seem to go on forever, there is a healing sense of belonging that touches the soul.

So if you are ever on Interstate 94 close to the North Dakota-Montana border and have time take a back road off the interstate. You will be surrounded by history and the landscape once part of the wild west, an area that President Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed as well.

Pason the Cat the Legend

Fiesty larger than life personality, kind, sweet, and loved by all. This orange well-fed cat was rescued on an oil rig by rough necks as a kitten. He lived on the rig until brought home to his forever home. Quickly becoming a beloved neighborhood icon he found his way into numerous neighborhood family photos. He could even charm those who considered themselves not a cat person. The stories of Pason’s antics are legendary to those who knew him. Some might tell of him cuddling with a toddler while others laugh at the time he managed to steal a dove from a falcon and then taunt said falcon. I watched as people took pictures of him proudly walking beside the two very large dogs as we walked around the park. It was early morning when I took this picture, if you look at the light it forms a heart around his head. I like to think even the angels loved his personality as well.