Category Archives: Life

The Owl and the Fox

Posted on January 28, 2016 by westerner54

Once upon a time, in a small woods on the edge of a big pond, there lived a wise old owl and a curious young fox.    The owl, who had lived in the woods for many years, knew that … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Small Wonders

Posted on September 17, 2015 by westerner54

Montana is full of big wonders: the grizzlies, the elk, the moose, the huge mountains and the equally huge sky.    We visit Yellowstone and look for wolves and bears, and hope that we’ll be one of the few visitors … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Travels with my Coffee Cup

Posted on July 7, 2015 by westerner54

My coffee cup has had a good life. And it ain’t done yet.

Posted in Camping, Hiking, Life, Montana, Outdoors, Southwest hikes, Travel | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Being Here, Being Now

Posted on April 19, 2015 by westerner54

I’m sitting in a meadow near Harrison Lake, watching a pair of Short-eared Owls courting high above me.  Their soft “wup-wup-wups” and the wing-clapping of the male is surprisingly loud, even when they’re hundreds of feet away.   A pair … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

The Eyes Have It

Posted on January 9, 2015 by westerner54

We all know that you’re not supposed to make eye contact with wild animals.    Or even with the neighborhood dogs.  Or cats. Which must be why it is so disconcerting when a wild critter makes eye contact with us. … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Between a Critter and the Hard, Hard Ground

Posted on June 21, 2014 by westerner54

Cowboys are pretty much always caught between two bad choices, don’t you think?  

Posted in Adventure, Life, Montana, Photography | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Really Forest Service? You’re Locking Us IN????

Posted on June 16, 2014 by westerner54

We came through this gate on Saturday.  On Sunday it was locked.   No other way out.   Are you kidding me??? I am generally just fine with the Forest Service.  I haven’t always agreed with their decisions, but I think they do a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Camping, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

The Owls

Posted on June 6, 2014 by westerner54

This is the contemplative stillness that I seek when I’m meditating.  I get it sometimes for minutes at a time, but the owls…they’ve got for hours. I can walk right up to them.  They notice me.  Blink.  Blink again.  Then it’s back … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Evening in Canyonlands

Posted on May 10, 2014 by westerner54

Canyonlands National Park,  May 2014  “Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished. — Mary Oliver    

Posted in Hiking, Life, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Southwest hikes | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

April is the Coolest Month…

Posted on April 4, 2014 by westerner54

“Spring” in Montana is a weeks long exercise in frustration. Gray skies, wind-blown dust, snow storms, driving sleet…it drives me nuts. But when I hear the snow geese honking overhead as they make their way north, or see “my” eagles … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding, Life, Montana, Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 20 Comments