Foggy Hike

October 13, 2023November 2, 2023Leave a comment

Bad weather always looks worse through a window so despite the terrible forecast Rost & I set out for Logan Pass. I figured it might be one of our last days to drive the Going to the Sun Road to the pass before the road closes for the season. We were actually in search of Mountain Goats (I’ve been dying to get an up-close shot of one since I got my telephoto lens) but they were at a completely unreachable cliff a few miles away. Either way, it was a beautiful day spent with my head in the clouds.

Selah Farm

October 1, 2023October 23, 2023Leave a comment

A nearby farm opens its doors for only two days a year. Admission is free and includes farm animals, games, and a tractor ride. Rost and I regularly ride by this farm on our bike rides so I’ve been looking forward to checking out this little slice of heaven all year. Rost and I had so much fun on Friday that we had to drag Brian, Don, & Michele back there on Saturday. Also, someday I will be bringing home one of the kunekune piglets!! Also, now I want to grow a pumpkin patch.

21 Months Old

September 30, 2023October 22, 2023Leave a comment

21! Months that is. Rost finally got to ride the neighbors horses among many other fun times.

Rugg Family Tour Guide

September 24, 2023October 11, 2023Leave a comment

A family friend from Pennsylvania reached out to me a few months ago about a special trip he and his sister were planning on taking with their 80-something-year-old dad. Their trip included two nights in lovely Kalispell, Montana – which allowed me to play tour guide for a day. We started our day by driving up to Polebridge Mercantile for some huckleberry bear claws, then headed over Logan Pass, down to St. Mary River for lunch & fishing, followed by a trek in & out of Many Glacier, then headed back to Kalispell via Highway 2. For the record, I have stopped at Goat Lock nearly every time I have driven past it. I’d likely guess I’ve stopped over 100x and until TODAY had not once seen so much as a hint of a goat other than the sign at the trailhead stating they were there. I can now confirm there are actual goats at the Goat Lick rest area. Yay!

Biking the Hiawatha Trail

September 17, 2023October 22, 2023Leave a comment

Nestled in the heart of the Bitterroot Mountains, this iconic rail-to-trail route offers a cycling experience like no other. As you pedal along the historic Milwaukee Road rail bed, you’ll traverse awe-inspiring trestles and pass through several illuminated tunnels, including the famous Taft Tunnel, all set against a backdrop of lush forests and pristine alpine lakes. With its gentle gradient and well-maintained path, the Hiawatha Trail is accessible to riders of all levels, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a harmonious blend of natural beauty and cycling thrill.

I had to deliver Rost’s old crib to its new owner on the Montana-Idaho border so I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the Hiawatha Trail. My friend Becky joined Rost & me for the ride on the last day of the 2023 season. Perfect timing!

20 Months Old

August 31, 2023September 22, 2023Leave a comment

Twenty months have already crept by. We’re approaching TWO and I could not be more excited. Rost is quite the helper these days and with summer winding down and a list of projects we’re trying to accomplish on the property still sitting on my desk, we’re happy for his help. Even if it does mean it takes us a little longer to complete them.

37th Anniversary of The Incident of 1986

August 26, 2023October 10, 2023Leave a comment

Another trip around the Daystar. Another new adventure was taken. While I had initially had a backpacking trip into the Crazy Mountains planned, it was sidetracked & a new adventure was formulated that included multiple days of hiking in different areas and crystal mining. Xoxo.

Rocky Point

August 23, 2023October 23, 2023Leave a comment

Rocky Point is a short little out-and-back hike along the water’s edge of Lake McDonald. My friend Breanna (and her son) took Rost & me out for a quick trek along the trail one night. Rost is a little rockstar on any hiking trail, especially when there are rocks to throw into the water somewhere along the way. I hope this bodes well for me as a future hiking buddy.

Fair

August 19, 2023October 16, 2023Leave a comment

What event could possibly hold so many of Rost’s favorite things in one place? Why the Northwest Montana Fair, of course! Tractors, cows, horses, ice cream, and even more tractors!

Storytime at the Pool

August 11, 2023October 23, 2023Leave a comment

We have the most amazing librarians at our Kalispell library. The children’s section in particular is spectacular. One of the programs they hold is storytime at the local outdoor pool – during the summer. We get to have storytime, and then some cool toys are brought out for a little playtime before the pool opens for the day. Rost takes after me in the fact that he is not a fan of cold water but we both still had a really great time playing with our friends and a special water-related story.