MAY 27TH WINTER WONDERLAND

As I mentioned in my previous post, this happens frequently in Montana. We woke up to 3-4 inches of wet heavy snow on our deck this morning. Moisture is always good in Montana. By Labor Day, the landscape will typically be dry, flora and fauna yearning for some wetness. So, we cuddle up, bring out our jackets momentarily, and enjoy the natural beauty that we are so fortunate to have right here in our front and backyards.

CHILLY MORNING IN MONTANA

If my memory serves me right, the weather has been crappy in about 80% of Memorial Day weekends during the 19 years we have been in Montana. Breezy 37 degrees this morning, cloudy skies, and snow in the higher elevations. What makes it worse is that we often get fooled by gorgeous spring weather just prior to this weekend. But that's the way it is when you live in one of the most spectacular places in this country. It won't be long before mornings turn a little warmer, but not warm, and the long days are punctuated by cloudless skies, comfortable temperatures and the usual low humidity. In the meantime, Jake and Gidget remind us how snuggling in one bed is the best way to deal with a cold Montana morning. JIR

MOTHER'S DAY THE WAY MOM LIKES IT

Drop dead gorgeous weekend in Montana and what better way to celebrate Mother's Day than for Mom to hike the Ridge Trail, all 7 miles of it.

This is one of the earliest times in spring we have been out hiking. Wildflowers are starting to blossom, but it is still early.

                                                                 Arrowleaf Balsam Root

Lupine

                                                                 Pasque Flower
                                                         

By this point and after running a lot, Gidgie and Jake were ready to heel

Shooting Star

Mom's Mother's day flower bouquet, left behind for others to enjoy

                                          A flower (AND GREATEST MOM) among the flowers

EVEN A SHORT WINTER IS A WINTER IN MONTANA

We made our spring trek back to Montana this weekend, bringing with us a few things, symbolizing the beginning of our move back home. We still have a while to go, and a few things to accomplish before we officially come back, but it's exciting to begin this much anticipated process

Bozeman pass is the highest elevation we encounter on our journeys to Montana. Even this time of year after a short winter like the one we just had, it reminds us of where we live and why we choose to live here. JIR

NO-KNEAD FRENCH BREAD AND OTHER BAKED GOODIES

Second trial at no-knead dough, this time french bread and pizza dough. The texture of the bread was great-crusty on the outside  soft and chewy inside. The pizza dough was not as good, perhaps because it was too cold as a result of me forgetting to take it out of the fridge before it was time to bake it. No-knead dough is wetter and runnier than regular dough so it was challenging to keep it from "spilling" over the sides of the bread mold.

Linda made cream cheese danish from Thibeault's Table: Cream Cheese Danish, which was yummy. We lowered the guilt factor without compromising flavor too much by using lite sour cream and lo-fat cream cheese

How 'bout them home made bagels in 3 flavors: plain, raisin and...

                               ...onion. Great recipe, also from Thibeault's Table Thibeault's Table Bagel Recipe

                                                                         Time to eat.

                                                                                                                          JIR