Wrong camera

Another 100 degree day sent Bruce and I to our favorite canoeing spot- Vermilion Bay. We like to get there in the evening, when the animals become active.

The water was calm-

the shadows were just starting to deepen-

I brought my little "point and shoot" camera, because I didn't want to worry about my good camera getting wet- just in case we capsized the canoe... not that we ever have, but I'm a worrier.

We were getting to a weedy spot, and Bruce said, "This would be a great spot to see a moose." and then.... just as the words were coming out of his mouth...

there she was! 

she stepped into the weedy water, and began to eat.

and all I had was my little, very old, point and shoot! I couldn't believe it!

We paddled, very quietly...

until we were less than 100 yards away.

All I was thinking about was getting a better photo-

until Bruce, very quietly said....

"if she puts her ears back, we need to get out of here!"

It dawned on me, that I was pressing my luck.  We back paddled, slowly, and carefully, making as little noise as possible, and left Mama Moose to her business.

(click on the moose photos to see them enlarged).

The rest of the trip seemed uneventful, even though we saw geese, ducks, Bald eagles, Ospreys, and deer.

I commented that I thought this would be a great time to see a bear- but nothing became of it.

Bruce says you have to be a Biologist to make things like that happen.

I said, I should be an honorary Biologist by now! what with living with Bruce for 33 (almost) years- but Bruce says- Nope! doesn't count. And apparently he's right, because no bears crossed our path.

I wonder how we'll top this adventure!

baby bird

So, this is what I saw.

Holding so still- I was afraid he was dead.  A tiny, baby bird- displaced from his nest, waiting, waiting, waiting for Mom or Dad to appear with some food.  Waiting to be rescued.

I brought the cat inside- and left the area.

This morning I went back, and found nothing.  No bird, no feathers.... nothing.

I pray that's good news.

Bless you little baby. May you live a long, healthy life.

Adventure

We enjoyed our day on the river- stopping at sandy beaches to walk around, and cool off in the water.

 

We found that because of the unusually long time having high water this Summer, more sand beaches were created than we've ever seen.

We are talking SAND not mud! Perfect for skiing off of, or picnics, or for children to play with buckets and shovels.

This Bald Eagle, tucked back into the tree, kept an eye on us. :)

We enjoyed the scenery, and relaxed...

Finally, it was time to head back- and that's when we spied....

an abnormally large floater, sticking only 10 inches above the water.

It was HUGE! and dangerous, and in the path we normally drove our boat.  We worried, that if they raised the water level of the reservoir, the floater would be barely below the water line- Deadly to boaters.

We decided to try to move it. Bruce tied a loop in our boat rope.

but every time we tried to move forward, the rope just slipped off the log.

We had no choice but to leave it... but we're going to try to go back with flagging material on Sunday.

Stay safe people.

Great Blue Heron

One of the highlights of being on the water, is seeing Great Blue Herons. (again...it's worth it to click on the photo above- Herons are so exotic, and beautiful).

Bruce automatically slows the boat, and approaches slowly, so I can try to get pictures.

I never tire watching these magnificent creatures.

Beating the heat

When the temperature reached 102 on Saturday, the only recourse was to take to the water.

Because mice had chewed up the boat's electrical system over the Winter, and because of the cool, wet early Summer, this would be only the second time we'd put the boat in the water!  

First things first, however. We needed to find out the temp of the water before we considered swimming.

and the verdict is......

 a chilly 65 degrees around Finley Flats-

66 degrees at Vermilion Bay, and

67 degrees at Trout Creek, and Deep Creek bays.

Ok... not great- but bearable (for someone else... you won't catch ME in that water!).

Bruce decided to take the plunge!

He said it wasn't all that bad! but I noticed he didn't stay in for very long. :)

Then, it was time for a boat ride- drinking in the beautiful scenery of NW Montana.

(btw... you really should click on the above photo and view it full size. This is spectacular country).

An interesting story

No photos this time, people.  I rarely do that to you, but I hope this story will stand on it's own. It's actually a bit extraordinary, and 100% true.

Getting home to Thompson Falls, MT. from London, Ontario, Canada took 22 hrs. from start to finish. As you can imagine, I was physically, and emotionally exhausted from dealing with my father's death, funeral, and subsequent legal issues.  By the time I boarded my last flight from Las Vegas to Spokane, all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.  I took a window seat and stared into the black night, hoping no one would want the middle seat so I could brood uninterrupted.  It wasn't long before a nice looking woman took the aisle seat. I turned long enough to give her a smile, but didn't respond when I heard her making little comments to herself about her crazy evening.  At the last minute, another woman rushed down the aisle, and asked if the middle seat was taken.  She was obviously flustered, and I couldn't help but overhear my two seatmates talking about what a crazy night they'd been having!  It seems there was a delay at some airport due to lightening (I just smiled... I had been delayed, too), and someone had driven like a maniac to make it to the airport in time, etc. etc.

I wasn't going to say anything.  I just smiled, and nodded, and suddenly heard myself commenting, "You think that's bad?  I started my day in London, Ontario. And when we reach Spokane, I still have a 3 hr. drive to get home!"  The women were sympathetic, and asked why I'd been in Canada- and I found myself talking to them.... laying out the story with phrases like... "after that..." and "but that's not the worst of it!" and, "wait until you hear THIS part!"  I outlined the entire fiasco.... how I learned my father was in the hospital when I made my routine call to him that morning... how they told us not to fly up because he would rally and be fine... how I learned he'd died just minutes before running out the door to catch my plane... how I was delayed in Denver for HOURS because of lightening... what it felt like to see my daughter, who'd already flown up, meet me at the baggage claim at 3 am... the reunion of the sisters... trying to find a way from Detroit, MI to London, Ont., and finally ending up taking a $300 cab across the border... walking into my Dad's house... meeting the housekeeper, and finding two rooms of the house locked when there were supposedly no keys to them... finding that the housekeeper had made all the funeral arrangements... changing all the funeral arrangements... the funeral (which was lovely, by the way)... the altercation during the reception between the housekeeper's husband and the stepsons... reading the will and finding out Dad had given the house, and one full share of the estate to the housekeeper... discovering evidence of elder abuse and coercion... the housekeeper's husband calling the police to kick my sister and I out of our father's house (and the neighbor charging in to save the day!)... the meeting with the lawyer... and finally, finding out from the neighbors that the housekeeper had thrown a party to celebrate the night my father died!

The women were aghast!  They agreed I had just topped anything they could ever come up with.  We introduced ourselves, and found that our names all started with M's!  :)   Quirky little coincidence!  Then, we found out that Mary and I were BOTH PRESCHOOL TEACHERS!  I mean... what ARE the odds???  And Marian?  She turned out to work in the court system prosecuting elder abuse cases!!!  No... really!  I'm telling you the truth!

Mary signaled to the flight attendant, and gave her three drink coupons.  We each took our glass of wine, when Marian reached into her bag, and pulled out the most delicious little cookies ever... When I protested that I had nothing to share, they assured me my contribution was the best story they'd heard in quite awhile.  And then, we lifted our glasses, and saluted my Dad.  They added their fervent wishes for a just outcome.

The flight was short, and it wasn't long before we were descending. Three strangers, meeting on a plane, our lives touching for a brief moment. We did not exchange phone numbers or email addresses. I doubt they will ever think about me again- but I will be forever grateful for their kindness, their listening ear, their presence. Thank you, Angels Mary and Marian.  May you be forever blessed.