Montana Summer

We no sooner got to Florida, did some quick unpacking, set up the office, signed the papers to close on the house and took off. First to Pennsylvania for my Mom's birthday and a visit and then on to Montana for at least a month to keep cool and unwind from all the driving, packing, unpacking and stress from a cross country move.

There is hardly a nicer place to spend the summer than Montana. It has a dry climate and being in the mountains, where I was, the nights are cool and pleasant so no air conditioner is required. Nature provides the AC around these parts. The weather was perfect and every few days we would get an afternoon thunder shower. If only the mushrooms would have cooperated better.

My digs for this summer was an old homesteader cabin on Deep Creek in Paradise Valley. There is a main house and then a couple cabins that have been made very comfortable on the inside although the outside looks virtually untouched as it should. Listening to Deep Creek every night, lulling me to sleep was intoxicating. It was just cool enough at night to want a light blanket and all was right with the world. The stress melted off quickly and I was back in my element and loving every minute of my precious Montana. If only winters didn't last so long, I would have stayed there forever. But alas, Sarasota is going to be an awesome place to spend the winter so I'm happy about that. We will work on a more permanent solution for Montana summers.

Here are some photos of the highlights of our trip including the road trip along the way.

We're Here!

So, here we are in southwest Florida in the heat of the summer. I am due to close on the house in a few days and then we can scoot out of here back north and hopefully get to Montana soon. It's a great place to be in the winter but for this 'ole gal who has lived in the bone dry climate of SW Montana for 12 years, the humidity is too much for me to handle. Besides, it was never the plan to spend summers here. The plan was winter in Sarasota and summer in Montana so that is what we shall do.

In the meantime, I am trying to learn the new plants I have in my yard and figure out how to deal with them. I've never owned hibiscus before, not to mention powder puff trees, date palms, passion vine, jasmine, crown of thorns etc. so I have lots to learn. Those are only the ones I know of for sure, the rest I need some ID help.

It was cold enough this past winter to kill off some of my ficus trees so I will need to get a tree person out here to advise me on how best to deal with them. In the meantime, here are some photos of what is here and is very much alive.

Road Trippin'

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. I am buying a house in Florida and will soon start spending winters on the sunny shores of the sunshine coast and summers back in good 'ole SW Montana, with the rivers and mountains. This is how I've wanted it to be for years but only recently was it even a possibility. Now that the deal is about done, it's time for us gals to hop in the rig and drive to Florida. So we are rounding up all the unusual suspects for this road trip. There of course is Maggie the Wonder Dog, Mad Maddy from Montanny (the kitty) and then of course Thelma (Darlene) and Louise...that would be me. I'm not expecting the cops to be following us clear across country but then you never know, do you?

We are heading out first thing in the morning so will report back along the way. Our journey will take us from Oregon through Ogden, UT, through parts of Iowa and Nebraska, St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, Ga and then our new home. I can smell the salt air already and dreaming of palm trees and bonefish! There will be lots of new adventures to write about so stay tuned.

Louise, Thelma, Mad Maddy and of course the fab Maggie the Wonder Dog.......

Highlights from New Zealand