For now, at least...

My home's in Montana

I wear a bandanna,

My spurs are silver,

My pony is grey.

While out on the ranges

My luck never changes

With foot in the stirrup

I gallop away!

Though my home may not always be here, I do love this place.  Leaving for a time and then coming back serves to remind me of the little delightful things that I tend to take for granted.  

I would say "God bless Montana," but He clearly already did. ;)

So, in honor of Montana, here are a few of the wonderful (or strange) things I get to see around here on a regular basis. 

1. Mountains.   

Oh how I love the mountains.  

Sometimes, when you're lucky, the mountains will even have cows in front of them.

Or, better yet, fields of ripening wheat.

Or...cabins that I intend to own someday.

2. Spectacular sunsets.

 And sometimes, spectacular moon-sets.

 3. Clouds, rain, and rainbows.

These, of course, are not exclusive to Montana, but they were severely missing in my last few months in Israel.

4.  Animals.

Wild animals.

Funny farm animals.

Even sunset-silhouetted animals.

5. Tall grass.  (Again, not exclusive, but sadly lacking in Israel in summer.)

6. Farm Equipment.

Sometimes VERY LARGE farm equipment.

Sometimes you can even watch said equipment from your bedroom window, as it cuts hay under a waxing half moon.

7. Stars.

And, if these pictures have convinced you that Montana is a place you need to visit, here are some suggestions for activities once you get here:

1. Fixing fence.  There are always fences to be fixed.  Funny farm animals must be kept in their place.

2. Hang slightly illogical signs in random places.  This seems to be a common hobby.

3.  Practice looking cool in front of murals painted on buildings.  Clearly this model has the practice down flat.

4. Put flowers in your hair and pick wild strawberries.

5. Wade into cold rivers and stand there until you can't feel your feet and hope to catch dinner while not catching a cold.  

 6. Or, my personal favorite, go for a hike or two.

Yes, these are but a few of the delights that could await you in the great state of Montana.  I, for one, am enjoying them, as, I hope, are the other Montana dwellers.  For the rest of you, any one want to visit?

Just a Few Reasons to Visit Clydehurst

In no particular order...

1. You can watch the sun rise over the mountain (and watch the mountain shadow slowly disappear).

2. Crazy weather.  Hail.  Echoing thunder, loud enough to be a mountain crumbling into dust.  Rain.  Sometimes even sunny, warm, perfect days.

 3. Caves.  And mines.  Of varying significance and safety levels.  

4. Psycho cats.   

"Don't even think about it."

5. Beautiful meadows.

6.  Anyone heard of "A River Runs Through It?"  Yeah, that was (partially) filmed here.  Fly-fishing galore.

7.  Four-wheeling.  Long, dusty roads.  Lots to explore.

 8.  Wildlife to watch...

9. ...and to chase down the road.

10.  Spectacular volleyball games nightly.  Participate or watch, as you choose.

11. The Lawn Mower.  In the rain.  Enough said.

 12. Visits from the refrigerator repair man.  (Yeah, this is a lot more fun when I'm not the cook, worrying about how much food will thaw out.)

13.  Crazy people dressed in weird clothing, popping popcorn on the back lawn. 

14. Dunk tank.  Still operational in 40 degree weather.  Did I mention the crazy people??

15.  You can throw hatchets.  At logs.  And make them stick.  Brilliant.

16. Hunger Hut!  Yay for candy and soft-serve and popcorn and jerky and...all sorts of goodness. 

17.  You can shoot things.

(Yes, that bullet casing has been shot.)

 18.  Tree phones.

19. Gators!

20.  Wild strawberries, raspberries, huckleberries, chokecherries, and gooseberries (pictured), seasonally available.

21.  Fire!  (Fortunately contained.  Forest fires are much less fun.)

22.  Lots of raw beef.

(We likes it raw and wriggling!)

 23.  Nice people who cook said beef for you.

24. Weekly hayride with cute kids!

25. Spectacular skies.

26.  And my personal favorite: cool people, often with matching shirts, to hang out with.  

Clydehurst, I love you!

Hail

It came, swift and sudden.  One minute we were steadily climbing, keeping a watchful eye on the nearby storm clouds, flashing with lightening.  The next, the storm had broken, fiercely pelting us with pea-sized hail.  Caught on an open hill with no trees nearby, we were uncertain what to do.  Eventually we ran, ducking, trying to avoid the stinging pellets, to the nearest scruffy trees and bushes, about 100 yards away.  Making use of the slightly improved shelter they offered, we waited for the storm to pass.  

Cold and wet, with red welts on arms and necks we contemplated turning back, but not for long.  The spirit of adventure was too strong, at least in the youth with us, and the parents were willing to carry on for their sakes.  

(only picture I got of the actual hail...)

 It was worth it. 

The cave...

The view from the cave...

The American Indian paintings in the cave...

(What do they look like to you?)

 I love hiking.  And this time, the hail just made it that much more enjoyable.   

Four-Wheeling

There’s just something about driving a four-wheeler,

plowing through tall, lush grass,

the sun at your back, the wind in your face, bugs flying in your teeth,

fording creeks,

racing over flower-studded hills,

scaring deer out of their hidden bowers, 

Freedom.

I'm not sure that I can explain the joyous feeling, especially after spending most of last year in a library, in a city, surrounded by walls, pavement, and people.  It's not bad, but I think maybe a little part of my souls sort of shrivels up and hides in a corner until I return to the wilderness, and then it comes out and revels in the freedom - the silence, the stillness, the lack of roads or boundaries.  It's glorious.


And it's a reminder that true freedom is not a function of where a person lives: city or country, America or Israel.

John 8:31-34

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:5-7, 15-23
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!  Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.