kids – On the Horizon Line

How To Canoe With Kids

As we pushed off the shore for our first family canoe trip of the summer, I held my breath. Our one-year-old daughter had protested loudly when I strapped on her life jacket, making me think we might be in for a miserable afternoon. While our son, Talon, had dozens of canoe trips under his size 4T belt, Lyra hadn’t yet been afloat as a busy toddler.

Luckily, Lyra’s screams turned into delighted coos as our boat skimmed across the green water. She bounced between my legs, pointing at the birds and trees. From his perch in the center, Talon picked up his small paddle, proud to help propel us across the lake.

My husband and I are water people. We’ve sailed across the Pacific Ocean, snorkeled around the Caribbean, paddled through the Everglades, and rafted down plenty of wild rivers. Once we had kids, we began integrating them into our adventures from the get-go.

Canoes have been the perfect way for us to introduce our children to the water.

Two years ago we bought a used 15-foot Coleman to explore lakes and rivers near our home in Montana. We’ve since added a small outboard motor and a sail, too. Sometimes we go out for an hour, and sometimes we pile in the camping gear and head out for a week.

Here’s why we recommend canoes for your family, too:

Affordable. This sport is low-risk and low-investment to try out: you can buy a good used canoe for ~$300, or rent one for ~$50/day to try it out first.

Versatile. Canoes come in a wide range of sizes and styles, ranging from sleek wooden boats to wide plastic boats and even inflatable versions. (Hint: these are the cheapest options and easiest to transport, but they don’t last as hard-shell canoes and require more time to inflate/deflate.) Some are designed specifically for speed or to handle whitewater, but all canoes will work on any calm water bodies you want to float.

Simple. It doesn’t take long to learn how to paddle a canoe, even for young kids. You can watch videos online to see the basic steering strokes, or play around in a small pond to figure it out on your own. Plus, these boats can be stored outside, and are maintenance-free!

Easy transport. Most canoe’s weigh 50-80 pounds, which is totally manageable for two adults. They can be placed upside-down on top of your car, no trailer needed. (Hint: foam pool noodles work well to protect your vehicle’s paint if you don’t have a roof rack.)

Sturdy. Aluminum and plastic boats are particularly good for kids, as their tough, washable, and more stable—look for boats with flatter bottoms, which feel less “tippy”. As you might expect, it’s possible to tip over in a canoe, especially with squirmy kids around. Test the stability near the shore, wiggling hips and moving around in the boat to see how much side-to-side leeway you have before it feels uncomfortably. (Hint: We bought these stabilizer pontoon floats for our canoe, which make it super safe and allow us to walk around the boat or stand up to cast for fish.)

Ready to try it out this summer? Here are some tips:

It gets easier. Any new activity is tough at first until everyone learns the ropes. This is doubly true if your kids are young. Remember that even if canoeing isn’t quite as fun as you’d hoped the first couple of times out, you’re building skills that will last you and your kids a lifetime—and give you wonderful bonding opportunities for years to come.
Get excited! Your happiness (or crankiness) is contagious. If you’re thrilled to be on the water, your kids will be, too. Let them help plan the trip and help pack the canoe so the whole family is invested in the outing.
Offer clear rules and rewards. Before you launch, set a few clear safety rules: don’t stand up without asking, no leaning or jumping over the side, keep life jackets on, no whining (ha!). Try offering a reward at the end of the day if they follow the rules, such as a sweet treat or a movie.
Designate a special spot for everyone. Decide which adult will be in the stern (back seat) steering—they have less leeway to help manage the kids. The adult in the bow (front seat) can help paddle forward when needed, but can also take breaks easily. If you have a toddler, stand them between the adult’s legs in the bow where they can see and move around a little. Babies can be worn in a soft carrier. Older kids can sit on the center crossbars or a middle seat (if the canoe has one) to help paddle, or hunker down to play in the bottom of the boat.
Take your time. Like most outings with children in tow, the trip will probably take longer than you think. While you and your partner might want to race across the lake, the kids will enjoy it more if you take plenty of breaks. In fact, much of the joy in canoeing is playing on shore! Stop often at interesting spots to swim, have lunch, and explore islands or beaches you couldn’t get to without a boat. And don’t expect (or force!) the kids to add much horsepower—paddling is simply a fun diversion for them.

Recommended Packing List:

Any of the items below should be placed in a waterproof bag since the bottom of the boat gets wet from everyone’s shoes and dripping paddles. If you don’t have a dry bag, wrap your backpack or tote in a sturdy trash bag. Buckets also make for great storage in a canoe.

Life jackets: Everyone needs to wear a life jacket. Even if the grown-ups are stellar swimmers, you’re the role models for your kids. Have kids practice wearing theirs before you get in the boat, so they get used to them. (Hint: If you can’t find a comfortable jacket for your kiddo, try U.S. Coast Guard approved water wings that are less bulky.)

Clothing:

Sandals with straps or waterproof rain boots.
Sun hats and sun-protective clothing.
Rain gear, which can double as windbreakers.
Extra outfit for little kids who will likely get wet and muddy playing.

Food and Drinks: Like all outings with kiddos, make sure you pack lots of easy-to-grab snacks to keep them occupied, fueled, and happy. We like to bring “special” drinks for the kids to make sure they stay hydrated in the sun: lemonade powder in their water bottles is a favorite

Gear:

Toilet paper if you’re not near public restrooms.
Umbrella or pop-up tent for shade in the boat or on shore—perfect for passing rainstorms, too!
Seat pads or stadium-style folding seats.
Rope to attach to the bow to help pull the boat on shore.
Maps of the area you’re paddling.
Tarp or blanket for picnics or for “beds” for kids in the bottom of canoe.
Extra paddle(s) for the kids: emergency paddles that are adjustable and light-weight work well.

Fun Stuff:

Binoculars (monoculars work best for you young kids—we love ours!)
Field guides
Fishing rod
Frisbee
Bubbles
Chalk (to draw on rocks or the inside of the boat—it washes right off!)
Bucket (have the kids fill it with rocks/sticks/leaves on shore, then throw them overboard one at a time while you paddle)

Camping

Birthday Eve | Silver Streaks and Strawberries

It’s the day before my 39th birthday, and I have 18 minutes before the babysitter leaves. I forgot the laptop in my haste to get to may meeting on time (and also to comb my hair), so I borrow old menus and a pen from the coffee shop waiter.

The sun is warm and the sidewalk bustles with sundress-clad women, bare legs still pale after a cold spring. I ask for strawberries on my salad, settle under a red umbrella, then scribble down year-end thoughts on the back of “Today’s Soup Specials”:

This last decade started with just me + a handful of houseplants, and ended with me + a husband + 2 kids + 3 old cars + 2 even older boats + a mortgage + a garage full of adventure gear I love + closets full of crap I don’t need. That’s a lot of addition.
This is the decade when I became an adult: a woman who learns to balance all sorts of awkward-shaped bundles with not enough arms while sometimes wobbling, sometimes sauntering, sometimes sprinting between people and places, most of whom I love but some of whom I don’t (like the grocery store…I hate the grocery store).

I sip my coffee, heavy on the honey, and reflect on what I’m grateful for:

A son who knows the name of every wildflower we pass on hikes, and who makes me stop at each poppy and peony to smell the “beautifuls”. His sticky kisses and big brown eyes.
A daughter who plops down in icy mud to splash in the creek, giggling at the goo between her fingers. Those dimpled fingers reaching up to grasp mine.
A husband who fixes the holes in the 45-year-old sailboat I persuade him to buy, who pulls the ticks off our scalps without flinching, and who cooks us dinner (and usually breakfast, too).
A brave sister who always says yes to adventures, who holds my babies as close as I do, and who buys me expensive whisky for my birthday.
Parents who taught me to try my hardest and love me still when I try the least, and who still go camping so they can sleep next to rushing rivers.
Girlfriends who gather on porches and in cabins and on trails and around meals to heal and hold each other through each season.
My body, my mind, my smiles lines and grey streak (hell, let’s call it “silver”), which all serve to keep me upright and centered amidst the pull of gravity.

And now I only have 2 minutes left before my alone time is up—never enough time (or sleep) during these longest shortest days with toddlers—so I box my sandwich, down the espresso, and pedal fast on my pink bike with these handwritten words folded inside its rickety rear milk-crate.

As I bike home, I list what we need for the impromptu camp-out tonight with the kids and my sister—a birthday-eve bash on the banks of the Blackfoot River among the pines and willows, camas and cutthroat, where I will dunk naked in the cold mountain water to baptize anew, a new woman still at 39, figuring it all out as the water flows past.

Snow

Tips For Skiing With Kids In Montana

Meet the Jennings family:

Matt and Kate Jennings both adore winter. Matt grew up in Montana, and Kate is from Vermont, so it was a given that they’d teach their kiddo how to ski as soon as Josie could walk.

Turns out that Josie, now 7, enjoys winter sports as much (or maybe more!) than Kate and Matt. In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, Josie also fell in love with ice hockey. When the family is out exploring ski trails or resorts, they always stop to test out the local ice rinks, too.

How did you start taking winter adventures as a family?

We used to strap Josie into our Burley ski trailer as a baby, then tow it behind us while we cross-country skied. As Josie got older, we brought along tiny skis.

At first Josie could only last maybe 200 yards—even the littlest hill is super tough for kids! Luckily, Josie would simply get back in the Burley to rest, eat a bucketload of snacks, then try again a bit later.

PRO TIP: Put plenty of books and toys within your child’s reach in the tow-behind ski trailer.

Downhill skiing is less work for kids. They just have to stand on their skis and off they go! But it’s a lot of work for the parents who teach them. It can be super frustrating—and painful—to be in a snow plow for hours, trying to convince your kid to turn away from trees and other hazards. We’d trade off teaching Josie while the other parent skied a run or two.

Then when Josie turned 3, we started paying for a half-day ski lesson every other weekend. It totally saved our sanity! Kids learn so much more from professionals who aren’t their parents. Plus, then parents get the chance to ski together again.

What was one of Josie’s breakthrough moments?

A major breakthrough was when Josie learned to control the skis versus the skis controlling Josie. Since Josie’s favorite part of skiing is “going fast,” it was important to learn to control the speed rather than always yard-sale-ing into a heap or launching off jumps blindly (which happened more times than we would like to admit).

Everything seemed to click at age 5 or 6. Before then, Josie couldn’t ski more than two runs in a row without a potty break and snacks. Thanks to regular ski lessons and practice, Josie’s stamina increased remarkably.

Now, we ski together as a family most of the day—when we can keep up! Josie’s like a bullet down the slopes. The work for us these days is to bomb down the mountain behind Josie and pray we all arrive safely at the bottom.

Tell us a few things you’ve learned about skiing with kids:

First off, skiing with young kids is definitely hard. You have to keep track of so many pieces of clothing and gear! We’ve had to buy all sorts of stuff once we get to the mountain because we forgot something at home.

Systems help. Before you go, decide who’s doing what—like one parent dresses the kid while the other buys the lift tickets. You can also keep all of the gear packed between trips in their own bag/box so its easy to grab and go. Now that Josie is older, we lay out all of the gear together the night before so we can see what still needs to be packed.

PRO TIP: Bring a big sled to carry everything from the car to the lodge and back again, including the kids.

The biggest meltdowns seem to happen between the parking lot and the lodge. Now Josie’s older and we all carry our own skis to the lodge. Plus, we ski together to the car as our last run of the day.

Does your family have a favorite ski hill?

Discovery Ski Area, or “Disco”, is our favorite mountain, hands-down. It’s super family friendly and affordable. Their “Kinder-Ski” lessons for ages 2-6 include a free lunch and playtime if kids aren’t feeling into the lesson. They have the world’s most amazing cookies that can keep any kid motivated to do one more run.

Discovery also has an Easy Chair, which is free for kids under 5 and only $12 for everyone else. It’s only a few feet off the ground (adult knee-breaker!), which is good since the kids tend to drop poles or gloves—or sometimes themselves!

It gives kids a big boost of confidence to be able to ride a chairlift alone. And parents can relax because most of the families who go to Discovery seem to keep a lookout for all the littles, not just their own. Their lodge overlooks the Easy Chair, so you can sit back and grab a beer while your kid does laps.

Once kids can ski a longer blue run, they can make it to the yurt on the back side of Discovery via Winning Ridge on the Granite Chairlift. It’s the ultimate bring your own lunch spot with a fireplace, tables and chairs. The kids are psyched because they made it to an area with double-black diamonds without having to actually ski one. And parents are psyched since they can peel off and ski a couple bowls and chutes while the kids play in the yurt.

If you ask kids, most would say that their favorite run at Disco is Tea Cups. This run is pure magic for tiny skis and little bodies. For parents, though, watching your kid speed between trees, ski over rocks and logs, and disappear into the woods is part thrill and part terror.

PRO TIP: Wear your rock skis for Tea Cups, and don’t be surprised if your kid makes you ski this run over and over!

Where do you stay when you ski at Discovery?

Several times each winter we’ll rent a big house with a few other families on Georgetown Lake at the base of the mountain. You can ice skate in Philipsburg, ice fish on the lake, or cross-country ski nearby, which is nice, since young kids can’t ski more than two or three days in a row without getting tired or bored.

If it’s just the three of us, we stay at the Broadway Inn in Philipsburg. The inn offers a free breakfast, and is conveniently situated right above the Philipsburg Brewery. There’s also a beautiful ice rink in downtown Philipsburg, with a warming hut and borrow skates.

Sometimes we stop at Fairmont Hot Springs in Anaconda on the way home to soak, which is always popular with Josie, thanks to its massive outdoor waterslide.

What are other destinations do you enjoy skiing as a family?

We like skiing at Bridger near Bozeman, especially now that Josie is able to keep up. During spring break, we go a bit further to explore new mountains in Idaho and California.

We also use Montana’s cross-country trails quite a bit. From the parking lot at Discovery, you can ski on the groomed Echo Lake Trails, which is awesome for parents who don’t downhill ski. Bozeman also has world-class cross-country trails and a biathlon range at Crosscut Mountain Ski Center, as does Seeley Lake.

Any last words of wisdom for other families?

On the slopes, nothing beats sweet treats for motivating kids. We keep M&Ms or Skittles in our pockets to encourage Josie onto the lift or down a new run. And letting kids have a cookie or hot chocolate at the end of the day is the golden ticket!

PRO TIP: If the line at a lodge’s restaurant is too long when you’ve got a cranky kiddo, try heading to the bar for speedier hot chocolate delivery (don’t forget the whipped cream)!

Don’t be afraid to let the kids fall. As Josie used to tell other kids on the slopes a hockey adage: “If you’re not falling, you’re not trying.”

Lastly, stick with it. We’ve seen both kids and parents in tears (including us!) on the slopes, but the joy of one good family run makes all the frustration worth it. Someday soon, Josie probably won’t want to ski with lame-old Mom and Dad, so we’re enjoying every moment we get.

Share your family’s story! Contact us to be featured here:

on the horizon line travel blog tonga island language beaches

Community and Culture, Reflections on Life

Parent For One Week

So, what do you really need to be a parent for a week? Turns out you need a lot less when you’re in Tonga, a tropical island-nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Hell, kids don’t even need shoes in Tonga. I discovered this within the first hour of a week-long babysitting gig my husband and I set up here.

As the days wore on, I realized shoes were just the beginning of the long list of things the boys didn’t need … things that were on my list of “what I will probably need to raise a kid” after three decades of living in the United States. We had none of the things on my list. Read more about our week of pseudo-parenting here!

sailing in south pacific on the horizon line travel blog brianna randall and rob roberts

Community and Culture, Traveling

I Don’t Speak French – Just “Bike”

I don’t speak French. This makes me unpopular with French people, and makes it tough to get around by myself here in French Polynesia. My husband is trying to teach me the basics as we sail from one island to the next. But my Spanish-soaked brain rebels against silent consonants, and my tongue refuses to form words that start in your throat and exhale through your nose.

Instead, I smile and nod as Rob translates, feeling isolated from the culture around us. After a couple of weeks exploring towns on tropical islands, I was itching to join a conversation all by myself. I wanted to feel connected to the communities we visited. Turns out that all I had to do was replace Rob with a half-dozen kids

… Click here to read the rest of the story!

brianna randall eating a mango - on the horizon line sailing

Community and Culture, Family and Friends

My Birthday Present From You

Today’s my birthday. 33 years old, just after our 33-day Pacific passage. I’m in paradise for my birthday, sailing to a tropical island to snorkel with sharks and gorging on mangoes (my favorite fruit) to celebrate. I feel blessed.

I have only one wish for my birthday from readers: check out Mamalode.com today to read my published story about why Rob and I choose to find friends under age 12. Other than that, the other items that top my birthday list are a bit more existential.

Cuddling at night. It’s too hot to touch anyone.
IPA, especially Blackfoot IPA. No alcohol onboard during our month-long passage.
Dancing and headstands.
Our sofa.
Girlfriends. And boyfriends. And our family community.

Even though all I really need are mangoes, Rob, and a daily rainbow, here are the material things I miss most in the middle of the ocean:

More cotton clothes. Polyester feels icky when it’s salty.
Pictures of family and friends.
Lightweight folding camp chair.
A huge stash of dark chocolate.
Strong tea and espresso.

While I’m at it, I’d like to give thanks for this list of my favorite things I brought with me:

Pillow
Yoga mat
Guitar
Face wipes (thanks, Mom!)
Music

And for the things I left behind and won’t have to deal with in the upcoming year:

To-do lists
Socks and shoes
Jeans
Working
Cold

crew of llyr on the horizon line sailing blog cruise pacific crossing

Family and Friends, Ocean Tales

Meet the Crew Sailing the Pacific

The Steele-McCutchin family is awesome. Rob and I feel fortunate to have found such good people to spend a few months with, and such capable people to sail with across the largest ocean on the planet. They bought Llyr 4 years ago because they were ready for new expeditions. None of them had much previous sailing experience, but they took loads of offshore courses before sailing south from Maine to Panama last summer, spending 4 months cruising in the Caribbean along the way. You might notice their red hue in the photos below, which gives away their Scottish-Irish roots (and indicates it was early in the trip!).

Their grand plan is to set Llyr up permanently in Vanuatu (Melanesia) as a research vessel dedicated to documenting the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. During the storm season in the southern hemisphere (October to March), they’ll return to their family-owned maple syrup farm in western Massachusetts to collect the sweet nectar of New England maples. Here’s a snapshot of Llyr’s crew:

Meet Brooks. He’s the skipper, the mechanic, and the weather expert. Brooks is good-humored in his role at the helm of Llyr and his role as the oldest aboard. He also handles stressful situations calmly (thank god), and loves to converse about theories related to everything from education to climate change to how to change to oil mast most efficiently. As a clinical psychologist during his first career and a farmer during his second, Brooks enjoys figuring out how and why things work like they do. You can find him in the engine room, or trouble-shooting random problems from bow to stern.

Meet Janis. She’s the head caretaker of this big brood aboard Llyr, keeping our daily operations running smoothly. A fluent French speaker from Montreal, Janis is a trained anthropologist, and likes to stretch, eat dark green foods, and sew. If you have an idea, she’ll likely be able to make it a reality. You can find her cooking up tasty sauces or creating a wind-scoop from old flags.

Meet Connor. He’s 18 going on 28, a brand-new high school graduate with an EMT (emergency medical training) license, a great sense of humor and a clear head. Connor is the first mate, and is intimately familiar with Llyr’s many electronic and navigation systems. He’s going to spend the fall and winter in Australia this year, and planning to head to college as a pre-med major after that. Meanwhile, you can find Connor helping his dad with troubleshooting, surfing Facebook (at the marina only), or teasing his younger brothers (gently).

Meet Rowan. At 15, he’s doing a much better job of leaving his social circle than I would have at that age. Rowan is a detail guy, and sees the little things the big-picture thinkers might miss. He loves to dive, and reads incessantly…he actually burned out his Kindle in the first week. You can find Rowan cramming in calculus (gotta make sure he’s caught up after his few months out of the classroom!), listening to music, or scarfing down sodas or milk.

Meet Gavin. He’s the life of the party, and the youngest crew member at 10 years old. Gavin loves to draw and write and fish and kayak and swim and jump and chat and play games. He provides comic relief for the rest of the crew, and much-needed energy when others might be tired of chores. You can find Gavin eating PB&J sandwiches, sleeping in the cockpit, or trying to climb the mast when his parents aren’t looking.

Team Adventure - The Montana Rescue Mission by Brianna Randall - juvenile fiction

Community and Culture

Book Release! (Want a free copy?)

Some of you probably remember when I started writing a kids’ book during grad school. Maybe you even heard the reading I gave at a local Missoula bookstore almost a decade ago.

After I finished the novel, I shelved it for quite some time. Then, in the midst of moving and rearranging our life, I pulled it out again. I spent the winter months revising this fun adventure book, and had a blast sinking back into the characters. Even though it’s geared toward 8-10 year-olds, it’s a good way to explore western Montana.

Thanks to the modern digital age, I was able to self-publish an electronic version on Amazon for Kindle owners.

Want one? The book is FREE for the next 4 days if you click here. After that, it’s only $.99. Here’s the book summary. Let me know if you enjoy the adventure!

Kate is a city girl who’s more comfortable wandering around the mall than through the woods. But she’s determined to brave the wilderness of Montana in order to rescue her older sister, Nicole. Luckily, Kate’s best friend Maddie is a Montana girl, through and through. They sneak out of summer camp, and are unexpectedly joined by their campmates Cody and Darren (for better or for worse!). Together, these four sixth-graders head into the woods – and straight into one adventure after the next.

Kate and her friends sail, hike, raft and ride through Montana. It’s not all smooth sailing, though: they also get lost in the mountains, run into a bear, capsize a raft in the river, and walk straight into a wildfire! Team Adventure’s rescue mission is one wild ride, and a race against the clock as they try to make it to the forest Nicole is risking her life to protect.

Join Team Adventure as they learn more about fish, mountains, wildlife, rivers and the history of the Northern Rockies Mountains. This is one fun journey you don’t want to miss!

kevin, mamie, and willow - our next door neighbors in missoula, montana on the horizon line

Parenting

Happy Hillside Commune

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You might not know it, but Bri and Rob are part of a…dare I say it…commune. That’s right, call them hippies or hipsters, these two belong to the Happy Hillside Commune: A N’Amish Community. What’s N’Amish you ask?

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Well it’s NOT Amish, aka N’Amish. This lucky group consists of any number of neighbors and friends who live or gather on our street in the Rattlesnake neighborhood of Missoula. We share our fence lines, but not our husbands. We share our wine, chicken eggs, hot tubs, and saunas, but not bank accounts.

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We share our hillside with the deer, our view of the valley, power tools, ideas, and occasionally old clothes we don’t want anymore. In short, it’s perfect.

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So, to my new neighbors welcome, but ya’ll have some big shoes to fill.

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There is a worn path between our houses snaking through each other’s yards. On sunny summer nights you can find us outside having family style dinners, sipping wine and gabbing. We watch the hills turn brown and glowy. Real family members stop by like Bri’s parents. There’s sure to be game on the grill. Maybe even a deer from the actual hillside or an elk from further up the valley. Friends from out of town might be there, marveling at Missoula’s off the radar coolness.

N'Amish commune dinner party at bri and rob's house in Missoula

We try to convince them that winters are cold. “Don’t tell people about Missoula” we joke. “Really, it’s dark in the winter.” My husband and I once made a list of the essential things you need to have to make it through a Montana winter. It included: a down coat, someone to snuggle with, a ski pass, good tires on your car, and I would add…neighbors who will bring you Tylenol at 11 pm when you get the flu. I actually sent a text to one of my N’Amish members that said, “check on me in the morning to make sure I made it through the night.” She did, and I did. These are the neighbors I always hoped I’d have.

Rob has a funny way of loitering in his own yard. You know he’s working on some kind of garden projects but doing it on his own timeframe, a timeframe steeped in a molasses-like active slowness. Rob’s tropical cadence will fit right in in the South Pacific. He often lingers at the fence or pops over into our yard like their free-roaming chickens. Happy to give advice on seedlings, lift something heavy or pass on a story about his time in Madagascar. (As a tall white man in a village where children had never seen anyone but their own, he literally made children pee themselves). Bri consistently poaches our wireless booster to talk on her cell phone. I have seen her many a time, talking, pacing around our yard trying to stay warm while she chats.

bri, cassidy and mamie after mamie painted our faces at the park near our house - on the horizon line

The blur between our yards and worlds makes me feel loved and part of something. There is a great yogic philosopher who says that what we are missing in this world is intimacy. Not the sexual kind, but the kind that comes from knowing someone well, from removing the boundaries we live within in western society. The kind of close ties and caring that comes with time, experience, mutual compassion and group parties in the hot tub watching shooting stars. Yeah, we have that.

In a few weeks the N’Amish will be losing key members to a trip into the unknown. The Happy Hillside Commune will go virtual. Bri and Rob, as you wander the ocean, more than a little bit of us will be with you. Your body contains the soil of this hillside. Your muscles developed from protein of the deer that roamed these mountains. Your dog Abe continually pooped in my yard, and I didn’t mind one bit. Your heart is forged N’Amish. Don’t you forget it.

kevin, mamie, and willow - our next door neighbors in missoula, montana on the horizon line

Reflections on Life

Awesome Autumn — Let Us Count the Ways

Fall in Montana is pure magic…probably because it comes and goes faster than you can say “abracadabra.” But while it’s here, it frames everything in pure golden hues and pink-cheeked smiles.

Here are just a few of the many reasons I love this mountain-studded, river-dappled state in October. Will you share your favorite thing about fall?