‘Tis the season – for gratitude, awareness, perspective!  I started my Thanksgiving holiday with a simple hen and turkey.  Thankful to be well fed.  If you put blueberries on chocolate cream pie that makes it completely healthy, right?

I’m not sure if the transition from fall to winter is more pronounced and/or dramatic than winter to spring but there’s certainly plenty to notice and enjoy right now, just gotta bundle up.  It hasn’t been that cold here yet and no snow to speak of, but a few chilly nights have iced the rims of the river and creeks.   There’s limitless artwork on our river walks and Coco seems to enjoy it too, though maybe not the falling through the ice part.  Must be confusing for her, all that stiff water.  Gotta keep perspective though.  What a privilege to have those miles of river to walk on and enjoy in every season.

We did have freezing fog this morning.  Even bare trees put on a show.  Ice crystals form in the oddest places, just to show off, I guess.  Gotta love it!

There are fun things that can’t always be noticed on our summer walks.  A bird’s nest is visible now and is a piece of art in its own right.  It would be a shame to not notice these gifts of nature.  Something hard to miss, regardless of the season, are some of the creatures we get to share these gifts with –

Icy reflections add different drama to our already beautiful Bitterroots, now lightly dusted with snow.  Much to be grateful for, including my free retirement days that I can spend soaking in this beauty.   Looking to the west from the river it would be easy to pretend it was 100 years ago, just me and the “wild Montana skies.”   There are people who have lived here their whole lives and barely notice the mountains and river – awareness and appreciation are treasures that should never be taken for granted.  

Weather and the coming holiday will change our little worlds – it will be colder and snowier, food will be shared in love and friendship, gifts will be exchanged.  Understanding and practicing the blessings that gratitude, awareness and perspective have to offer are gifts of this season and every one yet to come, timeless in their generosity!