Time to Retreat

Last Christmas I received an amazing gift from my brother. It was a certificate that awarded me a night and two meals to a place of my choice for a retreat. I am going to use it the next three days. 

I found a vacation rental off the beaten path in Montana close to Alberton. My co-pilot Riley and I are packing good food, beverages, a journal, books, art supplies, our favorite blankets, and dog treats.

"Retreat is the act of giving up and withdrawing or a time away in a quiet and secluded place where you can relax.

A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security."

The Shed Notebook: National Poetry Month: "Driving Montana"

Tomorrow I will be driving Montana. I am not driving across the whole state, but will see beautiful landscapes in the western part of the state. When I think of poems about Montana, I think of Richard Hugo. This is one that captures Monday on the road.

Driving Montana

The day is a woman who loves you.  Open.
Deer drink close to the road and magpies
spray from your car.  Miles from any town
your radio comes in strong, unlikely
Mozart from Belgrade rock and roll
from Butte.  Whatever the next number
you want to hear it.  Never has your Buick
found this forward a gear.  Even
the tuna salad in Reedpoint is good.

Towns arrive ahead of imagined schedule
Absorakee at one.  Or arrive so late--
Silesia at nine--you recreate the day.
Where did you stop along the road
and have fun?  Was there a runaway horse?
Did you park at that house, the one
alone in a void of grain, white with green
trim and red fence, where you know you lived
once?  You remembered the ringing creek,
the soft brown forms of far off bison.
You must have stayed hours, then drove on.
In the motel you know you’d never seen it before.

Tomorrow will open again, the sky wide
as the mouth of a wild girl, friable
clouds you lose yourself to.  You are lost
in miles of land without people, without
one fear of being found, in the dash
of rabbits, soar of antelope, swirl
merge and clatter of streams. 
                                    --Richard Hugo 

Sibling Assignment #181: Retreating By Water: The Last Resort

Brother Bill gave the sibling assignment for this week. 

Write about a specific place,but NOT the Oregon Coast, that is powerful to you where there is water. Do your best to describe this place is some physical detail -- you could also include pictures! --, explain why it is powerful to you, and reflect upon the power of water as it relates to this place and to your life in general. 

I have been blessed to be surrounded by water my entire life. In my youth I swam in north Idaho lakes, floated the Coeur d'Alene River, water skied at Rose Lake, waded in Jacob's Creek, and drove often along the Spokane, Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia. Recently I discovered the Clark Fork River.  I have never  tired of the natural beauty of water whether it is in north Idaho, eastern Washington, or Montana. 

Everett and I started a tradition about ten years ago. We searched for quiet vacation rentals that we could get away either on a long week-end or that time right before school started in conjunction with our anniversary. Most of the time we were by water. My first introduction to the Clark Fork River was in August of 2013. We found a comfortable cabin The Last Resort on the river right outside of the town of Clark Fork. It was a powerful retreat at a time we needed a retreat. We had worked hard outside all summer and I was involved with school activities much of the summer. I remember arriving at the lovely cabin, knowing it was going to be perfect. The river was quiet and peaceful. The clouds were spectacular. There were no people around. We had a beautiful view from the porch.  Water has a way of helping me slow down. When I am stressed, worn out, or depressed, water has a way of bringing me around. It holds that power. A sunset sure helps also. 

There was an added bonus on this trip. We were close to a cedar grove across the border into Montana. Just as water provides a way for me to slow down, so do cedar groves. I love to wander among the shady trees with creeks trickling, and the air filled with an earthy smell. I think as you view the pictures throughout the post you will see why this was a perfect retreat for two tired people. Water has constantly reminded me to slow down and relax. I am fortunate to live close to water again in my new home.

Another added plus. The dogs loved it and I got to practice my photography.

Sibling Assignment #170: Memories of Montana

I gave this sibling assignment this week. It was simple:Memories of Montana. I will link the other sibs' posts when done.

There have been conversations between the sibs recently about a place to visit when we are all together in November. Montana kept coming up. It reminded me of how much I love Montana. In my whole life I have not been to Montana many times, but each time I visit the state I grow more attached to it's beauty.

Each August around our anniversary and close to when school started, we always tried to plan a getaway  to rest and recharge before getting into the routine of the school year again. In August 2013 we found a lovely cabin on the Clark Fork River by Clark Fork, Idaho. We discovered two things on that trip. We were very close to the beauty of Montana and there was a cedar grove close by.

There is something about hiking through a cedar grove with camera in hand. I love being surrounded by natural history, coolness, green, moisture, and quiet. We found Ross Creek Ancient Cedars and I captured a series of photo images I really liked. It was fun today to revisit the cedar grove through the pictures. Now I want to return.