#Today 10

Good day!

Summit aside, of the 4 other prominences on Blue Mtn this one, the 2nd highest, doesn’t have an official trail to the summit.

I found a faint one last year. The views are the best of the 4. Go figure.

Exploring the point has become a favorite activity.

Be everwell.

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#Today 09

Good day!

42F this morning.

An image that captures autumn here. The red brush and green pines.

In the distance is striping. The green valley, golden grass of the foothills, and blue mountains beneath a cloudy sky.

There’s even sedimentary rock in the foreground.

Be everwell.

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#Today 08

Good day!

Gee, a tree.

A lovely ponderosa pine, perhaps lonely, but I didn’t take this picture for it.

I took it for the grass.

The grass in the foreground, unlike most of the background, is a gold and brown mix, creating a pattern. I feared I couldn’t capture it.

Be everwell.

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#Today 07

Good day!

I wanted a picture of one of the terrifying woodland creatures I face to post a daily photo. 😉

A pine squirrel, who screamed until I raised my camera. It then froze in this position in the crook, a typical behavior.

It’s nice to see truly wild squirrels.

Be everwell.

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#Today pt2

Good day!

I did it!

I shot out of here and raced to the mountain. The air was rich with autumn and the approaching rain, not to mention last night’s rain.

For half the hike it drizzled. If in the open, the breeze was frigid.

As I reached my car the sky opened up.

Be everwell.

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#Today 06 #SilentSunday

Good day,

I’ve hiked 658 miles (1,059k) locally, and nothing compares (so far) to one hike: Blodgett Canyon. It instills the magic of gratitude for being alive.

Be everwell.

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#Today 26 #SilentSunday

Venture forth into the wilds, experience nature, and while you explore, watch for the magical places.

They're waiting for you.

Be everwell.

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#Today 19 #SilentSunday

Good day,

A love a great view, a scenic landscape, a vista, and especially one I had to earn. They speak of possibilities. They whisper to my imagination. There’s comfort in knowing humans haven’t spoiled everything.

Be everwell.

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#Today 07

Good day!

A windy day is expected. “Breezy” is the term we’d have used when I lived in Wyoming.

Even so, there’s always the possibility that a fallen tree branch could cut off my power.

Please don’t do that when I have a blog post to draft and a chapter to edit.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 04

Good day!

It’s the yo-yo weather of spring, which is to say, we plunge into winter, and then soar towards summer.

It’s time to soar again for Easter, which, these days, mostly translates to chocolate.

The final chocolate holiday until Halloween. That’s an odd link.

Be everwell.

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#Today 31

Good day!

Winter, not that we really had one, is back. Why is it that when below freezing temps return in the spring, they feel extra cold?

Why is it that I left a window open last night?

Well, I did sleep wonderfully last night after finishing my latest project.

Be everwell.

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#Today

Good day!

Apparently, walking miles to a protest, spending hours there, and then walking home, all after editing a chapter, is exhausting.

Wow, did I sleep well.

Be everwell.

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#Today 27

Good day!

Busy, busy, busy…

I’ll grocery shop early, meaning before sunrise, which means I reach the store before the buses pickup the kids.

I’ll finish shopping after the buses are done, return home after sunrise, and walk.

I’m annoyingly efficient.

Be everwell.

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#Today 25

Good day!

One thing that brings me a measure of peace here, is all the flowing water. There are three rivers within the city limits, and then there’s Rattlesnake Creek.

The water you see is headed for the Columbia and the Pacific. Sometimes I want it to carry me away…

Be everwell.

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#Today 17

Good day!

Milder weather is supposed to arrive today.

Oddly, the most winter-like weather we’ve had all winter has been the last few days. Yet, we’ve had a lot of moisture, which is more like April.

Nothing is predictable about our weather the last couple of years.

Be everwell.

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#Today 15

Good day!

The summit of Mount Sentinel.

Normally, there are mountains all around.

Instead, in a snowstorm, there was nothing, as if an eraser had removed the rest of the world.

It was comforting. It was distressing. It was like being dead while alive.

Be everwell.

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#Today 14

Good day!

It seems crazy, but as winter is about to end, this the most winter-like weather we’ve had, even if yesterday’s snow swiftly turned to rain.

Our temps are supposed to soar, soon. I’d normally cheer that, but I somehow feel cheated out of a real winter.

Be everwell.

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#Today 06

Good day!

Well, I’m not crazy. Not entirely. I am a writer, after all.

To this point, we’ve officially had the warmest winter on record for this region, which is the northern Rockies.

No subzero days, and few that failed to climb over freezing.

Be everwell.

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#Today 05

Good day!

What do I dislike about my iPhone’s weather app, to which they’ve added AI?

Rather than nuance, it’s absolutely certain in its wrongness.

Yesterday: ZERO chance of moisture until evening. It rained all day. Too, forecasts swing wildly every 15 minutes.

Be everwell.

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#Today 04

Good day!

Another night of dreaming about frustration. More spring weather in winter.

Meanwhile, I’m procrastinating on my taxes because doing it online makes my anxiety soar, and using a new service will compound that.

Good gosh, I’m a mess. Except for editing.

Be everwell.

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#Today 03

Good day!

I had one of THOSE days yesterday. You know the kind.

There should be a name for them since they’ve become so common.

A day when all the pointless strife overwhelms because you had a moment when you let your guard down.

It’s like living with an abuser.

Be everwell.

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#Today 02

Good day!

Mother Nature doing contrast, and the lichens are liking it.

Just as likely, the lichens were celebrating moisture. I know I did.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to write this post and Evie Cat is having a freak-out. As a Thai cat, she likes warmer temperatures.

Be everwell.

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#Today

Good day!

Winter has a sound,
as does snow,
and sometimes they sound like
peace,
an echo we know
that’s difficult to hold.

Be everwell.

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#Today 28

Good day!

Once you see it you can’t unsee it…

I was terrorized by this band of snow ghouls, misshapen monsters who move in tight clusters.

See it now?

It’s about perspective, of course, and about the fact that my imagination is always turned on.

So, snow ghouls.

Be everwell.

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#Today 26

*While resting:

“Hi, Christina.”

“Hi, Sasquatch, how’s it going?”

“Well, I’m a little worried about being deported, but they have to find me first.”

“That’s true.”

“How’s your hike going?”

“Great. I might try to reach the summit. Have you been there?”

“Not yeti.”

Be everwell.

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#Today 19

Good day!

I went for a hike. Was there snow? Just a few flakes in the air, and what was hiding higher on the mountain.

It was plenty cold, though, the ground frozen.

If I want snow, I’m going to have to go where it’s hiding in gulches and on northward facing slopes.

Be everwell.

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#Today 18

Good day!

So, here’s my real issue.

Look at the width of your thumb. After four days, that’s how much moisture we got.

The west may burn this summer.

There’s snow higher, but not what’s needed. We’ve had less than half of our normal moisture—for years now.

Be everwell.

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#Today 12

Good day!

We’ve turned colder here, and the maybe-snow is still supposedly on the way, though it’s unlikely that we’ll get much in the valley.

It’s strange to think that the biggest snow storm I’ve ever seen here was almost exactly 12-years ago, the day I moved here.

Be everwell.

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#Today 03

Good day!

*Hard to believe we had this much snow a couple of weeks ago.

So, there’s soup in the refrigerator. There’s also soup occupying over half of my freezer.

I had some last night and it lived up to the hype. Alas, you should’ve been there, but you weren’t.

Be everwell.

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#Today 30

Good day!

*The start of the old forest road on Blue Mountain.

For the first time in months, it didn’t drop below freezing last night (actually, it’s still technically night).

For the foreseeable future, we’re going to have late March weather.

Be everwell.

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#Today 25

Good day!

Behind the one stood many,
and then many more,
as if a conifer sea had come ashore.

Be everwell.

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#Today 23

Good day!

On my last hike, the trail joined the old forest road, and my legs didn’t want to stop.

I think they’d realized how much less weight I was carrying since November.

The big surprise was climbing high enough to find consistent snow cover.

Be everwell.

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#Today 22

Good day!

I hiked yesterday morning & it was 🥶, & glorious!

My legs were ready to climb again, setting a pace that had my lungs in shock, but which they needed, clearing junk out of them they can’t remove otherwise.

I needed views again for so many reasons.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 16

Good day!

After my mountain ascent yesterday, I outlined the weekly blog post & edited a short chapter.

I was inspired.

I did eat dinner while editing, which was fine. It’s seldom that I do that, & I was thrilled with the chapter.

And with my rainy adventure.

Be everwell.

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#Today 14

Good day!

Sometimes, nature & my imagination dance together on the trail, like looking through a foliage window into the past.

Autumn seems to excel at that. It’s my gothic season, and oh how I love to step outside & embrace it.

It calls to me.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #SilentSunday #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 09

Good day!

Doing double duty, editing a chapter each day while adding words to the novella (2,311 yesterday), is taking a toll.

The results, though…I couldn’t have hoped for more.

The 9-hr days are nearly over. Our smoke is gone. Autumn is everywhere. I’m content.

Be everwell.

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#Today 07

Good day!

Yay, cooler temperatures!

Boo, bad smoke. Maybe the wind will shift.

I’m exhausted, but too driven to stop. I edited a short chapter yesterday, but also added 3,139 words to the novella.

This is what happens to me when I draft. I love it.

Be everwell.

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#Today 05

Good day!

What a day yesterday!

Discovered that I’d lost 4 lbs. I then walked all the faster with my trekking poles in the cooler weather.

Caught fire on the backstory novella & added 2,585 words. My fingers were flying.

Still managed to edit a Book4 chapter.

Be everwell.

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#Today 04

Good day!

I returned to the novella again yesterday for a short time, while also editing a short chapter.

Let’s see if I can repeat that success.

The wimpy heatwave breaks today. I’ve hardly noticed it except that now I can think about at least a short hike.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 03

Good day!

This is supposed to be our last day of heat. Truthfully, it hasn’t been much of a heatwave.

It doesn’t heat up until extremely late in the day. I don’t have AC, yet my place has remained cool.

No complaints from me, but I’ll also welcome the cool weather.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 02

Good day!

Mount Sentinel, which is really just a promontory on a bigger mountain. I’ve climbed both.

There’s a huge M on the mountain just above the foreground trees.

Unseen, the university sits at its feet. Each year, students repaint the M.

Be everwell.

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#Today 30

Good day!

I’ve lived in Montana for 11yrs & never saw a rabbit here. This summer, I’ve seen 4.

This one, who’d taken a wrong turn in Albuquerque, hopped onto the road, zigged & zagged for a ways, before finally crossing the road & disappearing to the left.

Be everwell.

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#Today 28

Good day!

I had a difficult night last night. I’ll exclude details. As someone living alone, it means I have to be careful how I approach my day.

One wrong step & I could spiral with no one here to diffuse it.

That’s why it’s something I’ve trained myself to do.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 22

Good day!

I’m off to hike in the Rattlesnake Wilderness this morning. It requires that I reach the trailhead around sunrise so I have enough time.

Lately, doing a little drafting in the morning, then editing the rest of the day has been energizing me. I’m grateful.

Be everwell.

#WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #Aging #HealthyLiving #HealthyLifestyle #GetOutside #Hiking #Trails #HikingAdventures #Nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLover #Photography #LandscapePhotography

#Today 16

Good day!

Yesterday, as the sun climbed over the mountains, I went on another “just hit the trail and see where you end up” hikes.

It went great.

I also discovered that it’s possible to hike from the edge of the city & reach Rattlesnake Creek & the wilds.

Be everwell.

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