Pearls are such a classic look in jewelry, and I couldn't resist this pair from Anthropology. Freshwater pearls, delicate Swarvaski crystals in a gold setting with sweet flower petals. Look closely-notice the two different looks? The asymmetrical style sets them apart from the norm.  Love them paired with my freshwater pearl necklace. Thank you Coco, I like your encouragement!

    The visual similarities of our human circulatory system compared to the water/river system of our earth has always fascinated me. It has nurture in me a stronger sense of reverence for all rivers.  What is the universe showing us....? Is there a grand design?

A few years back I created this personal piece of art, in which I collaged a map of regional rivers flowing from the melted snowcapped mountains into the veins of my hand, and then into the veins of the human representation of my life force, my heart.

"I am haunted by the waters..."
I wonder, is this the haunting, the similarities of earth waters and our circulation system in our bodies, that haunts Mcleans character? The rivers flowing inside of him that duplicate the earth's rivers?

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters.”
― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories 
 
“Oh, Eeyore, you are wet!” said Piglet, feeling him.
Eeyore shook himself, and asked somebody to explain to Piglet what happened when you had been inside a river for quite a long time.”
― A.A. Milne 
  
“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.”
― Emma Smith

Roseanne Cash
"A Feather's Not A Bird"

I'm going down to Florence, gonna wear a pretty dress
I'll sit atop the magic wall with the voices in my head
Then we'll drive on through to Memphis, past the strongest shoals
Then on to Arkansas just to touch the gumbo soul

A feather's not a bird
The rain is not the sea
A stone is not a mountain
But a river runs through me

There's never any highway when you're looking for the past
The land becomes a memory and it happens way too fast
The money's all in Nashville but the light's inside my head
So I'm going down to Florence just to learn to love the thread

A feather's not a bird
The rain is not the sea
A stone is not a mountain
But a river runs through me

I burned up seven lives and I used up all my charms
I took the long way home just to end up in your arms
That's why I'm going down to Florence, now I got my pretty dress
I'm gonna let the magic wall put the voices in my head

A feather's not a bird
The rain is not the sea
A stone is not a mountain
But a river runs through me

The quotes are excerpts  from a journal  I have kept  through the years of  lyrics, and poetry lines that include river.

Three great words-'BEST SUMMER EVER!" A second long weekend trip to Missoula was SO eventful!
•A long needed golf lesson at the U of M Golf Course with LPGA member Ann Laughlin
•We ran/walked a 5K, half marathon and a BEER RUN-the BIG THREE!   Lots of activity-RUMRUNNERS UNITE!
•A tour of Burnt Fork Bend Chocolates, a bean to bar chocolatier in Stevensville, 30 miles down the road from Missoula in Stevensville.
•And of course, TONS of laughs, food and all 'round fun!

It began with a magazine article I read a few years back
 ....based on Thich Nhat Hanh's mindfulness practice question: "how can I love you better?"
I was taken in by his beauty in living a mindfulness life, and have been inspired daily by him since then .

The art piece I created is a visual reminder for myself to ask this question-"how can I love you better?" for the loved one's in my life. I created the birch substrate piece in old world gold leaf method, red paint under the leaf. I scratch away the lettering, symbolic of looking deeper into ourselves and our relationships. The abstract markings were placed from my subconscious.










I highly recommend Hanh's series of three: How to Love, How to Sit, and How to Walk. The books are small, pocket size, easy to read yet POWERFUL in their words. The essence of simple is so very difficult to achieve. He has.

How to Love (Mindful Essentials)  Paperback – December 30, 2014 by Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), Jason DeAntonis (Illustrator)

"The third title in Parallax’s Mindfulness Essentials Series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, How to Love introduces beginners and reminds seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love and distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our love. Featuring original illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Love shows that when we feel closer to our loved ones, we are also more connected to the world as a whole. With sections on Love vs. Need, Being in Love, Reverence, Intimacy, Children and Family, Reconciling with Parents, and more, How to Love includes meditations readers can do alone or with a partner to expand their capacity to love."

This has been the year of the SIXTY birthdaze! So much fun!
For my bestie's sixtieth birthday, we rode the Hiawatha Bike Trail on the Montana/Idaho border. It is an incredible 15 mile, scenic trail through the Bitteroot Mountains. It was the former train route re purposed by the forest service for recreational use. Awe inspiring! Best parts? The trail is a 10% downslope and busses are at the trail end to shuttle you back to the parking lot. We rented bikes at lookout pass (CHEAP! Bike rack included!) which is only seven miles from the trailhead. My kids and I rode this trail several years back and we had a blast! Below is information about the trail from the official website. The button takes you to the site.

"THE "CROWN JEWEL" OF RAIL-TO-TRAIL ADVENTURES The Route of the Hiawatha mountain bike or hike trail is 15 miles long with 10 train tunnels and 7 sky high trestles. The 1.66 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel, also know as the Taft Tunnel, is a highlight of the trail that follows the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains near Lookout Pass Ski Area.  The best part is.... it's all downhill with shuttle buses available to transport you and your bike back to the top.  This family friendly trail is easily enjoyed by a wide variety of people from young children to super seniors.  Trail passes, shuttle tickets and mountain bike rentals are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area.

The Route of the Hiawatha was named a "Hall of Fame" trail by the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy.  One of only 15 such designations in the country.

Spectacular Scenery It was called one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country. When the Milwaukee Railroad was operating, the trains traversed through 11 tunnels and over 9 high trestles, covering a 46 mile route that crossed the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana. The "Route of the Hiawatha" is most famous for the long St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel which burrows for 8771 ft. (1.66 miles) under the Bitterroot Mountains at the state line.


Opening of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel The St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel opened for trail traffic with a Grand Opening ceremony on June 23, 2001. This cavernous, absolutely flat, dark tunnel under the Bitterroot Mountains connects Idaho and Montana, and is 1.66 miles long. Motorized vehicles are not allowed in this tunnel. The main parking area is at the East Portal of the big tunnel, 2 miles from Taft Exit 5 off I-90, just follow the signs. The distance from the East Portal trail head, which is the top trail head, to the bottom trail head at Pearson is approximately 15 miles.

Lookout Pass to the East Portal of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel (going east) From the Lookout Pass parking lot (el. 4730 ft.), the trail follows the old Northern Pacific railroad grade approximately 10 miles to the Taft Site (el. 3630 ft.). Along the way the trail crosses the St. Regis River 3 times, passes through one tunnel, and goes under Interstate 90 twice before arriving at Taft. Then from Taft, the trail rises gently at an about 2.1% grade for 2 miles to the East Portal of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel (el. 4160 ft.).

Montana Section (going east from the East Portal trail head) Now that the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel has been opened, another 31 miles of trail are being planned stretching all the way to St. Regis Montana. This portion of the trail will include one more tunnel and 2 trestles, and will be for use by bikers, hikers, all terrain vehicles, horses, as well as automobiles.