Missoula!

Arrowhead balsamroot & arnica in Pattee Canyon

It's been over 20 years since I last saw Ted and Michele. My kids (and I) have very fond memories of our last visit to Missoula, which included huckleberry picking and huckleberry pancakes, and Fourth of July fireworks out in the street!

While at UCSB, Michele was my next door neighbor, and we were good friends. Both were in the Geology Department there, and I was a bridesmaid in their wedding.

Time passes, children grow up, and we didn't correspond much. But some friendships go very deep. I am touched to find this to be true feel very blessed.

Fields of balsamroot

When I got there (finally), Michele was working late at recital practice, so Ted took me and the dogs for a walk up Pattee Canyon. The camas, lupine, balsamroot and arnica were in bloom, and the fields of color were beautiful.

Ted had baked an amazing patitsa: an enormous Slovenian sweet bread spiral filled with nuts, honey, raisins and his secret ingredient (crushed graham crackers). This one was baked in a turkey roasting pan, so that gives you some idea of how big it was! He's been working on the formula for the best possible bread, and this one was darn good.

Their son, his wife and 7-month-old baby were visiting from Bozeman, so between that and the end of the quarter and recital for Michele, it may not have been the best time to visit, but they were gracious hosts. They opened their home and their hearts to me, and it was a wonderful visit.

Ted's sister lives nearby and she came to visit and play with the baby, too.

So I got filled with good food (sourdough waffles! bison pot roast! elk meatballs!), family love, local lore of mining and historical characters, doggie kisses, and long hours of talking, walking, and catching up and just sharing about life and the years between that we've missed.

Rainbow above fields of camas

I was even able to attend the student recitals. Michele is the artistic and creative director for the Ballet Arts Academy, and the culmination of the year is TWO recitals. Both were amazing performances. I wished I'd brought the camera. From the little "pre-ballet" kids in their little pink tutus, to the accomplished senior performers, it was a heartwarming and beautiful experience. I was so glad to see it, and Ted gave an amusing running commentary that added to the background.

I introduced Ted to letterboxing, and we hiked up to the "Grandfather Tree" to find two letterboxes! He's intrigued by this, especially as an activity for the grandchildren, so we may have another convert, Linda! I rather think he might even become someone who plants some boxes, as one of his interests is local history. If you want to know more, he is co-editor of a blog: Granite County History.

There are several more letterboxes in Missoula, and I hope to find them before I leave.

But for now, it's time to leave and head north. I plan to visit the National Bison Range and several wildlife refuges, and maybe camp at Flathead Lake. Weather is coming in, though, so we'll see how things go.

That's life on the road!