I need a vacation from this vacation!!!!!!
We’ve been SO busy, I haven’t even had time to write anything down!
We visited the Missoula Farmer’s Market downtown on Saturday morning. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning! There were vegetables to purchase and lots of sweets to buy 😊. I had breakfast at a crepe booth with egg, ham, cheese and sour cream – it was YUMMY! (ED. NOTE – Aren’t they those french pancakes – what’s wrong with American pancakes?!?!?!?)
How bizarre!!!
A couple of blocks down the street was a bazaar with t-shirts, soaps, woodworking items, pottery, jewelry – you name it, you could find it! The downtown area is lovely with eclectic shops that were fun to peek in to. (ED. NOTE – Got me a cool Montana mud shirt – I’ll let her explain later!!!!)
One man’s buffalo is another man’s bison!!!!
Sunday, we went to the National Bison Range located in Charlo, Montana in the low-lying hills of the Mission Mountains. The range was established by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1908 when he signed legislation for funds to purchase land for the conservation of bison. Bison had been almost obliterated from a population of 30 to 60 million animals to a low of 100 in the wild in the late 1800’s. (ED. NOTE – And when she says obliterated, that all happened within 10 -15 years. Think about how many animals you need to kill a day to make that happen!!!!) Today, there are between 250 and 300 bison on this refuge. It is also home to elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn deer and bighorn sheep, along with coyote, mountain lions, bear, bobcats and many species of birds.
The Visitor Center had a small museum telling how the range was begun and what life had been like as the west was being settled. (ED. NOTE – Unfortunately, the sign asked folks not to touch the buffalo/bison coat on display. She pouted like a kid about that!!!!) You have a choice to drive around a large 2-hour loop or travel back and forth on an hour-long drive. We chose the shorter route and were thrilled to see bison.
Dang that’s a big cow!!!!
That day there were 2 herds with around 9-12 bison and a lone bison dotting the landscape. As it got later in the day, the cars had to stop to let the bison cross the road as they moved further up into the hills. We can only imagine what it might have looked like years ago to see thousands of bison moving across the grassland.
By the way, there was even knitting discussed at the Bison Range! (ED. NOTE – Which we all know was the most important thing?!?!?)
OMG – is it just Monday?!?!?!?
Monday, I went on a very cool hike with the dogs and my new friend. We went on a trail through state land up into the conifers. I learned all about the Ponderosa Pine, Douglas fir and Western Larch. (ED. NOTE – It’s like being in school but without all the tests!!!) All three have a cinnamon colored bark the longer they live. The ponderosas were SO tall and interestingly are self pruning. The lower, smaller branches fall off on their own. (ED. NOTE – Hence SELF pruning!!!) Many of those short nubs were covered in a lichen that looked like moss. It just added to their beauty.
The larch’s needles are placed in tiny bunches on the branches. At first glance, they just looked like all the other trees around but after being shown the bunches, I could look up at the trees and see the difference. Unlike other conifers that are usually evergreens, the larch needles actually change colors to yellow in the fall and lose their needles in the winter – a deciduous conifer. All three are beautiful trees and it was such an amazing feeling being up there surrounded by trees and grass – so peaceful. I didn’t take pictures but am planning on taking the hubs in the next couple of days, I’ll be sure to take some then! (ED. NOTE – Yay!!!)
As I said earlier, we’ve been so busy visiting and hiking and hanging out, that today I am pooped! Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about my (finally) finished boxy sweater, the two yarn shops I’ve visited and another fun, unique shop! (ED. NOTE – What??? You mean there’s more???? Good lord, how many hours in a day are there in southern Canada???)