This day will be a short short blog.  Already 1:46 a.m. when I am starting.  Up and out of my Airbnb by 11:00 a.m.  It was such a lovely place to stay and it was great meeting another houseguest staying the same night.  The other house guest was Julia who I think I mentioned last night who just graduated from Santa Barbara University.  She stayed in an actual screened in porch, open to the elements.  It is warm, actually quite HOT in this part of the world so I guess it wasn’t a hardship.  The place we stayed was beautiful inits natural setting with nature.

I spent about 2 ½ to 3 hours at the capitol building in Billings.  I took a tour and it was wonderful.  The capitol has a beautiful interior.  I put some photos on the blog.  Met two very nice ladies who were the only other two to comprise our entire tour group.  It was actually rather nice to be one of three instead of one in thirty or forty.  See pictures below.

Today I drove the back roads of Montana.  The secenery was so exquisitely beautiful that I could barely concentrate on my driving.  A myriad of color sparkled all around me.  The ground reminded me of the floor of an ocean, all curves and sways and swirls.  So many shapes on the ground and beautiful grasses and flowers and weeds created a tapestry of the softest hues of lavenders, silver, beige, gold, pink and hints of soft fresh spring green.

I have left behind me a trail of uncaptured photos.  I now wish I had taken the time to capture all of them.  Some were impossible because there were no turnout places to allow for photos.  Some I had to forego due to time.  Soon they will be lost from my visual memory and I’ll probably have regrets for not taking the time to stop and create a lasting memory for me.

I am so sleepy I am falling asleep right here.  I will quickly summarize my day.

After all the beautiful landscapes I have seen these past four months, this one today takes the prize.  (I don’t know what the prize is for at the moment),

I won’t go into all who I met today in hopes of actually getting to bed VERY VERY SOON.

Been playing phone tag with Rebecca!  Miss you darling daughter, try calling me again real soon on my cell phone.

I arrived in Billings Montana about 5:00 p.m. today.  The couple I am staying with were referred to me by my nephew Brian.  My hosts are Carrie and Blake who living in Billings, Montana.  Billings is a beautiful little city.  I had a night tour with all the city lights sparkling after Carrie and Blake treated me to a dinner at “Jake’s.  The food was great!  I have really enjoyed meeting them.  They are a great couple.

I must get up early as possible tomorrow morning (depending on when I get to bed) because I have a 7 hour trip tick drive tomorrow.  I always mentally add at least 2 hours because I enjoy traveling the back roads so I can experience more of the small town feel and see the sights.  Today was an awesome drive because I went all back roads.  The colors of the grasses and wild flowers were like I have never seen before.  Pinks and purples and greens and browns were gorgeous.  Just think what it would be like to see as far as the eye could behold  with no trees or houses to distract or block your vista.  In some parts Montana seems to be profoundly quiet and deserted.  A  place I loved being.  I think I could move to Montana, if not for the undulating beauty that surrounded me today, but because whichever direction I looked I could see the mountains.  The mountains are drawing me back.  Back to a place I didn’t know I would want to be.

I have lots of wisdom from others received yesterday but too tired to share more.  I must go before I drop.  It is 2:18 a.m. (hey, my birthday numbers)!

Goodnight everyone.  Sorry for just a short note.  It was truly an awesome and inspiring day for me.  I’ll tell you more when I have time.

I HEAR MY NAME

By W. Kathleen Martens

wkmartens

A Land beckons and calls out to me

My heart in rhythm reflects

That which my eyes behold

My soul longs to connect.

Subtle variance of color lost

In a sea of undulating grain

So many shades in graceful hue

Take away all my pain.