Saturday, December 26, 2015

The Kolden Report: Montana Moments, part three.

Hello, kids!

I trust that you all enjoyed Christmas in whatever fashion you choose to celebrate?  We fared well here and are looking forward to a healthy and peaceful 2016, where I will hopefully get caught up.    (The snow shots are coming....wait for it!)

Welcome new subscribers!   It's  a pleasure to have you along for the ride although you are joining mid trip.  For past issues you can visit www.thekoldenreport.blogspot.com  Feel free to share whatever you wish.  After all, "you get what you give" in life!

Now, the report!






Mighty Marias rolls on.






Tiber shores.  (Think it would be a neat shoreline to explore via boat...miles of shore and FEW folks breathing your air.)






LOADED.  (Sage, thick with bloom.)






Form and stance.  (I cannot resist wild sunflowers and now in winter's grip, their sight brings me even MORE joy than seeing them that day ....)






Oddity.  (How does a feather become wedged standing straight up on a rocky shore?)






Speak no evil.  (I love this one.  Not everyone does, apparently.)







Big lake blues.








In that moment, when the sky lights up ...you know you are witnessing something special.   







Last vestiges.





Nothing like company for breakfast!






Such an interesting beach!  It's on my list of places to revisit.






Shelters dot the shoreline.






Driftwood "face". 






Glow.  (I so love these wild sunflowers!  I only used to "like" them until my niece's love for them rubbed off....)






I wonder who this sculptor is?

Up next:  The call of the wild. 

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"Happiness can exist only in acceptance." - George Orwell
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www.thekoldenreport.blogspot.com
www.kittykolden.com

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

The Kolden Report: Montana Moments, part two.


     Hello kids!

Thank you to all who came out to the bazaar and supported me!  Your presence meant the world.  Congratulations to the winners in my "give back" drawing:  Chris Will, Abby Juve and 10 year old Marti....a child who went as far as giving me two working phone numbers and writing the piece she wanted to win on her entry.  Of course I gave her THAT piece.  And it was a pleasure doing so.

 It's that time of year to give back!  If you are looking for ways to "give back" in your community, there are many.   Give money to your local food bank or homeless shelter.  Volunteer your time.  Instead of a gift, donate to a worthy charity in the name of a loved one.  Adopt a needy family and gift them warm blankets or a holiday meal.  Buy groceries for the elderly veteran or widow in line ahead of you at the grocery store.   Shovel the snow laden walks of  an elderly neighbor.  Deliver home baked items to a shut in and stay for a cup of coffee and a chat.   Babysit for a single mother for a few hours.   The ways to give to others are limitless and needn't always cost financially.  Just a bit of your time can make a vast difference to a lonely or struggling person during the holidays.

And now, I gift you with more snippets of our wonderful world!



If you've not tried building a cairn, you should.  It's meditative. 

 



Moments like this make one realize how fortunate we truly are to live in such a pristine and peaceful place. 






CLEAN water.  (Fascinated by the conglomerate center shot?)









Through the woods.





Show stopper!  (Colorful foliage creates powerful emotion!)







Velvety appearing leaves, painted in pink and orange.






Inner workings.






Stonemason's handiwork.

From Hungry Horse, we headed to Flathead lake.






Layers.






Evening swim.






Smooth and jagged.






What is it about this?  I cannot say.  I just know that I love it...


Stay tuned!  More to come...

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"The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness.  It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the busy life and become more interested in people than in things." - Thomas S. Monson

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www.thekoldenreport.blogspot.com
www.kittykolden.com

Thursday, December 3, 2015

The Kolden Report: Montana Moments, part one - ( And...It's that time again!)






 Hello kids,

Saturday is the annual Optimist Bazaar at the Wolf Point High School.  I've been feverishly preparing pieces and must say that I am pleased.  I ventured into metal frames and had a BALL with canvas.    Add leather and metal prints and well, what's not to love?

The event begins at 9am and runs until 3pm.  Come out and have a look!   There will be much to choose from, the weather is to be delightful and I'd love to see you...

Now, enjoy an installment from our Montana Moments road trip!






I found myself mesmerized by the rail car art , as we traveled along the hi-line.  This message was particularly powerful.






Righteous Rockies.






Strut.






Texture.






Hungry Horse Dam. 






Perspective.







Foliage.



Inlet.  (Hungry Horse Dam)






Mirror, mirror.







Babbling brook.






Breathe.  (Yes, I built it.  Have you tried?  It's ENTHRALLING.  Sort of like Jenga...with rocks.  Try it!)






Works of art.






Almost perfect.  (Or it is perfect in its imperfection?)



Fern fronds.  (I love the shape...)




The closer you look, the more there is to see!  (The fronds look like feathers to me....)

Up next:  Mountain Magic, stay tuned!

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"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground." - Theodore Roosevelt

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www.thekoldenreport.blogspot.com
www.kittykolden.com