Last day in Central Oregon

Time is a strange thing. It moves fast when we want to slow down, it moves too slow when we want to hurry through something, and it sets us up for managing incremental spaces that would otherwise be what? Today, it was time for Michelle to get on a plane and head back to her home ground, Missouri. 

Sisters: Renee' and Michelle

But not without a few hugs and some conversation first.

Ben, Michelle, & Renee'

Michelle & Ben

 

 Last night Michelle was able to spend some time with her sister, Renee’, her niece, Kendra Jo, (and Kendra’s fiance’), all three of the grandbabies, her nephew Tanner, and his fiance’, Julia. It made the last night of her time here special to her, and for that I am grateful. 

 We got some pictures in today, but most of the memories are locked inside my head, not on the camera, perhaps I will let them loose a bit later, for now, enjoy a few more smiles:

L-R: Ben, Michelle, Joanie, Keri (in front)

Keri & Michelle

Too cool in her rose coloured lenses

Just before boarding the plane in Redmond, Oregon.

Safe and Sound

Back in Central Oregon, we have an opportunity to regroup, unpack, repack, and get ready for this next week of visiting with family and friends, but before all that, let's take a look at what happened between Polson, Montana and Central Oregon.

Kris, Dave, & Michelle

The smiling faces say a lot about the connection between the people you see in the picture. Kris has known Michelle for a good long time and they enjoyed the time shared immensely.

There are many things we can replace, but time with those we love and care about is something to be taken when the opportunity allows. Moments like this will expand the walls of a person's heart.

A goodbye scritch for the furrbaby too.

The sun was out for our journey home, and so were our cameras. The countryside was spectacular!

Michelle & Keri

One of the places we stopped had some historical information about the site. We knew it would be a good idea to have that information later, to help keep track of where we had been.

Wolfie was thrilled to be able to get out of the truck and take in the view.

Wolfie

 A little time to explore and stretch our legs out.

When it was time to take a break again, we did so at the "World Famous 50,000 Silver Dollar Western Bar" where we officially had our names added to the walls.

Michelle hanging out with the hoodlums

There were silver dollars embedded in wooden planks all over the inside of the building. While the signs outside said fifty-thousand, it was much closer to seventy-seven-thousand.

That's all silver dollars!

. . . and MORE silver dollars!

Keri

All of the wooden planks are full of silver dollars. The countertop for the bar is inlaid with gold dollars.

Adding our name to the walls, officially.

This was the last stop, before leaving Montana.

Another day of smiles!

 The Whimsical nature of Michelle's personality really had me laughing today.

Awwwww cute!

 

 The REAL flower child!

Earlier this morning, Michelle went off to see another friend of hers, Debbie. Michelle was so happy about having had the chance to see her, and twice surprised by the creative gifts she offered. Debbie  made a t-shirt and a coffee cup for Michelle - the cup reads "No Worries I've got your back"
How cool is that?

The cup reads" I've got your back"

Paws and love

Kris & Michelle

Polson, Montana
Just a short breath from the edge of Flathead Lake

 Goodbye for now Polson! Thank you for the magickal rainbows, engaging conversations, and most of all, for welcoming my friend, Michelle home with warmth and love.

Tomorrow morning, we will start our return to central Oregon.  See you again soon!

Built-in Fun

Sunshine made it possible to take a walk along the Lakeshore - Michelle, Kris, and I had lunch and did just that.

Keri, Michelle, and Kris

Do you see the difference in her smile?

Shooting the seagulls.

Kris & Michelle

Kris & Michelle

Looks like serious conversation.

Chris is a special person to Michelle, and I'm grateful to add her to my list of friends.

"I've got your back"

Kris

What a wonderful day for a walk.

Kris & Keri

Flathead Reservation

 Charlo Montana is the home of the Nine Pipes Museum, where history of Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation culture is housed. The Montana visitors site says Charlo is also one of the "oldest wildlife refuges in the nation". The Flathead Indian reservation is home to the  confederated Salish Kootenai tribes, which stretches across Western Montana from north of Missoula to just south of Kalispell, and it covers some of Western Montana's most beautiful landscape.

The Mission mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for Flathead Lake. The locals told me that this is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and it's all natural. It's also touted as the home of Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, but that's a story for another time.

 

On the way to Charlo.

 This area is where Michelle felt most at home. I watched her smile brightened as she continued to connect with people that she knew from her days of living there.

Michelle catching up with posts.

There is a distinct difference in a person's demeanor when they're happy, here, Michelle is happy.

Driving Miss Chelle

Moody clouds hovered creating a three-dimensional world of wonder over our heads as we sped down the highway once again headed this time to Polson, Montana.

A little clearing.

 

Michelle capturing some of that good stuff.

Intermittent rain added shadow and light play to the land we passed over creating some eye candy for our viewing pleasure.

.

 Wolfie and Michelle

Wolfie our Mascot

 As the sun came out more frequently, our view changed.