November 2021

Views From the Pond #29
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Like salt on the rim of a margarita drink glass.

Views From the Pond #28
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Frost coating a ponderosa pine cone on a cold, crisp morning.

Views From the Pond #27
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Still floating–at least for now.

Views From the Pond #26
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Fallen leaves coating the bottom of the pond come appear as a strange atmospheric storm around the the overhanging bare branches reflected in the water’s surface.

Until There Are None Left
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Whichever Way the Wind Blows
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Returning to Earth
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Fallen aspen leaves on a well-trod trail are quickly being pushed into the ground by passing feet and bicycles, hastening the process of decomposition. “You are dust and to dust you will return.”

All the Leaves Are Brown #2
Bozeman, Montana
2021

They were bright yellow not long ago–cue the Mamas and the Papas.

The Hard Reality
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Whenever I see tipis in the summer it always seems like it would be fun to live in one for a while. We had a friend who did just that for a summer outside of Bozeman, and except for a few things like the skunk that kept coming inside at night for a visit, she seemed to really enjoy it. Such things make one romanticize about the life of Native American tribes who lived in them full time. But I think actually spending a winter in a tipi in Montana would quickly disabuse me of any such romantic thoughts. The tipis in this photo were set up for a week just down the street from our house in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. While book-ended by lovely fall weather, that week happened to coincide with a cold snap accompanied by almost a foot of snow. The tent flaps were frozen stiff, as I would have been–even with a fire I think– if I’d camped in one.

Thinking of Winter
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2021

I’m not an expert on the timing of such things but this is the time of year when it seems the bison in Yellowstone are gathering in larger herds than you generally see in the summer and are beginning to head towards their winter range.