All posts in November 2010
Good Fences
Hunting season ended last night. I do not hunt, but I believe that it ends at dark on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Specifics like that aren’t the mileposts I follow. Instead, I listen in the dark.
3:44 a.m.
I sleep lightly; the window is open. The cold air carries his whistle. He is close. The earth is bright with a waning moon hidden behind high clouds and snow blankets the hills. I know I should rouse myself from sleep and find him.
He is close behind my fence. With binoculars, I could have seen his antlers, but tonight it is enough to see his form. One bull, then a second. They are less than 50 yards away and slowly approach the fence line. Quietly now they pace up the hill and then back down. I watch to make sure they clear the fence. It is an easy jump. But I have learned to watch.
When an elk jumps a fence, a foot sometimes catches a wire. It looked like it caught on the second wire down. As it flew over the fence a foot caught the wire just below the top line of the fence. It spun around the top wire and trapped a leg between the now taught second wire and the top line. At least it looked like that was what happened one night on my hill.
I heard the call over and over. I did not recognize the plea. Some in the herd came back, it was a dark night and I could not see why they lingered. Then slowly dawn came and there was no more call. It was a Saturday morning and something caused us to walk up to look. I can no longer remember if she called, if we saw her or if we saw birds. But she was seriously injured and caught in the fence.
My husband did what he could to release her and let her regain her strength. She did not live. But that spring, a new fence was installed that opens in the winter to let the wildlife pass across the land.
Last night, I walked to the window and carefully watched to see if the bulls would jump safely over the fence or use their gate.
So ends the hunting season. The elk need no calendar as the time of the hunt is somehow etched into their genetic memory. So begins the listening season.
Sleep well.
Happy (listenin’ to the music) Thanksgiving (diggin’ the food)
This week I just can’t get enough of the music or the food. This may not be a Grant Creek reflection but I just wanted to share them with you.
Music ….there are three … Enjoy.
First Tune: Stand By Me. Some seriously good street buskers from around the world were recorded, mixed and overlaid to produce a sweet sound. Get the beat.
Second Tune: Empire State of Mind ( Part II) Broken Down. Stephen Colbert (yep- really!) rocks this tune with Alicia Keyes. It can’t help but make you smile.
Third Tune: Well actually it’s 40 minutes of Springsteen with Jimmy Fallon. Stevie Van Zandt joins Bruce and they share a few tunes at the end of the program. Save My Love…oh yeah. This is the ‘Happy’ part of the day.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/193888/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-tue-nov-16-2010
Then there is the food….
Two blogs to inspire all year round:
The Smitten Kitchen – www.SmittenKitchen.com
David Liebovitz – www.davidlebovitz.com
These two cooks, a fine glass of wine and some tunes.
Giving Thanks
cgs
Walking in a Winter Wonderland!
Now that the weather has become inclement and it’s cold, snowy and icy outside, the mall may be a solution to staying up with your 10,000 or more steps a day. Mall is open at 6:00 a.m. (usually able to get in about 5:45). You can go from 1 lap (3/5 of a mile) to 4 laps (2 2/5 of a mile).
I never thought I would be a mallwalker but I am so thankful for being able to use this wonderful facility when it’s nasty outside. Christmas decorations are up and window shopping is cheap 
See you there? Judy
Craig Menteer’s Adaptation of A Christmas Carol!
This sounds like a fun time. Craig Menteer is a funny, funny guy… and I mean that in a good way!
Top your Thanksgiving Holiday off with a humorous and edgy evening of theater! Craig Menteer’s “An Xmas Present” is at the Crystal Theater, Friday and Saturday night, November 26 and 27 at 8:00 p.m.
In this adaptation, Dicken’s classic tale A Christmas Carol, is set in our contemporary, modern-day world. Scrooge is the CEO of InformaServe Surveillance Company, a skateboarding Tiny Tim can only speak in ad slogans and Mrs Cratchit is an oniomaniac. With this set-up, An Xmas Present has Scrooge facing the-ghost-in-the-machine as he surveys his world on the computer. Tickets on line and at the door. Buy your tickets before 11/15 & save 10%.
Visit http://www.zutalor.com/anxmaspresent/#/gxf to buy tickets.
****Snowflake Sonata****
Okay, so I didn’t create this title myself. Even though this morning we are having the first snowfall of the year (BEAUTIFUL ) and I have some wonderful music playing (also wonderful). This is actually the name of an annual exhibit that the Historical Museum of Fort Missoula hosts that began yesterday November 21st. It won’t be open on Thanksgiving Day, but you might check it out on Friday, or Saturday or Sunday, or any day that the museum is open, up until January 3rd.
“Snowflake Sonata”
Runs 11/21/10 – 01/03/11
Annual holiday exhibition featuring musical items from Museum’s collections, supplemented by loaned materials. Holiday exhibit features music-themed displays and activities. Visitors are invited to build an instrument, learn to play a zither and enjoy live performances.
Winter Museum Hours (self-guided): Tuesday – Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday and CLOSED on Major Holidays
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula | www.fortmissoulamuseum.org
The Historical Museum is in Bldg. 322 at Fort Missoula.
Entrance to the museum is on South Avenue, across from Big Sky High School
Phone: 406-728-3476
Grounds are always open, always free.
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Be safe, eat well, stay warm!
Magical Christmas Windows Downtown
By Jean Clark, Downtown/Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Advocate
Once as a kid I took a trip with my folks to the big city to see all of the decorated downtown windows for Christmas. The big city for me was Minneapolis/St Paul and the trip was magical. Snow was falling in big flakes, lights were everywhere and Christmas carolers were singing. I’ll never forget it. Ever since then I’ve loved the sight of a merchants store window at Christmas and a stroll through an active downtown.
This year the downtown merchants in Missoula are having a window decorating contest and I’m really excited to see what they come up with. Apparently they will be judged at the beginning of December, so I’m assuming they’ll be up and ready for viewing shortly after Thanksgiving. The categories for the contest are: Best Overall, Kid’s Choice, Most Innovative, Most Festive, Most Elegant and Best Use of Small Space.
Last week’s blog I talked about the romantic roaring fireplace in the Florence Building, now I’m thinking what a magical evening that could be, a stroll through downtown shopping, fantastic holiday window viewing and ending in front of the fire. It’s all about the little stuff.
Autumn is Finishing Up and Winter is Coming In, but First Let’s Play Some Football. Go GRIZ!!
Halloween Over, Hunting In
Inviting spot to stop for a minute or two and enjoy the remaining minute of Autumn
Mountain Tops getting snow
Go GRIZ!
Christmas Lights Already!
With the weather’s recent change from fall to winter, I now am driving the neighborhood instead of walking every day and I have noticed the (early?) appearance of Christmas lights on some homes. The City has removed most, if not all of the leaves, Thanksgiving is a week away, and the Christmas holiday will very soon be upon us. The neighborhood will be quiet with the UM students mostly gone until the start of Spring Semester. Happy Holidays, everyone! Judy Wahlberg, Neighborhood Advocate.
Zootown Arts Community Center
The December schedule is now up on the ZACC web site. http://www.zootownarts.com/
Some of the highlights coming up:
Young Artist After School Program; Morning Toddler Class; Pottery Painting; Ladies Pottery Night
MICHEAL DEMENG Monotype Printmaking Class; Gallery Openings
Always lots going on down at the ZACC – check it out and go make some fun art!