Just some pretty roses outside the Central School Museum in downtown Kalispell.

In 1894, this public school building opened for classroom instruction. I think it would have been a bit intimidating to be a little kid walking to school the first time & this hulking building is waiting to swallow you up. Over its 100 yr. career, it served as a grade school, junior high & high school & even had classrooms for the community college. The Historical Society operates the museum here. They have some well done displays & are still working on a couple of big displays. When we’re back this way, we will visit again.

A Buffalo Bill Cody look-alike, Joe Cosley was a rascal. In 1929, original Glacier Park Ranger Joe Cosley escaped on foot over Ahearn Pass in the dead of winter to his native Canada to escape jail time for having poached game in the Park.. This remarkable mountain man, artist, ranger, guide, story teller, endurance athlete, poet, outlaw, Canadian war hero and romantic was best known as a trapper. His life was busy. Wouldn’t have had a moment’s rest with this guy around.  He apparently spent a lot of time in Columbia Falls long after his escape from jail.  The locals & local law enforcement did not see him as a criminal, but a victim of changing times. Google this guy. It’s quite a story.  Told well by the Museum.

Well, I cannot be brilliant & tell you about the drumheads or the artifacts. The little signs only mentioned the owner or creator of the item. The drumheads were quite well done and everything was displayed & lighted well.  I just don’t know why they were there. I think the Flathead Indians were probably responsible as they were a dominant tribe in this area.

 A large display regarding the life of Frank Bird Linderman, 1869-1938, tells a fascinating story of an early Montana resident who was larger than life.. His many careers as writer, politician, assayer, Native American ally and ethnographer as well as a husband & father kept him one busy fellow. Assistant Secretary of State as well as serving in the state legislature were his two posts as a politician.  He was a great friend to the Indians of the area and was trusted by them at a time when they found friends hard to come by. In his later years, he chronicled the life & times of individuals & tribes in 19 books.  He was good friends of artists Charles Russell & Paxson (first name escapes me), two men who have huge paintings hung in the state capital & courthouse depicting Lewis & Clark expeditions, skirmishes between Indians & soldiers among other subjects. We were awestruck when we saw some of those paintings a few years ago when we were in Helena.  Another man you might want to get to know a bit better. Fascinating life!

Unidentified in any way, this picture was almost hidden from view.  I was drawn to it & wanted to know who they were & how their lives turned out. They both seem to be so young & so very tall, especially him.  Look at those looong legs in those chaps.   Cannot Google this one, darn it.

Gary took the next two pictures.  He was so fascinated by the two-man power saw hanging overhead that I became concerned. Did he want to start a new career?  Was my personal safety at issue? So many questions....

Timber & saw mills played a great roll in Montana’s development & history.  Kalispell was no different than many places in the state. The museum has a room dedicated to the history of the industry in the area.

One of several telegrams regarding employment needs & their fulfillment in 1919.

Kalispell’s Farmer’s Market is a mix of  crafts & food, both prepared & produce.  Some of the craft work is very unique and some, like the tye-dyed display, are extrememly popular.  You have to look carefully to see the sleeping baby’s tye-dyed hat. And the proprietor having a tender moment with his child.

A good bit of the stock will be sold before the morning is over. Can’t believe how many folks just looove this stuff.  It is very well done and they have a selection that includes something for just about everyone. I think the bright, clear colors are very appealing to those who have suffered a very long, cold winter.

Several vendors offer organic produce. What we’ve bought here has all been very fresh & tasty.

The birdhouse dilemma. Which one to choose?  The roofs look the same in the picture, but the fronts are painted in a wide variety of colors.  They ultimately chose one to take home.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the park at the right time, you may see these ever-so-nice wildflowers.  I don’t know their names, except for the daisies. They are all growing wild with no one to water them or pick them to put in a bouquet. So, I don’t have bears, moose, deer, or elk to show you. But, I do have these.

Gary started down a path to see if he could find us some wildlife. About 10 feet behind where he is standing, still water had created a kind of marsh. He thought it best he return.  The area between him & the trees in the background looks like a pasture. This year, it’s a real soggy mess.

In the foreground: new growth is beginning to cover the ground left bare by the fire.  Like monuments, the dead trees continue to stand in spite of nature’s bad storms & howling winds of winter. In the background:  the gorgeous Rocky Mountains continue to hang onto some snow and wow us with their size & shapes.

Three (possibly more) ancient glaciers continue to carve these three mountains. The beauty & grandeur takes my breathe away.

The sun is out, the clouds are light, the trees are green. Perfect summer day, eh? Oh, the temp?  About 75*.

Well, here it is.  My big wildlife shot of the day.  Enjoy!