Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

July 27, 2009

Filed under: — Constance at 7:56 am on Monday, July 27, 2009


Today concludes our stay in Ennis, MT. where we have had memorable adventures, their details to be recalled on quiet afternoons after returning home. Yesterday we drove up a narrow and bumpy dirt track to a wild and rugged mountainside place to picnic in the absolute stillness of a nearly uninhabited world. Here our friend Paul had hung a swing on a weathered pine branch, and from this place, the vastness of the sky and the mountain range on the far side of the green valley could be enjoyed as though one were part of a living diorama. The space around us had struggling grasses, occasional cacti and wild flowers coming up around huge and diverse rocks covered with beautiful patterns of lichen in rust, white, black, and many shades of green. Some of the trees had died, so their dramatic weathered shapes framed different aspects of the scenery. A pair of Clark’s Nutcracker birds kept us company and their harsh cries were the only sounds that broke into the absolute stillness. We all agreed that the loudest sounds were those heard in our own heads as we enjoyed the eating and drinking of the picnic viands.


This landscape appears endless and the sky’s ever-changing cloud patterns make the earth below them dynamic in the constant regrouping of light and shadow. Today we had a brunch at a lovely little house in the center of a mountain meadow filled with wild flowers, again in a place where the views were without end. As we walked about to examine the intricacies of the flowers, we were told that the mounds and holes were made by “whistling pigs” which I believe are small creatures also known as pica. Apparently these sweeping high meadows that are so enchanting at this season of the year become incredibly cold, snowy and wind whipped in the winter; a snow mobile that stood waiting beside the gateway leading up the long lane to the house spoke volumes.


We will not linger long before returning home. It is more challenging physically to do things, and a lesser body is carrying me around. I try to remember everything that I see and hear, and enjoy all the beautiful creation that is so varied and abundant. God’s imagination is truly beyond anything that I can comprehend, and I have seen a very small portion of the whole. After I die, perhaps my spirit will do the “world tour” and that will surely be very grand!

3 Comments

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Comment by janie

July 27, 2009 @ 12:02 pm

Just read this this morning: “There is a time when you did not exist, but there will never be another time when you will not exist. Yet in the mind of God, in His love for you, you always existed, for He had an idea in His mind that was you from all eternity. There was never a time when God was not thinking of you….”
‘Alone With The Alone’ by Jesuit priest, George Maloney

I think you will tour the world. Your immense ability to love combined with God’s wisdom — will make our universe a better place. God’s speed today!
xo,
janie & Curt

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Comment by mira wiegmann

July 28, 2009 @ 4:08 pm

Montana sounds wonderful. I can’t compete with your intricate observations of nature, but I did want to share the squirrel saga that we have watched for several evenings as we ate dinner outside. We seem to have a favored clump of hazelnuts about 20 feet from our deck. We have watched a squirrel climb onto branches so spindly that I didn’t think the branch would hold even his small weight. He would hang upside down to reach a tasty morsel and then would eat it in that position. Yesterday in the middle of the afternoon perhaps the same squirrel was hunting around the roots of a nearby tree. He dug briefly, but didn’t seem to find anything edible. Then he rubbed his head and rolled in the dirt that he had loosened. I wondered if he was cooling off with the damp earth of the garden that we water everyday now because of the heat. It will be over 100 degrees here for several more days. Nebraska temperatures have been cooler than Portland’s this week. God must be laughing at the ex-Nebraskans that thought they could escape summer heat by moving to the Northwest. However, we persevere (and use the air conditioning). I look forward to reading your next observations of changes that occurred at Sanctuary during your absence.
Much love,
Mira

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Comment by Gary and Julie

July 28, 2009 @ 7:55 pm

You have said it all. We will be in your area Wed PM
and Thursday and again on Sunday. Will give you a call.
Love to all,
Gary and Jewels

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