The loons eluded me, staying far out. Next morning, I got on the water early hoping to get near enough for a mid range lens shot. Looked like another fail... then a noise immediately behind me and this Loon was 5 yards away!! It stayed on the surface long enough for these shots. What a gift!

Here's me obsessing over Loons swimming up to me while my dog obsesses over her toy floating away from her.

That moment in time when Maizey realizes that she is going to have to jump out of the kayak to get her toy...

Time to dig into my Americana photos and update my pinned image. This is Club Moderne - Anaconda, Montana. (All copyrights reserved)

Photo on the left is my usual view of Blaine Mtn. from my front yard. The photo on the right is the view today. The entire Swan Mountain Range has disappeared under a thick blanket of wildfire smoke.

My mutt is 55% standard poodle, 35% border collie, with the remaining 10% divided up between 6 different breeds from miniatures to working breeds. 100% mutt.

Are we having fun yet?

Some friends showed up to the BBQ with this. I present to you the Pyro Princess Pack,packed with fireworks, designed for those Pyro princesses in your family!

Despite my desire to just skip Independence Day, my granddaughter insisted on a parade and hot dogs over a fire. Despite myself, I had a good time. #LivingstonRoundUpParadr

Indian Relay Races are my absolute favorite sport to watch!

Time to update my pinned image. This is an image from The Garden of One Thousand Buddas, near Arlee, Montana.

I came around a corner & startled Mama who signaled her fawn to "hide" as she bound off. Problem was it hid on the one thing in the forest that offers no camoflauge. I picked it up & moved it to the tall grass on the side of the road. Mama came back in a few minutes to collect it.

Belgian blues rocker Ghalia Volt, special guest at Tab Benoit's concert last night, pulled out a flask, took a shot, then used the flask to play slide guitar. It was awesome!!

Tab Benoit was on fire last night at Wacholz Theater. Orchestra pit seats was a good choice.

Some of the head gates on #HungryHorseDam were opened to release rain water. I love the vibrating energy I feel when I stand on the dam during head gate releases.

I pulled into work and ran into a road obstacle... a very large cow Moose who wasn't inclined to yield the right-of-way. So I just waited until she decided to yield and move down the road to the fire cache. (She didnt yield to them either. Kept them inside until she was done casing the joint).

A particularly pretty day on #HungryHorseReservoir. Doris Cr. Campground was getting a new memorial bench installed by the USFS. This will be the view from the bench.

Just another day at the office... Helitack training today.

I've been putting these stickers up across Montana w. every gas stop I make. One return trip to a pump had the sticker still up and someone wrote 'Yup!' next to it.

Great Northern Mountain was showing off today during patrol of the reservoir.

More 'office window' views from my work truck. Hellroaring Cascade along the N. Fork road.

I'm working in the North Fork today. The views from my truck's 'office window' cant be beat.

Went to The Fab Four at the Walcholz Theater. All live singing and instruments. No sound tracks or synthesizers. Several costume changes through their decades and lots of audience interaction. A fun Beatles party night!

Pretty ladies all lined up and on display on my commute to work yesterday.

Butte, Montana, is home to what was known as "The richest hill on Earth". Copper was the primary product. Uptown Butte had wealth present in its buildings and things like curb stops made from granite, not concrete. There's still sections left like these sections in this photo.

Happy Earth Day from Montana.

Devils Elbow, S. Fk. Flathead River. Hungry Horse dam will be releasing spring runoff soon and this stretch will be rolling!

It's too early to set up the water fountain, but that didnt stop this Robin from grabbing some muddy sludge for it's nest after catching a drink from the dog bowl.

It was a beautiful day at the Creston Fish Hatchery.

The USFS has really improved public access to the Natutal bridge on the Gallatin/Custer Nat. Forest. I hadn't been there in years. Now there's a picnic arra, walking paths on both sides of the river, and numerous observation decks Really nice job USFS!