Thursday, August 24
Reggie, Roger, and I go into Big Timber with a collection of dirty laundry.
I load up the machines and then the crew and I set out for a walk around the neighborhood.
Come along with us!
“Be on your best behavior, you two. You can pretend not to hear me, but I know you do.”
I’m soon enchanted by the lovely homes.
This one has a rocking-chair porch.
Someone has put a lot of love and care into their home.
The dormer windows on this stone house are a pleasing accent. Also the little, white chair by the steps.
Porch chairs create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. . . a place for quiet conversation.
We pass a creation-in-progress, including a water feature (at left below).
“Uh-oh. Kitty has been remodeling without a permit.”
I wonder what it would be like to be a photographer for an architecture magazine. Houses are fun to photograph.
These porch chairs represent a different style and personality than the ones in the previous photos.
Another kind of home . . .
We double-back past the laundromat.
This handmade quilt is displayed in front of the shop next door.
A large mural covers a concrete wall on the other side of the street.
Those sheep remind me of our Pagari Bridge camp in Idaho . . .
Reggie and Roger pause to investigate a bed of flowers.
Roger goes in for a sniff.
“We’d better head back to the laundry. It’s probably time to load the dryers.”
Reg and Rog are not happy about waiting in the PTV!
Friday, August 25
We wake to a pink sunrise across the Yellowstone.
“What happy pups! You haven’t even had breakfast and you’re playing again!”
Well, the day has come to leave this camp. The days flew by. I wonder where we will be at sunset.
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Our front yard at Pelican Fishing Access Site, Big Timber, Montana
THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO AMAZON NOW!
First?
Hi Sue!
Sue, beautiful settings for porch side viewing at the gentler view of Life in the country. Sweet.
2nd, lol?
I think I AM first. That is the third time this year. I am such a lucky duck. 😀 As I leave this post, we are on a camping trip at our favorite campground/state park in Arkansas, where we live. We went hiking this morning. My dog Dex and I soaked up all Mother Nature had to share with us. It felt SO good!!!
LOVED all the flowers and the quilt. (I am a quilter) Thanks for sharing your laundry day. You turned a mundane chore into a bit of fun!
🙂
What a lovely town! I love the old houses with the accent painting. There are several in my town. Pretty to look at, but I could not do the work any more! That little trailer looks like the kind with a kitchen behind the door on the back. You have certainly found some beautiful camps lately!
Love your blog. I get to live vicariously across the west with each post. Safe travels to Sue & the crew!
Beautiful homes and a gorgeous quilt, a feast for the eyes. That was a very special campsite you had. I hope there are some equally nice ones on your horizon.
Not first not even tryin! 🙂
I love the architecture in small towns… Fewer people trying to ‘one up’ the next new house or development. We find tons of treasures here wandering around looking for yard and estate sales 🙂 Yesterday we wandered into a neighborhood with bungalows and craftsmans and lovely mid-century moderns all on the same block…It is amazing to me the diversity.
One of the local ministers has chosen to call our county ‘The Appalachia of the Pacific Northwest”. She works with the homeless and downtrodden, and I guess that ‘sounds good’ for a news piece. It makes me angry, because A) Appalachia is a real place with its own history and soul. B) We have our unique issues, but honestly they are no different from any other community hit by ‘stuff’ (businesses shut down, storms, aging systems…). We are just a microcosm of big town issues. I think it is sad that someone who proclaims to be in that ‘business’ can be that shallow… UGH. Off the soap box (sorry!).
Please stay safe! Many places are dealing with such horrid fires. Our heat index over here on the WA coast is high and the danger is vast.
Hugs to you and the pups!
Barb
Top 10 ??? And I read it first! Love the homes with rocking chair porches and all the beautiful flowers!
Oh thank you! I loved seeing the town. I think you are like me, I am never bored, too many lovely interesting things to see.
The blue house really struck a chord with me. I have a 23 foot long porch for sitting, I have white wicker seats and a porch swing, my son calls our porch his happy place. Lots of good conversations between adults, kids can play in the shade, good snacks, iced tea, flowers… but..right now with our ridiculous heat wave and smoke from forest fires not so much.
Did you notice the rock house was a craftsman? Even their outdoor chairs were of,the same style…loved it!
Thanks to you we are seeing this beautiful country…ahhh. Can’t wait for ‘our’ next adventure.
What a lovely walk through that little town. It’s so nice to see how folks are taking pride in their homes there. I can’t wait to see where you will lead us next.
I, too, love taking pictures of houses – particularly love Victorian but Craftsman and anything else a little unusual. And there are great examples in many of the small towns I’ve visited. But so many of the towns are “almost ghost” towns with their historic districts, a few antique stores and not much else going on. (Alan Jackson’s song ‘ The Little Man’) It’s so sad.
Enjoyed walking with you!
Roger is so cute, smelling the flowers. I had a couple of dogs once who when I took them huckleberry hunting in the mountains, they would eat the huckleberries while I was on the other side of the trail gathering them. Dogs are the funniest and fun-est creatures alive!
Love the pics of the BT homes. That is a remarkably clean little town.
Great pictures of the houses. I think you are an architectural photographer. Glad Reggie and Roger enjoyed the walk and flowers. Hope your next camp is as nice as this one.
In Tucson for the final warranty work on the RV. Can’t wait to get going again.
Love the shot of them playing in the pink morning light.
I love looking at old homes, no two are alike. We went to Fairmont Nebraska for the eclipse. we arrived a couple days early and spent much of the time walking around town, looking at all the old homes, visiting with the locals and getting to know and appreciate the little town. Everyone there was so friendly and truly seem to enjoy the life. Sunday night they had astronomers with scopes looking at the planets at two locations in town. They had their own welcome wagon ( a tractor and fancy hay rack with tables and chairs) to bring you between the two viewing areas and bathroom stops. Oh and of course stops at the VFW for refills on refreshments (the only place in town for beer). On the wagon we learned much about the town, where everyone worked and how the town functioned since the only cop quit the week before, we even sang a few song.s It seemed the volunteer fire department was looking after everyone. they provided food at the park, crossing guards on the highway though town and manned the ambulance that we did see in action.
We left there wanting to go back and visit again. I would like to stop at more small towns in our travels in the future. we really enjoyed visiting. If you google Eclipse Fairmont Nebraska you can see drone video of the town, even a couple shots of our RV from a couple hundred feet up.
What a cute place. So many fires now . Have you fled Montana ?
🙂 Stay tuned!
This house made me think of one of my childhood homes. When we would have a power outage the neighbors would gather on our front porch to eat the ice cream before it melted.
Loved the photos of this town!! Gorgeous old homes and obviously well loved and even gorgeous flowers!! Thanks for the quilt photo too…always interested in such.
Cute homes…seems like everyone takes pride!
The kitty who remodeled without a permit was hilarious!
Flowers were beautiful!
An uneventful trip to the laundromat! Remember back in the day when going to the laundromat was an “adventure”….or the time you ran into Ilse?
Hope your weekend remains quiet and peaceful.
Thanks for taking us along with you on your walk through that neighborhood, Sue, I enjoyed it 🙂 . I especially liked the comfortable and quaint look and feel of everything that was placed on the stone house’s porch. I’ve had homes that were similar to each one you photographed, it was fun remembering what that was like and special times in each one. Of course, I also remember the work, responsibility and expense involved. Today I’m grateful that my life is simpler, easier and more carefree. The scene I found most appealing was the beautiful one you had outside your door at Pelican, with only sunrise and your playful pups to greet you in the morning.
What a nice little town. Perfect for a summer stroll. Beautiful sunrise on the river. Good thing the PTV doesn’t have a screen window, looks like Reggie and Roger would have tried to do a little remodeling on their own, too. You actually have a couple of very well behaved pups. Must be the love and training.
Have a wonderful Labor Day, everyone. Keep praying for those in Texas, their work is just beginning.
What a beautiful little town! Thanks for sharing it with us.
We could really use some help from you and our blogorinos. Just left Yellowstone N.P. Our plans are to go to Glacier, then Canadian Rockies. We’ve had little news on the fires, as we’ve been camping in our little Casita. Any advice greatly appreciated. Headed to Bozeman now. Love the small town pics; seems like such a nice lifestyle! All be well!
Hi, Judy,
I’m out of touch with the fire situation myself.
HELP WANTED: Any suggestions/tips/cautions for a trip to Glacier NP and Canadian Rockies in the coming weeks?
Yesterday was a particularly polluted day. I just came in from sweeping ash off all my outdoor furniture and every horizontal surface around the outside of the house. To think we were breathing the ash particulates yesterday!
I live miles from the horrible wildfires which are causing all this smoke.
Check out the air quality report in this NOAA web site
http://www.weather.gov/byz/
Check out the forest fires in the state at this web site
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/27/#
Unfortunately, Montana is burning. Most particularly where you want to go. People are amending their plans to visit Glacier this year because of the fires in the region and most of all the smoke pollution. Some roads in the park are closed because of the need to limit traffic for fire and other emergency vehicles. Last week Glacier National Park lost a magnificent old structure to fire, although many fire fighters fought valiantly to save it. You can always call the park and find out what they have to say.
Don’t want to alarm blogorinos coming this way, but these are the facts.
http://disasterresponse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=4ae7c683b9574856a3d3b7f75162b3f4
If we have a wet winter, things will be much better next year. Promise!
Blogorinos never fail! We’re staying in Helena, Mt. area in a national forest for now. We’ll keep watching the updates and either go up east side of Glacier or skirt around it to get to Canadian Rockies. We’re from S.C. and this is our only chance. We don’t want to endanger others (or ourselves) so will be cautious. Thanks so much for good sites and help!
Go up through Sunburst. You can go west from there Sunburst Montana.
I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the homes, as you took your walk. I love porches!
Ginger D. Las Vegas
Hi gang! I’m just back from spending 11 days at the Silver Bay resort on beautiful Lake George in Adirondack Park. It was lovely but starting to get chilly. I’m going to be in NY a few more days then starting the long trek home. Sad to leave all my friends. I’m wondering about moving back here but I so love the weather in AZ. What to do, what to do.
I love all these beautiful pics of Montana. Makes me want to do some travel and exploring there.
I have been sleeping/living in my car all summer and it has been fine, but I occasionally think about a teardrop.
Sorry I have been absent, I have just been so busy. Hugs to all!
Good grief woman……..
Glad you’re finally checking in.
Drive safe on your way home……glad to hear the car camping is going well!
Hugs to Chloe!
Missy, many of your pictures make me wonder why I live in the desert, then I remember that word (Shhhhhh SNOW). You and your boys truly have best of both worlds. Cheers!
I live in Prescott, Az and have a 2007 17 ft Spirit. I am wondering if you have a generator to help keep your battery charged when you are dispersed camping. I use my solar panel when I have lots of sun, otherwise keeping the battery charged after three days becomes a problem..
Hi, Lynda,
No, I’ve never owned a generator. My solar system is connected to the PTV which charges my batteries in addition to solar power. (See info accessed from the header.)
Sorry Sue. My man friend and I are confused. We do not understand what system you have. You have a solar system connected to your tow vehicle. Do you have to keep your vehicle plugged into the camper while you are parked? What happens when you want to drive away and explore. How do you keep batteries charged for a week or more? LYnda
I plug in the tow vehicle to the camper when parked. When I go somewhere, I unplug and then the batteries receive charge from the solar panel and from the tow vehicle. All four of my batteries are connected: the starter battery in the PTV, the two storage batteries in the back of the PTV, and the house battery.
With this system my storage batteries in the PTV are charged by solar and by the engine. When I return to camp and plug in the PTV to the BLT, the charge equalizes between all batteries.
I have to go offline now. If a blogorino would like to explain my system further to Lynda, please do so. Thanks.
My man friend and I are confused about how your system works. I cannot use some of the same words I used before or my message will not go through. Just know we do not get it. Hope you can explain further. Lynda
Lynda,
It is difficult for me to give a full reply and explanation right now as my 12 volt system isn’t working (may be my converter needs replacement or there’s a bad fuse somewhere.) I’d likely lose charge in the middle of writing…
If you haven’t already read the questions and answers below “Solar Panel” accessed through Solar Power in the header, please do so as they may explain better than I could.
Hmm not sure where my post went….
You didn’t indicate what system YOU have in re to its capabilities…perhaps you are using more than your system can generate.
RVSues solar info is on the top right heading.
Thank you Sue. We clicked on the solar info. you provide and learned a lot. I am on my way to having a charged battery. One question. Do you have one 100 watt or two 100watt pannel on top of the PTV?
You’re welcome, Lynda. If you are so inclined, you might read my posts and look at the photos from the time when I had everything installed, starting with “Solar project moves forward.” Readers’ questions and the answers given under each post may be helpful also.
I have one 200 watt panel mounted on the roof of the PTV. All the specs are listed under Solar Panel, drop down menu under Solar Power in header.
Big Timber is such a beautiful little town. Don’t have the energy to do all that work any more, but sure wouldn’t mind living there with a landscaper to do the work. I loved all the flowers. I don’t like the snow and cold weather much, but being retires, you don’t have to go out in it.
Being a quilter, I loved the one hanging at the shop. Guess it was a quilt store? Of course the pups are priceless. Those two rarely seem to run out of energy.
Hope you are having a nice holiday. Oh, everyday is a holiday! Ha!
It’s such a cute little town and you got great pics of the quaint homes. I bet the boys were curious about sidewalks :-)))