10 months of winter, 2 months of visitors

It's true, it's true! The old Montana jokey adage is true. And how fun is that?


Saddle up your horses and come on out before winter arrives. The chill is sneaking in, mostly when the sun's not looking.

 For more than a decade, Chris and I have been coming out to Montana, and it's always felt a bit like our secret spot, but the cover is blown. And we take our visitors very seriously. Never more so than when they're Mimi and Poppop, who arrived late Saturday.

"Mimi likes her car clean!"

Last time my parents were in Montana in the summer, I was 10 and Sandy was seven, which means my brother was  Stella's age, and I looked like this:

Notice the moose in the background, which some say is more dangerous than a bear. Nice!

In advance of my parent's arrival, the girls swept, cleaned both the guest rooms, and put chocolate on their pillows - the later being a gesture Stella deeply appreciated at the hotel Mimi took her to in Santa Cruz earlier this summer.

Chocolates by Stella.

I have been slightly anxious about my parents' arrival. There's so much to do in San Francisco, but what's entertaining in Montana for sophisticates like my parents? We're completely taken with climbing around in the mountains, wading through streams, checking out bugs, you know the drill. But would Mimi and Poppop like it? I felt insecure.

Turns out there was nothing to worry about.

I will savor this photo - and memory - forever.

Our first expedition with them involved a short hike to a meadow at Swan Creek. Little brown trout abounded, and performed perfectly, chomping on Chris' every cast.

Upon our return from Swan Creek, I learned that not only had I fretted needlessly about my parents enjoying Montana, but that, in fact, they know more people here than we do and have all kinds of plans in store for us.

Monday found us piled up in my car, following the talking GPS voice on Mimi's iphone to Vicki and Ken's house on Strawberry Creek in Paradise Valley. Vicki and Ken live in DC, summer out here, and are some of the nicest, most gracious people you could ever meet. Not to mention adventurous and fun.

While Stella and Zoey panned for exotic shiny rocks that just 'happened to fall into the creek during the rainstorm,' (Vicki and Ken are grandparents and know how to delight little people,) we lunched on a crazy delicious capery chicken salad made by Vicki and rivaled only by the stunning view of the valley from their porch.

Vicki and Ken's house

Never seen rocks like that in the river before!

First mining, then dining.

A glimpse of the view.

Part of the ranch.

Next, they took us on a little expedition to their hunting cabin, where we drank icy water fresh from their spring, munched on huckleberries, and enjoyed a bumpy ride in this funky vehicle called a Mule.

View of the Yellowstone River

Mimi, poppop, and the mule.

Stella directing Ken as we bumped along.

Huckleberries!

Contemplating the pioneer days

The old quarters for the ranch hands.

After prying ourselves away from Ken, Vicki and their spectacular and welcoming home, we cruised down the road to Pops for onion rings and fries. Oh, and cotton candy ice cream.