Sunday, November 9, 2008

Welcome to Montana!

I would like to welcome everyone to Montana! I can't express how excited I am to be hosting everyone from BATW!! It's a very exciting day for me. Well, lets get on with the tour! Montana is a very big state and it can take awhile to get through it =)

The first thing that people usually think of when they hear Montana is the mountains. And yes, we have many mountains and they are beautiful.

These photos were taken from my front door! WOW I know =)




Montana has lots of wildlife ranging from Buffalo, to deer, to Elk, bears and Moose. We love it here, there is always something to see! The photo below is of a buck that was in our hay field last year. We also have a young black bear that lives down there. He is very quiet, sometimes coming up the driveway to sit by my grandparents front gate, and sometimes he'll take a dump there, just so we know he's been there LOL. I think it's funny, but it's not my gate! I would hate to have to clean it up!

The buffalo are owned by a neighbor that lives down the road from us. These are not your normal wild buffalo. They are a little more tame than that. They live in a smooth wire fence and people walk out there to move the sprinklers around. BUT the buffalo enjoy walking right through the aluminum water sprinklers causing thousands of dollars worth of damage every summer. (You can see the sprinklers, or wheel lines in the background. The buffalo can either jump these or walk right through them.) Silly guys!


The moose photo was taken up in a mountain town, he was ambling through some people's back yard.

I know pretty gorgeous right!? Well the second thing that people think when they hear Montana is Cowboys and Indians. Yes, we have both of these and there are many! And yes, we still have our mail brought to us by the "Pony Express". Talk about snail mail!

Every once in a while, on my way to town, I'll get ambushed by Indians- arrows pinging off my windshield! Just kidding... of course! We don't drive cars! We drive horse and buggy. You sillies!!


Then there are things that are not well known about Montana. We have wonderful old towns to visit. They are based on mining towns that were founded back in the 1800's and so much fun to visit. One is called Virginia City and one is Nevada City. Ennis is also a really fun town to visit, mostly on the 4th of July! Boy can they through a party down there!! Talk about old west.

We also have Glacier National Park, which I have heard is absolutely gorgeous. I haven't made it there yet, but I will!! The other is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is a very beautiful place to go. It spans three states, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. There is just a little touch of it in Montana, but it is a draw for our state none the less!

Yellowstone has elk, in very large numbers, bison, and bears just wandering around. Most days you will have to stop and wait for buffalo to clear the road so you can drive! There is a town just south of Paradise Valley that has elk that live right in town. You can drive around and see them laying in people's yards. Crazy!

And it seems that every year someone isn't smart and tries to get the 'perfect picture' to take home of one of these wild animals. Both elk and bison are unpredictable and you don't want to be walking around with them. It's best to stay in your vehicle.

One year an Asian man wanted to take a picture of his wife with a buffalo. But the buffalo was laying down. So... he walked up to it and tried to get it stand up. The buffalo didn't want to stand up, so the man started to kick it trying to get it up... It got up alright! And proceeded to make hamburger out of the man. He lived, but was in quite a lot of pain for a very long time. I won't type, what we in Montana, call these type of people =)

Montana has beautiful mountains that surround gorgeous green valleys and we also have huge expanses of NOTHING or otherwise known as flat land, grassland, or prarie land. For mile upon mile upon mile upon mile upon mile (I'm sure you get the picture!) all you see is tall waving grasses and farm land. It's pretty in it's own way, but being raised in Bozeman, MT, I'll always be a mountain girl.

We also have some culture here. We have coffee shops and frappes (both which are very important to me), we have great book stores and clothing stores and lots of Made in Montana stores. Those are my favorite because they carry the hand made stuff, lotion, soap, clothes, journals, ect.

Montanans are a proud people and many proudly drive around with a 'Native Montana' bumper sticker on their car... just in case the rusty bumper hanging by bailing twine might confuse someone! (I'm a firm believer that bailing twine and duct tape can fix or build anything! I've made fences out of the stuff!!)

I hope you enjoyed my tour! Come back soon, you never know what we are up to around here, but I can pretty much guarantee you that it will be funny! Here's an example of a day in the life of Ladybug Farm... The Good Luck Chuck Girl.

Ya'll Come Back Now Ya Hear!!

80 comments:

Debbie said...

I loved every word! Those pictures are breathtaking and your story-telling provided me many chuckles! Thank you so much for doing this...You did a wonderful job!

Carla said...

I'm impressed. I really do feel that I've gone back to Montana just by looking at those amazing pictures and your wonderful words.

I sure do feel welcomed. :)

Jodi said...

I came from BATW. I agree Montana is a very beautiful state. I have many relatives that live there so I've visited plenty of times. Love it!

Me (aka Danielle) said...

Coming at you from BATW! I flew rode in from my home state of Utah.

The views out your front door are Amazing. And although, I don't live that far away, I learned quite a bit. Thanks for the tour!

Trish said...

Beautiful, simply beautiful!!


Thanks for the tour.

Enjoy your BATW day!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you live in one gorgeous spot. I've always wanted to go to Montana. Nothing like the mountains....

Sue said...

Oh my! Absolutely beautiful -- says another BATW friend.

My kids were oooing over your cute little pup too!

Julie said...

I cannot believe how beautiful it is going out your front door...wow, can you ever get tired of looking at those mountains? So beautiful!

Thanks for sharing and I cannot believe someone would be dumb enough to kick an animal lying down and expect it to pose for a picture...oh my...

Betty said...

What a view!! And from the front door. You are so blessed! I would love to visit there sometime. You made it so inviting.
I loved the tour and have become your follower. Can´t wait to see more.
Happy BATW day!

Anonymous said...

Very funny post! I enjoyed my tour of Montana. And yes - wow is all I can say about those wonderful shots from your back door.

I live in Sweden and elk and deer are a very common sight here too. And in the north, you can meet whole herds of reindeer too!

Unknown said...

+visiting via BATW
loved your writing and what an amazing spot to live!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

You are so lucky to have such a beautiful view from your front door!

Thank you so much for this beautiful tour!

Nonnas News said...

Those pictures are just breathtaking!! I'm here from Texas and BATW. Congrats on being featured today!!

Stacey Cannon said...

Thank you so much for your wonderful tour! Those pictures are absolutely breathtaking! What a gorgeous view you have from your front door!!! Wow is all I can say.

Bramblemoon Farm said...

BEAUTIFUL! Thanks so much for sharing the lovely pictures and fun information. Great tour! I have some words for the buffalo kicking guy but I can't write them here. Jerk.

Melissa Lester said...

All I can say is wow! What beautiful views you have out your front door. Thanks for telling us about your beautiful state. I'm glad no buffalo were kicked in the writing of this blog post. Ouch!

Kori said...

Oh how awesome. Thanks for tour. Montana is beautiful.

Our Two Blessings From Above said...

Montana looks beautiful. I have always wanted to visit. Thanks for the wonderful tour.

Lula! said...

Simply breathtaking...oh my stars, I definitely need to get to Montana. And soon.

Lula! said...

Simply breathtaking...oh my stars, I definitely need to get to Montana. And soon.

Desi said...

Holy heck! I love the view! It's gorgeous.

I adore mountains. Pretty big difference from Florida. Lucky you!!!!!!

Thank you for the tour!

Amy Kay said...

That scenery is amazing out your front door. I am so jealous. The leaves don't change like that here in South Georgia, and I miss that from living in Utah. I've been through Montana on the way to visit family in canada, very beautiful.
I'm visiting from BATW, and Georgia. Congrats on the spotlight, and thanks for the tour
Hugs, Amy ;)

Ronnica said...

I think bison are cool.

Lauren W said...

what a lovely tour, and such gorgeous pictures!

Toots said...

Thanks for the tour! And man am I tired Montana is huge! What an amazing view you have from your front door! Amazing!!

Unknown said...

Montana is a GORGEOUS state... one of my all time favorites.

My sophomore roommate was from Havre, MT, and I want to say some girls on my floor were from Bozeman, but I might be making that up.

Thanks for sharing!!!

MsTypo said...

Those photos are amazing!! I'm entirely jealous of your view!!

Congrats on your BAtW day!! :)

Wendy said...

Hope you're having lots of fun on your BATW day. Loved your post -- and the pictures are stunning. I'm just over in Utah, so I get the beauty of the mountains too.

The West is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your little corner of the world.

Caution/Lisa said...

With that view, how do you ever get any work done??

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

Wow, what beautiful pictures!

Thank you for sharing with us!

Elena said...

So beautiful. I'm from Idaho so I've been to Montana before and it is gorgeous. Loved the wildlife shots. And the view from your front door is stunning.

Tamie said...

happy BATW day to you! (alsmot better than a birthday---i did say "almost"...)
i'm not too sure that i've been to montana before...and i've been plenty to wyoming (seeing as it is only a few hours north of me here in colorful colorado)
i have absolutely no doubts about the beauty of your state with all that land for wildlife...lucky you!
thanks for sharing and touring...it was fabulous!

Marla said...

thanks for the tour... and amazing photos... someday i need to get to Mondtana...

Unknown said...

That was a FUN tour! Your front door view is GORGEOUS!

It was fun to meet you today - and thank you for joining in my book giveaway. :)

Have a blessed and peaceful day.
Lynnette

Mindy said...

Thank you all for your wonderful comments! I must say that for me this day is DEFINITELY better than my birthday! Today I am not officially old AND I get to hear from everyone! I'm so happy that ya'll had such a nice time here in Montana. It is a big wonderful state!

Amy said...

Visiting via BATW! I love the pictures those are awesome! And to look out your door and see that is amazing. Have a great day getting some comment luvin :D

Judi said...

I am so jealous!!
I miss Montana so much...

I Love Purple More Than You said...

Yay Mindy! Congratulations on being featured!!! All I can say is... WOW. Those photos are amazing. My dad loves to go to Montana for photography expeditions and he has always said it is the one place he'd love to retire to.

I can't believe that is the view outside your front door!!! Awesome!

Susie said...

Greetings from Wisconsin:-) Congratulations on your BATW feature:-) I hope you are enjoying your day in the sun:-) I really enjoyed your tour of Montana:-) Thanks for sharing that:-)

Denyse said...

The view out your front door is just not even fair! Thanks for sharing your beautiful state with us.

Shell said...

Happy BATW day. The views outside your home is breathtaking. Thank you for the lovely tour

Star Forbis said...

Beautiful Country! Great pic.'s!
It's so nice to meet you.
Have a great day.

kristin maynes said...

I would love to see all that through my front door. What a Life!

Montana is more amazing than I ever thought.

Nik said...

Those pictures are STUNNING!

Thanks for the amazing tour!

The Hultman's said...

It's beautiful! I grew up seeing fall colors but now living in Central Texas, I am missing out. Thanks for giving me a touch of color!

PS. I spent a week in West Yellowstone and had to drive through all of Montana to get there from WA. It was the most beautiful surroundings I have ever seen.

CaraBee said...

I have always wanted to visit Montana. The architectural firm I worked for designed a renovation to a museum in Bozeman (Museum of the Rockies) and I kept hoping they would send me out there but alas, no. Maybe someday.

Thanks for the tour!

Anonymous said...

I swear, sometimes people just make you scratch your head ... that guy was CRAZY!!

Loved the tour - thanks!

Jennie said...

what a great tour you gave... visiting from BATW and wanted to say HI and congrats... I lived in Wyoming for a while and I loved it up there.... life was just a little more realxed around there and the scenery was to die for... off to go look around a little more...

Becky W said...

WOW!! You have such a lovely home and what words!! I would love to come and visit! Enjoy your BATW day!

Darcy @ m3b said...

Montana is on my bucket list!

I can't believe you took those photos from your door. Gracious girl, it must be awesome to live somewhere sooo beautiful!

it almost makes up for 6 months of snow. We get that here in Iowa, too.

Thanks for the tour!

cathy said...

I found you through BATW too. I'm in Jackson Hole in your neighboring state of Wyoming.

What beautiful pictures (your views are amazing!) and great descriptions of Montana! Hope to visit your part of the world IRL soon, but for now, I'm happy to have found your blog!

Vanessa Rogers said...

I went to Montana this past summer. It was wonderful and so beautiful! I was visiting some cousins and then we went to Glacier National Park. I have some pictures posted up as well. http://vanessayrogers.blogspot.com/2008/08/roadtrip-highlights-montana.html

Amy said...

I loved all your pictures. It definitely made me want to visit. Maybe I'll get the chance someday. Thanks!

Laural Out Loud said...

What gorgeous pictures! I wouldn't mind waking up to any of those views every morning. It must be gorgeous in the winter time, too. Thanks for a great tour!

Fifty K said...

Those pictures are wonderful. Here from BATW.

Frizzy said...

Montana Montana where skies are always blue. M. O. N. T. A. N. A Montana we love you! In case the song above didn't give it away, I'm a fellow Montanan. However, I no longer live there and haven't for some time. Most of my family lives in Sidney, Billings or Glendive MT on the Eastern side of the state. I have lived in Helena, Butte and Sidney. Thanks for the tour. Hope you're staying warm up there!

Anonymous said...

Visiting from BATW~
Those moutains are amazing to look at and I'd love all the animals wandering around. Makes me want to take a vaca in Montana!!
Thanks for the tour!!!!

Anonymous said...

the pictures are amazing!!! I have always wanted to go montana! and your blog design is super cute!!

David Edward said...

what a great post and tour of your beautiful state, I SO WANT to be there

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the very entertaining tour. It totally confirmed everything I'd heard about how beautiful Montana is.

Melissa B. said...

I've been to your beautiful state before, and know what a gem you've got going there! Love the snaps, and the words that go with them. Love BATW and Debbie, too, Don't You?

Aunt Julie said...

WOW! These photos are spectacular! I can only imagine what your beautiful state looks like in person! Montana has always been on my "To Visit" list. Think I need to move it up a few spaces! Thanks for sharing your love for Big Sky Country with your fellow BATW travelers!

LuLu said...

Just beautiful. Your view is amazing! Your description sounded dreamy, thanks for the adventure!

Jen said...

Beautiful pictures, great tour of your home town state.

Melanie Sheridan said...

I always think getting to look at the ocean every day is a privilege but those mountain views are stunning!

Just Lisa said...

What a gorgeous tour! Love the photos! Hope the Indians don't attack the next time you need to take the buggy into town!

Michelle said...

Oh what GORGEOUS views you have. Of course it also looks like those are some cold views, but they're beautiful!

And I've been to Glacier and can vouch for its coolness factor. Definitely a place to visit!

Rebecca said...

That is so amazing to have that kind of wildlife so close to you! Thanks for the tour.

jori-o said...

Thanks for the tour! Your pics are beautiful--I love the colors on the trees!

Karin said...

Look way up north! I'm waving at you from Edmonton, Alberta. We've visited in Montana a lot! I loved your travelogue! We've truly enjoyed your national parks. I fondly remember the Going to the Sun Highway! Fantastic. Congrats on being featured on BATW today!

C. JoyBell C. said...

Oh my gosh! Look at all those beauuuutiful mountains! :)

Cheffie-Mom said...

Hi, I'm Debbie. This is my first time to your blog. The pictures are beautiful. I'm in East Texas. I would love for you to stop by my blog. Have a super day!

Mindy said...

Thanks so much girlies for all the comment LOVIN!! I LOVE it! I really enjoyed having all of over yesterday and thank you for keeping the place so neat =)

"The Queen in Residence" said...

I am a day late but wanted to come over and visit Montana. What an amazing place.

Leslie said...

I've always wanted to come for a visit. Thanks for the beautiful tour of your state. The pictures are lovely! Great post~

Paula said...

One thing I know you have in Montana is a wonderful hospital in Kalispel....my dh and I were visiting there in 2004 when I slipped and broke my leg in four places...they patched me up and sent me home....Thanks Kalispel

Becky Garrison said...

I'm a day late, but I just had to tell you I LOVE MONTANA! It's such a gorgeous place! We visited there in 1990, and fell in love with the area. Blessings, Becky G.

Lady Dorothy said...

Gorgeous pictures and a fun tour!

(I know I'm late to this party...)

Anonymous said...

I am visiting from Texas via BATW..and fear I'm a day late for the big visit. However, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your photos and stories. You're a great writer..bringing quite a lot of smiles to me..thank you. :)
lacenribbonroses.blogspot.com
sueskitchen.blogspot.com

Aubrey said...

I'm here (late) from BATW! Great tour. I have always wanted to visit your lovely state! The pictures were amazing!

Thanks!