Everyday Living

Triple Creek Ranch: A Montana Hideaway (Part Two)

~ Outdoors, Travel

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God”
Psalm 90:2

Monday of this week started as a typical, well…Monday. I head to the office, knowing it will be a busy day. After being away for a few days, it is a given that there will be a lot of “catching up” to do, along with the normal. No problem. Or at least not until I am about 12 miles from home in the late afternoon when I hear a strange thud as I drive along a busy highway. In only seconds, one of my brand new Michelin tires is completely flat! Fortunately I find a parking lot I can pull into.

Fast forward 15 minutes and I’m crawling on asphalt, under my truck’s back bumper on an old ragged towel I found in my tool box. By this point, it’s 90 plus degrees, I’m dirty and soaking wet. Not to mention, the new tire is sliced in the sidewall and only good for burning an old stump–and the EPA won’t allow that anymore!

But something occurred to me under that truck. On the previous Monday, we had been in Montana at Triple Creek Ranch–and on that Monday, Seth and I went on our first cattle drive. It was the real deal–one of those “always wanted to do that” kind of thing for us. The day was picture perfect and the scenery a masterpiece! I allowed those thoughts to linger a minute, and then finished the task at hand. Somehow it seemed to go a little easier!

Working and dealing with life’s “blowouts” are certainly a lot more common for us than celebrating God’s wonderful creation together in the Rocky Mountains. But I am so grateful to have memories like these that play a part of our everyday living.

Yes, I had to buy another expensive tire, but meanwhile, “back at the ranch”…



*

*

Entry to the lodge at Triple Creek Ranch, voted #1 hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine

Alfresco lunch with Allison

Dinner on our last night. Every meal was perfect– so fresh and seasonal!

Seth & Allison in the beautiful home of Craig and Barbara Barrett, the owners of TCR. I recommend reading on the web of their interesting and accomplished lives!

Seth enjoys bow hunting, and now Allison may decide to join him after her archery lesson!



*

Hiked over a mile with a 1000 foot vertical climb on a rugged trail to Baker Lake

 
*

Butch riding “Deuce” and Seth on “Riley”–fulfilled a dream of being cowboys. The cattle drive was the highlight of their trip!


*

*

“I Think I’d Rather Be A Cowboy, I Think I’d Rather Ride the Range…”

“Shoulda Been a Cowboy…”

Triple Creek Ranch has an outstanding collection of western art!
This was a painting in progress at the owners’ home.

We count it a privilege to share our stories, photos, and everyday living with you. Thank you for reading!

“For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine”
Psalm 50:10

closer both

 

Triple Creek Ranch: A Montana Hideaway (Part One)

~ Outdoors, Travel

“America the Beautiful” is an understatement. But how can you completely and adequately describe such a vast and varied land as America in a 3 minute song? A trip we recently made to Montana elevated our senses, once again, to God’s indescribable creation! We experienced “purple mountain majesties” and had daily reminders of why Montana is “Big Sky” country.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”
Psalm 19:1

The Triple Creek Ranch is hidden away in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains near Darby. The Bitterroot River runs nearby through the valley that stretches north and south near the Idaho border. What a privilege for us, as a family, to spend a few days at Triple Creek! The place is breathtaking and the people (the staff that we prefer to call the “ranch family”) make sure you get the most from your visit.

Have you ever said  “that’s something I’ve always wanted to do”? We have probably all made that statement a few times. No doubt those things we dream about doing are different for each of us.  But with so much to do at Triple Creek, chances are you will do something you’ve always wanted!

With so much to see and explore at Triple Creek, we will divide our experience into two blog segments.  We hope you enjoy the journey and invite you to come back for the sequel!

*

Entry to the ranch

The lodge blends seamlessly with its surroundings

Sapphire skies with puffy white clouds form a breathtaking backdrop for the Ponderosa Pines

Rustic elegance in our private log cabin

I made our reservations for Triple Creek in August 2013.  Who knew that they would be named the number one hotel in the world in the July publication of Travel and Leisure Magazine?!

(If anyone needs travel advice just give me a call- haha!)

All of the guests at Triple Creek were invited to the owners’ home for dinner.   We dined at the table in the foreground with a beautiful lake and mountain vista.  Craig and Barbara Barrett were such gracious hosts and they both have intriguing bios!  Craig was CEO of Intel and Barbara was Ambassador to Finland and a trained astronaut.

Love this photo of Seth and Allison taking in the view

Seth has always wanted to be a cowboy!

Inside the beautiful Barrett home

Ready for trail ride on the ranch and the Bitterroot National Forest!

Relieved that “Duke” liked me!

Four hour ATV ride on the 26,000 acre CB Ranch with awesome scenery!

*

While riding, we came across a herd of free roaming bison

Seth and Allison

Allison and I bundled up for the ride!

Seth captured this beautiful photo of the Bitterroot River on our wildlife and photo safari

 
*

Mule deer in velvet

Saw a family of 3 black bears!

The moisture that settled between the mountains made for a beautiful-but not an ordinary- rainbow!

The dining at the ranch was a culinary and visual feast!  Two of the delicious salads I enjoyed;  on the left is a yellow watermelon salad and a haricot vert salad on the right.

My boys enjoying the ranch chili and chips for lunch

The skies are really this blue in Big Sky Country!

The old wagon at the corral

“The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them”
Psalm 104:8

closer both

Praying and Preying

~ Faith, Outdoors

This guy kept hanging around our porch seemingly wanting to be photographed.

 The reason for being named “Praying Mantis” is obvious when you observe one of these large insects. The folded “hands” remind us of what we often visualize when we think of a traditional posture of prayer.

 I’ve known for a long time that the “Praying Mantis” is a fierce and efficient predator. They not only capture and eat about any small creature that ventures too close, but the female will sometimes eat her mate! (I sure hope this practice remains in the insect world and does not become popular among higher life forms!) I’ve seen a lot of these insects through the years, but some thoughts struck me while I attempted to get this one to pose.

When the Mantis is in the “praying” position, it is not “preying”. Being poised to grab lunch, it cannot be the predator until it quickly abandons the praying position. I understand that the “Praying Mantis” can extend those spiny front legs so speedily that our eyes might not detect the movement.These front legs are well equipped to snare and hold a victim. The head will rotate 180 degrees. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 comes to mind. “Pray without ceasing”.

I understand God designed the ‘Praying Mantis” to be a predator. But, He gives clear instructions throughout scripture for humans to act and react otherwise. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, ”Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. These principles go against our nature, and I struggle putting all this into practice. However, I have always found that when I am willing to remain in praying mode, I have no desire or time to be in preying mode. The two cannot coincide.

 Unlike the Mantis, God is telling me that prayer is not designed to ready me for an attack, but He intends prayer to position me to love and forgive. The Mantis does a lot of “preying”– it’s a matter of survival. And I also need to do a lot of “praying”– it’s a matter of survival for me as I journey through my everyday living.

An interesting note: “Mantis” is an ancient Greek term that means “prophet”. I guess the next time I see one I’ll think of it as a praying prophet.