Cherry Festival

Polson, MT
July 20, 2013

That's right...yesterday, down on

right here in downtown Polson, MT was the Flathead Cherry Festival.

It was no surprise to find lots of colorful booths with hand crafted items for sale.

The streets were pleasantly crowded with all ages of folks out enjoying a nice Saturday morning. And a few four legged kids were seen as well.












We saw homemade cherry pies and cherry tarts and displayed lots and lots of will power...no pies today!






We did have a nice visit with the little fellow in the picture below.



As it turns out, he is the youngest of 3 sons in this cherry growing family. Each son was busy with a job...this fellow's job was to offer free samples of their cherries. The cherries were in the bucket and the red bowl was for seeds and stems. He knew the names of the cherries, and said " my dad knows everything else like how much they cost." We bought 5 pounds of mixed cherries!

 As we rounded the corner, we heard the Poppin' John...and saw the sign...Homemade Ice Cream. One scoop each...no willpower at the ice cream stand!










I love watching the people, we love home made ice cream, and it was a  good way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning.

Friday morning we drove a loop which took us by Kerr Dam and out Buffalo Bridge Road and back to Irvine Flats Road where our home is parked.

 Kerr Dam is 5 miles southwest of Polson along the Lower Flathead River. It is 541 feet long by 205 feet high.





Construction on the dam began in 1930,but was stalled for 5 years during the Great Depression. Construction began again in 1936 and was completed in 1938.

The view of boater's stream from the lake.

At the overlook you get a wonderful view of downriver as well as watch a boater's stream coming in from Flathead Lake upriver.

The view downriver.

After visiting the vista point, there is also a drive down to the powerhouse near the bottom of the dam.





It's a great place for a picnic with well kept grounds and a public restroom. There is a boat launch for the lower river...this group was from Flathead Rafting.

The dam is located inside the Flathead Indian Reservation and operated jointly by PPL Montana and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

The drive to the powerhouse was quite pretty...Pam, this picture is for you!





After Kerr Dam, our drive of 50 or so miles gave us views of beautiful farmland...I hope you enjoy some of the sites we saw!

Have a great week!

 Take care...until next time...

The morning after...

Polson, MT
July 17,2013


The morning after a trail ride is always a clean-up Pearl day. So after our walk, coffee, and a little computer time, we were off to the...

I am not a big fan of washing any vehicle although I have done my fair share in summers past when I wasn't working...a job that is (nice thing about teaching). I have even been known to wax a few!

Pearl

These days however, since we do the washing mostly at a car wash, I always manage to take along my camera. A walk about town looking for photo opps is a lot more fun!

 This morning the sound of chimes was an invitation to stroll the alley behind the car wash...so off I went!








The lady hanging out the clothes in the picture below brought back lots of memories of small town living from my much younger days. It was a morning ritual on those warm summer days to line dry the laundry. We knew everyone on our street and as youngsters, we were all within hollering distance. Moms knew the kids, kids knew the moms and it was often  more times than not, a fresh glass of lemonade was offered.




My job was to hold the clothespin bag for my grandma until I got tall enough to do the hanging...

There was an old car parked along the alley...the spider web caught my eye. The sun caught it just right! I don't believe that car has been moved in aloooong time!

The United States acquired vast lands, including present-day Montana, through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Thank goodness for that...Montana sure is pretty!





Roses have never been my favorite flower, but they sure do smell good. The climate here must be perfect for growing them because you see them everywhere.

 The aggregate fruit of the rose is a berry like-structure called a rose hip. The "seeds" are embedded in the hip in fine but stiff hairs. In some species of roses, the hip is very rich in vitamin C and are eaten by fruit-eating birds such as thrushes and finches.







That was pretty much our morning... and what a great one it was!

 We continue to enjoy our aerial show from time to time. I ran in to get the camera when this bi-plane took off...he has been know to do a trick or two...not today.

 And this amphibian aircraft was spotted the other day. It also lands in Flathead Lake from time to time so we are told.










I had to post this billboard sign we have passed several times...for all my puppy loving friends.


Have a great rest of the week...

Until next time...

 

P.S. The annual Flathead Cherry Festival is this week-end on Main Street in Polson...you're invited!