You may be wondering–she is writing posts in November and December about trips she took last May and June! What’s up??
Well, after a six-week stay and quite a bit of quality-of-life considerations, I decided to move back to Montana. The move happened the end of September 2025. Now trying to catch up writing about great trips to Utah and western Colorado, but first I needed time for reflecting on the past six years in Colorado Springs. Now beginning to meet folks here, see where I can volunteer or help out, and today dealing with more normal weather (snow). The weather for the last week has been crazy unusual. I think the East Coast got our weather as we “enjoyed” nearly 70 degrees–in February!
So, to where exactly did I move? Glad you asked. A community nearly dead center north/south/east/west in Montana. A town of about 6,200 people and the county seat of Fergus County: Lewistown.
Fergus County is the 8th largest of Montana’s 56 counties. Yes, Montana is a very large state. It ranks fourth by square miles after Alaska, Texas, and California. The western 1/3 of Montana is Rocky Mountain country. Gorgeous as you know from blog posts written during my seven-year stay in Bozeman. That means 2/3 of the state is prairie land. Don’t be fooled, prairies are not necessarily flat. Montana prairies includes badlands, many rivers and creeks, small isolated mountain ranges, canyons, rolling hills, as well as farmlands.
Welcome to Lewistown! The Judith Mountains sit east of town. Judith Peak, the range’s highest point, is 6,248 feet and yes, we will visit come spring. Downtown’s elevation is about 4,000 feet. Ah, I love these kind of traffic jams.
So, where do I live? A short distance from downtown in a rental house on the back of 11 acres that was once part of a large farm. The outbuildings were storage for equipment and crops. The farmland is still being farmed, but these 11 acres are a sweet oasis of creeks, aspens, cottonwoods, pines, and Englemann Spruce. There’s even a pond!
My new home is a short drive from the main road and Wolverine Creek flows nearby (arrows). No, wolverines do not live in the prairies. Why is it called Wolverine Creek? If you figure it out, be sure to let me know.
Wolverine Creek is a major tributary of the Judith River which is a major tributary of the Missouri River. The Missouri is the longest river in the USA, flowing 2,341 miles before joining the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri. Oh do we have trips coming up to explore five National Wildlife Refuges, Missouri Breaks National Monument, and more along the Missouri River.
There is a large picture window in the living room looking northwest. As the sun rises in the east, the clouds and sky to the west light up! This day the whole backyard turned pink.
The sunsets are vast swaths of beauty!
Then one morning I got up my usual 5am and it was so bright in the living room. The setting MOON casting shadows. I’ve never seen a moon so bright!
It may be lazy to snap pictures through the picture window, then again, what a view!!
Today is February 9, temps are fluctuating slightly above and below freezing, and it has been snowing since last night. Five days ago it was 60 degrees, then it was 68 for three days, then 50 degrees. Today snow. Need I say it? This is not normal!! But there’s good news–the ground and pavement are warm so snow is melting rather than just collecting.
Today’s picture-window shot demanded I get outside and do it right!
Snow may create a hassle for getting around and shovels are required, but walking around the yard just takes warm boots and my hooded winter coat. Let’s go!
Picture window where lovely pics are a click away.
Wolverine Creek heading north–yes, north. Those low trees above the fence at right are home to pheasants that visit my backyard on sunnier days. I’m not the only one looking through the picture window this October day.
The ladies certainly blend into the background.
The side yard’s weeping birch tree.
Walking down the driveway, the cottonwoods are looking splendid. What a winter wonderland today.
Tomorrow we should have more “normal” temps–is there such a thing anymore? OK, typical winter daytime temps are mid-30s to low-40s with nighttime lows upper teens to mid-20s. Should have 10 days of normal and then we’ll see.
So welcome back to Montana! We have so much to see in the eastern plains called prairies. They will be first-time visits for me too. Stay warm and Happy New Year!
Until next time my friend . . .
