Sep 1 2007, CROWN BUTTE FIRE

After a long, hot Summer and a lightening strike, it was sad to hear about Crown Butte burn over Labor Day weekend. But with old brush cleared, the grass will come back even greener in the Spring. I'll be back....

September 23, 2007 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, FL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, St. Louis Rams 3.

The Fall in Idaho is hard to beat---still warm bright days, finally cooling down in the evening. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be summoned to Tampa, FL for a business meeting in September during hurricane season. I had been to Tampa once before in Nov. 1997, to visit my cousin and husband who were stationed in the area with the Air Force, and for excitement we went to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New England Patriots NFL football game. That had been my first and only NFL game, and I had no previous interest in the Buccaneers---they were always the team that no one liked with the terrible Orange uniforms and mascot. But 1997 was a new year for the Buccs, new team colors, and a an exciting team that could win games—I watched the Buccs overwhelm the Patriots (QB was Drew Bledsoe at that time), and became a fan of the Buccs ever since. So if I have to go to Tampa, why not make the best and take in the Buccaneers too. Now in 2007, the Buccs played at the new Raymond James Stadium—an architectural marvel compared to the old Sombrero stadium. I like the Buccs because they have a fun, supportive fan base; they were a team that was so bad for so long that any win or game just feels like an opportunity. If you can’t be a Pirate, well then might as well be a Buccaneer Fan.

June 20, 2007 MT SKYSCRAPER Crown Butte Preserve

As a kid growing up in North-Central Montana, many times I would ponder the many "buttes" scattered around the eastern Rocky Mountain Front, rising up from the prairie. Square Butte, Round Butte, Tiger Butte, Haystack Butte---and then there is Crown Butte. Most of the buttes are on private property withouth much access. Crown Butte is part of a Nature Conservancy preserve, so access to the top is available. To see from a distance is one thing, finding the road and trail to get there is another. Not much for signs, or directions, Crown Butte is easy to see, but the trail head can be a challenge to find the first time. Of course it didn't help that I went to wrong small town on the way there (needed to go to Simms instead of Vaughn).

Find out more about central MT laccoliths at:
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/montana/preserves/art343.html