Even though I took these photos right outside my backdoor, the place that taught me to appreciate taking time to watch the overheads change was Stephensville, Montana. I lived in Stephensville for a few months at a time over the course of a few years. I pulled pond weeds, painted fence, rode horses, jumped naked into mountain lakes, planted gardens, deer watched, ate range fed beef, and just in general spent a lot of great time with the earth. Let me say, there is a reason Montana is called Big Sky country. The world seems wider there, and in summer the sun sets at 10PM while the bullfrogs croak and sing.
The last few years were very earth oriented for me...I worked out of doors at the mercy of the elements; breathing cool morning air, digging trenches in the rain, and toiling in the hot sun. I realize more and more than many people have no concept of what this is like, nor do they have any desire to. I simply feel gratitude for the opportunity I had. My life has changed now. But these amazing days left their imprint on me forever.