Montana’s Big Game Hunting Wraps Up

Montana’s big game hunting season (general rifle) came to a close last Sunday. According to MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff at check points, Central Montana had fair harvest numbers. An above average elk harvest along the Rocky Mountain Front (from the Teton River south to Highway 200) was attributed to a strong elk population. In recent years numbers have declined so this was great news. The Augusta, Montana check point station saw elk hunters bring in 463 animals … Read more

Unique Gift Idea – Handcrafted Silver Items

If you are walking in downtown Lewistown, about a half block south of Main Street, you just may see a colorful sign for Caye Fine Art. Well, prepare to be impressed if you take some time to step in the door! Carol Woolsey, known as Caye, has been a metal smith artist for over 30 years. Probably her most unique handcrafted silver item is a silver flask – not just an ordinary flask but a decorated … Read more

Putting On The Glitz

I drove downtown in Great Falls the other day to see if I could catch the crew hanging greens, lights and lightpole decorations. It was mid afternoon and there were a fair amount of cars, probably doing last minute errands before Thanksgiving. I finally spotted the crew but had to circle the block before I found a parking space. The weather was absolutely beautiful for November – very little wind and mild temps which, in … Read more

Great Falls Theater Production – Wow!

The University of Great Falls Performing Arts just wrapped their final performance of Chicago, The Musical. I was lucky to attend the performance this past Saturday evening. A couple of years ago I had been to a Broadway touring production of Chicago at the Great Falls Civic Center and it was amazing. The Civic Center is a large, beautiful theater with about 1,600 comfy seats. I wasn’t sure what to expect at the University of Great Falls’ theater. … Read more

Seeing Stars?

First of all, I’m going to talk about an event I haven’t been to yet. Usually I write about where I’ve been but this one is too good to not give some advance notice to! The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls will be the site of “Star Party Extravaganza 2012 – Mission to Mars” Friday, November 16. Star “parties” are held periodically at the interpretive center but this one gives a special nod … Read more

11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month

In the United States, Veteran’s Day is commemorated in November, most appropriately on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Veteran’s Day fell on a Sunday this year and local veteran’s organizations held ceremonies and gatherings. The Veteran’s Memorial Wall overlooking the Missouri River was scheduled to be the site of one event. Due to recent snow and some chilly winds that day, it was moved inside to the adjacent Centene … Read more

Fun Family Day

The C. M. Russell Museum in Great Falls hosts an open house each November where kids and parents can enjoy making some fun seasonal decorations. It looked like Christmas this past Saturday and, at first glance, it looked like chaos! In the lower level of the museum, long banquet-style tables were covered with paper and a huge variety of pinecones, paper banners, sugar cookies to decorate, sequins, chocolate candy that would become decorated mini-mice – … Read more

New Snow – Time to Play Outside

It seems a bit early for snow, at least this much, but I have decided there really is no normal weather anymore. I’ve heard that this past week Great Falls, Montana received 14 inches of the white fluffy stuff and I’ve also heard 14.9 inches. Well, bottom line, there is plenty of snow for getting outside and trying out some new snowshoes. Saturday’s temps were a bit chilly but all day Sunday was sunny with beautiful blue skies. … Read more

Wintry Day – Time for Inside Touring

Lots of snow came falling on Central Montana today, actually some yesterday and last night too. I decided it was a good day for inside touring and Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art is on my route to and from the post office. Today there were lots of “young” artists in a class that looked like pre-school children. I’m not sure what they were working on but it was good to hear young voices in this art … Read more

Montana Museum of Railroad History

A recent visit to the Montana Museum of Railroad History in Great Falls filled me with a new appreciation for the significance of rail traffic to Central Montana. Over 125 years ago (October 15, 1887 to be specific) the track of the Manitoba Road reached Great Falls, Montana Territory. The entrepreneur responsible for laying the steel trail westward was James Hill who had made a fortune with several Minnesota ventures. Part of Hill’s plan was driven by a competetive … Read more