Fires have been ravaging the West and Northwest and smoke has been heavy here in Bozeman, MT. The Gallatin Valley's big sky had been covered, the sun was deep red and the Bridger Mountains were barely visible before I arrived last night. I landed after Bozeman's much needed lengthy downpour, and stayed up visiting until the wee hours listening to the rain and watching lightning.

First line of order this morning was a garden visit out back. After harvesting beans, kale, broccoli, carrots, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries for our smoothies, I got to just sit. Wow, what a novel concept! I sat with my bare feet on the earth and my spine erect, breathing deeply and pulling energy in from above and below as I repeated a mantra. I remembered how nice it was to have a regular meditation practice. I'm always amazed at the clarity and perspective I get on my life from afar... or is it from within?

Summer gardens in BZMT are notoriously incredible, and today we were invited to a garden tour. We opted to go out to the river with friends instead. After stopping at the organic food co-op (where I won the prize for the most polite customer of the day) we headed west. It has been at least 8 years since I've been in the West Gallatin, and it was perfectly lovely. The swimming hole was deep, currents strong, water clean and cool, and the sun was out full force. We saw Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Bald Eagles, Killdeer, Trout, White Fish, Swallows and a few humans.

I've been hearing much recently about people feeling overwhelmed, stressed, uber busy, endlessly on the go, etc. As I was laying on the small patch of sand today I realized that I have not really stopped in a long time. I did my best to relax. Although the scene was perfectly relaxing I found my muscles fighting to hold on and my mind relentlessly on the pursuit of the next series of thoughts. Here's the growth: today I stopped twice... once to meditate, once to let the river's edge support me in my process.

In gratitude...