Oh man. I’m crushing so hard on Idaho right now. I feel myself tightening my heart tethers even more, double knotting my soul strings to the land here, the sky, the wind, the spring creeks, the rivers wild, the timber (pungent douglas fir, subalpine fir, pondi pine, aspen, scrub maple), the sage. Bless it all. It is sweet tincture against the shadows of this world.
We went out yesterday afternoon, hunting grouse for our dinner table, of course, but also to walk up into a high place and survey our beautiful little pocket of the world. To place the delicate, wild wafer of nature on our tongues and drink the breeze in holy communion. There was Idaho, unfurling like a banner beneath our feet, rolling out like a royal rug in hues of tawny gold and silver sage. I am not sure there’s a place more rumpled, more eaten by wind, mule deer and river water. I think, time and time again, that the very hands of God reached out and crumpled the skin of the earth here into a ball, as one would a sheet of pure white paper, before unfolding it loosely and draping it over the bones of our planet. I see stone spines rising up as far as my eyes can see, and then beyond, out across the Snake River Plain and the Buttes into the wide crowns of the Lemhi and Beaverhead Ranges that lay pulsing with wilderness North of our little town.
I forgot about the wind here. We’ve reacquainted. It has cold claws. I missed the savage nature of the air here, as though it too has to survive by tooth and nail in order to scrub the high places clean and devour the dust between the sagebrush. It has a big job, exfoliating the interior West. Someone has to keep it clean, I suppose.
When the sun began to set and the golden hour dawned I stopped breathing. It was surreal, almost like a summer sunset polluted by wildfire smoke — bright orange and pink lighting up the forest floors between strands of timber on the mountain slopes. I fell far behind the boys, stopping to point my camera at every little detail that rose up to meet me, breathing in the scent of the wild spaces here and pausing, every other step, to sniff the sage.
Beautiful. Your pictures always remind me that I need to get out there and experience a little bit more of the natural world than I seem to now. Sunset is such a gorgeous time for photos, too, such a perfect time to try and catch the light just right and snag the purple sky.
Good.
You need a strong connection with nature, no matter where you are. It’s important for us all, even if we don’t know it.
So true, so true, it is stunningly beautiful…no randomness here even if it appears so. Sun setting is incredible…the reds..the gold!
I had to giggle when I saw the feathers in your head because I usually put feathers in the cats head, they look so funny.
Glad you are home. xx
I agree.
No randomness.
I’m going to send you a few grouse feathers for the kitty boys. I have some pheasant tail feathers too which are SO LONG and fun to tease cats with! Watch your mailbox! X
what a beautiful and vibrant post! i could feel the energy pulsing through it. there is something so special about the joy of homecoming… glad you’re making the most of it!
p.s. tater’s tongue is so long you probably don’t even need a leash!
I agree.
I never want to seem like I don’t love the Methow Valley, because I do, but Idaho always seems more like home than the other… 🙂
GUFFAW!!! Tater’s tongue!!!
beautiful~
XX
Glad for you that you are home again in (another) place you love. I’m sure your Idaho is happy to have you back.
We’re like a happy couple snuggled up in each others arms.
Amazing gold light!!! luckily you!! 😉
kisses jilian!
Thank you, Joaquina!
Always love to see you here.
X
Glad you are home again & bathing in its beauty. How nice it is to be back after a time away, no? I love my winter adventures, but I always look forward to returning to my root source again. To see it with fresh, hungry eyes. Your descriptive words make me want to go out into my own surrounding landscape and envision the draping folds (more like a cloth than crumpled paper here) of these New York foothills.
It is nice to be back.
New York foothills! I imagine those are beautiful!
X
Those fiery, Autumn colours…
I know.
It’s almost unbearable…it’s so beautiful.
X
You return home to Idaho just as we are leaving our cabin outside of Sandpoint. Your beautiful photos help get us through until we are able to get back up there in the spring. And remind me to get outside everyday and enjoy Northern California while I’m here.
You lucky pup! Sandpoint is beautiful. So is Northern CA. Where in NorCal are you at? My husband is a Grass Valley boy!
Born and raised in San Francisco. We live about 20 minutes south of the city now. Really missing the view from our idaho front porch. The lake, mountains. Sky!
No randomness, it’s true. Grouse! Isn’t it so tasty? My mom is visiting for a week from up North and brought some down and made some proper German grouse shnitzle out of it
It is tasty. I’ve been eating it ever since I was a child. My dad used to bird hunt. I’m going to look into this grouse shnitzle!!! Sounds incredible!
POST SCRIPTUS: We would love to have you email that schnitzel recipe to us!
you got it jillian! 😉 On the dad note.. my dad used to “accidentally” run over it on back roads.. not exactly my preferred method of hunting!
all this speaks such pure honesty and colour.
*love*
You are such a kind friend.
Thanks for *seeing* me.
XX
“sweet tincture against the shadows of this world.”
Oh, how you can describe things that I could only hope to feel.
That last image…I’m mesmerized. x
I mirror this sentiment
Bless you both.
X
Having just come back from Eastern WA, your photos and words make me yearn for that climate so badly. There’s something to be said for a real fall and coming winter, something very intense and tangible, unlike our dark, wet blanket here in the West of the West. Thank you for your transporting pics and writing.
You have to keep your light shining bright to survive that “dark, wet blanket” out in the PNW. I’m not sure I could do it. I need wider horizon lines and a lot of light. I even find autumn in the Methow Valley terribly oppressive at times, when it has been raining and dismal for days on end…I struggle to bear it. I’m always VERY ready to move home to Idaho once October rolls around there. I need a good shot of light!
How do you stay bright where you are in the dark winter months?
It gets cold here, but it’s rarely dark or dismal in the winter. Storms come through and then the sun comes out again. It’s so lovely.
That little secret, Idaho. I love her layers and folds. Such lovely sunset shots, the delicate leaves illuminated in that golden hour light is just superb. Bless it all indeed!
🙂
Idaho is such a well kept secret.
I love these pictures! Again. 🙂 My favorite is the one with layered mountains in grey.
I didn’t know that dog’s tongue is so long. 😉
I like that photo too. So textural.
And that tongue of Tater Tot’s is ridiculous in that picture. I had another shot wherein it looked even LONGER…but the one I used in this post was better… So funny!
Those pictures as the sun sets, particularly the 3rd from last are exquisite. The earth is on fire. You can never tire of getting to know your landscape, because everyday throws up something new to discover. I’m reacquainting myself with my hills, and I’ve fallen in love all over again!
NO! I never do tire of getting to know this place and the face of the land is ALWAYS changing and ALWAYS new to me. It’s inspiring.
Your photos are such an inspiration!
Thank you for that!
Thank you, Cat!
X
these words and images border on painful. they make me miss a place i have never been.
Then I have used my camera well. What a compliment! THANK YOU for allowing your heart to be transported. And please, meet Idaho in person, some day. You’ll be forever changed. X
I remember those hills and mountains so well from drive after drive up and down the Lemhi between Jx Hole and Darby Montana. Such a feeeling to go mile after mile and then come upon a lone cabin tucked into a draw, away from the wind.
The Lemhi Range is incredible. The valley is so void of humans! I love driving through there and exploring the area. I just told Rob, a few days ago, that I want to buzz over to that part of the state on a bird hunt and hotspring jaunt as soon as we can.
Awesome…..you’ve got me thinking about our connection with the earth, and appreciating my own Colorado crush. Everyone has to have a little love affair with nature.
I agree! It’s for the best! 🙂
Oh how my heart, and every fiber of my being, wishes to be there. The last year of college is a beast.
You’ll make it through, babe. And then you’ll be free to go where ever your heart leads. X
LOVE!
love and light
XXXX
I have not been to your blog for sometime, i missed you without knowing it.
Your words & lens cause me to breathe deeper.
Bless
xo
Missed you back!
I appreciate you being here!
X
I miss Idaho often, but now I pickin’ ACHE for it! Dang it! Beautiful post. I love this: “It is sweet tincture against the shadows of this world.” and this: “To place the delicate, wild wafer of nature on our tongues and drink the breeze in holy communion.” and the photographs and and and…
I’ll wrap my arms around it for the BOTH of us. TWICE! I’m pretty sure it misses you too. 🙂 Thanks for being here!
X
Can I share this post? Link to it with your permission?
Yes, Vicki!
Thank you for asking!
Beautiful! Your site! Spent time with Hubby this summer in Alaska jumping fires… wish him well…great guy. Heidi and mattys dog waylon is my dogs daddy! You got their older airstream? Let hubby know we have to go kill chukars together soon!!
Bierman!
I’ve heard about you! 🙂 Only good things.
LOVE the Summerfield posse but our Airstream isn’t their oldie.
I’ll pass your message on to Robert! He’s always happy for a chukar buddy.
The nature that surrounds you is amazing, and you are beautiful!
I love the picture on the top of the hill…the view is breathtaking…
A,
Always SUCH a pleasure to see you here. I agree, Idaho is beautiful!
X
Jillian, I have just stumbled upon your blog and wonder why it’s taken me so long to get here. Your images, spirit, writing, jewelry, life is awe-inspiring. What an inspiration you are to me. I live in the gentle mountains of West Virginia…not nearly as wild as your mountains but they suit me. I am curious about how you get so many of your self portrait shots, and what lens you use. Thank you for you !
Lynn!
You are too kind! Thank you for finding me and for taking the time to connect with me.
I take my self portraits by setting the timer on my camera and being in the right place at the right time. Very simple. I almost exclusively use a 50mm lens.
Thank you for being here!
your words & images are so gorgeous & connected & magical….& that light!