I Use Antlers in All of My Decorating

...My what a guy, that Gaston. 

(Favorite song line from Disney's Beauty and the Beast)

Just happened upon this fabulous ranch entrance south of Trout Lake yesterday.  I'm really kicking myself for not taking a moment to change out my lens and get a wider view of the really charming ranch.  I felt uncomfortable hovering in the entrance, but when I was backing around to leave, the owner showed up, returning from his trip to town with a wagon load of hay.  He was super friendly, asking if we needed help, and he looked just like the (imagined, stereotypical) rancher who would live here.  Even though it's a close up, I guess you can get the idea a little bit.  

At the Ranch (Entrance)

This seemed to be the most common style for ranch entrances throughout Flathead Valley, Montana. I'm not sure how far back this road goes before you finally get to Chief Cliff Estates, but it looks like a pretty drive getting there!  Linking to Thursday's Good Fences.

I Brake for Red Barns

Especially in weather like this!  These two are on a ranch between Livermore and Mt. Diablo.  The variety of green in the grass here is a good example of how the fields were looking earlier this week.

Winter at the Ranch

The companion photo for yesterday's post: the same ranch from a different angle.  I like all the green in the one, but I'm not that thrilled with some of those partial trees in the front.  I wish I'd shot from a slightly different angle.  If I ever have I barn, I will definitely paint it red!!!  

(I'm just curious between today's and yesterday's photos which one people prefer.  I like yesterday's, but the rest of my family likes today's.)

Currier & Ives

I switched SD cards in my camera this morning, and what a surprise to find photos from my trip to Oregon a few weeks ago!  I forgot that I had filled one SD card and switched to the other.  It was a lucky find, because I've just got too many other things going right now to put much effort into photography.  And I do like this wintery scene from Siskiyou County; it looks like a Northern California version of Currier & Ives.  It's just missing the horse and sleigh...and maybe a little more snow.