Chopping wood at the folks’ place, Helena, MT Julie takes a few swings My niece Tyera, tree-gazing after Christmas New dart board from Julie (replaces Tibetan mandala) Hiking with Trooper (and his friend, Matt) on Mount Jumbo Jan 3rd. Blue skies in Missoula in the winter? Yes. Here is a north view from Mount Jumbo. Same north view, B&W.; Leaves on cement. Gold tinted B&W.; More leaves, saturated color. Read more

In 2010 I resolve to be more mindful of where my food, and stuff, comes from. Apple Juice…. From China. This is from my folks’ house over Christmas. The print near the top says “Concentrate from China.” Apparently it’s now cheaper to raise apples in China, press them for concentrate, ship that, and reconstitute it somewhere in the US and ship that to Montana than using Montana or Washington apples for the same product. I brought this up to my... Read more

After reading a couple fellow bloggers thoughts on New Years, and finding them wonderfully provocative and inspiring, I’ve decided to try to round ’em up. It’s somewhat in the style of Tom from his ZenUnbound days, but with no hopes of being so thorough or wise in my observations. Buddhists are a peculiar bunch, and as you’ll see, around the holidays the eggnog and lack of sunlight seems to bring that out in spades. It’s been a great privilege to... Read more

Peace-pop at the Parrot Confectionery, Helena, MT. And thank you all for a most wonderful 2009! What have we learned? What hopes have we built upon? What new aspirations carry us into this new decade? For me, 2010 marks a transition from student-hood to professorship. I’ve taught before, but this year will be the last of my ph.d. studies and, hopefully, the year I move into a full-time teaching gig. Academia being what it is, I can’t say when exactly... Read more

Not my own… But I found this worthy of sharing. Read more

The following came in today. Please keep Anna and Bryan in your thoughts and prayers/meditations this holiday season. Dear Friends and Family, I hope that you all had a very wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. We had a great Christmas enjoying beautiful music, food and exchanging some fabulous gifts with each other. However, our Christmas was somewhat darkened by the fact that Katie Stack, my dear friend of over twenty five years, died November 5th. Not only was she... Read more

Stress is not an American invention. But the level of complaining about it and the dire need for “comfort” from so many petty travails certainly is. And the pharmaceutical industry thanks you. – From NellaLou, in a delightful review of Elizabeth Gilbert (a bit old, but worth reading) If America were a democracy with an informed electorate, people might be better protected from the drug lords and insurance moguls. – Dayamati at New City of Friends, writing about America’s Drug... Read more

Only when we are free to failAre we free to live fully. Inspired by Tara Brach’s “Radical Self-Acceptance” Read more

Ah, the holidays. And with them finals week, travels, shopping, short days, parties, and more. It’s also a time for reflection and gratitude. The year is coming to a close and a new one, pregnant with possibilities, approaches.One of the things I am very grateful for, living in Western Montana, is the abundance of nature. I find myself hoping to stay here one more year to get to take advantage of that. I’m looking forward to starting off the new... Read more

This time of year there is a great deal of preasure get things just so. For countless families in America and around the world, the race is on for the perfect Christmas. I remember when my family moved from the rural valley to a middle/upper middle class (for Montana) neighborhood closer to town. We had moved up to paved roads, where nobody had three or four or eleven broken down cars in the yard, and everyone watered and mowed their... Read more