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Around 450 BC the sculptor Myron produced the statue called The Discus Thrower. He captured a dramatic moment, mere seconds before the discus is released by the athlete. 1,000 years later Michelangelo with his statue of David also succeeded in freezing a tension filled moment in time. Myron's statue embodies the classical Greek concepts of rhythmos, harmony and balance. The balance is easy to see in the athletes pose. Harmony is revealed upon closer examination; all parts of the discus thrower's body are clearly working together.Rhythmos, is a more difficult concept to grasp. It unites the idea of movement with harmony or form. Rhythmos, harmony and balance helped the Greeks to define themselves, their character and the world around them. I borrowed their concepts and employed them in the design and construction of the Greek Temples, the house and outbuildings in my yard. For me the world and my life is structured and follows certain immutable laws. My art reflects my life; if one has beauty than so must the other.
The Romans are best known for their use of the arch but it was the Greeks who borrowed the structure from the Babylonians and perfected its design. The Greeks, turned the classical arch into a 3-dimensional object and created a dome. The Greek Temple that Kim and Shane are constructing uses Classical Greek fluted columns and Ionic capitols topped by a copper hemispherical dome. The balustrades and railings are an invention of the Renaissance in the 15th century AD.
Kim and Shane position a circular box beam section |
Snow arrives early and is a precursor of October weather |
October started out wet and never got any better. Every few days snow blanketed the yard and then melted when the sun appeared. Gradually the earth turned to thick, gooey mud; the kind that clings to your shoes in five pound clumps. Shane and Kim toiled on despite the miserable weather. They poured foundations for the picnic pavilion and cleared the ground for another set of tiered gardens just below the conservatory.
The picnic pavilion is ten feet wide and twenty feet long. It has five fluted Ionic columns which are topped by massive box beams. The roof will consist of open rafters topped by 2 by 2's; like an arbor. The newest tiered garden will flank the picnic pavilion and separate it from the conservatory. A wide staircase will lead from the conservatory to the pavilion area. An open fire place will allow for grilling and night time companionship. The pavilion area will be connected to the gravel garden walkways so one may take a leisurely stroll around the yard after dinner. The energetic or vista seeking visitor may wish to hike to the summit lookout via the scenic pathway that goes from the picnic pavilion, behind the conservatory and hugs the hillside to the peak and Renaissance viewing platform. Spectacular views of lower Paradise valley and Yellowstone National Park are assured for the small price of simply stopping to catch your breath.
Shane and Kim endure a cold, wet snow |
A damp fog engulfs the house and back yard |
My life in Montana is filled with opportunities. For twenty years I lived in a small apartment in Branford, Connecticut after vandals torched my cherished log cabin. I could not garden for the landlord already used all of the meager, postage stamp yard. So I tucked that dream away until I moved to Montana. It may be argued that I over compensated by building 100 gardens and planning for another 100 but then, how many beds did the Garden of Eden have for just Adam and Eve?
In July and August a huge, almost biblical it seemed, plague of grasshoppers descended upon Paradise Valley. They munched on my flowers, devoured tender young shoots and developed a love for potato plants. By mid-August the potatoes were limp, brown and dead stalks. I feared the worst and left them buried until late October. Much to my surprise I harvested a dish strainer full of red and Yukon Gold potatoes for winter meals. I saved the smaller ones for seeding a new crop next spring.
I filled 91 of the 100 gardens with thousands of tulip, daffodil, allium and hyacinth bulbs. The remaining beds froze before I reached them. They will have to wait until next spring for new plants. I resolved that next year I will start planting bulbs in mid-August.
A new flagpole garden, copper capped snow posts and reinforcements for the retaining wall. |
Fresh, homegrown Yukon Gold and red potatoes raised in the tiered gardens. |
The birds flew south a few weeks ago. Most of the tourists are gone for the season and Yellowstone Park will close many of it's roads when the next snow flies thick and settles deep. Our construction and landscaping work draws to a close. The tools are picked up, materials stored and the crew moves on to other jobs in the snow free valley and indoors. A calm stillness settles over my home and yard.
The arrival of Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter social season. Close friends hold dinners in their warm homes providing a pleasant respite from the shorter and colder days of winter. Hunting season brings forth an abundance of wild game and delicious dishes. Snowmobiles are cleaned and tuned in anticipation of December and January storms. It is a time to reflect, count our blessings and share with others.
Josh Rigler delivers a load of Yellowstone River cobbles for the garden walkway borders |
A full winter moon rises over the Absaroka mountains and signals the close of outdoor yard work for this year |
Early winter is a great time for exploring. The tourists are gone, snow blankets the higher peaks but the lowlands are still bare and easy to hike or drive through. I get restless this time of year. It seems too soon to retreat inside the warm and cozy confines of my home. Today I headed off to Yellowstone only to find myself caught in a small blizzard as I ascended to Mammoth Hot Springs at 6,300 feet. The snow was beautiful but I wished to hike and explore. To stretch my limbs and breath deeply of the fresh mountain air. So I turned back into Paradise Valley via the old road called Yellowstone Trail. As soon as I descended to the valley floor at 4,400 feet elevation, the snow cleared and I could see for miles.
North entrance to Yellowstone National Park |
Gardner River Valley in Yellowstone |
I sojourned along Yellowstone Trail as it meandered over the rolling foothills of the Gallitan mountains while roughly following the Yellowstone river and the old railroad right of way. I passed the ghost towns of Electric and Aldridge that once had a lively business of mining coal and producing coke for the smelters in Butte. The Devil's Slide, a magnificent red rock formation rose into view as I crested a small series of hills and descended into a flat, grassy river bench. Occasionally I would pass a hunter. Some were lucky and had an elk or deer in the back of their trucks. Others were still searching for that perfect, massive bull elk before the season ended.
The road grew more perilous as I approached Yankee Jim canyon. I followed the old railroad bed which was wet, narrow and deeply rutted. Steep, bare canyon walls towered over my Jeep while slippery talus slopes descended to the cold, blue green Yellowstone River 300 feet below. Blasted from solid rock over a century ago and designed for a single train track, the road was barely one lane wide in spots. The views were spectacular and I stopped often to enjoy them.
Fresh wolf tracks dotted the roadside. Vicious killers, wolves often decimate livestock herds and mercilessly hunt down elk and deer. Sometimes they kill for food and sometimes they murder for fun. Although no human attacks have occurred in the valley, wolves in other parts of our country have gone after people. Their tracks were fresh and I kept a wary eye open for the predators.
Yankee Jim Canyon and Yellowstone River - to the right, the old railroad bed and Yellowstone Trail road |
The cold and beautiful turquoise waters of the Yellowstone River |
Cooke City - 142 residents and 8,200 feet above sea level |
Six points on each antler; what a trophy! |
Indoor work beckoned and I finally yielded in early December. My friend Kerwin and I volunteered our carpentry skills for a few hours every week at church. We both served as trustees at the Livingston Congregational Church and oversaw projects like the installation of a new roof during the summer of 2009. We enjoyed working together and accomplished much. I also worked with the Pastor and his family to build a web site for the church; Livchurch.com. By March of 2010 we had the site up and running.
Every Christmas many members of our congregation purchased small gifts for boys and girls around the world. We carefully packed small books, toiletries, school supplies and other gifts into a shoe box and brought them to church. In turn they were given to Samaritan's Purse which donated them to children around the world.
Originally our church was a Catholic place of worship. Over the entry doors stood a beautiful, century old, stained glass window of Mother Mary and the infant Jesus. The window needed work. A few panes were broken and the leading was sagging. The clear plastic storm window over it had weathered brown so the brilliantly colored glass could barely be seen. Some members wanted to destroy this artistic treasure. I did my best to save it but unfortunately one of the church members took the dismantled panes of glass without permission from the church garage and burned them in a bonfire. I was so dismayed by the destruction of a religious icon and community artistic treasure that I resigned from the church.
A century old artistic treasure is hidden behind a stained and weathered plastic storm window on our church. |
Packages for Samaritans's Purse sit on my dining room table. Two boys will be happy this Christmas! |
Beautiful stain glass windows adorn the Livingston Congregational Church |
Light snow coats the garage roof and blankets the higher foothills above |
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Current weather and the forecast for Tim's home in Emigrant, Montana in America |