The Ruby Reservoir & River

This small river originates in the Snowcrest Mountains and flows north for about 40 miles before reaching Ruby Reservoir. Below the reservoir it flows another 25 miles before meeting the Beaverhead. The river above the reservoir is small with sharp bends, barbed wire, and occasional obstructions. It requires small crafts and large patience; it's often too low to float by August. Almost all floating on the Ruby takes place below the reservoir.

The Shoshone Indians called this river Passamari, meaning "water of the cottonwood groves." When Lewis and Clark passed through, Captain Lewis named it Philanthropy, in respect to what he considered one of Thomas Jefferson's three cardinal virtues (he named the Big Hole River "Wisdom" and the Jefferson River, "Philosophy").
Pioneers later downgraded the name to Stinkingwater River after a large number of buffalo carcasses befouled the water one spring. Now it's called the Ruby for the garnets which sharp-eyed people still pick out of the stream's gravel.

Excerpted from Paddling Montana by Hank Fisher
(Copyright 2000, Falcon Publishing, Inc.)

We spent a Sunday afternoon taking a drive with the Williamsons to the Ruby Reservoir and then spent couple hours on the river while the guys fished at a local rancher's place.

The Ruby Reservoir

Great afternoon for a ride/nap

Very thankful to have these slow-paced days to enjoy the outdoors in Big Sky country.

"More equipment than a telephone lineman..."

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."
~ Paul O'Neil

From the road, our house looks almost like any other on the block, BUT...

once you get on the front porch, you are reassured that you are at the Barefield household.

One night when Bare returned from an afternoon out on the water,

I found myself smiling at the items on our front porch.

Inside, I was greeted by his tying vise set up in front of the TV

and his tackle close by in case he needs to take inventory.

Two things I know for certain, my husband is a good fly-fisherman,

and he looks dang good doing it too.

"There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot."
~ Steven Wright

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my
fishing gear for what I said I paid for it."

~Koos Brandt

Let it Snow

We fled Butte this weekend as the snow came down, headed on last minute trip to Seattle. It has apparently snowed all weekend while we enjoyed the sunshine. These pics are from March, but I'm pretty sure this is what our front yard looked like over Memorial Day.

I wish...

...that my family were about to land in Big Sky country again.

I snapped this while driving to airport to pick them up in March.

But, I will be landing in less than 2 months at DHN!!

A Few of Our Favorite Kids

What is a home without children? Quiet. ~Henny Youngman

Lucy in Sept in Sandy when we visited the Joneses

William in October when we visited the Yarbroughs

I finally got to meet the Carson girls in November!!

Bare is smiling...I think he is thinking about what the future holds for Adam & Ashley!

My Mama Jean with her great-grandkids.

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

I am so far behind with some of these posts, but I LOVE these trampoline pictures so I wanted to share our Thanksgiving in Alabama!

Bare and I drove from Montana...left this.

And came to this...my sister's beautiful house!

Desserts!!!

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of
November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? 
~Erma Bombeck, "No One Diets on Thanksgiving," 26 November 1981

Relaxing by the pool :)

Sawyer telling Bare all about something

Love the way Bryson is looking at Bare

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No rushing around, just good food with good company!