So the goats in the first shot are the kind that have the legs on one side of their body shorter than on the other side, right? ;) It's such fun to see wildlife that's so different from what's around here. Esp. the bears. I really like bears; so very intelligent and so very misunderstood. We are seeing increases in their population around here, something that amazes me, but makes sense. More people means more opportunity for such expert foragers to capitalize on a new food source. As ususal "problems" with them are rarely their fault... it's the ignorance of the human population.

Thanks alaris19 and suzannes1! The banana bread I made yesterday was not good; I am copying down your recipes and will try. The most important thing to remember is to not overwork the dough. It will be wet and sticky but that's fine! Baking Powder Biscuits (Julia Child, Baking with Julia) Oven: 425. Grease a 9x12 baking pan. 2 c. all purpose flour 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/3 cup solid vegetable shortening 1 cup milk Put the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and stir with a fork to mix. Add shortening, roll it around in the flour to coat it, and then break it into 4 or 5 pieces. Rub the flour and shortening together with the tips of your finders, making little crumbs. Keep doing so until most of the shortening is mixed together with the flour. Don't worry if you have a few largish pieces. Add milk and stir with a fork to moisten the flour. Don't worry about getting everything evenly mixed. You'll have a sticky mass of dough. Flour a work surface, scoop the dough out, and drop it on the counter. Flour your hands. Knead only 10 times. Do not overwork! Pat the dough into a circle about 9" and cut with a 1.5 - 2" biscuit cutter (or glass, whatever works). It helps to dip the cutter in flour to prevent dough from sticking. Brush with melted butter if desired. Bake for 12-15 minutes until they are golden on top.

Update: I took a couple of lower branches, last winter, to use for cuttings. It's been difficult to wrap foil on that lower trunk, for winter protection, so the branch removal served two purposes. The second, is now I have about 6"-7" of clear trunk so I should be able to use a piece of 3" dia. tube, to deter mice from chewing on the lower bark. I don't know it that will happen but would rather put a tube on than wait for spring and find extensive damage on that part of the tree. It's happened to me before, on other trees I've grown. All the branches removed are encapsulating nicely and the tree has taken on a better form.. The picture makes the tree a little crooked but it's not. It's just from me crawling around in the bush trying to take a snap shot. :) I left the fence up all summer so new sprouts at the top, coming from dormant buds, after a rough winter with die back, wouldn't temp the local animals. :-) Now to add a tree tube and some mulch. :-)

I have only been on this forum today for a question- was unaware it was so diverse! Love all the fun pics and of course scenery! I underdtand you are going to visit Montana. Good choice. I just left Cody Wy recently to Florida due to an injury. Miss it terribly! Also worked at Crow Hospital (RN) when working for Federal Gov't Bureau of Indian Affairs. Little Big Horn is 2 miles south of the hospital. Billings is 45 minutes north. If you go in summer it may be 90 plus degrees at 6,000 feet but the Sun highway will find you with 10 feet of snow along the road. Evenings/nights can be 'cold'. Bring some warm clothes. Same with Top of The World which is between Red Lodge and Cody. Billings is just any ole' town. Nothing special at all. Depending how glamorous you want your lodging to be or if average yet clean is ok you should be fine in most of Montana but closer you are to Yellowstone (any entrance) you will need reservations unless you go after Labor Day-if traveling in an RV you must have reservations- many places in and out of the park are booked a year in advance. Kiss the ground for me please! The biggest bat cave in the world is just north of San Antonio Tx. (Lived there also in winter.) Best season for watching bats is springtime until month of September. Take a small jar of Vicks to put a SMALL dab under your nose if the smell makes you gag. Or a hankerchief damp with Listerine to hold against your nose. Much type of rock layers to look at in that area also but nothing like the Rockies. If you love nature you will love Montana/Wyoming! AND.... do NOT try to get close up pictures of large wildlife. Be prepared if hiking. Be prepared when the large animals are seemingly quiet as your houdecat on a sofa- they can have 'attitude' and sre amazingly fast. These animals, particularly Grizzly (brown bear) elk, moose and bison can and have seriously hurt foolish people. You are in their home, not a zoo. Take lots of pictures. You truly are in God's country.