Books on fire When it comes to books, one is never enough. Bundle a few together around a theme and you’ve got a gift that will last well beyond the holiday season. Fire plays a prominent role in shaping Montana’s landscape, making it a good place to start. Pick up a copy of The Big Burn, Timothy Egan’s narrative of the devastating fires that ripped through Montana, Idaho and Washington in 1910. Throw in Norman Maclean’s titular Young Men and Fire about the 1949 Mann Gulch fire that claimed the lives of 13 firefighters on the Helena National Forest. Cap it all with Richard Manning’s It Runs In The Family, the memoir of a Montana environmental writer with a strong connection to the land and a deep knowledge of the forces—natural and political—at work in our forests. How much: $51.95 Available at Shakespeare and Co., 103 S. Third St.
photo by Cathrine L. Walters
BRILLIANT BIG-TICKET ITEMS
Goertzen fly-fishing bag Like a good fly rod, this smooth leather bag will last a lifetime. It’s modeled after the rustic creel baskets that the Maclean clan carried during their fishing adventures on the Blackfoot River. The bag has room for all of an angler’s cherished possessions, and features two pockets for fly boxes, a holster for forceps and plenty of room in the main pouch for a trout or two. Strap it around your shoulder and feel proud, for this item is handmade in Missoula. How much: $350 Available at Goertzen Adventure Equipment, leatherandcanvas.com photo courtesy of Derek Gallagher
Winter bike pogies
Fur mouth stole and purses
photo by Cathrine L. Walters
As part of a recent First Friday experimental fashion show, Missoula artist Jazmine Penelope created elaborate sci-fi headdresses, a stole and a series of “fur mouth” coin purses. They boast shiny red lips and fur on the outside, and open to reveal little felt teeth and a long red tongue. It’s a real statement piece for the fashion-forward metaphorlover in your life. How much: $80 for coin purses, price upon request for garments. Available directly from the artist at jazminepenelope.com
Commuting on two wheels in Missoula this time of year can be a cold and wet adventure, but don’t let frozen fingers keep your friends from throwing a leg over their steel steed. These custom-made bike pogies from local company Hans Bagworks keep hands jazzy. Water and wind resistant, the pogies can be crafted to fit completely over handlebar grips, brakes and shifters. Available in many colors and in two styles: basic, which features Cordura exterior and fleece interior, but no insulation, or deluxe, with the Cordura exterior, Thinsulate insulation and a ripstop nylon interior (pictured). How much: $100 Order by emailing Jesi and Paul at hansbagworks@gmail.com
A town all your own Early last year, an entire Montana town went up for auction. Yet Pray, a five-acre burg in the Paradise Valley not far from Chico Hot Springs, went unsold. The property includes a post office, a general store, four rental units and a separate owner’s residence. The view is breathtaking, with snowy peaks and miles of open rangeland. And according to the photos, there’s even a high-end billiard table. When Pray first made headlines in 2012, the going price was $1.4 million. That price has since dropped to $679,000—still steep, but a little more sensible if you’re looking to fulfill a loved one’s lifelong dream of presiding over their own kingdom. How much: $679,000 Available through the Bozeman Broker Group. Head to bozemanbrokers.com for a virtual tour.
photo courtesy of PrayMontana.net
missoulanews.com • December 5–December 12, 2013 [17]