Montana Woman Magazine, Issue 19, July/August 2022 by Montana Woman Magazine

$7.00

montana woman magazine

I S S U E N O 1 9 , J U LY /A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 : J E S S C Y D E A N / T E N D

FEATURES

AMONG THESE PAGES

jesscy Dean Barefoot in the Horse pasture

52 Pamela Kendall 62 Schiffer Zoelle Devlin Preserving Story

FOOD & SPIRITS

A Quiet Landscape

10 BANANA BREAD & MUFFINS

The best of both

SECRET GARDEN

For summer days & evenings

7 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LIFE

THESE DAYS

An embroidery pattern

Embracing rituals

IN MINDFUL MOTION

IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH

BLOSSOMS

HOWDY COWPOKE!

TENDING MY OCCASIONALLY CONTRARY PATH

100

Tending well to others

SWELTER

In your 40s, 50s, and beyond

VIGNETTES

NOTEBOOK CREATE

IMAGE BY ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN (1939). CUSTER FOREST, MONTANA. COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

16 CATCHING BUTTERFLIES

Morgan Holcomb

DAWN CHORUS

Julie Kunen

COME WITH ME

Caitlin Mallery

SHINE ON

Sarah Harding

THE CAMELLIAS

Morgan Holcomb

montana woman

OWNER & EDITOR megan crawford

Montana Woman is a platform. It’s a place to celebrate our achievements, a place to support each other, a place to acknowledge the resilience of the women of this state. It doesn’t necessarily matter where you’re from, you’re here now. In all of your loudness, your boldness, your fearlessness— you are here. We’re here, together. We publish a statewide magazine every other month that features women across Montana— the movers and shakers, the go-getters, the rule-breakers, the risk-takers. We all have a story to tell.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR megan crawford BUSINESS MANAGER carrie crawford

Montana Woman Magazine as you know it began in October 2019. Right out of the gate with photographer Alexis Pike as the first cover feature— clad in fringe pants and a motorcycle helmet in a Bozeman alleyway— we’ve always been authentically ourselves. We believe in showing up as you are. You don’t need to change who you are to have a seat at the table. No matter your age, your identity, your hometown, you are welcome here. We believe in creating a publication that’s worth reading because we have stories worth telling.

ADVERTISING carrie crawford kelsey merritt megan crawford PHOTOGRAPHERS megan crawford jesslyn marie chloe nostrant kelsey merritt

BACK COVER

megan crawford BLOSSOMS

SALISH & KOOTENAI L ANDS back cover prints are avail able at

EDITING DEPARTMENT megan crawford kelsey merritt emily adamiak

montanawoman . com / shop

PUBLIC RELATIONS carrie crawford kelsey merritt

ADVERTISING, DISTRIBUTION, & SUBMISSIONS

Contact the editor at info@montanawoman.com or (406)260-1299. Submissions are not accepted through the phone, postal service, or social media.

Montana Woman is a registered trademark and may not be used without permission. The information contained in this magazine is provided as is. Neither Montana Woman or the publisher make any representation or warranty with respect to this magazine or the contents thereof and do hereby disclaim all express and implied warranties to the fullest extent permitted by law. Montana Woman and the publisher do not endorse any

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LETTER from the

LARCH SPECIMEN COLLECTED BY C. A. WEATHERBY (1925). COURTESY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE

EDITOR Dear Reader; in the last issue, you might remember that I wrote about our flower garden. That was written before we broke ground, of course. This flower garden is roughly 55x65', in the neighborhood of 3,500 square feet. In terms of houses it’s a lot, but in weedy grass, it doesn’t seem like that much until you start working it. Tilling took two days— one day for north to south, and the other for east to west. And now that we’ve had several days of steady rain, we will have to till again (albeit in smaller patches) until plants are in the ground and seedlings are established. Whenever we mention we’re planting a flower garden, most people jump straight to the “oh, it must be so beautiful!” idea of a garden. It will be, eventually, but for now it’s dirt and two Cosmos blooms, a handful of Poppy sprouts, transplanted Irises, and small Ranunculus leaves that have already sprouted from their bulbs. There are lanky Larch saplings about as tall as I am (which

is not tall, especially in terms of trees), small Elderberries and a Gooseberry that have just started to flower, a knee-high Pussywillow, and a small Weeping Crabapple that has been made unhappy after a few thunderstorms. Needless to say, it’s still in the working phase. But all planting is for the future, some in a larger scale than others, but it all looks toward the future regardless of size. You plant vegetables to harvest food. A small Willow now will be full of shade and magic in a decade. Starter plants will fill a flowerpot by the end of the season. Caring for a garden and tending to the earth are acts of hope. I can only hope that someday, decades down the road, someone will enjoy our Linden tree, full of lemon-honey blossoms. None of our beloved trees grew overnight, and they will continue growing long after we leave. We are stewards of the land for our brief time here; the land will continue on.

C ON TRI B UTO R S 8

sydney munteanu

chloe nostrant

stephanie mosbrucker

kelsey merritt

lauren wilcox

sarah harding

mindy cochran

morgan marks

nicole dunn

meagan schmoll

autumn toennis emily adamiak

caitlin mallery

barbara fraser morgan holcomb

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Behind the cover

COVER MUSE

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chloe nostrant LOCATION

wilsall

read about jesscy dean on page 32 9

FOOD & SPIRITS |

BANANA BREAD & MUFFINS by Lauren Wilcox

banana bread & muffins by Lauren Wilcox

Bread temp & time OVEN TEMP: 350ºF

BAKE TIME: 50-60 MINUTES

Muffin temp & time OVEN TEMP: 350ºF

BAKE TIME: 20-25 MINUTES

ingredients 1 ¾ c all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt ¼ c butter (softened) 2 eggs

⅔ c granulated sugar 3 ripe bananas 1 tsp vanilla extract ⅔ c chopped pecans (optional) ⅔ c chocolate chips (optional) ¼ c demerara sugar

method ☼ BREAD & MUFFIN BATTER INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Mash three bananas in a bowl and set aside. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter. Gradually add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract; mix until fully combined. One at a time, add the eggs, fully incorporating them, until a smooth homogeneous mixture forms. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the stand mixer and mix until combined. Add ⅓ of the banana mixture to the stand mixer and mix until well combined. Repeat this process until all of the mixtures are combined. Add optional chocolate chips and/or chopped pecans to the batter, mixing until well dispersed. 12

| FOOD & SPIRITS

method ☼ BAKING STEPS FOR BREAD In a greased 9x5 loaf pan, pour out the batter and smooth it out on the top. Sprinkle the top with demerara sugar. Bake in oven at 350°F for 50-60 minutes. ☼ BAKING STEPS FOR MUFFINS In a lined muffin pan, fill each liner ⅔ full with batter. Sprinkle the top with demerara sugar. Bake in oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.

enjoy!

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Secret Garden by Megan Crawford

BRIGHT, REFRESHING, NOSTALGIC

NON-ALCOHOLIC

For days in the garden that become evenings, dashed with sun and summer rain.

ingredients 3 mint leaves 1 Tablespoon grenadine 1/2 cup peach juice 1 cup lemon lime sparkling water fresh lime juice lime, mint, and lemon balm for garnish (optional)

method Add 3 mint leaves and 1 Tablespoon of grenadine to a glass & muddle. Add in 1/2 cup of peach juice & the juice from a lime wedge and combine. Fill with ice, top with 1 cup of lemon lime sparkling water, and garnish with a mint spring, some lemon balm leaves, and a lime wheel. Best enjoyed somewhere outside.

| FOOD & SPIRITS

VIGNETTE |

catching butterflies By Morgan Holcomb

Sometimes photography is catching butterflies You run around the garden with your arms up Looking for the flutter of magic And you swing (click) swing (click) With the shutter for a net Grabbing blurs of wings and color Until just that moment when you

Delicate, or wild, or beautiful, or still Marveling at the small living thing in your grasp The flicker of truth Of hands reaching Eyes searching Notes ripped from silent singing Glowing smiles and hearts raging Kindness Beauty And Wonder And Hope And then the butterfly flaps its wings again Struggling for freedom And you let go Put the net down, the lens away And stare at what you captured Just for a moment To see how it looks: A memory floating in shadow and sunlight

IMAGE BY EVIE SHAFFER

Catch it

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dawn chorus The chitter chatter of birds Announcing their arrival at the day Chickadee, robin Flicker and crow The froth of milk atop coffee Cold hands wrapping a mug Murmuration of morning

IMAGE BY CHRISTINA DERAVEDISIAN

By Julie Kunen

| VIGNETTE

CREATE |

* * * * * * HOWDY * COWPOKE!

an embroidery pattern for ramblin' folk

PATTERN NO. 14

STITCH GUIDE french knot I personally love French knots, but I did not like them when I was first learning. Honestly, the best way to learn French knots is to watch someone make one (at least that was the case for me). French knots are easiest to make with a flat surface nearby (a table or even a pillow will do if you’re also a sofa stitcher). Since this stitch requires two hands, you need something to rest the hoop on. Send the needle up through the fabric. Hold the needle in one hand, and with the other, take the length of thread a few inches above the fabric and hold it with your non-needle hand. Place the needle in front of the length of thread. Wrap the thread around the needle once or twice; the number of times you wrap the thread will determine the size of the knot. Using your non-needle hand, pull the thread taught and keep it taught (this will help keep the knot neat!). Send the needle back down through the fabric next to the thread, but not in the exact same spot. As you pull the needle through, anchor the lead thread with your non-needle hand. This creates a coiled knot, and since the needle didn’t go through the same spot it entered, it’ll sit on the fabric rather than going right back through. If you don’t get it on the first go, don’t worry— practice makes progress.

lazy daisy A lazy daisy stitch makes easy work of simple leaves and flowers. It creates a small loop that can be filled in with a single straight stitch. This can be recreated with satin stitches, but the lazy daisy gives you a nice border to work with. Send the needle up through the fabric, then back down in the same spot (or close to it), but don't pull the thread tight. You'll want to keep a loop handy! Now send the needle through the fabric at what will be the tip of the petal/leaf, making sure the needle is inside the loop. At this point, you can pull the thread tight (the tighter you pull the thread, the narrower the loop will be). Anchor the loop by sending the needle back down just on the outside of the loop.

whipped backstitch A whipped backstitch is just a fancy backstitch, and it makes easy work of stems or any sort of linework. Start with a backstitch. At one end of the backstitch, send the needle & thread up through the fabric. Without going back through the fabric, pass the needle under the backstitch. Always pass the needle the same way (i.e., if you’re working from right to left, go right to left for every backstitch).

straight stitch A straight stitch is just a stitch that's straight! Like doing a backstitch, but just one stitch.

thread list

supplies ⩕ 6˝ Embroidery hoop (optional oval hoop for the finished piece) ⩕ Quilting cotton, duck canvas, or linen ⩕ Pencil or water soluble pen ⩕ Light source for tracing the pattern (light pad, window, etc) ⩕ DMC embroidery floss, one skein per color ⩕ Scissors ⩕ Embroidery needle ⩕ Optional: felt for backing

869 (very dark hazelnut brown) 976 (medium golden brown) 728 (golden yellow) 469 (avocado green) 798 (dark delft blue) 3726 (dark antique mauve)

The inspiration behind this design is classic embroidery patterns from the 50s and 60s— the ones you might recognize from flour sack towels. They typically feature simpler, sturdier stitches (primarily backstitch), and limited color palettes. The flowers featured are all wildflowers found in Montana: Arnica, Glacier Lily, ForgetMe-Not, and Lupine.

nha l l St , Bozeman

MT 5

n de e .M W

A MODERN MONTANA YARN STORE

sti

rn xya r n . c o m | @s t i x y a A Modern Montana Yarn Store www.stixyarn.com

FIND THIS PATTERN ONLINE!

| CREATE

montanawoman.com/shop/ embroidery-19

BOOT: backstitch (brown, 869) SUN: backstitch & straight stitch (yellow & orange, 728 & 976) STEMS: whipped backstitch (green, 469) ARNICA: backstitch petals (yellow, 728), French knot center (orange, 976) FORGET-ME-NOT: lazy daisy petals (blue, 798), French knot center (yellow, 728) LUPINE: backstitch petals (purple, 3726) GLACIER LILY: backstitch petals (yellow, 728), straight stitch filaments (yellow, 728), & lazy daisy tepals (orange, 976) thinned to two threads, 6˝ hoop; trace the above pattern onto the material of your choice! 27

THIS PAGE IS BLANK BECAUSE THERE'S AN EMBROIDERY PATTERN ON THE OTHER SIDE! I DIDN'T FORGET SOMETHING, I PROMISE. I HAVE TOO MANY CHECKLISTS FOR THAT.

get stitchin'

find these patterns & more at MONTANAWOMAN.COM/SHOP

IMAGE BY JOSHUA HICKS

on tap in montana: THE RED ANTS PANTS MUSIC FESTIVAL SERVES UP MUSIC WITH A MISSION

| FEATURE

In late July, something special takes place in a sweet clover cow pasture in the middle of Montana WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MT | On the last weekend The mission at the Red Ants Pants Foundation is to: in July, the Red Ants Pants Music Festival rises up from a •Develop and expand leadership roles for women. fourth-generation cattle ranch just west of White Sulphur •Preserve and support working family farms and ranches. Springs. The cow pasture is nestled in the Smith River •Enrich and promote rural communities. Valley, surrounded by the Big Belt, Little Belt, and Castle Mountains. Cowboys on horseback In many ways, the foundation’s “The work of the Red Ants Pants help with festival operations; the mission comes to life at the Red Ants local high school football team fills Foundation is driven by our values: Pants Music Festival, where we invite gopher holes and collects trash while good folks to come together and We recognize and cultivate a the Meagher County Cattle Women celebrate rural Montana. The Red strong work ethic. We encourage sell breakfast in the campground. Ants Pants Music Festival is music and build self-reliance, especially This genuine, neighborly Montana with a mission. The lasting impact can for women. We educate the public experience is paired with a respected be seen through the Girls Leadership on the importance of maintaining mix of Country-Americana legends Program, Timber Skills Workshops, and must-see rising stars. As and the relationships built through traditional work skills. We provide the festival enters its 11th year, this programming and through the opportunities for people with organizers have witnessed that music Red Ants Pants Music Festival. different perspectives to connect, is indeed a great tool for bringing build bridges, and discover people together and helping to The 2022 Red Ants Pants Music common ground.” bridge divides. Festival will take place in a sweet clover pasture on the Jackson Ranch in White Sarah Calhoun Festival fans take great pride in not Sulphur Springs, Montana July 28 – Red Ants Pants Foundation executive director only enjoying world class music and 31, 2022. Tickets can be purchased Red Ants Pants Music Festival founder & producer unforgettable Montana sunsets, but at www.RedAntsPantsMusicFestival. Red Ants Pants founder & owner also in knowing they are supporting a com/tickets. good cause that continues to create positive ripple effects throughout rural communities. Visit RedAntsPantsFoundation.org for more information on our programming and how you can join the movement.

July 28-31, 2022 White Sulphur Springs, Montana Rain or shine!

connect with good folks + celebrate rural Montana. redantspantsmusicfestival.com

BAREFOOT IN THE HORSE PASTURE Story & images by Chloe Nostrant

| FEATURE

first came to Prairie Song earlier this spring for their annual sheep shearing. Nearly a hundred Navajo-Churro sheep and a couple of Jacobs waited with heavy coats for their turn to step into the trailer and shed their winter warmth. The day was bright and sunny and the farm was buzzing with movement. The shearer moved each sheep through his trailer quickly, removing their beautiful long fleeces in one piece and releasing the now almost comically lanky looking sheep out the other side. As sheep step up for their turn, Jesscy calls out their name and someone writes it down on a piece of paper. When the sheep is done being sheared, its wool, now in the first stages of being turned into a living wool piece, is handed off to a small group of women who lay it out on a table and pick out the dirt, straw, and poop that have made their way into the wool. The wool goes into a bag with the sheep’s name on the paper, and eventually Jesscy will felt the back together and they will be sold, by name, and off to adorn their new homes. They are as practical as they are beautiful, my rug from Brienne of Tarth lays across the bench at the foot of my bed, and my rug from Unicorn lines my bed roll, keeping me warm and comfortable while camping.

Jesscy Dean and her husband Leif run Prairie Song Rescue, nestled in the hills outside of Wilsall, Montana. For the last eight years they have run the animal sanctuary, taking in and caring for the many animals that made their way to the property. But for Jesscy, tending to animals and the earth has always been a core part of who she is. “Tending to the earth, her plants, and creatures is in my lineage on both sides.” Jesscy told me over a shared piece of freshly pit-cooked lamb, “ I come from native roots & even before I fully knew my heritage as half Chippewa-Cree, I embraced a lifestyle of living in alignment with the land & wild spaces.”

way street though; as much as they thrive off of the land, the land thrives off of them. They take extra care to make sure that the property is healthy and productive. I asked Jesscy how many animals they have at their place and she looked around and laughed, too many to count. There’s donkeys, sheep, horses, mules, yaks, guinea fowl, peacocks, pigs, chickens, cats, and dogs. The animals play and graze around the property, which Daisy Dean Creek runs through. On any given weekend, you’ll find a clan of children belonging to Jesscy’s friends and neighbors running around playing in the mud, hypnotizing chickens, and sneaking treats to the animals. It is a truly nurturing environment for everyone, regardless of species.

Tending to the earth, her plants, and creatures is in my lineage on both sides

Jesscy reflected on her upbringing, which set the stage for the rest of her life. “I was raised in poverty in a singleparent household. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom bringing home orphaned creatures of all shapes and sizes for us to rehab. We worked with everything from wildlife to farm animals to exotics. This was before the internet, so when someone found an orphan or had an animal in need of help, they knew to bring it to my mom. She had true gifts for animal communication and being able to heal and help whatever came our way. I feel so fortunate that she passed this on to me. It truly is my heart’s work.”

“Wildcrafting was a way of life for us. We incorporated wild plants & mushrooms into our medicine and food. I learned the value of walking barefoot, soaking in the mountain air and untamed waters, and gathering firewood from the forest long before it was trendy. I’m exceptionally blessed to have always been immersed in this way of life.” At Prairie Song, Jesscy and Leif tend to large gardens and forage for 80% of their yearly food. They fully rely on the earth under their feet to sustain themselves and their animals. It’s a two-

On another warm spring day, Jesscy and I walk down to the barn where a barely 10-hourold yak calf is feeding with its mother. A peacock struts around with his plumage in full bloom, pursuing one of the hens pecking at the ground. The horses, mules, and donkeys follow us through the pasture, and I notice among the dozens of hooves on the ground, Jesscy is barefoot. She steps into the barn, says hello to the pigs and momma yak, and emerges from the old outbuilding carrying Vera, the baby yak. She checks over Vera, and she tells me about the dynamics of a yak herd. I ask where one even gets yaks in Montana. The geographic range of where the rescues come from is massive. Some animals come from folks down the road who are having issues, like the chickens who had their coop broken into more than once by a weasel. Some come from far south of the border, like the sweet dog with a funny smile named Tidbit, who was rescued off the streets in Mexico. Jesscy and Leif participate in many spay and neuter clinics on the reservations as well as in Latin America. They also bring dogs and cats back 37

and adopt out through their rescue as well as placing animals with local shelters to well go to well-vetted forever homes. Some of the horses, sheep, and yaks are rescued from situations where their previous owners did not realize the work and upkeep needed to properly care for the animals. Some of the sheep that were at this spring’s shearing appeared to have not been sheared in a year or two at best. Most of the sheep at Prairie Song are Navajo-Churro sheep. The NavajoChurro sheep are a heritage breed; only around 4,500 remain in the world. They are considered America’s first sheep and produce beautiful lush wool, and some grow four or more horns on their heads. Their beauty and history are enough to make anyone want some in their pasture, however they do require regular shearings and careful breeding to maintain healthy bloodlines. Jesscy has taken a special liking to the breed, rescuing most of their flock from situations where they were not cared for properly. She recognizes the importance of saving this breed and making sure that healthy, breed standard Navajo-Churro sheep are produced and cared for. 40

The walls of Jesscy and Leif ’s modest home are lined with sheep’s wool as insulation. They have no running water and depend on a wood stove to keep them warm in the winter and cool breezes through open windows to cool them in the summer. Jesscy tells me that someday they will fix up the old ranch house and move into that, but that the animals come first. Jesscy walks up to one of the big john mules and he lays his giant head on her shoulders. I can see the peace and the intimate soulful connection between Jesscy and the mule. As much as she tends to all of these creatures, they tend to her. @thewildhomesteader Chloe Nostrant is a writer, photographer,

and artist (among other things) from Livingston, Montana. Finding stories in Montana’s vast landscapes, winding rivers, and saloons, she pulls inspiration from the characters born of these circumstances. Curious with how a place dictates the people, she travels around Montana and the American West documenting its people and places (and fishing its streams).

CHLOE NOSTRANT

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VIGNETTE |

come with me a summer song

IMAGE BY NIDA

By Caitlin Mallery

Come with me, let’s climb the willow tree,

And find nests where birds lay eggs like drops of sky. We’ll wake the sleepy owl, and he’ll scold us away. We’ll take the fallen branches to defend Our arboreal fortress from its foes.

We’ll find the ladybirds crawling through the bark And watch the bright butterflies float by.

Come with me, let’s swim in the gleaming pond And feel the rainbow fish dart around our legs.

We’ll try to catch the slippery frog who leaps so high. We’ll skip rocks along the surface

Splashing glittering droplets high.

We’ll watch the spiders skim the top like skaters And the dragonflies sparkle in the bulrushes.

Come with me, let’s race beside the farm fields

And ride our bikes to find the prettiest flowers.

We’ll gather them from ditches along the dusty roads. We’ll make a bouquet of pinks and purples And slurp the honeysuckle nectar.

We’ll duck as hummingbirds whiz beside our ears And the bumblebees gather their golden reward.

Come with me, let’s find the sweet and sticky treats

Stowed in the frigid depths and highest pantry shelves.

We’ll let them drip down our chin till it’s time to go in. We’ll snack on nuts, berries, and melons

And maybe pluck tomatoes from the garden. We’ll leave the rinds for ants to find

And prove the strength of their colony. Come with me, so you can see

Ancient stories that the stars will tell.

We’ll feel the shadowy bats in the gloaming. We’ll count the shooters cross the sky

And make wishes for the day to come.

We’ll hear the serenade of cricket song And let that be our summer lullaby.

Southwest Montana Flood Relief Fund June 15, 2022 | Livingston, Montana

A new fund, the Southwest Montana Flood Relief Fund - Serving Park and Madison Counties, has been created to support communities affected by the severe flooding in Park County, Madison County and other areas of Southwest Montana. The funding will provide support for immediate needs like emergency shelter, drinking water, food, clothing, food replacement from lost freezers and refrigerators, and will also help with clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

IMAGE BY STEVEN CORDES

The creation of the fund is a joint effort between the Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) and Park County Community Foundation (PCCF) to streamline support and focus it to the areas of our region that need it most at this time. Those wishing to help people most impacted by the flooding in Southwest Montana are encouraged to donate to this fund.

To give: You can text Flood22 to 41444 You can also send a check to: Greater Gallatin United Way 945 Technology Boulevard Bozeman, MT 59718 Please put "SWMT Flood Relief Fund" in the memo

Learn more:

pccf-montana.org greatergallatinunitedway.org

Carbon County Disaster Relief Fund June 15, 2022 | Red Lodge, Montana

Donating to the Carbon County Disaster Relief Fund will help support emergency management and disaster relief in Carbon County. Our beloved community of Red Lodge is experiencing another challenging time with the flooding of Rock Creek impacting several residents, homes, and businesses. You can provide financial support by donating to the Carbon County Disaster Relief Fund or by donating to Red Lodge Fire Rescue. Donations will support efforts to manage the flooding, affected individual and family emergency needs, and future recovery efforts.

IMAGE BY ERIC NIEBLER

The past few years have demonstrated the resiliency and strength of our community in challenging times. Thank you for your care and compassion to help us again come together in support of one another.

Learn more:

rlacf.org redlodgefire.com/donate

IMAGE BY JENNA BALLARD

| FEATURE

ZOELLE DEVLIN

PRESERVING STORY By Sydney Munteanu Images by Jenna Ballard & Cole Rodger

a self-taught jeweler, Zoelle Devlin dropped out of college to pursue jewelrymaking professionally at the age of 18. She bootstrapped the start of her business, Love Zoelle, by selling her first creation on Instagram. It was a simple, everyday wearable bracelet that caught the attention of many friends. They helped her spread the word, and the orders kept coming in. Zoelle laughs, “It was such a simple design! A chain with a disc-shaped pendant that could be customized with initials. I sent out a personal email and 60 people responded that they wanted it.” She goes on to share, “I ended up keeping the bracelet as part of our Love Zoelle classic collection for years. We actually just retired the design. It was bittersweet, but we are evolving.” Today, Zoelle’s jewelry company specializes in heirloom redesigns and custom pieces that highlight unique stones in everyday wearable ways. “I love anything that gives me a challenge,” she explains of her style. Creating over 40 custom (and remarkable) engagement rings to date, Zoelle’s work has been featured in Bride, Vogue, and The Knot.

I asked Zoelle how she even thought to come up with her first jewelry collection. She answered, “I’ve always been a very visual and artistic person. And my dad is an artist, so I embraced that growing up. But I’m a terrible drawer. I had to find someone who would work with me by talking out the designs first. I also really like to get involved and handson in the process, which was a challenge a first.” She laughs, “Wade and I butted heads about the designs. But now, we have a great friendship. He understands my way of pushing back and our little arguments are part of our language.”

I pay a lot of attention to the stones. That is where my design process starts. I love the traditional ways of jewelry making, but I like to push boundaries.

Zoelle discovered her passion for jewelry design in high school after inheriting a ring from her grandmother. “My family was left with an amazing collection of jewelry,” she shares. “My cousins got most of the pieces, except two that didn’t fit and were gifted to me. I created two rings from my grandmother’s pieces, and that was the start of my foray into jewelry design.” When Zoelle first saw the rings, she immediately loved the diamond stones— a habit that would stick with her as a designer— but she wanted to remake them into something more modern that suited her own style. Zoelle began by knocking on the doors of her local Missoula jewelers, getting many ‘nos’ for the redesign she had in mind. Finally, a yes came 54

from Wade Honey, a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy who agreed to work with her but basically said, ‘I’ll give it a try, but no promises.’ Honey Jewelers soon became a cornerstone of Zoelle’s self-taught beginnings as a designer as she started trading studio time for discounted design fees. Zoelle would help create wax molds for Wade’s clients and eventually began to play with her own creations. She tells me, “Wade gave me a place to see the inner workings of a jewelry business and still remains a friend and jeweler Love Zoelle works with to this day.”

Zoelle has expanded her network of jewelers throughout the years, building her own, seemingly unique friendships with a group of old-school New York diamond brokers. She finds them both endearing and crucial to her design process. “It’s me and a handful of 60-something-year-old men who have been in the business for decades.” She admits, “I adore them. But I usually get a lot of ‘nos’ before I can convince my jewelers about the designs I want to make with the stones. I know they can be time-consuming.” But with so much of her work inspired by the unique gems they help procure, her friendships with this eclectic group are ones she cherishes. Relationships are essential for any worthwhile business, especially one rooted in creativity.

IMAGE BY JENNA BALLARD

“After I created the two rings from my grandmother’s collection, I decided to take my GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certification. I started helping Wade pick out stones to cut down his labor processes. Sometimes I would come into his studio and mess around, and that’s when I got into wax molds,” Zoelle explains the manual process for casting that she now specializes in. “That was also around the time I put my first bracelet up for sale. I made it in Wade’s studio. It was a stamped look 56

that was very popular in jewelry at the time, but I didn’t like the indentation most designs had on the other side so I created my own and made the letters through hand-engraving.” This design launched the first Love Zoelle mini collection and gave her the ability to bootstrap her business moving forward. At the time of our interview, Zoelle had recently completed a once-in-a-career engagement ring for a client. It included a 1914 vintage 2.2-carat cushion-

cut, rose diamond from Botswana that Zoelle found through one of her old-school NYC jewelers. Aside from being a hallmark of her career, the stone had a deeper meaning. The diamond originally came out of Africa by way of the English diamond houses in the early 1900s. With her own heritage tied to South Africa, Zoelle chose to highlight both the intricate style and the story of its origin by placing it in an extremely unique setting for a stone of its cut, a multi-pronged setting she is particularly fond of. Zoelle loved it so much that she decided to make a replica for her own engagement ring. “I pay a lot of attention to the stones. That is where my design process starts,” Zoelle remarks. “I love the traditional ways of jewelry making, but I like to push boundaries. My inspiration always comes from the stones first. I like to live with them for a bit and will keep them in my office or by my desk before diving into the design. I believe the stones will tell their story, and that is what dictates the kind of setting it wants to be in.”

“A lot of times, it’s a woman’s husband’s family collection, which is why engagement rings have become our specialty,” Zoelle shares. “People worry they will lose the essence of a piece, especially if it has a family meaning tied to it. Those are my favorite projects to take on.” Zoelle honors a mindful design process that reuses all of the original materials. As an artist, she relishes the challenge of redesigning heirlooms in ways that preserve the integrity of the family’s story while remaking a piece into something modern the client can wear every day. “What people don’t realize is that we reuse every single material. We try our hardest not to add anything if we can help it,” she explains. “Our goal is to keep all the metal and stone and reorder them in a way that better fits the client’s personality!” Where many designers take an approach to redesign by taking out the stones and placing them in a new format, Zoelle’s team will take the time (often weeks) to find the perfect alloy formula to match.

What people don’t realize is that we reuse every single material. We try our hardest not to add anything if we can help it.

“I will obviously take into account the specifics a client wants,” Zoelle clarifies. “But my process is very intuitive. I think before I fell in love with finished jewelry, I was in love with the materials. To make something with these stones and materials that have a story and their own energy, to create something so beautiful you get to wear every day and carry that energy with you.”

Over six years in business, Love Zoelle has continued to emphasize using only ethically-sourced stones and sustainable materials in her designs which have garnered the attention of women from Los Angeles to the Hamptons. “Most of them come through word of mouth,” Zoelle explains. “I get a lot of referrals from my clients. After completing an heirloom, I’ll often end up getting connected to their sisters or friends who also want to redesign a family piece. I have one client for who I’ve now done heirloom redesigns for seven of the 10 houses on her block!”

During her first few years, Zoelle’s business was built upon selling pieces through boutiques and retail. But after 2020, like many, she decided to take a deliberate pivot into selling primarily direct and now focuses on a few specialty, custom projects each month. “I will take up to six custom engagement pieces a month and four heirloom redesigns for special occasions and gifts,” she shares. And this pivot, I would argue, has only made her work more desirable. “I really only pick the projects that are interesting to me. It might be selfish, but I really need to personally connect with what a client is wanting. If they automatically want a huge rock or a round, 4-pronged diamond ring, they are not our clients,” she laughs. “I like something unique and with a little edge. And projects that have a deeper meaning! I’m always drawn to the special stone passed down from a grandmother.” Zoelle opened a new design studio and showroom in downtown Missoula in June 2021 and currently 57

employs 3 full-time apprentices, supporting their desires to learn the business of jewelry making in a way that wasn’t accessible to her when she started out. “All of our apprentices are young women,” Zoelle says. “The everyday pieces on our website are the ones they help make. They are very thought out; I’ve basically designed them for myself. Our classics are a wonderful, general reflection of the Love Zoelle style and our custom pieces are an extension of that.” In addition to her blooming jewelry business, Zoelle has been taking her passion for sustainable fashion a step further. She recently founded Love Dot, a sustainable clothing brand making styles for women on the go. After a year in business, Love Dot caught the attention of a larger competitor who has offered to buy the company. The sale will be complete after the time this goes to publish, but Zoelle shares that she was amazed. She’s now thrilled to see Love Dot grow even further with a bigger backing. I love Zoelle’s holistic approach to design. And no doubt, her clients feel immense joy when wearing

their treasured pieces with a preserved history. It’s remarkable to understand the things we wear and adorn ourselves with as women; they also hold such power and energy. And certainly, a world of stories.

LOVE ZOELLE @lovezoelle lovezoelle.com

SYDNEY MUNTEANU is a communications

and branding strategist with a passion for storytelling. She grew up in Colorado and received her B.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder and left in 2012 to pursue a marketing career in Los Angeles. After 5 years of city life, the call back to the mountains was too great and she found (and fell in love with) her new home in Whitefish, Montana. Sydney has a marketing consulting business working with food & beverage, wellness, and women’s brands. Connect and find her work at backlabelbranding.com

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FIRST LIGHT, LOWER YELLOWSTONE FALLS 12×12 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL 2021

| FEATURE

A quiet Landscape Pamela Kendall Schiffer and Solitude in Oils Story by CHloe Nostrant

Even in a busy room, the subtle paintings on the wall are the loudest presence in the room. They demand attention but radiate a hypnotic calm, no matter what else the room may hold. These paintings are works capturing some of the most complex landscapes on the planet, yet they are simple. They are still. No busyness, no chaos, no noise. Just solitude. Artist Pamela Kendall Schiffer has captured each of these landmarks in their most pure and unguarded moments. Schiffer, who spent most of her life in Santa Barbara, is as bubbly and extroverted as they come. She has a permanent smile that welcomes everyone and bright eyes that capture every detail. She grew up in a house full of kids and the constant (albeit loving and fun) chaos that came with it. She found she was an extroverted introvert who needed a place to recharge and sought out the solace of the outdoors. The outdoors were a refuge and a place where she could connect and grow with the landscape and herself intimately.

LAMAR RIVER, SUMMER 10×20 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL 2021

She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and studied ceramics. After college she raised three daughters, each of who have grown up to be talented artists in their own rights and different mediums— one a silversmith, one a singer-songwriter, and one a poet. As the girls grew older and she had more time to experiment with paints, Schiffer slowly started to pick up oil painting. She was largely self-taught but sought out the work of masters like Vermeer, Agnes Martin, David Hockney, and Reinhardt in art museums. Thin layer by thin layer, she delicately built up scenes of serenity and defined her style. She craved open space more than anything. In California, the ocean was her open space. Her seascapes are atmospheric and dreamy, the soft light from early mornings or late evenings cast an almost angelic haze on the beaches and cliffs that bordered the waves. People around Santa Barbara related to her work, and her popularity began to flourish. She became represented by Craig Krull Gallery, a wellknown art dealer who still represents her to this day. On one of her road trips to Yellowstone, she caught wind that an artist named Russell Chatham had a gallery in Livingston, not too far of a drive. She 64

had never seen Chatham’s work before but knew his name as he was the grandson of the famous SwissAmerican landscape painter Gottardo Piazzoni. A friend suggested she go and see his work and meet him since they had a similar style and had a feeling they would hit it off. She followed the Yellowstone River north to Livingston and fell in love with the Paradise Valley. She did meet Chatham and many of his friends with whom Schiffer would become close with. She also met his lithograph printer, Geoffrey Harvey, whom she collaborated with on a series of lithographs. After many years of visiting, Schiffer moved to Livingston permanently in 2014— putting her at the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Over the last five years she has worked on a series of paintings of Yellowstone National Park, which now coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Park. The Park has inspired countless artists to create meaningful work from their experiences. Not all can capture the powerful and oftentimes busy landmarks within the Park with such reverence and grace. The harmony and soft-focus of the Park’s landscapes show her mastery over not only light and color but of the essence of the place.

UPPER LEFT: TREES AT SUNRISE, HAYDEN VALLEY 5×5 INCHES, OIL ON LINEN, 2014 UPPER MIDDLE: FULL MOON, HAYDEN VALLEY 5×5 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL, 2015 UPPER LEFT: WINTER, LAMAR VALLEY 5×5 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL, 2019 LOWER: EARLY MORNING, HAYDEN VALLEY 10×16 INCHES, OIL ON LINEN, 2018

Schiffer’s work has a divine and feminine touch to it. Her work is often compared to Chatham’s, and rightfully so, but her work is much more gentle and tender than Chatham’s. Where Chatham’s brush strokes were more bold and blocky, Schiffer’s are light and delicate. Schiffer’s work is remarkably meditative. The often ethereal essence of her work is an ode to the spiritual beauty she seeks and captures. Pamela looks over at a group of paintings on her wall and says, “I look for a spiritual connection toward my subject, whether it’s a serene landscape or a beautiful animal in a glorious environment. The notion of beauty is key in my work.” You can hear the snow falling in the silence of her landscapes. You can smell the cool salty morning air in the stillness of her work. The landscapes themselves are incredibly complex, but they transport you to their most sensitive moments. There’s a grizzly bear, boiling geysers, jagged cliffs, blizzards, and crashing waves. But none of them are taking on their expected rugged or potentially dangerous personas; they are instead in moments of contemplation and awakening. She has brought not only these scenes to our eyes, but these moments of stillness and etherealness. Pamela is the conduit for viewers to revel in a moment zen with the natural world around us, no matter how busy the room or the mind. To see Pamela’s work, please visit pamelakendallschiffer.com or visit Old Main Gallery in Bozeman, Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica, or arrange an in-person visit to her Paradise Valley studio.

UPPER TO LOWER: BISON 11×14 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL, 2015 RAVEN 5×5 INCHES, OIL ON LINEN, 2015 EARLY SPRING IN YELLOWSTONE 10×10 INCHES, OIL ON LINEN, 2018 CLEPSYDRA GEYSER, YELLOWSTONE 8×10 INCHES, OIL ON LINEN, 2021 TRUMPETER SWANS, HAYDEN VALLEY 11×14 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL, 2021 66

| FEATURE

DAYBREAK, LAMAR RIVER 6×6 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL 2021

COYOTE, SPRING 8×8 INCHES, OIL ON PANEL 2021

see the art & make the art at the square a contemporary art museum

The Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (The Square) in Great Falls, Montana has been exhibiting art, teaching art and supporting the development of contemporary art and artists since 1977. Housed in the historic Great Falls school built in 1896 by Paris Gibson, the founder of Great Falls. The Square is known for its exceptional rotating exhibitions showing local, regional and national contemporary artists, in addition to its outdoor sculpture garden and educational gallery programing. The museum offers outstanding onsite studio classes to the community in ceramics, printmaking, painting, drawing and more!

PARIS GIBSON SQUARE MUSEUM OF ART

1400 First Avenue North Great Falls, MT 59401 (406)727-8255 www.the-square.org www.facebook.com/PGSMOA/

HOURS OF OPERATION

Open Monday-Friday 10am to 5pm, including Tuesday Evenings 5-9pm, and Saturday Noon to 5pm. Closed Sundays and Select Holidays.

free admission!

Exhibitions presented by Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art are supported in part by the Montana Arts Council, a state agency funded by the State of Montana and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding is provided by museum members and the citizens of Cascade County, and generous support from Montana Federal Credit Union and D.A. Davidson.

TENDING MY OCCASIONALLY CONTRARY PATH BY BARBARA FRASER

| LIFE

he rainfall outside that turns the streets shiny black and whips the apple tree branches with their tiny new leaves is actually delightful. I need to mow my lawn and begin the process of refurbishing my yard and garden, but I also need to finish this article, so I enthusiastically embrace zero guilt. I know that the mountains are probably getting another dusting of a spring snowfall, but this will disappear with the next sunny day.

Years ago, I had an old-timer who told me that it was safe to put plants in the ground without the risk of freezing when the snow was off the mountains. By the time the long winter is over, gardeners up here in the north can be challenged by patience and often do their best to guide their way around the rules. My biggest asset would be to build a greenhouse with the salvaged windows that wait patiently for me in a corner. I recently returned from a visit to a place where spring was in full bloom while ours was just tip-toeing in. I appreciate how travel allows us to have a new set of experiences that we would not normally have in our everyday lives. I love returning with fresh perspectives that invigorate me and can be applied to my life or even lead to a new path. The south was full of mowing homeowners, and the Clematis (unlike ours that was just breaking through the ground) was blooming heartily at mailboxes and rivaling the soft purple blossoms of the Wisteria wrapping its tendrils around porch posts and arbors. I was afraid I would miss spring at home, but when I called my cousin, she assured me I would miss nothing and that the tulips were just making their appearance out of the ground. I had missed the Dogwood blooms but caught the last of the Azaleas that were withering like pink paper flowers in the rain.

FRUIT WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) 2615/16×227/16 INCHES, BLOCK PRINT 1862

My most delightful discovery was one of the horticultural highlights of the south in my eyes— I had discovered the Knock-Out Rose. I was assured that they were a staple of the southern garden, and as I watched them already bloom profusely, I was assured they would do so all through the summer. I am a sucker for any rose, but if it blooms without ceasing during its season I am completely infatuated. My research showed that not only are they low maintenance, but also disease resistant and a version does indeed grow in our zone. The nurseryman I immediately called said he had been carrying them for about three years. I loved that I had discovered the rose I would add to my little collection so early in the season and anticipated I might possibly add two. I don’t think I have ever traveled anywhere without tucking at least a few items into my suitcase on the return trip. I love how these small treasures bring back happy memories with their use. The treasures of our life are to be held onto as well. Some of the most fragile stages of our lives are similar to the new plants that come out of the ground. We may not be shielded from these situations that threaten to break us, and recovery can feel exhausting and may even take longer than expected. I have found that these extreme situations will change my path of growth and even who I will become. If I am a diligent student of life, I will begin to understand that each encounter actually sets the stage for the next event I come upon. As we get older and experience greater resilience, we realize that we can become stronger than we would have ever imagined.

By the time we have lived more decades than we have left to live, we often have stopped blaming life for its hardships and started to understand that this is just another aspect of living. We may even embrace the idea that this time of hard growth is actually necessary for us and is fundamental for what comes next. I grow more as I accept this as a truth in my life instead of fighting it or walking away. Having grace for humanity can also help us to be more gracious within our own lives, and especially with ourselves. The comparison game no longer works for me, and I find it to be a great waste of time and 74

energy. This is a welcome relief from the way I once viewed things as a young woman. I frequently was influenced by an ever-changing group of people I saw in periodicals and in the media— a media that was minuscule compared to what we have today. Part of this is in thanks to the fact that I have lived enough to rule out a lot of what others chase. My life is simpler now, and I like it that way. I have finally come to the conclusion that I don’t make mistakes in the sense I once thought I did. If I look at my past experiences as opportunities for learning instead of a lapse in judgment, I see the schooling of life. If I seek an answer to the question of how I could have done better, or question what an event is here to teach me, I often find the answers I seek very quickly. With the answer also comes the gift of contentment, and I allow that to settle within me as well. These situations have molded me into the person I have become, who I am finally happy and proud of. I no longer strive for false perfection and am learning to let that be a part of my past. I work hard to no longer berate myself for these times. Guilt is a horrendous waste of time, and our society is exceptionally accomplished at it, but only if we allow it to be so. I believe graciousness is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another as it allows us to do better at the next opportunity. I once wondered if these concepts could have changed how I made my way through my earlier life, but I now believe that life itself is how I have learned the great wisdom that would have been so valuable to me decades ago. I conclude that I learn the most valued ideas and concepts right when I am supposed to. I thought that being a wife and mother would be the biggest achievement of my life. I am delighted and very proud of these both, but I am learning that discovering who I am and the other things I am supposed to do with my life may actually be my most fulfilling experience. I believe that every season of our life allows us to find our way back to a place of contentment, and that this process is a learned skill.

MARIGOLD WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) 2615/16×217/8 INCHES, BLOCK PRINT 1875

I LOVE THE RITUALS OF MY LIFE

Just like a gardener who has specific tools, these rituals allow me to tend to my mental and physical well-being and make me feel more settled. They nurture my life with their simplicity which is something I still find surprising. I spent years consumed by whatever I saw in magazines and collected the items that would create the look I had immediately fallen in love with. What I now understand is that this was filling up my home and the empty places in my soul that I now fill in other ways. We all need to find the passions of our life and then embrace the small details we gather along the way. These are the top four habits that make a difference in my life.

sleep I was once the person who loved nothing more than staying up until the wee hours when sunrise was extraordinarily closer than sunset. All you night owls understand the deep delight of being awake and creative while the rest of the world slumbers around us. While pulling an all-nighter may create what we feel is brilliance, the reality is that the price can get higher as the decades pass. I now have found that a good night’s sleep and a quiet early morning can inspire my creativity just as well; I am certain there will always be occasional nights that feel lovely and nostalgic. As I made my way through grieving, I discovered that many widows and widowers were unable to enter the bedroom after their spouse died, sometimes for years. There are also those who will never sleep in their shared beds again. My uncle was one of them. They had been married for 63 years, and he never entered the room again. For reasons I may never fully understand, I was not one of these. Our bedroom has been a surprising sanctuary in our home and was for me even from the first night after Danny died. It was full of us and our family and was the place where we had spent thousands of hours having all kinds of conversations. We had laughed while reading books to our growing children at the end of each day and then had conversations as they made their way through life. And most precious were the memories of holding each other as the day ended and then loving whispers as the next day started. I still needed a place where I could 76

feel my husband and his existence, and also the feelings that were beautifully linked to our bedroom. I find the golden glow of the evening filters through the lace curtains and casts a lovely radiance around the room. It is also one of my favorite places to read a good book, and the best place to settle in and read a great book. My body needs more sleep than it once did, unfortunately my mind does not always cooperate with this need. I am learning how to dance with sleepless hours instead of fighting them. Something that helps with this is making my bed a great place to be. I buy the best sheets I can afford in a pattern that makes me happy. I still retain the habit of ironing my pillowcases and the edge of my top sheet; I use linen water that makes everything smell wonderful. I know many people who don’t even own an iron anymore, but I love how this simple household task connects me to the women of my family that ironed after every laundry day. I also have committed to the habit of making my bed each morning because it accounts for the biggest object in the room. I once read that it can be the first victory of the day, and I like early successes. It further urges me to keep the rest of my room picked up. The greatest benefit is coming into a lovely space at the end of my day that eagerly awaits me.

hydrate It still surprises me to have arrived at a point in my life where drinking unadorned water is a top priority of my day. I spent decades drinking some of the unhealthiest options filled with sugar. I now understand that my body needs to be hydrated properly or I will pay an unexpected price. Our bodies are miraculous in the way that they keep working with all the abuse we heap on them, but it is cumulative, and eventually we begin to suffer in a myriad of ways. I hope I have the time to restore the good health needed to live a few more decades— luckily longevity runs in my family. I knew that drinking water flushed toxins out of our bodies; what I didn’t realize was that longterm dehydration can create brain fog. I also have greater appreciation that it helps our skin, which is the biggest organ of our body though we often forget this little nugget of anatomy. I have decided that getting older is already challenging enough without sabotaging myself any more than I already

| LIFE

have. For all of you with joint issues, hydrating our bodies is another bonus as we age. My body knows when it needs hydration and my job now is to listen to it; that first glass of water has become extremely satisfying. Once I thought about how many plastic water bottles I was going through, I found another solution, thanks to a visit to my son and daughter in laws home. I bought a Brita and have never bought a case of water again. I appreciate how taking care of my body also helps our planet— bonus.

food Sometimes I think that becoming a diabetic has actually been a bit of a gift. It has forced me to change how I eat and how I look at food. Each week I write a menu for greater organization and a grocery list to reduce the urge to buy bad foods impulsively. Going to the market has become gratifying, and I have been surprised to spend less money than I once did. As I pick each piece of fruit or the most perfect vegetable available, I know it will fuel my body and keep me on the right path to health. New recipes have become an adventure more than a burden, and I am discovering the combinations I like as well as the ones I don’t. The days of doing what was easiest and fastest have been replaced with a deeper connection to preparing my meals. The more I dedicate myself to eating well, the greater benefit I have to a better and longer life. I look forward to our local farmer’s markets in the summer. Picking the food that has been grown locally and having conversations with those who dedicate their time to growing healthy produce is pleasing. I am also grateful I can buy foods that are not available to millions of people all over the world.

reading In the middle of a busy life, reading can return me immediately to a sense of peace and contentment. For me, there is nothing more delightful than reading a book and falling deeper into each detail that the author reveals. To be pulled into another existence can be the perfect mental and even physical vacation. I once heard of a person who read the last page of the book and if they liked the way it ended, they would start fresh at the beginning. That felt like a sellout to me, and as a writer, I knew

I could never skip those words and betray all the work that had gone into each page. As I have mentioned before, I didn’t read much at all right after my husband died; my brain didn’t have the capacity to work that hard. My favorite escape had abandoned me, and I felt betrayed by my beloved words. I have now found that time has brought back a greater clarity of mind, and I am delighted to once again pick up a book and fall into another time and place. The piles of books around my living room and on my nightstand are a reminder of the progress in the fine art of grieving. Our time here is precious beyond our understanding. Life can be harder for some than others, and I don’t have any answers as to why, though I have thought of this and wondered often. I am grateful for the life I have been given and sought. When I was young, I thought I wanted to know what my life was going to look like, and even thought I deserved easy answers to the problems I encountered. I now am grateful that I didn’t know how it would all turn out. If I had been aware of many of the hardest times of my life, I would have been incapacitated and can imagine myself hiding both physically and figuratively in my closet. I now realize that the obstacles have created who I have become, and I like myself more than I ever have. We learn by the choices we make; they are just opportunities, not good or bad. Being a human being is beautifully messy and unexpectedly complicated. Our lives have peaceful moments where we can reconnect with the quiet place within ourselves. Finding a more contented life takes practice— especially in today’s world. Organization is a key for me, but just because I understand this doesn’t mean I am not frequently challenged with its success. Sometimes my garden is well tended and looks enchanting, and sometimes the weeds make their way into little corners. By garden I also mean my home, and my life. I now understand that life is messy, and being gracious is the key to navigating my way through it. One of the standards I strive for in life comes from a quote— Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful William Morris

THE TRUE SECRET OF HAPPINESS LIES IN THE TAKING A GENUINE INTEREST IN ALL THE DETAILS OF DAILY LIFE. WILLIAM MORRIS

WILLOW WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) 253/4×1713/16 INCHES, BLOCK PRINT 1874

Woman owned, women led — We shape spaces for people.

www.openstudiocollective.com @openstudiocollective

SHINE ON

IMAGE BY JOE POHLE

BY SARAH HARDING

| VIGNETTE

In a black veil I wandered lost Then I became fierce Shining with love. I would fall asleep crouched Your father and I Back to back Swords drawn Armed to the teeth with love. Guarding each other’s weak sides Willing to fight This world For you. I am blinded by your brilliance Or I am wretched with fear. You show us the cage we endure. here to offer freedom You are just being you. As we instructed Since before you had language. *be yourself everyone else is already taken* *You are enough, lovable, unique* *There never has been and never will be anyone else like you* *You do you* Tacked to school hallways This Is what we tell our children. How can we argue when they follow our instructions? Choose, You say, Between fear and Me. Well, when you put it that way… This is a requirement of unconditional love.

THIS COULD BE YOU!

backcountry weddings for the WILDLY in love

For soon-to-be-married couples who feel constrained by the trappings of a traditional wedding, an adventure elopement is the next best thing you never knew existed. From sunrise mountain top summits and helicopter rides on glaciers to casual strolls through the woods and chill days on the lake, we’ll work together to craft a wedding day that truly speaks to your soul and incorporates what you love most — the outdoors and each other.

YOU LIKE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX … WHY SHOULD YOUR WEDDING DAY BE ANY DIFFERENT?

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www.jesslynmarie.com

info@jesslynmarie.com

LIFE |

TENDING WELL TO OTHERS BY NICOLE DUNN

There’s always more growth and development work to do in the department of being a kind & skillful human. Here are a few ways to up our game and apply a bit more mindfulness to our social interactions with others. 1) DIALING DOWN OUR SHOCK RESPONSE. We are all familiar with the classic example of a friend asking us if we’ve seen suchand-such a movie. Then, when we report that we have not seen said movie, our friend acts as though it is the greatest atrocity that’s ever happened. What?!! You’ve never seen that movie?! Were you born under a rock?! No one on the receiving end of this scenario walks away feeling good about themselves. This is the kind of shock response I’m referring to. Body language, facial expressions, and the words we choose to say—and how we say them— are all part of how we communicate and relate with others. Paying attention to how we show up in these ways, especially when someone shares something with us that we didn’t see coming, is a next level and important practice in caring well for others and improving the quality of our relationships. 2) LISTENING MORE DEEPLY. It’s a powerful gift we give to others when we are able to listen without an agenda. When we can listen without distraction or dispersion. To offer our full presence to someone is an act of love and support. So often our focus is divided when we’re conversing with others. We’re waiting for someone to stop talking so we can insert our own views, or we’re listening to the extent of taking in only things we 84

want to hear. Listening deeply requires a shift in perspective from self to others. It also requires that we learn how to be a little more okay with lulls and pauses in conversations— and give the folks who might need it— some time to formulate their thoughts into words. PSA: It’s good to keep in mind that we don’t all have the same conversational style. 3) BEING AWARE OF OTHERS IN THE ROOM. No one is a big fan of feeling like they’re being held hostage in a one-man monologue situation. If we’re invested in being a kind & skillful human, a big part of how we tend well to others involves honing our social awareness and ability to read the room and make adjustments accordingly. When it comes to social gatherings, taking interest in others, asking questions, and finding ways to enfold others into the conversation (especially those who haven’t been able to get a word in edgewise) are all part of promoting a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. 4) ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BE AS THEY ARE. Have you ever noticed how quickly some people like to give advice and tell you what you should do even when you’re not asking? Or how easy it is for some folks to interrupt and overlay their own experience when you’re trying to share a personal story with them? What a relief it is when others allow us to be as we are without trying to fix or correct or shift the conversation back to themselves. Another common slight in this area involves when others put words in our mouth or tell us how we’re feeling. Ex: A co-worker finds out we’re getting

ready to visit our family and says: I bet you’re excited to go see your family! And we’re thinking to ourself: Well no; actually I’m sorta dreading it. But how do you say that to your co-worker who’s now front-loaded the conversation with their own enthusiasm instead of asking us how we feel about the upcoming trip? The subtle ways we can put the kibosh on people are plentiful. We all have a little more work to do in allowing others to be as they are.

These are ongoing lessons for cultivating genuine connection with others. The quality of our relationships doesn’t just improve naturally on its own. It takes applied effort and regular practice, and probably also some stepping outside of our comfort zone (because all growth-work does!). There’s no endgame when it comes to further developing our capacity to be skillful and kind in regards to engaging with others. And thankfully, it’s a journey we’re all traveling on together. NICOLE DUNN is a Missoula-based writer, community organizer, poet, ordained member of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, and program director of Be Here Now, a weekly mindfulness & meditation group she founded in 2002. For more info: InMindfulMotion.com

IMAGE BY FERN M. LOMIBAO

5) WIDENING OUR VIEW. It’s a common tendency to think we know people better than we actually do. We make a lot of assumptions, layer our own experiences onto others, and have perceptions that we regard as fact. We sometimes don’t take the time necessary to pull back and put on a wider lens. When engaging with others, whether it’s a close friend, roommate, acquaintance, family member, romantic partner, or even a stranger, it’s important not to get stuck in our limited view. We must be willing and able to look beneath the surface in order to develop understanding and compassion for others. If we’re not careful, it’s easy to forget that each and every one of us is a complex collage

of influences, ancestry, upbringing, surroundings, and experiences. It’s easy to “other” people and to arrange them in self-arranged boxes of “approved” and “not approved.” When we’re caught in our own small view, we do a disservice, and sometimes great harm, to those around us.

IMAGE BY KATIE MOUM

| LIFE

how to

improve your health in your forties, fifties, & beyond By Mindy Cochran | Levitation Nation

ven if you are not a fitness buff, you likely have a general idea of what is required to get fit. It comes down to a lil’ ol’ thing known as exercise, both strength training and cardiovascular. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommendation for adult aerobic activity is: • at least 2 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours a week of moderate-intensity, or • at least 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity, • or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity. HHS says adults should also do musclestrengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week. These exercise recommendations do not change for older adults. I had planned to write that one thing that does change with age is metabolism. Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body uses to maintain itself, and it was previously thought that metabolisms slow down more each year after age 20. But, as I researched in preparation for this article, I found a new study published last year in Science which indicates that metabolism may not decline as early as previously thought. The study agrees that metabolism declines slowly up to age 20 but that it “remains stable in adulthood (20 to 60 years).” These surprising findings were shared again and

again on sites such as NBC News and Harvard Medical School’s Health Publishing Site (health. harvard.edu). So, if this is true, why are so many mid-lifers struggling to maintain fitness? For many, it is due to low activity levels that do not meet the HHS recommendations. As we reach midlife, we have fewer and fewer excuses to play like we once did in our younger years. This is why it is so critical to find an exercise that you enjoy. Takeaway: Find a type of exercise you enjoy Additionally (even if metabolism doesn’t slow as previously thought), unless you are underweight, it is still beneficial to speed the metabolism up. My go-to method for this is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) which is thought to increase the amount of energy your body uses to maintain itself even after you have finished exercise. Takeaway: Try HIIT to rev metabolism As a 44-year-old personal trainer, I personally have never had much trouble finding activities that I love (including HIIT). But, as a 44-year-old with a major love of food, I have found that (despite my love of exercise), my health ebbs and flows along with my commitment to fueling my body with nutrient-dense food. So, if you struggle with fueling your body well, please know that you are not alone. Appropriately acrynomed “SAD,” the Standard American Diet 87

(characterized by the consumption of pre-packaged foods high in carbohydrates and saturated fats, while lacking in plant-based foods and essential nutrients) leaves a lot of room for improvement. But the good news is that all diets work. You just have to pick a plan and stick to it. TAKEAWAY: Pick an eating plan and stick to it Regardless of the new findings on metabolisms staying consistent during midlife, your eating plan might still need to change throughout midlife simply because your circumstances may not always stay the same. In my 30s, I had several surgeries and had trouble recovering, so I explored the autoimmune diet protocol to help my recovery. This opened the door to intermittent fasting. Both of these eating plans worked well for me until (in my 40s) my 8-5 job started providing us with free snack bars. Once the snack bars were mere steps from my desk day in and day out, when I went to work fasting, the first time I had a hunger pang, I couldn’t resist getting into the snack bars. But I refused to acknowledge complete defeat, so I recently shifted to a low carbohydrate eating plan (snack bars are now off the “approved” list of foods), and the new eating plan has really helped me get back on track.

I love my job but hate those snack bars. Which is a plug to office managers everywhere: free sugar is not an employee benefit. Other things that could result in the need to shift your eating plan include changes in weather, travel, and family (shout out to the moms out there struggling to make it all work). TAKEAWAY: Stay aware of the evolving needs of your diet Another simple nutrition hack to improve health midlife is to take a collagen supplement. And, it’s important to be aware that there are calorie-free causes of weight gain. Stress and lack of sleep are bound to surface at some point in your life, so do your best to keep these at bay. TAKEAWAY: Take a collagen supplement, and keep stress and lack of sleep at bay No article on improving your health would not be complete without a mention of mental health, because if you made it to midlife without any traumas or dramas, I suspect you are in the minority. Personally, I have been through an emotionally abusive relationship followed by an extremely bitter and heartbreaking divorce. I have been through miscarriage and surgeries that pulled me into a pit of depression. Loss and death have touched my life; normal for anyone my age. Counseling, journaling, and building my support team have been the tools that have helped me the most to heal my traumas. TAKEAWAY: Do the work to heal past traumas With the experience of our younger years to aid us, midlife can be a beautiful time. If you made it here and need to improve your health, remember that you are not alone and just take it one day at a time. Rest easy knowing that if you are willing to do the work, you can do more than just improve your health; you can even find your best self in your midlife (and ditch the midlife crisis altogether). You got this! Mindy Cochran is the founder of Kalispell’s Levitation Nation Aerial Studio, where the catchphrase “fitness is fun” is embodied alongside a culture of movement & women empowerment. Mindy believes that “The Real Levitation Experience” lies within elevating your health & wellness. Mindy loves to share the expertise she has acquired through her certifications as a personal trainer and life coach. For more about Mindy or Levitation Nation, please visit levitationnation.org

WOMAN WITH A BUTTERFLY AT A POND WITH TWO SWANS JAN TOOROP, 1894 LITHOGRAPH, 8×10 INCHES RIJKS MUSEUM, NETHERLANDS

| VIGNETTE

the camellias

IMAGE BY ANNIE SPRATT

By Morgan Holcomb

Oh, to be a painting Prim, dramatic, but poised Shadowed in dark green Framed by light A Gainsborough in miniature Opening in fractals of brush strokes and silk To lie, fallen Beautiful Wilted, but red Carried by the breeze Into stony arms Picked up carefully and Tossed in a fountain with Pennies for wishes To Float Ophelia-like And make the brackish water Bloody with petals

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Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (Great Falls)

building & design Open Studio Collective (Bozeman + Portland) Wisdom Workshop (Kalispell)

creatives Chloe Nostrant Devin Helen Boudoir Third Hand Silversmith

home Wright's Furniture (Whitefish) Scout + Gather (Columbia Falls)

local flair Mountain Mini Golf (Columbia Falls) Red Ants Pants Music Festival (white sulphur Springs)

shopping Stix Yarn (Bozeman) Quintessence

weddings & celebrations jesslyn Maire, Elopement photographer (Bozeman) Rose Petal Floral & Supplies (Columbia Falls + Cut Bank) Sarah Harding, Celebrant (Whitefish)

wellness Embodying Wild Precision Aesthetics (Bozeman) Spa at Meadow Lake (Columbia Falls) Withey's Health Foods (Kalispell)

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montana woman 2023

the woodlands From the garden we move out to the wild lands— quiet places to seek the unknown. Moving between trees to delve further into hallowed ground, willing to wander as time is needed. Among branch and moss, fern and stream, to find ourselves in this place. To forage what we need, leave what we don't, and continue on the passage— finding refuge in and among each other as we carry on.

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