Ken's Unexpected Journey

Photo by Ken W. Hall

There have been moments when being married to an adventuresome photographer like Ken Hall  has taken me on some unexpected emotional journeys.  This past week we experienced one I will not soon forget.

Ken was supposed to pick me up at 8:00 PM on Thursday evening but did not show up.  I finally walked home to discover he was not there and had not been there for some time.  I had no idea where he was but the filled water bottle left behind on the kitchen counter was my first clue along with the absence of his camera and tripod.

Earlier in the day he mentioned he wanted to get images of the fall colors before they were gone.  So, I knew he must have followed that urge.  I also knew since he did not call to let me know he would not be there to pick me up he was likely in trouble. 

I called a friend of ours who has worked with search and rescue to see if anything could be done this late in the evening.  It had been dark for some time and snow was predicted.  We both agreed not much could be done until morning.  All I could do is wait until dawn.

That night I got plenty of practice keeping myself focused on the truth of the present moment.  My precious mind wanted to take me on the most amazing imaginary journeys where Ken was in grave danger with bears, wolves or likely dead.  But I knew in my heart he would be fine and I would eventually learn the truth.

After a twenty-four hour roller coaster ride for both of us and a welcome night of rest the above photo was taken by Ken Saturday morning at sunrise from our front yard in Ennis.  He was grateful to be home after his unplanned snowy overnight adventure stuck in frozen mud near Black Butte in the Ruby Valley.  When he is ready to share his photographs and details of the journey I will share them here.

When I got up this morning I whispered another prayer of thanksgiving that Ken was home safe.  I noticed it was twenty degrees.  A cold front is expected to bring snow this afternoon.  The weather is changing and most people I talk with are reluctant to accept that winter is sure to come.

Fire Clouds

Photo by Ken W. Hall

A few days ago we were having dinner with friends when Ken looks out the window, jumps up and runs outside to retrieve his camera from the car and took this photo.  It really did look like fire as the sun was setting behind the clouds.

We experienced our first really hard frost this week.  It was twenty-two degrees. Yesterday the sky was so clear, calm and beautiful we took a drive to enjoy the fall colors.  The clouds moved in today but it was a little warmer hovering around sixty degrees.

We just got home from shopping at the fall Madison Farm to Fork market.  The home grown produce we had for dinner was delicious.

Regal Deer

Photo by Ken W. Hall

We met around 6:00 pm on October 11, 2011. While walking home I felt his presence and quickly snapped my head to lock onto his path of site. He was lazy, slightly sleepy and majestic. He was definitely a regal being of his own kind. He had staked his claim outside a friends fence in order not to leave himself without an avenue of flight in dire emergency. He breathed slowly and fully with calm reserve. He was composed and patient as is waiting for the rut which was in the air. His harem would find him when the unseen signal of their ancestors sounded.

I walked with a heightened gate to my studio a half block away and palmed my weapon, a Canon. It was not a canon that would bring life to an end but an instrument of truth and wisdom that would facilitate two elders to come together to share wisdom, stories and implement peace. He rested on his vestment of hide and hair and I on my knees of denim and boot.

At the conclusion of gazing into the mystery of the other we concluded the ceremony complete each in our own method and desire. He had seen my Soul and I his. With this an unseen signal had been sent forth. Let the Peace begin and spread through all living things.

It was done so I climbed back to my feet, bowed and walked home. I wonder where he slept that night? But what I really wonder is if he was real or just a vision of my own regal holiness. Either way it is good, no not good but perfect. i slept in my own bed with a Soul at rest in its true essence. It was a good day.
                                                                                                          --  Ken W. Hall


Ken sent me this photo he got a few days ago.  Tonight it is raining.  It was cloudy most of the day and in the fifties to low sixties.  Looks like it will be in the thirties in the mornings and fifties during the day for the next week.  The fall colors are beautiful and the deer are all over town.

The Dance Of Fall

Photo by Ken W. Hall

It occurs every year. They come in early fall with the first snow. Some come from the sky, some from the clouds and some from within the bosom of the Earth Mother herself. No matter from where they come but that they come.

There is a dance to be done, no a dance that must be done. With movement, form and pure essence they come to welcome Fall as her presence appears in perfect timing with the plan. The plan is an etheric blend of sight, sound, vision, premonition and display of the ever changing cycle we call life.

In early October, 2011 the dance began as scheduled in the Madison Valley, Montana. To most it went unknown and unseen but for those who listen to their own heartbeat the dance commenced with fervor, joy and commitment to change.

Do you ever wonder what the dance of Winter will look like?

                                                                                                        -- Ken W. Hall
                                                                                                           BearFeather Studio

Ken sent this to me today to share with you here.  It was taken this past week.  We have had several cloudy and sometime rainy days.  The mountains are snow capped.  The temperatures have ranged in the mid to high thirties in the mornings to the low to mid fifties in the evenings.  Lovely fall weather.

Snow On The Mountains

Photo by Ken W. Hall

It rained all night.  The thermometer said it was thirty-four degrees when we got up and headed for Bozeman.

The mountains were covered with the first significant snowfall of the season.  Ken got this great shot on the way out of town.

Two bald eagles flew over the car in the canyon along the Madison River.  There were several boats with fishermen on the river.

The high of the day in Bozeman was forty-six degrees.  It rained most of the day.  Fall has definitely arrived.

Fall Leaves

Photo by Ken W. Hall

Fall is here and the leaves are turning gracing us with a beautiful color pallet only nature can provide.  The Ken Hall photo above captures a small sampling of that color.

Yesterday the wind blew strong all day releasing the leaves and creating carpets of color all over town.  The warm temperatures were uncharacteristic of this time of year.

It was so warm last night we slept with all the windows open and woke to sixty degree temps outside.  It was calm for a few minutes then the wind began to blow.

The heavy cloud cover gives a feeling of humidity and moisture.  Temperatures are expected to drop and we are told by the weatherman this is the last of our warm above average temperatures.