Welcome to Whitefish, Montana

Le Cinque Terre

2011-11-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

Kate and Fabio's house before

their house after the first floods

It has been an awful handful of days for my friends in the Cinque Terre, homes, land, businesses and lives lost. Quite incredibly there has been no news coverage that I can find on CNN, NPR or local channels of the horrible mud slides and flash floods that have affected the Cinque Terre. All that I know is from Facebook and my friends that live and work in the region of Liguria and who are thankfully posting updates regularly. These torrential rains have hit the hardest one of my favorite places in the world. A place that provided solace from my high pressure job in London where I could escape, swim in the sea, wander in the hills, drink wine with my friends and regain my sanity. A place where they terrace every possible bit of land to grow vegetables, lemons, olives or grapes. In case you aren't up to date on these horrible events, I've included links where you can get the latest updates, photos and videos.

Downtown Genova Brignole train station

www.littleparadiso.com

http://bellavitaitalia.blogspot.com

http://lifeinliguria.blogspot.com

http://www.acertainsimplicity.com

How to donate from Kate Little's site -

If you would like to donate specifically to Monterosso and Vernazza, the bank transfer information is as follows:

IBAN: IT64W0603049870000046275829

SWIFT:CRFIIT2S365

ACCOUNT NAME: UN AIUTO PER MONTEROSSO E VERNAZZA

CAUSE: ALLUVIONATI 5 TERRE

I still believe that at this moment, the easiest and most effective way to donate is through the Red Cross. The Italian Red Cross has a site in English (click HERE ) where it is possible to donate with a credit card. When you go to the site, make sure that on the drop down menu, you select EMERGENCY TUSCANY AND LIGURIA. If you are donating from a foreign country, leave the 'state' field --- and the 'nation' field will be written in Italian. If you are from the US, the nation will be 'Stati Uniti'. IF you have problems with the zip code fields, try 00000. I encourage all of you to give what you can, large or small, to help rebuild the towns that have been hit so hard in Liguria and Tuscany.

come tour my garden -

2011-07-20T09:07:00.001-06:00

AFTER

This Saturday, July 23rd from 11 to 3pm, my garden will be open to the public through the Whitefish Garden Tour. The Tour begins at the Whitefish Community Garden at 1150 Wisconsin in Whitefish, behind the large church. You can purchase your maps there for $2 per person or $5 per family. There are 9 gardens on the Tour, including the Community Garden and the Tour this year is a fundraiser for the Community Garden.

BEFORE

My passion for gardening stems from making something out of nothing. I love the challenge of improving my horrible clay soil and making outdoor space interesting and inviting. This year new to my garden is an asparagus bed, a row of raspberries and wine barrels of french fingerling potato plants. My house sits at an angle on my lot with no clear definition of front and back so I made the garden encircle the house. The front is entirely fenced from deer and there are wine bottle pathways, pergolas, outdoor dining areas, a greenhouse, a fountain, multiple bird baths, arches covered (almost) in edibles, gates and multiple seating areas. Come wander through my garden, ask questions (learn from my mistakes, I have had plenty of failures as well as successes), take away ideas and help us raise money for a good cause. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Summer Storms and Peonies

2011-07-08T11:16:00.001-06:00

Last night we had one of those amazing thunder and lightening storms. I love storms, especially Summer storms, but my garden, in particular my peonies, not so much. I went out this morning to blooms filled with water that became so heavy they had snapped their stems (even though I have them staked, not enough apparently) I brought in 2 enormous armfuls and now have 17 arrangements. I have officially used every saved peanut butter, pickle and jam jar in the house. I just delivered, earlier in the week bunches to girlfriends so today we are going to take them to the hospital and brighten up some patient rooms.
Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you find yourself - Bonnie

The sweet spring garden -

2011-06-19T20:01:00.000-06:00

Here in Whitefish, Montana, it has been a wet, rainy Spring. Seriously, in all CAPS, full rivers, lots o' rain and after a heavy snow year, we are down right water logged. I would like some sunshine but... I'm okay. I lived in England for six years and I loved Spring, they were wet, just like this year in Montana, but wow, were they beautiful. They had this slowww sweetness. Spring crept in, a tulip here, a daffodil there and if you went to Kew Gardens there were bluebells everywhere. It was beautiful, breathtaking and then, it was over.

I feel like we are having one of those Springs, here in Montana, an English Spring. I still have beautiful salad greens, lush, raised beds with mustards, kale, and an assortment of Asian greens that won't quit. The tulips and daffodils are finished but there is still this exciting Spring like feeling. Gardens are still fresh and bright green and mine, is full of chives. I love chives. I know sometimes they get a bad rap but I love them. They are a beautiful color, they don't get buggy and those gorgeous purple flowers are edible. Chives lined the path of my English garden and I have lots of them here in my Montana garden as well. So tonight, after my favorite kind of day, digging and weeding and just puttering in the garden, I made my favorite snack. Toasted bread with cream cheese and chive flowers.

A chive flower is actually a cluster of smaller flowers held together by a single stem. When you pinch out the center of the main stem, the flowers separate and their flavor is much milder than if eaten as a whole. They make a great addition to salads and guacamole (instead of red onion) and a whole flower on it's stem makes a very pretty addition to a bloody mary :-) My nephews love chives and I think it is because of two things, one because they get to eat a flower and two, because it is purple. I mean, how often can you eat something that is good for you, all natural and purple?

Whitefish Life Online Magazine

2011-05-06T11:19:00.004-06:00

Great Whitefish Life article on Parkin Costain 12 yr old Whitefish local freeskier (and my fabulous nephew) - check it out

Whitefish Life - the new online magazine - click this link to go to the article

Home is where the heart is

2011-04-08T12:50:00.000-06:00

When I used to visit my family here in Whitefish, while I was still living thousands of miles away, one of the things that always struck me was the amazing sense of community that Whitefish has. Last night was the epitome of that community coming together and doing something wonderful. One of our dear friends is fighting cancer and the benefit was to help raise money to fund her fight. It was a pleasure and an honor to be there, Kristy is an amazing person, always a smile on her face and quick to laugh. You are most likely to catch sight of her on one of our local trials ripping past you on her mountain bike.

One of our downtown restaurants, The Craggy Range provided the venue, local merchants and other eateries supplied generous gift certificates and amazing raffle items, lift tickets for the resort and an array of silent auction items that was unbelievable. Their was live music by several of our talented local bands and a turnout of at least 150 local folks. It was a heartwarming evening and made me realize again how much I love our local community and how amazing it is. This little Rocky Mountain town rocks. If you were unable to attend last night but would like to contribute, send me an email and I can direct you to the right people. Thank you to everyone who put in so much work, donated their time, money and their hearts xx

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

New Street Reconstruction project -

2011-03-31T20:44:00.002-06:00

Finally, the long awaited street reconstruction project is coming to 6th Street West in Whitefish. Slowly but surely, several streets around town are being reconstructed. Bike paths are continued, street lighting installed and side walks with treed boulevards. I am so glad this project is finally underway, although I have a vested interest (I live on 6th Street West) Whitefish Resort Tax dollars at work! Click on the link below to read the article in the Whitefish Pilot newspaper.

Whitefish Pilot Article

Fat Tuesday at Truby's

2011-03-10T12:48:00.005-07:00

Tuesday evening was the final wine tasting evening of the season at Truby's Fine Food & Spirits at Meadowlake Resort in Columbia Falls. Our hosts were Kristin Voisin of Truby's, O'Brien Byrd of O'Brien Liquor & Wine and Kevin Marshall fron Georges wine distributors. The theme of the evening was designed around the celebration of Fat Tuesday (mardi gras, carnevale), there were masks, mardi gras necklaces and fabulous wine and food. Make sure to get your name on the Truby's email list for next year, these evenings sell out fast, this one in 24 hours! Email them at info@trubys.com and they will send you advance notice of the wine tastings and other events held throughout the year at the restaurant. (Truby's can also be booked for private parties and events) To stay within the theme of mardi gras, the wines were centered around France, South America and Spanish influences. Kristin Voisin, owner of Truby's is nothing short of an artist when it comes to putting together all the elements of a great evening. She is a master of lighting, food presentation, creating a beautiful atmosphere and menu selection. She truly puts her heart into everything she does at her restaurant and it shows. The food and wine pairings were wonderful and the food was, as always, not only beautifully presented, but delicious as well.
The evening started by being greeted with a glass of bubbly Chamdevill, Blanc de Blancs from the Loire Valley, France as the guests settled and the room filled, the food starting coming out of the kitchen, it was as follows -

Coldsmoke beer battered jumbo shrimp with a creole sauce paired with - Arca Nova, Vihno Verde from Portugal, followed by -
Fried goat cheese medallion served on a bed of white bean trinity salad paired with - E Guigal, Cotes Du Rhone Blanc from the Rhone Valley, France, followed by -

Wild mushroom strudel with truffle oil and a port syrup reduction paired with - LaPosta, Pinot Noir from Mendoza, Argentina and E Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Rouge from the Rhone Valley, France followed by -
Andouille sausage, Cajun rubbed pork and roasted chicken with fontina scallion grits and cognac brown sauce paired with Errazuris, Estate Carmenere from Chile and the Finca Villacreces, Pruno, Ribera Del Duero from Spain. The lovely evening was finished off with a traditional mardi gras cake served with the dessert wine Eberle, "Canelli" Muscat from Paso Robles, California. These evenings are affordable, so fun and informative. O'Brien's offers special pricing for the featured wines of the evenings in both case and bottle quantities. A very big THANK YOU to Kristin, O'Brien and Kevin for a great evening! Don't miss out next year, get on that mailing list!
Truby's Fine Food & Spirits, Meadowlake Resort, Columbia Falls 406.892.8708

Urbanspoon

2011-03-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

I'm in the process of switching over from a Blackberry to an Iphone and loving it. All the maps and gps apps are great for my job as a Realtor® and there are some great apps when traveling. Recently when in Seattle I loaded the free app 'Urbanspoon' on the recommendation of a friend and it was so helpful. It will find your location and then help you find the best restaurants around you. I got some great recommendations for Seattle and have been using it to review Whitefish restaurants, cafes and bars for folks who are visiting from out of town. I have added a link to their site on the right-hand panel of my main page for your convenience. Enjoy!
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Northwest Flower Show notes -

2011-02-28T18:10:00.010-07:00

SHOW GARDEN

Yes, those tulips are real!

I just got back from a quick trip to Seattle, primarily to go to the Northwest Flower Show but I was also itching to get out of dodge and run around a big city. Seattle is awesome, great people, great food and great architecture. The most over used sentence of my trip was, "Oh my gosh, look at that cool old building!" it was serious kid in a candy store stuff. The flight from Glacier Park International Airport is less than 1.5 hours total and with the time change you gain an hour. We flew on Alaska Airlines, it was a quick direct flight, pretty much up and then down again. We left early, 6am Mountain Time getting there at 6:30 am Pacific Standard Time, it was early but we were pretty much heading for the birthplace of the cappuccino (this side of the Atlantic) so we were okay. The light rail system is right at the airport and for $2.50 you can be downtown in 40 minutes. Seattle is a mini grid, similar to NYC, very walkable with numbered streets, so it is pretty tough to get lost. The show was gorgeous, it got me all fired up for Spring and my brain is zinging with ideas to put into action. Lots of planters out of recycled objects and urban farming ideas my list of to-do projects is long already.

The show was inside the convention center on 7th and Pike. It was hard to believe we were actually inside a convention center with the running streams, huge boulders and live trees that made up the show gardens. I cannot even imagine the work that went into creating them. The next day was spent at the Aquarium, roaming around the Piers, eating some great seafood, drinking locally brewed ale and taking in the views on top of the Columbia Tower (it's much taller than the Space Needle and only $5 to go to the top vs. $18!)
This gorgeous building is the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum. We didn't have time to go through it, so I'm saving it for my next trip. This photo was taken from the front seat of the Monorail that goes from the Seattle Center to the downtown shopping area (think Disneyland for grownups). It was a great two days but always nice to be back home, and it is so much less expensive, I paid $3.50 for an espresso! I also peeked in some windows at a few real estate offices to see what houses go for there, wow, let's just say, serious $$$.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Italy anyone?

2011-02-28T10:08:00.002-07:00

New page! Second tab in from the left you will see I have added, "Italy" to my site. Seasoned traveler? first time overseas? just want to relax and have someone else plan your trip? I have added links to friends of mine who live in Italy and can make your next trip that much more memorable. Stay at Pamela's lovely Poggio Etrusco, an organic farm and bed & breakfast in Tuscany, or book a trip/tour with Megan and Kate. Check out the new page for more information and links to their sites. Buon viaggio!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Sample Report -

2011-02-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

This is an example of a report I provide to my clients from our NMAR property database. This particular report is a snapshot of properties that have sold in Whitefish, from January 1, 2011 through February 19, 2011. I customize these reports so you know how much a property was listed for, how much it sold for, how long the property was on the market before it sold, the square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, lot size and garage information. If you would like to receive these reports customized to your interests, I would be happy to provide them. Drop me an email and I will send one to you.

Have a great weekend, I'm off to go ski in the sunshine!

Bonnie

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

a great site to check out -

2011-02-18T14:14:00.004-07:00

My family has always been a big advocate of education. Everyone in my family has a 4 year degree, my sister has two and my father has his Masters. (don't get me wrong, I'm not an over achiever, it took me FOREVER to finish, I was 30 when I graduated, so many places to see and trips to take kept distracting me) One of my father's favorite sayings is, 'take a class, you should always be learning." Well it stuck with me and so last year I decided that each winter, since I am spending more time inside, I would make it a point to learn something new. Last year, I gained my Master Gardener certification through the MSU Extension program, (wonderful class and instructor, Pat McGlynn, available here in Kalispell) and this winter I have been spending time honing my skills in Photoshop.

Living where we do, taking a class can be a bit tricky. We don't have a four year college, oh but I wish we did!, we have a great two year school, Flathead Valley Community College, but there are no Photoshop classes (I take that back, there is a class on PS Elements but I went for the full torture and dove into CS4). So, as I was perusing the internet for a tutorial on PShop, I came across the site www.lynda.com. I cannot say enough good things about it. They have video tutorials on EVERYTHING and ANYTHING you ever wanted to learn how to do, that has to do with the internet or a computer. MSOffice products, YouTube, Vimeo, Blogger, how to use your Iphone (been there, watched those, mine is in the mail, yippee) the entire Adobe suite, the list is really long. You can watch a lot of the videos for free or sign up for different membership levels that are really affordable. So, if you find yourself itching to shake up the old gray matter, my Dad would be proud of you, check it out.

Tell 'em I sent ya - Bonnie
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Tonight and tomorrow at Majestic Valley Arena!

2011-02-18T12:47:00.001-07:00

Rocky Mountain Bullriders Challenge
February 18 & 19, 2011
Bull riding starts at 7:00 p.m.Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Take the night off and come enjoy the Rocky Mountain Extreme Professional Bullriding event at the Majestic Valley Arena. The Bullriding will feature some of the best talent in the Northwest. Stock will be provided by C'N Stars Bull Company and Berger Bucking Bulls, Arrow K Rodeo and Triplett Rodeo Bulls. Concessions are available, so take the night off from cooking and eat here. Kids free Friday night only, must be accompanied by an adult.(adult purchased ticket). Monty "Hawkeye" Hensen will be appearing and singing Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 7 in the Dally Up Bar. He is a 3 world champion saddle bronc rider who also sings some good old tunes. You Ain't Here to Hear me Say Goodbye (Chuck Cusimano) Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia(Jimmy Rogers) Utah Moon(Michael McGinnis) Mind Your Own Business(Hank Williams) Night Riders' Lament (Michael Burton) Sioux City Sue (Gene Autry) Under the X in Texas(Red Steagall) Dalhearted Cowboy(Michael McGinnis) Stick around after the bull riding and maybe we can get him to sing more to us.

Tickets:
General Admission Adult $15.00
General Admission Child (12 & Under) $8.00

Event Show Times:
February 18, 2011 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
February 19, 2011 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

see you there - yeeha!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

spending Sunday in my backyard...

2011-02-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to bring a proper camera with me a few weekends ago instead of taking photos with my phone. I thought I would share a few high res photos from my backyard :-) literally, you can be taking in this paradise in less than 15 mins, door to chairlift...

- once at the summit you are greeted by a few of our friendly snow ghosts as you head on down the ant hill

- or off to the front side -

- it was an incredibly clear day, you could see for miles and miles.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Northwest Flower & Garden Show February 23 - 27, 2011

2011-02-18T11:07:00.001-07:00

Why didn't I know about the Northwest Flower & Garden show when it encompasses all my favorite things? plants, soil and a lot o' color in the middle of winter? I have no idea. I feel as if I have been living under a rock for the past few years. When I lived in London, their flower shows were always on my calendar immediately for the upcoming year, they were some of my favorite events. Hampton Court Palace and Chelsea, they were amazing, stunning, visual delights as I am sure this newly discovered show will be. Show tickets can be booked directly from their site (they are much more affordable than Chelsea or Hampton Court!) and they have a Facebook page. There are also some pretty incredible speakers, which are included in your ticket price. You can find the speaker schedule and a layout of the convention center on their site www.gardenshow.com The show is February 23 -27, Washington State Convention Center, 7th and Pike Streets, Seattle, Washington.

- "Experience a floral fantasy with “Once Upon a Time…Spectacular Gardens With Stories to Tell.” Enjoy 22 inspiring Show Gardens, 300 Marketplace exhibitors and 123 seminars. Visit our website for the latest info on tickets, bus tours and more."

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

It must be winter -

2010-11-02T13:28:00.004-06:00

When you live in a ski town, Winter has its own tell tale signs, not often found in a city, such as the iron, never used otherwise throughout the year, suddenly is very popular and goes missing, only to turn up in the garage/basement covered in wax. Goggles, helmets, gloves and long underwear stop popping up all over the house. You hear the question, "Hey man did you get your pass?" and the vocab, 'dude', 'epic' and 'awesome' start populating sentences more frequently.

Here in Whitefish, Montana, we already have 30 inches of snow on the mountain and as we prepare to change over from mountain biking and hiking to skis and snowboards, snow shoes and sleds the town is all in a tizzy about the predicted storm cycle this year. Last year we experienced, "El Nino" which basically meant slim snow pack and early mud season. This year, there's a new mantra in town, "Viva La Nina, Viva La Nina" the opposite storm cycle from last year, predicting lots of the snow stuff.

Last weekend we had a mountain bike movie, but this week you know it is officially Winter because the Warren Miller movie for 2010 is showing November 5th and 6th at 7:00 p.m. at The O'Shaungnessy Center in Whtiefish, Adults $15 and Children and Students $10. It's a fundraiser for The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation so come on out, get psyched for Winter, which is looking to be epic dude, totally epic.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Carrots and then some -

2010-08-12T14:15:00.001-06:00

I harvested an entire row of carrots this morning - Baker Creek Heirloom "Little Finger" carrots that I planted in the spring. To be honest, I waited a bit too long and should have harvested them a week or two ago, they would have been a little sweeter had they not grown so big. There is nothing like pulling up (it is always a bit of a surprise when you are harvesting root vegetables, like buried treasure) food from your own garden that is delicious, good for you and originates from a seed no bigger than a speck of pepper.
As I cleaned the carrots, I thought of the perfect recipe to use with them.

A few years ago when visiting friends in Italy we had a carrot salad that my friend's husband threw together with just a few ingredients. He grated the carrots, mixed them with salt, some lemon juice, olive oil and shaved parmeggiano. The flavors were defined, simple and so great together, typical of most Mediterranean foods. Today for lunch, I had the same, with the addition of a few pine nuts. It was just as good as I remembered and came with a wonderful memory as well.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

mmm, sweetpeas

2010-08-06T11:31:00.001-06:00

Finally, the long anticipated sweet peas have arrived in my garden. I cut handfuls this morning and they smell so delicious sitting on my desk. I put another small vase of them in front of an open window and the breeze carries their scent through the room. I love these ruffled gems, they have long strong stems for cutting, they don't get buggy, except for the occasional aphid, climb up most supports by themselves and just keep blooming. They remind me of when I lived in England and bring back fond memories of gardens/friends there. To me, they are the quintessential English flower (I am not a rose fan, I don't allow divas in my garden).
I cut them regularly so they don't go to seed (these peas are NOT for eating) and the more you cut, the more you get. I can't believe that I used to be a perennial snob, I had no idea what I was missing. Another one of my favorite things about growing so many cut flowers is that you have lots to give to away. An easy and inexpensive way to brighten up a friend's day or week. This vase is Lathyrus odoratus 'Prince Edward of York'

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Thursday Night Hike -

2010-07-30T12:32:00.002-06:00

Heading up Toni Matt


Looking down the mountain towards Whitefish Lake

If I'm not careful, I can start my day in front of the computer and end it there, realizing once again, that I have missed that window of perfect hiking time, post 5 p.m. when the air is cooler and there is less traffic on the trail. Yesterday at 5 p.m. I got up and got out. I drove up to Whitefish Mountain Resort and my intention was to hike straight up the ski run Toni Matt, but it's a killer. My calves were screaming at me as they bunched up into knots so I cut over onto the Danny On trail. Ahhh, so much nicer, less of a total anaerobic fest and more of a delightful walk in the woods, much more my style. I crossed 3 streams and wandered through the woods enjoying the solitude. I had the trail to myself and my mind wandered here and there through my thoughts as I walked in and out of the sunlight up the mountain. The Danny On trail head is directly in front of the Hell Roaring Saloon and the trail to the top is just under 4 miles. Bring your bug spray, the mosquitoes are out in force.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Chat Noir and Cerinthe

2010-07-25T12:33:00.000-06:00

My favorite way to start my day is in the garden with my coffee. I wander around, check out what's going on, make lists of things to do, deadhead and cut flowers. I also take stock of the new varieties I've grown and whether or not they are on my list for next year. After my wander this morning, I decided to change up the way I plant the raised beds. Next year I am going to put together the flowering plants in groups of how I would arrange them in a vase. I am finding a bed full of one variety a bit boring to look at, my eyes need different textures together not only in the vase, but grown together as well. I stopped and studied the Cerinthe, a new addition this year, and felt slightly disappointed after how difficult it was to germinate them this winter, although they are doing well, the photograph on the seed packet looked much different to me than how they turned out. The flower and leaf structure looked bigger on the packet and these flowers are quite small. Bringing them inside, I have to say I had a complete change of heart after putting them in a vase with Chat Noir dahlias. The cool blue purple of the foliage against the deep crimson petals and chartreuse centers of the dahlias is stunning. Definitely, one of my new favorites.

For those of you not living in Montana - the rest of the garden is doing well, despite the insane windstorm we had the other night. I have a VERY bent Aspen that may not recover and am still picking up pine tree bits and pieces everywhere. The salad greens and chard have bolted, the peonies are finished and the lupine, being dead headed is having a second flush of flowers. The bee balm is about to bloom as well as the sunflowers which is always exciting but, means that summer is closer to being over than just starting.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Take your taste buds on a trip to Italy -

2010-07-19T18:52:00.007-06:00

You know when you taste or smell something and that olfactory portal in your brain opens and you are whisked back to a place of remembrance? That happened to me today as I was standing in Amazing Crepes having an Affogato. As the spoon entered my mouth, I was whisked to the Italian seaside town of Vernazza, in the Cinque Terre, where I had my first Affogato.

The Italian word, "Affogato" means 'drowned' from the verb "affogare". In the culinary sense it is ice cream (or gelato) literally 'drowned' in espresso and without a doubt, my all time favorite beverage slash treat on the planet. To try an Affogato head on down to Amazing Crepes on Central Avenue in Whitefish where one of their fabulous baristas will serve you up 2 shots of Fieldheads espresso over a hefty scoop of Sweet Peaks ice cream (you can find Sweet Peaks and Amazing Crepes on Facebook). The extra bonus is that Amazing Crepes uses Fieldheads Coffee which is a locally roasted coffee from Creston, here in the Flathead Valley and Sweet Peaks is home made ice cream, made in downtown Whitefish. The espresso melts beautifully into the ice cream and is as smooth as it is delicious.

Salute or should I say Buon Appetito!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

The Whitefish Trail Grand Opening

2010-07-16T10:29:00.004-06:00

The grand opening of The Whitefish Trail previously The Trail Runs Through It, is this Saturday, July 17th, 2010. The ribbon cutting ceremony is at 9:30 at the Lion Mountain Trail head which is accessed off of Lion Mountain Loop. Go Hwy 93 West, veer to the right as if going to the State Park Campgrounds, at the stop sign go straight and you are on Lion Mtn Loop. The entrance will be marked and is on the right hand side. I have hiked this portion of the trail a few times already this summer and it is so great to have the access so close to town. If you don't go on to the section that connects to Beaver and Skyles Lake you can easily fit in a 2.5 mile hike. There is also a Family Loop that has been packed down with several loads of crushed rock and then pounded which makes a great smooth surface for wheelchair access and strollers. Bikers, hikers and horses are welcome.

The trails are being marked with sign posts, there is a bathroom at the Lion Mtn trail head and they are building a beautiful sign board. We are so fortunate to have this trail system, for more information on supporting the trail check their website The Whitefish Trail

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Gardening, not an exact science...

2010-07-15T17:31:00.001-06:00

I had a phone call the other day from a blog reader of mine who was considering moving to the Flathead Valley. He was wondering about the bloom time of peonies and what stage of bloom they were in now. As I wandered through the garden wondering how to answer him I picked some snap peas, then cut some dahlias and dead headed a few peonies. If you are a gardener you will know that is an odd combo of things to have in the garden at the same time. The peas should have been earlier but were delayed by the temps and the dahlias were blooming early because, well anyone's guess. I was thinking about last year, I had ten foot tall sweet peas that I was cutting by the handfuls and bringing inside, this year I haven't had any yet. I had tons of snap peas last year, this year, well, just a handful. I thought I would look through my garden photos and see if I could compare from last year to this year. This is what I found - July 2009 below, the dahlia close up was today, the calendula was from today, the lovely sweet peas 2009, calendula bed 2010 scarlet runner beans from today. This year, the garden is a bit, well, "off kilter". Gardening in the Rockies I guess, always keeps you guessing.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

I've moved...

2010-06-30T10:07:00.000-06:00

I am happy to announce that I have moved Real Estate offices here in Whitefish. You can now find me at Windermere of Whitefish, 713 East 13th Street, Whitefish, MT 59937 office number (406) 862-2333 same cellphone (406) 253-6008
Having a national brand behind me will hugely benefit my clients!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

my brain is full of blog posts...

2010-05-26T13:31:00.002-06:00

...that have yet to make it to cyber paper. The reason for this being I have been outside, totally immersed in all those gardening jobs of spring and also, because recently, my garden became totally enclosed, a gorgeous fence built for me on my birthday. I have been so elated, doing jumping jacks and cartwheels knowing I have won the war with the deer that I have been in the garden every spare moment planting just about every inch. When we were assembling the fence my very talented and creative friend Jason Boyes stopped by. He had some of his fabulous outdoor art in his car and loaned me a piece to hang up on the outside of my house. His digital photographs are imposed onto an outdoor material that can survive the sun and snow without deterioration to the image. This piece is so great, the lime green mum really pops on the side of my barn red house. You can see more of Jason's outdoor art (and better photos!) on his blog or give him a call on his cell phone for pricing and available pieces 406.261.3060

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

It must be May...

2010-05-06T12:38:00.000-06:00

...because it's time for Whitefish Gallery Nights! First Thursday of each month, 18 local galleries and shop owners host an individual artist, stay open late and offer snacks and libations. The first event is tonight and will continue through September. It means Summer is here, see you downtown!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

feeding the seedlings -

2010-05-06T12:20:00.002-06:00

I've always read that you should be fertilizing your seedlings with a diluted solution once they have a few sets of leaves on them. What I didn't realize is what a difference it makes. My basil and eggplant seedlings especially love the Alaska Fish Fertilizer. Although it says 'deodorized' on the label, it is still pretty stinky so be warned. I diluted the suggested concentration and have been fertilizing them once a week and they are unbelievably healthy and green, much different than last year. Now we just need the weather to cooperate so I can get the plants outside! We had freezing temps again last night so the cold frame lid is still on and the wall o' waters are warming the soil just waiting for inhabitants. I have planted a ton of eggplant, my favorite thing is grilled eggplant anytime of the year, but it needs much warmer temps before I dare put them outside. This is one of my eggplant seedlings that I planted on March 31st, Baker Creek Heirloom Eggplant Diamond. This has been fertilized twice with the diluted Alaska Fish Fertilizer.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour tonight in Whitefish

2010-04-15T16:27:00.001-06:00

Rid yourself of those tax time blues and help support The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation buy a ticket to the Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour. Tonight only, in Whitefish on Central Avenue at the O'Shaugnessy Center. Doors open at 6 PM; Films start at 7PM - see you there -

Hook, Line and Sinker

2010-04-13T17:01:00.005-06:00

Having grown up in Southern California, I ventured very little into the realm of getting my hands dirty and growing things. I am not sure why, but it took moving to Pennsylvania from California to really fall in love with gardening. I think it was the change in climate, my first home, the reality of four seasons and the way they change, that may have done it. You can never truly understand the anticipation of spring until you live though a long, cold, gray, winter. That is what makes Spring so glorious in my opinion, the resurgence of life from the soil, the trees budding out in phosphorescent green, everything around you filling with color. It may be because of this that I garden the way I do. I want color everywhere. I have pots on my deck, raised beds and an 80 foot perennial border, I garden on almost every inch of my property. I'm hooked, totally in love. I encourage you to give gardening a try, it may just be your thing. If you don't have space in your own garden, or too many deer or are just overwhelmed by the whole process, come to Whitefish Community Gardens and rent a plot. You can give gardening a try in a 4' x 10' bed, make some new friends, and just maybe fall in love, with dirt.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

2010-04-13T11:56:00.011-06:00

Yesterday morning I spent an hour or so with the lovely ladies of the Whitefish Theatre Company. I helped to paint the floors of the set for the upcoming production of Willy Wonka Jr. One of the great things about Whitefish is the community and one of the ways you can become involved is through volunteering. It doesn't have to be a lot, just an hour here or there, but it all adds up. I help the Theatre with set production and love how you see the set in its beginning stages to full production on opening night. It is a great way to become involved with the community and if you are new to town to meet some great people.
Check the Theatre's website for upcoming show schedules. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Lonnie at the Theatre on 862-5371 ext. 224

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Let's talk some dirt ... I mean soil.

2010-03-16T19:00:00.005-06:00

The other night I was in both Home Depot and Lowes in Kalispell. Boo, hiss, I can hear it now. It was before my MGardening class and I was having a wander. Truth be told, they have gardening paraphernalia, seeds, bulbs, soil amendments, magazines, bird feeders, pots and some really great retro metal garden furniture, which I can never resist. As I sat in the lovely retro lime green glider I gazed at the bare root plants on option. Peonies, roses, clematis, hydrangea and ... blueberry plants ... what the heck. I went over to look thinking this must be a new hybrid because surely these stores know that these plants need really acidic soil to grow and the soil in the Flathead is on average, very alkaline, hence, they no grow here. I thought surely they have very knowledgeable plant buyers and their plants were bought specifically for each region and then, I remembered where I was and that they just send the same thing to all their stores. So, don't be tempted by those lovely, yummy looking, bare root blueberry plants because they won't grow here, not well or easily anyway. (If you have figured out how please let me know) The good thing about these stores, Lowe's especially, is that they have a really good discount rack, you can get plants and trees for cheap. (I've picked up quaking aspens for $5 and a japanese maple for $7) A lot of times these are plants that just don't get watered and all they need is a good trim and some moisture and they will be fine. (If not, hey, they were only 50 cents.) I have a very nice grouping of yellow yarrow in my flower border from that rack, they were grown somewhere else in a greenhouse, sent here way too early for our zone, so when they got here they all looked terrible. I picked up five plants for 50 cents each, cut them way back, watered them and they bloomed when they should have, late summer, not early spring.
Blueberries, I'm sad to say, are best bought (in the flathead) ... frozen. If you want to grow fruit, go for raspberries, they do really well here on second year canes.

note* Azaleas and Rhododendrons also need acidic soils to really flourish.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Deer lollipops and other bulbs...

2010-03-15T12:38:00.007-06:00

It is usually at this time of year that I think to myself, "Darn, I wish I planted more bulbs in the fall..." This year I have gone out and taken some photos so I know in the fall where those bare patches are in the spring and can plant accordingly.
One of my favorite earliest bulbs are Snowdrops, they are gorgeous, about 6 inches high with small white nodding flowers that come up through the snow. Then there are daffodils and tulips. I love tulips, they come in so many more shapes than people are aware of. There are parrot tulips, ruffled tulips and black tulips, etc. but, in this part of the world, I refer to them as "deer lollipops". I have tried to grow them and it never fails, they get to just the right height and they are just about to open and then, the word gets out to the deer community that you are hosting a lovely midnight buffet. The next morning, you wake up to a patch of lone stems sans tulip bud. For this reason, I leave the ones I have in the ground but I don't plant them anymore, it is too disheartening.
My favorite bulb I have saved for last, the Allium (think chive flower on steroids). The deer won't bother them because basically, they are an onion, not a tasty tulip. They are purple, there are types that bloom at all times of the year (I prefer the early blooming), they are tall, so different looking and so lovely. They can be spendy though. I had a pack in my hand last year to buy and at the last minute I put them back and right now, I really wish I hadn't. There is Allium Giganteum, Globemaster, Christophii, Gladiator and Atrupurpurem to name a few. If you are looking online, Whiteflower Farm has lots of varieties to order from. This fall I am going to plant them with red Shirley poppies, won't that be a welcome site for spring, red and purple, yummy.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Verbena Bonariensis - one of my favorite plants

2010-03-11T10:26:00.003-07:00

I was first introduced to Verbena Bonariensis or Purple Verbena when I lived in England. I went on many garden tours and there it was, almost always a staple at the back of the flower border. It has minimal foliage, a square, strong stem (sign of the mint family and needs no staking) and is several feet tall. As a perennial (zones 7 - 10) it grows to heights of five feet, here in the northwest (zone 4/5) it is grown as an annual and I have had it grow to four feet. I start it from seed indoors, (8 - 12 weeks before our last frost) and it takes awhile to germinate, but once the weather warms up, it grows very fast and is well worth it. It doesn't get buggy and is a wonderful cut flower. It has a little cluster of purple flowers atop its stem and gives this lovely color up high in the border. The stems with their minimal foliage are very airy and it looks wonderful grown with dill, dahlias or native grasses. I plant it in masses and it has never disappointed. The seeds are a bit tricky to find, I order mine from Johnny's Selected Seeds whose catalog is pretty amazing if you have never seen it. The catalog is packed full of great information, they do not sell GM seeds or plants, and are employee owned.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Counting the days...

2010-03-04T11:31:00.002-07:00

I love color, and this time of year it is pretty lacking here in our little northwestern Montanan town of Whitefish. (We should still be having snow storms and skiing like mad but the snow gods just aren't playing ball this year.) Right now the brightest thing in my yard is the royal blue trash bin. (I am not sure I understand why the city picked that color, it is rather garish) My senses are starved for some form of new growth, little bits of color coming up from the ground. To make the time pass more quickly I plan, I make lists, I hook up grow lights, buy bags of compost and potting soil, anything that makes me feel that I have grabbed hold of that little bit of Spring and am pulling it towards me. There are endless sheets of graph paper strewn all over with different configurations for my raised bed plantings. I've cleaned and bleached my plastic pots for my seeds, sent in my seed order, potted up dahlias and garlic in the basement (I know the garlic is late but the early frost last year halted a lot of fall jobs in the garden last year so I am growing it just for its lovely ornamental value) and planted an onion in a yogurt cup that was left too long and sprouted on the kitchen counter. To supplement my color craving, slash, addiction, I poor through my seed catalogs and magazines. There is one magazine in particular that I adore and have had around since 2004. It is the garden I aspire to create. The lushness of the soil, the beautiful harmony and the whimsical verticals, I just love it and can't look at the photos enough, isn't it gorgeous? I sometimes just want to jump into it, to be transported to a zone 8 just for a few days. Scarlet runner beans are on my seed order this year so I am planning on creating an entrance to my garden similar to this one. The sun has just come out so I am going outside to see if one more layer of black plastic on my raised beds will make them heat up any sooner. Happy Spring!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Checking Your Verticals

2010-02-22T16:37:00.003-07:00

You know when you know something but you don't know why you know? When I was in college I worked nights in the banquet department of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Long Beach, California. We would set up for many functions that had huge buffet tables. We had a room full of props and risers to use on the buffet tables under the table cloths to give the table vertical definition. The banquet manager would come in and would almost always say, 'More highs and lows people, more highs and lows." Having vertical definition in a buffet table makes it visually appealing and is a strategy I have been applying to my flower beds but didn't realize it.
One day when my sister was over I said, "I need a little more vertical right in that area to make it more interesting" and she responded, "Yeah, just like working in banquets, more highs and lows." I hadn't realized that was what I was doing. I knew it would look better with a vertical element but didn't know why I knew. Now I know. Look at a flower bed, or even a vegetable bed where all the plants are the same height. It can seem flat, lacking of optical deliciousness (I had to use that phrase, I saw it on a ski helmet and love it) add a bamboo teepee or two, a trellis, bird bath or fountain, even some tall grasses. It will change the whole scene. Your eye will find the scene more appealing, it travels across moving up and down (this technique is also used in painting). More highs and lows people, more highs and lows.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Seed Starting -

2010-02-17T15:55:00.002-07:00

Our Summers here in Whitefish are amazing and can really zip past. Especially with all there is to do, rivers to float, trails to hike, gardens to tend, farmers markets, art walks, the list goes on. In truth, our Summers are not that long, we have a growing period of about 115 days and we are in a zone 4/5. When you are buying vegetable seeds look at the back of the packet at the 'Days to Harvest' number. If this number is beyond 120, you might want to pass them up for another with a smaller number or, start them inside. You can get a jump start on anywhere from 30 to 45 days. When you put your seedlings out in the garden, they are on day 46 on our outdoor day 1. See what I mean? Last year I went a step further and installed some grow lights and installed them on a stainless shelving rack and had some great success, as well as some failures. I started way too early, things got too big and a lot didn't make it. Some plants just don't do well when started indoors and I pretty much tried them all and didn't prove otherwise.
I have started seeds for a few years but without the lights it was very hit or miss. Too much light from the window and my seedlings would get all leggy and grow too fast. I use the expanding peat pellets with the small net around them. I have found that the net keeps the root system together when you plant them outside and they aren't as messy. I tried some peat pots last year but they kept wicking moisture away from the seedlings and things dried out too quickly. I am restraining myself this year and not starting so early, I looked at my notes from last year and my first seeds were under those lights on February 6th! I did have great luck with a few tomato plants that I got to fill gallon pots but then they met their demise with that June frost last year. Ah, gardening, you never stop learning.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

In Anticipation Of Spring -

2010-02-17T14:29:00.004-07:00

The snow is melting fast in my garden and there has been little new snow on the mountain, when this happens my mind starts leaning towards Spring. Seed catalogs, gardening magazines, pulling my seeds out of storage, what to plant and where, begin to rule my thoughts.
To me, planning a garden is a bit like packing a suitcase. First you want to bring everything on the trip, those 10 books you've been meaning to read, way too many pairs of shoes, and too many different outfits. Only to realize when you get home that you wore basically the same thing for two weeks. The more you travel, the better you get at packing. Now when I plan for a trip, I get out my suitcase a week before and start to make little piles, then the night before, I go through the piles, put half of my things away and zip the suitcase shut.
I started my raised bed planning and I found myself doing the same thing. I had way too many bean plants, too many eggplants, numerous heads of kale, bok choy, arugula, sunflowers, sweet peas and when there was no more room on the diagram I thought, "I have to move, my lot is too small." Then I went back to the diagram and started to cross things out. I don't need 4 teepees of beans, or 6 heads of kale, etc. that is more food than I can eat, give away and freeze. I just get carried away visually with how those bamboo teepees will look full of beans, peas scrambling up supports, the beautiful purple of mulitiple eggplants peeking out behind their green foilage. So, until I get that half acre of fenced growing area and perhaps, more friends, I found a great new tool to use for planning your garden. I promise you, it will save you a lot of graph paper and is really fun. It's the new Kitchen Garden Planner from Gardener's Supply. I spent the other rainy, gray afternoon planning my different beds. This program is free, plans can be printed or emailed and a planting guide is provided with seed planting depth and spacing suggestions. My beds are almost zipped...

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

For The Love of Dirt -

2010-02-12T10:02:00.003-07:00

During my Master Gardening class the other night the subject of 'natives' came up. Some folks like to garden with only native plants, plants that you would find here in Montana naturally. They sometimes go to great lengths to rip out anything that isn't a 'native'. I have had boxes of lovely plants dropped on my doorstep and am much appreciative, because quite frankly, I don't care. If a plant will grow well here, doesn't require celebrity status attention, then join the party, but if you start acting up, getting buggy, requiring too much hydration, you are off the guest list. Personally I grow for color, texture, scent and foliage. I love the way Black Eyed Susans or Purple Cone Flower look grown beside a tall grass. How the slender grasses mix with the foliage and color of the other plants. I love how the herb Borage always has bees buzzing around it and has these gorgeous blue, edible flowers and seeds itself everywhere. Gardening can seem overwhelming, tell me, I've been there. Take it easy, take baby steps, start with a window box, and plant one full of herbs. Take out the kitchen window screen so you can access your window box from inside. Then the next time you are cooking, you can open the window, reach out and nip some basil, chives or parsley. It is incredibly satisfying. If you want more color than herbs will provide, then create a window box full of different annuals and experiment with color and leaf texture. Or, mix herbs and annuals together.
I think that there is no right or wrong, go native, or don't, but do get your hands in the soil.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Knowledge is Power (otherwise known as the longest blog post ever...)

2010-01-19T14:08:00.003-07:00

A few years ago I went on a summer raft trip on the Middle Fork. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the river was full, although deceivingly fast under the surface. There were three rafts in our party, and we all made it through the long stretch of the river with rapids without a mishap. After lunch, we pushed off to finish up the last leg through the lazy portion of the river, no more rapids, just an easy float down to the pull out. Looking back, there were several red flags we should have noticed, some of our group showed up and forgot their life jackets, we pushed off without having our gear strapped down, we missed the main channel, not everyone had their life jacket on, the oars were under a bunch of shoes and dry bags on the bottom of the raft. All little things, that we should have taken into account and noticed the mounting danger. It was then that I saw a large upturned tree that we were heading towards and mentioned, 'Um, guys, are we going to hit that thing?" There were four letter expletives, hands grabbing for oars that were buried under the dry bags, and then we hit it. Instead of just bumping into it, and changing direction, it pushed the raft up into the air and flipped it over. Shoes, hats, life jackets, the cooler, oars and people went out and into the river. Several passengers went rapidly downstream, some with and some without life jackets and three of us were sucked under the upturned tree. The tree had collected several small branches and resembled a beaver dam or giant ‘pic up stix’ pile. What we didn't realize was the current was fast under the surface and was swirling directionally under the tree ‘barge’. The tree ‘barge’ went back several feet towards the shore and was deep under the surface, kind of like an iceberg, its true size deceiving. I was sitting at the back of the boat, so I was one of the last to fall out. Because of my position I was low to the water and I went out towards the right side, the side towards the tree, head over heels. I was under the water, churning as if in a washing machine and then I was under the tree ‘barge'. All I could see was a criss cross of branches above my head. I remember thrashing around pulling at anything, desperate for air, and cutting my face trying to surface but the branches were too deep beneath the surface. I remember seeing a long branch or root at an angle to my left and pulled with all my strength thinking, "I am not going to die, I am not going to die, I have to get out of here." somehow, someway, I surfaced. Grabbing the closest branch so I didn't float into the river, I took without a doubt the biggest breath of my life. Still gulping for air, two others popped up next to me and we all just stared at each other and kept taking breaths. Miraculously, the worst injuries were psychological. It was truly the most horrifying situation I have ever been in. I had a tough time closing my eyes for the next few days because all I could see were those branches criss crossed in front of my eyes. I couldn't comfortably put my head under the water in the lake for the rest of the summer. This was more upsetting to me than the accident itself. I couldn't have a fear of water, I love bodies of water, I grew up next to the ocean and learned to swim when I was two years old. Eventually these fears have subsided, mostly because I was determined to make them go away but drowning still sits in the near recesses of my mind.

Last year I was determined to learn to ski off groom. I do think that the inability to do so rests more in my mind than in my ski ability. The fear of drowning from that accident came to manifest itself also in winter, in heavy snow conditions. Last year we had a base of 400 inches, there were several waist deep powder days. Although the conditions were incredible I found myself beginning to panic when the snow was deep, gulping for air unnecessarily. I was afraid of snow sliding, of burying me, of having no air. The majority of these fears were irrational, and I knew it. I don’t ski out of bounds and our inbound area is bombed by ski patrol daily if necessary. On several slopes last year, when the snow was deep and I was looking back up, waiting for the others to ski down, I would think, oh no, what if this slid? What if I had no air, the thought of being trapped would overwhelm me (usually this would happen to me at the bottom of Grey’s Golf Course which sits in somewhat of a gully beneath a pretty broad slope) I don’t scare very easily so these thoughts just eventually became annoying to me. When I was told of a Level 1 Avalanche certification course, I thought it would be a good idea for me to go. I needed to learn about snow, to understand how it worked and the real dangers, and how to assess them. These classes are taught but the U.S. Forest Service, free of charge, at their offices in Kalispell. The course I just finished was fours nights in a classroom setting (two nights a week for two weeks) and then two Saturday field sessions. The information was both, invaluable and very interesting. We discussed weather patterns, snow pack, melt freeze cycles, wind loading, cornices, directional aspects, hoar frost layers, ice layers, rescue techniques and how to use a beacon and perform a probe line search. On our first Saturday session we dug several pits off of the Summit at Whitefish Mountain Resort past the wind break, towards Hell Roaring Basin, both on the northern and southerly aspects. The second Saturday we practiced searching using a probe and in a probe line and then with the beacons. I didn't know about 'Beacon Park' at the Summit, which is to the left as you exit Chair 1. This area has a control box which is wired to seven buried transmitters. From the control box, which is located at the entrance, you can flip on a few of the transmitters then time yourself while you try and find the buried signals. It was much harder than I thought and a good idea to go there to practice regularly. The sessions were primarily taught by Stan Bones and Tony Willits of the USFS Backcountry Avalanche Patrol. These men are amazing, they are very knowledgeable, can talk about snow for hours, and never get cold. We watched a few videos in the classroom and a few times I felt myself taking big breaths and my heart beat increase as we watched the huge slab releases racing down the mountain carrying tons of snow and debris with them.

It was such a good class, so well taught, so informative and in many ways, very comforting. I can look at a slope now and assess the risks, I know the slope angles for avalanches, I know what to do and how to react should one occur and how to rescue someone. Because of this information many of those fears I had, have now been put to rest, thank goodness, they were exhausting. Knowledge is like that, it truly is very powerful. The more you know about something, the more you understand it, the more your fear subsides.

There is daily information on the Glacier County Avalanche Center’s website regarding back country conditions. You can also find information on the next class, I highly recommend attending it, if you haven't already. It is not just a class for skiers, it is for anyone who will be out in avalanche terrain, snow mobile riders, snow shoes, etc...

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Happpy New Years from Whitefish, Montana

2010-01-05T15:48:00.006-07:00

2010 still sounds like the title of science fiction novel to me. I am not used to it yet, well okay, it has only been 5 days, I'll give it awhile yet. So New Years Eve...did you survive it? I gave up on all the hoopla surrounding it awhile ago, actually it was when I moved to Montana. When I lived in London there was so much rushing around to get the perfect outfit, to the perfect party, and the resolutions (that never lasted for more than a week) and then getting home safely. I much prefer the way we celebrate New Years Eve now. A few friends making dinner together, playing board games, watching the ball drop in New York and no more resolutions.
Now, instead of resolutions, we make wishes. Wishes on grapes. A good friend of ours introduced us to this Spanish tradition, and I love it. You start with 12 grapes, and make a wish for each one, one for each of the 12 new months of the new year. All 12 of the grapes are supposed to be eaten before the final stroke of midnight. Last year we started writing our wishes down because it got to be too much, a mouthful of grapes while wracking your brain to come up with those last 6 wishes. Then last year a friend of mine told me about a tradition they practice in Puerto Rico, throwing 12 pennies away from you into water (she said snow was okay too) So now on New Years Eve there is a bowl of washed grapes and bags of 12 pennies each for everyone. It was pretty funny, people making wishes, throwing pennies and trying to get it all done before the stroke of midnight. The story is that the pennies are supposed to symbolize having so much money in the new year that you are throwing it away. There was so much to do in that 60 seconds that we forgot and wished on both, the grapes and the pennies. I am sure in the grand scheme of things that it's okay, double wishes. Can you imagine how exciting Spring will be at my house this year? When the snow melts there will be all those shiny pennies in the garden that we threw off of my deck. My garden is many things but now it will also be full of wishes. I can't wait.

Here is hoping that you and yours had a great Holiday season and wishing for you, a peaceful, joyful and profitable 2010.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Holiday Wine Tasting at Truby's!

2009-12-14T09:42:00.004-07:00

This Thursday, December 17Th at Truby's Fine Food & Spirits there will be a wine tasting hosted by O'Briens Wine and Liquor. Peter Grantz of Intermountain Distrubuting will be presenting 8-10 wines for the holiday season. Coffee Traders, local coffee roasters of Whitefish, Montana, will be pairing coffees with dessert. At only $25 a person this is a great night and is booking fast. I just called O'Briens to book a place for myself and they have only a few places left. Call them at 406.892.5335 to reserve your place. (don't call the restaurant, O'Briens is handling the reservations) The evening begins at 6 p.m. see you there! Check Truby's website for directions and a map www.trubys.com
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

The Christmas Stroll, Whitefish Montana

2009-12-10T14:39:00.009-07:00

This Friday, December 11Th is the annual Christmas Stroll on Central Avenue, Whitefish, Montana. Late night shopping with stores all in their finery, roasted chestnuts, great food, beverages and delightful gifts. The parade begins at 5:45 pm and there will be a Caroling Competition on the corner of 1st and 3rd. This a great way to support local businesses and get in the holiday spirit. Central Avenue will be closed to vehicles and foot traffic only. Come stroll downtown Whitefish this Friday!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Warren Millers' 'Dynasty'

2009-11-18T18:20:00.008-07:00

This weekend, the 20 and 21st of November will be ski film time again, Warren Miller ski film time. I love Warren Miller ski films, every year growing up it was a tradition, we would all pack in the family station wagon to watch his latest release at our local theatre. I really like Warren Miller, I know there are those that don't but to me he is a legend. The guy started out in the 60's with nothing more than an 8mm camera and a tremendous love of skiing. He would sleep in his car in the parking lot of ski resorts and turned his love of skiing into a huge company. He made movies that showed both the good and the bad, the way the sun shines off of fresh powder like diamonds, the joy on the skiers faces as well as a bit of humor thrown in.
The movies are now more 'edgy', lots of heli trips and loud music since his kids took over the business but still well done and I still love them. I miss his voice overs and those funny shots of people falling off the ski lifts but his movies still have the same effect on me. They give me goosebumps, and make me believe that I can be one of those skiers, chest deep in powder, making killer turns and ripping it up.
This year, 'Dynasty' has some amazing footage of China and a skier who does not have the use of his legs. Truly inspiring. So, all that said, this weekend,Friday or Saturday, come support the Whitefish, Montana Ski Education Foundation for their annual fundraiser and watch the newest release from Warren Miller Entertainment, 'Dynasty' at the O'Shaunghnessy Center, 7 p.m., Central Avenue in Whitefish. Tickets available at Sportsman Ski Haus and The WhiteRoom ski shop.
I have included the trailer for you to preview below.
Enjoy! (tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for 18 yrs and younger)

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Support the Whitefish Mountain Resort Freestyle Team

2009-11-06T10:34:00.006-07:00

It's that time again, time to get psyched for ski season and the new ski movies are out to do just that. Tomorrow night, Saturday, November 7th at 7pm at Flathead High School the Whitefish Mountain Resort Freestyle Team will be showing the latest release from Teton Gravity Research, fondly known as TGR. Loud music, great editing and amazing skiing, this years movie is "Re:Session" a light pun on the current global economic downturn.

So, lighten your spirits with some deep, white, powder, show up and support the local shredders. The tickets are available at the door, and are 10$ one hundred percent of the proceeds go to the team. If you have never seen these little guys and gals hurl their bodies off jumps in our terrain park it is truly amazing. Maggie Voisin, 10 years old, told me the other day that her goal for this year is a 1080. I had to take a minute and do the math and then realized she was talking about three, 360s . Wow. These teams are a great way for kids to build self esteem, make life long ski buddies and learn the hill.

Check out the trailer for the movie below.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Montana's Official State Website

2009-09-17T08:53:00.004-06:00

Here is a great website to add to your favorites if you are a resident Montanan or would like to become one. Montana's Official State Website It is a great place to get up to date on current and pending legislation, tourism, news about our Governor, Brian Schweitzer and other state government officials. There is information about Montana state income tax, roads and weather and voter information.

Reminders -
14 days left to get your 2009 - 2010 annual ski pass for $535 and
98 days until Christmas!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

September, the true sweet spot for Northwest Montana

2009-09-09T14:32:00.006-06:00

I love September. The kids are back in school, most of the tourists have gone and we have the town back to the few full time 'year rounders' for that last bit of summer before the snow flies. My only complaint would be that September was 60 days long, not a mere 30. I panic a bit during this month, I still have green tomatoes, eggplant that has yet to produce any fruit and okra that is only two inches tall (okay, it was a bit ambitious of me to try and grow that little vegetable that typically lives in a much more southernly latitude) bulbs to plant, mulch to throw about, rivers to float and mountains to hike.
The panic starts with that glimpse of him, you know, Old Man Winter. I haven't actually seen him, but you can sense him, the hint of wood smoke in the air, the earlier sunsets, the first few fallen leaves. He is there, lurking, waiting for her to leave, Summer. I sometimes think of Summer as our proverbial 'It' girl here in Montana. She shows up late to the party and leaves early, flipping her hair as she waltzes down the street and right out of town. Don't get me wrong, winter is great but summer, summer is glorious. Every free minute is a toss up of which lake to visit, Whitefish, Tally, Ashley, Flathead, which river to float, the Stillwater, the Middle Fork, Northfork or Whitefish, or which new trail to conquer.
I would love to have a chat with Summer, talk about changing our growing zone to at least a 5 or at least a consistent 4, beg her to stay longer, plead for my green tomatoes and eggplant. I can only imagine her reply, 'gotta go, gotta go, gotta go.' If you see her, be nice and put in a good word. Meanwhile, I'll be pulling out the long pants, soaking up those last rays of warm sun and ignoring the ever looming, ever growing list of 'things to do'.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Living in a ski resort town - is it for you?

2009-08-13T12:11:00.009-06:00

The other night I was at a friend's dinner party and had an interesting discussion with a woman regarding the prices of real estate in town. I was saying how glad I was that prices had readjusted and were back to the levels they were in 2000. She said she didn't see the point of investing in one of them. I must have given her a funny look but then realized we lived in different realms. This woman files her taxes in a much different tax bracket than mine and our perspectives are much different, I live here year round and she doesn't, she also doesn't ski. Let me explain my position - when I moved here I was happy to run away from my corporate career, to take all my suits and high heels to the thrift store and be done with them. I was happy to semi-retire, more than happy to leave that part of my life in the past, as well as the city of 8 million I worked in. I happily walked, no ran, from that life as well as the big paycheck. Although my income decreased, the quality of my life increased, exponentially, which to me is worth quite a bit. I worked as a barista when I first arrived in town, I loved it, no more meetings or multi million dollar deals with investment bankers, pulling all nighters filing documents with the SEC. Instead, it was, 'Would you like room in your americano for cream?' Work attire was flip flops and shorts and my commute to work was minutes (and still is), bliss. After work I can hike up the hill, summer or winter, and let me tell you, 2000 vertical is the best stairmaster you will ever experience and the views are ten times better. So to me, to be able to buy a house in a ski town and work as a barista, teacher, ski patroller or a waitress is amazing. Tell me this, where else in the United States can you still do that? Perhaps the woman whom I was speaking to didn't see the value of my new listing, a 3 bed/ 1 bath right in down town for $189,000 on Somers Avenue, but I do and I own one similar. A typical little Whitefish house that has been here a long time and seen many changes to our little town and in most cases could use a bit of updating. If you are interested in having a go at living in a ski resort, somewhere that won't break the bank, and want to schedule a viewing, give me a call. P.S. although I don't serve up espresso anymore, I still wear flip flops and shorts to the office, so don't be surprised.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

New! Whitefish Community Gardens

2009-07-16T13:11:00.013-06:00

When I lived in England one of my favorite things to do on the weekend was to go visit the Maze Hill Garden Plots. It was a small area of the neighborhood dedicated to growing space for the residents who lived in apartments with no outside space. Those lucky enough to get a spot, the waiting list was long, had their own little plot where they could grow flowers or veggies, or both. I am sure I looked like a little kid outside a candy shop with my hands gripping the chain link fence lusting for the goodies on the other side. I wanted to be a part of that community, to hang out with other folks who loved growing things in the ground. It was a wonderland with bean teepee's and beautiful colors of flowers and edibles. Now, if you live in Whitefish and you find yourself in that same situation, you have a condo or an apartment and long for your own little piece of ground to grow on, we have a solution for you. The Whitefish Community Garden. I went to visit the Garden this morning, located on Glenwood, off of Wisconsin, behind the Methodist Church. It reminded me so much of Maze Hill, but there was no fence and the waiting list isn't as long. It has only begun but already there is a bean teepee, and one raised bed dedicated to herbs which are free to the community. The other personal beds were also amazing, packed with beautiful kale, corn, nasturtiums, chard, spinach, beans and peas. What a wonderful place to spend an evening with like minded folks, or your family. Wander around, check out what's growing, get some great ideas and show your support for this great new project. You can even bring your pooch, but keep them on a leash please. If you are interested in having your own space at the Garden contact them through their website Whitefish Community Gardens there is also a map if you are just visiting and need directions.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish, Montana - Something for Everyone

2009-06-30T12:31:00.006-06:00

I frequently pull up Sold information on Residential listings in Whitefish for clients who are watching our Real Estate market trends. The results from May 1, 2009 to today are amazing. We truly have something for everyone, older original Whitefish houses right in town are going for $170,000 - with houses on the lake going for $2 million. You can still live here, wait tables, be a teacher, a nurse, or teach skiing and afford to buy a house. What other ski resort town can offer that? Having grown up in California on the beach, and knowing that to buy a house I would be so far inland that I might as well move out of the state (which I obviously did) it is refreshing to know it isn't that way here yet. I believe that this range of residential offerings is what gives us our great diverse community. You can drive a Subaru or an Escalade and we all live in the same place. Some of our lots are 10 - 20 acres and others are 50' x 130' - something for everyone. (If you would like to receive a copy of this sold information send me an email.)

Tonight is the Tuesday Farmers Market at the end of Central in front of the Train Station. Stop by for great locally grown produce, a Truby's Pizza out of the mobile wood fired pizza trailer or just some local conversation. Happy Summer.

p.s. The 2009 -2010 - Winter Season ski pass sale ends September 30, 2009 - Adults 19 - 64 annual passes are $535. After the September 30th they go up to $805 so mark your calendars to get your pass before 9/30/2009! (Also, that is NOT me in the above photo)

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

June 27th, Opening Day of Summer

2009-06-22T19:58:00.008-06:00

The official opening day of Summer at Whitefish Mountain Resort is June 27th, 2009. We have some great new activities on our mountain, we have a Brand New Alpine Slide, 4 Zip Lines and improved biking trails including the still new 'Runaway Train'. (Trails opening subject to conditions and snow.) Check out Whitefish Mountain Resort website for up to the minute updates. The Danny On is still snow covered, but the ride down is cheap! Hike up and ride down free. The Danny On is one of the first hikes I did when I moved here and one that I still love. Ten minutes from my door to the trail head is a plus but the hike is so many other things as well. Serene and beautiful with mind blowing views and 2000 vertical to kick a booty into shape. Our Summers are fast, fabulous and furious so get here quick, or you may miss it!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish Farmers Market

2009-05-26T11:36:00.011-06:00

You can still see the snow up on Whitefish Mountain Resort but you know Spring has arrived, because the Farmers Market 2009 season begins tonight, Tuesday, May 26th. All Market vendors offer locally grown or made produce, plants, foods, art, and crafts. It's a perfect, sunny, spring evening for live music and local produce. Nate will be in the Truby's wood fired pizza trailer making those tasty pies, Becky and Todd will be serving up crepes in the red Amazing Crepes bus so make a night of it. The Tuesday Farmers Market is located in downtown Whitefish, at the intersection of Central and Railway in front of the O'Shaugnessy Theatre. The market runs from 5 - 7:30, May through September. For more info, check out their website. Whitefish Farmers Market Each summer a contest is held to select the following year's poster design. On the Market website you can check out the current 2009 and past posters created by local artists.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Spring in Montana

2009-05-03T09:29:00.005-06:00

Well, you may have noticed, I completely blew past April here on my blog. It was a busy month. Daylight savings has commenced, days are getting longer and warmer, daffodils are popping up all over town, trees are starting to bud out and the lake has no more ice on it. There is still snow on the mountain and several folks are still hiking up for some solo runs but my skiis are put away and my flip flops are out.

A lot happened in April, downtown we had an art gallery close and in its place, three business owners set up shop. My friends who own Amazing Crepes have their crepe burners in the window and you can get a fresh crepe, and a great espresso coffee while you browse through Station 8 antiques or have a treatment at Remedies Day Spa. It is a great use of space, something that makes sense in our new world economy, three great businesses sharing a unique space. Also, for quite sometime now, Truby's Wood Fired Pizza has been hovering over the valley and looking for a place to land. Kristin has taken the restaurant to Meadowlake Resort in Columbia Falls. She has met both her loyal and new customers in the middle, between Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The restaurant just completed its first week of business and it has been so great to have her back in operation. If you are visiting Glacier National Park and making your way back to Whitefish it is right on your way, if you are looking for somewhere to go for a great dinner or a friendly bar to have a drink, Truby's is there for you. The setting is wonderful, fantastic outside seating right on the golf course and the inside is cozy with new dark wood booths, welcoming paint colors and Karen Minton has several of her paintings on display. The food, as always is phenomonal, some great new entrees and of course, the pizza. In this location there wasn't quite enough room for the wood fired oven so she is using brick oven pizza decks and many have said that they almost prefer the way the pizza cooks in them. She is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner - Truby's Fine Food & Spirits at Meadowlake Resort, go to the Resort's website and you can check out the Dinner and Wine Menus. (click on Resort Amenities, then click on Dining at Meadow Lake and you will see the Truby's announcement and a link that will open the pdf)

May is a great month here in Whitefish, our Farmer's Markets begin this first week of May on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Whitefish Gallery Nights or often referred to as "Art Walk", the first Thursday of each month begins - lots to do. I spoke with some friends and they were in Glacier yesterday, some paddle boarding on Lake McDonald and others for a bike ride.

Montana, the last best place, any time of the year.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish Montana gets Stimulus Package

2009-03-31T16:07:00.005-06:00

Well, for those of us who ski, you could consider it one heck of a stimulus package. Eight inches of new snow over night, snow all day and more snow forecasted all week. Today was the last day that Hell Roaring Basin was open for the season and they were just opening it as I got off of Chair One. My sister and I skied down to Grey's Golf course and it was knee deep untracked powder. Awesome. You could hear whooping and hollering all the way down the run from the others that had made it there at the same time.

It is so fun to live in a small ski town, especially on days like these, silly grins on peoples faces and hearing the word 'epic' used in a lot of sentences. I even had a very strong urge to call someone 'dude', but refrained.

Yes, the recession is making it a tough time for most, but what it can't do is take away the amazing natural amenities we have here in Montana and today was just a reminder of how the simple things are most often times the best. A great run, on a great hill, with great friends. Stimulus Package indeed.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

2009-03-02T15:20:00.006-07:00

A few weeks ago I went to The Lodge at Whitefish Lake for Chappy's Trivia Night. The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is a beautiful place to stay, dine or have a drink with friends. There is outdoor seating in the summer on the covered deck above the pool, and indoors is cozy with a great bar and several fireplaces. As the name implies, The Lodge sits right on the banks of Whitefish Lake and the sunsets that can be viewed from the deck are not to be missed.

Chappy is an infamous local who has been serving drinks and racking up the most vertical on Big Mountain since, well, for a long time. (I am pretty sure that a chocolate martini is one of his famous drinks, but ask him next time you are there.) For years, Chappy would have the most vertical feet racked onto his ski pass. When they scan your pass in the lift line it tracks it for you and you can check how much vert you have racked up on the Whitefish Mountain Resort website. Make no mistake, some folks take this number VERY seriously.

Trivia nights are Thursday's at 7pm, and there are food and drink specials as well as prizes. It was really well organized and although my team came in 4th place, we had a great time. I will never forget one of the questions we were asked, "Auguste Escoffier", the famous frenchman, is associated with what profession?" For some random reason, as trivia is, I knew the answer. Do you?

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake can be reached on 406-863-4040 for more information about Trivia night or general lodging. There also units for sale in the Lodge so if you are interested let me know and I can run the numbers for you.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Numbers Numbers, so many Numbers

2009-02-14T10:11:00.003-07:00

I don't count calories or sheep, nor do I any longer count the days until my birthday. I have a hard time remembering all my different pin codes, my own phone number (since I don't call myself) and I never weigh myself. The only numbers I keep close track of are my blood pressure and my cholesterol. I know my HDL, my LDL's, my diastolic and my systolic pressure. Because I want to live a long and healthy life, these are really the only important numbers to me, well besides the temp outside, the number of overnight snow fall, but I digress. The great news is that the first Thursday of every month, from 7a.m. to 10a.m., at The Summit Health and Fitness Center in Kalispell, there is a "Identify Your Cardiac Risk Factors" screening clinic. Fee: $10, $15, or $25, depending on the level of screening you choose. Cost is $10 for a total cholesterol reading; $15 for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and ratio of risk; and $25 for a full lipid panel. Call The Summit on 406-751-4500 for more information. Be your own Valentine and take care of your heart

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish Mountain Resort Freestyle Team Skier Takes 2nd Place in Fernie B.C. Competition

2009-02-11T14:55:00.010-07:00

My nephews grew up on this hill we call home, Big Mountain. They were skiing before they could walk (they were in backpacks with their Dad on a snowboard) ripping down the hill yelling, "Faster Daddy, faster!" They learned to ski on Chair 6 with ropes around their waists and 'edgie wedgies' on the tips of their skis. The second sentence they may have formed was, "No rope on me Mommy!" yearning for their independence on the hill.

Whitefish Mountain Resort has amazing year round programs for kids. My nephews grew up competing in the Tommy Moe Kids League and are now on the Whitefish Mountain Resort Freestyle Team. Living in a place like Whitefish, Montana is amazing for children. They grow up active, which boosts their self confidence and they spend a lot of time outside. I have seen shy children start with the Tommy Moe Kids League, learn how to wear a racing jersey, charge through giant slalom race gates, stand on a podium to get a medal and high five their friends. Seeing these kids grow up through these organizations has been very rewarding. The grins on their faces is priceless.

My nephew, Parkin Costain (9 years old), took 2nd place last weekend at the Fernie Resort in British Columbia, in the 2009 Snickers Junior Freeskiing competition. Check out the youtube video of the competition.
If your kids grow up here, there is a very good chance... they will totally shred.

Posted by href="mailto:bonniehannigan@gmail.com">bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Stillwater Mountain Lodge

2009-02-10T10:55:00.005-07:00

Are you a dog owner? Do you feel bad seeing the sad face of your pooch as you head out the door for a cross country ski adventure without him/her? Well, be sad no more. One of the great advantages of the Stillwater Mountain Lodge is that it has 'Dog Friendly' Nordic ski trails. Pack up your skiis, and your pooch and go get some exercise together.

Stillwater Mountain Lodge

750 Beaver Lake Road

406-862-7004

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Outback Ski Shack at the Glacier Nordic Center

2009-01-07T10:30:00.015-07:00

If you prefer skiing with less of an incline, no lift lines or even lifts at all, you should think about an afternoon, or evening of cross country skiing at the Glacier Nordic Center located at the Whitefish Golf Course. The 12.5 km course is professionally groomed and maintained by the Outback Ski Shack. The Outback Ski Shack offer lessons, either private or group, expert advice, quality equipment, for rental or purchase, as well as waxing and repairs. There is a drop box for one time usage of $8 for the course or you can buy a pass for the season. Individual passes are $45 or family passes are $90. Group lessons are $29, Classic skiing daily at 1 p.m. and Skate Skiing lessons on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. Try before you buy! they offer a wide variety of skis to demo. Owner Laura Nugent is very knowledgeable in all forms of cross country skiing and can answer questions and give great advice when buying equipment.

Outback Ski Shack, 1200 Hwy 93 West, Whitefish, MT 59937. Hours are Monday & Tuesday from Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Give the Shack a call on 406.862.9498

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T10:49:00.007-07:00

Poor little blog of mine! Only one post for December! When you live where I live, the holidays are just too busy, fun filled, and snow packed, so my blog went on the back burner. My New Year's resolution is at least one new blog post a week, so stay tuned. December in Montana was packed with cross country skiing, caroling parties, down hill skiing, my nephew's freestyle contests and 7 feet of snow on the mountain since Xmas Eve! We have so much snow in town it is amazing. We were hit with a series of storms that just dumped it upon us so if you ever wondered what it was like to live in a beautiful snow globe...now is the time to visit Whitefish, Montana!

I also wanted to give a shout out to my friends at Zero Gloves . I have been wearing the gloves they sent me and they are the bomb. Warm hands make Bonnie a happy skier! For those of you that know me, I get really cold fingers and these gloves have kept my fingers toasty warm. Check out their website for some great shots, pics of their sponsored skiers and new product line. I normally only post links to local Montanan companies but this little outfit in Iowa is a home grown family business so they deserve to be included. Thanks Will!

Happy New Year and see you on the hill!

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Sope - made in Montana

2008-12-08T15:22:00.008-07:00

If you are looking for a hand washing or bathing sensation, as well as a product made here in Whitefish, Montana, try Sope. Jen Elden makes her soaps using only pure and natural ingredients to provide you with a soft and luxurious cleansing experience. Sope contains delicate plant-derived essential oils whose beneficial healing and therapeutic properties are easily absorbed by your skin. Long-lasting with bubbly lather, Sope works great! Choose from a variety of flavors to suit different tastes, seasonal preferences and exfoliating needs. The simplicity of the ingredients coupled with aromatherapy of the botanical essences promotes well-being for you and your whole body-inside and out. Jen can be reached through her website http://www.sope.myshopify.com/ and has many gift ideas for your last minute Christmas shopping. Email Jen Elden at sope@eldenworks.com

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Whitefish Christmas Stroll

2008-12-03T16:57:00.002-07:00

The annual Christmas stroll in December always seems to signify the beginning of the holiday festivities here in Whitefish with music, sleigh rides and pictures with Santa. Don't miss this years stroll on Friday, December 5th, downtown Whitefish, 6 - 9 p.m. Central Avenue is blocked off to vehicles and allows only pedestrian traffic. The smell of roasting chestnuts fills the air and vendors along Central Avenue stay open until 9 p.m. Pictures with Santa can be taken at The Backdoor General Store. The decorations are up and there was a light snow in town so it is looking pretty festive here! I hear sleighbells, or was that cowbells...?

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Good Monday Morning to you -

2008-11-24T09:22:00.014-07:00

Well, it's Monday, the 24Th of November and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching for us Americans. A day to give thanks, think back on our forefathers, spend some quality time with friends and family and eat lots of turkey. I will be giving thanks this year for my family, friends, my health and that I live in such an amazing place.

It is 19 degrees (F) and sunny right now in Whitefish, we have a 6 inch base on the mountain and these photos were just taken from the web cams off of the Whitefish Mountain Resort website. (You can also access the web cams from my blog on the top right hand side of the front page.) The web cams are a great tool to use to check out our local ski conditions. Because of where our town sits, the local geography, precipitation, etc... we often experience 'inversion' weather patterns. It will appear foggy with low visibility in town but on those days especially, make sure to check the web cams because it might just be a blue-bird day up on the Summit. If you have never experienced an inversion weather pattern, they can be pretty amazing. When you are on the Summit it is like you are on an island. Looking down towards town all you will see if the top of a cloud.
Have a great Thanksgiving, give thanks and as always, pray for snow.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Artist Spotlight - Karen McKendry Minton

2008-11-19T11:20:00.018-07:00

Karen McKendry Minton is another one of our resident Whitefish artists. You may remember being at Truby's Wood Fired Pizza on Central Avenue and seeing the 'The Weary Winestompers' (pictured above) hanging near the bar. Karen's work has also been displayed in -Wasabi, Stephen Isley Jewelry, Wrap & Roll and Rolling Mirror Massage. Peaceful themes of nature and the female form depicted in bold colors dominate Karen's work. She and husband Daniel live in Whitefish with baby Jolie, and dogs Gertie and Murphy. You can see more of Karen's work by visiting her website KarenMinton.com

Whitefish may not be referred to as a 'cultural mecca' since we don't have a museum on every corner, but what we do have is a very creative community. A different type of 'mecca' perhaps. (We like to think so anyway) We have a wonderful array of very talented people living here whose livelihood is creating art in its many forms. Whether it be photographers, painters, graphic artists, ceramists, sculptures, landscape architects, interior decorators, yoga teachers or massage therapists, Whitefish has a wide array to choose from. Come visit us and see what we're talking about.

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Top 10 Wines of 2008 - Uncorked Wines of Kalispell

2008-11-16T08:03:00.012-07:00

Oscar Wilde once said, "Only the unimaginative can fail to find a reason for drinking champagne"
I guess this means I'm imaginative, because I love to drink champagne and never fail to find a reason. (Do you really need a reason?) I also love learning about wine, a justification for a vice? perhaps, but because of this I always look forward to the annual release of Andrew Topel's Top Ten Wines list each year. Andrew has just released his list for 2008 and it includes 5 whites and 5 reds which is available at the shop.

Cheese Alert - the new 2008 Rogue River Blue cheese in, the winner of the World's Best Cheese Award, London England 2003

Also just in - the new "Vinturi" Wine Aerator is now in stock. The wine aerator eliminates the need for a decanter. This patent pending design speeds up the process of adding air to wine with ease and convenience. Perfect aeration in the time it takes to pour a glass.

For your Top 10 Wines for 2008 list, some amazing cheese and much, much, more - stop by Uncorked Wines.

Uncorked Wines is located in Kalispell 406/257-WINE in the Blue Cow Building
Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Get 'em while they're hot -

2008-11-12T17:24:00.005-07:00

Does the back of your car feel that it is somehow... lacking something and you just can't place your finger on it? or the front of your ski helmet or in the case of my nephew, the living room window?

I've got just the thing for you, hot off the press, the new, modest, yet bold, skiwhitefishmt.blogspot.com bumper stickers. Something for you, for free. Email me your details and your new bumpa sticka will be on its way to you.

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

First snow!

2008-11-04T14:16:00.011-07:00

It's a dark, cloudy day here in Whitefish, Montana, town feels as if it is in a cloud. (probably because we are) But this is good, we are moving into Winter and Old Man Winter has given us our first dusting on The Big. This shot is from one of Whitefish Mountain Resort's webcams, this one located just outside the new Day Lodge at the base, exciting stuff. Getting in the Winter frame of mind, make sure you check out The White Room located in the historic Railway district. This shop, owned by locals, Tim Thomas and Charlie Duffy, will tune your skiis, or sell you some new ones, get you fitted out in some great new gear, and if you ask, happy to pass on the goods for some great runs. They have a very cool new website, with some great links and if your computer allows pop-ups, you get this groovy music to listen too while you prowl around their site. Check it out, after you vote, of course.

The White Room, 130 Lupfer Avenue, Whitefish, Montana 406.863.7666 (ROOM)
Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Yoga Today.com

2008-10-21T15:37:00.013-06:00

In case you aren't able to make it to a Yoga class at The Wave here in Whitefish, or just want to supplement your yoga practice with an extra class, check out Yoga Today. There are three great instructors from Jackson, WY who offer up free hour long yoga classes daily on their website. This website is my new personal favorite and I use it daily. Thank you Adi, Neesha and Sarah!

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce

2008-10-20T11:40:00.004-06:00

Our local Chamber of Commerce is located right in downtown Whitefish. They are a goldmine of information on local activities and they have great maps as well as other information. Check out their website Whitefish Chamber of Commerce for job listings, local activities and other information about our town.

WHITEFISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 520 East Second Street, Whitefish, MT 59937 Phone: 406.862.3501

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

The Whitefish Wave

2008-10-17T15:26:00.002-06:00

If you are like me, you have come to terms with Summer being over and pulling out your skis, boots and poles in anticipation for Winter. A great way to get those ski legs ready is to take a class at The Wave. The Wave is our outstanding health and fitness facility here in Whitefish. This amazing 54,000 square foot facility hosts yoga classes, a lap pool, racquet ball courts, basketball courts, hot and dry saunas, jacuzzi, a kiddie pool, cafe, personal trainers, the list goes on! Check out the Class Schedule on their website for times and instructors as well as their Winter and Summer opening times.

The Wave is located at 1250 Baker Avenue, Whitefish, Montana 59937 - 406.862.2444

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

The Conductor's House

2008-10-14T15:32:00.011-06:00

Some of you may recall seeing Linda and Pete Costain's little Railway Street house being moved down Hwy 93 last Spring on a flatbed trailer. The house is historically significant for Whitefish as it was one of four, original Conductor's homes used during the construction of the railroad through Montana. The house also holds many family memories for Linda and Pete so they knew the house had to be preserved. When the lot was sold they had the house moved to its new home on Farm to Market, near the Tally Lake entrance. Linda and Pete have worked their renovation magic on the house (which now features a second story, single car garage and many 21st century upgrades) and will be offering it for nightly/weekly rentals after December 13th, 2008. Follow the link for additional information and available booking dates as well as some more great photos http://www.vrbo.com/208443 (VRBO.com - Vacation Rentals By Owner)
The Conductor's House, an important piece of Whitefish history... preserved. What a special place for your family reunion, a wedding or just a long weekend away from it all, in 'the last best place.'

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Who the heck is 'Bob?'...

2008-10-11T14:04:00.014-06:00

You may have heard people talking about 'The Bob', in the context of camping, hiking, and trail riding and wondered, "Who the heck is Bob?" They are referring to "The Bob Marshall Wilderness" named after none other than, Robert Marshall, an early Forrester who was one of the principal founders of the The Wilderness Society. The Bob Marshall Wilderness runs 60 miles along the Continental Divide and consists of 1,009,356 acres, located in Northwestern Montana. The Bob Marshall Wilderness is the second largest wilderness in the lower 48 states with altitudes ranging from 4000 to 9000 feet and if you live here in the Flathead Valley, you are lucky enough to have this wilderness in your own backyard. Check out The Bob Marshal Wilderness Foundation's website for more information and trail head access. Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell, there will be a fund raiser, Voice of the Wilderness, for The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation. Admission is $15 and includes a live and silent auction, drinks and desserts, art exhibition, artist presentation and a quick draw artist. See you there.

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

I left my heart in Liguria...

2008-10-10T07:21:00.010-06:00

Sorry for the minimal posts for September, I took a much needed vacation and visited friends in the Ligurian region of Italy. I am always so impressed by the ingenuity of the people of this region and their use of every inch of available space to grow fruit or vegetables. Much of the region is hilly and there are terraces everywhere with lemon trees, herbs and vegetables. Ligurians are truly a people after my own heart, the original kings and queens of 'jimmy rig'. Often times, I would pass by an 'orto' (kitchen garden) and see an old steel mattress frame used as the orto gate which never failed to make me laugh. I love it that they take so little for granted, of course their food would be fresh, the family would eat together in the evenings around the table and the kids would come home from school for lunch.
I ate and drank amazing food and wine for three weeks and then came back to my frozen Popsicle of a garden. Visiting them always inspires me, so I have converted my entire front lawn to a veg and flower garden, with dreams of a greenhouse. This North Western Mediterranean region of Italy hosts a much milder climate than ours and a much longer growing season but I am determined to emulate their use of space.
This post is not only a way to relive those memories of the past weeks but to let you know we now have a new direct route at our airport, through Las Vegas. This is just one more way to get a cheap flight to Italy. Catch a flight to Vegas, try not to put it all on black or red at the craps table, and then catch a flight to Italy. Check out our new direct flights on our airport's website Glacier Park International Airport. This new flight is just one more way that you too, can leave your heart in Liguria while living in 'the last best place'.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Ganache - sweet dreams were made of this...

2008-10-10T07:20:00.003-06:00

Artists work in many different mediums, oil, clay, acrylic, wax, but Meagan Healy, owner of Ganache, her medium is... chocolate and other food stuffs, both sweet and savory. If you have ever seen, or sampled, a creation of Meagan's you will appreciate this art form.

"Ganache" - the rich chocolate filling in truffles means 'fool' in French. The story is this...The chocolatier's apprentice stumbled and spilled scalded cream onto chopped chocolate. The chocolatier scolds 'ganache!' (fool!). Hence the creation of the chocolate filling we love today.

To me, "Ganache" means that it is sure to be an amazing work of confectionery heaven created by Meagan. Getting married? having a dinner party and really want to 'wow' your guests for the dessert course? You should call Meagan and have her work her 'magic' for you in her kitchen beforehand. Truffles to melt in your mouth that your guests will dream about for months afterward - that would be Meagan - give her a call on 406-314-5116

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Behold, The Runaway Train...

2008-08-18T23:38:00.012-06:00

29 berms

6 rock drops

1 rock wall ride

3 natural terrain wall rides

24 jumps

1 techy section

1 super-flowy section

6 years of planning

1 month of construction

...Behold the Runaway Train. Many down hill riders have been frustrated by the lack of enthusiasm Whitefish Mountain Resort has shown to jump on the down hill mountain bike riding scene. Well, as of Saturday, August 16th, 2008 our first lift access mountain biking down hill trail is fully operational. The amazing thing about this trial is that it was built by a lot of volunteer hours and by people that truly love to ride. It is ranked intermediate to advanced and just awesome. Feature packed and ready to make you shout, "MORE". Get up there and try it out. Take the chair to the Summit and jump on The Runaway Train. Check out Whitefish Moutain Resort's website for more info.

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Shakespeare In The Park on Big Mountain

2008-08-14T22:16:00.015-06:00

Yes, it is that time again, an evening of free Shakespeare at Whitefish Mountain Resort, but don't miss it, it is one night only, August 20th at 6 p.m. This year the troupe will be performing "All's Well That Ends Well". Last year the play was performed outside of the newly constructed Day Lodge in the patio area by Chair 6. Bring a picnic dinner and to further enjoy the evening, you might find it helpful to read up a bit on the play beforehand. Shakespeare can be a bit tricky, make no mistake these performers are top notch but the material can be difficult to navigate. There is a more in depth synopsis of the play on the Folger Shakespeare Library site but basically it is about Helen and Bertram, she is in love with him, he is not with her, there is a great social divide, she cures the dying King and love prevails in the end, hence,"all's well that ends well..."

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Ciao bello Borago!

2008-08-13T00:27:00.010-06:00

One of my favorite plants in my garden is Borage, officially known as 'Borago Officinalis'. It is an herb that I first saw in the Mediterranean, growing wild on an Italian hillside. Amazingly it grows really well here in northwestern Montana. The blue flowers are not only simple and beautiful, but edible. The flowers can be used fresh or placed into ice cube trays and frozen in the middle of ice cubes, they make a colorful and tasty addition to lemonade or a cool summer cocktail. Add the flowers to your next salad for a great dinner party conversation piece. Bees love this plant, so if you grow veggies make sure to plant some Borage to attract those pollinators. You will only need to plant Borage once as it self seeds, it has a long tap root so if it grows somewhere you don't want it you can easily remove it. Borage is one of those garden givers, it cares not for the sake of your soil, produces beautiful flowers to admire and eat, leaves to make tea with and keeps the bees happy.

Natural Nightcap -

3 teaspoons of fresh Borage leaves

1 cup of boiling water

1 teaspoon honey

1 slice lemon

Put the roughly chopped Borage leaves into a warmed cup and pour the boiling water over them. Cover with a saucer and leave the leaves to infuse for at least five minutes. Strain and add the lemon slice and honey. Recipe compliments of Jekka McVicar's Complete Herb Book

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Flathead Cherries

2008-08-07T10:18:00.003-06:00

Last week I went cherry picking with my nieces, nephews and parents. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. If you have never had Flathead cherries before, you should, they are particularly great this year. The season this year is about 2 weeks behind usual because of this years late summer start. We went to Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake, 18 miles South of Bigfork to Walt Zook's 'Retirement Acres'. The sign even has a miniature white rocker on the top of it. He is this really great older guy who has a Walnut tree, Flathead and Rainier cherry trees. He said when he was in Polson he used to have several Pecan trees as well. He will get you hooked up with his 'cherry picking apparatus', an old pair of suspenders that are cut in half and have a big galvanized bucket attached to the front. For a buck a pound we figured it would be pretty cheap entertainment, then we weighed in our buckets...we had picked 60 pounds of cherries! You can see the lake from his well tended cherry trees and the setting couldn't be nicer. Do yourself a favor and go visit Walt. Driving south around the lake his place is on the left hand side.

Posted by bonnie@rockymtnre.com

Sage & Cedar

2008-08-06T08:36:00.013-06:00

Walking into Sage & Cedar in Whitefish is instantly calming, as soon as you open their door, the soothing scents surround you. This shop, in downtown Whitefish, owned by Nicole and Leslie, is an aromatherapy mecca and these ladies are the modern day witchdoctors of scent. They will custom mix for you hand and body lotions, with your choice of essential oils or try one of their Home Fragrance Mists. I use the Lavendar scented one and it smells wonderful. There are soaps and candles as well as many other items. You can also order from their website Sage & Cedar. They are also the only place in town where you can purchase the all natural Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. If you haven't tried those they are heavenly, the dish soap will literally make washing dishes a pleasure. Stop in and visit the ladies and have them customize a scent for you. Try their lotion that repels mosquitoes, it smells great, is all natural and really works.

Sage & Cedar

214 Central Avenue

Whitefish, Montana

406.862.9411

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Flathead Fat Tires Mountain Bike Club

2008-08-06T08:13:00.011-06:00

A really great site that is not utilized enough is the site for Flathead Fat Tires. They have great mountain bike banner shots at the top, great info of events in the valley and a great shot of the Armory Dirt Jumps in Whitefish and a very cool new logo. Flathead Fat Tires is the Northwest Montana Mountain Bike Club centralized in the Flathead Valley. The club is a non-profit organization of volunteers who organize events, oversee trail repair, maintenance and improvement, build parks and ride bikes. They are always looking for people to get involved and the best place to get started if you are interested is their site so log on and register or ... talk to Tyler at: Glacier Cyclery 406.862.6446 East Second Street, Whitefish, MT 59937

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Funtastic Finds in Columbia Falls

2008-07-31T15:31:00.009-06:00

A few years ago, I remember driving down Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls, and seeing a huge blue metal rooster over a doorway. There were large planted urns and window baskets out front, I remember thinking, "Wow, what's that!" as I rubbernecked out my car window. Now I know, I had just driven past Funtastic Finds. This amazing and unique shop is the dream, labor and love of Sally Petersen. Six years ago Sally started buying unusual chairs, jewelry, and vintage clothes as a hobby. After Sally filled her house, a pole barn and two trailers she was bursting at the seams, thus Funtastic Finds was born. Sally has everything from furniture, rugs, jewelry, purses, shoes, belts even a beautiful turn of the century French china closet. There are items from $5 to $500, Sally's shop runs the full range. I first met Sally at Montana Coffee Traders where we would chat about gardening, she is a very engaging person with many passions. Sally's love of gardening drove her to buy the lot across the street from her store and fill it full of really cool garden ornaments. Stop in and see Sally at her shop on the corner of Nucleus and 6th Avenue or give her a call on 406.892.8891. Shop hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

For a truly unique place to shop, stop in at Funtastic Finds.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Grand Opening of 'Uncorked Wines' in Kalispell

2008-07-23T10:24:00.017-06:00

During a visit to a wine shop in Italy and standing amidst the array of wines and cheeses, my friend exclaimed, "Wine and Cheese are two of the greatest accomplishments of mankind". If you added chocolate to that list, I would be in complete agreement. To experience the same sensation we felt in Europe you now only have to travel to Kalispell to visit Ron Scharfe's new little gem, "Uncorked Wines". I visited the shop yesterday and it is amazing. Racks of reds, whites, tons of organic varietals and sparkling wines to choose from. A mind blowing cheese selection, (35 current cheeses to be exact) anything from an English Colton Bassett Stilton (yum, imagine that with a nice port), Indian Paneer to a French Brie and shelves of chocolate. Heaven. This shop not only has amazing items to peruse but great atmosphere, there is jazz music playing in the background, lots of different mirrors hung on the walls and several chandeliers from the ceiling. With Andrew Topel as their Wine Consultant and Nicole Spilo as their Cheese Specialist the store also offers a wealth of knowledge in its staff. (Those that know Nicole call her the 'cheese guru'.) They are currently offering a Wine Club membership for $75, which is good for life, and entitles you to a 15% discount on any bottle of wine, whether purchasing 1 or 10. The deli area also has meats, olives and pates and they are happy to make trays to order. Their hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you can reach them on 406.257.WINE. They are located in the Blue Cow Building in Kalispell off of Hwy 93.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Purple Frog Gardens

2008-07-22T13:24:00.011-06:00

You may have seen Mike or Pam the owners of Purple Frog Gardens at one of our Farmer's Markets, either in Whitefish or Columbia Falls. You can't miss their booth. There is always a hive of activity and a wonderful array of their lush greens, veggies and herbs.

Purple Frog Gardens is a small local farm/market garden, here in Whitefish. They grow greens (lettuce, spinach, chard, kale and collards) and herbs which they market to local restaurants and grocery stores as well as garlic and other produce. They also raise 4 varieties of hops which they sell to home brewers. Make sure to mark your calendars for the Sunday after Labor Day, which is Salsa Day. Each year, they grow and gather over 1000 pounds of local ingredients to make dozens and dozens of quarts of salsa. Bring the kids, it is a great day out. Want to stay at the farm? Tourists are welcome to camp at the farm in exchange for three hours of labor per day. Give Mike or Pam a call to work out the details. Their produce stand at the farm is self-service, but keep an eye out for Sam, the nippy border collie. Glacier Park visitors may also arrange camping privileges with the farm's 'exchange for work project'. They also have internships: May-Sept., room and board plus a small stipend in exchange for 20-30 hours of labor per week. Every time I stop by their booth, I come away with some new piece of information and some great produce. Mike and Pam are passionate about sustainable farming, our community as well as local politics. (Mike is our local representative, State House District 4 you can learn more on his website http://www.mikejopek.com/ ) Stop by the farm and check it out, you can't miss it, you will see the sign on the gate with the purple frog and the huge canopy of hops off to the right.

Purple Frog Gardens is located at:

170 Blanchard Lake Drive Whitefish Montana 59937
Pam Gerwe and Mike Jopek 406.862.0621
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Gardening in Montana, what Zone are we?

2008-07-22T12:00:00.012-06:00

Many of you know that my favorite past time is working in my garden and have asked me to share little tidbits on my blog. Although I had been fooling around with gardening for a few years, when I moved overseas to England was when my love of gardening flourished. You can't help it, as a country they are devoted to the art of gardening and an English spring is not easily forgotten. One of my favorite references, whose books I have marked many of the pages, is Sarah Raven. I was fortunate enough to take two courses from Sarah while living in England and would love to take them all. I love her straight forward, no nonsense approach to gardening, and the color and variety of plants she uses in her cut flower gardens are amazing. Last year, I grew over 200 plants from seed for my cut flower garden. I followed Sarah's instructions very closely and it was easy and immensely rewarding. Her website is visually stunning, informative and there are a great variety of plants to choose from. This year I tried dahlias, the only thing that survived, as all my seedlings suffered an early demise due to the late snow in June, ahh, live and learn. I chose the dahlia "Chat Noir", from the photos in Sarah's books. Other dahlia growers had told me that all tubers need to be pulled from our soil because of our temps in winter. I thought this sounded like too much trouble, but after seeing the flowers (see above) you better believe I will be pulling them up, storing them and setting them back out next year. I followed Sarah's instructions in her book, 'Grow Your Own Cut Flowers" and potted up the tubers inside and had nice big plants to put out after the frosts, and... snow. Whitefish, Montana is a Zone 3, Zone 4.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Go take a hike

2008-07-18T14:57:00.006-06:00

Literally. Get up to Whitefish Mountain Resort and hike the 'Danny On' trail. The trail head is just south of the entrance of the Hell Roaring Saloon. The hike itself from trail head to the Summit is 3.8 miles and a climb of about 2000 vertical feet. If you include the Flower point loop, which I did yesterday, it adds on another 1.2 miles. The bear grass is in bloom (it only blooms every other year) and with so much moisture the wild flowers are in bloom and amazing. The trail is dedicated to 'Danny On' a Forest Service Silviculturist (applied forest ecologist) May 11, 1924 - January 21, 1979. You can find out more about Danny On and the flora and fauna you will see on the trail at the Forest Service information center downstairs in the Summit House. If you hike up you can get a free ride down on the chairlift and a one dollar coupon for a beverage at Ed & Mully's. The hike is a great work out and the views are beautiful, a great day out. (the chair lift runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish growth

2008-07-17T17:04:00.008-06:00

Did you know that Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls are the fastest growing cities in the State of Montana, 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Whitefish grew by 61% this decade. Between 2000 and 2007, people moved to Whitefish over 3 times faster than Missoula, 15 times faster than Great Falls, 4 times faster than Billings and well over 5 times faster than Helena.
Surprising? not really. If you look at Whitefish it surpasses all of those places by the proximity of Whitefish Mountain Resort, Whitefish Lake, Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the sense of community and our many community funded amenities, i.e., our skatepark, dirt jumps, theatre and the Wave (our fitness facility).
If you haven't been to Whitefish yet or are due for a visit, now is a great time to see why we love it here. The summer weather has been amazing, slight breezes, not too hot with light cloud cover. Thinking of investing in our great little town? Now is a great time. Interest rates are still low and thre are deals to be had. Search our website on either http://www.rockymtnre.com/ or http://www.nmar.com/ to see for yourself.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Property Searches

2008-07-10T12:41:00.010-06:00

Searching for property in Montana? Try either our company website at Rocky Mountain Real Estate http://www.rockymtnre.com/ or the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors site http://www.nmar.com/ Our company website will link you directly to the NMAR site but has other interesting information as well. If you see a property that interests you, email me the MLS (multiple listing service) number and I can do more background research on the property for you, i.e. how long has it been on the market, how does the listed price compare to the current market, etc. Better yet, send me an email with the parameters that you are interested in, number of beds, baths, square footage, lot size and budget. I can set up an autosearch for you so that anytime a new listing comes on the market you will be instantly notified. Many of my clients find this a great way to monitor pricing trends. I look forward to hearing from you!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Glacier Park International Airport

2008-07-08T13:22:00.011-06:00

So after reading some of my blog entries you decide you want to come visit Whitefish and check it out for yourself. The website for our airport is http://www.iflyglacier.com/ use the Airline Code: FCA and the Airport ID: GPI

New direct, non-stop flights are being added on a regular basis. The airport is a mere 10-12 minute drive from downtown Whitefish. How handy is that! No hassle travel.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

New Edition of "Whitefish Review" available

2008-07-08T13:16:00.007-06:00

The Whitefish Review is a new literary journal based in Whitefish, Montana that publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, photography, and interviews, with a slant toward mountain culture. The third edition is now available, go to http://www.whitefishreview.com/ to order your copy.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Amazing Crepes

2008-07-08T10:36:00.009-06:00

Have you seen the little red bus with those Amazing Crepes being handed out the window? An array of wonderful scents fill the air whenever it is around. Cinnamon, sugar, smoked gouda, pears and brie, just to name a few. Becky and Todd Horning are behind this amazing little brain child. The bus was once a rural school bus and is now all configured to serve Amazing Crepes instead. You can check out their website www.amazingcrepes.com for menus, prices, and contact details. The bus has 3 french crepe burners inside and you can watch them work their magic from the window. You will find them furiously making crepes at both the Whitefish and Columbia Falls Farmer's Markets as well as the many art shows throughout the summer. Check their website for their calendar or better yet, book them for your next party, they cater too! Fun Fact: Becky and Todd had their first crepe in Thailand which is why you will see the postcard of the King and Queen of Thailand hanging inside the bus.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Montana Coffee Traders

2008-07-07T13:36:00.008-06:00

You are driving out of Whitefish for hike in Glacier National Park and as you turn onto Hwy 40 you think, "mmm, what is that smell, it smells like coffee" Well, that's because it is. You passed very near the main roasting facility, 5810 Hwy 93 South, for Montana Coffee Traders. They have celebrated over 25 years of business here in the Valley, importing beans from all over the world and roasting them right here in Montana. They now have three main coffee houses, downtown Whitefish on Central Ave, Kalispell and Columbia Falls. They offer tours of their roasting facility Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., no appointment necessary just show up on time. Learn about the process from the green bean all the way to the perfect brew. There is a tasting at the end of the tour and it is well worth your time and free! R.C., the founder of the company spends his time between Texas and Montana but he is still considered a local. Check out http://www.coffeetraders.com/ for more info. The main number for the roasting facility is 406.862.7633

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Glacier County Avalanche Center

2008-07-07T13:15:00.011-06:00

http://www.glacieravalanche.org/

Do yourself a favor and check out GCAC before next winter season is upon us. As many of you know we had higher than normal avalanche activity last year. The GCAC site is a great source of information, they offer classes and tips for navigating the back country and an online slide show of the basics. If you will be going into the back country make sure you take a class first, always wear a beacon, don't go alone and let others know where you are going. Glacier Country Avalanche Center (GCAC) is a partnership between the US Forest Service, National Park Service, National Weather Service, Glacier Country Avalanche Center Incorporated (GCAC Inc), and the people and businesses of Northwest Montana with the goal of educating the public about avalanche danger in Northwest Montana. Another great service offered by locals.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Whitefish Gallery Nights

2008-07-07T11:53:00.006-06:00

First Thursdays from May through October are a great way to experience downtown Whitefish through Whitefish Gallery Nights. On these first Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m you can meander through the streets of Whitefish visiting our local galleries, partake of a beverage or two, meet the featured artists and check out some great art. Visit the website www.whitefishgallerynights.org for all participating galleries, addresses and phone numbers. These evenings are one of the truly great events of the summer, don't miss the next one!

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Local newspapers, online editions

2008-07-07T11:45:00.009-06:00

Did you know you can read our local papers online? The Whitefish Pilot which comes out every Thursday or The Daily Inter Lake (daily, hence the name) both have websites to keep you informed if you prefer to read your newspaper online.

http://www.whitefishpilot.com/

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/

Whether you are a part time or full time resident stay in touch and up to date with these links.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Stillwater Mountain Lodge

2008-07-05T19:38:00.011-06:00

I spent some time this morning at Stillwater Mountain Lodge with Kirsten Sabin and Meagan Healy. What an amazing place, only 8 miles out of Whitefish, nestled in the scenic Whitefish range, it is private, peaceful and beautiful. The Lodge is owned and operated by both women and their husbands. The neighboring Stillwater State forest provides countless recreational opportunities in either summer or winter. Looking for lodging while visiting Whitefish and would like a more unique experience? then check out their website http://www.stillwatermtnlodge.com/ or call them for more details on their toll free number 1.888.205.7786

My all time favorite event at their Lodge is winter solstice, December 21st. They have the nordic trails groomed and ready for skiing, all lit by candle luminaries, a huge pot luck celebration at the main lodge, boot and ski changing in the warming hut and a big bonfire at the end of the trail. I've been a few times and each time is more magical than the last. The last time the moon was so full you didn't need any headlamps. It doesn't get more romantic than that, skiing by the light of the moon and luminaries! Bring your special someone, and spend a great night prior to the Christmas festivities, nordic skiing on their peaceful trails. The trails are groomed for either skate skiing, classic nordic, or snow shoes. Full winter season passes can also be purchased that evening.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Winter of 2008 - were you here?

2008-07-04T12:08:00.012-06:00

Did you visit Whitefish Mountain Resort last winter?

If you didn't, take a look below at what you missed - some amazing powder! This YouTube video is compliments of Caeli Quinn, friend, neighbor and Whitefish Mountain Resort snow reporter. Thanks Caeli!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCok8pxZRI

Make sure to mark you calendars to visit us next year, Whitefish, Montana nestled in the shadows of Glacier National Park. Our ski season this past winter was phenomenal. We had over a 300 inch base, amazing conditions all year and our new high speed quad was up and running and the new Day Lodge was fully operational. Many a diehard skibum that I have spoken to have said that after this past season, they could almost give it up, the season was that good. Mind blowing was the term used most often.

Whitefish Mountain Resort stats -

Average Snowfall: 300 inches annuallyVertical Drop: 2,353ft/717 meters

Average High Temperature: 32 degrees F

Average Low Temperature: 17 degrees F

Longest Run: 3.3 miles (Hellfire)

Terrain: 3000 acres, 94 marked trails with vast amounts of bowl and tree skiing

Terrain Difficulty: 20% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 30% Advanced/Expert

Summit Elevation: 6817 ft/2078 meters

Base Elevation: 4464 ft/1361 meters

Lift System:

3 High-speed quads

2 Quad chairlifts

4 Triple chairs

1 Magic Carpet conveyor

2 T-bars

Visit http://www.skiwhitefish.com/ for information on lift tickets, accomodation and event calendars and of course, our daily snow report during the winter season.

Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com

Local Artist Shawna Moore

2008-07-04T11:30:00.015-06:00

Local artist, Shawna Moore's work can be seen at Jest Gallery, 305 East 2nd Street, Whitefish, MT 59937 www.jestgallery.com For more info on the ancient art of encaustic painting and other galleries that feature Shawna's work across the US, check out her website for details, upcoming shows and workshops.
Posted by bonniehannigan@gmail.com