Random memory: For a large portion of my childhood, I thought raccoons were pandas.  There used to be a lot of raccoons in the field behind the Sandstroms house.  And whenever anyone would see one through the window and try to point it out, I'd always get so frustrated why I couldn't see it.  I was looking for a panda.  Eventually I got it straight.  I think it had something to do with the little sets of animal families I played with as a kid.  There was a raccoon family and they were black and white, and the exact same size as the bear family.  :/  It made for a bit of a confusing childhood. 

Man I loved those little critter families. :)



Did any of you play with these as kids? Of all my friends, I don't think any of them had these actually.  I was in LOVE with them.  Especially the little babies in each family.  I still remember opening new ones at each pass on the way to "Antana" for Christmas when I was three or four.  I had the fox family, the bear family, the rabbit family and the raccoon family.  I loved them.  I had barbies, but these guys got way more play time.  Who wants to play with a tall thin blonde when you can play with a raccoon!?  I'm thinking I might pick up the foxes and elephants for my kids one day. :)
 
 



I found this on one of my favorite food blogger's pages this morning.  I didn't know I could get more excited about my upcoming Montana visit, but it turns out, I can. :) 

I miss these beautiful creatures. My time with them has been so sparse, I know I'm not a "horseback rider" or one of those 'horse girls' like some of you are... I don't pretend to be.   But there is something in my heart that feels so alive, bold, confident and happy when I'm riding in Montana... be it in a corral or the mountains. The state itself might have something to do with it, with it's massive mountains, pink skies and miles and miles of terrain, or it might be my family out there and the way they love, live and encourage with so much intensity and passion.   Either way, a little piece in my heart misses it quite often.  And that little piece is a lot like my family out there - loud, enduring and hard to ignore. ; )

Montana, I miss you and think of you often. When I long to be deep and wide, free and committed... when I look for those moments to get away and process through life and all the things patiently waiting for me to address in my heart, I think of you. How can I not? You are linked to those moments of time outside of time. You are indeed one of the quiet corners of my heart where thoughts and deep feelings go to just be.