I was privileged to write about this ranch, now for sale in Bridger Canyon. This is my former neighbor on Jackson Creek Road, a family that really understood stewardship and made the most of Montana living. This family raised their children here, and sent them to school in Bozeman, while doing everything we would love a Montana family to do -- raising cattle, maintaining the forest, taking care of the land.  I myself can't imagine a better upbringing. 

These days, the family has moved their cattle ranching operations to New Zealand, and regretfully offered their ranch for sale.

It is a beautiful place, one that I feel incredibly stupid for trying to describe by saying "beautiful." I just... the thing is, I lived a few miles down the road from them, and never knew the whole property and its wild, incredible, lost beauty until I got to see all of it.  

But the rest of the ranch.

You should see! The rocks and the mountain walls and the ways the land rises and falls before you. You have to see for yourself. 

I wrote this website, but the property speaks for itself:

solitaireranchmt.com

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that southwestern Montana is at 80 percent of normal snowpack currently, a figure that indicates someplace else must have more snow than Gallatin County. We've heard Red Lodge is doing OK. On the up side, local ski repair shops are doing well due to the above-average number of clients bringing in skis for rock damage and blowouts. 

All our friends are praying to the Snow Gods to forgive us for whatever nonsense happened last year, and let go that one thing with the beer cans and the flamethrower and the trespassing. OK? We're sorry. Let it snow, please.

The Beehive State isn't all bizzy-ness. Case in point: The Beerhive, with a menu of over 200 beers and an ice rail, a frosty track around the bar where you rest your beverage between sips to maintain the ideal cold temp. There's also a tiny sidewalk section (4 or 5 tables with a view of the Downtown Rising, that is, the incredibly ambitious reinvention of downtown Salt Lake City) where you can a) smoke! and b) order German delectables from the restaurant next door.

Look what just landed at the top of Money magazine's list of must-have fitness gadgets for 2010:

The NextFit Keychain Trainer! It's like having a personal trainer at your beck and call 24/7, with none of the attitude or intimidation.  You can get more info and your own nifty Keychain Trainer at this link:  MyNextFit    or by calling 406-580-4487 (the phone call includes a free personal fitness consultation and customized tips on how to get started with the Keychain Trainer).

Want to read the issue and what all the hoopla is about? Pick up the mag at your newsstand or online via Money.

The Storm Warriors will be released in Hong Kong cinemas next month.I just enjoy the artwork.  See more at www.oneinchpunch.net

'Member when I revealed my secret source of all things kawaii? And then that secret source vanished, making it even more secret than ever before?

Now it's back and just as cute as ever. So take note, all you crazed Sanrio and San-X fans, here's the link that you must bookmark immediately! 

Go to http://www.jeanashop.com for much cuteness.

On assignment, heading toward the little town of Norris, Montana.

 Three cheers for my long-time client Deb Habernicht and her heroic 6-week fitness series that kicked off her new biz: NextFit.

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a very long time, a wonderful new way to get in/stay in shape that appeals to both my gadget-geek tendencies and my dual athlete/slug personality!

Long story short: there's now a giant database of fitness knowledge, music, celebrity trainers' secret techniques, encouragement, and years' worth of hands-on, proven fitness experience. NextFit lets you plug into that with your own stats, preferences and goals -- and the system custom mixes a new workout every day just for you! Your workout (complete with music, instruction, encouragement and even your own name spoken to you) downloads onto a nifty little gadget called the Keychain Trainer.

You press play and GO -- for almost any fitness category. Running, walking, weights, pilates, yoga, combo training, anything in the gym, prenatal fitness, you name it.

I'm so impressed with this new system that I'm using it , my daughter is using it , and I'm getting dear hubby into it, too.

So again, kudos to Deb and NextFit. The Get Bozeman Moving campaign continues, so stay tuned!

...everything would be about writing, even train station seating.

Via Engadget

Filoflow is a collection of thoughts for designers, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

VisualStreak makes me happy because it's fun to look at and reminds me that I'm a creative and not just a copy geek.