MONSOON in MONTANA!

 

MONSOON in MONTANA!

MAY/JUNE tends to be what I call the "Monsoon Season" in much of Montana. It is a time, just before the warmth of Summer gets underway, when a persistent Low Pressure System sits overhead and continues very moist and cloudy Skies with periods of Rain. Sometimes, it is cold enough for wet Snow!

Some years it rains a lot, other years not so much so. But the Cloud action against the Mountains provides for visual entertainment. Here, in this original video shot during this month of June, you can see the Monsoon Clouds doing their dance!

(Copy and paste the following link into your browser. You will also find dozens of other production videos there.)

https://rumble.com/v7anj6k-monsoon-in-montana.html?e9s=src_v1_mfp

Writing, Production Video and Photograph

by

Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst

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A DIFFERENT VALUE SYSTEM!

 

       A DIFFERENT VALUE SYSTEM!

One Spring, while spending a month in Portugal, I stayed with a family that spoke very little English. It is often that way in small villages away from where tourists are found. Though challenging, we got along really well and I made some new friends, I improved my language comprehension a bit, and had a wonderful opportunity to see how other people live and what their "value system" might be!

I am not always fond of "tourists," per se. Some can be very nice, others are absolute boors and constantly complain about everything. I often wonder WHY they came to Portugal in the first place. If they wanted "the same," they should have stayed home!

I arrived by car AT NIGHT, being guided to my new home by a long-time friend. I had absolutely no idea how I got there! Night tends to confuse everything, direction-wise! When I got up the next morning and decided to go exploring my new village on foot, I got thoroughly LOST. For me that usually does not happen. But here, street names change with every bend in the road and there is no such thing as a "square block!" Everything is random. Finding my way back home was a toughie! But, because I always try to pick a "point of reference" when I start out on a trip, and I make the effort to be observant, I eventually found myself back where I started! Emboldened, I tried negotiating the village by CAR. I got even more LOST! It took a while to get comfortable and not be  running around in circles! After being there a week or more, I had a lot less trouble finding my "home!"

On my walk, I saw many fascinating sights! I took a photograph of an old ruined building that defiitely had seen its "better days!" Notice that while the owner was not "fixing" the place, he grew a marvelous garden filled with food! A completely different "value system" based on "need!" 

It is worth noting that Portugal does not have inheritance taxes, so someone might inherit land and keep it, but not necessarily be  willing or able to keep it up. Such lands can be used for growing stuff! 

I also was really impressed by the variety of quality and beautiful homes built primarily with brick and mortar and surrounded by attractive walls and fences!

Written and Photographed by

Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst

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THE LEANING HOUSE!

 

        THE LEANING HOUSE!

For years I have seen this building, and I always meant to take a photograph of it. But every time I went by, it was inconvenient to stop. The road conditions were not always favorable. This time it was!

One could have a lot of fun with this one. One could suggest the carpenter was a trifle TIPSY when he built the place! But that would not be correct at all!

Ths building is probably 100 or more years old and was built as many cabins in North Idaho were built at the time. They simply leveled the ground and laid beams ON THE GROUND as a foundation. It was cheap and quick and I doubt the builders were looking for longevity. They needed a shelter built NOW! and that's what they did. Over the years, the supports on the exposed side rotted from repeated wetting and drying, while the rest of the foundation was not bothered much. Hence, THE LEANING HOUSE!

In much of New England and the east, barns and houses were built on granite rock foundations. Many stand to this day. But the wooden ones often lean and deteriorate! 

Written and Photographed by

Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst

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