stay-at-home?? mom: Memorial Day

According to most people around here, Memorial Day is one that has a high percentage of being wet and dreary. Not so this year. It was a bit overcast, but the day was warm and so pleasant. We decided to head to the hills and complete our first hike. Well, the hills are only about 10-15 minutes (max) away. This trail-head was probably 7 minutes drive from our house - and that includes going back for AR's glasses. The road leading up to the trail-head had some cars parked alongside, and the first trail-head didn't have any parking. We kept driving and got to the other trail-head and there were only 2 other cars parked. In WA, a lot of times, there will be cars parked on the side of the road leading up to a park or trail-head so that one saves having to have a trail pass or get a fine for not having one. Well, we were a little worried as we don't have a trail pass. The "rules" board said that MT residents (ie: MT license plates) don't have a fee. Hooray for getting my plates changed over already!
Off we went. I noticed mostly that the forest here has no underbrush, and looks like it is just a park needing a good mow job. I noticed that in Sweden, too - like someone actually comes along and takes care of all the off trail vegetation. The trees weren't crowded together and there was not a lot of moss and rain forest looking stuff hanging overhead. I don't know if that is the way it is in all the forests around here, but it was that way at Lone Pine State park. I assume so. NG was really interested in the flora, so we took pictures of every flower so we could try to identify them later, rather that stop and pick a bouquet along the way. She did pretty well, except coming back down it got a little steep, but she held onto Dad and slid most of the way down. AR pretended to be a horse and she was our 'scout' letting us know what was coming. We met only a couple people on the trail. When we got to the top - we saw that you can also drive all the way - there is an interpretive center there and of course a gift shop - and a nice picnic area. The overlook was spectacular of the whole Flathead Valley. I took what I hoped could become a panoramic photo - but the computer that has my editing program on it has bitten the dust, so I don't know if I can make that - plus it ended up being about 8 photos, so that might be too long to make into one photo.
AR and NG made up names for all the areas of the hike and found things that look like things in the fallen trees and natures debris. I hope I can remember the correct names.

A Sea Serpent

A Dragon's eye

NG insisted this was an alligator

From below the lookout

This was just the most perfect day! We then went out to HuHot, which is AR's and NG's favorite place to eat. We decided that most Saturdays would be: chores, take a hike and then go to HuHot. I wish we could switch up the restaurant - and maybe we will, but that will be fun to explore what the area has to offer.