DOYLISM OF THE DAY: "In order to see the rainbow, you have to endure the rain."

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: "In order to see the rainbow, you have to endure the rain."

Hooray. I can't believe I'm here. Montana is finally a reality. Louise and I flew in a couple of nights ago and it's even better than I remember. The temperature is 50 degrees and it is misting rain and even a little snow at night. Everything is just beginning to turn green after a hard winter. I actually like this overcast weather because it is something we never see in Vegas.

After I got settled into my house near Rollins I looked out of my office at a beautiful sight. We are on the Flathead Lake, the biggest natural lake West of the Mississippi, and it looked like a picture postcard with the sky blue water of the lake framed by the snowcapped mountains. Flathead Lake is about 50 miles long and 12 miles wide. It is 400 feet deep in some spots and that is a lot of water. It is fed by natural springs and snow melting off the mountains. They tell me it completely empties out and refills with new water every four years as opposed to the 20 years it takes most lakes. It's hard to believe it's been almost two years since I was here. My grandson Jeff and his family live here and does a great job taking care of our numerous properties here.

You haven't lived until you have flown commercial with two very spoiled dogs. Casper and Cutie didn't like the idea of having to stay zipped up in their bags and everyone on the plane knew about it as they barked, growled and whined all the way. The stewardess had to make me put Casper back in his case after I tried to hold him. We have always flown private when we take the dogs, but with the high cost of gasoline it has gotten very expensive so we decided to try our luck with a commercial flight. Never again! If I don't want to pay for a private plane, I'll drive. Casper got even when we went over to one of our properties near Lakeside. Jeff was fixing up the house and one of the workmen tried to pet him and Casper bit his 40th victim.

There were deer running everywhere and wild turkeys were walking down by the spring-fed stream that cascades across our yard on its way to the Lake. I love watching the dogs chase the Canadian Geese [reminded me of Daniel] off our yard. After an afternoon of watching them romp on the lush grass, I told Louise I sure would like to have another puppy. She went ballistic and screamed at me, "Another dog like Casper would send me to an early grave." I jokingly told her, "too late, that ship has already sailed." She didn't think that was funny and she gave me the silent treatment the rest of the day. She thought she was punishing me, little did she know I really enjoyed it. - DB