I've just returned from a quick trip to Montana. I attended the Montana Synod Pastor's Gathering at Chico Hot Springs. While there we did a Theology of Wine reception. One of the speakers at the event was Marty Haugen. Dan Erlander was also in attendance. It was a great event and fun to reconnect with some of the folks I served with when I was a pastor in Montana.
When the conference was finished a spent a few days in a cabin near Pray, Montana. What a great place to do a spiritual retreat! The photo above was taken on the road from the cabin back to Livingston.
The photo above is the view I had right outside my little cabin. The night after I took this photo it snowed and the entire mountain was covered with white when I awoke.
I took a day trip out to Pine Creek and did some hiking around in the snow and mud. After that I was ready for some food so I headed into Livingston. I was surprised by what I found. Livingston is known as a railroad town. I have a good friend who grew up there and I've heard many stories about how rough the town was. But I found a wine shop, and it had an excellent selection of wines (especially Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs!)
That's a photo of the shop. It's in the old railway terminal building. Right across the street is a funky restaurant called Gils Foods. I almost missed the place because the sign out front looks a lot like the sign for The Blue Moon Tavern in my home town. And I just don't associate signs like that with good food.
