Follow Me on a Walk Downtown

 

I think I’m lucky.  Living where I do, I love my commute to work.   

Want to come along as I walk downtown today?    

That first photo up there shows the Clark Fork River and Mt Jumbo from the footbridge where I cross it…  

…and here’s the river looking downstream to the west.  This the wettest time of year, and things are still lush.  In a few weeks the river will be way, way down. 

Once across the river, I head west along this bike path. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rosebush along the way. 

 

 

 

 

 

On my left is the river…

  …and on my right is the Kiwanis Club Park. 

First stop in my work day today:  the public library.  I need some information from the Montana Room, so I head inside. 

Remember the old-fashioned card catalog?  Still alive and well in the history section of the library—the rest is heavily computerized.  This is where I’ll look for the stuff I need for work. 

In the corner of the Montana Room, a photo of my grandfather hangs on the wall.  That’s him in the upper left corner.  He helped get this new library built in the 1970s.

 

Before we leave, I must show you on of the best things here:  a “Gnome Home” carved by local artists encased in glass.  Let’s get a closer look at the incredible detail. 

Here’s one of the rooms inside the Gnome Home.  I took the picture through the glass.  See that little Tiffany-style lamp?  It’s about an inch tall. 

The tiny stool is the size of a spool of thread.

And now, back to my commute…

I’m now passing the old library—the one I went to as a young child.  This was one of the “Carnegie Libraries” which the Scottish/American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie supported in the early 1900s in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. 

Today this building holds the Missoula Art Museum. 

You can see the new extension of the museum attached to the old library.  I don’t care for the architecture…but the museum’s lovely inside.    

Next stop:  Regional Headquarters of the Forest Service.  The library didn’t have a map I needed, but I can find it here.

Now that’s done, it’s time for more fun!  This is Worden’s Market.  It was the first grocery store in Missoula.  I come here almost every work day.

Worden’s is known for its wine selection…

…but I’m here for my java.  Since the recession kicked in, the coffee bar is self-serve.

  

I love to ogle the chocolate by the cash register!

Joel thought I should take a photo of him if I was going to take one of the chocolate.  

On my way out the door, a parting shot at the deli counter. 

Can’t put it off any longer…it’s almost time to work. 

This is the Brunswick Hotel, which my friend Leslie operates as artists’ and writers’ studios.  She also lives here and does her fabulous encaustic art in her own studio.  The hotel was built in 1875, and I adore its character. 

Would you like to see how we’ll get out of the building if there’s a fire?

Second story window, chain-link ladder.  May that never happen.

Ah, well.  Here’s the crooked aqua staircase…

…and the hallway to my door (suck in your tummy, it’s narrow)…

…and my desk. 

You have seen these last two photos before, in my post about what not to give up in a recession.  This writing space in on my short list.

Now get to work, Sallymandy! 

And all of you?  Thanks for joining me…♥

All rights reserved, The Blue Kimono 2009.  With the exception of the photograph of the exterior of the Missoula Public Library, all photos were taken by me and may not be reproduced without permission.