Suzanne Hendrich

Squirrel facing lens on a barked log, left paw bracing on bare log branch, tail to right, holding pine cone in front and below nose

Squirrel Nutkin has
ambitions, so many sweet
snacks to tear into.

Three common goldeneyes mid right making a riffle on shimmering golden lake

The water is fine,
goldeneyes find golden pond
on their southern route.

Yellow strip of land reaching across a lake, one yellow larch behind rust colored brush at right of strip, golden larch covered hills to right and in background

Larch at Salmon Lake,
breathing in golden glory,
breathing out fall’s peace.

Pine tree in front, pine dotted slope to right, gray grass covered lower slope, Pine and yellow larch covered hill to left, snowy peaks behind, mid right, gray skies

The climb is always
worth the view, East Missoula tucked in by larches.

Cedar waxwing facing left on a bare twig, behind a bare twig slanting east southeast, gray background

A blustery day,
a little bandit staking
claim to late berries.

Watercolor pencil of pine forest, trail edge to left, yellow grass beside, a few orange leaved bushes, distant mountain orange patched with larches, gray cloud streaked sky

Larches orange in
the distance, looking over
pine-covered ridges.

Trail edge to lefy, orange leaves and grass, pines sloping down and to right ridge, golden larch covered mountain in center distance, gray patched sky

Another trail view,
late gasps of orange as things
curl inward to rest.

Yellow stems in front of mixed conifers, hill behind with straight thin yellow lines of forest roads mid golden larches and green conifers, cloudy gray sky

A brief break on trail,
wending up Marshall Mountain
with so many friends.

Snow covered trail through forest of mostly yellow needled larches, some grass along trail edges

Trail through the larch grove,
wise foresters preserved it
for us to admire.

Carved pumpkin, face lit by candle in the dark, left eye with brow pointed left, right eye brow piinted southeast, mouth smiling with fangs at corners, knobs on pumpkin showing as dark patches

Trick or treaters met
our friend here, and each was so
politely scary.

Duck facing east cutting a wake line through still lake, lily pads in front, reflected tree trunk to left, red, yellow brush reflected behind

Fires rising in frost,
the magic of fall’s beauty
bewitches the lake.

Watercolor pencil of a western grebe on riffled water, tail to front, head tilted to right

Western grebe finds this
deep lake, good rest and fishing
during migration.

Two cedar waxwings on bare branches, single choke cherries below and to right, bird to far left facing left, head tilted front, bird to right, behind branch facing left, eye toward lens

Hey there, we were just
minding our own business,
no snackies for you.

Gravel trail , pondeosa to left, yellow grass on either side and behind stake and wood post wire fence, mountain ridge behind dotted heavily with yellow larch, gray and white cloudy sky

Our local ridges,
gold wherever larches grow,
the season’s glories.

Male and female spotted spreadwings facing northeast in inverse heart connection, mid tangled gray grass stems

Deep in autumn grass,
spotted spreadwings find heartful,
needed connection.

Autumn meadowhawk on a rough gray log facing right, wings showingvtheir shadows to north

A good place to pause,
showing his fiery glory,
autumn finery.

Torn up bald faced hotnet nest in tall dry grass on a dry chokecherry stem, tree trunks behind

Bald faced hornet nest
remnants, someone looking for
a fattening snack.

Autumn meadowhawk male, bright neon orange abdomen, facing southeast on a gray, rough textured log, body shadow showing black to the right

Of all the autumn
glories, her meadowhawk gives
quite the grandest show.

Watercolor pencil of a yellow grass meadow, hillside behind with gold and yellow birch, dotted with ponderosas, mountain ridge behind, snow at top, blue sky

Maclay Flat meadow
dressed for autumn wonderment,
filled with awe and peace.

Red squirrel on top of a gnarled pine branch screaming, facing left

Not squirrel and moose,
just very angry squirrel,
nut bandits beware.

Missoula, Lolo Peak dusted with snow and partly cloudy covered in background, blue sky in between cloud banks

Up Waterworks Hill,
in between raindrops, settling
into this season.

No Kings Missoula crowd with signs, one decorated with plastic colorful balls, Free balls for members of congress who have lost theirs

No Kings Missoula,
standing thousands strong, peaceful,
pointed, principled.

Back of giraffe costume, sign saying “so much wrong not enough cardboard” crowd of folks in coats with signs, foggy background

Missoula No Kings,
we are paying attention,
some words to the wry.

Fire road up Mt Sentinel with hikers spread out, pine forest brhing, Lolo Peak in distant mid righy, blue sky

The uphill worth it,
the vista above our town
quite satisfying.

Spotted spreadwing on a horsetail head, facing left

Spotted spreadwings danced,
alit briefly, danced some more,
short sparkling season.

Watercolor pencil of a spreadwing damselfly facing north on an index finger, thumb and fibgers to far left

She flew to my warmth,
my attempt to admire her,
her grace emanates.

White faced meadowhawk male, dark orange tail, on a white barked log facing north

Spread in grandeur, perched
on the crevices, orange
brilliance glowing.

Western forktail on a dry stalk facing the lens

When you have this much
attitude, savor your life
and just take the win.

Spreadwing damselfly facing the lens, tail to left, dry grass blade clutched by legs, tip between blue eyes

You’ve no idea
what practice it takes to live
so effortlessly.

Female orange autumn meadowhawk on dry brown tansy heads facing left

The ditch is puddling,
tansy gone brown, fall colors,
meadowhawks emerge.