tied together by perry backus

Walter is waiting.

She has a favorite spot on the West Fork where the fish are like old friends.

Walter is the oldest.

Joan Little knows that trout measures at least 24 inches long.

He could even be bigger.

"Our son got into it with him last year," Joan said. "I told him he was fishing in my spot."

 

whitewater philosophy by michael moore

 When Doug Ammons stares at a river, he senses the flow of time, the movement of past through present and into the future.

Although he has been a worldclass kayaker for more than 20 years, Ammons is never less than awed by a river, regardless of its whitewater rating.

"I think it's very easy for us to view rivers as things to conquer, and the more difficult the river, the greater our sense of having conquered something major or important," Ammons said.

"And I totally reject that. The river is a gift to us. Any river is. Water is a metaphor for the flow of time, and for your place in that flow."

 

accessible living by lindsey galipeau

Though humans can't be ageless, our homes can be. All it takes is a little planning ahead and creative thinking. Accessible Design, a building and remodeling company created by Missoula's Garramone Builders Inc., does just that.

"We have the technology. We have the products out there to make it easier for people to continue living in their homes," said the owner of the two companies, Don Garramone.

Garramone's concept is called "universal design," which simply means arranging a home, or rooms in a home, so that they are accessible despite any physical disabilities. But Garramone won't stop at accessible. His designs must be beautiful and livable for anyone who enters.

 

enriching your life by joy earls

Recently our friend's daughter had a baby.

My friend was helping the young couple shop for condominiums because their apartment was too small.

They started looking at condos, rather than houses, because the purchase price fit their budget.

As they looked, my friend admired the new construction, appliances with handy features and proximity to downtown.

They learned that the condo fees covered ground maintenance, outside painting and window washing. While her daughter said she would rather do the work herself, save money and go out to dinner more often, my friend smiled at the thought of all those services.

Wouldn't life be easier without some chores?

My friend and her daughter began talking about switching places.

 

looking as young as you feel by jenna cederberg

Baby boomers are working longer, staying active longer, living longer - and feeling good while doing it all.

When it comes to helping the outside match the ever-youthful inside, more and more baby boomers are turning to cosmetic surgery.

The National Association of Baby Boomers recently published a report noting the increase in boomers who are getting work done. American Society of Plastic Surgery statistics show that in 2010, 3.3 million cosmetic procedures were performed for patients age 55 and older. That's a 4 percent increase since 2009, the article said.

 

answers from an expert by betsy cohen

Say the words "reverse mortgage" at a social gathering and expect a wide range of responses.

Faces might cringe in a sour pucker, others may look at you with a blank expression and some might even give a sigh of relief.

Whatever you might think when youhear the words, we've turned to an expert to clarify the facts and debunk the myths.

 

keeping the mind and body fit by mary pickett

 One night a week for more than 20 years, Mary D'Arcy, 91, has driven to Butte High School for a class in English smocking.

"I don't read (for recreation), so what am I going to do?" D'Arcy said about her loyalty to the adult education class.

D'Arcy, who lives only a few blocks from the house where she grew up, knows the way well. She was in the first Butte High class graduating from the school when it was new in 1938.

Butte School District 1 offers the class in English smocking, which is the craft of embroidering pleated material.

 

stay connected by donna healy

When web surfing grew into America's passion, baby boomers were already well into adulthood. But that hasn't stopped some boomers from plunging into the world of texting, posting and tweeting.

Dayle Hayes, a Billings registered dietitian, does nutritional consulting with school districts across the country. She has a Twitter following, Skypes with her daughter in New Zealand, blogs on nutrition and speaks to Siri, her new iPhone's virtual personal assistant. She administers three Facebook accounts. Make that four, if you count the Facebook page she is temporarily updating for Rok, her daughter's dog.

 

answers to some unasked questions by rebecca morley

Many men don't know what questions to ask. or if they do, they aren't comfortable asking them.

Are men concerned about aging healthfully? Yes!

Do they confide these matters to their health care providers? In the majority of cases, no.

Many men don't know what questions to ask, or if they do, they aren't comfortable asking them. Some of the information included here may help arm men to take control of their health.

 

living fracture free by dr. sarah faaborg

The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women age 65 and older undergo screening for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a hot topic these days and there are many reasons for this.

In 2011, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) estimated that by this year 12 million people in the U.S. aged 50 and older would have osteoporosis, which causes bone fractures.

 

After retiring from a restaurant career at age 50, Michael Sharkey became a certified Swiss watchmaker and recently moved his business from Seattle to Stevensville. "This is my life," he says. "Very focused. I enjoy this part."