Almost Montana: outside Sheridan, Wyoming on the cattle ranch of my college classmate, Cam Forbes. His grandfather originated the Red Angus breed in 1945; Cam and his siblings still maintain the foundation herd. http://agmailusa.com/ads/beckton/

Cam and Trish built this house, with its million dollar views of the ranch and the Big Horn Mountains.

How green it is, for July. All the way through Wyoming and Montana, the rains this spring and early summer have been above average and the weather has been cooler than normal. After so many desperately dry summers in recent years the cool, damp weather has been a great relief.

That's the Forbes's house on the hill in the middle distance.

We drive on to the Musselman ranch outside Lewistown, Montana. Ed Musselman has erected a teepee out behind the house.

That's Ed on the right with my son Paul, lounging in the teepee.

Marc and Nate Musselman, Ed's son and grandson, are also visiting from Colorado.

The old stable is framed in the teepee's doorway.