Bird's-Eye view of the Yellowstone River.

I grew up in Iowa, but for the past 25 years, I have made my home here in Gardiner, Montana. I am a junior high/high school teacher, and my husband is a fish biologist in Yellowstone National Park. We feel like the luckiest people in the world.

My husband and I built our home 21 years ago, and we recently decided to add a garage with an apartment on top. This is my first month as a VRBO host, and the best part is meeting the folks from around the world. I also really enjoy sharing the beautiful place I call home.

Gazing over the Yellowstone River as the sun goes down is absolutely my favorite thing to do. But, I also enjoying hiking, paddleboarding the river, rowing our drift boat while my husband fishes, and loving up my dogs. Sitting on the deck with a hot cup of tea and watching the birds or reading a book are also favorites. My husband loves photography, especially wildlife photography and playing ice hockey, so winter is his favorite season. Yellowstone in the winter is spectacular and something everyone should experience at least once.

In general, my husband and I are pretty quiet people who enjoy the wonders of the natural world.

This morning, like many mornings, I sat on my deck and watched a small herd of cow elk and their calves cross the Yellowstone River onto the bottom land just below our house. The calves mewling and the cows calling encouragement to their babies is a sound I never tire of. Each morning brings a new splendor. The river is a life-line to a lot of wildlife, especially during the heat of the summer. In the winter, the Big Horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and sometimes bison graze just across the river. It seems unreal to me that I live in such an amazing place.

It seems like a little thing, but private parking makes my property unique. I enjoy the ease of living outside of Gardiner. Gardiner is growing and it's busy, and simply finding a parking spot is just, well, not all that simple. Too much traffic, too many people; it's nice to escape to the solitude of our property. I know you will enjoy mornings and evenings on the deck, just as much as I do. Whatever happens in between is just a bonus, in my opinion.