Author: Liz

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Fireside

No fire was going at the time, but they are both in front of the woodstove and Auggie is in the spot Bob preferred when there was a fire going.

Bear…I’m not sure what happened…he might have been loath to get in his chair with Auggie at the same level. Auggie plays with his tail, with his feet and then tries to snuggle up. I’ve counseled Auggie that the reverse order might work better, but generally speaking, Bear is a bit suspicious of close contact!

Auggie will also try to twine around Bear’s legs, but this is generally after a sneak attack and again, Bear is understandably skittish after being pounced on.

Overall, I am still amazed at how much Bear tolerates from Auggie considering his general opinion of cats. Bottom line, it is fun and it is heartwarming that they get along as they are.

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It is as cold as it looks

Bear and I went down the road home and then to the dump as the highway was bare and dry courtesy of a lot of chemical, apparently.

The road home is snow over ice but it had a bit of sand on parts of it and the Jeeper stuck fine.

The sun was out over most of the valley, but weather skirted along the mountains.

It wasn’t windy, but at 19F…

…it is as cold as it looks.

And today is to be the warmest as it is forecast to get down to 5 tonight with a high of 11 tomorrow and below zero overnight the rest of the week.

Bear, Auggie and I are toasty warm. The pantry and refrigerator are full.

Firewood is stacked and ready. I have extra gallons of fresh water. If there is a power outage we can still stay warm, cook and eat! A power outage is not likely at this point unless a vehicle would take out a power pole but with the main roads dry, not likely.

My worry is for livestock and wildlife but this kind of weather used to be normal for Montana so hopefully most will be well.

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Scary Weather

This photo doesn’t show how really wet and slushy it was this morning.

It has been above freezing and raining off and on Sunday, overnight and through this morning.

It was 37F to start this Monday.

The issue with the forecast storm is probably not going to be snow, at least not in the valley – it is going to be cold and wind.

It is supposed to get very cold, very fast.

The sun came out with a bit of blue sky.

I really hoped it stayed a bit dry longer than forecast. This kind of transition is what killed so many cattle and wildlife in North Dakota earlier this year.

While it was sunny and dry, we all got outside.

It was pretty for awhile.

For a short while.

By 3:00 this afternoon, it was dusky, snowing and the temperature had dropped to 24F.

Bear and I took a long walk at 4:00. Bear was completely energized by the cold and snow. I enjoyed it also except for thinking about the animals tonight and this week.

And the roads and people deciding they need to get places.

NOAA says the roads will flash freeze this evening and be nearly impossible.

Scary weather.

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December 1

Thanksgiving is over.

It is December 1.

Let the games begin!

Sunday, after Thanksgiving…my traditional time to put up the Christmas tree and deck the halls.

This is the 5th of 7 Christmases in this house where I will NOT be putting up a Christmas tree. Each one of those 5 years, I’ve said to myself: “Maybe next year”.

Maybe next year.

Auggie is not actually allowed on my little dining table.

We’ve been training.

It has been going pretty well…

Auggie 1
Christmas people 0

Gah!

However, not unexpected and I think the call to NOT have a real tree this year was a good one.

My little silk tree is unbreakable and nothing spills and makes a mess when it comes a tumblin’ down.

In another fortunate circumstance, the lights are not working. They were on the fritz at the end of last year.

I think this is a good year to not have any lights on the little tree.

Also, just a few stuffed (UNBREAKABLE) ornaments underneath. (My favorite skier and mama rabbit skier are on top of the refrigerator – an Auggie no fly zone!)

The stockings are hung…as usual…by the chimney – with care… I think they are out of reach. We’ll see.

The first Christmasy treats: Peppermint bark and Peppermint crunch marshmallows.

December 1.

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Thanksgiving Day Weekend: as of Saturday evening

Thanksgiving Day started foggy.

I raked part of the yard while the turkey was in the oven and some after I indulged.

Small scale turkey dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy (one of the BEST gravies ever!!!), roasted green beans, cranberry-orange-meyer lemon sauce with coconut-popsicle for desert!

Lovely dinner. Bear had some turkey also. Auggie was not interested in the turkey.

I think my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey-potatoes-gravy part … with a tart cranberry sauce alongside.

BUT, this year…running a close second was a mashed potato-broccoli pancake with sausage and more of the turkey gravy: day after T-Day breakfast.

And this morning, in honor of Hanukkah, I had sweet potato latkes with sausage and gravy.

Amen and Oy Vey!!

And then Bear did this…

…Auggie, too…

…and me, three!

Friday night, it snowed…a little bit:

Where is Auggie?

Incoming!

Keep 2 feet on the ground at all times!

It doesn’t matter which 2 feet!

PAX

Phew…all that playing in the snow…time for a nap.

Later…

On the front porch, with a glass of wine…rosemary-walnut-parmesan shortbread crackers. I am a total shortbread convert courtesy of Sue of The View from Great Island (search shortbread). These “wine crackers” – kind of a savory, buttery biscotti. Utter-YUM!

Meanwhile…we have been issued a winter storm warning for Sunday through Wednesday: 1-8 inches of snow, wind, COLD as in below 10F during the day and below 0F overnight. If NOAA is correct, December is going to start with a Winter bang!

Bear and I went to town this morning (Saturday) and replenished supplies. The forecast is for a winter storm, not a “storm of the century” kind of thing…but, I prefer to stay home and off the roads if things are even the least dicey…let those that must go be out there. So – the pantry is stocked with all manner of food and treats for Bear, Auggie and me and we will let the storm happen, if it does and be happy and warm in our own little house, in our own little woods.