Category: Weather

Posted on

Starting the 8th week

The weather guessers were correct…last night there was a weather disturbance.

I was up uncharacteristically late last evening. Bear and I had our last walk at … *GASP* … 9:45 p.m.!! It was precipitating a kind of hard snow – fast and furious – pellet-like in nature. There was enough fallen to cover our 5:00 tracks.

I woke to a temperature of 34F, not much more snow and the dripping of melting runoff from the roof.

Midday, the sun and blue sky surprised me. I made a mad dash to town – stopping for a walk and garbage run and then a grab of some supplies. Forecast for the weekend looks marginal and I favored a mid-week dry road run. Town was a mess! As in, why weren’t all those people at work??? But needed items were acquired and we headed home.

The sun was shining in the yard and I intended another two hours of work and then…and THEN…some time in the chair with Bear…on Beardog Point.

It was loverly.

Bear has been limping a bit on his non-surgery leg, so we have been taking things extra easy and some time in the yard in the sunshine was just the ticket for both of us. I did not distract by trying to take photos – just enjoyed the sun and quiet and fresh air that had a warmth and softness that felt like Spring.

But, that chair. That is where I sat – for the first time since Bear’s surgery. Bear was laying – a little distance in front of me…watching the game trail, smelling the air, listening. Just like we like.

Today, is the start of week 8 post op. Schedules of the surgeon and Dr. Calm are proving a bit difficult to coordinate so I think we will not have our 8 week post op appointment until week 9 or 10, but it is good to be in the 8th week.

And the moon is nearing full and it is beautiful in a clear Montana sky as we start the 8th week.

Posted on

Inversion’s end

A weather disturbance is forecast for tonight. If all goes as forecast, it will end the inversion, scrub the valley air and the freezing fog will be gone.

Bear and I went to the wild fowl area to walk in the fog and sunshine before things change.

I like the road through the Ponderosa Pines.

To the right of the road, the trees and frost and fog…mysterious, close, beautiful.

At the end of the road, the lowered level of the lake – dry lake bed – if Bear could run he would have a grand time. Still…plenty to smell and explore and look at.

Returning to the Jeep, I took a last look and a deep breath of the cold, moist air.

And we headed for home.

As the inversion breaks, the sky at my house clouded up. But inside, sleeping boys – they are my sunshine.

Posted on

Freezing fog along the road home

Enjoying freezing fog is a guilty pleasure of mine. It can make the roads slick with black ice. But I love a little of it – it has made for some of my favorite photos and whether it is with or without sun, there is something about the air when it is filled with freezing fog.

I left home this morning, with Bear in the Jeep, to run some quick errands in Bigfork and take the boy for a walk somewhere. The sky was blue, clear and sunny at my house.

As we descended through the treed section, I caught glimpses of fog over the valley.

Freezing fog.

The fog was low, the sun was high and above the fog, the sky was icy blue.

Sunshine at the right angle flashed thousands of miniature rainbows in the tiny prisms of fog and snow crystals. I had no success catching them with the camera and they seemed almost surreal in peripheral vision, disappearing as I turned my head to find them.

Headed home, the fog thinned as the road ascended from the valley floor.

At home…

…it was still sunny and bright. Bob, Bear, the herbs (the parsley is in the other window enjoying its own sunny spot!) and I enjoyed.

Posted on

A cozy Friday

This is how Friday started.

Beautiful!

It looks like more snow that it was. There was still grass showing. This morning there was.

It snowed off and on all day and late afternoon it felt like I was in a snow globe. So, now, at 7:00 p.m. there is in the neighborhood of 3 inches at my house. But I spoke to a friend who lives maybe 5 miles away and she has 8 plus inches!

But inside, it has been cozy…

Not a surprise :) !!

At the other end of the house…

I missed the photo of Bob on the red fleece. Getting back with the camera, he was already headed down the steps…

The stairway to nowhere is part of the shuffle of stuff to make the sunroom office into the Beardog recuperative suite.

But if there is fleece, Bob will go there!

I rest my case. (nearby food helps also!)

The day was gray and snowy outside. It felt like Christmas. I had a good and productive workday. Bear slept a lot but we also had several outings that went well and he sat up and barked when UPS arrived.

Soup’s on for supper. It has stopped snowing outside.

A cozy Friday.

Posted on

Joyful things

At the “late” hour of 6:00 p.m., it is now full dark.

But, this morning and all day, the sun did shine…

I tell the herbies to stand tall and look to the sun and take it in. The real thing is always the best and it is in short supply at 48 North in the Winter!.

With the sun shining, I mixed a bit of my new favorite condiment: pickled stuff. I started with pickled onions. Last week I added some fennel and this morning some english cucumber. The “pickling juice” is apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt and mustard seeds. It is a difficult recipe…mix the juice, pour it over thinly sliced stuff, let sit for several hours – stirring it every time you walk past it.

After awhile, I put it in a jar and stick it in the refrigerator.

It is great on a sandwich…I mean GREAT! Everything softens, sweetens, tangs and intensifies.

It is also good on greens. I like to massage some olive oil into a bit of kale, throw in some quinoa, toss on the pickled mix and let it sit in the frig. When I’m ready to eat it I add some avocado and apples, peaches or berries…maybe some sunflower or pumpkin seeds. It is good.

Bob aka Mr. Grumpy – took his sun with a bit of dryer heat.

Bear had his partial sun with a treat after a morning walk.

Sunshine, good food, time shared, joyful things.