Suddenly, it feels like Winter.
Shovel and firewood on the front porch. The Jeep had a pre-winter oil change and tire rotation. The tire place was jam packed with people wanting their snow tires on! I have all-weather tires and had an appointment…yea!! I was in and out toute suite.
First Snow.
Currently, here in northwest Montana, sunrise is just after 8 a.m. and sunset is just before 7 p.m. And, we have two more months of days getting shorter.
The sun arcs very low over the south as well, so the limited sunlight is not strong sunlight.
I knew my herbs would probably not make it inside without a bit of artificial light…
I had thoughts of getting a couple racks with hanging UV lights and making some shelf tables, but after looking at these, decided that the option of moving them easily AND taking them in the motorhome made for a better first go.
Naturally, as soon as FedEx dropped them off, the sun was out.
I also bought a water meter on the advice of my folks. Bill uses one for their potted herbs and they have fresh herbs all year round. This is one of the coolest things I’ve bought in awhile – no batteries! The moisture generates enough electricity for the meter to pick it up. Amazing.
By the time I quite playing with the meter and got the lights assembled and positioned, it was stormy-dark again – it was a day of off and on squalls with brilliant sunshine and clear, crisp air in between.
I am VERY happy with these lights: easy to hang anywhere and here in the sunroom-office they create such a nice feeling along with the herbs.
The only other “problem” with the plants in my office is temperature. The nursery guy said they would like the room fairly warm. I like the room fairly cool.
This may be my winter “uniform”…
I told the herbs that they were Montana herbs and as such, they should be ok with slightly cooler conditions. I hope they took that to heart.
Last evening, the light show continued…outside.
Dark to the east, clear to the west and the setting sun lit the tree tops.
And later still, as the temperature dropped…a cozy fire in the woodstove.
Yesterday (Tuesday) morning started out a balmy 62 – a warm morning even during summer and completely unexpected for early October, especially with the long advertised cold front seemingly on its way.
Bob took advantage of both the sun and the warm air from the dryer.
Blue sky, white clouds and the larch just starting to lighten up as they go from green to chartreuse to gold.
I took advantage of the warm morning to keep to my shorts routine. I might get some afternoons in shorts, but a full day ??? – this was probably the last for awhile.
The herbs also enjoyed the sun and warm air.
That pretty much tells the story…it did get above 68 and stayed there until nearly 6 p.m.
I had the house open to the sun and the breeze. Although the wind kicked up in the afternoon, it stayed warm** until early evening. Much as I love Winter, I enjoyed this day of warm sun and breeze, even with the dust that the wind brought in.
By early evening, the wind shifted to the north and the air had that bite of a night that would get cold.
And today… morning started at 37F…AND….
Snow on the ski trails of Blacktail Mountain…
And Big Mountain…
And the mountains beyond the road home.
**I realize that for some, 62-68 might not seem like shorts weather! All is relative, though, and the humidity was very low at less than 20% AND my internal furnace runs hot, i.e. anything above 50…unless it is very damp…is shorts weather.
Weather changes are forecast and even started.
The first week of September was cool, but the last three felt more like late Summer than early Fall.
Today, the transition is to continue and by Tuesday our mid-70’s temperatures are forcast to be 15-20 degrees cooler with hopefully a bit of rain.
Last night, the wind started.
Sunrise hit morning clouds.
I wandered through the woods with Bear on our morning outing.
The just past full moon was still high to the west.
A colorful morning.
The above NOAA forecast is what it has looked like here for the past two weeks…except temps a bit higher last week and the week before: 75-82F.
But, that forecast does not tell the entire story…
The valley has been home to Montana and Idaho smoke for a little over two weeks.
Thankfully, except for 2 or 3 days, the smoke has been high, i.e. no smoky smell. And there has been no ash. The primary annoyance is the appearance.
NOAA has been advertising and warning that we are to go direct to full FALL cool/cold and damp/rainy…sometime next week.
Meanwhile, we are smokin’.
