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Bah Humbug Mother Nature!!

The winter banner above…that is a photo from January 3, 2009…nearly 3 years ago.

Unfortunately, it does NOT look like that today!

There was not much snow when I arrived home. What little there was melted. A day of flurries produced a scant inch of snow and most of that is gone…

And not much promising on the horizon… what gives, Mother Nature???

The good news is that with the warm temperatures and given my not quite 100% state of health…I was able to have Kim’s RV Detailing give Wild Thing a good rinse off. Additionally, WT is full of gas and propane, has been unloaded and winterized: clean and buttoned down awaiting need or adventure. For those who were not here or do not remember…the first winter in this house, I had a chimney fire (I neglected to have the chimney swept after I bought the house…a task that has NOT been forgotten since!). Thinking the house was about to go up in flames, I sat with Karl and Bob in a cold motorhome and contemplated whether I had made the correct choices for my homeowner’s insurance … whether I would have enough money for things like dish towells was my worry…seriously!! – as well as why I hadn’t thought to keep my “spare house” full of propane so I could run it’s furnace…. So, WT stays full of propane for heat and gas for the generator :)! AND, my insurance coverage will allow me to obtain an adequate supply of dish towells should the worst happen.

Meanwhile we pray for snow…

But nothing stops Bear! He is mostly always on the move looking for squirrels or deer or other invading varmints.

Bring it Mother Nature – we are ready!

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Morning moon

This morning’s moon, still high in the sky at just after 8:00 a.m. this morning. And the sky still very dark as sunrise is currently 8:24. This far north in the United States, the winter sun follows a low southern arc, so even on a clear day it does not seem as if we get full daylight until 9:00ish and by 3:30 in the afternoon there is that softening of light that is the prelude to dusk.

I walked out with Bear this morning, a dark morning with no snow on the ground to help the waning moon light the ground. As my eyes adjusted, the moonlight seemed a bit brighter. The air was balmy for a pre-Christmas morning at 32F. Bear bounced around the woods on his rounds and then came to stand near me and we both watched and listened. I am sure he saw, heard and smelled more stories than I will ever know of. I use this early morning time to be still and hear whatever I can.

This morning, by the light of the morning moon.

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Home, cont’d.

We last left our story with a safe arrival home to a clean house and slightly grumpy Bob…

Wednesday (the day after arrival), I got back to work, back to our home routine, took Bear to Kalispell with me to pick up mail, a few grocery items, get the Jeep washed and have a walk behind Costco. It was a good work day and much accomplished.

Thursday I woke with not much voice and a low, slow feeling and by midday had to give it up…

I spent most of Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday here…

Bear has been a champ! And maybe he needed some extra rest as well after the excitement of travelling.

I am grateful that his reliability of staying on the property continues and also that he is content cruising the woods on his own. I bundled up and watched from the front porch, thankful that I didn’t have to be following.

The fresh air always felt good as well. It has been very mild and it will be touch and go whether we even have a white Christmas!

Bob, of course, thinks staying in bed all day is perfect and his grumpiness disappeared completely. I will say that he did look at me with some concern when I had a coughing fit…I do believe both he and Bear knew/know that I was not feeling well and they provided calm affection as well as quiet.

This morning I’m feeling much better although slaying dragons and/or running a marathon are not going to be on the schedule.

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Home

The Mission Mountains…entrance to the Flathead Valley.

A beautiful day which started and ended with a foggy overcast but sunshine off and on along the way. Freezing fog last night left all of the trees, bushes, branches and fences with a coat of brilliant white frost.

The road was clear and dry.

Bear recognized our road…

Our road home.

***While I am glad to have the push of driving behind me, it is always a bit of a wrench to face the end of a trip. I really LOVE travelling and living in the motorhome. It was wonderful to be with my family – as much as I missed Montana and my own house, it was so hard to leave. The time seemed to go so fast. We had a wonderful rhythm of sharing time…I know we will do it again and soon but still…

Bear learned so much on this trip and also was a wonderful rv companion. He settled into our travel routine with ease. When I let him out he ran here and there and then back in the motorhome to watch from his dashboard vantage point…so I know he is comfortable in the motorhome. Eventually he stayed out and explored the woods while I unpacked about half…the rest will do as the week progresses.

Bob did not seem that happy to see us but he’s softening…and I imagine a night back in bed with me will be the topper. He was banished off and on from the bedroom for hogging the bed and generally being annoying. I’m used to it and I’m guessing he pushed the limits thinking he might get away with it.

The house was cleaner than I left it and smelled wonderful! Thank you Hailley and Jordan for your care of Bob, the house and the property. I felt confident that all was well and did not have a moment of concern :)!

All in all a trip to remember and cherish.

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Missoula…almost home

No photos today…a good driving day, but long and work to be done before heading for home after a morning work meeting.

RV notes: Winter parks open between Billings and Bozeman…next winter trip, Billings is not the only option:

Belgrade
Big Timber
Livingston
Other small parks