Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Catching up the week

Wednesday, November 16…it looked like this and as I walked the loop, I thought to myself: “This is the absolute perfect amount of snow for the week before Thanksgiving…just enough to have that holiday feeling and not so much as to make it hard to get around”.

Later that afternoon, an email from a friend alerted me to a storm forecast for the weekend. It wasn’t so much for a lot of snow as it was for very cold temperatures and strong wind with blowing snow.

Huh… I decided in about 5 minutes of dithering to winterize the motorhome. It burns through a $60 tank of propane in 4-5 days when it starts staying below 20. While I grumbled a bit, it does not take long and it removed the tasks of monitoring (worrying) and runs for propane refills. I will de-winterize the first night out or maybe even the night before I leave weather permitting.

And although I had to unload all the freezable stuff, I use those recyclable psuedo fabric grocery bags that I have a plethora of, making it easy to unload and reload. Stowing things away, I can do first night out. With the short days and long nights and me not being a night driver, I will have plenty of evening downtime and will take at least 4 1/2 days for the 1260 mile trip to my folks.

In the process of unloading and checking all compartments, I found a quantity of stuff that doesn’t need to be aboard at all – obsolete electronics, Bob supplies (he’s staying home with his new gal-pal, Hailley)…. SO, a little de-cluttering done as well :)!

That done, it was back to work as there is a Tuesday project deadline.

So…Thursday afternoon it looked like this…

And then it changed to freezing rain…pretty, but I was glad that I didn’t have to go anywhere which is one of the reasons I can enjoy Winter so very much.

The forecast nailed it – not a lot of new snow but it got very cold and very windy and very wintry and I was very glad I was not trying to babysit the motorhome through a frigid cold spell. I promised her that I would fire things up shortly and we would be off for adventure soon.

Bear is absolutely loving the cold. His short stint of laying in the yard has regressed to being constantly in motion. There are perimeters to patrol, squirrels to chase, deer to sniff out…maybe the elk herd have passed through in the night or the local raccoon. Bear is on top of it all.

That was our week…that and getting the house and Bob ready to leave in Hailley’s care. A full week, a bit more jam-packed than is my wont, but all is in good shape. Currently the weather looks good for either a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning departure – Adventure calls!

Is it Wednesday already?

I remember saying last year that the color was the most vibrant and long lasting of all my memory of Fall in Montana. And now this year, I’m saying that I’ve never seen color so vibrant and long lasting…even more so than last year – whatever, it continues to be a glorious Fall in Montana.

The weather forecast for the weekend is for cold and snow. This morning, despite the warm glow of the sun on the larch, it was cold enough that I dug out a heavier jacket and as I shuffled through the woods with Bear was glad I had a hot cup of coffee in my hands and made a mental note to dig out gloves and hats toute suite!

Did you know that Beardogs point?

This is not a mid-step capture. Bear is standing “on point”, although admittedly when you have a curly tail, it has a bit different look :) …

Happy Wednesday from all of us!

a Saturday in October

This photo…serendipity…

On the way to town I drove into a nursery…the entrance on a kind of blind curve.

But, I was too early, the nursery opened 30 minutes later.

I turned around in the lot and before getting back on the highway…the clouds and the light and the snow…and the birds: serendipty!

Another day of spectacular light.

Bear with me in the Jeep, we had a walk, fueled the Jeep, got groceries and other supplies.

We were home just before noon. Bear ran the property while I unloaded and put away.

Then…worn out from the morning and asleep in his chair, all supplies put away….Bob and I had our time…on the front porch.

Low tech pen and paper…I sat and thought and made my list for the rest of the weekend:
clean floors
roast tomatoes
roast cauliflower
cabbage soup
pesto mac n cheese
pot of beans
wild rice for this week…

Later.

Some of the list done.

Bob inside for a nap.

Bear and I outside. Gray skies. Drizzle.

The beardog patrols the property.

A Fall afternoon. The larch are lightening.

a Saturday…in October.

Balance

Balance…it can be an elusive thing.

I often think I have balance in my life…work I love, my pet-family, my peaceful life mostly removed from the grit of the world.

I step into the world online and am both intrigued and abhorred.

I regularly delete my links to news and websites vowing to stay in a place of light, love, thoughtfulness, kindness, respect and trust: Balance

Last night I chased the moonrise…

I was early.

But the waning daylight lit the snow covered mountain tops so my “chase” was not in vain.

And I returned to the warm light of home…. Balance.

tidbits, cont’d.

It poured rain the whole live long day.

My work week was very productive, very frustrating, fun…and I’m glad it is over until Monday :)!

The woods on this rainy day was so beautiful. I walked through it when out with Bear and wished I could take photos of the rain drops on the dripping moss, the bark of the Aspen, the neon green of the lichen against the black of the decaying tree stumps… It is raining too hard to take the camera into the woods.

Watching Bear in the rain…he starts out slow with his ears down…then gets interested in his usual spots and forgets about the rain…until suddenly he is just too wet – a nose to tail tip violent shake and then a run for the door and inside. He seemed mystified that the squirrels were not in their usual places. I tried to tell him that they were in their hidey-holes warm and dry.

Bob…he spent some time outside as well even though I had heat on in his end of the house, fleece blankies scattered around…

Now, rain on the roof, against the kitchen light tube and on the floor near me…the roof leak(s) that has (have!) existed since I’ve been here despite my and several other’s inspection of the roof. This little house needs a new roof…maybe next year.

Time to call it a day. Bear and I have had our last outing and he has gone to bed. Bob waits for me. The kettle is on for a bedtime brew.

Friday House

Friday…

… the light

…warm on the wood and the colors of this house.

and in the woods.

Late afternoon. A good week. Light and feel of Fall. Friday House.