Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

Holiday Weekend

The four day weekend whizzed by and here we are at Sunday evening before “back to work” Monday morning…

Snow. My “Let it snow” did not come to fruition. That snowflake is maybe 1/4 the size of my fingernail … on my little finger. It is perfect and beautiful and tiny. The snowflake is on Bear – he stood patiently as asked while I got the camera and took some photos. There were light – VERY light – flurries off and on and I happened to notice several perfect flakes that were supported on Bear’s outer coat.

The cloud deck is low and solid: inversion. Under the deck it is staying nearly a constant 18-20F and the relative humidity is high making it feel very cold.

But inside with a fire in the woodstove and things in the oven and on the stove, it has been warm and cozy.

Sourdough English muffin.

Nooks. Crannies. I’ll go toe to toe with Thomas’ English muffins!

Another kind of cozy – mornings with Auggie.

Holiday Weekend.

Let it snow

As early as Sunday evening, a Winter storm was forecast: wind, snow and blowing snow.

Pretty much on time, it started snowing and blowing.

I was grateful to be home working as it started warm with a cold rain which quickly froze and then the snow and wind. There was a lot of slipping and sliding around the valley, including an accident nearly at the end of my driveway. There is a curve and one or more did not negotiate it and collided. Heads were bumped, but all released. It did take forever to get tow trucks for the vehicles because of other accidents.

Ultimately, the snow fall was on the light end: 3 inches in town and less than a half inch at my house.

Today, Thanksgiving Day, dawned clear and very cold at 8F.

It was a good day to have the oven and the woodstove going.

A beautiful, beautiful day that included walks in the woods, time on Beardog Point…

and time in front of the fire.

Now – Let it snow!

Another weekend gone a bit awry

Thursday, the first of this year’s Meyer Lemons from Lemon Ladies (www.lemonladies.com) arrived at my house. Good grief! – they are beautiful and one as big as an orange. But more important, the flavor is superb and Karen, the proprietress of Lemon Ladies emailed me that they will only get better as the season progresses. Hoo-rah!

My first use of one of the Meyer’s was in this Meyer-Lemon Rosemary Sourdough boule. I am very much loving the sourdough: everything – maintaining the starter, using the starter, the flavor the starter imparts. Starter has taken my bread to another place.

So.

Weekend plans included making a Meyer Lemon marmalade, finishing the raking/pick up sticks after last Tuesday’s storm, some cooking for the upcoming week and a visit with Sara – Sara who house and Bob-sat some years ago.

Then…I finished the week light in hours and progress toward a work deadline lacking.

A Winter Storm was forecast for Tuesday.

And then a plumbing issue.

I cancelled with Sara, gathered supplies and fussed with the plumbing.

This morning (Sunday), I headed to town and came home with a “Black Friday” sale item: a 16 gallon wet vac. My 4 gallon wet vac just did not have it for keeping up with the plumbing issue.

This vac did, but I was still unable to clear things up and with a holiday approaching and the thought of kids and grandkids descending on grandparents’ homes and taxing the plumbing … I called Roto-Rooter: 24/7 clearing of clogged drains.

All was cleared quickly and after 24 hours of the motorhome being in service as a high-end outhouse, the house Summers was back to business as usual.

Gah.

In the whole scheme of things and with the world seemingly in chaos, my plumbing issue seems minor…unless you are me. I am grateful it is resolved.

I hope to have 3 mega-work days and then a four day weekend during which I will celebrate, as is my custom, with Bear and Auggie and a turkey dinner of my own making. Meanwhile, I will keep in prayer: the world, those that travel, those that have fear and anger.

My peace.

My joy.

On a weekend that went a bit awry.

Winter Storm

A high wind warning with mountain snow has been in the forecast for this afternoon through midday tomorrow.

I think they are correct.

It looked like the above, at midday today, along the road home. The wind was gusty and cold.

There is not a lot of snow forecast, but you never know. The snow thrower is ready.

I split wood and stocked the front porch wood stack and carry bag.

And I made bread! That is a loaf of Dark Rye Sourdough – hoo rah!

Extra hoo-rah because as I’ve been writing this post, the power went out.

But we have bread, battery powered candles, battery counter lights and all electronics are charged up, including the hotspot that gives me internet. And apparently the cell towers have power, because everything internet is working.

First Winter Storm: Winter 2015-2016.

**This post completed on battery power :)

***The power was out a bit over an hour at my house, but this morning’s news reports that 6500 are without power at 8:00 a.m. this morning. Lot of tree limbs are down in my yard and woods – a mess, but not near as bad as other spots.

Treasured moments

Years ago, when it was Zack (part Karelian) and Gus (my first cat, a tuxedo cat) … they were both near me as I spent some morning quiet time before starting my day. Gus snuggled against my chest and hugged my neck. Zack lay on the floor near my chair.

Then Karl and Gus continued the pattern and when Bob joined the family, Bob took a spot on the ottoman by my feet.

Bear has mostly moved from his living room chair sleep spot to the bed when Auggie and I get up. But, occasionally he will join Auggie and I in the kitchen and it is a treasured moment.

All of us together: quiet in the early morning. I do not take these moments for granted.

Shortly after taking these photos, I read the following in a murder mystery book: The Thames River Murders (Captain Lacey Regency Mystery series) by Ashley Gardner.

… one never anticipates where life will lead. I knew that tragedy could follow hard upon happiness, and so I treasured the moment… I hugged it to me, and let it go only with the greatest reluctance.

Treasured moments of quiet and joy.

Golden Light

The larch still have enough needles to glow with golden light, even on a gray day.

But, many needles have fallen and are on the ground…

…lining our walk paths, sticking to our feet and magically letting loose of our feet once our feet get indoors. Kind of a mess, but I refuse to worry about it too much and choose to enjoy their color and light.

And speaking of color and light…

The Fuschia! A few blooms still and the greenery is beautiful. It is November 1 in Northwest Montana for heaven’s sake. We have not had a hard freeze at my house and I can’t see dumping them on the burn pile while they look so healthy. It has been a record breaking run for front porch flowers!

Inside.

We are to the point where it is dark when I have breakfast and dark when I have supper. I spoke awhile back about new kitchen light fixtures being on my list to change. They are some way down the list of things to do.

It is not that their appearance bothers me so much as it is that in order to get light to the counters, the overhead lights must be very bright. For early morning they are brighter than I’d like for making my coffee. And for supper, they are brighter than is cozy to enjoy my evening meal. But I need more than the chairside lamp to see my food when eating at the island. I did add stick-on under counter lights when I first bought this house and those are fine for soft light and for counter chores that don’t require reading small print or measuring precisely.

Last week, I thought to look for a small battery powered lamp for the island – just enough light to eat by. I found some, but the first I found were all white and modern looking. And then I found these candles.

Battery powered candles with a remote. Hee.

I kind of love them!

The flames dim and brighten so that it looks like candles burning.

They provide a warm light on dark, dreary days and enough light to eat by.

I am now having candlelight breakfasts and suppers!

Tonight, it was breakfast for supper: sourdough waffles with walnuts and maple syrup and bacon.

By battery powered candlelight.