Posts from the ‘Weather’ category

September Moon and Karl “in the dark”

This post will Groundpossibly add evidence to conjecture about my level of craziness… 5 a.m. this morning I stepped out with Karl.  It did not get extremely cool overnight – a balmy 56.  I looked up – these photos hardly do the sky justice but the moon at about 3/4 was surrounded by light cloud cover that had cracks between the cloud sections making a beautiful mosaic pattern – backlit by the moon… I put Karl’s bed on the ground to take these photos as best I could.

If I was smart, I would put the camera on the tripod the night before during near full moon nights – just in case- so far I have never remembered to do that.

So, the pillow-bed on the ground – me on the dog bed looking up and trying to keep the camera steady enough for a focused shot.

Trees

Moon

Karl in the dark…when I moved to my previous house I bought a lighted collar for Karl.  He has always been easy to train to stay in the yard and off the road, but it only takes one mistake and Fall, Winter, early Spring in Montana it gets light late, and dark early so first and last outings of the day are in the dark.  I found a great collar from Auroralites in Canada – a lot of lighted dog collars blink – that would annoy me and I’m thinking make Karl crazy!   This collar has a neon blue constant light powered by a 9v battery in it’s own little zippered compartment on the collar.  When I first put the collar on Karl I nearly peed my pants from laughing.  The collar sheds light out in a radius, but the dog’s head blocks light directly ahead.  Karl was mystified – he would turn to the left – light disappeared, to the right – again!  This went on for a bit while I got nearly hysterical.  Ok, everyone calmed down and Karl apparently accepted that it was peripheral light and out he goes on his usual nightly rounds.  I’m on the house steps and now there is this blue band bobbing around the pasture – more hysterical laughing as it looked like some cartoon of the invisible dog.  At any rate, Karl and I are now both used to the thing and he wears it at this house so I can watch where he is in the woods and keep myself on the driveway in the dark where I have a fighting chance of not tripping over anything.

Collar 

Karl II

More normal

Things continue to get more “normal” – temperature/air quality-wise.  Karl and I took a long walk yesterday for the first time in many weeks.  The sky was cloudy, but patches of blue and the clouds were just clouds, not smoke.  The air smelled clean after the rain and I was comfortable walking in shorts and sweatshirt.  They have allowed a lot of evacuees back to their homes and are starting to get containment on the fires that were threatening structures.  It is still far from over and the “wrong” weather could kick things up again but for the moment it feels more normal.

Karl

Sky

Blue Skies

Blue SkyBlue sky! – not a lot but the first that I’ve seen for awhile.  And the other bits are clouds and NOT smoke.  A little rain last night cleared things for a bit and more rain forecast for this afternoon and this week.  The wind in front of the rain made everyone nervous and they evac’d some around the active fires, but everyone back home today.  Engine 7 from my district is back as well as the Fire Chief and Dept President that went to the Black Cat Fire.

Everyone is talking about Fall – this will be one of the most anticipated and appreciated Fall seasons since I’ve lived in Montana – although most everyone enjoys the color, the cool, crisp days…the lack of tourists.  Even though the tourists provide the foundation of our local economy…they take up parking spaces, and restaurant room – and this weekend… I was entering the grocery and nabbed by one who wanted to know what there was to “do”, where was a farmer’s market??? And when I hesitated – because most of the farmer’s markets are on Thursday and I was trying to remember if the one at the mall was on Saturday – and while I was thinking, he had the nerve, I say THE NERVE to laugh AT me and make a comment about having asked the wrong person.  I should have laughed back and walked away but felt compelled to defend myself and made some suggestions all of which he shot down as his wife had already done those things –  a blown dry, CA – yuppie baby boomer – WHY did they even come to MT???  And why was I not smarter in response??  Plus, I was at the grocery story in town that I HATE and always swear to never go in again, but went because I wanted just a few things – arrgggh!  Luckily, it was cool enough to have Karl in the car with me and he kissed me on my return and all was well – we went home, had a good lunch and played nerf football – all better!

My impatiens…I bought them late after returning from Colorado – 1/2 price at the nursery – gorgeous… I put them in the shady part of the garden when I went to Missoula thinking they would get plenty of water from the garden sprinklers, but on my return they looked dead – I wish I had taken a photo.  I almost threw them out, but decided to see if they would at least partially revive and so I apologized to them – over and over – and gave them a good drink and by the next morning they looked well, although no blooms.  So I kept it up and after the foilage seemed good, gave them some food and WOW – you would never know that they had suffered a drought. 

Impatiens Porch

Impatiens

Birthday clouds

I have Karl to thank for the opportunity to see these clouds and the chance to get photos…

Karl

On the alert – a herd of deer ran through the woods and Karl was barking so I went out to see – otherwise would have missed this…. Happy Birthday to ME!

Clouds1

Clouds II

Endless Summer

Usually there is some sadness here in Northwestern Montana as summer comes to an end – this year, though, we are all not only ready for it to be over but praying for that first heavy snow – at the very least some good rain and a hard frost!  Between record heat, record fires and wasps/hornets/yellow jackets it has been a summer to remember although hardly with fondness.

 On the good news front, the fire near Glacier (Skyland) and west of Whitefish (Brush Creek) have calmed a bit – or at least they seem to have a handle on the fronts nearest homes, ranches and structure.  Seeley Lake (Jocko Lakes) allowed some evac’d residents home.  Tomorrow will be pivotal as a cold front – a REAL cold front is due to whoosh through with wind at the start and possibly strong to severe thunderstorms following.  The storms are supposed to be “wet” and next week’s forecast is for a fall-type scenario with much cooler temps and real RAIN. 

The bad news and a bit ironic – I returned from Missoula on Monday 8/14.  Yesterday at approximately 2:15 a fire (Black Cat) started just a few miles from Jim n Mary’s RV park and additionally closed route 93 for some time.  Homeowner’s were evacuated with less than an hour’s notice.  Scary stuff and that kind of thing is a possibilty throughout Montana and probably a lot of the west until we get significant moisture.

So – VERY glad to be home – but glad to have gone… the little trip broke the anxiety, even given the continued high fire danger.  Local fire departments have been given funds to keep manpower and equipment staged and ready to quickly knock down any new starts.  My own volunteer district is now “manned” (and PAID!) 24/7 with 2 of 7 engines out of the halls and at strategic points of the district.

Karl and Bob are glad to be home and back in their routine – off leash and in their own space.  Always funny – the first night back they are both very snuggly – Karl, who on rare occasions will come on the bed ALWAYS joins Bob and I when we return home.  My boys – they are excellent company at home or on the road….

Karl and Bob