First snow

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.

Open House

There have been several hard freezes.

The few bugs and flies here are done.

I took down the “screen” curtain on the front door: a right of passage to Fall and Winter.

And that got me to thinking, that maybe the gates in the house could go also.

No gates.

Open House.

Happy Us!

***Both screen and gates were removed on 10/18.

Stretch it out

We are in transition.

As the house is open more…as in almost always…Bear and Bob are changing where they choose to be.

VERY interesting.

VERY gratifying.

This evening…Bear chose to be near me….

…stretching it out.

Let there be light

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.

Fall Color Tour: the Montana version

Bear and I took a Sunday drive. Do people still do Sunday drives? Well…this people does and Bear goes along joyously!

Fall light from the ridge…

… the ridge on the road home.

Happy Bear!

The plan was a drive to Woods Bay, about 4 miles south of Bigfork and 10 miles south of the road home. We stopped along the way at Wayfarer’s park and walked a bit there.

Onward.

Woods Bay.

Sorry…WAY out of focus, but I was driving and holding the camera and the main thing is THE COLOR!

And while the Rocky Mountains do not have the reds of the White/Green/Smoky/Ozark areas of the east…my own heart is a western heart and the gold of the Rockies is the perfect color for me.

Fall Color Tour: the Montana version.

P.S.

I could not resist.

Bear and Bob.

Look at their feet. (dbl-click!!!)