They nailed the forecast

Four inches of fine, powdery snow fell overnight. I shovelled the walk when Karl and I walked down the driveway in the dark. It is still snowing, but it is only 10F. The snow is so fine and light, it is hard to shovel as it wants to fall off the shovel before I’m ready.

Bob stood on the front porch and looked like he might be having second thoughts about going further, but after some thought he proceeded on his morning rounds as usual.

It is cold enough for the bear dog to use his pillow-bed but not yet cold enough to require the nose be covered with the tail.

It appears NOAA nailed the forecast. It is calm here in the mountain wind shadow but the town weather shows winds from the northeast at 20 mph, gusting to 38 and a wind chill of -10F.

Snowshoes are ready for our lunchtime walk. Maybe it will warm up to 15 by then.

Watching

Just a bit ago…at 5:30 p.m. which feels like much later as sunset at 48 degrees North is now 4:53 p.m. and with the sun low to the south, dusk is fleeting and full dark comes quickly.

Karl was sleeping in the bedroom, Bob on the rug behind me as I worked. Bob growled. Karl was here in an instant.

I saw the critter – a cat or ‘coon but as Bob badly wanted out to go after it, I think a cat. Bob does not take kindly to outsider cats “visiting”.

When Karl got to the scene, they touched noses and looked for all the world as if consulting each other on a course of action.

But I own the doors and their operation so they had to be content with watching.

Braving the cold

The morning started out at a brisk 13F. Bob’s threshold is somewhere around 10F. He sniffed the air, hesitated just a moment and then headed out.

Morning rounds progressed normally for Bob.

Karl took up his post in the rear side yard.

The sun came out and as there is a Winter Storm Warning starting tomorrow at 5 a.m. and continuing until Tuesday at 5 p.m., Karl and I took advantage of the sun and calm with a walk on Swan River Trail.

It was 19F by this point and although the sky looks very wintry, with the sun and only a little wind – AND warm clothes/fur – it was a beautiful walk.

We came home the back way, around the northeastern end of Echo Lake. The sun was taking turns with snow squalls by this time but we made a stop at the fishing access for a second walk before heading for home.

If they are right, we won’t be going far from home for several days – today was the day to brave the cold.

The Road Home gets it’s Winter on

The work week took over this past week and I hardly set foot off the property. Even a hoped for short Friday didn’t happen. In the middle of the week, it also became apparent that I’d better “rush to completion” all of the outdoor winter preparations as our first arctic cold spell was forecast to arrive last night. It did arrive with cold temperatures and an even colder north wind.

Things are quiet at my house as it sits shadowed from north and northeast winds, but down the hill it is a different story. Spring and Summer take their time arriving in Montana, but Fall and Winter tend to jump the gun. The Road Home – it has it’s Winter on.