Projects

After a long time under the low clouds of inversion, we had two days with a LOT of rain.

During a sun break … the grass looked better and greener than it did all summer! In fact, that photo looks more like a summer day than most summer days did. There really should be snow on the ground.

Oh, we had some wind. The chairs typically tumble around, but I guess the first whoosh convinced them to just lie back and let the wind pass. Which it did. The trees around my house, thankfully stayed put. One large tree on the state land did not. I heard the crack and boom shortly after the whooshing started as Bear and I ran for the house.

Other spots around the valley had worse, but all in all, this part of Montana fared better than Washington and Oregon and we ended the week with a Winter Advisory in place which so far has turned out to be mostly more rain.

The weather is what it is. I had a good work week ending with being caught up from the previous light week. Saturday, there was a bit of sun and I enjoyed that outside with Bear and Auggie and had another round of “pick up sticks”. I made peppermint ice cream and mixed dough for sugar cookies. Bear and I made a quick run to Bigfork for just a few supplies needed. We got out of town before Santa’s arrival but did note see that the elf manning the Salvation Army station was equipped with a smartphone. I asked if he was texting Santa. He said no but he did at least laugh.

Today’s projects were a new curtain rod and cutting out and baking the sugar cookies. I attempted to multi-task…

I don’t know what it is about curtain rods.

I always have a bit of trouble.

I can hear step-Dad Bill and neighbor Mike wondering why I need a vice-grips to install a curtain rod???

The answer is because I had a bit of trouble with the first screw and when I wanted to remove it and start fresh, I needed the vice-grips because I had destroyed the Phillips head of the screw.

Meanwhile, to take a break from saying bad words, I cut out cookies. No trouble there!

Ultimately, the curtain rod was successfully installed and it was not raining so I went outside to enjoy Beardog Point with Bear and Auggie.

They were waiting for me.

Perfect end to Sunday afternoon.

A bit of sun

The week is nearly over.

This, that and the other: I was not quite 100%, the Windows 10 update updated, some other electronic stuff and here we are almost Friday.

I’m feeling better, the Win 10 update went fine, but there are always minor adjustments to be made after – this was the big update vs patches.

The week continued gray and cold and gloomy until this morning…

A bit of sun!

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!