Archive for ‘January, 2011’

Moonset

This is what it looked like this morning – incredibly beautiful! I sat in the Jeep with Karl and watched for a bit.

However, for full disclosure… to get the above, I did more than my usual minor-tweaking in Photoshop.

Moon shadows

Yesterday evening, the temperature dropped and the sky began to clear. Karl’s and my last walk was my moonlight, albeit still cloudy moonlight.

I woke in the night to a moonlit house.

This morning, a moon so bright that even filtered through the trees in the woods, we walked over now crunchy snow and ground without house or flash light.

I took my first cup of coffee out to the chair and sat with Karl watching and listening to morning sounds. On moonlit nights, the wildlife feed all night. There is more movement, more sound, more life in the night and very early morning. The crack of a tree limb as the deer moved below us made Karl huff and briefly bark but then seeing that they were moving on and not across his yard, he quieted. A gust of wind rose in the pines and faded away. The air smelled clean – too cold to smell of pine, no smell of snow yet – just clean.

As I sat in the quiet, several decisions were made…or rather they “occurred”. Nothing monumental, just a few things that have been rolling around in my head with no resolution for some days. It was as if I tossed all of the pieces of a puzzle into the air and they fell to the ground all in their proper places. Inside, warming up with a second cup of coffee, I sat with Bob at my feet and felt great peace.

It is a new day, with new possibilities – started in the clear light of moon shadows.

Hot roast beef and roasted vegetables in a bread bowl

I visited Karen Cooks , blog of recent commenter Karen, and nearly fell into her clam chowder in a bread bowl – wow, a most beautiful food photo which does exactly what a food photo should…makes you want to dive in and eat it! I became obsessed with trying to make a bread bowl and putting something scrumptious in it.

I used the Portuguese Broa dough I have at the moment, shaped a round boule and put it on parchment paper in a small pyrex bowl to keep the shape. When baked, I sliced off the top.

I scooped out some of the insides which I spritzed with olive oil and garlic and baked those until crisp for croutons.

Also in my frig at the moment is beef tri-tip that I slow roasted and shredded. I added that, au jus and some heavy cream to a roast vegetable mix of red potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.

Hot roast beef and roasted vegetables in a bread bowl!

***The bread bowl was delicious but a bit soft.

A little sunshine

The sun came out a short bit yesterday but this afternoon, as I was returning home from Whitefish, it came out in earnest. There is a stiff breeze, a bit of sunshine and another night forecast to stay above freezing so hopefully some drying out!

Karl and I had a nice walk in Whitefish, by the soccer fields, in the fog – but the footing was grand! And then, on the way home, a little sunshine.

***the heavy duty fence is enclosing Glacier Park International Airport

Finding a place to walk

The temperature has stayed above the freezing mark since last Thursday morning.

At this point, I am rooting for it to stay warm until everything melts…we might as well start Winter over from scratch!

Karl has been mostly taking himself for his walks while I watch from the safety of a snow patch. And even he is walking gingerly with his toes splayed out for a better grip.

Bob is fairly happy as the melt has opened up more area around the house and trees for latrine digging :)!

Yesterday, although it was raining, dripping and mainly I wanted to stay by the woodstove, I also needed a walk. I warned Karl that it might only be a car ride as I was not going to risk an ice walk.

We headed to Somers. I thought the asphalt trail walk might be our best bet and if not it is on the way to the grocery so I’d gather a few items.

Montana Highway 82, the “Somers cutoff” borders the northern end of Flathead Lake. I turn south toward Somers on Somers Rd. past a favorite farm pictured in the photos from Frosted Farm and Frosted Farm and the Summer Version posts.

Just past that farm, the road curves 90 degrees to the west and continues along a bit of the lake….

…before arriving in Somers.

The green field – a beautiful contrast to the dark sky, misty clouds and gray lake.

The walk trail was dry and clear…a relief as Karl was watching excitedly and kissing my ear as we approached the small parking area. It was not raining when we arrived. We enjoyed a brisk walk because for the first time in days we could walk briskly. Pleasure in the simple things…a bit of green in Winter and finding a place to walk.