Archive for ‘February, 2011’

Through the window: Alpenglow

After another clear, sunny day with pleasant upper 20’s temperatures, I sat down for my dinner at the kitchen table. It was the first meal of the day that I actually ate AT the table and not at my desk or catching as catch can between outdoor snow chores. Karl and Bob were at my feet. I took a moment to be thankful for the day and for them.

And then the mountain tops glowed pink. My camera was on the table. That bit of hot pink, through the window, with the snow covered trees. It was one of those perfect moments: framed in my mind as perfect as the scene was framed in the window.

Turning the corner to Spring

I KNOW…we are barely half way through Winter and I am thinking Spring. It is the recent balmy temperatures …albeit, mixed up with some very cold. But then, yesterday morning, I noticed that it was light…at 7:30 a.m.!

I love Winter and snow and snowshoeing and cold but about this time of year I am ready for less of it and what I really enjoy is the back and forth nature of Montana’s transition to Spring. It is a good thing I enjoy that as we do the back and forth thing until mid-June at least…one day warm, the next a snow squall, rain, etc.

It is early February, there is still snow on the ground and a new 6 inches yesterday.

But what made me realize we were turning the corner was the light…at 7:30 a.m. At 48 North the change in where and when the sun rises and sets is fairly dramatic but in the height of Winter or Summer it seems to be stable for a bit and then it starts what feels like a rapid change…or maybe we are just ready for a change and start noticing.

For me, it is always welcome, whether it is that shortening of days in the late Summer that foretell Fall or the lengthening days in late Winter that speak of Spring.

And the wild things know…

Some of them are awake a bit more and feeding in different places…

…or familiar places.

Good stuff or editorial comment???

Either way, we are all noticing that we are turning the corner to Spring.

A beautiful day

The weekend forecast was for a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. Friday afternoon, it warmed and went through that cycle, but Saturday…

Oh, boy, Saturday was beautiful.

It was 40F by noon and a black dog with his full winter coat, chose shade while waiting for me.

Even the house seemed happy with the perfect amount of snow, sunshine and blue, blue sky.

And the lake…late afternoon at Wayfarer’s Park…a beautiful day.

What Karl likes

In response to my Peace post, Margaret commented: “Beautiful white snow! Does Karl just like sitting out in it?”

He does, actually.

If you’ve ever felt a northern breed dog, you would understand completely.

Karl has an undercoat of thick gray fur that I believe rivals the most dense down comforter. His topcoat is thick and so silky that one shake sends snow or rain flying. No moisture from snow or rain penetrates the top layer. In the Summer when I try to cool him off with the hose, I have to work to get cool water through both coats and to his skin.

The dual coats of the northern breeds are reputed to be good to 40 below zero. Thankfully, we have not had to put that to the test!

Karl’s first choice, in the daytime, is to be outside. I accomodate as much as possible, but sometimes I need for him to be inside.

And sometimes, when I insist on inside and he’d rather be outside…

…he chooses a chair.

Or sometimes the sunroom rug.

Oh boy!

Bob has his spots…

This is one spot unused by everyone…

What Karl likes.

Ann from Montana…that would be me

Hoo-rah!!!

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, was one of the first blogs I read and one that I still read regularly and especially her add-on Tasty Kitchen. Her photography section gave me motivation to step up my own photography and I learned a lot from her posts and tutorials. The tutorials were my introduction to Photoshop: my digital darkroom. Ree shares bits of her life with her husband and their 4 children on a working cattle ranch. In the last year she has published a cookbook, a children’s book and just released – her own love story and how she came to be “Pioneer Woman”. Although I’ve read the serial posts which the book expands on, I am just now enjoying the book: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: a Love Story. If the stars align and the weather is ok, I will go to the Charlie Russell Art Show in Great Falls, Montana this March where she is to be for a book signing. I have the Kindle version of the book and don’t need her signature but hope to meet her and say in person how much I enjoy all that she shares.

I love to cook and good knives are a cook’s most used tool. I am thrilled that I won this set and look forward to years of good cooking with them, but the real thrill for me was seeing “Ann from Montana” on The Pioneer Woman blog. Ann from Montana…that would be me :)!

Peace

Between world news, the snow/ice storm in the U.S., the cyclones in the South Pacific, and a horrific local couple of news items…the sadness of all seems a bit overwhelming to me today.

I took this photo on my phone, Monday afternoon.

I love the sun and the shadows and Karl and the memories and thoughts and story that it tells.

I’ve been looking at it and thinking serenity, love, grace and peace.

Peace.