Today (Tuesday 2/9/2021) started at 4F and topped out at 14F.

Cold, but we are due to be even colder.

The good news about bitter cold is that it comes with clear skies!

A lot of short walks, but they were beautiful under cloudless, sunny skies with about 8 inches of new snow.

Snowy Friday morning…

The dark o’clock walk…

It was not cold … 29F.

When I get up, I think … Oh, I would really like to just make some coffee vs that first outside walk. But, that would not be fair to Emmett, so out we go and once we get out … I LOVE the fresh air and often dawdle longer than necessary before getting back inside.

Emmett is a VERY GOOD BOY and deserves a treat!!!

My little snow covered house in the woods!

But … snow removal …

I thought to shovel as earlier the snow seemed light.

But warm temps meant shoveling was difficult.

YES!!!

Of course! As soon as I finished clearing a path, it started snowing again.

Life!

In the house, yogurt making in progress.

Work in progress…

…and a cozy fire!

It is Friday night – Pizza night – YEA!

Friday Snow Day.

Clarisse Cremer finished her first Vendee Globe in style…

I spent a good part of Wednesday morning watching all there was on offer and it was SPECTACULAR! Clarisse raced well and shared the ups and downs … the fears and ultimately the conquering of those fears. It was a stellar race for the very young (31) skipper. I feel so fortunate to have followed her race. I also have several videos of her journey to this Vendee Globe saved to watch later.

Meanwhile.

From this evening’s walk:

A little snow today. The forecast is for a little snow tonight and tomorrow and … winter back with 1-3-7-10 inches forecast.

Yes … Winter advisory tonight … Winter storm watch later this week

We will see.

Tomorrow, a record might be made.

Clarisse Cremer is due to arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne: day 87 and some. She might have arrived day 86, but she has slowed her boat due to large seas and strong winds and conditions in the Bay of Biscay that make a fast arrival dangerous.

Clarisse is 31 years old. She has a degree in business from an American university and HEC Paris … but she was in HEC’s sailing club and opted for professional ocean sailing.

She has run a steady race for Banque Populaire X in a proven boat. She has been a joy to watch and follow: authentic and personable through all conditions.

If she arrives in less than 90 days, she will have the record of fastest, solo circumnavigation by a woman: a record set by Ellen MacArthur in the 2004/2005 Vendee Globe.

Currently, as she is approximately 154 nm from the finish (as of this writing) and her tracker info is updated every 30 minutes … and I am checking on the hour and half-hour!! … she anticipates crossing the finish line on Wednesday afternoon (France time which is 7 hours ahead of my time).

In the past days, for the past finishers, Clarisse, and 2 weekend-ish finishers, there have been some large Atlantic storms to navigate.

Holy Cow! I go to bed every night with the skippers on my lips in prayers and hope for their safe navigation to the finish.

Meanwhile …

I have observed that there is a horrific NE U.S. snow storm, i.e. “a ‘norEaster'” … lots of heavy, wet snow.

Forces of nature.

Here, in NW Montana, there is little snow on the ground, it was 40ish and it rained.

Dreary.

My team…

But in the “be careful what you wish for” … winter is forecast to return at the Week End … stay tuned!