It was a mostly gray, overcast day with rain or drizzle…
But, just before sunset, the clouds must have parted…
And the setting sun lit the tree tops.
Autumn light in the tree tops.
Almost as good as alpenglow!
The U.S. Army slogan – or at least it was: “We get more done by 9 a.m. than most people do all day”.
Here at la Casa Summers, we are NOT most people.
Plus, at Latitude 48 North, sunrise is now before 6:00 a.m. It is light by 5:00 a.m. The birdies are singing about 4:45.
I’ve always been a morning person, but in the summer I get going even earlier. Auggie is right with this program as he’s ready to go as soon as he hears the birds!
Bear has no objections either.
Wild strawberry on this morning (Wednesday).
Sticky shooting star – not many of these in my woods and it is always fun to find one!
Auggie, in the morning sunshine…looking very serious!
Auggie’s legs are fluffy down to the “knee” and then the hair is short to his feet. I laugh every time he trots ahead of me as with his tail in the air: his fluffy behind and upper legs with the close haired lower legs – it makes him look like he’s wearing pantaloons.
Bear’s turn to be serious and he did it very well. A herd of 6-8 deer ran near the west property line and out onto the state land. I asked Bear to “Leave it”. He didn’t want to, but he did. Good Boy!
Meanwhile that boule was baking, the dough for the tortillas was resting and post walk the tortillas were made as well as my breakfast of a fresh tortilla stuffed with black beans and cheddar – topped with tomatillo salsa and a side of fresh pineapple.
It was 8:09.
I ate my breakfast at the island in morning sunshine and was at my desk by 8:30 a.m.
Bear and Auggie were having morning naps.
The army has nothing on us!
The herbies don’t look to be coming back.
This weekend I may get some starter herbs and get things going on the front porch. It might freeze again and it might snow again but all should be well on the front porch with a helper cover up for a hard freeze warning.
The lilacs…
Mini wood violets…
And the lupins are coming on!!
The rhubarb is close – I might get enough for my favorite rhubarb chutney this weekend. Vidalia onions are in the market and a caramelized onion pizza with a bit of rhubarb chutney just might be on the Memorial weekend menu :) !
Lily of the valley are close to blooming also.
The boys. The wet grass. The TALL wet grass…
Several weeks ago, I was looking at the mower and thinking about how I would start it and not tweak my arm (the right arm with the tennis elbow). My arm is doing much better and I don’t want to set things back. As it happened, Amazon had a lightning deal on a battery mower. No pulling to start it – you push a button.
I didn’t buy on the lightning deal, but it got me thinking and I did some research on the battery mowers. I was in Home Depot looking at them and there was a man looking at the same gas mower I have. I didn’t spend much time thinking…I asked him if he was interested in a 7 years old version. We agreed on price. He picked up the mower that afternoon.
So, I’ve been holding on hoping for another lightning deal. And then last week the vet visits with Bear. I used my mower money for the vet. Oh, darn. I think we’ll enjoy the tall grass!
***In case I’ve never mentioned…I really DISLIKE mowing…I mean really. And I probably only have to mow 8-12 times before things get dry enough that the grass doesn’t need mowing. Mowing wimp – that’s what I am!
Today, Friday, was as varied as the photos that follow:
It started clear and sunny.
It got dark and gray.
Windy, blizzardy snow squall.
Sunny.
Squall.
And repeat.
Friday Mash.
Gray Flicker. A “pretty” woodpecker but renowned for pecking on houses and various things NOT home to the insects “normal” woodpeckers peck for, i.e. a NUISANCE…but pretty…
After one of the squalls…snow, sleet, graupel and…
Friday Mash.
A dark and stormy moment.
After the squall.
But before the sun.
Auggie in the snow.
A clear evening with beautiful alpenglow.
Friday Mash.
I’ve lived in Northwest Montana for 20 years as of February 4!
In those first years there were always 2 plus weeks of super cold: -teens/-20’s overnight and not above 0F daytime.
In the last years (how many ???) this has not happened. I think the first year I was in my current house – 2006 – was the last good Winter.
The super cold – I worry about the wild things and livestock and people who don’t take care of their pets… BUT, this super cold, I think it is ultimately a good thing and a NORMAL thing for this part of Montana.
And, I am a bit thrilled that it is a bit like old times. (NOT enough snow, though!!!)
On the home front…there is a kitten…there is a kitten who can see the sunshine and that kitten thinks he should be able to go out and play and hunt and run with the beardog!
Mama says otherwise.
The day started at -7F and never made it past 5F.
The kitten’s lungs and paws are not made for that much cold.
So.
We played “birdie”
The birdie toy is the MOST favorite toy. (those black things are my knees…I’m on the floor…)
Auggie often drops a birdie (we have 4) at my feet. Game on!
Yes, he retrieves…except for when I set up the camera for video, then he does not…
Bear and I had our normal walks except that I moved with a bit more briskness and a few more “NOW, Bear’s”.
But, I breathed deeply and enjoyed the cold, clean air!
And for lunch, after the lunch walk in the cold, clean air…I had a wonderfully warming roast cauliflower-onion-garlic soup…with plenty of turmeric and cayenne! And a refreshing water with blood orange juice. THAT should ward off any cold-flu bugs as well as most people!
Back to Auggie.
We got out every toy and a few other items: the laundry basket.
Auggie likes to put the birdies, the crackly fish toy and the mousie…places where he has to figure out how to get them back.
The laundry basket worked for a bit of a puzzle.
He played with putting things in and reaching in to try to retrieve them, going in after them and generally just playing in and around the basket and the crackly tunnel.
I don’t know what to do tomorrow, though!!!
The sun was brilliant all day long even if it did only get to 5F.
From inside…
Because it is COLD!
But beautiful and just like old times.