So … mid Summer July 2023.

So far mild-ish heat as in mid 90’s F being the hottest so far.

While still hotter than I like, compared to many spots of the world, it is not that bad. AND I have my cooling tools :)

Worse than heat, though is that rain has been sparse and all vegetation is drying/dying out … and…

Fire weather.

As per usual, I prep for bugout if there is a fire.

I have a list:

Every time I go outside, I take something to the motorhome. I spend 15-30 minutes every morning working on motorhome systems: plumbing, electrical, etc. It is full of propane and water. The frig is cold. If I had to jump in and go, it is livable but not quite all mod cons yet.

One thing at a time.

One thing at a time has been my mantra the last month.

There are times when the volume and variety of “chores” seems overwhelming.

I make a list(s): must do today, things to do when time … the list(s) adjusted daily.

So, the “short summary list”:

• Prep motorhome to go short notice
• Make “to go short notice” list and organize items (this is lightning hits my woods, starts a fire and I need to GO NOW!
• Yard work needed
• House work/cleaning needed

Oh. Work. If you follow my Instagram, I have been on a work “pause/hiatus” since July 6. Good timing actually but circumstances are not all that pleasant especially as my boss/friend is majorly impacted :(

Meanwhile, I am taking care of me and mine.

Video to come:

Uplift Desk … Oscar and I LOVE IT! The switch is just out of the photo to the right, but the desk can be raised and lowered. I like it at standing height when I am back and forth … like in the morning when I might be doing bookkeeping chores in between meal prep chores. Assembly was not difficult but there was one thing … (video :) )

This year’s EcoFlow items, i.e. kind of semi-off grid/transportable power device stuff:

EcoFlow Glacier Frig/Freezer with icemaker. This is to enable me to save expensive meat in case of long term power outage … battery (lithium) powered: wheels on one end, handle on the other so easy for me to move around as well as use one of my “dog ramps” to load in the Jeep or motorhome.

EcoFlow Wave2. Last year Wave1. Wave2 is cool and heat with its own battery. Super quiet and efficient.

More in a video to come.

This squirrel! It jumps at the window, it has been attacking my front porch plants. I let Emmett and Oscar out with instructions to kill. So far, the squirrel has survived ….

I am working on videos … REALLY … hopefully soon.

It is actually Easter Monday as I am writing this. I intended to write and post yesterday (Easter Sunday) but got caught up in finishing a video and ran out of steam!

It was a lovely Easter Sunday with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures to 57F at my house. It felt positively balmy.

A week ago, it looked like this:

I made a crazy board and rug path over the ice from the front porch to the garage … horrible, especially if I was carrying anything to or fro.

If you watch the video below, which I shot yesterday, you will see that things look much better!

The driveway is down to bare ground also … what a relief. Things look mashed down, brown and dirty at the moment, but it is a change from almost 5 months of snow cover.

While I am not a fan of Summer heat, I am looking forward to some Spring green, wildflowers and hopefully front porch fuchsia and herbs!

The thumbnail for the video notes that it is Version 2. I posted Version 1 last evening … was not 100% happy with it … made some adjustments this morning and posted the below. I still have a LOT to learn but am making some progress so onward!

I know … no posts for months and then 2 in 2 days … go figure!

But, over the last 2 weekends, I made incredible progress in my video editing knowledge.

I had a LOT of clips … and several weeks ago, I promised myself that I would take no more video until I made some progress with video editing.

I have made some progress … a LONG way to go, but I’m feeling more comfortable with basic editing concepts.

So … from some Insta360 X3 “me mode” clips … Walk with us: a sunrise morning walk of the property perimeter. Emmett and I walk a short loop close to the house when we wake … dark walk unless it is Summer. Sunrise-ish we take this .25 mile property perimeter walk.

A week into Spring 2023 so a belated “STELLAR WINTER 2022-23”!!

First Friday of Spring:

Although a late fall (early November) heavy, wet snowstorm did a LOT of damage in my woods … more on that recovery in a separate post … early November through now has been a wonderful winter for me, Emmett and Oscar!

There has been snow on the ground since early November and for the most part, it has been great for snowshoeing (me) and walking Emmett. The snow fell regularly but in manageable amounts, i.e. not a big deal to clear and not a big deal on our walk paths on the state land.

Close to Christmas, I bought new snowshoes which I LOVE. They are easy on and off and do very well on the game trails as well as on the various times we got 4-6 inches of new snow.

I snowshoed more this winter than I have in many years of winters’ past combined! And because the snowfall came in manageable amounts, it packed well on my property and the state land so Emmett was able to negotiate on and off trail. We were out nearly every day for 1/2-1-1.5 mile outings!

Meanwhile … workwise a new version/new tools … again. So, typical headache inducing learning of a new way of doing things. It is a combination of fun, aggravation and ultimately joy in successfully navigating a new paradigm … old dogs (me) CAN learn new tricks and I am convinced that it is good for an aging brain to soldier on!

Various life stuff, work stuff … etc. but when I could, I have been working on video: shooting technique and editing. I added 2 360 cameras to my shooting arsenal.

***For my viewers who have issues with spatial orientation … skip the below marketing video … lots of spins and swoops, etc.

The 360 cameras are a complete game changer. I had thought I wanted to add a drone to my camera pack, but the 360 cameras actually allow me to mimic drone shots in a way that is easier in my walk/keep an eye on Emmett scenario.

The 360 cameras have 2 180 degree lenses … one on each side. The camera software then stitches the 2 180 degree images together to make 360 video.

The 360 editing software allows me to reframe the 360 video however I’d like so ultimately it does not matter where I point the camera as it captures everything. After hours of tutorials and trying this and that, I am still at the newbie beginner stage, but also at the stage where I can SEE the incredible possibilities. The Insta360 marketing video above shows the extreme possibilities of the camera … and of the editing.

At any rate … after a lot of time watching tutorials, experimenting and understanding that it will take me a lot more time to get super creative with the cameras, I decided it was time to just post something! This video is a combination of clips from my Insta360 X3 as well as from my iPhone 14 Pro. The 360 video was reframed using the Insta360 mobile app. Clips were combined and final editing was done in Adobe Premiere Rush.

Finally, a favorite photo that did not make it to Instagram:

One of several Winter full moon nights … the moon, stars and snow made for many lovely night time walks this Stellar Winter.

Holy darn cow!!

Yes, we had the forecast super cold. December 22 started at -18F at my house. Per NOAA it was -32F on the valley floor.

Super cold!

And then at 7:15 a.m. the power went out at my house and approximately 3799 others in my vicinity (total homes in my area being 77000 approx …for perspective)

The local power company: Flathead Electric Co-operative did a pretty stellar job of keeping us informed. For most of us, the issue was a problem with Bonneville Power Authority feed to our specific area. (more to come on that).

So. The day before, knowing the forecast and with heavy snow, I took a look at the FEC outage map and saw that there was a 5 hour outage across the lake (Flathead Lake) due to equipment failure. Hmmm.

I typically do not run my woodstove overnight … fire concerns, etc. BUT. Given the forecast for extreme low temperatures and the potential for equipment failure … I ran the stove overnight.

Thankfully!!

So, when the power went out, the stove was full steam ahead and I had LOTS of firewood to hand to keep things going.

Additionally … last year … not sure exactly, but it was Winter, we had 2 morning power cuts that interfered with my ability to make coffee!!! In response, I purchased a 1 burner Butane stove thing as well as a large battery powered lantern.

AND … as time it is a changing re infrastructure … I also purchased several largish water containers.

So.

I was ready!!! (…ish)

Yea for my EcoFlow Max! It powered my electric fireplace for some helper heat in the sunroom. It is pointed towards the closet where the pressure tank lives. Pressure tank is 25 gallons of water and in the absence of power to run the well pump, that 25 gallons plus water heater water is my in house water. Additionally, the closet gets cold before the rest of the house and given the subzero temps I wanted to make sure to keep that closet warmish.

Yes! My butane 1 burner … Coffee!!! And later, I made my breakfast on it.

Thank you to last year’s wake up call.

The entry door … insulated curtain that is usually my “double entry” but I move right to the door when it is ultra cold…

Down throws at the base for draft stoppers.

Both make a HUGE difference in how much cold gets in via the entry door. Not noticable except when it is super cold!

-16.6 is super cold in my book!

And it was warming from -18.

The woodstove operating as a REAL woodstove, i.e. loaded full, locked down and running hot and radiant vs as a “fireplace”.

Ultimately, I was able to keep the house about 61F which in “all is relative world” was very comfortable. I ran the electric fireplace sporadically to give the closet extra heat while conserving battery backup.

My iPhone, iPads, laptop, internet MIFI … all kept topped up via other battery banks.

So.

The upshot from Flathead Electric Co-op and Bonneville Power Administration re the outage:

I would love to add to my EcoFlow system when budget allows but good grief!!! It did amazingly well on an ultra-cold day, and I am very happy. I had power to spare but will admit that I am VERY happy to have power restored before a 2nd very cold night.

Off to make my supper on the butane 1 burner … trying not to tax power supply more than absolutely necessary.

Weather forecast improves for my area after tomorrow.

The rest of the U.S. has challenges upcoming…

YIKES!

Prayers for the wild animals and livestock and pets.

A couple hours ago … official Solstice.

Shortest day of 2022.

And Holy Cow!!! This year we are so far having a real as in an old time Winter … or late Autumn Montana thing…

The last several years we could not count on a White Christmas.

This year it is a given!

After a very warm and dry October we had the crazy early November snow which did a lot of damage.

But, then … a segue into an old time Montana late Autumn/early Winter weather pattern.

Red and very cool easy on/off bindings and flexible poly ‘shoes.

As of this writing, I have snowshoed more so far this year than the last 3 years combined!

The snow is perfect.

Today, 12/21/2022, Winter Solstice … we are on the cusp of an extremely cold … maybe record breaking cold weather event.

Yesterday through this morning we got a foot of new powder snow.

Snow part of the event is likely done, but the cold-super cold has a day or so to go.

Meanwhile…

Stay tuned for more :)