February 15, 2016 Snow, Visitors & Wind

Interesting cloud formation
to the south.

Friday 2/12. Our paths were very crunchy today, but the snow level has fallen more than I realized.  The sign at the path to the north ridge is completely above the snow now, as is some of its post.

There was still a lot of snow on the wood shed roof that had slid down, so I shoveled as much as I could reach.  I could hear the header board begin to move back into place as the weight came off.

A breeze picked up around 1:00 pm and blew in a short rain squall which cleared out the fog.  By the time we left on our afternoon walk, we could see a little blue sky on the western horizon.  By 4:30 all the cloud cover had moved on to the east towards Idaho and Randy.  Our high for the day was 40.

Saturday 2/13. It was 32, clear and breezy first thing this morning, but clouds had moved in by noon.  I fed the dogs and girls, then went back to bed to get rid of a nasty sinus headache.

After lunch we went out to check the oil in the generator, and added some.  Then we took the ash bucket and kitchen compost to the outdoor compost pile.  I haven't been shoveling that path, so we both post-holed all the way.

Later in the afternoon I baked Rose's World Famous Gluton-Free Oatmeal/Chocolate Chip cookies.  They are literally "world famous" from when our neighbors had their friends from Austria Up Here and they loved the cookies.

Snow began falling at 3:00 pm and continued until around 8:00.  We only received about 1/4" and it was gone by morning.  During the evening, the breeze had increased to a wind gusting to 18 mph.  

We are both very sad to hear that Supreme Court Justice Scalia passed away today.  I'm not really paranoid, but I hope they do an autopsy. . .

Sunday 2/14. Valentine's Day on the mountain began with a temp of 36, overcast sky and wind gusting to 23 mph.  By noon the clouds began to part and the sun was able to shine most of the afternoon.  Our high for the day was 44.

Larry and Elsie drove up in the SnoCat this afternoon for a nice, long visit.  I should have no problem getting down and back up in MAX tomorrow.  Elsie brought up the Valentine's package from Nene.  My goodness!  That aunt of mine really does spoil us.  She sent a beautiful hand-made fleece pillow with elk, moose and bears on it, along with a chocolate moose pillow-pet.  And, of course, money for candy which I will spend tomorrow.

Monday 2/15. It is 40, mostly clear and windy this morning.  The wind blew all night, gusting to 41.  A very noisy and sleepless night.  The wind has pared the snow down significantly and littered it with pine cones and small branches.  And I am not looking forward to my drive Down There. . .

Thought for the day: We never said protests are the answer, but protests create space for the answer.  Protest is disruption.  Protest is confrontation. Protest is the end of silence, and what protest does is it creates space for the other work to happen. Deray McKesson