Ice Magic

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: The Bridge to Fantasy Land

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Campground Wonderland

 

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Crystal Forest

 

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Crystal Sentinels

 

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Into the Mysterious

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Lions Park By The Madison

 

Photo by Ken W. Hall  Title: Snow People In The Park

It was three below zero this morning when Ken headed out camera in hand.  He never got any further than the bridge at Lions Park.

There is an amazing and magical quality to water and everything that surrounds it when the temperatures drop so low.

I am not sure it ever got much above ten degrees today.  We did get some sunshine this afternoon.

  

Changing Channels

As you can tell by the first photo the Madison River has shifted and the channel at the campground in Ennis is gone. The ice is about four feet deep.

The second picture was taken a few days ago when the river gorged and created a new path through the campground.

We have had warmer than normal temperatures the past few days.  So, we have been out gathering wood and stocking up on supplies.

Temperatures are expected to drop again this week and we could get a little snow in the process.

Today we delivered some things to Helena.  It was thirty-two here and twenty-two in Helena.

Warming Up

It was forty degrees when we left for Bozeman Thursday morning.   It was mostly cloudy with light snow and rain mixed. 

In Bozeman temperatures were in the mid thirties. It felt like springtime.  This photo was taken when we came into town just as the sun was about to set.

Today it is spectacular!  The sun is shinning and the wind is silent.  We are out the door to gather kindling for the fire place and store our deck furniture.

Wish you were here.

River Road

 

The Madison River gorged this past week.  These photos were taken at the campground and fishing access just across the bridge downtown.  As you can tell the road is now the river.

When the ice backs up the river overflows its banks.  It almost always fills this campground.  The area behind the car is next to the highway.  The water filled a space that is about six feet deep.

The water spreads out all over the land and covers miles an miles.  It is quite something to see.

We got a little snow last night.  Today the wind is blowing again but temperatures are in the high twenties.It was three below in Bozeman this morning but we were in the mid teens.

Children at Play

Photo by Ken W. Hall    Title: Family Gathering

 

Photo by Ken W. Hall    Title: Children at Play

When Ken and I ventured out on Wednesday deer were everywhere.  Ken could not resist taking these with the sign reading "Children at Play".

I think it got up to about fourteen yesterday when I went out in search of eggs.  It was a calm day and everyone was happy to feel warmer temperatures.

The cold weather slowed egg production.  I will have to wait a couple of days.

This morning it was above zero with strong winds and lots of clouds.  Real temperature is in the low teens but the wind makes it feels much lower.

The ice on the windows in the house is thawing.  The streets have large patches of packed snow and ice.

About Twenty Below Zero

It was somewhere around twenty below zero when we got up this morning.  I went out to feed the birds and the hair in my nose froze as I stepped outside the door.

In these temperatures you must keep your pets inside.  I always feel sad for the wild animals even though I know they were designed to withstand the cold.  I guess it is that mother instinct.

I trust you will forgive me for not providing a more scenic photo.  This one is the window in my office.  It has metal and freezes in these temperatures.

Perhaps in the next day or two we can get you something more fun to view.  One more night this cold then tomorrow it may get up to five or six.

Bracing For The Cold

The high today was six degrees.  The wind shield is somewhere between twenty and thirty below zero.

We are bracing for the actual temperatures to drop in that neighborhood by Tuesday.

The snow drifts are pretty (as long as you can stay warm inside and just look at them).  Friends out in the country report drifts up to six feet high.

Winter came early this year.

Four Below Zero

 

The thermometer read four below when we got up this morning.  A storm blew through yesterday bringing less than an inch but blowing it everywhere.

Today the sun is shining, the wind is calm and the river has lots of ice floating in it.  I think we got up to twenty degrees today.

Magnificent Sunset

This time of year the skies will stop you dead in your tracks.  This sunset was so spectacular we had to stop what we were doing and experience the wonder and beauty of something greater than ourselves.

The weather was good enough on Saturday that lots of people came out to shop.  It was so good to visit with friends we had not seen in months.  Ennis is such a wonderful community of caring people.  We feel blessed to live here.

Today is another pretty day.  Sunshine and a gentle breeze.  It is expected to snow a little  tomorrow and be nice for the rest of the week.  I am loving this.

Thanksgiving Day

Photos by Ken W. Hall

Here are a couple of images Ken snapped yesterday as the sun was rising.  The wind was strong and the temperatures were in the low forties.

Ken was able to cook the turkey outdoors on the grill.  It was a wonderful day shared with friends and family.

Today we are busy preparing for the annual  Madison Valley Women's Club event tomorrow.  Local artists and organizations offer items for gift giving.   It is always well attended and we get to see and chat with lots of friends and neighbors. It is great fun.

Slower Pace

Things move at a little lower pace here in Ennis, especially in the winter.  It was twenty-seven degrees when I left the house this morning and thirty-three when I came home after lunch.  We got about an inch of snow yesterday.

I found myself having to slow down for this local rider on my way home from running an errand.  The sun finally came out.

When we drove around the lake on Sunday I got this shot of ice beginning to form near the bridge.  The wind was blowing snow everywhere.  We saw nine eagles and two of them put on such a show.

Have you ever watched an eagle?  They never struggle or flap their wings hard.  They wait patiently for the wind currents to be just right.  Then they spread their wings and soar.

Cloudy Day

It was in the mid thirties when I got up this morning and is thirty-four right now.  As you can tell from the photo I took at the campground the clouds are rolling in.  There were several hunters camping out.

The highs have been in the high thirties to mid forties.  The wind has blown everyday since I posted on Tuesday.  I finally had to spray my bowls inside.

There are a few patches of ice and snow left on the roads in town but not much.  A new storm is moving in and we are to get a few flakes tonight.

Beautiful Sunrise

I love the sunrise and sunsets this time of year.  Sunrise this morning had those lovely pink and blue tones.

The wind howled all day yesterday and it is worse today.  Thank goodness it is warmer.  It was in the mid thirties early this morning and now much of the snow is melting.

The temperatures for the next few days are predicted to be higher than normal for this time of year.

I have been busy in the studio producing inventory for the Christmas season.  I realized yesterday that staining each piece is a meditation process for me.

The Sun is Setting

It is 4:54 PM and the sun is disappearing behind the snow-covered mountains. It is twenty-nine degrees and the wind is blowing. There is still plenty of snow on our deck.

When we got up this morning it was ten degrees. The skies were clear and the sunshine felt wonderful streaming in the windows.

The main streets in town are dry for the most part. In the neighborhoods like ours they are ice packed. This is very unusual for this time of year.

Ken drove down to West Yellowstone today. There seemed to be less snow in that part of the state.

12 Inches of Snow

Photo by Ken W. Hall

Photo by Ken W. Hall

Photo by Ken W. Hall

Photo by Ken W. Hall

Photo by Ken W. Hall

The snow continued to fall all day yesterday. It was so beautiful to watch the snowflakes float gently down. (That means it was not a windy day).

Just after four in the afternoon the snow stopped and temperatures began to drop into the twenties. I measured the snow on the table on our deck. It was twelve inches.

When we woke this morning our thermometer registered ten degrees. The sky was clear and the sun shined brightly.

Ken took a walk downtown to Lions Park yesterday. Here are some of the photos he took.

Eight Inches of Snow

I love the calmness we feel when snow falls.

When we woke this morning it was thirty-two degrees and the table on our deck appeared to have eight inches of snow.

The birds are fighting over the seeds. It is still snowing.

As you can tell by the fog in the photo I was inside looking out our window.

It is a big difference to the day before when the blue jays stopped by for brunch. They come in swarms of thirty to fifty, dine for five minutes, then leave.

Floating Ice Circles

Yesterday was spectacular! It was twenty-six degrees when Ken and I left the house. The sun was shining and the wind was silent. We took full advantage of this rare situation by going for an early morning walk along the Madison River.

We discovered something we have never seen before. There is a spot along the river where the water swirls and pushes foam up next to the bank.

The foam was frozen and were shaped like lily pads. It was quite lovely to behold.

The sound of the water rushing over the rocks and the electric blue sky was a very soothing start to our busy day. Temperatures rose to the high forties.

Yellowstone Magic

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Buffalo Smoke

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Winter First Stage

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Portal To The Other Side

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Divided Thoughts

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Banded Summit

Photo by Ken W. Hall, title: Too Close for Comfort

Ken went to Yellowstone National Park last Sunday. He just emailed me these awesome shots. The baby elk was trying to get into the car.

Yesterday we had a mixture of rain and snow in the afternoon. This morning it is partly sunny, a gentle breeze and forty-three degrees.

Today I finally got some new leather blessing bowls for sale in my online shop. It feels good to be working at home again.

Snow at the Ranch

We had eight inches of snow my last week of work at the Ranch. It was so beautiful driving up the canyon with snow covering everything. Travel was a little interesting but slow and steady does it.

Living in rural Montana has its challenges. One of those is steady and reliable internet service. We were without service for an entire week. That is why the lack of posts.

Now that I am up and running again and finished with my work commitment at the ranch I will have more time to devote to this blog.

Today the wind is blowing, another normal part of living in this awesome valley. The sun is shinning and we are expected to reach about sixty-two by tomorrow.

The snow you see in the photo was at the ranch. Ennis did not get that much snow and it melted quickly. The ranch is at a higher elevation, received more snow and took longer to melt.

Low Clouds

I took this photo on Monday as I traveled back to the ranch. It was raining. Two magnificent Elk struggled to jump the fence when they heard my car. I slowed down trying to get a picture but they escaped.

As you can tell it was dark. The days are getting shorter. It is dark when I leave in the morning and dark when I return home in the evenings. Winter is just around the corner.

Last week it snowed then rained. We had a couple of spectacular days of clear weather in the sixties with no wind. Then more rain followed. Tomorrow we are supposed to get some sunshine.

The birds are migrating. It is fun to see which kind will show up each morning. They devoured twenty pounds of seed this week.

It's Really Cold

It was 14 degrees when we left for Bozeman on Friday. The roads were snow packed and icy. Trucks and RVs lined up at the bottom of Norris Hill putting on chains. Here is a shot of the Madison River as we passed through the canyon.

It was 13 degrees yesterday morning when I left for work. Small snow flakes were falling as the the wind blew them across the road. The closer I got to Jack Creek the deeper the snow.

This morning it is 17 degrees but the skies are clear. Sunshine is a wonderful thing.

Is it really only October?

Is It Winter Already?

Saturday night our first winter storm came rushing through the valley. On my way to the ranch the car slid on an icy road. It happened right after I took this photo and rounded the curve. I took the low road home that night.

This guy was helping himself to bird seed in our yard yesterday.

Today it is snowing again. We are headed for even colder weather in the next few days. Right now it is 34 degrees outside.

Normal for this time of year is in the low sixties. What happened to fall?

First Snow

It has been snowing lightly off and on all morning. I just talked to a gallery owner in Pray, Montana. He said he was going outside to shovel snow.

The birds have been dining all morning. I filled the feeders twice already.

Temperatures are in the mid thirties to low forties. It is sure to freeze tonight.

Fall is definitely here.