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.