Those pretty photos of snow on the mountains here in the Flathead Valley were only the “tip of the iceberg” for an early winter storm. Here, it has been sunny but very cold for this time of year - in the low 20’s last night, mid 40’s yesterday and until last night a cold wind from the south east.

But southwest Montana - a very different story…

Montana Department of Transportation has a great web site for travelers. (So do WY, CO and probably others…) A state highway map shows road conditions. In the summer, construction delays and circumstances are detailed. In winter, the above. I use this site and have used Wyoming and Colorado sites when I’ve travelled in my motorhome in winter, which I love to do! But I allow plenty of time so as to be able to sit out dangerous driving conditions. It is tools like these which help me make the decision to go or stay parked.

Monida Pass (above from the MT DOT web cams) is currently closed for blowing, drifting snow and icy conditions. Above shows why. Monida Pass is on I15 - the road south into Idaho and then Utah. It is a high, wide, open pass with a gradual ascent and descent versus a steep, winding through the mountains pass. It is prone to very high winds

Homestake Pass is on I90 heading east from my location. Going east it is a gradual ascent, but a steep, winding descent. It is beautiful, and good road, but can be treacherous. The summit rest and vehicle check area has an ominous sign about the number of truckers killed on the eastern descent and warns of checking equipment thoroughly and obeying all speed signs (25 mph for over 10,000 lbs) until the descent flattens out.

I am glad to not be near it in the motorhome today! And much as I love winter and snow, I also love fall and am not unhappy that this storm missed my area. November is plenty soon for snow on the ground. I will be happy to enjoy a couple more weeks of fall!

From this morning’s walk…

Early this afternoon on the way home from Kalispell…

Where I worked from this afternoon…

Some clouds are starting to drift in today as a forecast cool front makes its way to our neck of the woods. We have had a week of days reaching nearly to or slightly above the 80 degree mark with nights in the upper 30 - low 40’s. The angle of the sun is low enough and the nights cool enough that it barely hits the high before it rapidly cools down again but it has been very pleasant to sit outside in the evening and enjoy what could be the last of what feels like summer.

And although I have been abnormally busy this week as I crammed some house and yard projects into the schedule, we never skip walks or some quiet time just sitting outside. I have been taking the camera, but the summer-like cloudless conditions with very dry air created a hazy sky and while I still think it is beautiful, it did not make for what seemed like interesting photos.

But, this morning, a few clouds, a bit more humidity, the sun through the trees…I couldn’t resist.

Friday morning walk.

Yep, I put it away…and I did it yesterday (Sunday) morning, when it was supposed to get to 90…but the morning started at 44 and Saturday did not get to where it was supposed to AND another cold front is following this mini-heat thing and it is late August AND I WANT IT TO BE FALL!!!! - so I tempted fate….

for heat…

It’s a big deal (TO ME!) as I do NOT like heat and think 80 is darn hot enough… NOAA has the temps about 6 degrees lower over the weekend and I hope they are right - every little bit helps.

Thanks to the relatively mild and beautiful June, July and last 2 weeks…AND to my fancy-schmancy sprinkler system…

the yard has stayed green…with the downside being I’m still mowing it.

We are prepared for the heat with both motorhomes plugged in and A/Cs ready for action.

The 4 wheeler even has a shady spot to be.

And the house A/C - ugly, but effective! The behemoth is a heat pump and in this little house with the very low humidities here and the cool nights, it works very well. Bill was skeptical when he saw it and it was his fear that it would not be cool enough that spurred the electrical project - the idea being he KNEW the bus A/C’s can keep that bus cool to the point of refrigeration as long as it has 50 amp! At any rate, we have redundant cooling options so I’m thinking we will survive our little heat wave and make it to Tuesday when the forecast is for more reasonable and seasonal temperatures.