Yikes ... November Ends Already!

This was about the fastest month ever! Just didn't do anything here about 'Life - One Day at a Time', so, I'll just have to post the happenings from Wunderground again to give the story about what happened this month!

November 2009 (Slide show)


Monday, November 30, 2009
No big changes in the weather today. It was a mix of clouds and stars with the growing moon overnight. Clouds drifted in early this morning for a little pre-sunrise color. The rest of the day was mild for the last day of November, a little windy, mostly cloudy, and giving some signs of a change that might mean some snow and colder temperatures.

Late Day Clouds Move in Over the West Hills


Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cloudy overnight but some breaks in the clouds took place for a couple of hours during the morning. Clouds reformed before noon and the cloud cover continued for the rest of the day.

View Across Corrals


Saturday, November 28, 2009
Clear overnight but clouds developed just before sunrise. Those clouds hung around all day and resulted in the temperature rising just slightly above freezing.

Horses Munching at the Morning Feeding


Friday, November 27, 2009
Clouds with light rain early this morning. The day is forecast to have scattered showers, snow at higher elevations, (already visible on the hills to the west and south) with mild temperatures and fog at the lower valley locations.

Morning View East to Light Fog in the Valley


Thursday, November 26, 2009
Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy conditions existed for most of the day. There was a fog bank that hung on in the valley through the early afternoon. Late today, stars were appearing through breaks in the clouds; however, rain or snow is forecast for tomorrow.

Lingering Fog at Midday


Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Cloudy conditions overnight kept the temperature steady at around 30 degrees. The clouds broke up around sunrise to give sunshine, although, with a somewhat hazy fog lingering in the valley and above the tree lines to the east and south. The mild temperatures have almost eliminated the light snow cover that arrived a couple of days ago.

Sun with Hazy Sky to the Southeast this Morning


Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mostly cloudy with some light snow overnight. Early in the day, during the morning walk, the horses, as usual, were out standing in their field. The day followed the overnight lead, it just wasn't quite as dark.

Horses out Standing in Their Field


Monday, November 23, 2009
Variably cloudy conditions throughout most of the day. The winter look has returned to NW Montana here at the ranch.

Morning Trail Walk in the Snow


Sunday, November 22, 2009
It's back! After beating around the bush for a couple of days (and, the false start with the snow early in October) the snow is falling today. It was mostly cloudy overnight with just a quick glance at some sun colors before sunrise time, but, no actual visible sunrise, and by mid-morning the snow was falling freely. Looks like this could be a nice covering for the start of the holiday season.

Morning Clouds over the Old Barn


Saturday, November 21, 2009
Windy conditions that appeared late yesterday continued overnight. Since mostly cloudy conditions arrived with the wind, the overnight temperatures rose after the low was reached before midnight, yesterday. Today was a mix of sun and clouds. The temperature fluctuated accordingly with the passing sun and cloud variety. (Oh, and except for some windy conditions overnight, there was no storm).

Horses Out in the Afternoon Sun


Friday, November 20, 2009
Well, the forecast was for a "mild" day before the storm. Instead, it was mostly cloudy during the day, not that mild, and only cleared late in the day to allow the temperature to fall quickly this evening. The clearing was followed by a cloudy, windy, warming event to end the day.

Box Elder with the Last Leaves


Thursday, November 19, 2009
It was mostly cloudy from beginning to end today. Just a light touch of sunlight glanced of the hills to the northwest early today. Due to the limited (almost no) sun input, temperatures did not rise much today.

Limited Morning Sunlight


Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Somewhat of a reversal of the conditions experienced yesterday, with today beginning with clouds breaking up around sunrise and the day becoming mostly clear by late in the day. This gave a good mix of sun and clouds during the middle part of the day.

Mix of Clouds with the Mid-morning Sun


Tuesday, November 17, 2009
It started out just partly cloudy and calm today, but became mostly cloudy by mid-morning. The wind increased a bit, too, but the temperature stayed relatively mild. The clouds continued through the afternoon and into the evening.

View Southeast from the Deck ... as the Clouds Arrive


Monday, November 16, 2009
Mostly sunny day after just enough clouds overnight to keep it from turning into a deep freeze. Today was one of those extra special November days when you could almost be tricked into thinking that winter is still far away. It was a nice way to continue to plow through November. But, after a couple of years or so on the planet, I know that isn't true. It could be here any day, again.

The Plow in November


Sunday, November 15, 2009
It did stay mostly cloudy today and rather cool, but not any snow fell around here. These days have not been melting much ice. I took a 3" thick round out of one of the rain barrels Friday, and the broken pieces I threw around for Taffy are still lying 'round-about the yard, waiting for a warm-up! It was a nice day for splitting (done by Patti) and stacking firewood, and for doing some insulating work in the barn. Just 'kinda' cool outside!

Extra Firewood Stack


Saturday, November 14, 2009
Cloudy sky again started the day here in NW Montana. Snow is in the forecast and knocking at the mountains to the west. Just variably cloudy conditions with temperatures holding constant through most of the day.

Afternoon Image Sweep Northeast to Southeast


Friday, November 13, 2009
The clear conditions of late day yesterday disappeared as a layer of clouds moved in overnight. This kept the temperature from falling and actually resulted in the coldest values happening just around midnight. The day was another mix of clouds, some light snow flurries, and limited sun. Again, quite 'normal' for this time of the year.

Morning View to the East


Thursday, November 12, 2009
It was mostly clear overnight and as usual for this time of the year, the temperature dropped below freezing and things were a little frosty. The day continued to be mostly sunny, but there wasn't much of a warm up. This time of the year, the normal daily temperature is just a bit above freezing. So, it was mostly a normal day in NW Montana.

Sunrise through Cool Morning Air


Wednesday, November 11, 2009 (Veteran's Day -- Repeat of 2008 entry


To all who have served and to all who are now serving in military service to our nation: Thank you for your service for the United States of America.

Freedom Team Salute

During an unpopular time, two of my brothers, and I, all served in the military service for the United States of America. It was a time of unrest in the country. There was an ongoing, unpopular war. There was no Pearl Harbor and there was no 9-11, to stir the nation patriotically and make the option of military service one of desire and honor. In spite of that, three of us from one family found ourselves in military service. Lee, the youngest, volunteered, and signed up into the United States Air Force in January 1968. Robert (Bob) received a draft notice in 1968 while working for Sperry Rand in Phoenix, Arizona. I received a draft notice as my first piece of mail after returning from my honeymoon. My service in the United States Army began on September 28, 1970.




Robert's Service Summary:

o United States Army : December 1968 - December 1971
o Fort Campbell, Kentucky : Basic Training
o Fort Gordon, Georgia : Advanced Individual Training (AIT) 35n20(auto Stab) and 102f5 CH-54 Flying crane
o Fort Gordon Instructor 06/1969-03/1970 Flying Crane
o Phu Loi RVN 04/1970-04/1971 Cobra flight line tech then shop NCOIC 334AWC
o Stuttgart Germany 05/1971-12/1971 flight line tech then line chief 129th Trans Co.
o Final rank Specialist 5 (E-5)

Daniel's Service Summary:

o United States Army : September 1970 - March 1972
o Fort Knox, Kentucky : Basic Training
o Fort Bliss, Texas : Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Nike Hercules Guided Missile Crewmember
o 03/1971 - 03/1972
o Vicenza, Italy transferred from Guided Missile Unit to Military Pay Specialist
o Tirrenia, Italy Military Pay Specialist
o Final rank Specialist 5 (E-5)



Lee's Service Summary:

o United States Air Force : January 1968 - October 1975
o Lowry Air Force Base, Denver Colorado
o Overseas service with two tours of duty in Thailand

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
It was mostly cloudy early in the day but that became mostly sunny in the mid-day and afternoon. Clouds returned for the evening and slowed the usual evening cool down just a bit.

Ranch Flag and Morning View of the Ranch


Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A mostly cloudy sky met the sunrise today. Like many of the days this time of the year, this day continued with a variable mix of clouds and some sunshine.

Late Afternoon Clouds and Sun


Monday, November 9, 2009
Sun at the ranch today while there was some early fog in the valley. The day continued to be sunny until late afternoon when clouds rolled into the area. Some overcast continued until after sunset. The clouds disappeared at that time and the evening and overnight cool down got underway.

Fog in Valley -- Zoom toward Northeast Mountains


Sunday, November 8, 2009
The weather, it continues. Partly cloudy conditions overnight morphed briefly and became mostly sunny for part of the morning. High overcast soon took over and defined the rest of the day. Periods of very light showers and pellets drifted through for the afternoon. Evening conditions swung around to become mostly clear and like the darkness, the temperatures are falling.

Morning Sun Reflections on the Pond


Saturday, November 7, 2009
A mix of clouds and sun this morning. It appears from the recorded temperature graph that the clouds drifted in around 2:00 AM, since the earlier falling temperature steadied at that time. Some frosty conditions this morning and a repeating pattern of clouds and sun throughout the day. As the fall transitions continue, the Box Elder has pretty much dropped the leaves for this year, even though there was not much of a color change due to the early October super cold days.

Box Elder Tree ... Dropping Leaves with Little or no Color



Friday, November 6, 2009
As can be said of many places, surely can be said of the ranch weather today: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a couple of minutes, and it will change!". Clear conditions of late yesterday became clouds and some rain early today. This cycle continued throughout the day (well, not much clearing, actually, just fast moving clouds with glimpses of blue sky). The evening saw the late day sun highlight clouds over the east mountains. But, later in the evening, wind and rain returned. Still later, at the final animal check, the stars were out and the moon was shining. So, even in the darkness, the cycle continues.

Sun Highlights Evening Clouds


Thursday, November 5, 2009
This was another day that began with mostly clear conditions overnight and just some sunrise enhancing clouds around this morning. The day was slightly overcast due to high clouds. These clouds dissolved as did the light of the day again bringing mostly clear evening conditions. However, the barometric pressure is falling and the really neat forecast icons on some of the instruments are showing precipitation may be on the way.

Still Some Fall Color, but from Pre-sunrise Clouds Today


Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mostly clear conditions again overnight led to frosty coatings on everything this morning. A mostly sunny day followed with temperatures quite 'seasonable'.

Frosty Pastures Early Today


Tuesday, November 3, 2009
There must have been some overnight clouds passing through the area, since the ground was covered with snow pellets this morning. Mostly clear conditions soon dissolved those pellets (except on the frozen pond) and a slightly warmer day took over.

Snow Pellets on Frozen Pond


Monday, November 2, 2009
Clear equals cool, for the overnight temperature. Frosty around the edges this morning as a result. The day became mostly overcast around mid-morning and kept any major warming from taking place. A return to mostly clear conditions late in the day will allow frosty conditions again overnight.

Clouds in Panorama Northeast to Southeast


Sunday, November 1, 2009
Some rain fell overnight. Most of the day was variably cloudy and pleasant. Late in the day, the sky cleared allowing the temperatures to cool nicely!

View across the Pastures Early Today