January ... All at Once...It's Over!

So quickly another month has passed. I was going to start my "marathon training" blog again, but, I had a false-start on the training and had to reset my plans after just two sessions (more on that when I get back into the routine). In the mean-time, the month of January has jogged by in record time. Here is a summary of what happened 'Day by Day in NW Montana'.

January 2010 (slide show)


Sunday, January 31, 2010
The light snow that began late yesterday continued off and on overnight and through the day today. It is again 'very white and bright' all around the ranch!

Dashing through the Snow...


Saturday, January 30, 2010
As the moon ended its trip across the sky early today, the clouds arrived. The mostly clear conditions overnight allowed the temperature to drop into the low teens. Without much sunlight today, the high hovered in the low 30's. Very light snow began to fall just as darkness arrived.

Playing with the Dogs on a Snowbank


Friday, January 29, 2010
Mostly clear conditions today with just a passing ripple of clouds in the early afternoon. The sun set and clear sky continued into the evening. It was a fine "nearly-full" moonrise.

Bright Sun and Snow Trail during Afternoon Walk


Thursday, January 28, 2010
After clear conditions for the early overnight hours, clouds moved in again. The clouds stayed all day. Temperatures rose through the 20's into the low 30 range.

Sun Lost behind Clouds Early Today


Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Another day when clouds were the standard for most of the day. The temperatures remain "seasonal" to above normal. As a result, during the daily walk, Titan needs to roll in the snow to cool off. Late in the day, falling temperatures resulted in a decrease of the cloudiness and a starry evening appeared along with the growing moon.

Titan Rolling in the Snow to Cool Down


Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Again, there was just a glimpse of the sun for the day around the beginning of the day. The day was mostly cloudy throughout the rest of the day but no snow or other precipitation fell. Temperatures continued to vary between 20 to 30 degrees which is nice for a January day in NW Montana!

Sunrise over the Box Elder Tree in the Winter




Monday, January 25, 2010
Light snow, with just a touch of sun, ruled the ranch today. This kept the temperature in the twenties once again as the winter continues.

Snow Falling and the Sun Attempts to Shine


Sunday, January 24, 2010
The clouds at sunrise provided a little color for the start of the day. Light snow flurries fell from time to time. Temperatures held in the twenties for the day's maximum.

Colored Morning Sky


Saturday, January 23, 2010
Periods of sun today after a few clouds overnight dropped just a light covering of snow.

Taffy, walking on the Snow during mid-day Sunlight


Friday, January 22, 2010
Some clearing overnight allowed the temperature to drop into the single digits. Temperatures rose quite nicely through the middle of the day. Clouds built up at that time and kept the normal quick cool-down from taking place.

Orpheus Walks out to Winter Pasture


Thursday, January 21, 2010
It was overcast this morning with just a bit of sun trying to break through around the edges. The temperature managed to creep out of the 20's to just the freezing point when the sun found a hole or two in the clouds during the afternoon.

Some Evening Sun Glow on Southeast Hills


Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The clouds remained in place after the snow that fell late yesterday. As a result, the overnight temperature was steady and kept rising slightly as the day continued. There was some fog around, drifting through the hills during the morning. Mostly cloudy conditions ruled the day through late evening.

Harmony Hoping for Carrot Treats


Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Clear overnight conditions disappeared with the arrival of daylight. Clouds persisted through most of the day and kept the temperature somewhat cool again. A project today included getting the wood burning stove hooked up in the arena. The clouds that hung on all day also decided to drop a light half-inch or so of snow late in the afternoon. Hopefully, that will reduce the iciness that resulted from the mild temperatures of the last few days.

Wood Burning Stove surrounded by Scaffolding


Monday, January 18, 2010
Today there was again some sunshine resulting in warming temperatures from mid-morning until just around noon. As yesterday, clouds returned in the early afternoon and resulted in a drop in the temperature to just around freezing by early evening. Cloud reduction soon after sunset took place and resulted in a quick cool-down. We might see single digit lows if the clear sky continues through the night.

Horses near the Upper Fence Line


Sunday, January 17, 2010
Variably cloudy conditions today allowed for some sunshine warming during mid-day into the early afternoon. Mostly cloudy sky returned by evening leveling the falling temperature at just around the freezing point.

Mid Day Lunch near the Old Barn


Saturday, January 16, 2010
Some light rain fell this morning as the temperature continued slowly falling from the high in the mid-40's that was reached late yesterday.

Fence Lines and Snow


Friday, January 15, 2010
Mostly cloudy conditions through the day today. Late in the evening some wind brought the warmest temperatures of the day as the thermometer climbed into the middle 40's. The depth of the snow continues to decrease, but Titan shows it still makes for a challenging walk in the snow.

Titan walking the Snow Trail


Thursday, January 14, 2010
The spring-like month continues with filtered sun and mild conditions for another day. The snow pack is starting to shrink in depth, but is still great for the daily hike through the woods trails.

Hiking up the Trail Hill


Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Today began with the sun burning through some morning fog. The day was mostly sunny with mild temperatures once again. Late evening saw the return of some clouds to prevent a fast 'cool-down'.

Sunrise through Fog and Clouds at Morning Horse Feeding


Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Light fog and colored clouds started the day today. Temperatures continued to be fairly mild for January with lows in to 20's to mid 30 highs for the range.

Morning Sky Colors looking up the Driveway


Monday, January 11, 2010
The clouds overnight fell closer to the ground during the early morning creating some fog in the area. Later in the day, the fog gravitated the rest of the way into the ground and allowed some brief periods of sunshine. The temperature hovered in the 20's and briefly touched 30.

Morning Fog as the Dogs Run Up the Driveway


Sunday, January 10, 2010
There was just a dusting of snow overnight. The clouds mostly hung around all day with slowly rising to steady temperatures for most of the day. Late in the day the clouds thinned somewhat and the temperature began to drop. The clearer it gets, the colder it gets. So, you can kind of watch when the clouds came and went by checking the ranch temperature graphs (how cool is that!)?

Along the Woods Fence Line


Saturday, January 9, 2010
Mostly cloudy conditions throughout the day today. The temperature slowly rose from just below zero overnight into the middle teens during the afternoon. The temperatures held throughout the evening as a warmer weather event moved into the area.

View through Trees during Snowshoe Hike


Friday, January 8, 2010
Some clouds drifted in overnight and resulted in a slight rise in the falling temperatures. The day was a mix of sun and clouds. By early evening, colder temperatures returned and the clouds thinned slightly just as the sunlight hours ended.

Going through the Gate


Thursday, January 7, 2010
Mostly clear conditions again today. The temperature managed to climb from an overnight low in the minus teens to just make it into double digits above zero. For, the day, the sky continued to be clear, weather conditions dry, and just a bit of light wind.

Clear Blue Sky over the Horses at Mid Day Feeding


Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Clear sky brought cold conditions to the area today. Temperatures seemed to have bottomed out in the middle single digits overnight, but, the continued clear sky late in the day erased that with double digit below zero here before 10 P.M.

View of the Ranch from the North Hill


Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Well, after a few days of fairly consistent conditions, a snow event that began late yesterday dropped about 9" of new snow on the area. This resulted in the plowing crews being somewhat active (with a snow-shoe hike squeezed in between the plowing and snow removal tasks). The horses were quite happy to return to the barn this evening as the wind picked up, and some additional snow began to fall (along with the temperature).

Snow Covered Fence to Old Barn


Monday, January 4, 2010
Light snow overnight and off and on during the day. Not much temperature variation, as the clouds and snow seemed to keep conditions steady throughout the day.

Walking the Trail during Light Snowfall


Sunday, January 3, 2010
Mostly cloudy conditions continue at the ranch. With the cloudy trend, the temperatures have been able stay quite mild.

Framed View to Neighboring Farm


Saturday, January 2, 2010
There were some breaks in the sky today that allowed for brief periods of sunshine. The temperature was mild enough to melt the recent snowfall from the trees and reduce the snow a bit more.

View through Trees to the Ranch


Friday, January 1, 2010
The year began with some additional light snow. With the continued cloudy conditions, the temperature rose above freezing and some of the new snow melted down just a bit.

View Across the Pasture to the Horses in the Distance