Weather Report

Every year we get a warning that winter is on its way, and it comes in the form of a mid-November snow. This year is no exception. Monday morning Northwest Montana woke to snow falling at a rate of about an inch an hour, it kept up until noon before subsiding, temperatures in the 20’s followed for the next day. Those of us who have lived here a while know this snow will not stay in the valley, the warmer air and rain will come and melt it to a muddy sludge on the roads and soon the ground will once again be bare.
But this is just a brief and mild precursor to the inevitable real winter. Just a notice to make certain we check the tread on our winter tires, that the radiator has the required amount of antifreeze and the crankcase has the proper winter oil. For those of us who drive the back roads, we need to have our emergency travel kits prepared. We know now the necessity of the propane tank being topped-off or wood pile stacked and out of the weather, that the winter clothes are close at hand, the boots sealed, and the snowshoes and skis taken out of storage. We need to have the garden tools and hoses put away and the snow shovels and broom placed continently next to the porch.
For those of us who live far from town are reminded that we could get snowed in and we need to check the supply of lantern oil, batteries and staples in the pantry. And maybe most important, that we have a new, fresh and wondeful supply of diverse and interesting books.