It was -16 at my house this morning,
-20 at my brother's house next to the
Little Susitna River.
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Monday, November 16, 2009
Annual Winter Weather Reports
I just can't help myself...
It was -16 at my house this morning,
-20 at my brother's house next to the
Little Susitna River.
It was -16 at my house this morning,
-20 at my brother's house next to the
Little Susitna River.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Camouflauge
"Follow the white rabbit."
It was a balmy 29 degrees this morning when I took the dogs for a walk. Sticking out like a sore thumb about 30 feet from my driveway was a Snowshoe hare all huddled down secure in the belief that his natural camouflage would protect him from being seen by me and the dogs. The dogs couldn't see him over the driveway berm and the undergrowth. Since we have no snow yet, his white winter coat wasn't doing a very good job of concealing him.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Results of the Wind
"Where have all the...leaves gone?"
The wind blew pretty good last night, stripping the last of the yellow leaves from the trees. The termination dust had crept about half way down the Talkeetnas this last rainy week but the wind brought warmer temperatures and the snow retreated over night. It currently 51 degrees at Trippingovermoose Ranch.
The wind blew pretty good last night, stripping the last of the yellow leaves from the trees. The termination dust had crept about half way down the Talkeetnas this last rainy week but the wind brought warmer temperatures and the snow retreated over night. It currently 51 degrees at Trippingovermoose Ranch.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Fall and the Case 450
My friend Bob brought his loader over this week. He's preparing a
building site on the Eastern edge of the ranch for my daughter and her
family to build a house next spring. That leaves the western 1/3 of
the ranch available for my son to build on when he returns to "God's
Country," after college.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Fall Fell
After the Rain
It's been raining the last few days with a bit of wind. Most of the autumn leaves are now piling up in wet drifts on the ground. When the sun peaked out this afternoon I thought I would get a shot of the leaves remaining attached to the trees and the termination dust on the Talkeetna Mountains.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 16, 2009
One Year
Everyone said, "wait a year, before even thinking about the future." I guess they were right because today it's a year later I still have no goal, plan or vision for the future without Kate. Maybe sometime during the next year ...
The healing process means that after one year I think less about the weeks of bad times when she was sick and find myself thinking more about and enjoying the memories of the years of good times. Like when she and I attended Marti Gras in the cold, windy rain in Galveston, Texas. It was just one day while we were waiting to board the Carnival Cruise ship to attend Matt and Deanna's wedding. The Marti Gras parade was pretty good and people on every float threw beads at us. I gave her almost all that I caught to add to her haul. Kate was smiling and laughing like a kid collecting all her beads. When we got home she put them all in a wooden "pirate's"chest for the visiting nieces to play with.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Team Building
Fishing Trip
As a team building exercise, 7 of my coworkers and I went salt water fishing out of Seward on Tuesday. We caught a lot of small Halibut, large Silver Salmon and 1 Ling Cod. We also limited out on Black Bass. The seas were relatively calm, no one got seasick, and the weather was mostly cloudy with occasional sunshine. A good trip, and a nice break from the drudgery of office work.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Summer Hours
Why does every muscle hurt at the end of the day?
With summer well under way and the weather cooperating for a change, I am attempting to get as much outside work done as is possible at TrippingOverMoose Ranch before...
a. The weather changes to crappy, cold and rainy like most of the last few summers, or
b. The salmon return to the rivers of southcentral Alaska.
Most of the work is being done by a fat, 56 year old office worker, that would be me, with occasional help from the much younger resident son-in-law on the rare occasions when he is not working at his job.
I/we are making significant progress but unless something really interesting happens the blog posts this summer will be few and far between.
Happy Memorial Day! At the very least, let's pause for a moment and give a thought and a thank you to all of America's Fallen Military Heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free.
Let us honor them by remaining a country of free individuals, with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
With summer well under way and the weather cooperating for a change, I am attempting to get as much outside work done as is possible at TrippingOverMoose Ranch before...
a. The weather changes to crappy, cold and rainy like most of the last few summers, or
b. The salmon return to the rivers of southcentral Alaska.
Most of the work is being done by a fat, 56 year old office worker, that would be me, with occasional help from the much younger resident son-in-law on the rare occasions when he is not working at his job.
I/we are making significant progress but unless something really interesting happens the blog posts this summer will be few and far between.
Happy Memorial Day! At the very least, let's pause for a moment and give a thought and a thank you to all of America's Fallen Military Heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free.
Let us honor them by remaining a country of free individuals, with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Monday, February 9, 2009
ALERT! ALERT!
IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
Mt. Redoubt still has not erupted!
I am still employed.
It's still cold and snowy but the daylight is increasing.
We have much nicer weather (so what else is new,) and a lot less snow than Juneau.
We are a lot warmer than Fairbanks, Ft. Yukon and Prudhoe Bay.
More exciting developments to come!
Mt. Redoubt still has not erupted!
I am still employed.
It's still cold and snowy but the daylight is increasing.
We have much nicer weather (so what else is new,) and a lot less snow than Juneau.
We are a lot warmer than Fairbanks, Ft. Yukon and Prudhoe Bay.
More exciting developments to come!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Google Street View
Waiting for daylight...
We started into work this morning. The temps were
in the 40s and the roads were wet but clear of ice.
About half way there a phone call alerted us to the
schools, buses and what have you still being closed.
My brother called his work and discovered his building
wasn't open either, so we turned around and returned
home. Once home, I called my work and found out my
facility was open. I'll probably go to work later this
morning after the traffic dies down.
Meanwhile I got the idea to look at my workplace from
Google Street view. Here it is...
The fire truck parked in front told me that the
Google probably drove by when we were having
a fire drill. If so my coworkers and I would
be standing in our parking lot. I negotiated around
to the back of the building and there we all were.
I'm in the group marked with the arrow, immortalized
by Google Street View.
We started into work this morning. The temps were
in the 40s and the roads were wet but clear of ice.
About half way there a phone call alerted us to the
schools, buses and what have you still being closed.
My brother called his work and discovered his building
wasn't open either, so we turned around and returned
home. Once home, I called my work and found out my
facility was open. I'll probably go to work later this
morning after the traffic dies down.
Meanwhile I got the idea to look at my workplace from
Google Street view. Here it is...
The fire truck parked in front told me that the
Google probably drove by when we were having
a fire drill. If so my coworkers and I would
be standing in our parking lot. I negotiated around
to the back of the building and there we all were.
I'm in the group marked with the arrow, immortalized
by Google Street View.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
That Was One Scary Commute
And a weather update...
A 1500 mile Pineapple express warm front slammed into the Alaska mainland yesterday. It blasted the Arctic cold front off the Alaska map, pushing it off to the east where it has begun sinking into the midwest, (sorry Minnesota!)
The temperatures rose around 50 degrees with high winds. Last night it was freezing rain on top of the ice and snow packed roads. For some reason my brother and I came to work anyway. We lost count of the number of vehicles in the ditch on the way to Anchorage but the radio says more than 150 in the area. All the schools, people-mover buses and military bases are closed. My company sent us an e-mail telling us that the office wouldn't be open until 10 am. Of course you'd have to be at work to get the email and I had already been at my desk for 2 hours.
The roads were obviously horrible all the way in. But when we got to Anchorage itself they became scary. Inches of wet black ice completely covered the pavement. All along the road the semi-trucks were pulled off to the side of the road putting on chains. Any paved road with a hill was impassible.
We're going to head out and try to make it home in one piece in a couple of hours. Hopefully the rain and traffic has worn down the ice a bit. There is a good chance I'll be staying home tomorrow.
A 1500 mile Pineapple express warm front slammed into the Alaska mainland yesterday. It blasted the Arctic cold front off the Alaska map, pushing it off to the east where it has begun sinking into the midwest, (sorry Minnesota!)
The temperatures rose around 50 degrees with high winds. Last night it was freezing rain on top of the ice and snow packed roads. For some reason my brother and I came to work anyway. We lost count of the number of vehicles in the ditch on the way to Anchorage but the radio says more than 150 in the area. All the schools, people-mover buses and military bases are closed. My company sent us an e-mail telling us that the office wouldn't be open until 10 am. Of course you'd have to be at work to get the email and I had already been at my desk for 2 hours.
The roads were obviously horrible all the way in. But when we got to Anchorage itself they became scary. Inches of wet black ice completely covered the pavement. All along the road the semi-trucks were pulled off to the side of the road putting on chains. Any paved road with a hill was impassible.
We're going to head out and try to make it home in one piece in a couple of hours. Hopefully the rain and traffic has worn down the ice a bit. There is a good chance I'll be staying home tomorrow.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Another Year
Maybe it'll get better in 2009
Kate and I always spent New Years Eve together. I don't recall that we ever went out to a party or celebration, neither of us were into loud parties or being around drunk people. That's why our social lives were family get togethers, quiet dinners for two at Evangelo's Restaurant or making dinner at home and watching movies from the couch. I spent New Years Eve alone except for a sleeping old husky next to the recliner and a frightened husky panting and pacing. Shadow is terrified of firecrackers. My neighbors loudly celebrate New Years and the 4th every year. I went to bed at 11 but at midnight was joined but a shaking 75 lb husky attempting to crawl under me in the bed. We were awake until the explosions stopped at 1 am. The -23 F temperatures must have driven them indoors early. Usually they stay up at least until 2 am frightening my dog.
Weather update: The Thermometers are still OFL and we are going to get a little wind for couple of days. Wind chill tonight of -38 F.
Kate and I always spent New Years Eve together. I don't recall that we ever went out to a party or celebration, neither of us were into loud parties or being around drunk people. That's why our social lives were family get togethers, quiet dinners for two at Evangelo's Restaurant or making dinner at home and watching movies from the couch. I spent New Years Eve alone except for a sleeping old husky next to the recliner and a frightened husky panting and pacing. Shadow is terrified of firecrackers. My neighbors loudly celebrate New Years and the 4th every year. I went to bed at 11 but at midnight was joined but a shaking 75 lb husky attempting to crawl under me in the bed. We were awake until the explosions stopped at 1 am. The -23 F temperatures must have driven them indoors early. Usually they stay up at least until 2 am frightening my dog.
Weather update: The Thermometers are still OFL and we are going to get a little wind for couple of days. Wind chill tonight of -38 F.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Wind Died Down
Dropping Like a Rock
The protective wind stopped blowing last night.
When I got up at 4:30 am to go to work it was -21 F.
So I went back to bed. When I got up 3 hours later
the weather stations both read offline. I know from
past experience that means it's colder that -23 F.
----------------------------------------------------
The protective wind stopped blowing last night.
When I got up at 4:30 am to go to work it was -21 F.
So I went back to bed. When I got up 3 hours later
the weather stations both read offline. I know from
past experience that means it's colder that -23 F.
----------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Yes, It's Another Weather Announcement
Sorry!
I know I said that I would try not to make this blog about the weather. And I have tried to stick with that as much as I can. In spite of the fact that I personally have 2 weather stations at my house. However, I find this interesting and I don't have anything else to write about so here goes....
Here in Southcentral Alaska we are in a seasonally normal cold snap. The temperature in the Matanuska Valley and the Anchorage bowl is currently about -10 F. Except over at TrippingoverMoose Ranch at the base of the Talkeetna Mountains. The last few days we have been experiencing high winds pouring down from the Copper River Valley, through the Matanuska River Gorge and sliding along the northern edge of the Matanuska Valley. As a result our temperatures have been averaging 15-20 degrees warmer than the rest of the area. Of course, with the wind our chill factor is -25 F but that's another story. Here's a current screen shot of the Wasilla temperature and a shot of my neighbor's weather underground station just down the street.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, December 15, 2008
Cold Weekend
Subaru, Round Two
It was a balmy -18 degrees Friday morning at TrippingOverMoose Ranch. The Subaru started and got me to my place of employment in Anchorage. However my son-in-law forgot to plug in his truck the night before. Long story short, in two hours he couldn't get his truck nor mine to start. He had to call his boss to come pick him up to get to work. Saturday morning, an even nicer -14 degrees, with the trucks plugged in overnight, we got them both to run. But the Subaru, which has no engine heater, refused to start. The Subaru used to live in the garage so I had never got around to putting a engine heater in it. Now that, in car years, she's getting old and having some issues, she's getting tempermental. Sunday morning we moved the trucks, pulled the motorhome out of the garage and dragged the Subaru inside with the Honda 4-wheeler. After 4 or 5 hours of warm garage she started up. By the end of Sunday the cold snap had snapped and we were +14 degrees. We moved the trucks, Subaru, 4-wheeler and motorhome around back to the original configuration. This morning, at +5 degrees the Subaru started fine and delivered my brother and I to our respective places of employment. I am going to call today and make an appointment to get her into see the Subaru doctor to address the progressive breathing-fuel problems she is having.
It was a balmy -18 degrees Friday morning at TrippingOverMoose Ranch. The Subaru started and got me to my place of employment in Anchorage. However my son-in-law forgot to plug in his truck the night before. Long story short, in two hours he couldn't get his truck nor mine to start. He had to call his boss to come pick him up to get to work. Saturday morning, an even nicer -14 degrees, with the trucks plugged in overnight, we got them both to run. But the Subaru, which has no engine heater, refused to start. The Subaru used to live in the garage so I had never got around to putting a engine heater in it. Now that, in car years, she's getting old and having some issues, she's getting tempermental. Sunday morning we moved the trucks, pulled the motorhome out of the garage and dragged the Subaru inside with the Honda 4-wheeler. After 4 or 5 hours of warm garage she started up. By the end of Sunday the cold snap had snapped and we were +14 degrees. We moved the trucks, Subaru, 4-wheeler and motorhome around back to the original configuration. This morning, at +5 degrees the Subaru started fine and delivered my brother and I to our respective places of employment. I am going to call today and make an appointment to get her into see the Subaru doctor to address the progressive breathing-fuel problems she is having.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Winter 2008, First Snow
It started snowing this morning...
It's starting to accumulate a little but it's only 33.6 degrees F. If it warms up a little it'll melt away. 
A little over a month ago the fireweed was still blooming. The conventional wisdom is when the topmost buds bloom on the fireweed, winter is three weeks away.
It's starting to accumulate a little but it's only 33.6 degrees F. If it warms up a little it'll melt away. 
A little over a month ago the fireweed was still blooming. The conventional wisdom is when the topmost buds bloom on the fireweed, winter is three weeks away.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Studs
Because of the surprise late spring snow storm, on April 24th, the State of Alaska extended the May 1st deadline to remove studded snow tire to May 15th. So last night I changed the tires on the old, 252,000 mile Subaru. I've been putting it off because of my injured back. The back is healing slowly so I figured I could manage it, without reinjuring it, if I worked slowly and carefully. It turned out ok. Next, however is the 3/4 ton Dodge. The tires and wheels on that one weight 60 to 70 pounds each. I'll carefully start this evening. It might take 2 sessions because I'm determined not to reinjure myself.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Apparently, I'll Never Learn
I really thought proclaiming Spring on April 24th with near 60 degree weather was safe.
I'll never learn...
I'll never learn...
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Snow
It's snowing again. Predicting 4 to 8 inches today and more tomorrow. We figured out what is causing it. My brother and I planned on towing his disabled truck to the local repair shop on Saturday. It snowed. Since he lives on a hill above Peters Creek, we canceled until the snow melted. We rescheduled it for today. It snowed. We are not going to make any more advance plan for the tow. We'll try to sneak up on it by spontaneously grabbing the truck next time the snow melts.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
It Didn't work
I tried, I really did! After 55 years I know better than to think spring this early. So I quit blogging about the weather while the snow all melted away and the temperature was getting into the 50s. I really tried not to jinx it. But some tenderfoot must have said something about "Spring!"
Today at 3:30 pm.
Today at 3:30 pm.
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