See bottom of post for updates!I don't want you to worry if I don't post again for a day or two. With satellite as our only connection, we are very much subject to weather conditions. I am typing as fast as I can right now while nervously glancing out the window to the West. The band of snow-heavy clouds which dominate the skies has been slowly drifting this way and the connection is becoming sporadic now. We will be just fine; plenty of food and adequate fuel for a week but we might not be able to connect tonight if the weather conditions deteriorate further. Currently (just after lunch time) there is a very light rain at 41 degrees F. Although we had discussed plans for dinner again with Slim tonight, he has wisely chosen to head north this afternoon. He will take his two horses with him so that none of us have to worry about feeding them during the bad weather and road conditions which might follow.
I should have taken some foodie photos of our dinner last night; Slim's private stock of rib-eye steaks (which he thawed under the Ram's dash heater as he headed down this way) topped with my herbed and butter-fried mushrooms, a hearty pile of sour cream and butter smothered baked potatoes and Slim's perennial favorite veggie, green beans. We gorged ourselves into joyous misery and then kicked back and washed it down with either beer or whiskey. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to us, Slim's extremely disciplined cattle dogs were busy ripping up our elk hanging in the barn. Sum beech! We didn't figure this out until later when Slim got half way back to his camp and realized that his beloved ancient 'Big Dog' had been left behind. Despite being blind and deaf, Big Dog's sense of smell has remained keenly intact and he wasn't about to leave the elk carcass nosh frenzy any time soon. They did a number on that right front quarter by the time they were done. I later found Daisy in the barn trying to get her dibs in on the newly exposed flesh. And here our dogs had been SOOO good about leaving that elk alone, expect for maybe a little gentle gnawing at the shin ends. Aged or not, it might be time to do the abattoir thing on my kitchen table. Sigh.
Given the horrid weather in California and Nevada, I just tracked down Jet Stream maps today. It is my own strange way of telling what's headed our way. So here it is according to blogger location:
Sunday: The Creek will get nailed with a little snow at altitude as the JS (Jet Stream) remains diagonal but shifts Eastward. Red and Catmoves might see a little snow, Buck will probably luck out. Then it heads NW to where people don't read my blog anyway so who cares. Hmphh.
Monday: Sort of the same, just sliding more to the East (more crud for Red, Cat and Buck).
Tuesday: Babzy gets some precip. It passes over Red and Buck as it heads south to the border. It angles back up towards FHB and Phlegmmy on its way back from the Mexico vacation. It will slide over Towanda as it heads almost directly into the northern boonies where Hudson Bay blanket sales will surge. Craver will see some snow. Dirtcrashr and Buck's pal Morgan will get a break on the West Coast.
Wednesday: Northern Cal gets more moisture, Towanda gets a break, it scrubs up against Bruno on the way south, it kinks back up before hitting the Gulf and smacks Mushy and then Goddess. Looks like Lin and carteach might luck out with quick pass-overs of crud. The Atavist might see a little slop, too. Da Moose sees some weather, too.
There, all that said, now I will admit that I don't know a thing about meteorology but I really enjoyed this exercise of including my continental blog friends!
Remember: if I disappear for a bit, blame the weatherman!
Update: 7:30PM Mountain Time - .This is my equally accurate 'step out the door and look up' report: Light snowfall has ended, negligible accumulation. Only one star visible but you know it's not bad when the satellite signals can get through. YeeHaw!
Update: Monday, 3:00PM Mountain Time - I just checked the JS maps again. It confirmed what I was seeing out the window this morning - the JS is right over us and bringing part of that nasty precip from California with it. It was coming down thick enough that the satellite couldn't cut through it just two hours ago (just when we needed it for vital ranch business, of course). The sun just peeked through and we're settled in for now with a 3-4" accumulation. Touch wood.
The updated weather maps now show the JS taking a wild hair twist on Tuesday, like someone snapping a length of garden hose. This one shows Babzy, Moose, Craver and Bruno getting hit with something, everyone else breathing easy for now. Atavist gets a quick something in passing. Phlegmmy and FHB don't get anything with this latest layout and stay that way.
Wednesday's map shows Red and Cat getting some snow with possibly Buck lucking out again, possibly. Towanda and Bruno might luck out, Craver is in the path and Goddess and Mushy might get a little skinned but not badly.
I just realized that Thursday's JS map is from a week ago - glad I don't run an airline according to this site's information. Here, if you want to see what pig entrails I am delving into, go to weather.com - Aviation Maps Index and then look through the menu of jet stream maps available by day and click away, just be aware of the dates shown on each. Find out what the weather has been like in the area of the JS path on its way to you, figure in how the temperatures (hot or cold) along its path will affect it and if it's picking up more moisture (as in over the Great Lakes) or losing it. It's just plain fun and MUCH less messy than dealing with real entrails, without about the same success rate. If nothing else, you will develop a greater appreciation for the poor guy who does the evening news weather report.
.
.
42 comments:
The 7 day forecast says I'm good with temps in the 40's and 50's! Sure would like to see some snow though.
Stay warm...sleep by the crack, as they used to say!
Well, Mushy, at least I warned you about how good I am at predicting weather! Do you really want snow, I mean REALLY want snow? If we send you the big stuff from Colorado, it will probably hit Goddess, too, you know. Your call!
Hey, we love the crud, opps, I mean the beautiful white stuff. Makes everything look great. Plus, I get to play in the snow with my Jeep. Later, Red
Red, I don't think we'll get enough snow to make it true Jeep play weather. The worst of it seems to be still to the west of us right now. They got 32" last night up north of Slim's home in Colorado though.
Ha, those crazy pooches, cant blame them though really can you. I hope to much of the meat wasnt spoiled, I'm looking forwrd to hearing how it turns out.
Well, the upside is that all that snow WILL be lovely. You'd prolly get sick of me, but I'd like to get snowed in with you and play cards or something for a few days - sounds like a good time, to me. Nice of Slim to share his steaks with you. Perhaps the dogs felt it was there due in exchange that they get their pound of flesh off your elk carcass? Still, greedy bitches!
Lin: It is Monday morning and we have perfectly balmy weather here of, I'm guessing, about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't you dare send any of that crappy weather our way! We get so little of the good stuff here that I am really enjoying this.
Seriously, take care of yourselves if things turn wacky down there. Good luck!
Shame that you did not get any photos of what sounds like a grand feed - but then having served it up who wants to hang around before tucking in.
Sounds like a major crisis on the elk front.
Hope that the weather does not maroon you for too long.
Oh please, please let it snow! I'm really NOT into this work thing and could use a snow day. All we really need is an inch or so to freeze on the road and all hell will break loose.
And now I know what you guys mean when you cuss me for writing about food and makin' you hungry. I'm here at work on a break and feelin' the pain. Need to go down to the geedunk store and get a dawg.
And it's too bad about the elk. maybe hang it higher?
Stay warm sis, and keep up the weather report. That was fun to read.
Lin,
I loved the blogger weather report; now I know what we are all in for.
Did you happen to get a picture of the dog's fine dining on the elk? (It would be good in your wild humor post of last Friday; I am sure you will laugh about it someday... okay maybe not.)
Look...you guys stay warm and dry and safe if your weather starts to get nasty. (Here in Kansas it is warm and all of our Christmas snow has melted....)
It's about 63 or so as I type this, and it's been warm all weekend. The only fly in our weather ointment has been the damned wind, which has been... um... "brisk." It just dawned on me, but the locals don't have a nickname for the omni-present wind here... like "The Hawk" or "Blue Norther" or some such, as most folks in other windy places have. Maybe I can start something here?
I really appreciated the blogger-slant on the WX, Lin. Waaay-cool! And I'm glad you missed out on the really bad stuff.
Here's hoping your luck holds...
PopeT, yes, I'm hoping that their damage was less than the gory covering suggested. You're right, just like boys; dogs will be dogs ... What were we expecting? sigh
Phlegmmy, we'd love to get snowed in with you! Slim would be in 7th heaven for that matter. He really has been an excellent neighbor and overall grand human being, saving our dwindling faith in humanity time and again. But those dogs ....
Atavist, looks like you're in luck according to the latest entrails; just a quickie pass over midweek. I detest this winter slop, too. And now it's holding up my projects!
dba, you would have loved our small fest with Slim! Slim was definitely started to sag rapidly after that degree of over-indulgence.
The weather will definitely affect us on so many fronts now. I am trying not to scream aloud however. That should last an hour or two more.
Uh-oh, according to this last JS map look, you guys are out of luck for any snow now. It sure was close according to that last update but no cigars as of today. Can't help with a snow day off but I can send you a few snowballs FedEx if that helps.
That last comment was for FHB!
Towanda, read the update - all old bets are off as that Jet Stream has just done a wicked twist!
That view of the dogs' fine dining experience might put a few photo viewers right over the edge - you know how dogs get down to basic carnage when they get a fresh carcass to devour. Blechhh! I'm not looking forward to assessing the final damage at all, at all.
You keep warm, too - this winter is not done with any of us yet!
Buck, I am so glad that we are down in these steep canyons and sheltered from that incessant whisper of wind. You're right - I haven't heard a term for that wind, at least not one that can be repeated politely and certainly none which are quasi-official. Let's come up with one and promote it! That would be great fun!
I'm reading this a day late, but it's hard for me to get worked up when it's 60 degrees outside...LOL! I do see we're expecting crappy weather for the weekend and beginning of next week,you know right when I start back to work!
I'm sure it's not fun to experience, but that first pic gorgeous to see anyway;)
Ohhh, I could live with 60 degrees right now, too, Goddess, it's sounds wonderful for January!
Since we didn't have to go any where, the snow show today was VERY enjoyable. It's strange to see the far mesas disappear one by one until only the one behind the barn is visible but it begins to feel very cozy like a snow globe.
I've never laughed this hard during any weather forecast. You would make a great meteorologist.
I'm still chuckling. What a sad bunch getting our kicks from the weather report.
You are hilarious. LOL
tornado watches here. . .windy. . but warm 65 out in corn land yesterday.
Your dinner sounds amazing. I had leftover cold bratwurst and pasta salad. . not in the mood to cook after a 8 hour meeting.
stay warm
Hey! We had pretty severe weather here in Kansas last night; strong thunderstorms ... and here I thought I was going to get a pass from the bad weather! LOL
Well Glory Be. I looked out my window this morning and everything is covered in snow. You were right on. We got hit with something. You're magical.
Apropos of weather...Intellicast is another good site for current jet stream maps (with the dates conspicuously labeled) and other weather-stuff. Much more detail than TWC, and their regional radar maps have stuff like max cloud altitudes and wind speed/direction. Which comes in real handy during severe weather season...
Hiya, Babzy! I guess I've always preferred listening to a funny but inaccurate weather guy than a solemn accurate one. Very glad that you have put up with and actually got a laugh out of my utter foolishness!
Lin, oh geez, I DON'T miss those tornado threats in the least! Get this ... the anti-neighbor seriously believed one good old boy who told her that NM would be getting tornadoes soon due to the serious proliferation of trailers. She became very incensed when I burst out laughing. sigh
Hey, I've seen your foodie shots so you'll get little sympathy from me on your odd night of downscale dining! Yeah, we have plenty of those "Pwah .. close enough" meals out here at the Rat, too. Frankly, an 8 hour meeting would put me off food for 48 hours so I was very impressed by your menu!
Oh Towanda, that's what you get for listening to my weather reports - surprise!!! Since they only give the JS in one single image, I bet I mentally flubbed the transition where it passed from northwest of you to southeast of you (that will certainly bring 'stuff' with it). I would love a sequential animation of it rather than day-apart snap shots. In the meantime, you now know to ignore my entrails readings! grin!
Ah-hah-hah-hah! Babzy, how was that for a genuine fluke! Love it! Now let's see if Moose gets his, too. It would help if I could remember where Edmonton is - the JS might be running a little too south to affect him but will probably hit Calgary. Of course, if I look at the maps again, everything will have changed. I might have to drag out tea leaves next.
Ewww-haw! Buck! What a great toy you just gave me! Even better than a new pair of genuine ViseGrip brand taper-points! If you EVER find a multi-day animated sequence of the JS, LET ME KNOW, okay?!
I bookmarked that new site and will go eagerly explore it tonight! Thank you, thank you!
Got my "heavy-weather" between six a.m./and twelve noon Tuesday. Kinda "split" north and south of me for this time. Unfortunately, they weren't that lucky in the SW-part of the state, two people killed there last night. Probably the same system that hit Towanda's area.
Still givin' us a chance of SNOW by late weekend---although it's still in the upper 50's here today!
I can hardly wait for your spring-thaw forecasting--- blow-by-blow MUD estimates....!
Bruno, glad you didn't get socked TOO badly by the 'stuff but I sure feel badly for those folks in your southwest part. We're pretty partial to the people from that state; best of friends and kin both.
By Spring-time, I am definitely going to have a serious mud flavoring on everything I come up with. Come to think of it, it's already pretty muddy out there right now under that pretty snow covering. The next supply run is going to be interesting.
Lots of rain here the past two days. Last night we had some cool lightning and thunder, too. It got as warm as 65 Fahrenheit. We aren't supposed to have this kind of weather until the end of April. What's the deal?!
big time rain and tornados now, though all have passed well aways from me.
I changed my blog sign off to Lin M. so people don't get us confused in commments. .
Scully.
Craver, I think we'll see some more unusual weather patterns in the coming years. But I am not inclined to peg the blame on man's livelihood efforts.
Well, you're no fun then, lin m, I kind of enjoyed the two lin confusion. I figure that if they can't tell the difference between a Yogi and Ming avatar, then it wasn't our problem.
I hope the bad stuff stays away from you but, according to Wednesday's JS, it will be sliding your way, headed to the SE. And here I just promised myself to stop looking at those maps!
Lin I have to apologize for not being here before, but sometimes, even when willing, I have troubles.
I am curious however about "JS". Does that mean "Just Shit" or, perhaps, "Jerry Stuff"?
Yeah, yeah, I do know it's really that crapola "professional" weather forecasters use. Happily, or unhappily, I also know that these weather prognasticators are about as accurate as construction estimators. And I used to be one. It's standard to use the word guesstimate in that field.
As for snow here, it really came down...for about 180 seconds or so. So we had to enjoy football games without worrying about having to drive in that four letter word. There was a nice gentle rain for about an hour or so, though. Thus, we roughed it because no one wanted to drive the three blocks to get more beer.
I wonder what it's like to live out back of beyond?
I seem to remember that a 22 bullet costs a lot less than a half side of venison.
What else could you expect a cat to say? >(^..~)<
Cat, "JS' was my own abbreviation for Jet Stream. As painfully slow as I type, I take all the short cuts I can. I can see where construction guesstimators would fit in nicely with weather guesstimators. Both are subject to the whims of nature. At least the weather guys don't have to deal with suppliers, subs and labor surprises. If you did this in NM, you have Red's immediate sympathies.
You ran out of beer during the game?! Wow - you earned some serious survival points there! Buck is our state coordinator for these awards and he will be sending you the 2 Bud Cap medal shortly. If your team lost, you can apply for the 3 Cap. What ever happened to those Saint Bernards with kegs around their necks anyway? I think we should consider starting up a new keg unit here in NM.
Oh awful wicked kitty! You might as well use one on Slim if anything happens to one of his dogs. "It's either them or me!" isn't the kind of statement a human or a horse should present him with either. I kid you not. Stay warm, stay well, old cat friend!
I was wondering what map and forecast you were looking at!
Heck yeah, send all unwanted snow this way!
Okay for you, Mushy! It may take a couple of days to get the right aim on our snow launcher, it's analog, you know.
Yeah, I really enjoy it when it's snowy outside and we're all home safe and sound;)
Goddess, hope all your snow falls this year find you safe and warm at home and the streets already plowed when you wake up. That's my idea of great winter memories!
Post a Comment