Chinook Winds

Monday, July 19, 2010

Life on the Prairie

We had a great weekend it finally warmed up. My fishermen caught walleye and I got lots of sun. O happy days.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Participated in my first 1/2 marrathon

In beautiful Missoula, Montana, It was great! After lots of unnecessary stress and worry. I am already planning next year.

The Next Day

Apgar Look out is at an elevation of 5236 feet. In 2.8 miles you climb 1,800 feet. So when you get back there is nothing better the a refreshing dip in Lake McDonald. It was a warm, perfect day.

We headed to Grinnell Glacier but were unable because of snow to make it. You can see Salamander Glacier in the second photo. I was a perfect day. The first photo is taken at Lake Josephine, the last photo is Grinnell Lake.

Peonys are 3 weeks late blooming

Garden is up

This is the inside of my tomato house June 30,2010. The tomatoes are so small yet! I started them all indoors, they are all heirloom seeds. Last year they were so tall before I got them planted outside. This year I think I may have jinxed my self by building my fancy tomato house. But they have grown since this was taken. We have had a record amount of rain and cool weather. Hopefully it is ready to warm up.

Tomato House

My wonderful husband built me a home for my tomato's. The request was to make it cute. I think he did just that. This photo was taken the end of May.

What are Chinook Winds?

Chinook winds blow in from the Pacific in late winter and early spring. Their moisture evaporates as they pass over the Rocky Mountains. Once the winds come down from the mountains onto the high plains, the air can be quite mild and extremely dry. When a Chinook takes effect local temperatures can warm up from as low as 5 degrees below zero to 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The air is so dry that when it hits snow, it sucks up the moisture, changing the snow directly into water vapor, bypassing the liquid phase that slushy phase-- entirely. Called sublimation, this is a common way for snow to disappear quickly in arid climates.
As you may guess these changes in temperature, little snow cover, but bitter cold temps make it hard for things to make it through the winter. We hope to have a 90 day growing season and 12 inches of perspiration in a year.