RAIN

Normal for full season: 11.31 inches

Month of January: 3.32
Season to date: 5.96
Normal season to date: 5.33

Last year season to date:





2.23




The mountains are looking good!

"TRI" FECTA

Rain...snow...hail...all happened this afternoon. The foothills at 3,000 feet have got a "dusting." Whatever melted away on Saturday there is now a fresh coat.

One and one-quarter inch of precipitation on Sunday and Monday. Nice. There are pools of water in the fields in the valley. The hills are beginning to turn green due to the rains.

Early this morning, the rain tapped against our bedroom windows. Winds at 25-30 miles per hour. My concern was water coming in through the door. Did not happen...thankfully.

It is now 7:48 p.m. and the temperature is hovering around 32°. Frost tonight. I draped blankets over the windshields of our vehicles to eliminate the next morning's ice scraping.

SNOW II...WELL, MAYBE NOT

The temperatures rose up to the upper 40s and lower 50s on Saturday and melted some of the snow that accumulated on some of the foothills. A "storm" that was supposed to hit us fizzled and it didn't rain until early Sunday morning. A few downpours here and there but the temperatures are in the upper 40s at 9:30 this morning.

According to the rain gauges, three-quarters of an inch of rain has fallen. The low clouds are obscuring the surrounding hills and it is hard to tell if there is any fresh snow. It appears that this rain has melted what fell on Thursday.

SNOW II

And the rains came down again. The air temperature at 1500 feet is at 37° and falling. Winds are 5-10 mph.

Two inches of rain have fallen since late Tuesday up to Thursday and there is more on the way.

The Sierra Nevada have got their "mountain coats" and the views from the valley are quite spectacular.

There is still more rain in the forecast for the weekend. Rain totals at YIA for the month of January is 2.42 inches. Season to date is 5.06 (4.98 normal). Last year's season to date was only 1.73 inches.

Need more...

SNOW

Over an inch of steady rain has fallen during the recent storm in the Northern Aeritories since late Tuesday and all day through Wednesday.

Then, there was this pleasant surprise...snow...all two inches late last night into this morning. Snow levels are at 1,000 feet and higher.

We live at 1,500 feet.

Yes!!!

The mountains are calling...

102°

That is the thermometer reading on the new Marquis Spa Epic we purchased and was delivered and installed today on our back patio between our den and the pool. Measuring 90" by 90" by 35.5", the Epic has two pumps that pushes 450 gallons of water through 57 jets and has seating for six people. Two pumps and 57 jets. It provides the ulitmate hydrotherapeutic experience. It boasts a unique hydrotherapy pillar to achieve precision point therapy in areas not typically reached in a seating position. It has extra legroom, an oversized, barrier-free footwell, and strategically placed hand grips for stretching and aiding movement. The open, multilevel seating for six people features a combination of reclined and upright seats including the Adirondack chair which provdes full body support, while massaging the feet, calves, thighs, back and neck.

Pam and I haggle for control over the Ad chair!

Next is the "cage" and more on that later.

AND THE RAINS CAME DOWN...

and the wind is a blowing...

A hard steady wind with 15 mph wind gusts has hit the area.

We are too low in the Northern Aerietory. It is not cold enough to snow at 1500 feet, but I do know that 4500 feet and above there are blizzard-like condtions.

The woodburning stove is churning out the heat...the fire is blazing...I stand with near it with my back to it...it feels oh so good.

I stand outside in the patio and see my breath in the evening air as I hear the rain pelting the patio roof...it is a very nice sound...and the chilly air smells of the wood I am burning.

The amount of rain that fell during this latest storm was 2.75 inches where we live. With 3 rain gauges throughout the property, all three recorded the same amount.

Life is good.

2008: A YEAR OF MANY FIRSTS...

The year 2008 will be a year of firsts for Pam and me...

We will...

Have fun.