It may not look that cold, but when I took this photo at 8:30 this morning of Widget's House it was 15 degrees below zero (-26 C) and the wind was blowing 12 miles per hour (19 kph). When you're sub-zero, that kind of wind is just a killer. I had just let the dogs out for a few minutes while I re-started the wood stove, then put the dogs back up. You can see the smoke is coming straight out sideways from the chimney because of the wind.
We usually run an electric heater in Widget's House and heat our own house with a wood stove, but when it gets this cold, it's time to fire up the wood stove in Widget's House, too. I had it going all last night, and even though the fire was out by this morning, the building was still nice and toasty inside. Wood stoves put out a wonderful residual heat that soaks into the walls.
So in two-wood stove weather, I spend a lot of time splitting wood and keeping both fires going.
The biggest challenge in this extreme weather is just convincing the dogs they need to go outside ... and then keeping them outside long enough to do their business! They'd rather run right back inside the house, and then of course a short while later ... "oops, I had to go!"
The horses are blanketed and in stalls, and we feed them as much hay as they can eat to keep them warm.
While it's not unusual at all for us to be subzero, it is unusual to have this kind of wind -- and it's been blowing nonstop since Saturday morning. And we have a long way to go -- here's the National Weather Service forecast for our location:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around -17. Wind chill values as low as -45. East southeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Monday: Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near -10. Wind chill values as low as -43. East southeast wind between 18 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -23. Wind chill values as low as -44. East wind 8 to 17 mph becoming south southwest. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
Time for Alayne and me to head outside for afternoon chores -- it's minus 9 and the wind is blowing 11 mph. Oh, well! We move very, very fast when it's like this!
Your site seems to be down?
Posted by: Lara | December 15, 2008 at 02:28 PM
As I mentioned in a previous comment, here in southeast Louisiana we got eight inches of snow last Thursday morning. The most recorded in 100 years. Last snow of any measure was 20 years ago. Weird. and today? it's 75 degrees.
Don't know how you deal with all that coldness but I'm sure grateful that all your animals have you two. Somehow I hope you feel all their gratitude and it warms you from the inside out.
Posted by: Lynn | December 15, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Up here in Winnipeg, Manitoba we feel for you in Montana--it's a windy -26C this Monday morning and with the windchill it's equivalent to a miserable -42C. Even the people don't want to go outside! Bundle up, Steve and Alayne!
Posted by: Jan Christianson-Wood | December 15, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Sending very warm thoughts your way. We used to live in Idaho, and know the kind of weather you're talking about - in a word - BRUTAL! By contrast, here in Philadelphia (where we live now) its supposed to be 62 degrees tomorrow. Even though that won't last, it sure is nice in December! So very thankful that you take such great care of all the animals! Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Donna | December 15, 2008 at 01:38 AM
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Altho we did have snow on the ground here for the 3rd time since '82 this past week, it was nowhere near as cold as you are experiencing.
Sending warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | December 14, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Been following the weather reports and thinking about you guys all weekend. Hang in there -- it WILL get better!
Posted by: Jamie | December 14, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Please stay warm, Steve and Alayne! Your weather makes my cold forecast feel toasty in comparison.
Posted by: Moon Rani | December 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Is that a doggie I spot in the igloo on the porch? What do all the poochies do in Widget's Cottage during the day - do they have beds and toys, or do they mostly hang out in their crates? Nice to see all the gang snugly tucked away, warm and comfy. Such a blessing for them to be at RDR!
Posted by: Heidi & the kitties | December 14, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Brrrr, keep warm! Good thing about moving fast in that cold weather getting the chores done is you get them done faster! Being from South TX I would probably just freeze in one place. I thought about you all this weekend when I heard the weather report in your neck of the woods. I feel for the pooches having to do their business in that!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | December 14, 2008 at 07:43 PM
My heart goes out to you guys -- out in that extreme cold! Brrrr! The Puget Sound region is getting hit big time too -- not exactly the chiller you have, but extreme for here........maybe it's 'sympathy' weather! :)
Posted by: Leila | December 14, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Sending warm thoughts from Cincinnati where we are celebrating a Bengals victory(only our second of the season)in 57 degree weather! Colder weather is coming, although nothing like what you're getting! Hang in there-before you know it summer will be here again. I know all the animals(and all of the supporters of the ranch) are very grateful for the warmth and love of RDR in this extreme bitter cold. It will get better!!!
Posted by: Carolyn Kupferschmid | December 14, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Brrrrrrrrrrr. Keep those piece parts all covered in Polartec. If I were a dog, I wouldn't want to do anything outside, either. Spring is just around the corner. Oh, yeah!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | December 14, 2008 at 06:10 PM