Heather in nw mont...

897tgigvib

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And the other northerners, thought I'd let you know that this winter might become one of those SUPER COLD ones!

Not sure if you can recall January-February 1989. I lived in Twin Bridges Montana then. It got cold starting mid January, and then COLDER and COLDER! By February 15th or so it was getting to 44 BELOW NOT COUNTING WIND CHILL, AND THE WIND WAS HOWLING HARD.

From here I am getting the feeling this might be one of those winters.

My father told me about the winter of '49. Several old folks died in town. The young and strong hired man who worked for a ranch a few miles from uncle Matt's died in his pickup truck which stalled as he was feeding alfalfa to the cattle. Several children at the orphanage got sick and died too.

The winter of 1989 saw several very good and vital people die not directly from the cold, but things that got worse from it. Sonia B., a young and beautiful potential singing star had diabetes that suddenly became "brittle". She had a car accident in the cold, was apparently fine, just a sore on her knee, but 3 weeks later her diabetes took her from us...

Things happen when it gets terribly cold.

=====

I just felt the need to let you know and to get if anything, over prepared. Once you are well prepared, try to be prepared to help others be prepared and to make sure the elderly are staying warm. Sometimes the elderly will not complain even if their gas line condenses and freezes so they have no heat or if their power goes out. They are often not wanting to accept help, so find excuses to visit them, maybe asking them to take this extra large warm blanket that doesn't fit your bed or these wooly long johns that don't fit you...things like that.

They have super well insulated gloves these days that I wish they had in 1989. Mine are actually hardcore motocross gloves. I don't care about the flashy designs on them but they sure are nice to wear doing my rounds. Some kind of flexible outer plastic with some kind of thermal insulation real thick, and a tightening band to seal the wrists.

Plenty of sweat pants, layered one over the other. Tucked into the socks. Regular oversized t shirt is still the best inside bottom layer for shirts. Keep the head warm. Never mind if someone wants to call them hoodies that gangstas wear, wear them anyway, over your regular ball cap and or wooly watch cap.

When 44 below, yes, having that actual ski mask is good!!! I wore 2 of them. I had a daily nightly delivery to drive back in 1989 when it was that cold.

Oversized thermal overalls can save the day! If there is snow too, definitely use rubber boots.

Only go outside if you have to, and be plenty stocked up with food and supplies so when you think of going to the store for vanilla extract you can say, *ell with that!

If you see an electric company worker climbing a pole in the cold, have some steaming hot coffee for him.

=====

This may be one of those winters coming.
 
Marshall, I haven't been to Twin Bridges but I see that it is down there in southwestern Montana.

Small town with mountains, looks like, all around. Still, I can understand moving! Any place that close to Butte & Bozeman . . .

Now, I can get in trouble for saying that :hide.

Hey, are you sure it was '49? Both the winters in '50 & '51 were record-makers around here. My family was "elsewhere" during those years, except one great aunt. I'm fairly sure that my great uncles were already in Edmonton. . . . . Edmonton!!!

Steve
 
Well, dad said it was '49. Where he might be mistaken, it would definitely mean after dad and mom married in '48, and it would definitely mean sometime after dad did his student teaching, and after his first Masters degree. He could have meant 49-50, or maybe 50-51, but not 51-52.

I did not move from there because of the cold. I was able to work in the cold better than most born Montanans. Ask RaeAnn or Roxi, or anyone I delivered to.

I kind of like Bozeman, and
Butte is ok to visit.
 
I think your dad was right, Marshall.

I just did some checking:

the 1950 record dates are near the end of January. So, the winter of 1949/1950.

Steve
 
Checking and counting!

Marshall, in Spokane 10 out of the 31 January record cold days:

1950 . !

Steve
 
Yea, dad and mom said that was a very sad winter and year. After and during such a cold winter folks die more, even if not directly from the cold. They might get a flu that turns to pneumonia by the following summer, things like that.

Had to get another handful of wood for my fire while typing this.

I still have not fired up my propane heater yet this season! :)
 
Nope...i havent been frozen into an iceburg...yet! Just busy - checked today with the next door neighbors as per your very good advice, Marshall. Lady across the street is doing well, car starting just fine and she was out doing errands this morning in our balmy zero degrees with 20 below wind chill. Went next door to trim that neighbor's kitties claws (the one thing i can offer to do for her without offending her!) and even made myself hang out in her smoke filled house for a while and eat some Christmas cookies. Blech, the smoke makes me so nauseous! But they're doing just fine as well, hanging out by their fireplace. :)

Also busy getting ready for our new arrival - a new puppy! OK, puppy is a bit of a misnomer, he's a hound mix that is around 15 years old, and has been living in an animal shelter for over 5 years. I cant imagine. He arrives Tuesday, and we need to get a ramp built where there's a step down from our doggie door. I'll update you with a picture when he gets settled in!
 
That is very generous of you, Heather.

I mean, trimming the cat's nails . . ;) . . . ! How could anyone not love a 15 year old pup :).

Anyway, Garbanzo approves. Do you think I dare risk trimming her . . . beard?? She has just been trying to get the hair out of her mouth and is constantly rubbing her face on the carpet - trying to look neat, no doubt. Dang, I don't know. DD takes her in for those expensive clips. I'm not gonna volunteer to pay for it but the kid hardly has time to see her dog these days. Maybe I can get her out on the deck and she will "freeze up" long enuf for me to run the scissors over her face . . .

Steve
 
Steve be very careful. a few clients every year have to rush the dog to vet because the dog moved and got cut.Clippers are much safer then scissors. Nothing will make you feel worse, then being the reason your dog neeeds stitches. Nwmtgardener how nice that the poor old guy will spend what time he has left in a loving home..
 
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