Calendar page turns to November

Autumn season filling with its peace

Colorful leaves have fallen away

Winds of winter begin to release

Temperatures cascading downward

Barren trees swaying and shivering

Farm fields ready for hibernation

Autumn’s harmony now quivering

Many say, beware of November

Her fading hues begin looking north

Arctic’s snowy cold now encroaching

Winter’s early surprise coming forth

Ranchers scurry to shelter cattle

Yards cheerfully display fall’s decor

Boldly hanging on to each strawman

Nothing postpones winter’s early chore

Harsh winds of November come and go

Sometimes with cold feints, or so much more

Chilling rain turns to ice, never nice

Winter’s snow, knocking at autumn’s door

During my first year of teaching at Plevna Schools, found in southeastern Montana, I was greeted with a winter that I will always remember.  The first snowflakes and cold began arriving in early November, and they didn’t stop until late February.  Finally the chinook winds began to warm up the countryside, and ranchers and farmers were rejoicing.  After all, the winter one year earlier had included the famous blizzard of 1978.