SeptemBER is here. With it comes many things and an introduction to the next 3 “BERs”. OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER! Are you feeling cold yet? BRRRR!!!

With each “BER” month comes colder temperatures, shorter days, no lawn watering, no gardening, frosty mornings, and snow in the mountains. Cleaning up dog poop ends up on hold until the snow melts and the BER is gone. It also means hunting season, less crowded fishing, fewer tourists, and did I mention hunting season? Happy BER day! It’s time for BER season to begin.

The thing many of us hate about the “BER” months is less sunlight. The vitamin D we get from sunlight is essential to energy and good health. It seems like more sickness comes with more darkness. No one enjoys going to work and coming home in the dark. Each day of a BER month means about 5 minutes less daylight. By the time we get to the equinox of DecemBER, Montana will have more nighttime than daylight. After the shortest BER day of the year, DecemBER 22, we begin to gain about 5 minutes more of daylight again.

We try to dim the pain with Daylight Savings time. We Spring forward and Fall BERkward, as the trip around the Sun changes. If you like to ski, then shorter BER months means more snow. They wish every month was as “BERtiful”. Ice fishermen are not afraid of the Ber. I prefer when the BER months are gone, and we can see what is going on.

Ber months change our routines. Getting up early to hunt is hard for many of us. We all enjoy the later sunrises once we are up and have a cup of coffee. Many folks miss the sunrises and sleep as long as possible. Dinner in the dark is less fun. We will miss meals on the deck, and outdoors.

Fishing until 10 pm spoil us during the summer Pre BER months. Sunrise at 5am is also fun. It seems like our lives last longer in the non- “BER” months. We get so much more accomplished with more daylight.

Hopefully, this won’t be a winter to rememBER. A little snow is nice but too cold is too “BER”.

I can’t wait until SPRING “BER”gins.

Montana Grant