I'm ready for spring, how about you?
Not just ready--I'm Distracted by waiting for Spring!
It sneaks up and takes over my thinking. Packs of seeds whisper to me "plant me- watch me grow!". Imaginings of flowers and scents, bumblebees and blueberries whirl in my mind. Seeing one hummingbird is a joy and leads me to smiling thoughts of when the finches will be back darting through the fences and clustering at the feeder. The blooming hellebores draw me to stand in the rain and admire them. My mind wanders to compost and soil, vegetables and flowers, trees and flower food for bees and butterflies.
Slowly slowly small green things are pushing upward everywhere, determined despite chill and wind. I can feel them, it's as if I can almost hear them! It's like the world is waiting to burst out and the energy is out there buzzing. All it will take is some sun and warmth and the buzz will erupt in a blazing Growth Symphony!
The conductor takes his baton, steps onto the stage, gazes at the players. He quietly taps his baton, then slowly lifts his arms, all instruments lift and are ready to play. A pause, we wait, gently we hold our breath for the first crystal note.....
If each blade of grass has an angel bending over it whispering "Grow, grow!" then the angels must be preparing to sing in harmony right now!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Did you ever wake up with a message in your head? I woke up just the other day and had a very clear message in my mind telling me that my house should be called LittleBird. I'm really not used to talking to the house, or calling it by name(!), but that was the message so who am I to decide otherwise? LittleBird it is, and I think I like it. Am I the only one that this has happened to? I've changed the blog name here to fit in with the houses new chosen title. Why Not!
On another naming note -Yesterday was a meeting of a new quilt guild satellite group that I'm participating in. It's about 8 of us so far. I missed last months meeting where they chose a name for the group and when I heard it I just couldn't figure it out. What do you come up with from "(SOS)squared"?
Turns out it stands for Saving Our Sanity by Sewing Our Scraps! I'm sure I never would have figured it out!
On another naming note -Yesterday was a meeting of a new quilt guild satellite group that I'm participating in. It's about 8 of us so far. I missed last months meeting where they chose a name for the group and when I heard it I just couldn't figure it out. What do you come up with from "(SOS)squared"?
Turns out it stands for Saving Our Sanity by Sewing Our Scraps! I'm sure I never would have figured it out!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
new year refocus
Amazing that we're almost 2 weeks into the new year! I guess it's past time to take down the holiday lights! Ha!
It's been an interesting winter so far. Snow! I love it when it snows - how everything gets all soft looking and bright, and things get really quiet, and life kind of slows down as nature enforces some stay-at-home or go-play time. We were snowed in around here for a little while, even the university closed up! I made soup, and baked, and read books, and played with the cat, and cleaned closets. Okay - that closet cleaning did come pretty far down on the list! The phone went out for a few days (turned out the answering machine checked out on me and turned away all incoming calls!) So I was not only snowed in but incommunicado. And since it wouldn't last all winter -I loved it! In 26 years I don't think I've ever had a break that resulted in 100% personal time lasting for several days. A little disconcerting at first, but once you get past that, it can be very relaxing!
Now I'm reading seed catalogs and imagining a garden. What I wish I was doing was imagining finishing some projects at work but my productivity has been alarmingly low. It's been hard to get myself in gear lately and I'm not sure what's causing my lack of focus or motivation. It's at the point that I'm pretty far behind in the work and a few days out due to snow is not all to blame for that. How do you kick yourself into gear when you just can't seem to engage in what you need to do? I could really use some suggestions!
It's been an interesting winter so far. Snow! I love it when it snows - how everything gets all soft looking and bright, and things get really quiet, and life kind of slows down as nature enforces some stay-at-home or go-play time. We were snowed in around here for a little while, even the university closed up! I made soup, and baked, and read books, and played with the cat, and cleaned closets. Okay - that closet cleaning did come pretty far down on the list! The phone went out for a few days (turned out the answering machine checked out on me and turned away all incoming calls!) So I was not only snowed in but incommunicado. And since it wouldn't last all winter -I loved it! In 26 years I don't think I've ever had a break that resulted in 100% personal time lasting for several days. A little disconcerting at first, but once you get past that, it can be very relaxing!
Now I'm reading seed catalogs and imagining a garden. What I wish I was doing was imagining finishing some projects at work but my productivity has been alarmingly low. It's been hard to get myself in gear lately and I'm not sure what's causing my lack of focus or motivation. It's at the point that I'm pretty far behind in the work and a few days out due to snow is not all to blame for that. How do you kick yourself into gear when you just can't seem to engage in what you need to do? I could really use some suggestions!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Change Coming
We're getting another chance at summer here. Days in the 70's and nights in the 50's. I'll take it -Thank You!
I'm eating cherry tomatoes and blueberries from my garden. Until I grew them I had no idea how fabulous tomatoes just picked and warm from the sun could taste!
As fall comes closer though, the elections come closer too.
So OK- I've really tried to avoid this subject -but I just can't. I've been watching presidential campaigns and I've gotta say when I see the recent media coverage of the last couple of weeks and hear comments on the radio -I sometimes fear for this country. Where is the common sense? Where is the informed public that our democracy depends on?
What I've been seeing and hearing is sheep who want an easy answer for things that actually require hard work, dedication, and sometimes even some sacrifice. What I've seen is media that doesn't ask tough questions since real answers don't fit in a sound bite. What I've seen and heard are people who feel entitled to a certain way of life without having necessarily earned it themselves, and who don't really engage in democracy, the foundation of the country. But they do engage in entitlement and blind partisan flag waving. I've seen people who believed the lies told to them for the last 8 years because it was easier and they just wanted to be told what to do so they could sit back and feel better. And these people can Vote! What I'm hearing on radio and reading on blogs and newpaper talk-back pages is scary dumb! Ideas like "so long as I get mine and my taxes don't go up I'll just sit back and go along".
Dim Bush has abused this country so badly and in so many ways that I think some people must just close down and give up on any scale of things beyond their own wallet, like on thinking about whether the government is run well and actually represents them, or whether it's just a playground for sleazy cronyism and profiteering among the powerful. Maybe folks feel too overlooked or underserved to worry about international relations, or about the future of our ecomony, or about trillions of dollars in public debt, or what we can do about environmental change, or if their opinion can make any difference at all. I actually heard a radio guy, a music station-not political talk radio, saying that if you're not at least a millionaire you really don't have a voice anyway so why bother worrying about it!
Oh C'mon! Sitting back and saying "it'll all work out without me anyway" will literally kill the country! Bush's damage to courts and national policies and especially public trust will take a very long time to overcome. The ecomonic damage will be difficult to repair and our childrens children will still be paying on debts Bush generated. But we just can't let things continue to get even worse!
Now I see Bush's boy McCain actually daring to call himself a maverick and adding Palin -who has NO qualifications at all for federal office, let alone potentially the presidency- and I cringe that these tools, these puppets of the rabid religious right and Big Oil and Bush advisors, are actually campaigning to run the country.
Real Change Must Happen! We Need intelligent leadership - two things sadly lacking in the last 8 years. Ghandi said You've got to BE the change you want to see in the world. Not talk about it - BE it. There is only one presidential campaign that can claim to BE the Change. And it isn't the campaign being directed by the same old Bush advisors.
Be the Change.
I'm eating cherry tomatoes and blueberries from my garden. Until I grew them I had no idea how fabulous tomatoes just picked and warm from the sun could taste!
As fall comes closer though, the elections come closer too.
So OK- I've really tried to avoid this subject -but I just can't. I've been watching presidential campaigns and I've gotta say when I see the recent media coverage of the last couple of weeks and hear comments on the radio -I sometimes fear for this country. Where is the common sense? Where is the informed public that our democracy depends on?
What I've been seeing and hearing is sheep who want an easy answer for things that actually require hard work, dedication, and sometimes even some sacrifice. What I've seen is media that doesn't ask tough questions since real answers don't fit in a sound bite. What I've seen and heard are people who feel entitled to a certain way of life without having necessarily earned it themselves, and who don't really engage in democracy, the foundation of the country. But they do engage in entitlement and blind partisan flag waving. I've seen people who believed the lies told to them for the last 8 years because it was easier and they just wanted to be told what to do so they could sit back and feel better. And these people can Vote! What I'm hearing on radio and reading on blogs and newpaper talk-back pages is scary dumb! Ideas like "so long as I get mine and my taxes don't go up I'll just sit back and go along".
Dim Bush has abused this country so badly and in so many ways that I think some people must just close down and give up on any scale of things beyond their own wallet, like on thinking about whether the government is run well and actually represents them, or whether it's just a playground for sleazy cronyism and profiteering among the powerful. Maybe folks feel too overlooked or underserved to worry about international relations, or about the future of our ecomony, or about trillions of dollars in public debt, or what we can do about environmental change, or if their opinion can make any difference at all. I actually heard a radio guy, a music station-not political talk radio, saying that if you're not at least a millionaire you really don't have a voice anyway so why bother worrying about it!
Oh C'mon! Sitting back and saying "it'll all work out without me anyway" will literally kill the country! Bush's damage to courts and national policies and especially public trust will take a very long time to overcome. The ecomonic damage will be difficult to repair and our childrens children will still be paying on debts Bush generated. But we just can't let things continue to get even worse!
Now I see Bush's boy McCain actually daring to call himself a maverick and adding Palin -who has NO qualifications at all for federal office, let alone potentially the presidency- and I cringe that these tools, these puppets of the rabid religious right and Big Oil and Bush advisors, are actually campaigning to run the country.
Real Change Must Happen! We Need intelligent leadership - two things sadly lacking in the last 8 years. Ghandi said You've got to BE the change you want to see in the world. Not talk about it - BE it. There is only one presidential campaign that can claim to BE the Change. And it isn't the campaign being directed by the same old Bush advisors.
Be the Change.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
wait, just wait
WOW, has it really been that long since I've written? Time flies when work and a new house collide.
Summer has flown and, after a few hot days, now we're in clouds and rain. NO NO Not Yet!! I'm Not Ready! - I Need some more blue sky behind green leaves and days when the air feels soft and warm on your skin and the light dances on everything. I need to stand in a warm wind and scuffle through dandelions, sending those little blowy things all around. I need time for the tomatoes to ripen and I need more roses. I still need to play outside! I want to make s'mores and watch stars wheel and listen for owls flying. I didn't go to the ocean yet. I didn't fly my kite or stand in icy water. I haven't smelled the blackberries in the sun. I love Fall, but I'm not ready, ....please can't it wait a while?
Summer has flown and, after a few hot days, now we're in clouds and rain. NO NO Not Yet!! I'm Not Ready! - I Need some more blue sky behind green leaves and days when the air feels soft and warm on your skin and the light dances on everything. I need to stand in a warm wind and scuffle through dandelions, sending those little blowy things all around. I need time for the tomatoes to ripen and I need more roses. I still need to play outside! I want to make s'mores and watch stars wheel and listen for owls flying. I didn't go to the ocean yet. I didn't fly my kite or stand in icy water. I haven't smelled the blackberries in the sun. I love Fall, but I'm not ready, ....please can't it wait a while?
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy America Day!
Happy 4th of July! Today's colors are definitely red, white, and blue. Don't you love this holiday!? My niece used to call it America Day. I know I'm glad to be an American, part of this young experiment in democracy and independence, and I know that I'm blessed to have been born here. Really there aren't so very many opportunities to share that feeling and that fact (without political siding interfering) and to celebrate it with the community, so I really enjoy this day and all the crowds and fun.
My flag is flying on the house today. I always like that and my family has always flown the flag for the national holidays. I always wonder why more houses aren't flying the flag to celebrate today? Barbeques are great, and Seattle does an Awesome fireworks show later over Lake Union, but the heart of the holiday for me is flying the flag in the neighborhood and being proud and free to do that.
I went to my hometown Parade today! Went with my parents, my sister, her husband and MIL, and of course both of my nieces! But before that we went to the Pancake Breakfast at the nearby fire department. Yum!! The pancakes are hot, made by our firemen, and the kids are welcome to climb all over the fire engines and ladder trucks after munching on pancakes. My friend Fireman Dave showed the girls around the trucks. It was the first time Little Girl (age 1) had been in and around the engines and she was Ecstatic! Her eyes got big, a Huge Grin came out, she shrieked Oh Wow! (her newest language skill) and ran to a big red truck with her hands in the air to pat it and jump up and down and shriek some more --she was so excited!! Her older sister did nearly the same thing a few years back when she first encountered firetrucks. Litttle Girl stands about half as tall as the wheels on these trucks but she is In Love with them! And we all think Fireman Dave is pretty cool too!
Then we all went down mainstreet to find our places for the parade. To get front row seats folks set out chairs along the parade route the night before because the crowd gets several layers deep by parade time. Luckily we had chairs! Our parade runs through town from the post office to the football field, probably a mile and half or so, and the route is lined deep with people the whole way. And there are so many kids it's hard to figure where they all come from! Before the main parade there is a Kids Parade where all kids can participate. They decorate themselves, their bikes, their dogs, their wagons or even their parents, then waves and waves of them move down the paradeway, taking part in their own parade action and throwing candy to the crowd. It's also a big deal for the kids on the sidelines to gather as much candy as they can. Some collect more candy on the 4th than on Halloween!
I love the parade even though, or maybe because, its Hometown. It always starts with all the police and fire vehicles of all kinds coming through with all the lights and sirens going. Absolute Sound and LIght! And there is the summer marching band playing "Tequila!", the many decorated trucks filled with baseball team champs and boy scouts all throwing candy, the fancy cars and the military vehicle collectors. There are the Veterans and the Sons of Norway, the red hat society float, the cheerleaders and the clowns. Local drill teams, gymnastics groups doing flips and handstands the whole way, drum corps (I really loved Blue Thunder this year!) and of course some politicians. We have the Red Coats and the Revolutionary Militia holding a musket battle on main street and the rowdy Seafair Pirates shooting off a real (and LOUD) cannon from their well known ship-float while scraping their swords at the folks at the front of the crowd and handing out stickers after almost scaring the kids. Elvis even showed up this year to sing Heartbreak Hotel! It's long, it's chaotic, it's loud, its tiring, and you may be hit at any minute by flying candy, but the kids love it and there are lots of smiles and surprises. It's what we do!
And this year it was followed by home made ice cream and cookies back under the shady tree at my folks place.
All that and the day wasn't even half over!! Gotta love it! Now comes the Fireworks!!!
I hope you enjoy your own traditions to celebrate our country today. It's not perfect, but that's a discussion for another day. Today is about being together, and taking a moment to be aware that we all have some special things in common as Americans, and being proud of it. Happy 4th of July!
My flag is flying on the house today. I always like that and my family has always flown the flag for the national holidays. I always wonder why more houses aren't flying the flag to celebrate today? Barbeques are great, and Seattle does an Awesome fireworks show later over Lake Union, but the heart of the holiday for me is flying the flag in the neighborhood and being proud and free to do that.
I went to my hometown Parade today! Went with my parents, my sister, her husband and MIL, and of course both of my nieces! But before that we went to the Pancake Breakfast at the nearby fire department. Yum!! The pancakes are hot, made by our firemen, and the kids are welcome to climb all over the fire engines and ladder trucks after munching on pancakes. My friend Fireman Dave showed the girls around the trucks. It was the first time Little Girl (age 1) had been in and around the engines and she was Ecstatic! Her eyes got big, a Huge Grin came out, she shrieked Oh Wow! (her newest language skill) and ran to a big red truck with her hands in the air to pat it and jump up and down and shriek some more --she was so excited!! Her older sister did nearly the same thing a few years back when she first encountered firetrucks. Litttle Girl stands about half as tall as the wheels on these trucks but she is In Love with them! And we all think Fireman Dave is pretty cool too!
Then we all went down mainstreet to find our places for the parade. To get front row seats folks set out chairs along the parade route the night before because the crowd gets several layers deep by parade time. Luckily we had chairs! Our parade runs through town from the post office to the football field, probably a mile and half or so, and the route is lined deep with people the whole way. And there are so many kids it's hard to figure where they all come from! Before the main parade there is a Kids Parade where all kids can participate. They decorate themselves, their bikes, their dogs, their wagons or even their parents, then waves and waves of them move down the paradeway, taking part in their own parade action and throwing candy to the crowd. It's also a big deal for the kids on the sidelines to gather as much candy as they can. Some collect more candy on the 4th than on Halloween!
I love the parade even though, or maybe because, its Hometown. It always starts with all the police and fire vehicles of all kinds coming through with all the lights and sirens going. Absolute Sound and LIght! And there is the summer marching band playing "Tequila!", the many decorated trucks filled with baseball team champs and boy scouts all throwing candy, the fancy cars and the military vehicle collectors. There are the Veterans and the Sons of Norway, the red hat society float, the cheerleaders and the clowns. Local drill teams, gymnastics groups doing flips and handstands the whole way, drum corps (I really loved Blue Thunder this year!) and of course some politicians. We have the Red Coats and the Revolutionary Militia holding a musket battle on main street and the rowdy Seafair Pirates shooting off a real (and LOUD) cannon from their well known ship-float while scraping their swords at the folks at the front of the crowd and handing out stickers after almost scaring the kids. Elvis even showed up this year to sing Heartbreak Hotel! It's long, it's chaotic, it's loud, its tiring, and you may be hit at any minute by flying candy, but the kids love it and there are lots of smiles and surprises. It's what we do!
And this year it was followed by home made ice cream and cookies back under the shady tree at my folks place.
All that and the day wasn't even half over!! Gotta love it! Now comes the Fireworks!!!
I hope you enjoy your own traditions to celebrate our country today. It's not perfect, but that's a discussion for another day. Today is about being together, and taking a moment to be aware that we all have some special things in common as Americans, and being proud of it. Happy 4th of July!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
June, but not really June!
Hello again! It's been a little while since I've written. Busy with Spring stuff,- but is it really Spring? Today it would be hard to convince me, if I didn't know better. It's chilly outside, and dark, and it has been raining continuously since late last night. Only the rhododendrons in bloom give the season away. Everything else seems to be on hold! I'm hoping that the real June arrives soon with weather warmer than the 50's and some sightings of Sun!
I got together with some new quilting friends late last month for a day together making patriotic table runners before Memorial Day. I arrived to find them already drinking Mimosas and laughing together. Now there's a start to a fun day! I can't claim to have finished my table runner but I did really enjoy myself. I now plan to have the runner finished in time for 4th of July . This month we're all getting together again for Shop Hop. I sure don't need any more fabric or patterns but I can't resist a good time!
I'm having fun with my nieces on Sundays. Happy Little Girl has learned to frown when she disagrees with what you want. It's so Hilarious to get an "Oh I don't think so Girlfirend " look from one so little she mostly can't even talk yet! They do make themselves clear though don't they! Ha!
Both nieces love the new kitty and Emma is happy to let them pet her so long as they don't get too carried away with it. Emma has been very accepting of everyone who has come to visit, young and old. A good thing in a cat.
The dog next door is a pointer and the other day he and Emma caught sight of each other and each froze with one front paw in the air and at full attention. They just stared at each other that way for a full minute. I've never seen a cat on point before! She does keep me chuckling.
My garden isn't coming along as well as I'd hoped due to the chilly weather. My brother fertilized the lawn - so that's definitely growing!! I'm keeping it mowed but the rest of the gardening ideas haven't been realized yet. Tomatoes, green pepper, peas, onions, herbs, strawberries all need some warm sun!
Soon I hope. Come On June!
I got together with some new quilting friends late last month for a day together making patriotic table runners before Memorial Day. I arrived to find them already drinking Mimosas and laughing together. Now there's a start to a fun day! I can't claim to have finished my table runner but I did really enjoy myself. I now plan to have the runner finished in time for 4th of July . This month we're all getting together again for Shop Hop. I sure don't need any more fabric or patterns but I can't resist a good time!
I'm having fun with my nieces on Sundays. Happy Little Girl has learned to frown when she disagrees with what you want. It's so Hilarious to get an "Oh I don't think so Girlfirend " look from one so little she mostly can't even talk yet! They do make themselves clear though don't they! Ha!
Both nieces love the new kitty and Emma is happy to let them pet her so long as they don't get too carried away with it. Emma has been very accepting of everyone who has come to visit, young and old. A good thing in a cat.
The dog next door is a pointer and the other day he and Emma caught sight of each other and each froze with one front paw in the air and at full attention. They just stared at each other that way for a full minute. I've never seen a cat on point before! She does keep me chuckling.
My garden isn't coming along as well as I'd hoped due to the chilly weather. My brother fertilized the lawn - so that's definitely growing!! I'm keeping it mowed but the rest of the gardening ideas haven't been realized yet. Tomatoes, green pepper, peas, onions, herbs, strawberries all need some warm sun!
Soon I hope. Come On June!
Monday, May 19, 2008
peaceful spring garden
Hello again!
If you were anywhere near Seattle last weekend you know we enjoyed some lovely weather, but unusually warm for us this time of year. It was just a couple of days, and it was so nice to feel the suns warmth and know Summer is coming! But it was a bit too warm for me to work out in the yard "sodbusting". I want various growing beds for flowers, shrubs, or more veggies where there is now just bad lawn so I'm hacking it back a bit at a time with a half moon edger and a spade. Hard Work! Since it was so warm on Saturday I waited until evening, but then I got distracted visiting my brother W. When I got home I noticed that the moon was nice and bright --so about 10pm I went out in the yard and got to digging out lawn by moonlight! Very comfortable working weather then! I'm thinking the neighbors may be shaking their heads a bit though.
Working on transforming the yard is hard but I think I'm bonding with it. On Sunday I sat outside in the early evening and listened to all the little birds - wrens, finches, chickadees, and probably others I haven't figured out yet. I watched them in the cedar tree, or hanging 6 at a time off the niger seed feeder, or enjoying my very low tech bird bath. They flit in & out from the field through the chain link fence, stopping to rest, chatter, and look around. A hummingbird zoomed in & out snacking at its feeder. A bit later the pink geraniums in the hanging basket I was given kind of glowed, the sky slid into a great color of late evening blue, the trees on the horizon were becoming silhouettes, a frog was croaking, and the fragrance of lilacs floated in. It was the most peaceful few moments I can remember in months.
And it happened in my very own own back yard. aaah
If you were anywhere near Seattle last weekend you know we enjoyed some lovely weather, but unusually warm for us this time of year. It was just a couple of days, and it was so nice to feel the suns warmth and know Summer is coming! But it was a bit too warm for me to work out in the yard "sodbusting". I want various growing beds for flowers, shrubs, or more veggies where there is now just bad lawn so I'm hacking it back a bit at a time with a half moon edger and a spade. Hard Work! Since it was so warm on Saturday I waited until evening, but then I got distracted visiting my brother W. When I got home I noticed that the moon was nice and bright --so about 10pm I went out in the yard and got to digging out lawn by moonlight! Very comfortable working weather then! I'm thinking the neighbors may be shaking their heads a bit though.
Working on transforming the yard is hard but I think I'm bonding with it. On Sunday I sat outside in the early evening and listened to all the little birds - wrens, finches, chickadees, and probably others I haven't figured out yet. I watched them in the cedar tree, or hanging 6 at a time off the niger seed feeder, or enjoying my very low tech bird bath. They flit in & out from the field through the chain link fence, stopping to rest, chatter, and look around. A hummingbird zoomed in & out snacking at its feeder. A bit later the pink geraniums in the hanging basket I was given kind of glowed, the sky slid into a great color of late evening blue, the trees on the horizon were becoming silhouettes, a frog was croaking, and the fragrance of lilacs floated in. It was the most peaceful few moments I can remember in months.
And it happened in my very own own back yard. aaah
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Raccoons In Spring
It's been a while since I've written. I've been a bit "under the weather" with allergies, sinus infection, cold...kinda that sort of spring so far. But - Onward immune system! We're fighting it out.
I wish it actually felt more like Spring. The weather teases, but then it doesn't actually warm up the soil. I've got a few things planted out that can take more cold though - like spinach and peas. Predicted weather next week is for showers but warming-- daytimes in the 50's and low 60's, nights in the 40's. Maybe things are improving! I'm looking forward to seeing something Grow besides the weeds in the lawn!
Last night I got home from work late and in the headlights as I pulled into the carport I saw tree limbs waving wildly on the backyard cedar tree. Then 3 big raccoons came gamboling out and into the neighboring yard. Another went back up the tree. Now I know what the funny backyard noises have been in the last few nights. Hmm- wonder if the bandits will raid the veggie garden as things grow? I think they're carnivores but they seem like opportunists too! Has anyone had problems with raccoon raids of their gardens? Should I be coming up with a plan to fence off the garden area? Always new things to think about....!
I wish it actually felt more like Spring. The weather teases, but then it doesn't actually warm up the soil. I've got a few things planted out that can take more cold though - like spinach and peas. Predicted weather next week is for showers but warming-- daytimes in the 50's and low 60's, nights in the 40's. Maybe things are improving! I'm looking forward to seeing something Grow besides the weeds in the lawn!
Last night I got home from work late and in the headlights as I pulled into the carport I saw tree limbs waving wildly on the backyard cedar tree. Then 3 big raccoons came gamboling out and into the neighboring yard. Another went back up the tree. Now I know what the funny backyard noises have been in the last few nights. Hmm- wonder if the bandits will raid the veggie garden as things grow? I think they're carnivores but they seem like opportunists too! Has anyone had problems with raccoon raids of their gardens? Should I be coming up with a plan to fence off the garden area? Always new things to think about....!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Snowing in April-when is last frost now?
I rechecked the hardiness zone of my address recently -- turns out I'm in zone 7, not 8. OK, good to know. But we had a blanket of 7 inches of SNOW on Friday!!! Go figure. I'm in supermild western Washington--some winters we don't get snow at all! The neighborhood has tulips and fruit trees in bloom, the forsythia are already past, the lilacs are showing buds. I can't remember ever hearing of snow around here this late.
My new house is in what's called a Convergence Zone north of Seattle, where Pacific ocean and/or arctic weather that swerves around the Olympic mountains (through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and up through the Puget Sound) collides back together as it heads east toward the Cascade mountains. Apparently if there is strange weather to be had around here this is where it will be. This weekend I could drive from Winter into Spring just by going south a few minutes on the freeway and without significant change in elevation. What a difference a handful of miles makes in this weather pattern!
Friday's 7 inches had mostly melted by the time I went to bed Sunday night but this morning the week started by showing a dusting of new white, though it was melting fast as the sun finally showed itself. Looks like gardening in the new place will have more surprises for me than I anticipated. And I now have no idea when last frost could be around here!
My new house is in what's called a Convergence Zone north of Seattle, where Pacific ocean and/or arctic weather that swerves around the Olympic mountains (through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and up through the Puget Sound) collides back together as it heads east toward the Cascade mountains. Apparently if there is strange weather to be had around here this is where it will be. This weekend I could drive from Winter into Spring just by going south a few minutes on the freeway and without significant change in elevation. What a difference a handful of miles makes in this weather pattern!
Friday's 7 inches had mostly melted by the time I went to bed Sunday night but this morning the week started by showing a dusting of new white, though it was melting fast as the sun finally showed itself. Looks like gardening in the new place will have more surprises for me than I anticipated. And I now have no idea when last frost could be around here!
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