Did I mention the rain? (Last Week)
Of course, Western Washington richly deserves its reputation as a green jewel. Seattle is called the “Emerald City.” The Olympic Peninsula has the world’s last temperate rainforest. And when I compare photographs of known ancestral origins in Ireland and Scotland to the area around my chosen home…
Yep. We all share abundant moisture, and the resulting lovely green trees, lawns and rooftops!
Today we have tied the second-longest rainy streak in our area. Another 8 days and we will tie the longest. I have a feeling we’re going for a record-setting year. I envision telling my great-grandchildren of the year we set a record for the longest rainy streak; how we braved the wet roadways, dashing into the store without an umbrella (who can carry packages and an umbrella?); how we nearly ran out of popcorn because it made such a good snack for cool days; how we were safe and dry and warm when all around the state people were dodging mudslides, stacking sandbags and fixing leaky roofs. I think I’ll conveniently forget the skylight incident of the last few weeks…
Granted, it’s not -continuous- rain, but it’s days of measurable rainfall which doesn’t include the foggy days, the gray days and the days where it was wet but nothing actually fell out of the sky.
I am NOT complaining (much) though I do wish it were a little bit dryer during the daytime so I could prune the rest of the trees (too tall to get without a ladder and I don’t do ladders in the rain). I actually like sitting inside with a good book (usually about plants and gardens) and catalogs (yep, more plants) and a hot mug of cocoa (tea and coffee work too), and watch the little birds and occasional squirrel eating on the lawn.
I even rather enjoy the daily walk down the drive to the mailbox, past the no-longer-dormant garden beds, the weed-ridden perennial beds, the last-of-the-summer stalks I leave to mark other beds. I like to pause under the tall cedars and listen to the steady dripping of the water off the ends of the sheltering boughs. I like to toss the ball or a stick for one or the other dog, to splash through shallow puddles, to come in with damp hair the quickly dries in the warm house.
Yep. It’s not bad a bad life, and as long as we keep our gills moist in the summer, it’s a good location to settle in!
Signs of Life to Come (2 Weeks Ago)
Two days ago, in a lull in the weather, I stepped outside, to find buds on the fruit trees, iris sending up bright green spikes, and a calendula that still blooms amid the heathers.
Have been gradually pulling down decorations, but will leave a few up through the 6th. Moved the power cord to the strand of lights on the tree in front of the living room window, and disconnected the lights on the plants across the driveway. I decided that I really like the extra light in the evenings (especially when I come home later than I anticipated and the light by the door isn’t on). So, those lights can stay for a while.
Today, the space heater in the office keeps tripping it’s fail-safe, so I have it turned off for a while. I think I’ve just been putting it too close to my legs, and it is designed to stop when it thinks things are too warm… I am not feeling all that warm!
Yesterday, the piano got moved back the the dining room where it can be against an interior wall and not over a heating vent. The big oak desk moved into the living room. Additional boxes moved to the dining room. How can we have removed so much only to have this much still left? It’s like the dryer and the socks, only instead of losing things, they find their way into the house!
Today I put away the sewing machine which I hadn’t used in over a month and folded its table to get more space in the office. I rearranged a few other boxes and such, and have almost got the workbench ready for me to start tomorrow. I am ready to start painting and carving again.
I have also been researching medieval subjects, trying to get an handle on a persona for me when I start doing SCA things this year. I am really looking forward to this, as I look forward to the garden getting expanded and planted this Spring.
And a Soggy New Year! (2 Weeks Ago)
Rain. Rain, rain, rain.
Not that we will complain, after several years of dryer-than-normal conditions…
Still, it would be nice to be able to walk on land rather than water (frozen or otherwise) for a couple days.
Long enough to open the windows and let in some fresh (if cold) air.
Long enough to mark off this year’s garden space without sinking to our knees in muck.
Long enough to rake up a few leaves and put them over the perennial beds to keep them freer of weeds until Spring.
Long enough to clean off the rest of the roof and check for clogs in the gutters.
And then, it would be lovely to have intermittent rain until March, and sporadic rain until June, then occasional rain until August and a couple months of clear, dry weather until November when we really want to be inside anyway…
At least the office roof appears to be temporarily fixed, thanks to my paternal unit and Significant One who clambered up in yesterday’s rain and put some sealer and clear plastic over the skylight.
So, we’re not complaining. Just dreaming.
Home and Happy (2 Weeks Ago)
As the new year moves ever closer, we skiied (well, they did — I knitted) and came home safe, happy and tired. I did all the driving… It was snowing just a little as we descended the hills, but not enough to cause any problems with traction.
It was a good day for skiing, although the power was out and only one lift was working because the generator was being used for all the essentials. We had brought some food along, for the ride home, thinking we would just buy lunch there. Last time we try that! Food and drink were VERY expensive.
Tomorrow is a day to stay home, to rest and clean up, and maybe watch a movie and play some games with the kids. And the dogs. Poor critters, they are used to having me at home nearly all day every day! The last week, we have been gone for several hours each day.
Next week, it’s back to school for the children, with some new activities, and a few consistent obligations. And for me? Time to buckle down, get my workspaces clear and ready to go, and start being productive again! Vacation is nearly over…
Rain and Skiiing (2 Weeks Ago)
When it’s raining in the lowlands in winter, it’s a good bet the mountains are seeing white. And so they are!
We are about to take the kids on a great adventure to White Pass on Highway 12 in Washington. We’ll purchase EZ Ski passes, which are for beginners — they get three days with lift tickets, ski rental and instruction included, for a good price. Since they’ve never been skiing before, this seems like a good idea (guess we’ll find out).
I will not be skiing however, since I am in poor condition and feeling run-down. That’s okay! I will sit in the lodge with a knitting project, a notebook to jot down ideas in, and a book and magazines to read… I will be perfectly happy there for a few hours, which I suspect is all the Significant One and the kids will want to be on the slopes. I anticipate having some quiet conversation with my mother, as well, and drinking quantities of tea and/or coffee.
We’ll be home well before the light fades (if I have my way) and ensconced on the sofa watching old movies as the new year enters. If I can stay awake that long…