An old fashion scorcher here in the Methow this summer: Dry, hot weather beginning in early June has run on into the dry month of August leaving little but wildfires and whiskbroom hills in wake. Before the Twisp River fire broke out and killed three local fire fighters on the afternoon of August 19th, this… Continued
The June rains never came here in the Methow and the almost freakish heat of early June returned for the latter part of the month, continuing right into July when it generally really gets hot! Even the morning birds appeared to disappear as nights barely cooled into the 60’s and days remained either side of… Continued
Last month’s poem “Rain” worked as our first, and last, good rain of the season followed. Looks like I better come up with another rain poem quick as June already rolls on! May did remain mild to complete one of the gentler springs I can recall. It never was hot, but it never got cold… Continued
There are few sweeter ways to wake up than to the urgent song of spring birds. This has been the way here in the month of May. What we continue to lack in rain we’ve certainly gained in mild temperatures and birds, birds, birds! Truth to tell, we’ve already sown half of our grains and… Continued
Now that our first hummingbirds have arrived and our apricot tree has bloomed it is time for real April to settle in here on the Rendezvous: nighttime temps in the 20’s, 20 mph wind, fresh snow in the mountains. Ahhh… I knew spring wouldn’t let us down – the only season colder than winter here!… Continued
Yellow bells, spring beauties, meadowlarks and yes, bluebirds! That fast, an early spring is upon us and the view here at Bluebird is quite different than last month’s as very mild temperatures and lots of sun have chased the snow except for the north slopes and leftover snowbanks. After a wintry beginning to February, it… Continued
Snow falls steadily outside; finches, grosbeaks and chickadees joist at the feeder as I tap these keys. A raven soars above the chicken coop. Last night a great horned owl hooted outside our bedroom while coyotes yipped at the fat moon from further away. Winter bears ripened fruit of it’s own and winter’s sleep is… Continued
From our kitchen window it seems that even the chickadees wear the ice-fog that has shrouded our Valley these past January days. To be sure, the two Labs return from outside with new frosting on their otherwise deep, black coats. The roses, apricot trees, mulberry and sage wear the same. About this time last… Continued
To be sure the Methow is catching up on moisture. Since the later part of October,I’m not sure we’ve experienced such swings in weather here and this has been true right up into the second week of December. As happened 2 years ago, later October ended up too wet to finish all the little field… Continued
As the aspen turn gold and the robins re-gather and the first flights of southbound geese murmur overhead during the night, another farming season, too, draws to close. We’ve completed harvest, applied our straw digesters and sowed winter peas as our winter cover crop. Fall tillage is what is left for us to do. This… Continued