The Great Freeze of 2021

 Our beloved Pacific Northwest has been under a blanket of snow and freezing temps for over a week.  I have had more snow accumulation here at HH in the past but I don't recall a freeze that has lasted this long.

The snow started before Christmas day, 2021, then there was a break, then we got dumped on Christmas night and then it froze.  Life as we knew it had  come to a halt.  Businesses closed over the next week, highway crews worked around the clock to keep roads open, and we all stayed home and waited it out.

Here at HH I start shoveling snow paths early on and I always take my car down to the entrance of the driveway, because 100 feet of driveway is nearly impossible to clear.

 This was the state of HH early in the week.  Once I had paths clear around the house, to the bird feeder and down the driveway I relaxed a bit, only needing to shovel new snow as it accumulated.

It didn't look too overwhelming after the plow finally got up my road, but they don't keep up on it.  Later a volunteer neighbor was out with his own tractor clearing out driveways and along the road where the plow missed.  What a nice guy!  I thanked him and emailed the development that he should be recognized in our next newsletter.
He even scraped out the snow in front of my car!  This was very helpful as it took the pressure off of me doing it by hand with a snow shovel, and much easier to keep up on.

Days passed and it kept snowing and the temps dropped to unheard of lows - 18 degrees!  Highs of only 23.  That seems more like the weather they get back east.  

Then one day the sun came out!  What a sight, and a relief.  I enjoyed walking around noticing how the tall trees had caught a lot of the snow and the grounds underneath weren't as deep. 
Grateful that it never got really severe, no giant limbs broke, no big winds came up and we had power over the whole week!  Not everyone did.  Other areas experienced outages due to trees falling on lines.

I also kept the greenhouse brushed off as the plastic panels are quite thin and I don't image they could take much snow weight.  

I was very pleased with my firewood storage this year too.  Over the years as snow depths have increased I have come up with more and better ways to protect it.  I use only enough plastic tarps over the top to allow for airflow through two rows of stacked wood.  In the back I've leaned some old fiberglass panels against the wood so the snow doesn't build up there and soak into the wood.  The row also sits about 4 inches above ground on galvanized grids.

The shoveled pathways were my only way to get out and around the house and to the bird feeder. 

Yesterday I needed to refill the woodshed so I just widened the pathway to accommodate my wagon with fat tires.  

So all in all this wasn't a huge drama for this one woman life.  However, I'm on day eight of being stuck here, but that's only because our big hill is frozen over.  Hopefully I'll make it out this week as temps rise.  

This morning's temp of 34 has given me hope that it is going to be over soon. 

While snow is pretty to look at, one must be prepared to hunker down, act responsibly outdoors with adequate warm clothing and know when to go back inside.  Not to mention the preparation that should be done weeks in advance to ensure you have enough food and fuel to stay put.

Edit:  More snow came later, then a lot of rain, then the trees fell over.  Highway 101 was closed in both directions for three days.  Our power lines and trees coming up the hill were blocking the main entrance, everyone was stranded and without power.  Our community really pulled together and helped each other out.  

This was the largest snowstorm I have seen in all my years on the canal since 1994, and definitely the most snow I've had here at HH, 43 inches total, breaking my previous record of 34 or 36.   

Summer Happenings

It's been a long summer here.  We are dealing with a huge fire in the Olympics which is stressful in itself, but the smoke is overwhelming now, added to the Canada fires smoke blowing south.

So today I shot this from the canal, can you spot the sun?  Pretty eerie!

The Maple Fire started about the 4th of August I think.  They have it contained on every side where there are people, at the forest roads.  I'm only 6 miles as the crow flies, so I'm keeping close tabs on it.

In more joyful news, I think I have all the winter firewood in.  This fun dump truck delivered.

I get a good workout stacking it!

My plants are mostly native to the cooler Pacific Northwest temperatures, so this long, hot, dry summer has been a little stressful for them!  But the tomato and Clematis seem happy.

The swallows finally got their turn in the nesting box.  There was a tenant dispute with the chestnut-backed chickadees early on and the latter won.  But the swallows persisted and eventually got a late hatching in.  

This little guy was the last to fly the coop.

 I was busy in the Spring planning and creating new work for both my jewelry business and the supply shop.  I have a lot of new work up in the Etsy shop, which can be viewed here www.jgray-design.com .  I spent a few days creating some new hand dyed fibers for ribbons.  It was fun to hang them outside on the deck for the first dry run.

I later cut these into ribbon widths and rewash them for a frayed edge look.  They are a great supply for all kinds of DIY projects from jewelry to floral arranging.  You can see them in my supply shop here www.jgdsupplies.com .

As Fall approaches I'll be wrapping up the outdoor projects and planning my annual trek out to the coast.  I plan to take a zillion photographs!  I need some new work to add to my website at http:j-gray.pixels.com .So be on the lookout for those toward the end of Sept.

So that's a wrap for now!  Thanks for following along.

Summer Solstice 2013

While most folks here in the northern hemisphere are looking forward to the beginning of summer as if it were a new season full of new beginnings - those of us who work and live with nature see it as a time of waning.  The plant growth slows and stabilizes, as do we.

Our energy has peaked and stops for reflection.  Observing our labors of Spring and taking a deep sigh of fulfilled accomplishment.  

I have been finishing up projects and starting others that have been on the list far too long.  I freshened up the flower beds and burned all the brush from the hill clearing.

I have been getting the firewood a cord at a time this year which makes it so much easier to get stacked and dry.

I've trained the clematis to grow up the pear tree this year and it seems to really enjoy the company!

I've got a major project in the works for the last bit of clean up and paint on the northwest side of the back of the house.  Long neglected because it is out of sight - mine too.  But it is time to finish up.  A coat of paint and a few repairs.  However today I encountered two bees nests near the area, so may have to return in the Fall.

As New Pioneers we spend this time looking to fall and winter needs, while still being able to stay present in the season and enjoy the warmth of summer - as we know all too soon it turns to cold.

What projects have you been working on?

New Pioneer's Best Friend - The Wood Cart

One of the greatest tools I own.  My wood hauling cart from Landman. 

I'm 5'2" so it's a good height for me to maneuver.  The tires are wide and easily move over rough terrain (like my bumpy driveway and winter snow).

I highly recommend these.  Easy to use and they last a long time.