River speak

 

I didn't really know or care what a "cfs" was until we bought a house by a river. It just means "cubic feet per second," a measurement of water flow in real time. Hydrologists have placed gauges at strategic locations on thousands of rivers and streams across the country. 

On the snoflo.org website, you can check the gauge on any river, or look at a map showing all the rivers currently at flood stage across the country. Many, right now.

The gauge of interest to me is the Methow River at Twisp. In the week since I left, it's gone from 350 cfs to 11,000 cfs this morning. That sounds pretty alarming, but isn't unusual. It reached about 13,000 last spring, and in May of 2017, an astonishing 57,000 cfs. 

Another historic Methow Valley flood is inevitable someday, but the river typically handles a huge volume of water during spring run-off. An exciting time to be there.

The heat wave across the state is melting the mountain snow pack fast, leading to this rapid rise. We return to a colder weather pattern tomorrow, so things will probably settle down. 

Anyway, I'll take some pictures this weekend. We're going over to see the community theater production of "Wizard of Oz."

That's Tom, front row on the left. Maya and Nova also have parts in the play, so a real family event.
 

Sunrise, sunset

 

 

Amanda, Nova and Tom, May 2010

"Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. When did she get to be a beauty? Wasn't it yesterday when they were small? I don't remember getting older, when did they?" 

From, Fiddler on the Roof

Hello, Beautiful

 

Seattle finally had a taste of summer, with perfect weather on Friday and Saturday. We took a morning walk around Kubota Garden, and then had lunch at a crowded pho dive on Rainier Avenue. Almost a bit too authentic with lots of unidentifiable food on the tables. We went with our usual tofu pho and it was good.

I'm glad we got an early start on the day, because the parking lot was full when we left the garden. People were streaming in to enjoy the beautiful day.

Kubota Garden is pretty in all seasons, but especially in spring, when the rhoddies and azaleas bloom.

But in some ways, there's no place like home on a nice weekend afternoon.

I took the above screen shot from my bird identification app called "Merlin" developed by the Cornell Lab.

When the GPS is turned on, you can identify local birds in any location you happen to be. Scroll through a few questions about color, size and habitat, and it quickly comes up with a list of possible birds.

It also has a new bird songs and call identification feature-- pure magic. Press record, and it listens to the birds around you, showing real-time suggestions for who’s singing. In seconds, the list above popped up, easily sorting through the cacophony of bird sounds in our yard. 

I can't say enough good things about the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If you love birds, check it out and give them some support. 

Arbor Day

 

The last Friday in April is Arbor Day, celebrated since the late 1800's. In the development push to create housing density, we don't hear much about the loss of so many established yards and trees as Seattle neighborhoods get swallowed up with buildings. 

In fact, the state legislature recently passed a law abolishing single family zoning, except in a few of the wealthiest enclaves (no surprise there.) The developers free-for-all is just getting stared.

Trees have a natural lifespan, but since they can live so long, this is hard to accept. Over 100 years ago, the first settlers in Twisp lined Glover Street with Silver Maples. Over many decades, they grew to enormous heights, creating a canopy of beauty and shade along the hot main street. So taken for granted-- until they weren't. 

I was there last October when massive branch broke off during a windstorm in a yard where children often play. Then, during a brutal ice storm last winter, the largest tree crashed down, severely damaging a house near Amanda and Tom's home. By miracle, no one was hurt in either incident.

The trees were weakened by age and disease, so the city made the hard decision to remove the remaining ones. There are plans to plant new trees, but oh, what a sad and changed sight for years to come. Amanda says almost like a hurricane came through town. 

The best time to replace a tree is long before it dies.

So, finally a weekend of summer like weather and everyone is pretty darn excited. Since it will be in the high 70's, we've been warned to wear sunscreen and drink water. Only in Seattle! 

Have a good weekend.

 

Days to be happy in

 

Days

 

What are days for?

Days are where we live.   

They come, they wake us   

Time and time over.

They are to be happy in:   

Where can we live but days?

Ah, solving that question

Brings the priest and the doctor   

In their long coats

Running over the fields.

A perfect little poem by Philip Larkin. What a vivid image of mortality, with religion to the rescue. 

Yesterday was the warmest day of the year in Seattle, 67 degrees. The first time I've been outside without a real coat. If it gets to 80 on Saturday as predicted, people will be tearing around on the highways, mobbing the nurseries and jumping into cold rivers and lakes. In short, going nuts. The first "hot" day is a  good time to stay home and work in the garden. While listening to the sirens.

Here's some pictures of Nova at the after-school riding program, where she's taking lessons and learning to help the instructors with the younger kids. Remember in March, when we fed "Buttons" in the pasture on that cold morning? Winter vacation is over-- back to work.   

National Pretzel Day

German pretzels are soft and bread-like and come in every imaginable shape and size. Like French baguettes, they're always consumed on the same day they're baked. 

Hard pretzels originated at the Sturgis Pretzel House in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Unlike soft pretzels, these could be stored in an airtight container and snacked on at will. As well I know, if there's a bag of pretzels in the house.

Switching gears, check out this amazing sweater Nova is crocheting, without any pattern! I'd like to take credit, but all I did was show her the most basic techniques a few years ago, and now she far surpasses my abilities. 

Well, it's Wednesday, so I'm off to the Cafe. Duty calls. Frankly, I'd rather work in the garden on this beautiful spring day.