Daffodils

We are still tired after our busy Easter weekend.  On Tuesday we went to a screening of the movie Chasing Ice, which was sponsored by the Environmental Law Society at the University of Idaho.  It was quite good, but depressing.  The movie documents a photographer, James Balog, as he sets up cameras to take time-lapse images of the glaciers in the Arctic.   It's a good reminder that sometimes geologic activity can happen very, very quickly, and that the overwhelming scientific evidence points to humans as a least one of the primary factors leading to climate change.

The movie also helps put things in perspective for me, so that when I'm whining because it's April and I'm wondering if I should start a fire in the woodstove or just put on a sweater, that it is good to have seasons and it's good to have them come when and as they ought.  So I'll just keep knitting hats for now, instead of sewing up cute skirts, and waiting for my flowers to bloom.  Oh, and trying to think of ways to reduce my family's carbon footprint!

Work at Home Day

I needed to write today, and by write I mean 'make major progress on a report', so I worked from home.   It was amazing.  Everyone else was gone, my phone didn't ring and I turned my email off.  I was able to accomplish more actual work than I had in four days at the office.  

I love my home office.  I love the soothing color of the walls ("desert tan") and the southwestern art we've hung.  I love its unclutteredness.  And most of all, I love its window!  I picked one the prettiest days so far this year to work from this office.  So glad I was able to enjoy these views as the fruits of my labor!

Winter Roadtrip

Last weekend we took a roadtrip to Bend, OR for the USA Cycling Gran Prix of Cyclocross.  I had long wanted to visit Bend, having built it up in my mind as the penultimate small Northwestern city.  

It's funny how when you built something up in your mind, it often comes out differently in reality.

Bend had way more sprawl than I was anticipating.  The downtown area was nice, but I'm not sure I'd consider Patagonia to be a local merchant.  And what the heck was up with all the traffic circles?  

However, Bend also has some really lovely features.  I love the fact that the Deschutes River runs right through downtown, and I love even more the fact that for much of the downtown stretch, a public park and walkway line the river.   We didn't even begin to explore it to satisfaction.

Bend also has big, pointy, white peaks going for it.  These should warrant future exploration.  Of course we didn't see them until our drive home, but they were lovely never the less.  And the desert is its own form of beauty.

Of course, we were also quite pleased to be back on the Palouse.  Back home.

Fish ladder on the Deschutes

The deserts of Eastern Oregon

Mt Hood

Mt Adams

Fog as we enter the scablands

What a beautiful sunset...we were amazed by how nice the weather was for mid-December!

My son took this picture!

November Snow

We had another wonderful cyclocross weekend.  My husband raced in Spokane at what is definitely my favorite venue, Walter's Fruit Ranch.  So much fun!  I have to say cheering for a bike race in the snow and mud and 30 degree weather is much more fun when you've had hot spiced wine with your lunch!

But oh, winter, you are already making yourself known!
 

 

Cedars

My husband takes beautiful pictures

of the beautiful, quiet places of the world.

The cedar grove on Moscow Mountain is one of those places.

February Snows

Presidents' Day weekend snows on Moscow Mountain.

Fergeson Ridge

We took a trip to Wallowa County Oregon this weekend, one of our favorite places.  

We had the pleasure of skiing at Fergeson Ridge, the ski hill operated by the Eagle Cap Ski Club.  Lift tickets (t-bar only) are $15, but the terrain is substantial.  One could get very, very good learning to ski here.  This weekend, even though it is mid January, early season conditions still held due to the low snowfall.  The groomers were icy and parts were covered with what my husband calls "frozen death cookies"--ball bearings of ice.  But the side trails and perimeters were wonderful and full of soft powder.  Getting to some of these areas is a bit of a trek, and at one point, skiing solo, I had the feeling I was being watched--by a cougar.  But it was probably my imagination.

Most people who ski "Fergie" know each other.  The place is run by volunteers.  Even still, everyone is very friendly, even to newcomers.  To say we felt at home in the warming hut is a bit of an understatement.   It was filled with toddlers and nursing mamas, and the woodstove grate was covered with drying kids' clothes.  We shared a set of tiny skis, borrowed free from the shop, with another family who also had a first-time skier, and meals for all of us cost $9--total.  (Granted one grilled cheese sandwich was free after he burned the first two!)

Despite the everybody-knows-everybody mentality, they do try to keep the operation professional.  A sign clearly indicates that dogs should stay leashed and off the runs.  I found this sign to be about 50 percent effective:  the dogs were off the runs, but at least one unleashed dog was finding more exciting things in the parking lot.  Specifically, he found a leftover over ham and cheese sandwich.  A man walking past asked, "is that your dog?", to which I replied, "no, but that was my sandwich."  Note to self:  keep truck bed secure to prevent four-legged thieves!

We also spent a little time at the south end of Wallowa Lake.  I have to say I found it much more enjoyable in the dead of winter, without the summer crowds and noise.  This time, we only heard the muted sounds of snow falling, interrupted by the occasional owl. 

Finally!!

Snow!  And a lot of it!  I can't even believe to tell you how beautiful it was last night.  I had to get up a couple times to respond to the call of "Mama" and each time I almost regretted falling back asleep instead of enjoying the view of the snow covered pear tree from our bedroom window.  When snow covers every surface, it almost seems that it never really gets truly dark.   

I love our little yard at all times of the year.  Granted, I probably love it most in the spring when I am practically dizzy with excitement of my newly emergent bulbs, but the snow is pretty awesome too.   Especially deep, deep mounds of untracked snow.

Last night we skied around the neighborhood.  The friends of ours that bought us the Burley bike trailer bought the ski attachment as well.  This attachment allows an adult to pull the trailer while skiing.  We skied about two miles around the neighborhood, and timed it perfectly with a power outage.  A cold, dark, quiet, snowy ski around the neighborhood.  Not everyone shovels their sidewalk to Burley-width, adding to the excitement.  The power was still out when we returned, so we went out for pizza.  Can a day really be any more perfect?