Nature played an April Fool’s joke on us yesterday (Friday), a lovely, balmy day, making us think that spring and better weather were finally here.
I shopped in the morning while Mike worked. In the afternoon the three of us (Nellie, too) enjoyed a geocaching hike at Hells Gate State Park. We failed to reckon with the fact that during this final weekend of spring break, many other families would be enjoying such a beautiful, warm afternoon. Traffic on Snake River Avenue was terrible (Idaho terrible -- not California terrible). I counted at least 20 camper units in the park.
It was so warm (75) that I was uncomfortable in my long-sleeved black sweatshirt. It was so warm that Nellie, who doesn’t like the heat, made several forays into the cold, cold water of the Snake River. Believe me, the river is still really cold, this being spring run-off. It won’t be warm enough for me until August and even then I’ll struggle to get in, but cold water doesn’t bother Nellie. She loved it when Mike threw a stick into the river for her to fetch. And when we came upon a young woman throwing sticks and balls for her golden retriever to chase in the river, Nellie said, “Hey, I know that game,” and joined in. We all laughed as Nellie stole the lab’s tennis ball which Mike subsequently returned to the owner surreptitiously. We might have exchanged pleasantries with that gal if she hadn’t been engrossed in a cell phone conversation.
About 9:30, as Mike was preparing to brush Nellie’s teeth and put her to bed, we noticed she seemed unusually nervous. Apparently she had noted the oncoming storm before we did. Lightning flashed, thunder clapped, the wind came up. The rain commenced just as Mike re-entered the house from the kennel. The initial heavy storm passed but the rain continued off and on through the night. I thought of the campers – especially the tent campers – at Hells Gate and was grateful for our snug bed.
Today is a chilly, blustery day and the forecast for the next week seems to indicate more unsettled weather. Therein lies the joke: yesterday was just a random warm day; the weather is still unsettled. My seed packets (peas and spinach) will remain unopened for now. As you can see, the crocus are gone and the daffodils are struggling against the wind. The rock garden needs to be "weeded." (The drought-tolerant perennials are weeds to some folks.) KW
What a beautiful photo of Nellie in the river. The horizontal black & blue lines of the water and Nellie blending into the design. You couldn't paint a scene like this. The photographer had a good eye and the result is a perfect shot.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely here, too, yesterday. I stopped by Ann's and the boys were outside in the sun. They came in for lunch and Ann suggested they go back out and enjoy the day. She reminded them that Eric had told them it probably would be the only nice day for the next three months! Funny, but oh so true!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leah, for complimenting my "point and shoot" skills.
ReplyDeleteHi Chris! Three months -- about the Fourth of July. I remember years ago someone said to me that the weather here isn't dependably summer until after the Fourth of July. But perhaps we'll have some nice days between now and then.
That photo of Nellie in the river is so good you ought to enlarge it and put on the wall!
ReplyDeleteOne time Mom or Dad took a photo of Nellie on point in a dirt field speckled with snow. Her brown and white coloring made her almost camouflaged against the background. I pursued getting it published in a hunting magazine, which I think they would have done, but the resolution setting was too low.
ReplyDeleteIt's rainy and cold here in Seattle (surprise).
That particular photo was reminiscent of the works of Bev Doolittle.
ReplyDelete