STRANGE WEATHER

A wintry landscape greets the eye wherever one may look, and we’ve had several cold days. Tonight there is a bluish look near the horizon that seems to presage a Chinook. Have had some two inches of snow and frost since Christmas. – Ethel Dobson Robinson, January 1937

So, is this strange weather system a Chinook? Folks don’t seem to talk about Chinooks these days, but my parents did. I regret that I didn’t pay attention. Oh yes, there’s an article on Wikipedia, but it seems complicated. How would I know if the wind is coming off the eastern side of the mountains?

Or, is it a January thaw? According to the Farmer’s Almanac website, a January thaw usually occurs in the last week of January, but as we know, the weather is not bound to rules. Chris wonders if the thaw is early.

There’s also “false spring,” and I had thought of that since our highs and lows are within ten degrees and above freezing. This can be dangerous if fruit trees begin to blossom and then a freeze occurs. I would really love for our fruit trees to blossom and bear this year.

Maybe this is just a lull – a break between cold spells, or perhaps winter is over. As always, we just have to wait and accept what comes with grace. KW 

2022 HOLIDAY RECAP

Shirley Jean was thrilled to be allowed to tie gifts on the tree. She hung up her stocking at the fireplace, and Dad did too, as he usually does when a grandchild is here. – Ina Dobson, Christmas 1936. (Shirley Jean was Ina and Julian’s 10-year-old granddaughter; “Dad” was Julian.)

Watching football

Mom's old bin of toys

Mike and I are not yet great-grandparents, but given our ages, we could even be great-great grandparents. However, in 2021, we received a special gift through Hallie and Nick – another grandchild, Silas. Due to distance and winter weather, we have never spent Christmas with a grandchild, though we have had some memorable Halloweens.

Sharing Grandma's breakfast

Reading with Mom

But this year, Silas came for an early Christmas with us. In my mind’s eye, I could see him toddling around the yard at the farm, making a snowman with his dad and coasting down the lane cradled between his mother’s knees, but alas! – it was not to be. We were disappointed, but we knew snow would prevent access to the farmhouse, so we stayed at the little town house where we enjoyed the antics of this 14-month-old boy. I will cherish the memory of this Christmas with little Silas.

Helping Grandma with her sippy cup

The weather in that week before Christmas was frightful – so cold with some snow showers. Hallie, Nick, and Mike walked the dogs, but Silas and I mostly stayed in the house. Christmas weekend saw the temperatures warming, but the streets were treacherous with a layer of ice. Hallie and her family left on Christmas Eve to return to Seattle, but Snoqualmie Pass was closed, and with extra stops to take care of Silas, it was 10:30 p.m. when they arrived at their house.   

Music with Uncle Murray

Yes, that’s right. Our family left just as it was officially Christmas, but Santa came to our house early. Then we had a lovely quiet Christmas Eve dinner with son Clint and Elisha, including son Murray. Christmas Day was a time of quiet contemplation, planning projects, and football. With the warming trend (it was above freezing Christmas Day), Mike scraped the snow and ice off the driveway with the 4-wheeler blade, making it much safer to navigate on foot.

This morning (Tues., Dec. 27), it’s 38 degrees -- that’s warm – and we have both wind and flood advisories. KW

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS -- I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS -- DAY 24

A Thomas Nast Illustration

 

SNOW AND COLD – DAY 23

At Christmastime in 1933, my Aunt Lynn (Myrtle Dobson) wrote about her trip from Portland to visit her parents, Ina and Julian Dobson, at the family farm on Russell Ridge south of Orofino, Idaho:

"I got through in good time. The train was five hours late into Lewiston and we used all the tracks north and south bank, but still I got in in plenty of time to catch the stage to Orofino. Ed Ingram came for me and we had a hard time making it in from the highway. Six inches of snow on top of soft roads. There was a heavy mantle of snow over all the trees. I got a picture of the house before the snow began to go, but we will have more, I hope."

On Dec. 31, 1933, Grandma Ina wrote:

"The snow is all gone off in a rain and dreadful reports from California over the radio last night – 12 inches of rain in 30 hours, lives lost, damage to houses, bridges, roads, etc. We never had such work before at this time of year."

And on Jan. 14, 1934, Ina wrote:

"No one here can recall such rain and floods at this time of year ever and we had such high winds for a week or more."

2022:

We have watched the cold and snow blanketing the U.S. on the nightly news, wreaking havoc with holiday plans across the nation. And beginning tomorrow, high temps move into the 40s with no freeze in the foreseeable future. Crazy! That’s the forecast. We’ll see what happens.  

Most folks are still getting ready for Christmas, but for us it’s winding down. Our visiting family will leave tomorrow. We will celebrate with other family, and then we’ll settle down for some quiet activities. KW

WEATHER WORRIES PAST & PRESENT -- DAY 22

 

Henry and Shirley stayed over till Monday a.m. and we got up to about a foot of wet snow, so Dad hitched up the new team and hooked onto the car at the mailbox hill, and took them clear to the highway. He rode on the left fender hooking his right leg over the radiator cap. -- Ina Dobson, New Years 1938

As Christmas 2022 approaches, we expect cold temps overnight and snow tomorrow (Dec. 23). Daughter Hallie and family have been visiting us since Monday and intended to return to Seattle tomorrow. However, we're watching the road reports. 

INA'S CHRISTMAS, 1934 -- DAY 21

Christmas morning found me enjoying a good nap when Dad called “Merry Christmas.” I rose tardily to begin my 1934 Christmas. Dad went to “feed the chores” and I began breakfast: biscuits and sausage for him; beefsteak, cream gravy, and light bread for me. We also had grapefruit, cereal, cranberries, and honey oranges. I gave Dick [the dog] a generous breakfast of meat scraps, etc., and the cats also with liver to top it off and wished them all a “Merry Christmas.” I then fell to work and was all done and dressed and fixing my apples for salad when the guests came. Others helped me light the tree and arrange seats. It looked very pretty and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.

SANTA IS CHECKING HIS LIST -- DAY 20

 

THE PRETTIEST SIGHT TO SEE – DAY 19

I ranted a bit the other day about the price of live wreaths this year. I resolved not to pay $30+ for a throw-away wreath, however lovely. Imagine my holiday delight when I went to Albertsons yesterday and discovered the price had been reduced to $16.99. It was the first item in my cart! I’m so glad to have such a nice big wreath on the front door, even if it does lack a bow and some lights. We still have days before Christmas. We’ll see what more I get done. KW  

CHRISTMAS ANTHEMS AT CHURCH -- DAY 18

Did I tell you that our teacher, Miss Dorothy Johnson, has organized a singing group and that we’ve been meeting at Miller’s to practice? We sang two Christmas anthems for church Sunday and they went very well, though they could have gone better, but it helped the service anyway. – Shirley Dobson, Christmas 1932

 

I love Aunt Shirley’s comment on the singing group’s performance: it went very well; maybe not so well; but it helped the service anyway. I’m sure the musical offerings did help the service and were inspiring to the congregants. It's possible the circuit minister wasn't there that Sunday, and in that case, the group's performance would have expanded the service. KW

INA PREPARES GOODIES FOR CHRISTMAS – DAY 17

Ina’s letters to my dad are some of my favorite holiday reading. I never tire of imagining her bustling about her farmhouse home, doing all the little things that make Christmas meaningful for others. They were little things by today's standards, and yet, I find them meaningful in their simplicity. 

This section in which Ina describes Christmas preparations (1934) is an inspiration to me because none of her children were home that year. She wrote to son Vance as follows:

Ina' Fireplace

“Well, to continue and go on, after one late dinner I made donuts for I must have fresh donuts for Christmas, and you know 'do-nuts and coffee never hurt anyone.' That evening after all was cleared away, Dad popped two kettlefuls of lovely corn and we sugared one and put taffy over the other. We heaped a large platter with balls till Dad said, 'Oh, that’s enough,' for he wanted some left to eat. Well, I sent him off to the living room to eat and read.

“Then I prepared my dressing and sweet potatoes for the morrow and put my buns to rise, for I’d baked light bread and roasted beef too. At last, I repaired to my seat before the fire with a pan of sugared corn, nuts and candy and filled eleven little Christmas boxes for the tree.

“Then I fell upon the boxes [of received gifts]. Ethel’s was wrapped with green string and I cut this off to tie on packages, being foolish about green string for my tree packages . . . The packages were all so pretty and I had a great time -- hung them on the tree and under it.” KW

CHRISTMAS LITERATURE

On the whole Sunday went off pleasantly. I made my pumpkin pies for the dinner, and in the evening, Dad popped two kettlefuls of corn and I put molasses and sugar taffy over it. Very good! We heard part of A Christmas Carol over the radio and various other good music. – Ina Dobson

I love Christmas literature. From classics like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and A Visit from St. Nick to contemporary mystery novels and holiday romances, if it's about Christmas, I'm interested. 

My favorite seasonal podcast is Brian Earl’s “Christmas Past,” and this year he has published a book, also titled Christmas Past. I haven’t bought it yet, but it calls to me from Amazon. However, I do have a new book this year, – Letters from Father Christmas, a compilation of the annual Christmas letters penned by J. R. R. Tolkien to his children between 1920 and 1940. How wonderful not only to have such an imagination but be able to convey it in writing! I look forward to reading it as soon as the Christmas “doings” wind down. 

Also, Alexa reads Christmas novels to me as I work in the kitchen. Most of those aren’t great literature, and if I don’t like what I'm hearing, I just move to the next novel in my Audible library.

I don’t know about you, but I must focus a bit on what I will do in January. It’s a dark month and my mood can be dark, too, unless I promise myself that Christmas isn't over when it's over. It works for me to think of Christmas as a fresh start. KW

REDECORATING THE TREE – DAY 15

Our new pre-lit Christmas tree was delivered yesterday. You might recall that I didn’t expect it until mid-January, but they updated the order, and here it is. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, I spent more than an hour fluffing it, and then I took down the previous tree and decorated the new one. I could have just stored the new tree in its compact box and waited until next year, but I thought it would be good to donate the old one to the thrift store while someone might still be looking for a tree.

The new tree is the “umbrella” type. The branches are hinged and fold down. It’s not as pretty as the old tree but will be more fun to decorate. 

I wish I had a few more ornaments at my disposal. I HAVE ORNAMENTS – just not at this house. I need to sort ornaments and pare down my collection, but it won’t be easy, and when it’s not the Christmas season, I just don’t get to it. Hmmmm. I feel a New Year’s resolution coming on . . .

One year, as I helped my mother decorate the tree, she said, “Kathy, we need more ornaments. Let’s go down town.” The hardware store in our little town sold ornaments that were as lovely as any at the Crescent in Spokane or Marshall Field in Boston. I don’t remember how many ornaments Mother bought that day – maybe a dozen, maybe more. She loved a tree that was full of ornaments. KW

MR. & MRS. CLAUS -- DAY 14

In reviewing my digital images yesterday, I came across this wonderful photo of my mother and dad, Dorothy and Vance Dobson, taken after Christmas in 1959. My dad had set a timer on the camera, and they were having fun.

Mother and Daddy were of one mind when it came to making Christmas for the people they loved. They were like Mr. & Mrs. Claus at the North Pole. Time, place, and people came together, and they made the most of it. They were great! KW

DECORATING THE MANTEL – DAY 13

We had two mantels now so hung the stockings again and [eventually] I crocheted granny square covers for them. Finally stockings were hung at both mantels. – Dorothy Portfors Dobson

You are lucky if you have a mantel as a focal point for your holiday decorating. And if you have a mantel, this means you also have a chimney – Santa’s preferred method of entree. Some of us have to leave a key under the doormat.

In 1963, the Osmond Brothers Quartet (which, by the way, did not include little brother Donnie), released a Christmas album which included the song, “Santa, No Chimney,” and this album, a gift from my Uncle Earle, is still in my collection. You can hear the Osmonds sing “Santa, No Chimney,” at this link, and they also sang it on Andy Williams’ show (here). Here are a few verses:

On Christmas morning, Santa
I sure wanna be surprised
But sir, without a chimney
How could you get inside?

I think I have a plan of what I’m gonna do
I’ll leave the key beneath the front doormat for you
Cause when you get to our house
You will see
We haven’t got a chimney.

Livingroom Mantel, 1951

As described in my mother’s words above, we had two fireplaces in the home of my youth and hence, two mantels. Over the years, both mantels were decorated for Christmas, especially the one in the living room. The stockings were hung by that chimney with care, and eventually the family grew to the point that we had to hang them on both mantels.

Livingroom mantel, 197?

I don’t have a mantel. When the fireplace at the farmhouse was rebuilt, I was startled to discover that the mason included only a brick ledge. It hadn’t occurred to me that I should specify my desire for a real mantel – and maybe it wouldn’t have been possible. We call that ledge a mantel, but it doesn’t inspire decorating. In town, we have no mantel and few “decorable” surfaces.

Fortunately, Santa is magic. He will find a way to visit us, especially little Silas. KW

BE YOURSELF! ENJOY WHAT YOU LOVE - DAY 12

 According to an email article from the Meredith Corp. (Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, etc.) entitled “8 Outdated Holiday Decorating Trends to Avoid” (Dec. 6), I’m making all kinds of Christmas decorating mistakes. First and foremost, I’m still decorating my tree with my collection of vintage ornaments. My collection has been an annual “add to” for as many years as I can remember, but Martha and her “experts” think that this is an outdated look. Well, isn’t that why we call it an old-fashioned Christmas tree? Isn’t Christmas all about memories, friends and family, tradition? Can tradition ever be outdated? I happen to love this look, and who are they to tell me that it’s a mistake?!

They had more to say, too – like get rid of your Christmas cactus because it’s boring and trade in your tree skirt for something called a “cap” – but by this point I was so offended that I quit reading. It’s one thing to present suggestions and quite another to word it in an offensive manner.

Who are they talking to anyway? The wealthy? I happen to think we’re darn lucky, even blessed, if we have food and shelter in today’s world.

And I can tell you – if I tossed all of my ornaments in favor of a new style, no one in my family would be impressed. My daughter would worry that I’d undergone a personality change, and the guys wouldn’t notice at all.

I saw just one comment on that article which began, “OR, you can do what you love . . .” My sentiments exactly.

A few years ago, I commented to daughter Hallie that some of my ornaments are tarnished and probably shouldn’t be used. She replied that pre-tarnished ornaments can be purchased – you know, for that dated look.

Some of the ornaments on my tree date back to WWII and before. And then there’s the sweet Santa face from the Dollar Tree. Another Santa was made from a shotgun shell, a gift from Mike’s hunting buddy. You get the picture. My ornaments have stories.

Well, that’s my rant for the day. Hmmmph! (Oh! And yes, I did unsubscribe from “Holidays and Celebrations.” These aren’t my people.) KW

A TRIP TO THE PAST - DAY 11

A trip to the farm is always a trip to the past. Even though we have updated the farmhouse, it’s still the same house where so much life happened so long ago. It was not only my grandparents’ home but also their livelihood.

We had hoped to spend the week before Christmas at the farm, but the forecast is for cold and snow. We were thinking we shouldn’t try to have our holiday celebration there, but just to be sure, we decided to go now and check on the house and grounds. Our decision to spend Christmas in town was solidified. It’s good to know. Now we can plan.  

The Gilbert Grade is snow floor and slick from bottom to top. It was a winter wonderland – trees laden with snow and a sea of white on top.

Plank's Pitch

We left the pickup at the neighbor’s place, about half a mile from our house. Mike and Bess left me in the pickup and walked in to get the 4-wheeler and trailer, the plan being to ferry back and forth from the house to the pickup with baskets of stuff for town. However, the 4-wheeler got stuck in drifted snow near the top of Plank’s Pitch about 100 yards from the pickup. Mike eventually pulled it out with the pickup, but it was clear we had to abandon the ferrying plan. 

So, while Mike worked with the 4-wheeler, Bess and I gathered stuff for a good Christmas in town – a warm blanket, three jigsaw puzzles, a couple of games, and sundries. In my imagination, Grandma Ina was addressing Christmas cards by the warmth of the kitchen stove. It was cold in the present farmhouse – 40 outside but colder than that in the house.

Nervous Bess creates a safe haven

Bess won’t run with the 4-wheeler, and until Mike trained her last summer, she wouldn’t even get in the box on the back. She rode in the box willingly yesterday, but there was no place for her when we made our final trip out. Instead, she climbed on the seat between Mike and me so that he had to ride standing up. And when we got to the pickup, Bess curled into a ball under the pine tree, totally put off by that harrowing experience.

It took Mike about half an hour to load and secure the 4-wheeler in the bed of the pickup. We arrived in town about 3:15. After chili and apple/berry crisp, we were ready for relaxation and a long winter’s nap. KW

Cottonwood Butte