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.