Category Archives: Weather

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Contemplations in Rain

Contemplations… rain seems to slide the thoughts into pathways made rusty by such a long dry hot spell.  Perhaps it is the sudden release of breathe after tracking so many fires this year.  Or perhaps the moisture lubricates the mind, allowing it to slip and slide here and there.  Out the window from where I sit and type, the rain has stopped again, the plums are huge and purple on the trees near the deck, and brighter light seems to bring a glow to the wet leaves and grass.
Mount Adams still hides her face behind the soft gray veil,  refusing to show her new covering of fresh snow.  I can only assume the peak has this new white gown, based on the reports from Mount Rainer’s Paradise webcams found here.

for example, at this time I see this grouping around the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise.

Also there were reports last night from Mount Hood’s Timberline of 8-9 inches of new snow, and a very happy St. Bernard that lives at the Lodge.

You can see webcams via Timberline here.

Meanwhile, the Snotel site at Surprise Lakes up in Gifford Pinchot National Forest claims no precipitation lately, which makes me wonder if it is actually working!  Or maybe I am reading it incorrectly.  This particular report on the Snotel site shows nearly a full years daily records, beginning 10-1-16.  interesting!

Well, that was an interesting side track in my flowing rain thoughts!  This has been the strangest of years.  I am wondering if we will slide quickly through Autumn and into a harsh winter.  Eternally hoping for the long beautiful Fall weather I love so much, but not so sure i will get it this year.  Might have to content myself with fall colors from previous years such at this:

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You can see many of my best images on my website by clicking here
OR BY choosing Photo Galleries from the page menu in the sidebar.

And now, as I finish up, the RAIN has continued.  I learned some new words this week:
      Petrichor:  pet·ri·chor, ˈpeˌtrīkôr/  (noun)  is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek πέτρα petra, meaning “stone”, and ἰχώρ īchōr, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

also:  a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
“other than the petrichor emanating from the rapidly drying grass, there was not a trace of evidence that it had rained at all”

Pluviophile. a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

​Psithurism

(n.) (obsolete)   The sound of wind in the trees and rustling of leaves.

 

Wishing you all a lovely Autumn, and hopefully no one goes straight from Heat Stroke to Hypothermia!

 

Darlisa (Starlisa)

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From Sun to Hail in One Hour

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This was Saturday afternoon 11/05/16 near Anchor Point, Alaska on the southern Kenai Peninsula, where I nearly got covered with hail at Whiskey Beach. Slideshow with music is posted on the blog post.  I wanted to stay and watch it happen and then I looked at the hill I had to drive up to get out of there. It’s a very very steep windy road already getting white, and I was not at all sure of the van in the icy conditions. Good thing, because by the time I was driving on the highway’s they were solid white and getting slick with about a half inch of hail. Next morning I discovered all the hail balls were perfectly preserved in the freezing temperatures  😀😳

Music is “Soaring” by David Michael of Purnima Productions from the album “Above the Clouds” which can be purchased at this link
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davidmichael22

Follow my blog here starlisablackphotography.com where you can also find links to all my photo sites and social media. 

Photo Gallery can be seen here:  starlisa.smugmug.com   

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As The Days Shorten

My goodness here it is 8:18 AM and barely a hint of distant morning light yet outside here in Anchor Point, Alaska. The days are getting shorter so fast now, and the sun barely times the distant trees at noon. There is a gentle misty rain today, and it has warmed up to 37° already.  Here are a few fun details to make you smile on a rainy day. It’s too dark to take these now, I actually took them yesterday when there was a little bit of sunlight. 

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A Month for Sunsets

Just this week alone there have been several remarkable sunset.  Since the last post I have chased a couple more in White Salmon, Washington.  Funny, I use the term “chased the sunset” as a gauge to how I am doing…or chasing clouds… If I do not say that for awhile, it is time to examine my priorities and take better care of myself!

June 18, 2016, on foot, walking the streets near home looking for a clear view for Mount Hood and the sweet standing wave clouds.

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Same day, a drive up on a hill gave me this view of the Columbia River Gorge at sunset.June18-GorgeSunset-WS_5543

June 19th I was busy in the house and looked out the window and ran out into the street to catch these shots at the twilight hour.

 

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Quiet Splendor

A day of driving about following an interview in Goldendale… the light came out, skies were fascinating, and here are just a few images from today’s adventure.

January 26, 2016

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Fog shrouded hills and fields as I drove into Goldendale on Highway 97.

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Random creek thru the fields off Bickleton Highway

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Returning down Hoctor Road, I was fascinated with the standing wave clouds emanating from the direction of Mount Adams, and then I spotted this seasonal runoff creek. It seemed to make the perfect counterpoint to the clouds.

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Nearly the end of the day, a view of Dalles Mountain from Hoctor Road, and the fog returns.

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Flooding on the White Salmon River

So much rain, so fast; following a snowfall in the mountains and a pineapple express.  Rivers in the Pacific Northwest are as overwhelmingly full and destructive as the fires of summer this year.  Exacerbated by the erosion caused by the fires, the rivers are full of debri from upriver run off and landslides.

December 9, 2015, I took an afternoon drive up to Trout Lake, with stops in Husum to see the flooded Husum Falls.  Sure enough, with the wild waters and occasional big log, a group of kayaks were running these temporary chocolate milk colored class 5 rapids.

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In Trout Lake, parts of town had flooded as well, although downtown did not get hit with floodwaters as bad as the 1996 floods had caused.  The water level was actually higher this time, but ditches had been improved and there were no piles of snow this time blocking off drainage.

There is a cabin in these photos, home of Perry Stephens.  He said his house is fine so far, although water surrounded it up to the deck level due to a big log jam just above his house that is diverting the flow of the river.

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Last but not least, Here is a rainbow I saw along highway 141 as I traveled up the White Salmon River!

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Chasing Raindrops to Glenwood

oooh boy.. I had fun today, sunday afternoon February 8, 2015; chasing light that turned into raindrops and smelled refreshing. Took off north, caught the storm clouds from our place in White Salmon (Mammatus clouds)

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and stopped in Husum to get some shots of the Husum Falls on the White Salmon River, which were raging with high water; at the 6 ft mark on the measuring stick near the bridge.

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Leaving the river, I saw what looked like a Sasquatch track in the road!

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Continuing north on Highway 141, I turned right in BZ Corners on the BZ-Glenwood highway wandering up the curvy canyon road to the Gilmer flats where the Kreps Ranch lives, and there i saw some wild turkeys.

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From there up the next curvy road, through a marshy area at the lower end of the Glenwood Valley and Camas Prairie,

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Somewhere along the journey I caught a photo of a Ponderosa Pine tree trunk… their bark is very distinct and easy to recognize.  The bark gets so thick that the older trees often survive forest fires because the fire seldom burns all the way through into the cambium layer where the sap runs to keep the tree alive.

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After leveling off again on a new level terrain, I turned left on Laurel Rd and sat for awhile listening to the rain and watching the raindrops hit the flooded marsh.  While here i also discovered how to take movies with my camera!

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Turning right on Kreps Lane, I found some cows, and by then it was getting too dark for more images, so I headed on over to visit some friends and family for awhile before heading home.

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Be sure if you travel to Glenwood to explore the area (including Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge) to take time to visit the one little store in town for a snack or some hot pizza. They have some handy supplies in the store, and the owner of the Glenwood General Store is a kind man who has helped out local schools and community functions a great deal.  They even have an awesome Sasquatch carved statue in front of the store!  By the way, they also carry my photo cards 😉

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Currently the town is starting a tourism group in hopes of encouraging visitors to come explore their amazing beautiful high altitude valley near Mount Adams; part of an attempt at reviving the community that has really struggled to survive.
In fact, I encourage you when visiting ANY area that is small and rural, spend some money locally to help the communities.  You can make a difference helping families to stay in their homes, and businesses staying open!