Summer begins on 6/21/09 at 1:45 AM EDT .. that is 10:45 PM tonight PDT.

[DemoTex]

It is currently 42-degrees (F) with a NW wind at 25 gusting to 30 mph. The forecast for my zone and elevation is for snow showers to begin about 15 minutes after summer arrives tonight ("snow showers after 11 pm" is what the dispatcher just read over the radio for the 5 PM fire weather), with a morning low tomorrow between 30 and 34-degrees F.

It reminds me of quips about weather by Will Rogers and Mark Twain. Will Rogers said, talking about Oklahoma weather, "If you don't like the weather wait fifteen minutes and it will change." Mark Twain said of San Francisco, "The coldest winter I ever spent in my life was a summer in San Francisco." Yep. Either/both quotes work for central Oregon this year.

Real-time weather at the Pine Mountain Observatory, nine miles northeast of my lookout:

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. I think I am envious.

110 heat index, and humid.
9:10 pm central time, 85 degrees out. Opening the front door is like getting in the face with hot wet towel.

On the positive side, it is great for one's complexion. If one were foolish enought to be out in it.

Having lived in Wa, Ore, SF, and the SE/South, I appreciate the Happy Solstice snow you are getting.

[DemoTex]

2. I need 80-F to properly function. No more .. no less.

Seriously, the cold and rain and wind have really run me down the past couple of days. But I am originally from LA (Lower Alabama - Mobile) so I know what you mean. Dr. DemoTex and I talk several times a day on Skype, and she tells me how hot and humid it is at home (SC) now .. high 90s.

Nick loves this weather though. Except that I probably keep the heat too high in the lookout. I'm burning some of Uncle Sugar's propane tonight, and I do than you taxpayers!


Nick-Nick

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Hey, cuz !

I am in SW Ala. lived/worked in Mobile for awhile, but rural life ( In the South, natch ) is the only place I wanna be now.
And thank you for what you do, up there in the mighty window.
Having Nick has got to make all the difference.

[NightWatcher]

3. it was in the high 90's all week and 101 today...Summer has already started

have fun up there with your copy of Desolation Angels

[Suich]

4. Wow! That's really cold!

Lots of strange weather these days.

How are the MREs? The wok sounds like a good idea...I use mine a lot.

Hope you get some decent weather soon, Mac!



:hi:

[DemoTex]

5. The Mountain House MREs are very good!

I don't do them every night, but I did a M-H beef stew last night and a chicken and rice tonight. I have some more exotic Backpackers Pantry MREs (Pad Thai, Saigon Noodles) that I haven't tried yet.

Tonight I steamed some fresh broccoli as a side dish to the chicken rice MRE. It really cuts down on the work, especially the clean up. I'm working up a post on lookout tower dish-washing for the next day or so. Here is a teaser photo:


The lookout tower's Fisher-Paykel double-drawer dishwasher. No? Well it takes two drawers to store this stuff (excluding the big wok)

BTW: It is down to 38-degrees at 8:07 PM PDT. Only 2 hrs and 38 minutes 'til summertime!

[Suich]

6. LOL!

Dish-washing, camping-style! Not bad once in a while but a pain to do on a daily basis!

Br-r-r-r-r!

[DemoTex]

7. Mother-of-my-dog it is cold! Down to 35-F now. Light snow shower here.

But summer will be here in less than two hours and all will be warm and well, right? Problem is I can't get warm. Nick is on the sleeping bag, so it should be warm. But I have to go out on the windy side catwalk to kill the generator, and I dread that! The wind just moved a 15-gal galvanized can with two chains and 10# of dog food in it halfway down that section of catwalk. The wind-chill is 26 at Pine Mountain, but the wind is stronger here.

[Lugnut]

8. Happy Summer!

:)