Just ONE reason (and there are many more) the Pacific Northwest state of Oregon is so beautiful is because…we get a lot of rain. True Oregonians don’t measure our annual rainfall in inches. Forget that. We go for yards or meters. That is a lot of wet, and when our yards/meters of precipitation begins to number in the seven, eight or nine month’s duration…that would be (traditionally) September through April, May and/or June… white flags of surrender begin to appear. Enough becomes…enough. Usually to no avail.
This year, however, the bar was raised on the normal and usual expectation of the golden months in our north, Northwest area ending August September. There was a spritz of a sprinkle one day in September and then…nada. Blue skies. More blue skies. It was a stupendous reprieve. An endless summer, if you will. Smiles and frown less brows were every where, as were sleeveless t-tops, bare legs and flip-flops. Euphoria.
Heaven on earth…and no sign of letting up.
Until now…today, Thursday, 10.11.12.
Yes? There’s a comment? About those sequential numbers? I hear you…..
Predicted rain totals for the Portland metropolitan area and surrounding rural area for tomorrow and throughout the weekend could total 1-2 inches rain. There could be 2-5 inches in the mountains and maybe 2-4 on the coast. The flood alert has been sounded. Snow chain advertisements have begun to appear.
We all knew our open windows, warm breezes and lingering sunshine couldn’t and wouldn’t last….which brings me to some visual reflections of where I live…and today begin to hunker down for the dark cave of days to come. Gawd only knows My Reader and I are going to have to remind ourselves, come February 2013, what the sun looked like only months before…and what we did for fun before it began raining yards and yards and yards….with maybe some paralyzing “close down the city” snow… thrown in for good measure.
Let this be fair warning…come February when my white flag begins to wave…a ticket to anywhere but here will be gladly accepted…
Jots from a Small Apt. 
And it’s still here! At least we are going to get about 5 days of relative *warmth* and sunshine starting 11/2. 🙂 Not much reprieve until July 5th, but after this summer hopefully we can all tough it out!!!! Beautiful photos.
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Thank you Ms.Q. for your comment. Enjoy so much all your posts…esp. the bldg. of your brand new house! The fireplace is going to be much used this winter…most likely until JULY!!! Yea for rain…keeps us all complaining and by January…more than obnoxious!! Following you, too……
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Ah yes, saying goodbye to the sun and hello to the gray and rain. I am in Washington’s Pacific Northwest with my fireplace burning and the kids’ summer play toys out in the yard, wet, wet, wet. To put them away means that I have accepted summer is over. Beautiful photos and a great post!
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I’m in California where the sun still shines!!! but am watching the weather reports for Portland.
Burr….I think (briefly) about not flying home to the rain…but you know how tough we can be about our cold/wet weather…AND…love to brag that we “made it through” another season!!
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I am so sorry that I have taken so long to loo and read your blog, it is simply a beautiful. Time, events and memories all rolled into one. Summer has passed that we have enjoyed and like you a wet Autumn is really on the cards. I cannot help it but I just keep looking at your blog and the images of those precious moments of days shared, worked sketches and loved ones being by your side. Have a great week R, and I am sure we will chat soon, regards J
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So smiling here! Always nice to hear from you, and understand about the busy-ness of work…and life. Summer never seems to last long enough…under statement. Would like to purchase the b/w Dandelion photo…if available for reprint? Have specific size in mind. Instructions on how? Thanks.
Always, R.
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Apologies. Couldn’t remember named photo I’m interested in, couldn’t find correct title: DIAMOND DEW DROPS…but now have through searching your website. R.
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I feel your pain. I’ll be flying my own white flag from NJ this winter, only it won’t be visible in the snow . . .
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I just know I shouldn’t complain. A little rain is nothing. There’s always Maine, Alaska…and others…who win the snow depth wars…and never celebrate being the winner. Let me know when your white flag goes up….I’ll raise mine in sympathy!!
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Sending small blow up dinghy, cans of Spam, vast quantities of tea and a camping stove. Watching out each night for white flag. Had so much rain here this year, oh how I can identify. 🙂
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Dinghy arrived. Spam…get this…I love Spam…the eating kind not the “other.” I will be in good stead. Thank you for the supplies….sending you….hugs.
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Hugs received – always love hugs. 🙂
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It’s has been raining a lot here in Singapore. Even now, as I write this, it’s pouring outside my window. But it is lovely still, a respite from the heat. A little melancholic kind of weather. Sometimes, it’s nice.
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The change of one season to the next seems to hold an aire of anticipation, I think, no matter the location. Always nice to hear from you Monica. Thank you for dropping by….
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Hi – I’ve nominated you for the brand new Most Helpful Blogger Award. Break out the tea and cake, we’re celebrating!
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Thank you so much!
You are going to love the cake I’m bringing……!!
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Oh good – no cream though, I’m dairy free.
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Good to know and…
Thank You! again.
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🙂
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I loved visiting your city during the nice weather.
But to see what it’s really like, my girl and I may go back in Feb/March to see if we really can handle all the wet…
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El G…Oh…what fun…a look see? Keep me posted…! Not a secret: even Oregonians get crabby and rain-complain a lot. Just goes with the territory.
Thank you, as always for dropping in…
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I don’t know how you folks do it. We just came off a week of rain and gloom here and I thought I would go bananas.
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They haven’t told you?
You are bananas…..
PS. Trying to shed my “nice” ness so I won’t be noticed at yours and Le Clown’s next dance party.
How’m I doing?
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I like you, Jots. Yes I do. You’re fitting right in.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I live in Minnesota and know whereof you speak. By February 1st we all have cabin fever! Hang in there!
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Personally, Mr. C., it is the anticipation and anxiety of how long is this (scourge of winter) going to last.
Probably not much different from you and yours in Minnesota…..
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The fact that Oregon has one of the highest bicycling rates and is one of the fittest states is impressive given all that rain. 🙂
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Every Oregon newborn is sent home with swim fins and a colour coded (blue/boy, pink/girl) snorkel….and a ringy-dingy bell for their bike….
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Much better than diaper ointment and formula…
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Yes…so much better and practical.
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sat in front of the fire in woolly socks tonight 🙂
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Tis the season………………
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yes … can’t wait till christmas my favourite time of year .
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Great photos! I’m right there with you jots. I’ve lived in Seattle a long time and never seen a more welcoming summer/fall. I keep saying to myself I will store this dry warmth in my mind for later but I’m sure I will be at the front of the line crying the blues in February…hunker down is right! I dug out my sweaters, put away the deck furniture and made reservations at Breitenbush!
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We’ve had the sweetest of summers!! Thank you so much for your comment…you get more rain than we do….buggers…..
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If 7-8 is lay them straight and 9-10 is a big fat hen, what is 10-11-12? You reminded me in NC they had to use 39″ to describe how the tide might rise by 2100 due to global warming as we NC folks would not know what a meter was. Take care, BTG
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Always nice to see your smiling countenance!!!!
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