By Sue KILPATRICK The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. – Henry Van Dyke, American author and Clergyman No “super moon” visible here, but spring’s ferocious beginning on Sunday certainly made up for it. The torrential […]
Another winter is slowly coming to an end. The passing of seasons may be marked on a calendar, but nature and weather set their own time for change. Last year as summer turned to fall, I began to watch one certain liquid amber tree in our neighbor’s yard. As Christmas came and went, Santa Ana […]
By- Sue KILPATRICK “May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields.” – IRISH BLESSING Have you noticed how green our mountains have become? This year the weather has provided perfect conditions, encouraging native grasses and wild flowers to re-emerge on the hillsides left barren after the blazing fires […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “I’m going where the sun keeps shining thru’ the pouring rain” – Fred Neil, composer of music used in the movie “Midnight Cowboy” Weather preference can be compared to movies. Last Sunday was Hollywood’s big night – The Academy Awards. This year the Oscar goes to….? Well, as usual, there was a […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “For tomorrow may rain so I’ll follow the sun.” — The Beatles This rain (and snow) season seems to be one of constant weather change. About the time we adjust our lives to days of cold and rain – new windshield wipers, wet dogs, a fire in the fireplace and an umbrella […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “Wind changed to the No. Wt. (northwest) blew very hard and turned very cold …left on my return to Mt Vernon…”” — George Washington, March 9, 1797. Excerpt of his last weather report as he departed Philadelphia for his final journey home. George Washington was a farmer. Oh yes, he was also […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “Sad Winter now declines…, Each bird doth choose a mate; This day’s Saint Valentine’s” — Michael Drayton, English poet, Renaissance Period The calendar says, “Winter”, as do the leafless trees. But, my time outdoors this past week whispered, “Spring”. Days were filled with sunshine and temperatures on the weekend reached 80 degrees. […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “Groundhog Day-Half your hay” — American Farmer’s Lore, 19th Century No matter the actual weather conditions on Feb. 2, which is Groundhog’s Day, winter is far from over. If a farmer didn’t have half his hay remaining around this date, there may have been lean times for the cows and other livestock […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “Through woods and mountain passes. The winds, like anthems, roll.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Last week, as predicted, Santa Ana winds came blasting through the canyons and into the Crescenta Valley. The remaining autumn leaves were blown from the trees leaving our lawns and streets covered in the past season’s natural décor. […]
By Sue KILPATRICK “A seedling springs forth from the ground. Nature’s cycle goes round and round.” — S. Edward Palmer In the late 1800s this Englishman traveled the world as a medical doctor, botanist, self-proclaimed anthropologist and poet. Little did he know he would be quoted by an amateur weather watcher as she wrote about […]