Dear Family,
“Thought I would jot a short note back home, although the local weatherman said there wasn’t anything to write home about. It has been pretty quiet out here in Washington state and Vancouver. The calendar says it is December, and today is the first full day of winter, although things are pretty quiet.
Haven’t had much rain or wind but lots of fog, and had to scrape the ice off my windshield a few times. Guess that was the highlight of the month. I tried to go snowboarding last weekend, but there wasn’t enough snow to make it safe, and couldn’t cross-country ski, either, because the logs and underbrush were not covered enough.
I headed to the beach the other day, where the sun was shining and flew my kite. I had the whole stretch of beach to myself. Had the wear my sunglasses, as the sun was so bright, and I even had a chance to sit on a blanket and read a book, as it was about 60 degrees.
Normally I go down to the coast for storm-watching in December, but there haven’t been any to watch. I did watch a few on the Weather Channel the other night just for fun.
Remember that old wood stove Grandpa gave me? Well, haven’t had a chance to fire it up; there has been a burn ban on fireplaces, inserts and old wood stoves due to the inversion overhead. Guess that is why it was 55 degrees while I tried having fun in the snow-deprived mountains but had to scrape the ice off my windshield here in town before I drove off. Crazy, huh?
I really miss Grandpa’s old stove, so I went out and bought one of those electric fireplaces and came home and plugged it in. Looks kind of realistic, and it blows out a little heat but sure looks funny sitting next to that basket of firewood. My woodpile is still stacked high, and the squirrels are enjoying their acrobatics running across the logs. They stand up and stare at me through the window when I sit in front of that electric fireplace. I think they are mocking me.
The weather guy says it might rain again after Christmas. Maybe so, but I am afraid I will have to go out and cut my lawn sometime on Christmas between opening my stocking and presents and dinner. Yeah, the grass is still growing out here.
Well, hope everyone is doing well, and I will write another letter as soon as the weather changes and there is something to write home about. Merry Christmas.”
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.
