This week we both came down with colds. Then, in addition to sub-zero temperatures, the snows returned . . . so there were no excursions.
On the upside, the greatest luxury of being retired is you’re no longer enslaved to the clock. There are no places we have to be, meetings or work that demands our attention.
Winter’s chill just out the window
This means that our week consisted of a tissue box, cup of hot tea and a good book, all nestled in front of the fire.
February snows burden pine boughs
I guess if you’re going to have the sniffles it’s best during a winter storm. We’ll have to see what next week holds, but already cold symptoms are abating.
Once again weather dictates plans. A winter storm watch that didn’t materialize last week, showed up this week and brought along a foot of new snow.
Central Oregon winters are a mix of clear cold, then broken when a front shoves storm clouds across the Cascade range. Last week started almost spring-like and then came this week and a return to shoveling snow.
It’s not impossible to travel in these conditions, just easier to wait for the inevitable string of clear days.
Tomatillos in the Cuisinart for Verde Salsa
In that waiting we managed to accomplish a few home based projects. Starting with the pantry.
Skyr Yogurt
Braised Red Cabbage
Cold winter days are a perfect time to start up a canning operation and restock soups, sauces, stews and chili.
We’re also trying to put up some late season vegetables, like broccoli and carrots. Found a good price on sliced mushrooms, so they got piled into half pint jars and loaded into the canner as well.
Little offsets cabin fever better than a warm meal, good book and comfortable chair. We enjoy that while we wait for the skies . . . and roads . . . to clear.
Weather finally softened this week and we headed to the river to fish. Fishing doesn’t stop in winter it just takes a different form.
The Crooked River is a ‘tailwater” . . . that is, its flow is regulated by a dam. On a tailwater, levels can fluctuate dramatically, sometimes in a matter of hours.
This inconsistent flow is offset by more constant water temperatures. The mix is good for the aquatic insects, fish food, that cling to the rocky stream bottom.
In winter months a fish feeds mostly on small aquatic invertebrates, most of them less than a quarter inch long. For that reason one employs a different method casting to winter waters.
The Canyon walls can close off the sun by early afternoon. But on days where the wind is light a few hours of midday sun will temper the air over icy river water.
Tying winter fly patterns is simple but not easy because the materials are wrapped on very small hooks. To get these bits of thread, fur and wire down to the fish a tungsten bead adds some weight sitting just behind the hook’s eye.
Adornments of silver wire ribbed over purple, red or green thread and topped with a collar of dyed rabbit fur . . . midge patterns . . . . are the choice for this day.
Casting to winter’s fates
But nothing I attached to the end of my line enticed any takes. Getting on the river and taking in it’s sun glazed surface was reward enough. There will be other days to ply the river with my handspun offerings and pretty soon winter will pass.
Winter continues to tempt us with sunny days, then thwart our activities with bitter cold.
For most of the week temperatures hovered in the mid-thirties and mornings started in the teens. Too cold for these old bones.
Scouting fishable water
Towards the end of the week we made a trip to the Crooked River. It had warmed up into the forties, and driven by a case of cabin fever we were ready to get outside.
Cirrus clouds streaked the sky, but some sun managed to shine through. Bowman Dam had been gushing water downstream to near spring levels.
Likely an attempt to prepare for a spring run off from above average snow levels in the mountains.
However, today it was back down to winter levels and the lack of wind made mirror surfaces of the still water.
There was an abundance of bird activity. A rather large flock of Robins darted from willow thicket to stream side . . . only slightly alarmed by our presence.
At one stop we watched a Heron perch on a bolder and survey the stream . . . marveling at the graceful curves of his plumage.
Great Blue Heron on river’s edge
Then he flew by us and headed downriver, perhaps looking for a better roost.
Rock sentinel at the canyon’s entrance
At the reservoir a Bald Eagle flew in a spiral over the water, then plucked a rather large fish from the surface.
It happened so quickly and we were so mesmerized by the aerobatics, that cameras didn’t come out until it was over.
River rock under ice
A final un-documented, bird sighting happened as we turned into our driveway.
A low flying Raven passed just over the hood of our car with a Chinese takeout box in his beak. Not a clue where it came from, but a fitting close to a peaceful day.
Since our last post we’ve extracted ourselves from social media, turned off that stream of ad laden drivel and got reacquainted with reading and our local library.
Toward this end, we shifted our e-reader habits away from the corporate giant. Extracting ourselves from the monolithic Amazon is no easy task and certainly not complete yet. But steps have been taken.
Enjoying a new e-reader and a great mystery
We ‘side loaded‘ a couple thousand books to ePub readers and made connection with the local library via Libby. It was very freeing.
December’s end and January’s start were an endless string of gray skies threatening rain, snow or both. Then, this week the sun returned to the high desert.
Frozen over
In Central Oregon clear winter days start cold, bone chilling cold, but usually that freeze is tempered by midday. We took full advantage of this and headed over to summer lake for a late lunch drive.
We didn’t expect to get much birding but Summer Lake valley offers great vistas and it’s always a nice drive.
A ‘bank of swans” rests at Summer Lake Wild Life Refuge
We watched a flock of trumpeter swans and white fronted geese lounge on an iced over pond.
Caught sight of a few song birds and a pair of Bald Eagles perched on top of a tree.
We also watched a young coyote practice his field mousing skills . . . to little success. It was an enjoyable way to pass the time over a snack lunch.
Winter has for now, softened its face so we’ll take advantage.
