Tonight at about 6 PM the temperature went to Zero and 20 minutes later it was -0.6°F. The airport, 5 miles south and a bit lower elevation is claiming 4° ~ ~ I’ve been about 3 degrees lower than there for the week. Cameron and Phyllis are bringing a weather station when next they come over. Maybe it will track the airport better than I do now – or not. The National Weather folks in Pendleton, OR expect the low about Midnight. There’s no wind and the region’s blades on the wind towers have ceased turning. Update: at 8 PM clouds moved over and the temperature came back up a little. 50 miles south at Yakima there have been clouds all evening – there it is 20° warmer.
My electricity comes from the big 
river just to my east. Woody Guthrie was hired by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), to write songs. Guthrie was 28 years old and unemployed, and the BPA needed to promote the benefits of building dams. Guthrie moved his family from California to Oregon, and was paid $266 a month to write songs. He came up with 26 songs in 30 days, including a tribute to the Columbia River.
“Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on”
I’ve been watching and listening to Ken Burn’s film about Country Music – also a gift from Phyllis and Cameron. I have 4 more hours to go.
I-90 was closed for a long time because of fog and snow. Shortly after they opened, a truck with hazardous material crashed and there was a second 2 hour closure. Tonight the road is open; WA DOT lists it as “moving.”
Allen came twice this week to plow the snow. We haven’t had enough that the truck and I mind, but Annie has a problem – there are 7 to 10 inches. She does fine where he has plowed. Little birds and quail are eating all the seeds I put out. The turkeys seem to have moved on.
Thursday and Friday the remodeling got a spurt of activity. The guys decided working inside would be smart. A new Knotty Pine wall and much of the finish work got done. Willy’s wife, Amber, called and wanted to know if I had firewood for a bonfire. Jessie’ pickup had some room so we loaded as much as would fit. It is too cold for me, but I hope they have fun.
The photo below shows what I intend to do during the last hours of 2021.
From the cold Naneum Fan
John