Keeping track

Weather related;
Naneum Fan: Tonight** Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as zero. North wind around 7 mph.
** Meaning 8 AM Monday
Washington D.C. will be 23° with 30 mph winds at Noonish when the inauguration takes place.
A small piece of tooth on an old filling broke off. I hope my dentist hasn’t gone to Arizona for January.
Thursday Phyllis and Cameron picked me up in Kittitas and we went to Toppenish, 50 miles south of me. The purpose was to visit the Yakama Nation Cultural Center. The tall building is a large reconstruction of a winter lodge. It is used for many functions, but nothing was happening, so we skipped it. We went to the museum.

There are many displays explaining the natural surroundings and how the ancestors used and interpreted their environment. The right side image below has Mt. Adams in the background. It is on the western edge of the Nation, 55 miles from the Cultural Center. Mt. Adams has a prominent role in their history and cultural.
Any travelers through Washington State should consider a visit. There is a small fee.

I brought enough firewood into the house to last for two days. There is only one period of single digit temperature. Of course, the National Weather isn’t always accurate.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan

John H

Longer daylight is becoming noticeable, or would be if the fog would go away. That is expected Saturday through Monday. I’m getting 8 hours 45 minutes. This is 14 minutes, 34 seconds longer than the December solstice (Dec 21, 2024). For the dates near the solstice there is almost no change. Now we are gaining over 1 ½ minutes each day.
The cold air in Canada is quite far away – in Manitoba and heading over Hudson Bay. At 8 PM Friday it is still 38°F here at the house. A 14 day forecast has us remaining somewhat the same. It has been hovering below 40 since October. Seems to be compensation for the very cold we had in December 2023. Suits me.

Thursday morning an icy fog rolled across the Naneum Fan. My covered ramp had ice half way up, about 12 feet. The roads were a bit tricky. I had to go to the winery and left at about 10 minutes to 8:00. The turn 2.5 miles south had the back end of the truck sliding some. 1.5 miles east at the next turn I didn’t notice an issue and after that the roads were good, except for a 60mph fog going over Ryegrass Summit – about 2,500 feet elevation.
There were no road accidents on my travels, but there seems to be a number of head-on collisions in the State. In the latest, a small (older) pickup hit a large (modern) one. A photo shows a deployed air bag in the new vehicle with a responder at the driver’s side at an open door. The driver’s side of the other truck is crushed beyond recognition. Air bags became standard in 1998 and this little truck looks like a late 1970s model.

On another highway (SR #18) there was a 6 car pileup: “A car on its roof was pushed up onto the hood of the car behind it, and the latter car was partially under an SUV behind it. The back end of the SUV was on top of the car behind it.” This road is one of the most dangerous in the State.

Back to the winery: We bottled 80 cases of a mix-red called Trinidad Red. The name comes from the now gone railroad stop named after a town in Colorado, and land scam promoted on the site where the vines and winery now are. Sites on the web claim Trinidad is a ghost town but there were only drawings used on the east coast to promote sales. There never was a town.

Pictures are being posted: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is falling toward the sun for a (possibly fatal) close encounter on Jan. 13th. The “2024 G3” is important when searching. So far it is just a speck.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

My birthday . . .

In the upper left of the above image, note “Happy 81st. I intended to stay inside at home on my birthday. Loud noises prompted me to step outside. A fireworks display awaited me. Someone in the neighborhood must have orchestrated this. How they managed the “Happy 81st I have no idea.
The actual colors are from the chemicals, some shown below:

This week, nothing much happened here this last of ’24 and beginning of 2025. Off and on it snows and when it stops there is fog. Sunday or Monday may be clear and above freezing by Noon. A run to town is in order.
Our air is very much coming from the Pacific. It is flowing on to land down where Oregon and California meet. By the time it makes the 400 mile journey to here the temperature drops from 55 to 35 degrees; at night a little less.
The cold air in the mid-part of the USA is totally missing west of the continental divide. I use a web site named Ventusky to see temperatures and snow.
By next Thursday morning the temperature in Iowa is expected to be about 8°F. The cold will continue moving south and east. Clarion PA – – my hometown – – should get down to about 13. I’ll check those numbers next weekend. Many years ago – – the winter of 1968 (or ’67) – – I was in Iowa City and the temperature went to 30 below. Ouch!

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

Christmas morning on the Naneum Fan

Early in the fall I was with folks interested in seeing the Northern Lights. On one occasion they drove 30 miles to look for a display over a lake. Pictures on their iPhones showed faint blue and green streaks. The viewers expressed that the phone videos were more colorful than their unaided eyesight views. We tried it later, and sure enough, the phone video always looked more impressive.
I think my sunrise photos suffer from the same technicality. The colors are intense – almost like there was a wildfire on the horizon. My perspective was not quite so intense. I ought to run the image through a filter to make it more realistic – less flashy.
I wonder if there is and “app” for that?

Phyllis and Cameron had me for Christmas (lunch time). There was some snow on the ground but about one o’clock snow began. This is a place that only get 9 inches of precipitation per year and this is the time of year for it. The heavy snow lasted for 2 hours. Very pretty and impressive. When I got home at dusk – expecting sever inches – there was none.
30 miles NW of me the area near Roslyn, where the TV series Northern Exposure was ‘filmed’, they got a foot or more.

Other than keeping the fire going in the wood stove and not winning the big Mega Millions lottery (I didn’t have a ticket), the week was uneventful.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

A few weeks ago while pulling out of a tight spot at an EBRG gasoline station I scraped the rear passenger side of the truck on a pole with both gray and red paint. Both colors spread across the panel in multiple thin streaks. Ouch. There were more streaks than I wanted for a DIY job so I was ignoring it.
Thursday: While searching for a parking space in the Union Gap COSTCO a man saw this paint job and caught up to me. He was a paint fixer and so we talked. While I shopped he fixed. He had all the necessary stuff in his truck – except [we learned] his credit card (manual) imprinter. Without a checkbook we were flummoxed.
Using a phone search we located a branch of my bank 4 miles away, and so away we went. I explained the problem to the clerk, signed a withdrawal slip, took the cash, handed it to Mr. Fix-it, and was headed home.
Of course the question remains: Was this cheaper than going to an EBRG paint shop or the Ford Dealer? He said so! This will remain one of life’s mysteries. The truck looks like new.
That morning I stopped by the CWU Parking office to check about an odd email they had sent. That came because Nancy’s free retirement sticker information needed to be updated. That was easily solved. That info was deleted. The one I have now is via the Foundation and begins in September of a year.
Alan came and plowed the snow out into the pasture. That was Wednesday morning. A total of about a foot of snow had fallen during the previous five days. It was sagging and wasn’t a problem but the issue was a cold period that would freeze the wet snow into an 8 inch ice cover. We can drive over that but it’s not fun. His drive way (220 yards) is twice as long as mine. He did his and then came and cleaned places where he knows I drive and need to get to – the firewood, for instance. His news was about another neighbor that had a heart attack while working in a shed. He was saved by the good timing of someone looking for him – CPR – and a rush to the EBRG ER and then Yakima Heart Center. We are 25 minutes, or more, away from an EMT rescue so personal transportation saves time – if possible.
Weather into January is stable – near freezing with a little rain and or snow, with fog.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

My Ford 150 is a 2019 with Goodyear original tires. I ruined one of those by getting a Washington Hawthorn tree thorn through the sidewall. Les Schwab had a similar replacement. With 37,000 miles on the original tires they are more than halfway into their life. I figure I will never buy another truck but doing nothing about the tires would mean from now on I would be running on less than adequate tires. That might be for 5 years.
My choice was to replace all four tires with new ones or ignore the issue and run the old tires.In two or three years I might need the replacements and then only, for me, get a couple of year’s use of them. On Tuesday, I went to Les Schwab and got new tires with a 70,000 warranty. They are a little more aggressive tread than the original but still meant for year-round use.
The various costs per tire, except for $107.17 Tax and a $4.00 tire fee (?), are listed on the diagram. The total for 4 tires is $1,387.01. The psychology for the costs ending in 0.99 eludes me.
If I keep and drive the truck for 10 years (not likely), I can wear them out at a cost of $138 per year. I drive only about 7,000 miles per year. If I drive for 5 years, the truck can be sold with still decent tires.

There was 3 inches of snow this week, now sagged to about 2 inches. Today, Sunday, is bright with the sun on the new snow. Tomorrow the sun goes away and “rain and snow likely” – but not much here, for a week. The Cascades may get a foot. On Monday night through Tuesday night Mt. Rainier might get a couple of feet. On Friday into Saturday a wind passage took power out for about 100,000 places in the area north and northwest of Seattle. Sunday afternoon the number is under 3,000. Generators and chainsaws have been selling well in the region.

I intend to bake a Pecan pie early evening, right after I take roasted chicken thighs out of the oven. I have a book to read in front of the stove.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

After a 10 day period of fog and near or below freezing, the sun has returned. It took a push of air from over the Pacific Ocean. Once reaching the crest of the Cascades and headed down slope the battle of air masses has now ended. Most of the Kittitas Valley was clear by 6:00 AM. On the northern edge, I still have a few scattered clouds.

I’m the yellow star and 40 miles south is Yakima – orange star. Because of the low Sun angle there are large shadows at 9 AM. There is snow in the mountains; none here. Current temp is 41°F with a bit of wind.

I had a teeth-cleaning appointment on Wednesday and then stopped at the place where I get my hair cut. I was only expecting to make an appointment but there was a no-show so I was seated immediately. I always like it when multiple stops can be made on one trip. BiMart and Grocery1 rounded out the stops on Wednesday.

The US Postal Service expected to deliver a Social Security letter Saturday. The delivery is now after dark so I didn’t go get it. I already know the increase is 2.5% and the standard monthly Part B premium will increase by $10.30. Still, it is an increase but WA’s gas price is 3rd highest in the nation, behind Hawaii and California. Ellensburg regular is $3.50.
Because Social Security [22% of Federal budget] Medicare and other health care [28%] take over half the budget, other things are being squeezed. Interest on the National debt is a huge cost. What, if anything, Congress does about these issues will affect many millions of folks. How we in the elderly group will be impacted is a mystery.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

Did not have a roast Road Runner or turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

https://www.offthemark.com/

I did have chicken, at the neighbors Kathy and Dale and kids and grand kids. Wednesday A.M. I met Kristin at the Super1 deli to exchange news and give her the too-small slipper-boots. She likely will pass the pair on to one of the stressed veterans she mentors.
It has been foggy and near freezing this week. The coming week looks better – not as cold and some sun.
I did finish a temporary fence that should keep deer away from my plum trees in the spring when new green growth starts. Then I will need a plan for aphids and ants.
Meteorological winter began today. This is ignored by most who think Winter in the NH starts on the December Solstice, the 21st this year.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John H.

This was the week of the strong winds, down from the Cascades into the Seattle area. Large trees broke or tipped over and took out power for thousands of homes and businesses. The idea of not having electricity for days is something that doesn’t occur here on the east side of the mountains.
The problem began late evening Tuesday and on Sunday morning there are still about 28,000 places with no electricity. That’s down from many thousands on Wednesday. In addition to the power issues, there are trees on houses, over roads, and blocking driveways. Most of the big problems will be solved by Monday. Interestingly, it appears that Thanksgiving Day and a few days after will have the nicest weather in weeks.
Here, I had snow overnight. Mostly gone now with a drizzle at 37°F.

Related to trees: The twisting beams supporting my decks were replaced this week. Of the many, two twisted badly. The image below left, shows the end of one. Middle image shows the new look. The beam twisted so much it was splitting the post to which it was attached with long (stout) screws. The other end was pushing out on another vertical post.
The other deck had a similar but lesser problem. Two short beams that met over a center post have been replaced by one long one and heavy steel brackets have been added to help keep things in place. That’s shown in the right side image.

The College of the Sciences at CWU entertains grade school kids and their parents with an annual event called “Nature of Night”. It is promoted in the schools for many years – that’s why I never heard about it. This year, via a connection to the local Audubon group, I volunteered to cut bird silhouettes on Thursday and help with the event on Saturday. The birds were taped to the ceiling of large room (dark inside) and we led groups in with flashlights to view “the overhead migrations” underway in the night sky. Kids were given flashlights and they were asked to find the birds and count them. Meanwhile the leaders could talk about the shapes of wings, tails, and the thousands of birds migrating south. Back at the Audubon table there were cut-outs of bird faces (owls mostly) for anyone to color and make a mask. We volunteers cut out the image, the eyes, and holes for an elastic (head) band. There were several types of different sizes to match the width between the eyes of little to larger faces.
A dozen CWU groups had tables and rooms to allow the folks to learn of the night time activities of other critters, and different environments; jungle, desert, polar, rivers. A man with a Cosmos display was there and the astronomy club had scheduled trips to the planetarium – in a different building. Folks started coming at 10 AM and the place swarmed until about 2 PM. There was a room with pizza, snacks, and drinks for the volunteers.

Friday noon was a monthly luncheon that I attend, mostly secretaries and staff. This time there were two main topics. One being the care of elderly – several folks were involved with parents or others needed care. And Ruth H., the person that started these gatherings, fell a couple of weeks ago and broke a hip. She is near 90 and probably will not be returning to her long-time home.
The second topic was the in-progress contraction of the University brought about by fewer students. There is a Covid/pandemic aspect to this but, also, a general demographic part – fewer collage age folks and fewer attending colleges.
Retiring faculty are not being replaced and very preliminary talks of combining programs have started. Faculty is adapting by being flexible in adjusting current degree requirements. One thing being tried is to eliminate departmental secretaries/office-managers. No one seems sure of how this will work. Perhaps, there will be a central phone service for a group of departments. There always has been a general phone number for the university but whether that office could handle all communications hasn’t been tried. There won’t be a person to meet & greet someone coming to a department. All this is in progress. The current Geography secretary is in our group. She has been scheduled to retire at the end of December. With no one to replace her and a new academic quarter beginning with classes on January 7th she is staying through January. Spring quarter classes start on April 1st.
Our group’s next luncheon is on January 24. News update then.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

Saturday evening about supper time snow began at the house. Before dawn there was an inch, and then it started to melt. By Noon most was gone. A ski area, Crystal Mountain at 6,850 feet elevation (45 miles west of me) has several cameras and I snagged an image shown here. Their other cameras show mostly fog.
At the EBRG airport there was a cold mist registering as a trace of snow. It didn’t stick and that was the situation just a couple miles south of me. A few miles up in the hills, there is about 3 inches. More, a few inches, is expected here Tuesday evening. I’m not planning to go anywhere, so it doesn’t matter.

For an hour or so the turkeys have been searching under the Ponderosa Pines for, I guess, pine seeds. I’ve had to fence places where I put seeds for birds or the deer and the turkeys would get most of the sunflower seeds. I don’t know if they would get the tiniest seeds.

The big local news this week suggests there is a mental health problem in the region. One Corey Burke hacked and killed her father because he wouldn’t turn off the lights. This had something to do with the election. A Yakima driver led police on a 70 mile chase into the Ellensburg area on I-90. Not related to the election. It reads like something from a TV “cops” show. A Cle Elum woman pointed a gun at folks she knows, then fled to EBRG and behaved strangely in a downtown street. No harm done, except she scared the folks in both places. Topping these strange stories is the capture of “Notorious P.I.G.” in Tacoma.
https://news.yahoo.com/news/video-shows-tacoma-police-chase-232216923.html

I realized I was missing all these interesting stories,so with a half-price subscription, I am back to getting a paper copy of the EBRG Daily Record. This, also, gives me paper to start a fire in the wood-burning stove, when needed.

I cut a dozen small trees, including several that have been dead for three or four years. The bark is falling off. Being tall and thin, I can now just cut to length for the stove. No need to split them. I guess there are too many trees close together that causes the tall, thin, and nearly non-branching growth form. Side limbs are not more than an inch thick.

I’m now headed out to cut those up. I’ve an hour or so of good light before the sun sets over Crystal Mountain and the Crest of the Cascades.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John