Category Archives: Uncategorized

I found this brilliant little beetle on top of our Sluggo jug in the greenhouse, and he calmly posed as I arranged him for photos.  My entomologist friend Kojun identified it as Chrysophana placida, the Flat-headed Cone Borer, which apparently … Continue reading →

Last Wednesday Liz finished her last final, the official end of her undergraduate career.  In celebration, we set off on a long weekend adventure, a big circle north into Washington and back. Thursday, March 22 Left the house a bit … Continue reading →

The atmospheric river returned on Tuesday, but this time we were on the northern, cold side.  The south coast got the flooding.  We got cold rain and then, starting at 3 am yesterday, 22 hours of continuous snow.  The total … Continue reading →

While Minnesota has 80 degree days, Oregon has been having January weather – storm after cold rainstorm with occasional snowflakes down to the valley floor.  At the moment we have a winter weather advisory, with 1-2 inches of wet snow … Continue reading →

I try to get up Marys Peak at least once a month.  The weather there is truly unique, perhaps typical of mountaintops elsewhere.  The mountain sticks up high enough into the windy layers of the atmosphere that weather conditions are … Continue reading →

Last Sunday we headed 90 miles east to Santiam Pass for a five-mile ski loop.  There are lots of trails in the mountains, but only the highest have adequate snow in this somewhat anomalous winter.  At 4800 feet the snow … Continue reading →

Last Saturday (1/28) Kelly suggested a trip to Cape Perpetua.  I’ve been there four times already, but it is always a beautiful destination, especially on a rare (or not-so-rare this winter) clear day in the rainy season.  It is hard … Continue reading →

It has certainly been an interesting week in Corvallis weather-wise.  I often complain how boring the weather is here relative to Minnesota, but we do occasionally see extremes. Last Sunday Liz and I drove 85 miles on icy/snowy roads to … Continue reading →

Until three days ago we were having an unusually dry winter, with many cool clear or foggy days instead of the usual rain.  Last weekend, the pattern shifted to cold, bringing snow (about 2-3″ all told) and ice to Corvallis.  … Continue reading →

Last year a group of us took off the weekend after finals for three days on the sunny eastern side of the Cascades, sleeping in yurts at Tumalo State Park and skiing/snowshoeing during the day.  We enjoyed it so much … Continue reading →