BY BOB SPIWAK
Welcome to spring and warm weather that has begun to verge on hot. Easter Sunday got into the mid-70s, and planting stuff in the direct sunshine it was probably even hotter than the thermometer recorded. The river has begun to come up and our ponds are slowly rising.
The frogs are now engaged in their evening chatter, and while I was standing in a foot of water sowing my wild rice, the creatures were not silent as usual, but emanated several “ribbets” the entire time. This usually does not happen when a human is splashing anywhere in the area.
And the wood ducks are back, three so far, as is the mallard pair who, on Easter of all times, put on a shameless exhibition of raw sexuality. Talk about spousal abuse, the poor hen was held under water for at least a minute. But she seemed to smile when she emerged. He went off in a different direction. As the saying goes, “Just like a male.”
Spring, however, has its down side. It’s allergy season. The pines and alders are dumping pollen already, enough to put a film on cars and whatever else might be around to receive it – like sinuses. In the past week I’ve spoken to half-a-dozen people who have been afflicted along with my own self: dizziness, a fat feeling in the head, runny noses and other maladies peculiar to individual individuals. Not fun. But maybe worth it to see crocuses abloom days after their snow cover has gone, and bulbs popping up all over the place.
At this writing it still appears that there is no threat of flooding. The snow/water equivalent at Harts Pass is 94 percent of average. There are 83 inches of snow up there that translate to 43.7 inches of water. The forecasts are for possible rain down here, which indicates more up on top at 6,500 feet, so things could change in a hurry.
Several days ago the highway-clearing project was ahead of schedule, now beyond Cutthroat turnoff at Washington Pass, indicating a lesser snowpack in that area as well.
As for news, we have virtually none to disclose. Jay Lucas suggested a note herein that dues notices for the Mazama Community Club will soon be sent and that it would be helpful if they were paid post-haste.
Lliam Donohue is back from a several-week jaunt to the East Coast, visiting friends and relatives in Rhode Island (or should that be on Rhode Island?) as well as New York City. Along with the social aspects of his journey, he brought back a sweet, early-century Audi.
Some of us miss the red Subaru with decals plastered all over it and a comely Barbie doll as a hood ornament. Fortunately, Lliam has not lost any of his otherwise whimsical nature.
