Austice: n., a wistful omen of the first sign of autumn — a subtle coolness in the shadows, a rustling of dead leaves abandoned on the sidewalk, or a long skein of geese sweeping over your head like the second hand of a clock. — “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,” by John Koenig This illustrated […]
Methow
Valley Life: Lower Valley
When I was a young whippersnapper, I would have spent this week cutting geometric shapes out of colored paper and gluing them together with a bit of string, while labeling each in crayon the “Nina,” the “Pinta” and the “Santa Maria.” How has this knowledge served me in life? There was that one time that […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
Notice anything different about the Methow Valley skyline? McClure Mountain is getting a new communications tower. The 100-foot tower will replace the older, out-of-date, smaller towers at the site and will be managed by the Methow Valley Communications District. Bri Sullivan, administrative manager of the communications district, said the community will “greatly benefit” from the […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
Ahh, the tell-tale signs of summer’s end: a chill in the morning, a bit of smoke in the air, and copious amounts of zucchini. I recently heard an interview with Stanley Tucci wherein he sings the praises of a simple dish of zucchini and pasta. It sounded like a dish my mom made — minus […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
You probably already knew this fun fact: raptors migrate by day and songbirds migrate at night. A ridgeline hike paired with overnight camping during a full moon week in September and October is a wonderful opportunity to view hawk migration by day and songbird migration at night. For over 10,000 years, raptors have traversed the […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
Nearly 30 years ago, Doug and Sue Runyan drove over the North Cascades to meet with a Realtor in the Methow Valley. They fell in love with a small alfalfa field alongside the river below Carlton, called Starvation Acres. In recent years Doug and Sue took on the monumental task to restore the house. […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
I contracted COVID last week. Indoors, I wear my mask. Outdoors, I wear a mask in large gatherings — for instance, while at the farmers market. I’m fully vaccinated and boosted. The one place I chose not to wear my mask was the one place I acquired COVID. My symptoms began with a sore throat […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
It is that time of year when advice is doled out at graduation parties and family get-togethers. Here’s a few gems I’ve learned along the way: Wear safety glasses when doing any activity that hurls microscopic material with a velocity that could cut an eye. This includes weed eating, chopping wood, and crafting with glitter. […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
Dandelion constellations shine against the emerald green of my yard. As children, we spent hours weaving stems to adorn each other with necklaces, bracelets, rings and crowns of golden harbingers of spring. As summer grew warmer, we whispered a wish before puffing out our cheeks to send feathery seeds alight. Once upon a time dandelions […]
Valley Life: Lower Valley
Last week was an interesting run on the Cub Creek ski trails. Warm weather and a rainy morning had turned the groomed trails to ice. On a slick steep section, I popped off my skis and walked uphill. The hail had stopped and the clouds cleared. Blue sky and bright sun teamed up to melt […]
