Winter Weather

It's hard to believe how bad the weather has been in the Pacific Northwest the last few weeks, especially in Western Washington. I can't imagine what life must be like for those folks whose homes have been flooded. It seems that every year they are have to go through another 100 year flood. And some people say there is no such thing as Global Warming. Why people live in places like Orting, where the threat is not only flooding, but Lahars from Mt Rainier erupting, is beyond me. You know it will happen someday. And the odds of getting you and your family to higher ground in time is slim. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I find that I'm keeping track of the evacuation routes whenever I'm in the area, or along the ocean coastline for that matter.

Here in Northern Idaho it's been record snowfall.

Over 40 some buildings came down in the Spokane, Coeur d'Alene area this last week due to roofs caving in from the snow load. Almost all were businesses with flat roofs although there were a few with pitched roofs. This business is just a few blocks from Stan and Michele's.

A block from the building above, another business did some art work with the snowfall. I wish I had the talent for things like that.

I'm often asked if I see wildlife here. Yes, lots of deer and a moose now and then. This one was down by the lake. I mainly see elk, but I don't count them as they are part of an elk ranch I drive by whenever I'm coming or going. I wonder if that is where Cabela's gets their Elk Burgers. Oh, and the other morning I found bear tracks in the snow in front of the house. Opps, shouldn't have said that, now Karen will never come to my house.

The view from my bedroom window one day last week.