Today we will reach a record high of 70f (21C) at 3pm and within 12 hours the temperature will have dropped to 24f (-4.5C). The highs are not a surprise anymore – it has been an unseasonably warm February – it is these massive swift temperature swings that will cause damage.
We will be frozen in place for a few days.
Also – predictably these massive changes in temperatures with the associated wind will bring storms. I will watch them advance across the sky from my rocking chair.
Though if a person sits down outside the barn they are never alone for long.
See how Tima lay down in such a manner that her head could rest on my foot.
When Boo and I were down the back yesterday evening we found a den under the tree trunk. Empty but not old. Years ago I had John drag this tree trunk down by the creek that is really a ditch hoping wildlife would use it, so it was gratifying to see. There is a definite hollow in the ground where you see that big hole. Of course Boo stuck his whole head in there. Looking for clues.
There were flocks of red winged blackbirds down there. They will not be impressed by the plummeting temperatures.
It was a stunning evening for a walk. Just beautiful.
Though the cats chose a nap in the last of the sun instead.
Good morning!
I tried to get a time lapse image of the night sky stars last night for TKG Take Ten but failed again. However if there is lightning tonight I will capture that for sure! I hope. I just need to create a box to protect the camera while it sits out in a storm for 10 minutes!
Storms are fickle – they change their minds and their trajectory on a whim. So we will see.
I do have a lovely field sequence for The Tenners this evening! Coming out at 5pm Central.
I did not get the dogs brushed yesterday but I did get the big pigs waters cleaned out and refilled.
Have a great day!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
43 responses to “The Highs and Lows”
The constantly changing weather doesn’t help with growing vegetables. Last year a lot of things bolted due to the heat.
You are right! Especially the greens. Though I got a lot of seed for this years crops!
That’s one good thing I suppose!
It’s crazy like that here
Everything is so much easier to manage when the temps rise and fall slowly but I think this is what we will be getting going forward so it is best if we make plans that anticipate wild swings.
Absolutely
Right up there with you on the worry scale C! At the moment they’re saying +13° > -9°C from 12:30 ~>midnight here; so not far behind you with a drop of 22°C over 11.5hrs. Damn & Blast this moronic weather!!
It is tough. I am not sure how to prepare warmed up animals for such a drop other than to make sure their beds are deep and warm and dry.
Nearly the same here, but our highs won’t quite kit 60. The silver lining will be a (maple) sap run!
Oh yes. I hope the maple harvest is good.
I mentioned snow in the mountains a few days ago. They are getting feet, with more feet added as storm after storm rolls in off the Pacific so get ready unless all of this shoots on up to Canada… but that is doubtful. I am so in love with the rocker and what it will bring. I just want to keep looking at the picture of Boo and sweet, mischievous Tima sleeping like a dog at your feet.
Isn’t that the sweetest shot and so hard to get without moving my feet and upsetting everyone! When Tima lies down with me it is like having a very big cat on your lap that you do not want to disturb! Lets hope we don’t get any of that snow – just rain in the forecast but not much –
Yes, the snow needs to go away somewhere else 🙂
I worry about our bees, although they are finding early wildflowers to feed on. And our apricot trees are already blooming. I’m hoping the coming two nights below freezing won’t destroy the blooms… Although that has certainly happened before. I love the pic of you, Tima and Boo hanging together. So special!
I have a hummingbird feeder that hangs just outside my front window. For the last 2 weeks, when the sun and warmth first appeared again, they have been feeding from it every day. No flowers here yet however. I have never seen the bees out this early here…ever.
Oh my gosh Deb, I can’t believe you have hummingbirds already!!! A friend here mentioned that she was putting her feeders out now for the early ones coming through, but I thought it was way too early. You are in Washington state, right? So I’m way farther south of you in north central Arkansas. I guess I better be getting my feeders ready and up. I just LOVE our hummingbirds!!! Thank you for the heads up!!!
Yes, Washington! We have Anna’s hummers stay around all through the winter as we are usually pretty moderate in temps and I live in a foothill valley that is pretty protected from extremes. They nest and overnight in our tall pine trees but are out and about all day long.
How wonderful to have the hummingbirds all year around!!! That is a real treat! I get so excited waiting for them to come back here, usually in April. I bet it’s earlier this year! I’ll get ready for them now! 🙂
Put a sprinkler in the tree – it will keep the air moving and the deep cold will not settle. Either that or light a leaf fire under the trees in the late evening – you nt lots of smoke – like a smudge pot. I would hate you to lose your apricots!
Great ideas!!! Will do!!! 🙂
I don’t have bees but noticed today that there were a lot of honey bees kind of bumbling around. It was 70* here today but tomorrow probably won’t get above freezing so I hope they hole up back wherever they came from.
It is all SO unpredictable, so mad and wrong. Lovely to see your wonderful rocking chair, as good as l imagined. Fabulous pictures today, especially Tima on your foot. Good luck with that storm, no damage l hope.
It will just be a bit of wind – usually these storms go around us. So I am not anticipating anything too extreme – though there has been talk!
Big BIG nasty wind here. Started yesterday and will last until late tonight. It brought in a storm. Once it is done with us it will move on—heading your way.
Is it done? Hopefully it has worn itself out before it gets here, though to be fair. I do love a good storm.
On it’s way now…with a huge cold snap.
We have it. Wind and frigid. Nasty
Yes it is. Hang tight!
It’s cloudy and windy here today and in the mid 60s F. There are lots of trees around and the sky is not vast or open here and I wish I could watch the sky without so many trees.
I think that is why you love the TKG Take Ten – you can watch the sky! This evenings is magic – pure magic.
TKG is like getting letters from home. A kind of anchor in the uncertain world. You and all the animals friends I’ve never met in person but love anyway. I’ve been following a long time and will continue.
Those kitties are adorable! I’ve never known what kind of damage those huge temperature changes cause. We don’t usually have them here.
That is good – that you don’t have the wild temp swings. Mostly it is the fruit trees and spring greens that it messes up. Possibly the garlic crop too.
Thank you for the photo of the rocking chair. It fits perfectly.
I am really enjoying having it out at the barn – I just brought it inside (inside the barn) due to the (maybe) storm. The more I prepare for a storm the less likely there will be one.
Please tell me that beautiful chair does not *live* outside? I can see that it is the perfect vantage for surveying your realm, with your four-legged people clustered about you.
There is a storm coming so I have drug it into the barn but yes – it has lived outside!on the porch for years!
At least not rained on.
We’re expecting a similar temperature swing tomorrow. This has been one crazy winter!
I do not like these extreme temperature swings. I have lost two horses to colic in the past, both after a big weather change so I worry for my two old ladies.
I wonder why that is.
Oh boy that is some drop in temperature Celi .. thankfully Auckland is so temperate. Wonderful photos .. the cat pic is just lovely
Hi Julie. We’ve had the most amazing summer in Wellington and we are still enjoying a lazy warm days. Of course we do know it will get wet and windy again soon but until then…