Washingtonians

[Chickielady]

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.php

Well, according to NOAA, it seems we are in for a WARM winter, check it out !
I thought so, the guys running the party boats are catching all sorts of fish not native to our ocean waters...in some depths I swear they said the ocean temps were aproaching 61 degrees...wow, so that makes our weather, and that will make it warm, and probably tons of rain and during the 30s (I saw no 30s on their maps) and 40s we should get TONS of snow...better than cold like we had last winter !

 

[Illia]

Really, I want a snowy winter. No excessive rain. That way it insulates the barns, coops, etc better, doesn't make everything go mucky and leaky and disgusting, and there won't be excessive wind. . . . I'd LOVE some snow.

btw, my Olive Egger / Surprise Eggers are hatching!!

I've so far got an Araucana x Marans, a purebred Marans, a purebred Ameraucana, and a Brahma x Ameraucana. Still waiting on two Wyandotte x Ameraucanas, a purebred Araucana, and 2 more Ameraucana x Marans.

A couple more days and I'll be setting some Blue, Black, Wheaten, Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas, some barred Araucanas, some Wheaten Marans, some Olive Eggers, and some Polish eggs.

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
What is "crooked neck " ?
Never heard of it, is it a disease or do they think she just hurt herself ?
I have heard of alot of diseases that have nervous system involvement that cause the neck to twist, is that what the vet said she has ?
That would make me worry...

Poor Stephanie...what hatchery did you get these birds from ?

the vet said it is something about a bacteria that gets into the egg during incubation and settles in the bones of their neck, causing it to grow wrong. They said it's more common in turkeys. I'm not sure I agree with the diagnoses, but I'm treating it as such anyway, just in case. I haven't had any problems with this hatchery and don't want to give it a bad reputation. I got them from Welp and I think I would be just as likely to get them from there again as anywhere else.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Winter could be a whopper, forecasters say
The most intense La Niña conditions since 1955 are brewing near the equator, raising the odds of a wild winter in the Pacific Northwest. Meteorologists say more rain, colder temperatures and bigger snowstorms are likely.

By Sandi Doughton

Seattle Times science reporter


Are we in for this again?

The mere mention of snow will have many in Seattle remembering December 2008, when a series of storms over two weeks brought repeated snowfall, paralyzing the city during the holiday-shopping season.
Metro Transit service was reduced by about half, and who can forget the famous scene in which two charter buses slid down a Capitol Hill street and dangled precariously over Interstate 5?

Snow this winter could bring the first significant test of Seattle's new snow- and ice-removal plan, including the use of salt, which previously was avoided because of environmental concerns.

The most intense La Niña conditions since 1955 are brewing near the equator, raising the odds of a wild winter in the Pacific Northwest.

Meteorologists say more rain, colder temperatures and bigger snowstorms are likely.

"There's the potential for whoppers — but no guarantees," Washington state Climatologist Nick Bond said Thursday at a National Weather Service briefing.

The snow that paralyzed much of the Puget Sound region during the winter of 2008-2009 is one example of what a La Niña pattern can produce.

"La Niña winters are snowy winters," said Brad Colman, National Weather Service meteorologist-in-charge for Seattle. "Skiers and departments of transportation should be paying attention."

The flip side of the more-famous El Niño pattern, La Niñas occur when the ocean near the equator becomes colder than usual. Current temperatures are the coldest for this time of year since the Eisenhower administration.

Computer models predict the pattern will continue, and possibly strengthen, throughout the season, Colman said.

Ocean temperatures affect air circulation. Those patterns in turn tweak the strength and location of the jet stream that brings the Northwest much of its weather.

Generally, La Niña winters start out wet, with fairly average temperatures, said University of Washington meteorologist Cliff Mass. By January, temperatures plunge and snowfall increases.

"We could end up with a snow-free Thanksgiving, but no one should think that means anything," Mass said. "We tend to have the big snow buildup after the new year, both in the mountains and the lowlands."

Floods are possible, particularly early in the season.

The La Niña year of 2007 brought drenching rains to southwest Washington, closing Interstate 5 for several days. But though wetter overall, the majority of La Niña years are not marked by major floods, said National Weather Service hydrologist Brent Bower. That's because the powerful storms that trigger most Northwest floods are more common during so-called neutral years — when there's neither a La Niña nor El Niño.

The risk of flooding in the Green River basin is much lower this year, thanks to improvements at Howard Hanson dam, said Larry Schick, meteorologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seepage from the dam raised fears last winter, but installation of a grout curtain within the weakened embankment has bolstered the structure. Improvements to a drainage tunnel that are expected to be finished by next fall should lower the risk even more, Schick said.

"We're not out of the woods completely ... , but the situation has improved."

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
Unfortunately I think my main problem today is that I'm getting sick... Everyone that we are around was sick last week, we managed to not catch it, but now both my husband and I are cming down with something. Chloe had a bug last weekend, and was over it in a couple of days. So hopefully whatever we are catching will run its course quikly.

As for the being clutsy... It has got to do with the fact that I have so much going at once, that I just don't pay attention like I should.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

Quote:
How is your fishing going?

I think that I have reached the point where I realize that my chickens are TOO spoiled. I took out a couple of slices of their bread. I did not sit on the ground, like hubby does, I sat at the picnic table. Well....evidently I was not handing it out fast enough, as one flew up into my lap and perched on my leg, another jumped up and snagged a full piece of bread and took off. I had to share 1 piece of bread with 10 other hens while 3 others fought over the other piece that was stolen. Crazy birds.

Fishing today was skunky, then it started raining so we came home, but will probably go back out Wednesday or Thursday.
Rain seems to bring them up the rivers.
And I have told DH that if I ever trip when walking through the OE pen, all 13 of them will jump me and there will be nothing left within minutes all that will be left is my rubber gum boots....they are like pirahnas !

Sorry about the fishing, good luck next time. But isn't the saying: "Any day fishing and catching no fish, is better than not getting to go fishing at all?"....regarding the pirahnas in the backyard...yep, mine too.

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
I just use it for pruning the apple trees !!!!!

I have to get my saw out and fix it, have it ready for winter.
One day a big storm in North Idaho blew a bunch of my trees down, and trying to get to work I ran into one right across my driveway...better have the saw fixed,,
I got the chain too tight and after I shut it off the chain is stuck tight...no biggee, just another item on the list of to-dos....
Speaking of trees, andyone log ?
I have a bunch of trees Bonneville cut down that are laying here...

you should get one of the portable sawmill folks out to cut it all in to lumber for you! some will cut for half the lumber so no money out of pocket..

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

We wish. It's the first football practice of the season. I'm feeling old for it though. Most of the women are about 19 - 23 years old.

I'm never motivated going but always feel good (and very exercised) after...

We picked up the two bantam Araucanas tonight. What a nightmare! Clinics ran late so I rushed to get home to switch cars & pick up hubby downtown before heading to Tacoma. Traffic was awful. We didn't have a chance to eat so we were both crabby setting everything up for them in the garage. Probably a 5 hour endeavor! Ugh! Then the girls flew around the garage when we opened their boxes. Poor girls were so scared and we were too. Anyway, they should be sleeping like a baby now but we'll see if it goes any better tomorrow

Settled now after a nice glass of wine.

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

Hiding in the back leery of us.

Look at those crazy eyes!

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

Quote:
Hi Cindy!
It wasn't the girls, they settled down quickly. I think they could tell we were stressed and crabby pants from hypoglycemia. Leading up to getting them was stressful (I was hoping to get their cage situated before picking up Michael).
C'est la vie.
I'll start working with them tomorrow. Food is always a good training tool