Most can agree that seeing an orca glide through the water is a pretty rare and incredible sight. If you have lived in the Puget Sound for a while, perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to see an orca or two in the wild. This year, with eight new orca calves in the Southern resident killer […]
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The Impact on Our Weathers from the Mysterious Chehalis Gap and the Coriolis Effect
Our fall, winter, and springtime weathers here on the South Sound and the West Sound pretty much come from the same place. The Chehalis gap! And no, you can’t buy jeans there. This gap is the space between the southernmost of the Olympic Mountains and the Willapa Hills to the south. The gap is an […]
The Wine Cabinet — The Italian Influence on Washington Wine, Part 2
Bert Pesciallo, whose father immigrated from Genoa, Italy, in 1900, doesn’t remember when he became interested in the winery business. He was pretty young and following in his father’s footsteps. “Things just happened naturally at that time, when you are a teenager and you grow up with it,” he said. “My interest and curiosity grew […]
Green Living: Don’t Trash Your Tree!
During the weeks after Thanksgiving, I saw numerous trees on top of cars and in pickup trucks — heading home for their two to four weeks of glory, decorated as the family or office Christmas tree. The sadder side of this story is that all of these trees were headed toward their inevitable death and […]
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Get Ready for Gardening Start looking for seed packets at local nurseries during the months of January and February. The sooner, the better for best selection. If you wait too long to pick up veggie seeds, you may not get the ones desired. For maximum success, it’s best to choose short-season varieties that reach maturity […]
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
The holidays are a time for resting a bit from gardening tasks and especially a time for friends and family. Since gardening and birds often go together, if you’re lucky, you may see a snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) passing through this region. It’s also a good time to select and peruse gardening books for yourself […]
The Perfect Gift — Hand-Dipped Holiday Chocolate
Hand-dipped. Carefully crafted. Family recipes. Locally made. Quality ingredients. There is nothing like handmade chocolate. Who wouldn’t want to receive a beautiful box of chocolates as a holiday treat? Candy and chocolate have always been a part of holiday celebrations, and in the West Sound you can choose yours from some of the finest chocolatiers […]
Christmas Gifts for Birdwatchers
“Happiness is a new spotting scope,” especially if you are a birdwatcher — or birder. When it comes to Christmas gifts for those interested in birds, optical gear is perfect for both beginning and experienced birders. Let your pocketbook be your guide. Excellent binoculars can be purchased for a variety of prices. Spotting scopes are […]
‘Tis The Season of King Tides
The oceans that surround us would really like to leave the Earth. Only Earth’s gravitational pull keeps them here. They are always seeking another gravitational pull with which to dance. Our sun and moon are both willing partners. And dance they do. The Earth rotates around the sun, making the focal point of the sun’s […]
