land, pause, freeze, and look
what’s a bird to do? can’t move
winter’s sticky tape
hop, hop, hop-three jumps
and you are there, discover
snowy hidden treats
different bird tracks;
walk, waltz, snoop: toes in, toes out
winter hides the food
land, hop, walk
by Angie Quantrell
photos by Angie Quantrell
Winter in the Yakima Valley
Monet wanted me to send out her greetings and wishes for a wonderful and joyful new year!
From her humans (aka slaves), we also hope you have a beautiful 2023!
color splash welcomes
beacon against monotone
shelter-but drafty
drafty by Angie Quantrell
winter in the Yakima Valley, WA
photo by Angie Quantrell
Sending joy and peace to you and your family.
crisp hoar frost descends
embroiders lacy fingers
winter’s herbsicle
frozen in thyme by Angie Quantrell
photos by Angie Quantrell, Yakima Valley
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Little Naches River, HWY 410, Washington
It’s still winter! Brrrrr!
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Little Naches, HWY 410, Washington
Believe it or not, this was taken on February 19, 2022. No snow, ice, or signs of winter. But winter it is. This rock faces the late sun, so all evidence of the season has melted to rest at the base, along with showers of fallen rocks. It’s not a safe place to stay for long-snap the picture and move along down the road!
Taken before the next winter storm hits with a predicted 12-24 inches of new snow.
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
People.
RV life in the winter, particularly in a four-season location (like the Pacific Northwest, east of the Cascades), is not a piece of cake. Nor is it for the faint of heart.
I should have opened with a question mark and let you guess first. How many fleece blankets do you think a person would need to adequately block window drafts against winter chills? In January. While living in an RV? And all-season RV. At least that’s what it says on the side.
Nine. We require an assortment of 9 lap throw-sized fleece blankets to tuck along the cracks of all window openings to block drafts. Is this a pain? Yes. Do I despair? Yes. Murmur? Unfortunately. Yes.
But we are warm! The draft-blockers do their job. So well, in fact, that on super chilly mornings, they block the heat to portions of the curtains and the curtains freeze to the windows. Don’t worry! It eventually melts and we wipe away the beaded rivers streaming down into the window tracks.
Extra tasks are required for RV life in the winter. There is a longer daily chore list. But we keep warm. Our tricks of the trade keep us nice and toasty, despite ice, fog, snow, sleet, wind, rain, and sub-freezing temps. How about you? Any winter RV tricks you’d like to share with a couple of RV popsicles?
A Haiku Moment for you:
fleeced
winter’s chills gobble
heat, invite mr. frost in
9-fleece kicks him out
fleeced by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Love, Laughter, and Life 