Rollercoaster Ride

Yesterday was a weird weather day. I had a hard time keeping the greenhouse at a consistent temperature. We’re still dropping into the 20s and 30s overnight, so we keep the propane heater running from dusk to dawn. However, that heater has an annoying tendency to turn itself off, randomly, so we keep a backup diesel heater in the greenhouse as well. That one is on a thermostat. We discovered the need for redundant systems the hard way a few years ago.

The husband turns off the propane heater—if it is still running—during his morning rounds. If it gets too cold in the greenhouse, the diesel heater will come on. Usually, though, the sun has come up by 9 am and the greenhouse starts to get toasty just from the solar radiation. I keep an eye on the thermometer, because beyond 45F or so, I have to begin opening screens and vents to make sure the greenhouse doesn’t overheat.

Yesterday, the weather alternated between sunshine, clouds, rain, thunder, lightning, snow—graupel—and everything in between. When the sun was out, I had to open vents in the greenhouse. When it clouded up and cooled off again, I had to close vents and turn on heaters. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[Michael Snyder, who does the Pacific Northwest Weather Channel on YouTube. hates the term graupel. With a passion. He claims it is not a legitimate weather term.]

This is what it looked like in the yard after one system rolled through with thunder and lightning (the toe of my muck boot for scale).

The rest of this week looks like it will be less chaotic, weather-wise. I see forecasted temps in the high 50s and low 60s with just a few showers on Sunday.

Sarah brought over a few flats of plants in the afternoon. She and Susan start seedlings at their houses, but when plants get too big, they move them to the greenhouse.

While all the weather nonsense was happening, I made the samples for my last ruler class, which is tomorrow afternoon.

The first session covered straight-line quilting with rulers. The second was on circles and ovals. Last month’s class featured stars, hexagons, and flowers. This last session is on borders and sashing.

The Stellar jays have been all over the yard this week. I spotted the pileated woodpecker, too. When the husband and I were out working in the garden on Saturday, about 30 jays were clustered in the trees over our heads, squawking loudly. At one point, I stood outside the greenhouse while a jay sat on the fence post 10 feet away and scolded me roundly. I am not sure what they are so upset over, but they surely are vocal about it.