This will be the new normal

    Today is the end of the first week of 2012.  It's been a couple of days since I've posted anything.  I've learned, since living in Oregon, that one sits around and mildews quite often. The rains come on suddenly and can stay for long periods.
     So, on January 1st, the rains came in. If one has minimal commitments scheduled in town, then one can deduce that activities may range from reading a book, to putting another log on the fire, to letting the girls (hens) out into their covered pen, to checking the mail for a new Netflix, to lunch, to another log on the fire... then collect the eggs out of the coop, another log on the fire, a nap, create lists of things to do for days when it is not raining, did I say put another log on the fire.... Anyway this paints the picture.
     There has to be a very good reason why everything is so radioactive green out here and well, it is for the rain that Oregon is green.  I have to remind myself of this every time I get cranky and unmotivated during these bouts of rain which occur in October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May. Count them that is 8 out of 12 months. Wow!  I might add that last year, the Oregonians took notice that the rain continued through June and July making for a soggy hit and miss berry season :(.

Average Days per Month: Clear, Cloudy, and Rainy Skies
	Type of Day	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May	June	July	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
	Clear Days	2.9	2.9	3.3	3.5	5.0	6.2	12.6	11.4	10.3	5.4	2.8	2.1
	Partly Cloudy	3.6	3.8	4.9	5.8	7.2	7.7	8.5	9.6	8.1	7.6	4.3	3.3
	Cloudy Days	24.4	21.5	22.8	20.7	18.9	16.1	9.9	10.1	11.6	18.0	22.9	25.5
	Rainy Days*	18	15.6	16.9	14.4	11.8	9.2	3.9	4.9	7.5	12.3	18.0	18.7
	Source:  Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nevada.  The data is based on daylight hours only. A clear day denotes zero to 3/10 average sky cover. Partly cloudy is 4/10 to 7/10 tenths. Cloudy is 8/10 to 10/10 tenths. *.01 inches or more of precipitation.

Sally-Jean's tanning bed

           Of course when school is in session, I hardly notice if it's raining or not since I'm buried in books and generally move like a well oiled robot during the entire term. Up early, eat, study, school, study and sleep little. I generally come up for air, for a short spell only after finals. I hope the girls have enjoyed all the pampering because after Monday they will be lucky to get fresh water in the morning and a couple minutes of attention at night.  The worst part for them is when school is in session they will not get to traipse all over the property all day long and plant their little bombs. They will be stuck in their coop and run (at least till the weekends ) and this they will not like, not one bit. :(.