El Niño Update

From the monthly NOAA report:

“There continues to be disagreement among the models on the eventual strength of El Niño, but the majority indicate that the three-month average Niño-3.4 SST index value will range between +1.0°C and +1.5°C during the Northern Hemisphere winter (Fig. 5). Consistent with the historical evolution of El Niño, a peak in SST anomalies is expected sometime during November-January. At this time, there is a high degree of uncertainty over how long this event will persist. Most of the models suggest that this event will last through March-May 2010, although the most likely outcome is that El Niño will peak at least at moderate strength (3-month Niño-3.4 SST index of +1.0°C or greater) and last through at least the Northern Hemisphere winter 2009-10.

Expected El Niño impacts during November 2009-January 2010 include enhanced precipitation over the central tropical Pacific Ocean and a continuation of drier-than-average conditions over Indonesia. For the contiguous United States, potential impacts include above-average precipitation for Florida, central and eastern Texas, and California, with below-average precipitation for parts of the Pacific Northwest. Above-average temperatures and below-average snowfall is most likely for the Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, and Upper Midwest, while below-average temperatures are expected for the southeastern states.”

Stylized Moon

Stylized Moon, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Celebrating this past beautiful full moon … and the next one!

Weather Changes

Today, the NOAA forecast discussion had this to say:
“COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THERE WAY TOMORROW WITH 10 TO 20 DEGREES
OF COOLING EXPECTED. THE BIGGEST CHANGES WILL BE SEEN ALONG THE
COAST WITH THE RETURN OF ONSHORE FLOW TO THE AREA. THESE COOLER
TEMPERATURES WILL USHER IN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THURSDAY AS A
COLD FRONT ENTERS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT SEVERAL
UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL PASS OVER THE AREA PROVIDING A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION THROUGH THE WEEKEND.”

Also, there is a meeting Thursday (11/5) at one of the cottages at the Big Sur Lodge to discuss Highway One issues (bicycles, trash, etc.), and formulate a presentation for the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meeting on Friday the 13th. For details on Thursday’s meeting, call Jack Ellwanger 667-2025.

Monday Weather Report

Today’s glorious weather to continue through tomorrow, then a drop of 5 to 10 degrees on Wednesday. Guess I better plan my garden work for tomorrow! There is a chance of rain on Friday, but currently that is just for the bay area, not for down here. I did read a few days ago (and for the life of me, I can’t remember where) that El Niño was strengthening for this winter. We will all be keeping an eye on that! Have a glorious Monday, everyone!

Sunday on Top o’ the World

The weather today is unbelievable. It is why I love Fall. Nights are cool enough to sleep, the bugs are pretty much gone — although I did see the honey bees pollinating the pepper plants — and the days can be quite warm and sunny.

I’ve been working too hard at my job, and not working hard enough in the garden. Today, I changed the equation. I put in a couple of leisurely hours in the garden this morning (gotta start slow, or my body would revolt), and stopped to do the dishes. I love multi-tasking. Clean both my dishes and my fingernails at the same time. Don’t try this if you use an automatic dishwasher.

I had this old wheelbarrow just hanging around, not really doing anything useful, just sort of getting rusty. I have been thinking about making it into a planter. Today I did.

Hmmm … should I have painted it first? Rustic more my style, I think — or at least my lifestyle.

First, I lined it with plastic, hoping it will rust out that much later. Then, I gathered up all the 5 gallon pots I had used for the nicotina rustica, which had already been harvested, and dumped the nice soil all in the wheelbarrow.

I took the rootbound Shasta Daisy from its pot on the deck, and planted it in the middle of the wheelbarrow, cutting it way back, first. Trust me, this will get big and busy by next Spring.

I planted some bulbs that were just beginning to sprout (some South African exotic – which is why they are always in pots) and there is room for some of the bulbs I plan on buying tomorrow.

This is the overall effect. Those are yellow pear tomatoes and jalapeño peppers in the background. They will come out next week so I can prepare the bed for more bulbs.

After I finished my wheelbarrow planter, I relaxed on the deck for a while (which also got a clean-up) and watched the hang gliders soar from the top of Plaskett — er, I meant Prewitt, haven’t been able to soar from the top of Plaskett since I closed it in 1996. Very peaceful and quiet. I love watching them!

It was hard going inside to finish up a brief due tomorrow, but I eased the burden, somewhat by opening all the doors and windows. My desk is positioned to get the Cone Peak view, so … making the money to buy the bulbs, and bareroot roses, and fruit trees, and seeds and all sorts of stuff to bring my garden back to the glory it once enjoyed.

Trick or Treat

Nuts, please?

When one lives in the wilderness, trick or treaters are rare.

Zebras for Sister O’Blarney

For no particular reason … I often see these zebras on the Hearst Ranch, in areas around San Simeon. Every so often, they are close enough to photograph, as these were just the other day. Sister O’Blarney (aka Rose) has a passion for zebras. These are for her.

Announcements

The OES of Monterey County has a new feature which allows you to register your cell phone, VoIP number, and/or email address to get emergency updates. Go to this site: Register OES

Also, don’t forget the Bal Masque this Saturday, benefitting the BSVFB and the food and wine festival the following weekend. I understand there are a few tickets left for some venues. (See link under non-profits to the right). Proceeds to benefit the Big Sur Health Clinic and other charities.

Also, the Coast Property Owners Association annual meeting is coming up on November 16th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the River Inn. Details to be posted on the announcement page shortly.

Sunset on the South Coast

Sunset on the South Coast, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Many times, I cannot believe that the Goddess smiled on me so sweetly back in 1985, and guided me to this beautiful, spiritually healing and nourishing place. I wish everyone could find a place like this to heal and gain health. I hope you can enjoy a bit of it with me, here, in cyberspace, with my photos and my words.

Good night all. Will check back in tomorrow.

Pampas in the Sun

Pampas in the Sun, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

While I hate pampas grass, because it is so invasive, and so hard to kill, I couldn’t pass up this photo op. I won’t give out the name of the landowner who originally thought this was a good idea to plant this in his garden years ago here on the South Coast, but I would like to pass along a tip for travelers.

One of the ways that this invasive species gets spread up and down the coast, is that tourists stop, pick one and then attach it to their antenna, or otherwise scatter the seeds to the winds. Please don’t. I kid you not. I’ve stopped and warned many people about the results of their unthinking behavior. It is very, very difficult to eradicate. It takes over an area, crowding out our native plants, then spreads it seeds via wind or tourists, and takes over another area, until the entire coast side is nothing but pampas grass along Highway One.

Cal-Trans fights a never-ending battle with this stuff, often being forced to resort to serious chemicals in order to kill it. Don’t help it spread. It does a good enough job on its own.

Thank you, bigsurkate