Yesterday it was 52 degrees. Blue sky. Light winds. It was 75 degrees in our aft deck solarium… which sounds fancy, but is nothing more than a deck space enclosed in isinglass and canvas. We sometimes turn around the boat in winter so the aft is pointed towards the South where the sun hovers at this time of year. There’s nothing quite like capturing solar power to heat an enclosed space, eh?
Today it is overcast and the temperature outside is hovering around 45 degrees. Later it may get up to 50 degrees and the meteorologists are predicting that the sky may spit a little rain at us this afternoon. Even with the overcast conditions, it’s 60 degrees in the solarium. Any lower than that and if I decide that the solarium would be a great place to enjoy a glass of wine later, I can light the MrHeater Buddy, a little propane catalytic heater that brings the temperature up into the 70s in just a few minutes… even if the outside temperature gets down to the low 30s, which it will Monday and Tuesday. Winter is still frolicking about up here in the Northwest. Last year at this time in February we had 6 inches of snow on the docks. With El Nino still in effect, it has been warmer and a bit dryer than last Winter…
That being stated… there are signs. Little ones. The forests are waking up. Shrubs are budding. Crocuses are blooming and daffodils are emerging.
The sun is now making its presence known. The clouds are letting some blue show through… It is now a pleasant 66 degrees in the solarium. Although Winter is still on center stage… he just yawned and started to button up his coal black cloak. Spring has been noticed loitering just offstage talking with Dawn. It is not her time yet… but it is getting closer to the time she steps onto the stage, kisses Winter on the cheek and takes over the seasonal showcase. I do enjoy winter, but the “awakening” of Spring portends a recharge of the lifeblood of photosynthesis and growth… and being a few steps closer to mushroom season.
Salish Sea Cruising With Blair, Les, Leo, and Bliss 