Thursday, March 28, 2019
Up in the Cascades and under a moody sky, the mountains may be invisible in a huge space of sky with distant cinder cones. It’s a powerful view compelling attention and inspiring imagination. These elements, in a conflicted sky straight out of Wuthering Heights, seem brooding and anxiety-causing.
It’s a view that distinguishes Central Oregon’s high desert, an environment merely a stone’s throw from the west side of those mountains. Over there are lush forests, gushing rivers, and meandering streams. Typically, travelers heading toward either side of the Cascades wind up in very different worlds. West of the Cascades they’re in damp greenery, and here in the east in sandy, dry desert.
Then on days like yesterday, spring weather blots all our senses. Starting in early morning and for about five hours, we in the high desert were on the receiving end of heavy snow. Shortly after snow ended, the rain began and continued on and off for most of what remained of the day. But before everything was over, there were ten or fifteen minutes of hard hail. Most of that day, everything over in the west was invisible; nothing existed except one’s small island of home.
It’s only another transition to spring, we tell ourselves while holding a cup of coffee and waiting for the weather to settle. When it’s quiet enough to go outside, we’re once again into a quiet world, finding ourselves in slippery mud, but at least not icy snow.
The horses are wet and hungry. We stand at the far barn door, listening to their comforting munching and looking to the west, hoping for a sight of mountains.
Dear Readers, Have a lovely day. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 