January Was a Great Month for Rain Collection!

by James Stephen Du Bois

Raging storms off the Pacific Ocean repeatedly brought us more than an inch of rain in a day’s time in January. As matter of fact, we were able to collect rain every single day last month, and, so far, every day in February. So, if you have a special day to commemorate this far into 2020, we have you covered!

The relentless gales, and the ocean waves they push ahead of them, litter forest debris all along the tide line. This material washes down the creeks and rivers during high-wind storms and is deposited into the ocean only to be tossed back on shore as driftwood. It includes sticks just right for the creation of Oregon Du Drop mobiles. Cat and I love to get geared up and go out in the winter storms to collect this year’s supply of mobile-making material before others gather it up for kindling.

The thrashing gusts of wind brought in by these potent storms really put my mobiles to the test. What a wonderful living laboratory, and right in our front yard! Please go to https://www.facebook.com/oregondudrops/ to see an example for yourself.

These same storms have also, apparently, blown spring in early this year. We had geese over our heads flying north in January! And even more geese are headed that way this month. They must have heard of an early Mountain Pine Beetle hatch in Alberta. Our temperatures, in the fifties, have beckoned enthusiastic daffodils and crocuses to pierce the ground and have invited some of them to begin to open. Camellia bushes are flowering and adding a pink blush to the lush green background. Even the occasional Rhododendron was in full bloom on Ground Hog Day here on the coast. We always fret a late frost after Valentine’s Day but the above-mentioned early birds seem to do just fine into the high 20-degree range.

I haven’t even gotten around to reporting that a tornado was sighted 15 mi. north of us, on the coast, in January! We love living in this marvelous energy center. And, because this is where we collect the rain, a bit of Oregon Coast energy lives in every Oregon Du Drop.

Thanks again for appreciating Oregon Du Drops.

May your Spring come early too,

~Du Bois and Cat