I just read an article that the hummingbirds are really struggling right now. Local wildlife rescues are seeing a far greater number of hummingbirds in distress being brought in. I have a cheap heating lamp set up and aimed at the feeders. They stay thawed all day and the hummers can sit and have a little warmth while they have a meal.
Put out feeders that have perches so they aren’t wasting precious energy hovering in place.
My cousin’s wife lives in Enterprise (next to Joseph). The nice thing about a small town like that is that 4-H kids will go out and shovel the walks of seniors and disabled folks.
We had to dig our way out to leave. Two feet of snow in two days is a ton of shoveling! Those 4H kids have their work cut out for them. 
BTW, I love Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise!
Why doesn’t your cousin live in Enterprise as well?
I finally attempted an escape from my property today. Rounded the corner on the driveway and discovered 2 problem trees. I was able to move one out of the way but will require the help of someone who knows how to use a chainsaw to take care of the other one. It is looming over my gate in a precarious way.
It’s been a fun storm, for sure!
How the hell did I do that? :smack:
‘Our’.
All the neighbors at our part of the hill pitched in to shovel the road clear at the crest. I have studded tires, which are mostly unnecessary except as something to complain about most of the swinter, but they do give some grip on ice while not spinning like a chained tire on dry pavement. Our driveway is clear enough for me to get out, but my wife’s car is garaged for the duration. I’ve been running the errands when it’s feasible. Getting into town is okay; getting home has its challenges.
I did pick up a hummingbird feeder, a “high energy” suet and second suet cage, and a bag of black oil sunflower seeds, served in a dish because we don’t have a feeder, but the dark-eyed juncos don’t seem to mind. Also, they’re distributing seeds nicely in the raised garden bed, so perhaps they’ll grow some sunflowers of their own. The Stellar’s jays were already eating the seed I threw down at the dripline, and a squirrel found the peanuts. I was surprised to see three varied thrush today; I’ve never seen them in the yard before. No robins and no chickadees today, though a ruby-crowned kinglet is hanging around and I can hear a spotted towhee. The Anna’s didn’t stop by, though I saw one overhead today, so they may be at a neighbor’s feeder.
Also: No newspapers, mail, UPS, or trash pickup since Sunday. But we still have electric and cable, for which I’m grateful.
Oy! And Vey! No envy here, I have friends that live in Newport/Old Town and I’ve seen pics.
I live in SE Portland and we’ve had some killer Gorge winds, it’s been cold as balls and we’ve had several instances of snow but not a lot–inch or two at a time. Hasn’t been icing up all that badly overall and traffic has been basically okay. As Snowpocalypses go it’s been fairly mild for me. Didn’t even run outta kale!
Yes, but did you run out of Colin?
…
Thanks to a good neighbor with a chainsaw, the offending tree is gone. Made it out of the property, ran my errands and all feels more or less back to normal. Yayy!
I got stuck coming home from Southern California in Redding at a hotel with no power over the 12th - 14th due to an unexpected heavy snowfall and the closing of I-5 North, only to face this nasty storm at home with no power from the 24th - 27th. I’ve had enough of these snow covered electricity-free challenges for awhile.
2nd snowiest February in the record books:
Some years we go camping in February, some years we can barely make it out of the house.
Mercifully, our kale protrudes from the still-significant snow cover. It does not attract wildlife noshing.
We are going through the bird feed and suet at a fast pace. The deer hoof prints have disappeared through our garden areas now that it is completely snow covered.
For those who think SmartAleq is joking about the kale, it was a real problem before the last snowstorm. Fortunately, the suppliers were better prepared this time around and the crisis was averted.
In Portland running out of kale is like running out of TP in the south. Relationships end, stabbings ensue, it’s just a clusterfuck.
Although the dry texture of the snow makes for perfect running conditions. Watch to the end–this one never gets old!