We’ve enjoyed a few very pleasant days lately. The sun is warm and the sky has been nearly cloudless. That is a new term for me because I have lived much of my life in places where cloudless skies are common. People around here don’t look for the skies to be completely free from clouds. If it is sunny where they are, they consider it to be clear skies. We have, however, been experiencing dryer weather than typical. Daytime highs have been in the mid-sixties. It was spitting a few raindrops when we were walking one day earlier this week, but yesterday’s walk was delightful.

What we have noticed is that the days are getting shorter. With the equinox coming tomorrow, this is normal. We are, however, adjusting to the simple fact that the change in the length of days is more dramatic in our new home. The difference in the length of days in winter and summer is greater and change occurs at a more rapid pace than other places where we have lived. Within a month we will have lived in this house for two years which is a significant milestone. The years seem to go by quickly, however, and in many years it feels like we just arrived.

Our weather, however, is about to change. According to the forecasts a strong weather system is heading our way. Rain is expected to settle in by Sunday evening and continue through next week. Forecasters are calling for 100% chance of rain next Tuesday with the possibility of more than half an inch. Several days of moderate to heavy rain with higher amounts in the mountains is not an unusual forecast for this time of year around here. We are, however, newcomers and we still aren’t used to the weather patterns in this place.

When we decided to move here, we were a bit concerned about the short days and rainy weather. We have had the luxury of living in places with plenty of sunshine even in winter and know that the gray skies can become oppressive. I have not experienced the weather around here as a problem, however. I thought that I would miss the snow more than I do. Once we got good rain gear to wear on rainy days and good waterproof shoes, I haven’t found that the weather disrupts my lifestyle that much.

Like the other places we have lived, the weather is a common topic of conversation. Long-term residents of this area report wonderful summers filled with lots of opportunities for outdoor activities and long winters that inspire multiple trips to the library. I haven’t ever been someone who is kept indoors by the weather. I rather enjoyed getting out in the snow when we lived in the Dakotas. I tend to go outdoors even when it is raining around here.

One difference that I have noticed is that lawn mowing season is quite different around here. Our lawn is just emerging from dormancy right now. I mowed it this week, but hadn’t mowed it for a month previously. When the rains come, I’ll be back to needing to mow my grass every week and even more often. We’re planning a trip starting next week and I expect that when we return, my lawn will really need to be mowed. Then lawn mowing will continue through much of the winter. That isn’t the way is is in the other places where we have lived. In South Dakota, mid-September was usually the last time to mow the lawn for the year, though there were years when I mowed a bit into October. Then I could put away the mower for the winter. Of course I had to get out the snowblower, so I kept in practice with various kinds of outdoor work. There is no need for a snowblower here, but I have had to learn to mow the lawn in the winter. So far, however, I haven’t succumbed to the fate of the professional lawn care experts and some of my neighbors of mowing in the rain.

Even in this northern location, with short days in the winter, solar panels on the roof of a typical home can produce enough electricity to supply that home. A solar system works well with the net metering that is available. In the summer, when the panels are producing more than is being consumed, a homeowner gains credit with the power company that is used to purchase electricity during winter months when consumption is higher than production. We have several friends whose solar systems result in power bills that are only the minimum charge for having an active electric meter. This has got me to thinking about how it works to tap solar energy in places that are even farther north than our home. Theoretically, a lot of energy could be produced in places where the sun stays up most of the day. Storing that energy for use in the winter would, of course, be a challenge and wouldn’t work as the only energy source for an off-grid home with today’s technology. There is still much to learn about energy as we turn away from energy sources that increase carbon pollution and contribute to climate change.

What is obvious, however, is that our choices about energy do affect the weather we experience. Global climate change is not some future threat, but rather a present reality. The increase in severe storms around the world is directly related to human activities. As our planet warms we will continue to experience conditions that have not previously been experienced by humans.

I guess the weather will remain a topic of conversation for the rest of my life. I’ll continue to consult the forecasts and try to make adjustments to be prepared for whatever weather comes. Next week it means we’ll be needing our rain jackets. The parka, however, is likely to stay in the closet for some time. And I’ll keep looking at the sky enjoying patches of blue whenever they come.