Here in Seattle we only get about 3 months of summer and great weather. Then it turns really rainy and cold and stays that way for 6 months until spring. It’s always a huge adjustment for our family.
In the summer, the sunshine beckons me to the mountains. I feel good every day and and have dozens of ideas of what we can do for outdoor adventures.
We have gotten almost 7 inches of rain so far in November (Update: the 40 inches previously quoted was for the YEAR). At best it has been gray and clear and at worst it has been dumping rain in almost blackness for 24 hours straight! That really bums me out. I get tired of sitting in the house but I can’t think of anything I would rather do but snuggle up in a blankie with some ice cream on days like that.
When the “dark season” starts I have to re adjust my thinking. I feel less motivated to do things and I spend a few weeks resisting the change and misguidedly “waiting” for the weather to get better. Then, at some point, a switch goes off and the old Northwest adage comes back: “If you wait for it to stop raining to go outside, you never will”. My urge to get outside takes over and I am forced to get creative.
When it is raining in Seattle it is usually falling as snow in the mountains. Snow is cold but DRY…..and it’s being wet that we all dislike most. Also, most of the time it is raining in Western Washington, it is dry and sunny over the mountains on the eastern side of the state. On days when we don’t have all day, I vigilantly watch out the window for a break in the rain so sneak outside for our walk or look for dog-friendly things we can do around the City….so we can stay DRY. Sense a theme? ha, ha.
It takes a month or so for me to adjust but after I do we end up going on just as many adventures in the winter as we do in the summer. Just last week I bundled Chester and Gretel up in their Dachshund jackets and headed for one of our favorite winter mountain hikes – Source Lake. I have a couple of friends east of the mountains I have been wanting to visit so soon the rain will send us over there for another desert adventure. I found this place in the City called K9 Fun Zone that has weekly playtime where small dogies can play indoors we want to try. I also found out a cool bar up the street from us is dog-friendly and have plan to go there with a friend in a couple of weeks.
So, once my attitude adjusts with the weather, I learn to look forward to our winter activities. Bring on the adventures 
My mom grew up in Puget Sound. She says it would be hard to live in all that rain now, but she didn’t notice growing up!
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I grew up here too….so I lived here for years because I didn’t know any better. When I discovered the outdoors in my teens, I became less and less of a fan of the grey (the rain itself I don’t mind). I don’t move though because 1) My family is here and I am very close to them and 2) In the three months of summer we have I wouldn’t wish to live anywhere else. We are so lucky to have everything within three miles…desert, ocean, rain forest, wooded mountains, alpine mountains, gleaming, white snow covered mountains…..
Ha ha! The problem here for us this time of year becomes that it just gets too darned busy! I always look forward to the time after the holidays when we can start getting out again. I’m hoping we’ll be able to avoid snow for another month or so, though!
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Well, I do like that the snow rarely comes to our doorstep here. I mean, all that shoveling, plowing and slipping on ice stuff is a bummer. I love it when it first snows because it white and pristine but it turns grey and icky it’s just a hassle.
I hope you guys are able to sneak in a few good hikes before Christmas.
Holy crap, that’s a lot of rain. I would be a basket case. Good for you for finding all that other fun stuff to do.
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Well, as a friend pointed out, that was the total for the YEAR, not the MONTH. It has ONLY rained 7 inches this month. Still more than “meh, no biggie”. It’s been enough to flood and destroy homes and still make me a basket case
Sounds like you’re well on your way to adjusting! I’d send you some sunshine, but here in ChicagoLand we have none to spare! LOL
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All that rain and grey clouds sounded like our miserable Summer. Everything crop wise failed and it was hard to stay cheery. Should have known as soon as they said drought so we had a hose pipe ban the heavens would open up. Chin up. Have a marvelous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
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I have heard it is grey and rainy over there too but didn’t realize it was that way through summer too. Ick.
Holy Flying Cat Balls!!! You mean 4.0 inches of rain right; not 40 inches? Here in Sequim, we have gotten maybe 2 or 2.5. I know how the grey and wet mood can really work on you mentally, even bringing out the black dog in us (excuse the pun-it was intended). But I can’t imagine you really got that much in November! If you really did; I stand corrected. Say it ain’t so, Jess!
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Yeah…just kidding
You made me look. 40 inches is for the YEAR. This month it has only been 7 inches….which is still almost three times what you have gotten, lucky. Thanks for pointing that out though. I wrote this post late last night and by BS meter wasn’t working. I searched Google for “November rain total” and found 40 inches….and at midnight that didn’t sound so unreasonable. This morning, especially when I read your comment, It DID seem a little high. Ha, ha. Thanks for catching that! I fixed my numbers….but now I won’t get as much sympathy 
Woof! Woof! Mom was in Seattle in October and she said it was sunny and beautiful. We are missing snow this year but mom promised me I get to play and see snow soon. You are the only Dachs that we know that are so lucky hiking up the mountains and enjoys it. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
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Wow! We definitely prefer snow to rain- and that’s what we get 6 months a year! We had our first real snowfall last night. Sounds like you have some great winter options to try!
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That’s a lot of rain!
I live in Alaska, so I can appreciate the short summers. Here it is more like 3 months of spring, 6 months of winter and 3 months of in between…
We are planning a trip with our two doxies to Seattle just to take a break from our winter (this past week we have been at ~15F). This will be their first airplane trip so we wanted to start with the closest destination out of state. We love Seattle, but this is the first time we are have a pet oriented vacation. Would love to hear your recommendations (parks, trails, pet friendly restaurants/pubs) on what to do or where to go during this time of the year. We’ll be following your blog!
That is about the seasonal mix we get here too
I do find it interesting that you are coming to Seattle for better weather. Ha, ha. I promise it is not that cold here! I would love to talk to you more about your dog-friendly vacation here. I don’t know when you are coming but I host a monthly Dachshund walk around one of Seattle’s most popular parks. We usually have around 30 Dachshund who come for walks in the winter (we have more in summer). I also have some dog-friendly recommendations for drinks and dining and know some other local bloggers with additional recommendations. You can contact me at adventurejess(at)gmail(dot)com and we can continue the conversation there.
Wow, mom says she remembers the rain when she lived there in the past. You look nice and cozy in you cute coats.
Luckily, after the fall the rain does actually slow down leaving us with only the grey and freezing cold
I have to say that you guys do look a bit chilled. We love snow and cold but we have lots more fur to keep us warm. Good luck with your winter in Seattle!
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that picture of your baby in the snow is too adorable!
Don’t hate me, but Seattle’s weather sounds right up my alley with my chronic kidney stone issues that are aggravated by heat and sun!
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Nah…my step Dad is “one of you” too but his is because he is always so hot. He wears shorts here all year round.
Hey Chester, Hey Gretel, Jet here.
How you adjust to the dark season, we adjust to the 7-8 months of summer; filled with daily booms/streaky lights, unbearable humidity and scorching temperatures. If we wait for a change, we’d never leave the house!
Shifting and adjusting is a wise choice. We love seeing your outerwear, quite pawesome. You look great trekking through the white stuff I’ve only heard about!
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Well, I CAN honestly say I have heard complaints from the other side of the fence about blistering heat and humidity. At least we can put on down and waterproof jackets and be reasonably comfortable outdoors in the winter. In some areas of the country, the miserable summer weather can’t be avoided except with indoor air conditioning.
Hey it’s Jet here. Hi Miss Jess…
That’s what we do… hit the A/C… also we swim … well… I swim… mostly, we wait for this time of year!!!
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My first trip to Seattle was in the middle of SeaFair and it was LOVELY. I thought to myself, “why is everyone always complaining about this place? It’s awesome!” Then, I came in December. You have my sympathies.
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Ha, ha. You are exactly right. It is AMAZING here in the summer. Too bad it only lasts 3 months
We’d gladly trade you your winter of rain for our winter of feet upon feet of snow which must be shoveled, snowblown and otherwise pushed around into various piles. Usually in the dark and definitely in the freezing cold. If it weren’t for the three great months of summer in Maine (and a climate that doesn’t support many large bug species) we’d live in North Carolina!
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Well, I have friends in Eastern Washington that have to do plenty of pushing snow into piles in the freezing cold so I can empathize with you. They, however, do have some huge bugs in places
I wish you could send the rain south to Texas. We would love to share some of it! I understand what you are saying because our summers are so brutal that we really can’t get out much so we just hunker down in the a/c and wait for it to be over! Love the pictures, the jackets are too cute!
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I’m the same as you. It takes me a little bit to adjust to the cold and dreary feeling of the winter. I just went through it this weekend. What gets me through it is the dogs, because this is the time of year that they live for. I have to adjust by getting out and just doing it:)
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I know exactly how you feel, we seem to have had nothing but rain here all year and we are back to the flood routes into and out of work!!
We understand the weather thing. Seriously. We live in Ottawa. #3 coldest Capital in the world. We have 6 months of … winter. With a level of cold most people just can’t appreciate. Days that are so cold it is dangerous to go outside for fear your lungs will – quite literally – freeze when you take a breath.
Yet, even with that we manage. Yes, we have days where going up and down the stairs of our apartment are the only way to exercise the wee one … but with snowsuit or thick wool sweaters and booties to keep Montecristo dry and warm … we go out. A LOT.
But … I think we will wait for your summer to visit Seattle.
Good for you. I hope you have all the outdoor adventures you can handle.
My friends in Norway say there is no bad weather, just wrong clothing. I haven’t gotten to that point yet. I find the 300 days a year of clouds demoralizing.
I too am happy for the snow. It brings a bit of brightness to the day.
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It does sound like it would be an adjustment, but we have friends who live there…and they love it! Perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts…who love rain!!
xoxo Chloe and Ladybug
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I am already counting the days until the shortest day and we stop the slide into darkness. It is hard to get out when it is dark in the morning before work and at night after work. We certainly cannot train.
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