It’s been many years since I’ve been skiing, so when I heard the last weekend to ski at Mt. Baker was coming up and I had Friday off, it was a no-brainer.  Literally.  It takes a man of little brain to decide after a long slow winter of sloth to go ski for 6 or 7 hours.  But I used to be an avid skier and knew it would be a blast.

I smartened up that Thursday night deciding that family obligations would prevent me from getting my gear together until the morning.  This effectively cut two hours off my actual hill time and gave me a ski window I might actually be able to work with.  My goal was now to be on the lift by 11 a.m.  And I intentionally didn’t ask anyone to go with me where I’d be tempted to show off my old skills.  Pride being what it is, I didn’t want to collapse at noon.

The morning started great and I drug my skis, boots and poles out of the shed and loaded the truck.  They looked a little tarnished from lack of use and there was a bit of rust on the edges, but otherwise seemed to be in good shape.  Even the weather looked promising.  I had to laugh as I loaded my skis.  They were state-of-the-art “parabolas” about 10 years ago.  I remembered people in the lift line asking how I liked them, and realized today I’d likely get more of a snicker.  At least I wouldn’t have to worry about locking them up in the ski racks.

Then I was back inside pulling out a bunch of warm clothes to wear on the mountain, and out with these came my old ski pants.  I don’t think anybody wears these anymore, but they are warm and comfortable to ski in.  I tried them on and was happy to find they still fit pretty good.  Then I looked in the mirror and showed my wife.  After that I quickly lost them back in the closet before my 5-year-old daughter saw me. She doesn’t need any more ammo.

And there I was riding up the lift at 11 a.m.  The weather was a mix of blue sky and clouds, sunshine and snow.  I soon found out the visibility was just as schizophrenic; the terrain was either perfectly clear or impossible to see.  But overall it was a great day to be skiing as long as you stayed where it was groomed.  I don’t have the old collection of waxes anymore and as soon as I left the tracks it was like hitting a glue board.

Somehow I managed to get in six runs without keeling over and decided to get something to eat and take a break.  I was more than a little overdressed and needed to lose my down jacket as well.  So after pushing myself on that last run I walked into the lodge out of breath and sweating hard.  Dumping my hat, goggles, gloves and jackets at a table, I got a tall glass of water and a beer. I needed to settle my stomach and nerves before eating, and only spilled a little water in my shaking hand on the way back to sit down.

By now the reality had set in and “keeling over” seemed a distinct possibility.  I took my time over lunch and enjoyed the company of a lodge cat that decided to lie in a patch of sun on my table.  From there the weather was nothing but crystal clear blue skies.  Warm, happy and fed, it wasn’t long before I felt invigorated enough to give it another go.  So after dropping off my coat I walked back to the ski rack to gear up and get on the mountain.

Not two steps from my skis, my right boot slipped sideways as it sank in the soft snow…and my back went out.  I didn’t drop to my knees, so that was a good sign.  But I had to stop and catch my breath.  Bending over and holding the rack, I decided it didn’t feel too bad.  I’d try a run and see how it went, maybe the chair would hit it right and the forward lean coming down the hill wouldn’t bother it.  The day had turned too nice to leave now.

The ride up was fine, but the day wasn’t as nice at the top of the hill.  It was socked in and snowing making it impossible to see.  Still, I managed to ski down without incident or pain, so I kept at it.  Some runs were the same, socked, snowy and impossible to see.  But others were bright, sunny and I could see every bump and turn.  And my back held out.

My sixth run after lunch was perfect.  Sunny and fun, I’d finally caught my breath and I flirted with making it the last run of the day.  Usually when you have this thought, it is a good one, so go with it.  I didn’t.  The top of the lift was completely socked in again and the heavy snow made the visibility the worst of the day.

I took off down the mountain and let the unseen hill throw me all over the slope.  I was tired, I was done. But still trying to enjoy this last bit of skiing, trying to ski hard, trying to ski in control, then needed to make a move so I could ski down to the lodge.  This put me on a track I hadn’t been on before and after it threw me down the hill I needed to stop and regroup.  I left the groove and hit the glue board, somehow managing to keep from hurdling out of my skis as I slid to a sudden stop.  Gravity won out anyway and I slowly fell backwards.

Struggling like a beetle to get up, I couldn’t get my skis under me as my poles sank with little resistance into the soft snow.  After one attempt I collapsed somewhat tangled as another older skier slipped smoothly to a stop a few feet away and asked, “Are you alright?”  Probably not, but I told him I was fine before giving up and taking off my skis so I could get up.

Taking off my boots in the sunshine while snow fell into the truck, I had to smile…it was a great day.

Every year the gardening world is tantalized with new introductions of  novel varieties and cultivars. We are dazzled with a variant color of a tried and true plant or a new leaf color of an old garden favorite. So for this year, here are a few of the newer varieties out there.

Many new varieties of Hydrangea have been introduced over the last couple of years.  Hydrangea macrophylla “Pistachio” is one of my favorite new mophead-type Hydrangeas. As part of the “Next Generation Collection,” “Pistachio” has huge 5-6” clusters of brilliant scarlet-red flowers tinged with green with a wide variety in coloration among flowers. “Pistachio” begins to flower in midsummer and re-blooms until frost; it has a compact, rounded growth habit, grows to 2-3 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, and grows great in containers.

“Vanilla Strawberry” is a newer variety of Pee Gee Hydrangea (H. paniculata “Vanilla Strawberry”). Growing 6-8 ft. tall, “Vanilla Strawberry” has creamy white flowers when they first open.  After a couple of weeks, the flowers turn pink, then become a strawberry red to almost burgundy. Flower color is retained for several weeks, and because it re-blooms through summer, all three color stages will be on the plant at the same time.

Hydrangea paniculata “Fire & Ice” is another new colorful Pee Gee Hydrangea reaching 6-10 feet tall and wide.  Like the previous one, “Fire & Ice” has cream colored flowers that begin to bloom in early summer, turn pink, and then later turn red/burgundy.  Flowers remain colorful into autumn.

Many newer varieties of shrubs are dwarf cultivars bred to appeal to the container gardener. Weigela “Spilled Wine” is one such newer introductions.  With a compact, spreading habit reaching 12-18” tall and 24-36“ wide, “Spilled Wine” works well in containers, borders, mixed plantings. The combination of rich, burgundy brown foliage and vividly colored hot magenta flowers really make this plant pop.

Among bedding plants, there have been many new, exciting varieties of Petunias introduced over the last couple of years.

“Pink Lemonade” is to me one of the most impressive new varieties of Petunia. With a nice dense, trailing growth habit, rich green leaves contrast with clear soft light yellow and pink tones. “Pink Lemonade” is very floriferous and will bloom well into fall with regular water and fertilizer.  Very colorful and different.

For something really different, watch out for the newer varieties of black-flowering Petunias.  “Black Cat” and “Black Velvet” are some of the darkest and closest to completely black flowers that I”ve seen. Also colorful are “Phantom” and “Pin Stripe”; each have that rich black Petunia color punctuated with creamy, light yellow stripes.

But my favorite new plant that I”ve seen this year is Verbena “Twister Pink.”  This trailing Verbena has large very unique, bi-colored hot pink and pure white flower clusters 4-5” wide. The half of the flower that faces the inside of the cluster is hot pink, and the half of the flower that faces the outside of the cluster is white – very unusual. And don”t forget, Verbenas attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

For many new varieties, it may take a few years for the plants to reach your favorite nursery.  Do some research this year to see what”s new.  Visit your favorite nursery this spring and inquire about some of these newer varieties.  Cheers.

Chuck has a master”s degree in botany from Washington State University and has been gardening over 30 years.  He helps others solve their gardening dilemmas and may be reached at orchid fruit@hotmail.com.

“For the very first time, we will have an Everson/Nooksack Celebration Station,” event organizer Mary Cole said. “We haven’t had one this far out in the county before.”

Located in front of Nooksack Valley Middle School, the station will include stickers and other goodies for cyclists who check in. The Celebration Station will also keep track of how many riders pass through.

Mary Cole, library volunteer and event organizer, said she has partnered with several Everson businesses to localize the event. She said most of the prizes pertain to Bellingham-based businesses. She will hold a few contests with prizes localized around Everson- and Nooksack-based businesses. This not only awards prizes closer to home for Nooksack Valley students, but it also increases their odds of winning, as these local prizes will only be available to local students.

Other Celebration Station prizes will be open to all Whatcom County students who bike to a celebration station on their way to school that day. The Nooksack Valley Middle School Celebration Station will be open from 7 to 9:30 a.m.

Bike to Work and School Day has been a mainstay on the alternative transportation scene for about 15 years now. More than 10,000 people rode their bikes to work and school in last year’s event. Bike to Work and School Day is promoted by EverybodyBIKE, a program of Whatcom Smart Trips.

Several local businesses are providing their support for Bike to Work and School Day. One of these, Fanatik Bike Company in Bellingham, happens to have a cycling connection very close to the Nooksack and Everson community.

Emily Smith

For 2007 Nooksack Valley High School graduate Emily Smith, a love for cycling runs in the family. It wasn’t her first choice, however.

“(My dad) rode all through my childhood,” Smith said. “Cycling was never my first choice of sports. Growing up, I competed in show-jumping.”

She competed in equestrian show-jumping from about age 7 to 19. She traveled to compete every year.

“After I went to university and got a little bit busier, I switched gears,” Smith said. “I got a little burnt out on the horses thing, and I started riding with my dad more and more when I transferred back to Western.”

She found a thriving offroad biking community at Fanatik Bike shop in Bellingham, a Bike to Work and School Day sponsor and Smith’s place of work.

“A bunch of the guys there raced growing up,” Smith said. “They guided me throughout he early stages of the sport.”

She entered the downhill racing circuit for the first time in June 2010 and she hasn’t looked back.

“The way that downhill works is you progress from category three to category one in the amateur rankings,” Smith said. “You have to get a certain number of top-three finishes. My movement up through category three and two was in one year. I then moved to category one, which was the top level of the amateurs.”

Smith obviously performed very well in the local circuit, which includes races in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. She also found success in races located in British Columbia.

For the past two years, Smith has competed successfully in the national expert class. This national success culminated with her taking first place at the U.S. National Championships in the women ages 19-29 expert class in Beech Mountain, N.C.

“When you win at nationals, they move you into the professional category,” Smith said. “This is my first year with the pros.”

As a professional cyclecross rider, Smith now moves on to competing primarily at the national and international levels. She said her practice regimen has definitely changed since she broke into a higher level of competition.

“I think as I have taken this a lot more seriously and as I’ve gained sponsorship, I’m not only riding for myself, but I’m representing companies. It has a different weight to it. I think the biggest change for me has been the mental aspect of it. It’s always just fun to ride your bike, and that’s a good way to approach it. But there’s a serious way to approach it, though.”

Smith said that, as an amateur, she got away with minimal race preparation. That is no longer the case.

“When you’re in the amateur categories, I got away with doing very well with a minimal amount of preparation. Now that I’ve gotten to the professional side of things, it’s a bit more of going to bed at 8 o’clock. I think that’s probably one of the hardest things to figure out. I’m lucky enough to work with a great trainer. It definitely is a bit overwhelming. It’s just about working hard to figure that out.”

She is sponsored by a variety of companies, including Cycles Devinci, Troy Lee Designs, Terrain Gym, Leatt, GoPro, Renthal Cycle Products, 100% and Fanatik Bike Company, where she works.

Smith will travel to nationals in Beech Mountain again in July. The best part of the sport, to her, is simple.

“My favorite part of the sport is probably winning,” she said.

Cole said Smith is a good example of where a passion for cycling can take a person. She will set up a display cabinet at Everson McBeath Community Library to celebrate Smith and her achievements for Bike to Work and School Day. Tha names of the businesses sponsoring Bike to Work and School Day will be listed with the display as well.

For more information on the various events occurring around the county on Bike to Work and School Day, visit BikeToWorkAndSchoolDay.org.

Email Brent Lindquist at foothills@lyndentribune.com.

Honeybee colonies are an essential factor in the pollination of many of the world’s crops, and local berry crops are no different. Locally, that means beekeepers are essential as well.

Russell J. Deptuch has owned and operated Bees Choice Honey, located in north Ferndale, for about seven years.

“How I got started was, I bought two existing hives from another beekeeper,” he said. “Right now, I’ve got about 45 hives.”

Bees Choice Honey specializes in pollination services, swarm capture and local honey.

Pollination

Deptuch kicks off berry season by bringing his bees to local blueberry farms.

“What we do is, we wait until the grower is ready to move in,” Deptuch said. “Then I’ll figure out how many hives he needs. We do about one hive per acre for raspberries and three hives per acre for blueberries. They’ll call us up and we’ll arrange a time or a day to move the hives out and load them up on a flat to move them out to the blueberries.”

The hives are then left in the blueberries until the blooms drop off the plants. At that point, Deptuch moves his bees to local raspberry crops.

“We generally move them under cooler temperatures in the early morning or at night,” Deptuch said. “You want to keep all the bees inside the hive. We don’t want to lose any bees or leave any bee behind. No bee left behind.”

Deptuch said he gets most of his information on pollination levels from growers.

“I think (2012) is pretty much on par with most years,” he said. “We did have a little bit of a wet spring there, but I think it’s about right.”

Swarm capture

Deptuch said a healthy honeybee colony may contain 30,000 or more bees. Just 300 of these are male drones, and only one bee in each hive is the queen. The rest are the workers.

As a hive’s population increases and the colony becomes more and more crowded, the colony issues a swarm. Before swarming, the colony begins to raise new queen cells by feeding them a special jelly. The new swarm leaves about two days before the virgin queen emerges.

A new swarm consists of about half the old hive’s worker bees, a few male drones and the old queen.

Deptuch said these swarms appear as a wild, unsynchronized mass. However, swarms follow a predetermined plan that leads eventually to finding a place to rest.

This is often the stage at which local residents notice swarms. The solo queen and her swarm may rest on a tree, porch post, wall or stop sign. The resting swarm is usually about the size and shape of a bee-covered football. The resting swarm then sends out scout bees to find a suitable spot for a new home.

Deptuch said capturing a swarm at this time is the easiest for the beekeeper and best for the property owner. Once the bees swarm to the spot specified by their scouts, they establish themselves and cannot be easily removed without some demolition. Deptuch said the sooner a swarm is captured, the less likely it is that it will become established in an attic, the eaves of a house, a car or any other place considered suitable by the swarm- but unsuitable to you.

Local honey

Bees don’t make much honey from blueberries, Deptuch said, but they make plenty from raspberries. The three varieties of honey sold by Bees Choice Honey are raspberry, wildflower and fireweed.

“After we pollinate the raspberries, we bring our bees up to the foothills to Mosquito Lake Road to make fireweed honey,” Deptuch said.

The 2011 stock of Bees Choice honey ran out in December, but Deptuch hopes to have more to sell at the Ferndale, Lynden and Blaine farmers’ markets before the end of May.

Bees Choice Honey can be contacted at 815-3989 or via e-mail at russ@beeschoice.com.

Email Brent Lindquist at foothills@lyndentribune.com.

Eagle perched along the Skagit River. PHOTO BY ED McKNIGHT

There are several sites in eastern Whatcom and Skagit counties that provide visitors with plenty of views as well as interpretive displays and even speakers. Visit the ranger stations or visitor centers as well along the way on Mount Baker Highway and North Cascades Highway for additional ideas.
Deming Homestead Eagle Park: Located off of Truck Road, on the North Fork of the Nooksack River, the park has some interpretive signs and benches. To get here, travel east on Mt. Baker Highway. After milepost 14, turn right on Truck Road. It’s an easy .3 mile one-way walk in the park.
Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center: Follow the signs in Rockport from Highway 20 and Highway 530 to Alfred Street and you’ll find the center open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through mid February.
Howard Miller Steelhead Park: Located near the Interpretive Center is the Howard Miller Steelhead Park, near the bridge over the Skagit River. The bridge offers the best view point, but there are hiking trails at the west end of the camping areas that lead to more riverside viewing sites. Also nearby is the Bald Eagle Natural Area, a State Fish and Wildlife viewing site on Martin Road, off SR 530, just south of the Skagit River bridge.
Take a rafting trip: A winter rafting trip provides a beautiful, up close way to view eagles as they  are perched above and soar down into the water to feed on salmon.  Check out the local Wild & Scenic River Tours in Glacier, as well as Skagit RIver Adventures, Ackerlund’s Guide Service on the Skagit River, Alpine Adventures, Blue Sky Outfitters and Pacific NW Float Trips.
Milepost 100 Rest Area: The Skagit River runs directly next to this popular site at Sutter Creek on State Route 20, allowing visitors great views of feeding areas on the gravel bars on the south side of the river. Look to the mountainside—a prime eagle night-roosting site. There are interpretive displays here and parking.
Marblemount Fish Hatchery: At Marblemount, cross the Skagit River bridge and proceed past the entrance to the Marblemount Boat Launch (this is the starting place for bald eagle rafting trips and the location of a very nice bird-watching loop walk that follows the Skagit and Cascade Rivers). Go past the boat launch a half mile, then turn right on the Rockport-Cascade Road, cross the Cascade River Bridge, and take the next right to the Fish Hatchery.
Visitors can view and learn about them from volunteers with the Eagle Watchers Program hosted by the US Forest Service. Three viewing stations with off-highway parking along North Cascades Highway 20 provide spotting scopes and binoculars to help you see the birds up close. Volunteers will staff stations Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through Jan. 29. Eagle Watcher stations are located at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, Sutter Creek Rest area (milepost 100) and the Marblemount Fish Hatchery. View a map showing the viewing sites and learn more about Skagit River wildlife. Call (360) 856-5700 ext. 515 for more information.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MT. BAKER SKI AREA

MT. BAKER – A new mid-mountain lodge, expected to open later this week, will offer food, warmth, and comfort to Mount Baker Ski Area visitors.

Raven Hut Lodge sits at the base of chairs 4, 5 and 6 and is only accessible by ski or snowboard. COURTESY PHOTO

Accessible only by ski and snowboard, the new Raven Hut stands at the site of the former Raven Hot Cafe. Full dining service, a rock fireplace, and classic Northwest architecture characterize the new $3.5 million building, which has been designed in the style of the original 1920’s Mount Baker Lodge.

Ski area representative Amy Trowbridge calls the design “timeless,” and expects that the artisan-crafted lodge will rank among the nation’s finest. “It’s very northwest, very classic, very Cascades,” she said.

Ski Area staff had at least two compelling reasons to build a new lodge, according to Trowbridge: first, large crowds at the ski area’s popular White Salmon Lodge needed room to spread out. Second, the old Raven Hot Cafe was suffering the ravages of time and challenging weather, and needed to be replaced.

As for the construction process, it’s been managed during a short warm season. “With the incredible snow pack we had last year,” Trowbridge explained, “things didn’t melt out until well into the summer.” Staff and construction crews managed to cut a road and clear snow to get into the construction site during the spring, while general contractors Wellman & Zuck managed to work through a summer of challenging alpine conditions. Finishing touches are being put on the commercial kitchen now, and final permits should be in on time for an estimated Dec. 9 opening. “We’re hoping,” Trowbridge said of the opening date, “though you never know until you actually open the doors.”

While construction of the lodge is wrapping up, artistic details will be added throughout the season and into next year. “We’ve had some Northwest artists do some beautiful [detailing] for us,” noted Trowbridge, who hopes that visitors will observe such touches as bronze ravens on the door, artful post carvings (yet to be completed), and a stone fireplace which was handcrafted by a local crew.

The new Raven Hut Lodge is designed in the 1920s-30s Cascadia style architecture and features the work of numerous local woodworkers and artisans. COURTESY PHOTO, Nov. 2011

The Raven Hut sits at the base of chairs 4, 5, and 6, opening after what has been a great start to the season. “We’ve had a bit of a roller coaster with the weather this week,” Trowbridge said, “but what a fantastic opening day we had.” She described their opening weekend as boasting “some of the best conditions we’ve ever had.” The weekend allowed for the establishment of a great base, which will serve skiers and snowboarders well as the season goes on.

In other news, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the ski area on Dec. 10-11.

For more information and snow conditions, visit www.mtbaker.us or call (360) 734-6771.

The weekend forecast calls for cold temperatures and clear skies with no additional precipitation, however an incoming storm is expected early next week. Riders are encouraged to pay attention to early season snow conditions.

The new $3.5 million mid-mountain lodge called Raven Hut, accessible only by ski or snowboard, will open in mid-December. The facility features 1920s and 30s-style Cascadia architecture. A number of local woodworkers and artists have been involved in construction. Additional details will be in the next Foothills Gazette.

Last  year, the ski area opened on Nov. 20.  Other regional ski areas are expected to open this weekend.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The National Weather Service forecast indicates cold temperatures and clear skies for the weekend. Into the week, rain and winds are likely, while temperatures will increase into the 40s and possibly low 50s during the day. For up to date snow conditions at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, visit mtbaker.us and click on Snow Report.

Following are some of the tree farms in eastern Whatcom County area, most open through Dec. 23 or Christmas Eve.

• Alpine Meadows Tree Farm: 3585 Valley Highway, south of Van Zandt, 595-1019. Open through Dec. 22. Hours are 9 a.m. to dark, Monday through Saturday. Trees include Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Fraser Fir and Nordmann. U-cut, pre-cut and live trees are available, as well as kids’ trees and wreaths and garland. There is an indoor warm-up area with free coffee and hot chocolate.

• Bell Creek Trees: 5669 Mount Baker Highway, Deming, 592-5061 or 592-4005. Open through Dec. 23. Hours are 9 a.m. to dusk on the weekends, as well as by appointment. Trees include Grand Fir, Noble Fir and Fraser Fir, Cedar, and both u-cut and we-cut are available, as well as wreaths and cut greenery. Coffee and light refreshments available.

• Fullner U-Cut Christmas Trees: 3765 E. Hoff Road, 592-5820. Open through Dec. 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to dark, daily. Trees include Douglas, Grand and Concolor Firs, Norway Spruce, and Fraser. A gift shop is also on site. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and candy canes available.

• Kelly Road Christmas Tree Farm: 1129 E. Kelly Road, 510-9198, www.kellyrdtreefarm.com.  Open through Dec. 18. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Trees include u-cut or we-cut Noble Fir, Grand Fir and Fraser Fir. Gift shop on site. Refreshments available.

A couple cuts a tree at Alpine Meadows Farm. PHOTO BY KELLY MAKARAVAGE

• Misty Meadows Farm: 6197 Everson Goshen Road, Everson, 312-3554, www.mistymeadowsfarm.com. Trees are certified organic and include Grand Fir, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir and Nordmann Fir.

• Noon Road Trees: 7188 Noon Road, Lynden, 354-8689. Open through Dec. 24. Hours are dawn to dusk, daily. Trees include u-cut Douglas, Grand, Noble, Colorado Blue, Norway and others.

• Pete Pederson Christmas Trees: 4035 Mount Baker Highway, Deming, 592-2639. Trees include Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Fraser Fir and Douglas Fir.

• Red Mountain Tree Farm: Located on Mount Baker Highway  between Kendall and Maple Falls, 599-1765, www.redmountaintrees.com. Open through Dec. 23. Hours are 10 a.m. to dusk, daily. Trees include Noble, Open Noble, Grand Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Spruce, Blue Spruce, and Nordmann. U-cut, we-cut, potted trees and wreaths available, as well as garland, ornaments and other items.

• River’s Edge U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm: 4773 Deming Road, Deming, 592-5220, www.riversedgeucut.com. Open through Dec. 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to dark, daily. Trees include Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Fraser Fir, pre-cut Douglas Fir, and live trees, as well as garlands and wreaths. Free wagon rides Dec. 3-4 and 10-11. Coffee, cider, hot chocolate and candy canes available.

• Sisters Tree Farm: 3771 Valley Highway, a mile south of Van Zandt, 592-5614. Open through Dec. 24. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to dark on Saturday and Sunday. Trees include Douglas Fir, Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir and more. U-cut, we-cut and wreaths available. Sisters Gift Shoppe on site includes crafts, ornaments, handmade dolls, stockings and more. Cookies and coffee available.

• Stoney Ridge Farm: 2092 Van Dyk Road, Everson, 592-5220, www.stoneyridgefarm.com. Open through Dec. 10. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Trees include  Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, and Nordmann. We-cut, u-cut, wreaths, garlands, stands and more available. Gift shop, pie shop, animals. Coffee and hot chocolate available.

Cutting areas are located within national forest lands in the eastern portions of Whatcom and Skagit counties, as well as Snohomish, Pierce and King. Permits cost $10 each, one tree per permit, with a tree height limit of 12 feet. Maps and information about cutting areas are provided at the Glacier Public Service Center or the Sedro-Woolley Ranger Station. Trees taller than 12 feet require a special permit at a minimum price of $20. Plan to purchase a parking permit if the trip includes parking in a designated Sno-Park lot.

Due to the incoming snow storms, officials suggest people cut their trees early in the season. High-clearance vehicles are often required on forest roads along with tire chains and a shovel.

Permits are available at the Glacier Public Service Center, just east of Glacier, and the Mt. Baker Ranger Station, located at 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley. The Glacier Public Service Center can be reached at 599-2714. The Mt. Baker Ranger Station can be reached at 856-5700 ext 515. For more information, visit fs.usda.gov.

A large variety of fresh produce, from carrots to sugar pie pumpkins, are available from local farms and growers at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturdays (open through Saturday, Dec. 17). East county farmers include Hopewell Farm, Rabbit Fields Farm, Broadleaf Farm, Sumas River Farm, Spring Frog Farm at the Holistic Homestead, Nooksack Nine, Cloud Mountain Farm, Osprey Hill Farm and Growing Washington.

For many, Thanksgiving is not complete without eggnog, and luckily, local dairies have just what you’re looking for (as well as milk and butter). Try selections from Twin Brook Creamery, Breckenridge Farm, Edaleen Dairy and others.

As for local cheese, check out the selection at Everybody’s Store in Van Zandt, as well as offerings from area cheese makers like Appel Farms, Silver Springs Creamery Samish Bay Cheese, Golden Glen Creamery, Gothberg Farms, and Pleasant Valley Dairy.

Need beer or wine for your holiday table? Stop by the North Fork Brewery, Mount Baker Vineyards or Samson Estate Winery.

Coffee and tea selections are available too. Locally roasted coffee is available from Mt. Baker Coffee Roasters, Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, Maniac Roasting, Bellingham Bay Coffee Roasters, and others. Sip-T and North Star Chai create tasty tea varieties, both available at the Bellingham Farmers Market.

For locally raised birds such as turkeys and chickens, contact Osprey Hill Farm in Acme and Growing Washington, based in Everson, or Frianeza Farmstead, in Bellingham. For pork, try Farmer Ben’s, outside of Lynden, and for beef, check out Legacy Herefords, out of Bellingham.

Seasonal decorations – such as harvest wreaths, table centerpieces and other items – can be purchased from locations such as Courtyard Gardens in Everson, Mountainside Gardens on Mount Baker Highway between Kendall and Maple Falls, and Glacier Creations in Glacier. Check out Sumas River Farm and Glacier Glass Works at the Bellingham Farmers Market.