Dec 31, 2012 Happy New Year!



Clouds moving in from the SW
Sunday afternoon




Looking down the main canyon road
Friday morning























Clearing our road Friday morning didn't take as long as clearing the drivway had.  Except for where our road meets the main canyon road, we didn't need to shovel much.  We just worked on our road, but will probably go aways down the main road this week.  The dogs got lots of exercise, but Jesse road up the driveway with us.  Thankful for the respite, I'm sure.

Was foggy all day.  It ebbed and flowed, but never did completely clear out.  When we have what looks like valley fog to us, it is usually more like a low cloud once we get in town.

We did dishes and laundry after lunch, then just relaxed.

Saturday was overcast and 11 degrees when we awoke.  Snowflakes began drifting down when JB and the dogs went for their morning walk, but then gave way to sun and blue skies within a couple hours and warmed up to 20.  The clouds moved back in and it started snowing again around 2:00 pm and continued into the night, which is actually starting a little later now.  I love the winter solstice, even though it often gets overlooked amidst the Christmas festivities.  Used to be the other way around. . .

JB drove MAX down our road to widen and flatten it more, and made several trips.  The dogs stayed home with me.  I defrosted the fridge, shoveled off the deck (much easier to do 3" than 10"!), got firewood and made dinner.

I am in no hurry to take down the Christmas decorations.  I usually do it before New Years, but I put them up so late this year that I want to enjoy them a little longer.

Sunday.  Waking on sunny mornings and watching the glitter floating from the trees is pure magic.  The frigid temperatures we have been experiencing keep the fallen snow flakes tiny and crisp.  Any snow that fell wet has turned dry and light.  It's almost like being in a snow globe that has been very gently nudged.  There is no visible breeze, just fairy breath and sunshine, and tiny diamonds hardly big enough to feel gravity.  Just too beautiful to stay inside.

JB drove MAX around the house and up the road to the south ridge, again and again, to flatten and widen.  I went for a walk taking photos and playing with the dogs.  However I did put on my snow shoes which made moving around so much easier.  No trudging or slogging.

By 3:00 pm the only blue sky left was a thin line to the north.  Our high for the day was 22, but it seemed colder.  By the time the sun disappeared, it was quite obvious which is the south side of each tree near the south ridge and the few others that are unsheltered from the winter sun.  One side was green and the other still white.

Both of us also finished our books, reluctantly.  I am sure I will read A Discovery of Witches at least once more before the next book in the trilogy comes out in paperback.  It was so much like climbing into another world and immersing myself.  I also started making Valentine's Day cards.  With all that sun, it was no problem using my embossing gun.

The current National Geographic is a fascinating 125th Anniversary Special Issue.  Definitely going to keep this one.

Can't believe how many days I had to crawl under the house last winter and did it so willingly.  Any thought of doing that now makes me cringe.  It's dry under there except for sweating along the sides.  Hopefully we can get it all dried out by next winter.

We have fog and 10 degrees this morning.  Maybe I'll just hibernate today.

Thought for the day:  The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.  Terri Guillemets

Dec 28, 2012 A World of White





Shoveling the driveway




Up a little further




Up and away!















It was lightly snowing when we headed down the driveway after breakfast to dig out MAX and clear the road so we could get him home.  It took a little more than two hours and a lot of sweat.  We shoveled more than 100 ft before JB was able to force MAX through the snow make it all the way up to the house.  He made several trips down and back to clear it all out, and then we took the rest of the day off.  It snowed most of the day, but we only received another inch.

Yesterday we quietly celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary.  We enjoyed blue sky and bright sunshine with a high of 24.  Mountain sun and valley fog, once again.  We just did our chores and relaxed.  JB shoveled a few of the pathways and read a book.  My inventory of greeting cards is getting low, so I've been working on various cards.  Of course I brought in firewood and we went on our afternoon walk.

My Christmas gifts from JB included three books that I wanted: the next Dresdan book, Ghost Story; The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony; and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  I had a terrible time deciding which one to read first, but Witches won out.  It had been on my "want" list the longest.  It's very well written.  An excellent read.

The current Backwoods Home magazine is another great issue.  There is an article on canning chicken that has made both JB and I want to try it.  Also a second installment by Rowena Aldridge, "Food security 101", with lots of recipes for home made dry mixes: baking mix, cream-of-anything soup mix, taco seasoning, ranch dressing, Russian tea mix, etc.  I have already added a couple of ingredients I need to our grocery list.

Christmas Day night we watched "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby, but it is not the movie I saw as a child.  It is the movie in which the song "White Christmas" was introduced, but I realize now that the one I was thinking of is "White Christmas".  According to Entertainment magazine, that is now America's favorite Christmas movie.

Fog is creeping in as I write this.  Hopefully it will creep right back out before we leave to pack down the road with MAX this morning.  I'm sure we will have to do some shoveling and will probably go down the main canyon road aways where JB had the most problem.  I can hardly wait. . . 

Thought for the day:  The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched. . . but are felt in the heart.  Helen Keller

Dec 26, 2012 And the Adventure Continues



JB leaving for Down There on
Christmas Eve morning


Monday dawned clear and cold with seven new inches of snow.  It's a good thing that JB had packed down the road a bit on Sunday.  He cleaned off the panels and left for Down There at 9:00 am, after we had his scrumptious scones for breakfast.  I got out and shoveled the paths to the north of the house, and the deck.  It had been a few days since I had cleaned off the deck and there was 10" of snow on it!  It was a good workout but very exhilerating on such a brilliant day with such incredible views.

After lunch I spent time on the computer trying to catch up on my e-mail.  Finally heard from JB a little after 2:00 pm.  Going down the mountain was fairly easy, but he said he was having a hard time getting back up.  Had to get out and shovel every few yards.  His phone was dying and he thought it would be at least two more hours before he made it home.  When I didn't see or hear from him by 4:00 pm, I reluctantly called Larry and Elsie.  I felt awful to bother them on Christmas Eve, but I was getting concerned about JB.  Ever willing to help, Larry and his son, who is home for the holidays, chained up their side-by-side ATV and went looking for JB.  I was trying to remain calm, but all I could think about was JB face down in the snow because of a heart attack.  Can't remember when I've prayed so hard. . .  Wanted to keep busy, so I made up a platter of sausage, cheese, olives and crackers for our Christmas Eve dinner that I knew he would be home to share.  I finally got a call from Larry about 5:15 pm saying that they had found him and helped him get to the flat spot at the beginning of our road.  He was on his way up our road which should be no problem, but with the load JB had, Larry wasn't sure he'd make it up our driveway.

Shaking with relief, I got bundled up to go down the driveway to meet him.  Grabbed the gun, flashlight and sled.  As I got close to the bottom, I could see the lights of MAX and, sure enough, JB couldn't make it up any further.  We loaded the sled with food boxes and I pulled it up to the house while JB just rested and waited for me to get back.  We then put the rest of his load on the sled, having to leave one box.  Covered MAX up with the tarp and tied it down, then up the driveway we went.  The dogs were having great fun. . .

"The moon on the crest ot the new fallen snow" was magical and I fully expected to hear jingle bells and see a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer.  Certainly took my mind of two trips up the driveway pulling a heavy sled.  I'm surprised JB made it all the way up without my having to pull him on the sled also.  He had probably shoveled 1/2 a mile or more.  But we all finally made it to the house at 7:00 pm, and simply fell into chairs.  Thank goodness I already had our dinner ready.  I made us each a cup of tea and we just sat and talked.  Sorted out the Christmas cards from the rest of the mail, then started to read the papers but we were both exhausted.  JB was in bed by nine and I was there by ten.  It was an ibuprofen and thankful night for both of us.

My bladder woke me up at 2:30 am, so I put in a fire.  Got back in bed at 3:00 am and JB was wide awake too.  So we both got up and had tea and scones, and just watched the fire.  By 4:00 am we were back in bed, but up again at 7:00 am.  Christmas morning!!  And it was a typical Christmas day with opening our gifts; phone calls from our family and friends; a big brunch cooked by JB (this year a fritatta with sweet peppers, sausage and cheese).  The best gift we received did not need to be opened.  The gift of good friends who are there when you need them. . .  But I now also have enough books, chocolate, puzzle books to last into Spring.  The only work we did was for me to bring in fire wood, while JB cleaned off the panels and shoveled out the path to the wood shed. 

Today we will go down and dig MAX out, and try to drive him up the driveway.  It snowed all day Tuesday, and by 3:00 pm we had almost another 3".  It is snowing again this morning, but according to NOAA, this is the last of it until New Year's Day.

Tomorrow is our 43rd wedding anniversary.  There was a time on Monday afternoon when I wondered if we would both be here to celebrate it. . .

Thought for the day:  Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point. 

Dec 24, 2012 Merry Christmas!



My bench on the north ridgs



On Friday it started snowing about 7:30 am, but I made eggnogged coffee instead of cocoa.  When JB took the dogs on their morning walk and cleaned the panels, Jesse did not come back with him.  Very unusual because the dogs get their mid day treat then.  After 1/2 hour, I bundled up to go look for him, taking the gun, and caught myself saying, "I don't need my overalls.  It's warm out there today."  It was 18.  I met him half way down the driveway, but as soon as I gave him his treat, he wanted out again.  This time Dinga followed.  They were back in a little while, but we think he found the remains of a fresh kill or made his own.  His odiferous emissions for the rest of the day confirmed it.

After lunch I baked sweet potato bread from the recipe in BackHome.  Very good!  Like pumpkin bread, only better.

JB measured 1-3/4" of snow on our walk at 4:00 pm, but it sure seemed like there should have been at least an inch more for all that I saw falling during the day.

Saturday morning we had 3" of snow by 9:30 am.  JB shoveled the paths to the south of the house and cleaned the panels.  I took the dogs for their morning walk.  Ran the generator for a few hours as the batteries were getting low.  Used that opportunity to thoroughly vacuum.

After lunch JB shoveled the paths to the north of the house.  It's not the normal white fluff, but rather wet and heavy.  It stopped snowing about 1:30 pm after the clouds had dropped a total of 4".  Then the clouds gradually melted into blue sky and the sun shone brightly on the whiteness of our landscape.  The fog tried unsucessfully to creep up from the canyons.  However, by the time we left for our afternoon walk, the sun was too low to keep burning it off and the fog had moved in. . . but disappeared after darkness descended and I watched the stars appear and the moon rise above the tree tops.  Moonlight on the snow is even better that the sunshine.  Something magical about it.  At any moment I expect to see winter fairies cavorting about.

During the night the fog had sneaked back in and we were socked in again Sunday morning.  JB had to scrape ice off the panels.  Always a good cardio workout.  The dogs came back with him with frosted eyebrows and icy beards.  It started snowing mid morning which thankfully forced out the fog.

After lunch JB drove MAX down our road and back.  We've received more than 8" since he last packed it down.  The dogs stayed home with me as JB likes to go fast down the road so as not to get bogged down in the snow.  Too fast for the dogs for that long.  He drives slowly on the way back up in order to widen the tracks.  It wasn't long before he was back and zipping along the driveway to the south ridge and around the house.

He also did a lot of cooking yesterday.  Popovers for breakfast.  Pea soup for dinner.  And cranberry-orange scones for breakfast this morning, which I will enjoy as soon as I hit "publish."

After our afternoon walk yesterday, I have decided that it is time to break out the snow shoes.  I already have them out on the porch.  We just need to dig them out of the snow blown in from the wind storm.

The downey woodpecker is back and working hard on one of our end fence poles.  At this rate we will have to replace half of the poles next summer!

I have discovered a new holiday drink - eggnog and Sprite!  It's basically an eggnog float and is sooo good.  I think the original Cream Sodas were just that - cream and soda water with a little vanilla.

And so it is Christmas Eve.  With just the two of us, I get a little melancholy in the evening, but I awake on Christmas morning with the excitement of a child.
Thought for the day:  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:10,11

Dec 21, 2012 The End or a New Beginning?



Deer near the house Thursday afternoon
(couldn't get a shot of the buck)


It snowed on Wednesday til about 1:30 when the fog moved in.  By our afternoon walk we had received less than 1-1/2".  Even though our high for the day as just 13, it didn't seem as cold.  Must be continuing to acclimate.

I baked more Christmas cookies, 'cause neither of us have gained enough holiday weight yet. . .

I discovered that the large branch that fell on the tipi during the wind storm ripped a slit in it about a foot long.  Fortunately it is near the bottom.  Will have to research how best to repair it.

Thursday morning the boom of the avalanche canon on Mission Ridge was echoing across the mountains.  If we can hear it as loudly as we do, they must hear it all the way to Spokane!  It was 18 and overcast.  Our whole world was white except for some green branches and brown tree trunks peeking through the snow.  A strong breeze sprang up and it was difficult to tell if it was snowing or just blowing off the trees.  Had to be sure, as I wouldn't want to make cocoa under false pretenses.  Turns out it was just blowing.  No snow fell yesterday.

One more perk of the holiday season is enjoying Christmas cookies with my eggnogged coffee before breakfast.  Yummm! 

JB went out to start up his Jeep and MAX, and try to start the snow blower.  With these low temperatures, JB usually has to use the pull cord to start MAX.  I went out to shovel a path to the door of the garbage/recycle shed and bring in the firewood.  Then I moved the largest of the branches blown down in the wind storm over by the wood cradle to be cut in the Spring.  We both moved my dream tree to where I think it will be more sheltered from the wind.  I also strapped it to a pine tree.

Tueesday evening we watched "Four Christmases".  A cute comedy, but a little to slap-stick for me.  On Wednesday we watched the first episode of season one of "Rizzoli & Isles" and loved it.  Also the first episode of season one of "Parks and Recreation", but we're not so sure about that one.  All I can say is, "Thank goodness for gohastings.com for their great DVD sales."  Just can't beat $2 movies and $15 TV seasons.

JB plans to go Down There on Monday, mainly for mail and a few groceries.  Just a short trip before Santa arrives.  We will probably spend the evening eating cheese, sausage and cookies with eggnog while we watch "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby.  I remember seeing it in the theater in Spokane during one Christmas visit there.  My cousins and I wore the crocheted, tasseled hats that our great aunt had made for us.  We have always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and our stockings on Christmas morning, but Up Here we have changed to saving it all til Christmas morning.  It just lasts longer that way.

The game cam is acting up again.  JB couldn't get it started when he put the card back in on Monday, so we brought it back up with us on Tuesday.  It probably would have had some great photos of the buck and four does that we saw late yesterday afternoon just walking up the driveway.  When the dogs noticed them and started barking (fortunately from inside the house), the deer just ambled up the east slope.  I got some good photos of the does, but not the buck who was at least a 4 point if not a 5 point.

Great Jan/Feb issue of BackHome Magazine, as usual: delicious sounding recipes (especially sweet potato bread); and article on the many and surprising uses of banana peels; freelance writing (hmmm); spices; and many more subjects.

Thought for the day: The highest result of education is tolerance.  Helen Keller

Dec 19, 2012 Drifting Snow



Aftermath of the wind storm




Snow inside the outhouse
















The winds Sunday night and into Monday were 30 mph sustained, with gusts up to 60 mph.  By mid day their force had tapered off a bit, but they blew until well after dark, leaving a sculpted landscape.  Snow was into every possible crack, even the small space between the outhouse door and frame.  Everything on the porch was white.  The sun shone most of the day while the occasional cloud, ripped fromt the mountains, went racing overhead.

When JB had walked up to the south ridge to check the solar panels Sunday morning, the wind was creating small snow devils.  Dinga thought they were perfect to chase and was doing so with abandon.  

It was definitely an indoor day.  None of us like to be out in the wind, well, except maybe Dinga - as long as there is snow.  So we did our chores, read our books, and got on the computers.

Tuesday morning was bright and clear, but there is a week of snow in the forecast, with the possibility of up to 16".  It was another sunny day that did not get above 20, but it was obviously the day to go check out the drifting on the road.  So after lunch we bundled up, and I remembered to put on my long underwear and toe and hand warmers.  We climbed into MAX and off we went with the dogs leading the way.  The road was strewn with small branches and pieces of small branches, but the drifting was negligible.  We have deeper drifts at our house and on the road around the south ridge.  But it was an exhilerating drive with clear views and no valley fog, but plenty of valley snow.

After we returned home, Jesse and I went inside while JB and Dinga made two more trips down the driveway to smooth it out, and several trips around the house and south ridge.  Before lunch JB had dug a path through the drifting in front of the wood shed so I could access the fire wood more easily.  We only received about 4" of snow, but some of the drifts were 2' high.

The downey woodpecker is back, but whenever Dinga sees it on a fence post, she chases it away.  It is very persistant though, often perching on our porch posts.

It is obvious that the cookies I baked last week are not going to last through this week.  So I will probably bake some more today.  It is snowing this morning but so fine I can barely see it.  Probably because it is only 12 degrees outside.

I must talk about window sills.  I love wide window sills.  In this house, they are 8" wide because of our thick walls, and the bathroom window sill is 12" wide.  Fantastic!  They call out, pleading to have knick knacks put on them.  And they are especially wonderful during any holiday season.  For Christmas they hold candles and all sorts of other decorations.  Not crowded, but artfully placed.  And inbetween holidays they display jars of shells and colorful stones, candles, pinecones and a vase with dried flowers.

Thought for the day: Style - knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn. Gore Vidal 

Dec 17, 2012 All Good Things



A downey woodpecker on our
rimed fencepost


On Friday the clouds melted away early in the face of a persistent sun, which made our rimed landscape dazzle. Reminiscent of "Dr. Zhivago". But even with all that sunshine, it was another day that didn’t get above 20.

After chores and lunch, I baked cookies. This is the first year in forever that JB’s Mom, Celeste, has not baked Christmas cookies. At 91, I guess she’s entitled. But it is also the first time in 50 years that Aunt Nene and Uncle Jack have not made smoked cheese for part of everyone’s Christmas present. The type of cheese they used is no longer on the market. I realize that all good things must end, but two in the same holiday season?! Oh, whine, whine, whine. I made my favorite of Celeste’s cookies from her recipe and they turned out just scrumptious. I also splurged and ordered a variety of cheeses and sausages from Swiss Colony while I was ordering a couple of gifts for a couple of others on our list.  So I guess we'll live through it.

I could publish a thick book of rime photos with all the ones I have taken in the past four winters, and still I take more. It is just too much of an incredible sight not to.

This time of year our refrigerator gets way too full, so I put some of the big items out on the porch, like my bottle of margaritas, yogurt, etc. I would like to have a nice wooden cabinet for the winter porch in which to hold such items. Hmmm, sounds like a good project for JB.

Saturday - socked in and 14 degrees. Frozen fog, what the Indians called pogonip. It was replaced by snowfall late morning, and by mid afternoon we had more than one inch. Whenever it starts snowing I get the urge to fix a cup of cocoa. . .

With Friday night being pizza night, we always have leftovers for lunch on Saturday. We have a toaster oven, but it pulls a lot of electricity, so during this season of short days, I have started using the big propane stove oven for warming and toasting, and have discovered that toast made in it is actually better than made in the toaster oven. Even the warmed-up pizza comes out better. I put the food in the oven, right on the rack, and turn it up to 350 for ten minutes. Then turn the oven off and leave the food in for another five minutes.  And, Viola!

Saturday afternoon JB made focaccia bread. A new recipe that turned out just perfect!

Sunday dawned bright and partly cloudy. One to seven inches of snow in the forecast for this 24 hour period. By late morning the sun was hidden and the snow was falling. The sun managed to peak out again about noon, but by 2:00 pm we had light snow again, and by 5:00 pm we were getting about 1" per hour.

On their morning walk, JB and the dogs heard a wolf howling in the canyon to the south of us. We get a bit lax in carrying a gun every time we go out, thinking the dogs will keep the wild things at a distance. But I guess we really need to be more vigilant. There are a lot of small animals and deer for the wolves and cats to feed upon in this area, but I just wouldn’t want to meet of the four-legged hunters without a gun to scare it off, or protect myself.

After lunch JB and the dogs took MAX for an outing, while I stayed at home to read. I just haven’t been very adventurous since Thanksgiving. More inclined to stay inside warm and cozy, curled up with a book. But when they didn’t come back for a while, I called JB but got not answer. So I got all bundled up and walked down past the hair-pin turn a ways where I met them on their way back. Got a ride back up and we stopped to get the card out of the game cam.  Back home, I brought in a couple loads of fire wood. It was 24 outside and I am amazed at how much difference the few degrees between 20 and 24 make in keeping warm out there. I had put on my overalls and while getting the wood, I had to unzip my coat and take off my gloves!  Got photos of coyotes again, and a 4-point buck.

I have now read about half of the 28 The Cat Who. . . books, but I am also rereading my books on angels. I have a small library of such books that I have collected over the past 35 years or so since I actually had an angel experience myself. Since then I have been fascinated by them and interested in other peoples' stories of such encounters. Unfortunately my interest ebbs and flows as life intervenes. Up Here there is plenty of time to ponder them and read about them, so my interest flows once again.

Larry and Elsie drove up last night for their Christmas visit, but couldn’t stay to play marbles. Elsie had a pot of chili cooking on the wood stove and they still had to run their generator for a couple of hours as they usually do in the winter. But we chatted for an hour and enjoyed the company. The subject of wolves came up and Larry is very aggressive about not wanting them around.  I, on the other hand, am very passionate with the opposite view.   I can see both sides of the argument, and that’s what hurts. Because it is what it is and there’s nothing that can be done about it. The wolves will always lose.
The predicted winds arrived about 5:00 this morning and there was no sleeping after that.  At 7:30 JB went outside so the dogs would too.  He went up to check the solar panels and had to brush the snow off the generator inside its shed.  Snow coats every available nook and cranny.  The screens on our windows are packed solid.  It's a good thing we have enough eggnog and chocolate, because I can only imagine what the drifting is like on our road.

Thought for the day:  The earth I tread on is not a dead inert mass.  It is a body - has a spirit - is organic - and fluid to the influence of its spirit - and to whatever particle of the spirit is in me. Henry David Thoreau

Dec 14, 2012 Cold & Dreams



A peak at Mt. Baker on Wednesday



Wednesday was overcast.  Snow fell off and on all day, and the temperature didn't get out of the mid 20's.  We did the Wednesday chores, and because JB had been Down There on Tuesday, we had lots of magazines and papers to read.  And our books.  I always look forward to the end-of-the-year issues of "Archaeology" and "Discover" magazines for their 10 and 100 (respectfully) best discoveries of the year.  Found a recipe for chocolate truffles rolled in crumbled bacon in the Fred Myer flyer!

Thursday began early as the dogs wanted out at 5:00 a.m..  Something was definitely out there as they ran out and immediately began barking.  Jesse stayed our for two hours!  Fortunately, JB got up at 6:00 so I could go back to bed til 7:30.

The sun was up and shining on the valley fog the second time I got up, but the fog crept in from the south so by the time we left for Down There, we were also in the mists.  Since we were going to leave my Jeep at Larry and Elsie's for the winter, JB followed me down on MAX.  Driving down was easier than I thought it might be, but I know I wouldn't have made it back up in the Jeep.  Was almost to the pavement when I went sideways.  I thought I was going to end up facing the wrong way but got straightened out before than happened.  Our trip was shorter than planned as it was decided at the Assessor's office that we would be ahead of the tax game if we didn't apply for the senior discount until next year for 2012.  And it seems that my plea to the appraiser, when he was up here in September, to "be kind with his appraisal as we are living solely on Social Security", was taken to heart.  Our taxes will only go up another $80 per year.  The senior discount will more than compensate for that.  I am really impressed with the staff at the Assessor's office.  Everyone there is very nice and extremely helpful.

We did a little grocery shopping, looking for things we might need so JB won't have to make a trip any time soon.  Then we picked up the mail - more Christmas cards and packages - oh, goody!  We used the UPS store (where our mailbox is) to put on our overalls and headed for home.  Parked our car and rode MAX up the mountain.  The fog was much soupier when we arrived back at Rose Camp, and the temperature was only 20.  The fog's dampness seemed to seep into the house, bringing a chill with it even though our inside thermometer read 70.  No wonder I was always cold when living on the other side of the mountains.   Note to self:  do NOT ride in MAX in the snow, and especially the fog, without wearing long underwear and three more layers under my coat and overalls!  And remember my hand warmers  (Seems like I always have to remind myself of this each year after my first ride in the cold.)

This morning is 16 and overcast with some fog in the river valleys.  Everything is beautifuly rimed.  Lots of snow in the forecast for the next several days.

I really should keep a journal of my dreams (but then I've been telling myself that for the past 50 years).  I usually have very vivid and technicolor dreams that, for the most part, I can remember.  I have no idea what most of them mean, although some are quite obvious, and others are strickly for entertainment purposes.  Like the one I had a few nights ago that included wolves, wild ponies and Tommy Lee Jones. . .

Thought for the day:  Here is this vast, savage howling mother of ours, Nature, lying all around, with such beauty, and such affection for her children, as the leopard; and yet we are so early weaned from her breast to society, to that culture which is exclusively an interaction of man on man, - a sort breeding in and in, which produces at most a merely English nobility, a civilization destined to have a speedy limit. Henry David Thoreau

Dec 12, 2012 A Wolf Pack



Fog creeping up the Wenatchee River
late Monday afternoon


Monday got up to 36 but the snow didn't melt much except for the trees and roof.  A beautiful sunny day and, since I had no computer projects or anything that needed electricity, it was definitely a day to be outside.  So after Monday chores and lunch, the dogs and I went exploring on the east slope, from the peak to the south, down to the north ridge.  Lots of deer and rabbit tracks, and still lots of ice under the snow on the road.

JB worked on the lap-top that our son had sent us several months ago, trying to get on-line with it.  He finally suceeded, so soon I should have it to use instead of my old one I am using now.  He was also able to open the photos Elsie had emailed to us of the cougar and wolf.  The one of the cougar was an 11-second video.  Seeing a still photo of them is one thing, but watching one actually move about is quite another.  The photo of the wolf is stunning.  And, according to Larry, the Fish and Wildlife Department says we have an active wolf pack in this area.  Well, that's nice to know.

I helped JB edit his final draft of the timber project.  Seems like we have done everything it calls for in the guidelines, including some great maps JB put together. 

JB left for Down There at 8:45 am Tuesday and I was having a hard time waking up due to another sleepless night.  I have rarely had any problems sleeping until the past couple years.  Just another one of those "as you get older" things, I suppose.

It was partly cloudy but with enough sun to turn on the water without using the generator.  Only got up to 31, but that's better than 20.  A very quiet day.  I just puttered a bit, read my book and napped.  JB turned in the timber management application, did his Christmas shopping, a bought a few groceries.  He was gone all day and had to try three times before he got up the steep part of our driveway.  We will probably take my Jeep down to Larry and Elsie's by Friday and then use that day to go back to the Assessor's office to apply for our senior discount on property taxes.  It is based on our annual income and in addition to a discount, also freezes the value of our home.  Plus, it goes back three years!  So, hopefully, we will get a refund.  Sounds good to me.

Thought for the day: The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable. Ulysses S. Grant

Dec 10, 2012 Decorations, Memories & Glitter



Our Christmas tree


Friday was a blustery winter day, in all its definitions.  Snowing, windy and cold.  Received a total of 3" Up Here in its 24 hours, and that dwindled to barely a trace Down There.  Now that December is finally here, it seems to be fairly galloping towards Christmas.  I decorated the house and am very pleased with the results.  Every year is a bit different.  Next year I would like to put a small Christmas tree on the landing at the top of the loft stairs (the only stairs we have).  That's really the only place we have room for a tree.  Since we moved Up Here, for the inside I have used a small iron tree I had and we usually decorated one of the small trees outside in the yard with a garland and small stockings.  Since those trees were cut down last summer, I doubt we will decorate outside this year.  Have to get a new garland anyway.

Elsie called to let me know she had emailed photos of another cougar at their pond, and a possible wolf sent to her by a friend in a near by canyon.  I was unable to open them with my computer, so I sent them to JB to see what he could do. 

Saturday was partly cloudy with occaisional sun and patches of blue sky.  We ran the generator for a little more than an hour while we did the dishes, vacuumed and showered.  Quite chilly, just in the low 20's.

On Sunday we had sun and snow off and on all day, and often at the same time.  The snow coming in from the west and the sun shining from the south.  The thermometer struggled to reach 20.  On days like this, there's no letting the fire go out in the wood stove.  Fog crept in around 3:00 pm but didn't stay long.

Late morning JB drove MAX down the road a ways to check it out and give the dogs some exercise.  He brought back the card from the game cam but the only interesting photo was one of three coyotes almost two weeks ago.

After lunch I figured I better get out for some exercise also.  The dogs and I walked up to the peak on the south ridge and down to the north ridge.  Then I brought in several loads of wood.  While on the south ridge I had a fascinating experience.  Tiny crystals, reflecting all the colors of the rainbow, were ascending from the canyon below as if gravity had been suspended just for them, and were being blown to and fro at the whim of a light breeze.  It was as if someone standing at the bottom of the canyon had thrown open a huge bag of glitter.  The sun was shining but I could only see the sparkle in a straight line from me to the sun, as if its rays were coaxing them up.  I could only stand and watch, knowing that my camera would be unable to capture such a sight.

For those of us who are older, this is a season of joy and nostalgia.  For the children, a time of wonderment and creating memories.  Memories that will become their nostalgia when they are our age.  Every Christmas bring a few down days for me, when the memory of those who are gone, those with whom we shared so many holidays, saddens me because of their absence.  This year those days were this past weekend.  Each decoration contains at least one cherished memory, and I went through the whole box of tree decorations even though there is no room to hang all of them.  But there is always room for the memories they bring.  Hopefully the sadness has retreated back into the ether until next year.

Thought for the day:  The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.  It is the source of all true art and science.  He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who no longer pauses to wonder and stand in rapt awe, is as good as dead.  Albert Einstein

Dec 7, 2012 Pets & Grandchildren



Sunset colors to the east on Thursday


It was a very lazy Wednesday morning after a very windy and sleepless night. The heavy, metal cover of the riser on our cistern was flipped over on the ground. Hard to believe the wind did that, but the highest wind gust Down There was clocked at 63mph, so it probably did. Once again the sun only lasted til mid afternoon when it clouded over. Talked to Sandy for an hour after blogging. My phone seems to be working better the more I use it.

I wrapped and packed my last package. It’s for Sandy and I can’t send it early because she opens it as soon as she receives it! I may just wait until the 20^th to send it to her. . .

And speaking of Sandy, she gave us a year’s subscription to "Cowboys and Indians" for Christmas. We had received our first issue when I checked the mail on Tuesday. We love the magazine, but all the advertising is extreme upscale. I have to be careful not to drool on the pages. Would love to have just one piece of the jewelry that is shown and a pair of one those cowboy boots. But the western motif articles are well written and the photos are amazing. The January issue has an extensive article about the new Quentin Tarantino western, "Django Unchained." Definitely a must-see.

It started lightly snowing about noon on Thursday. Tiny flakes that were buffeted by a slight breeze. By the end of the day everything was white again, but just barely. Just beneath the thin layer of snow, all the slush had turned to ice, which made walking a bit dicey.  We are in the middle of quite a snow storm as I blog this morning.

I spent time on the computer and reading my books. JB changed the oil in the generator. Baked onion bread. Made lasagna which has to stand overnight and will be baked tonight for dinner. Then he grilled turkey burgers for dinner last night.

With the snow has come a cold front (or maybe visa versa). Regardless, it is cold outside. And whenever I walk from the warmth of the house out into such cold, I can feel the pores in my face instantaneously close up like sea anemones. Fwump!! And then when I come back in, by glasses steam up.

I bought some bones for the dogs from the butcher on Tuesday and they each got to have one yesterday. Kept them busy for a few hours. I don’t think either of Jesse’s two previous owners ever bought toys or bones for him, or even threw sticks for him. He wasn’t interested in bones to begin with, but now he attacks them with relish. He has learned all his play from watching Dinga, and now he always needs a stick, as she does, whenever we go on even a short walk. He acts like an excited little puppy with a new toy, jumping and prancing with his stick. Watching his delight with such simple things is a joy in itself. And one of life’s little lessons.

Life is good Up Here but the biggest price we pay is being so far away from our son and his family. We had the option of retiring in Alabama but knew that we simply could not tolerate the weather or lack of mountains. Our son’s jobs, both civilian and military, along with his wife’s job and the children’s school, make it very difficult for them to get away, and we simply cannot afford to travel that far. Excuses, excuses, but also a fact of life.  We talk to him at least once a week, if not two or three times, and there is a chance that I can go to Maryland next summer for the ceremony when he becomes a Commander.  I am certainly looking forward to that. Meanwhile, I go on our daughter-in-law’s Facebook page to look at all the photographs of our grandchildren who are growing up without us.

Thought for the day: There is only one basic human right: the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences. P.J. O’Rourke

Dec 5, 2012 Wind!



Monday - no snow Down There and
very little Up Here


Sunny and blue most of the morning, until it gradually became grey and overcast by mid afternoon. Was busy all day inside: finished my Christmas cards and addressed them all, wrapped the last of the gifts and got them packaged for mailing. JB worked on wrapping up his timber project.  Not quite ready for me to take Down There this week, so he will do it next week.  No time for decorating. Maybe today. . . 

Celeste had included season four of "Castle" in the box she sent, so we are watching that almost every night, along with season one of "The Dresden Files" that I discovered and purchased on line. Not much like the books, but I am hooked.

We awoke to about 2" of snow Tuesday morning. Heavy, wet snow. Left very slowly for Down There about 9:00 am. A slushy, mushy, mucky mess. But there was no snow by the time I got down to Larry and Elsie’s. They just got rain. Got all my errands and shopping done, with time to stop in and visit Larry and Elsie at their shop. Felt so good to get all the cards and packages mailed!  But I really shouldn't go shopping in December.  Too many goodies on sale and I am much inclined to spend more and give more during the holidays.  There was an article in the paper about a miniature horse that the Salvation Army has somewhere in Wisconsin ringing a bell for donations.  He brings in at least ten times more than his human counterparts.  Good thing he isn't in Wenatchee or I would be completely broke!

It was very windy all night and is still blowing. Neither of us got much sleep. I finally got up at 3:00 am and read my book for about an hour. Eight down and twenty to go. I’m sure we will use part of this sunny day for napping.

I am almost sure that we lost a box or two in our move out here in 2008. Nothing really important or valuable, just a few things I know I packed but simply did not arrive. Like my Tupperware cake keeper and a few pots for indoor plants. Oh well.

With all our time for cooking, we are learning more about spices than just salt, pepper, garlic, cinnamon, basil and marjoram. They were always my staples. But now we are using such things as fennel (which seems similar to anise). Last week I purchased a new bottle of tarragon after finally tossing my old bottle that had to be at least 15 years old. (I’ve never been one for replacing spices that weren’t finished.) Now I’ve discovered that I really like tarragon. Seems to be reminiscent of nutmeg.

Thought for the day:  When they call the roll in the Senate, the senators do not know whether to answer "present" or "guilty."  Teddy Roosevelt

Dec 3, 2012 Weather



Valley fog creeping up and burning off


On Friday the sun struggled bravely all morning to burn off the fog, finally succeeding for the most part around noon, at least Up Here.  The fog continued to drift up now and then from the canyons and valleys, only to dissipate in the mountain sunshine.  The rime and snow melted off the branches, creating a shower beneath the trees.  But by mid afternoon the sky was overcast and the fog remained Down There, however the panels managed to capture alot of the sun's power.

I am still getting the firewood from the back row in the wood shed.  That row is almost three years old and about 1/3 junk wood.  During the day we use the branch and junk wood for the fire, while we are around to feed it, saving the best for night.

Mission Ridge ski area opened Black Friday, and for the past three mornings their avalance control cannons have been roaring, causing Jesse to stay outside only for the time it took to do his business, and then rush back inside.

It was my turn to get outside in the sun, while JB sat at his computer working on the timber project.  I took out the garbage and recycle, brought in firewood, and then the dogs and I went on a short hike.

Saturday, December 1 and no fog.  I had hoped that November would take the fog with it as it left.  So far, so good.  Not sure why, but I really enjoy keeping track of the weather and writing about it.  Probably because I can actually see what's going on from Up Here.  No other houses or tall buildings to block the view.  Don't have to peak between the rooftops to see the sky.  I can see the fog and clouds coming and going.  I can follow the sun on its daily journey.

I was addressing the Christmas cards and realized that somehow my card list grew from the time I started making them to when I started addressing them.  Hmmm.  JB continued working on the maps for his timber project.

Larry and Elsie drove up in the early evening for a visit, and we played marbles.  The dice were completely against me, and so the girls lost.  Just wait til next time guys. . .  Forgot to mention the third ingredient in Elsie's skunk odor removal solution - baking soda.  Dawn soap, sodium peroxide and baking soda.

Sunday dawned clear and windy.  The sun shown, but the mountains remained hidden within a snow storm that threatened but never quite reached us.  We both worked on our projects.  Next year I am going to start making Christmas cards in July!  Finally got them all made and addressed, and JB has all but finished the timber paperwork.  Hopefully I can submit it when I go Down There on Tuesday to mail our Christmas cards and packages.

JB made a banana/burbon/cream cheese pound cake that is absolutely scrumptious, but very rich!  I failed to get any decorations put up, but maybe tomorrow or Wednesday. . . or sometime this week. . .

And speaking of delicious, exploring the world of Dutch babies, German pancakes and frittatas is a delicious adventure.  Of course German pancakes have been one of our favorite meals for years, and we just discovered frittatas a few months ago.  Then last week, JB made a ham and cheese Dutch Baby for dinner.  Excellent!  They are all very similar, but just a little different.  JB has another recipe for a cranberry and marmalade Dutch baby that I can't wait to try.

Thought for the day: The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.  Michelangelo

Nov 30, 2012 Eggnog, snow & skunks



Sun peaking through the fog
and clouds


Wednesday breakfast.  Newspapers, and eggnog in my coffee.  I just love the holidays!  One thing I do miss is having the morning newspaper delivered, but so many other things make up for it that I can easily live with just having it every week or two. 

It was cloudy all day and the predicted snow began falling about 1:30 pm.  Within minutes the ground matched the trees and bushes.  I went out early to get the fire wood and Dinga stayed out rejoicing.  She would love living in Alaska.

Laundry day.  I wasn't sure about my new washer at first.  I haven't had a top loading machine in almost twenty years.  But it holds larger loads, uses only the water needed for each specific load, and spins it all dryer.  I can live with that.  We'll have the electrician up in the Spring to determine why it won't work without the generator. 

Talked to Elsie Tuesday evening.  Larry took the dogs for a run with their ATV Monday night and encountered a skunk who obviously wasn't aware that it was supposed to have gone into hibernation on the 19th.  So Elsie got to spend a few hours bathing both dogs, especially their little beagle who really got sprayed, in hydrogen peroxide and Dawn soap.  She certainly was thorough because I didn't smell anything when I visited on Tuesday afternoon.

It was early evening when the clouds parted to reveal a full Beaver Moon that lit up the white landscape.  The nights have been so dark lately with no snow on the ground and so much fog that this was a very welcome change.

Thursday.  Fog, again.  It's not so much the type of weather, but rather the lack of power.  No sun, no power.  Except for the generator.  And that uses propane.  And that costs money.  Well, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it except adapt and use as little electricity as possible.  Since we had to use the generator anyway, I did another load of laundry.

Not sure exactly what I did for two days, but I was very busy.  Cleaning here, re-arranging shelves, puttering there, washing dishes, hanging and folding laundry, defrosting the refrigerator and freezer, getting firewood, shoveling off the deck of 2" of snow, reading, napping. . . 

And speaking of napping, it's always so much cozier when it's snowing.  After a cup of cocoa.  With a fire in the stove.  On the couch with a blanket and the pillows placed just so.  Mmmmm.

Tis the last day of November and it's about time.  With Thanksgiving so early this year, it seems as though December is late.  Am having a hard time getting into decorating the house for Christmas.  Maybe this weekend, although ol' Bah-Humbug JB would be just as happy if I never did. . .

A footnote on the timber project that JB is working on.  The property taxes do decrease dramatically, however if it is ever decided to take the land out of timber, then all the back taxes have to be paid.  Doubt we would ever want to do that.  Can't have more than one house per 20 acres anyway.

Thought for the day: Happiness is like a cat, if you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come.  But if you pay no attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap.  William Bennett

Nov 28,2012 Sleep & Rime



A line of rime
(not the poetic kind)





Rime on my Jeep's antenna
















Despite the sun on Monday, it never warmed up to more than the mid-twenties.  Was an inside morning for chores: dishes, laundry, cleaning, running well water; and a lazy afternoon.

JB has been working on quite an extensive computer project for the past couple of months.  Now that the Chelan County Assessor knows we are living Up Here, we want to designate 38 of our 40 acres as timber, which will greatly reduce our property taxes.  Elsie gave him copies of their report and he is adapting it to our land.  We could pay $300 or more for the county to do it or trudge through it ourselves.  Amazing the paperwork it involves.  You must own enough land to put a minimum of 20 acres into timber and have a least one acre in addition to that for your home if you are living there.  Basically it means that you plan to manage that timber acreage to keep it healthy and will not build anything on it.  We have to have it filed by 12/31 along with a fee of $250, but that fee will be more than covered by the amount we save in taxes.

Watched Midnight in Paris and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Four books down and 24 to go in The Cat Who. . . series.  So light and fun to read.

With all the walls done in the great room, we don't have to set the alarm on exceptionally cold nights to get up and tend to the wood stove.  It is still in the low 60's at 5:30 am.  However, I will need to replace all the seals in the stove next summer.  And my bladder did wake me up at 5:30 am on Tuesday.  The stove was dark, so I put in a new fire.  I snuggled back into bed and almost immediately the dogs wanted out.  Great timing, guys!  Something  was out there and Jesse spent the next 1-1/2 hours barking along the south ridge.  Dinga always comes back in fairly quickly, but if Jesse is barking, he will not come when called.  I laid down on the couch to await his arrival, knowing that he would scratch on the door to announce himself.

I am definitely going to have to start using the small, hand-held recorder that JB gave me a couple years ago.  Ideas flit through my mind like fireflies and many of them blink out before I can get them down on paper.

A thick fog crept in during Monday night and everything was white with rime, as if a light snow had fallen everywhere but the ground.  It was a cold 16 degrees when I left for Down There, and not much warmer when I arrived.  Ran errands, picked up the mail (we hit the jackpot what with catalogs and packages) and grocery shopped.  Stopped in at Larry and Elsie's to pick up a Christmas gift that Santa Elsie helped me with.  Let the dogs out and gave them treats.  And stayed to pet and converse with my four-legged friends.  When I finally got home, unpacked and put most of the groceries away, I just collapsed on the couch while JB cooked dinner.  Almost like Christmas to open the four packaged we received.  One was a gift for someone on our list.  One was 40 books of sudoku I had ordered from Dell for only $16!  Another was from JB's Mom with lots of books and goodies.  And the other was from JB's youngest brother, full of gluten-free food.  How nice!

It is overcast and cold this morning.  Still white with rime as yesterday's high was only 20 and the rime didn't have a chance to melt.

Thought for the day:  The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Ronald Reagan

Nov 26, 2012 Cards, Books & Sunshine



Our white board


Fog, fog go away!  I haven't seen this much fog since we lived in the San Francisco Bay area, excpt that Down There it often cleared up by mid-afternoon.  But Friday rather than go away, we had rain most of the day also, which, according to the weather report, was supposed to be snow.  Stayed indoors and worked on my Christmas cards while JB made a pumpkin pie with a crust made of almond flour.  Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house usually means no leftovers, but in this case we had already bought a turkey breast and yams, and we had leftover cornbread and sausage dressing.  Once again we got to enjoy a houseful of scents that only this dinner can create, and a second such dinner in as many days.

I finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.  Incredible!  Just as the first two books were.  Now I am in the mood to read Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who . . . series of books.  All 28 of them.  I usually do this ever two or three years.  They are most entertaining in a very relaxing way.  Perfect for the holiday season.

Well, maybe just writing the words  for the fog to go away is the key to it actually happening.  Saturday morning brought a cloudy sky with patches of blue.  JB fixed two fence rails that had fallen down at one end, then took the dogs on a run with MAX up to the property east of us.  I worked on our Christmas cards, again.  The clouds dispersed for the most part and we had lots of sun.  Next year I am going to have to come up with a much simpler design for our cards.  Am not sure all the effort going into this one is worth the result.

We keep a small white board on the side of our refrigerator right where the door opens and onn it I keep track of everything in the freezer.  We have forced ourselves into the habit of also noting all the leftovers as we put them in the refrigerator and erasing them when they are gone.  It sure has saved a lot of food from going bad.  But beginning the evening of Black Friday it was full and we drooled every time we looked at it.  By noon Saturday we ended up having our third Thanksgiving dinner in as many days, switching the potato/broccoli soup to supper.  I think we'll have ham for Christmas. . .  But I have come to the conclusion that turkey gravy and cranberry sauce are like bacon.  Put enough of them on anything and it will taste good.

Sunday was cloudless with brilliant sunshine all day.  I stayed in to finish my Christmas card project.  Got the adult cards all done.  It's the children's cards that take the most time individually as each one is different, made to fit each child's age and personality as much as I can.  My muse was really with it and I was able to make them all.  Thank goodness that project is done.  It's not that I don't enjoy making them, but . . .

Our game cam died about a week ago and JB had been working on it ever since but with no luck.  He put it together once again and it finally came back to life.  Then he drove MAX down our frozen driveway to put it back on the tree and give the dogs a run.  When he got back home, he realized that he had forgotten to turn it on.  So our afternoon walk was down to the camera to activate it.  Very little ice or snow, just frozen dirt.  I needed that exercise after more than a week of sitting at my craft table.

It's a brisk 16 this morning.  There is a little cloud cover, but the sun is shining and so are the mountains in their mantle of white.  The road should be just fine for my trip Down There tomorrow for groceries and mail.

Thought for the day: No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan

Nov 23, 2012 A Wonderful Thanksgiving



Deer eating rose hips just
across our driveway



Finally read my e-mail when I blogged Wednesday morning.  Elsie had sent me one inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner.  I called her at work and fortunately, it wasn't too late to accept her invitation.  Other than that, it was a lazy day reading books and puttering around.  Did a load of wash.  Worked on Christmas cards.  We had lots of sun in the morning, but by mid-afternoon the edge of the snow storm that was dumping on the mountains had reached us.  The wind was blowing so hard that very little snow hit the ground.

I have discovered that my firewood sled works almost as well on mud and frozen ground as it does on snow.  And thank goodness for that!

Thursday.  Mmmmm, Thanksgiving!  We began the day with German pancakes heaped with peaches and brown sugar.  Then JB made cornbread and sausage dressing to take to dinner with us.  And we actually got to take a real shower before we went!  One of the best parts of having our water back. . .  Anyway, as the dressing smelled so good and I had to hold it on my lap while JB drove down to Larry and Elsie's, I'm surprised it made it there without any bites out of it.  Was the first time in four years that we spent this holiday with anyone but ourselves and we completely enjoyed ourselves.

Thought for the day:  Friends are family we get to choose.

Nov 21, 2012 Sun and Washer



Rain barrel we have inside so it
won't freeze.  Not finished with the
water we put in it before broken
pipes were discovered.


Monday brought rain for the day, so we ran the generator while I blogged and then we did the dishes.  The service man for the washing machine called about 10:30, so JB drove my Jeep down to meet them at the pavement.  He had a four-wheel drive pickup and was able to drive up to where our road turns off the main canyon road.  JB drove him the rest of the way in the Jeep as the hair-pin turn below our driveway is a muddy mess.  He was able to figure out what is wrong with the washer, but said we could use it until he comes back to put the parts in.  Great!  And that's just what I did on Tuesday, since we had already used the generator Monday.

I worked on Christmas cards and gifts while JB was driving up and down the mountain.  We played cards at the kitchen table after dinner using just one light as we didn't want to use much electricity.  Used a candle lantern in the bathroom.

In looking around Tuesday morning, it seems like we are just 100 ft or so short of having received snow instead of rain on Monday.  All the mountains and ridges nearby are white, but Rose Camp is brown.  Almost all of our snow disappeared with the rain.  Throughout the day we had just about every kind of weather: wind, fog, pouring rain, and even moments of sunshine and blue sky when the wind blew the clouds and fog away.  This morning we have sunshine and lots of blue sky, but we did receive a heavy dusting of snow during the night.  Very windy, with more snow predicted.

JB drove MAX down the road aways to try and smooth out a couple ruts, and dig a drain for the water.  I wrapped gifts for a few hours.  It's not that I have a lot of gifts to wrap, but I tend to get obsessive about having whatever is printed on the wrapping paper centered just right on the front of the package.  I know I waste more paper than I should, however. . .

Talked to Nene and she said they had 5-1/2" of rain on Monday!  Lots of streets are closed due to flooding, and the rain has similarly affected many other small towns on the Olympic Penninsula.  She also told me that the weather people are predicting a Pineapple Express for this winter.  Oh, goodie!  More mud.  I much prefer snow to mud.

And speaking of our road, it is funny how our attitude towards driving on it has changed over the years.  When we were camping Up Here, we would always joke that if it rained we would have to call in sick to work because we couldn't get out.  After living at Rose Camp for more than four years now, our attitude is more, "Oh, it's only been raining for three days.  Should be no problem." Or: "It's only 10" of new snow.  The Jeep will do just fine."

I've also been thinking about how being constantly involved in activities that have to do with our daily needs is so very satisfying.  Very grounding.  Not just turning the tap on and taking it for granted that the water will flow, but having to fill the cistern and maintain access to our water supply.  Not just turning on the furnace and assume the necessary fuel is there, but gathering, cutting, stacking and bringing in firewood for the stove.  Maintaining a supply of food so we don't have to drive Down There so often, or just in case. . .  It's all part of the life that I believe people these days have become too removed from.  Everthing is too easy.  For many it seems that any part of life that requires work seems very irritating and unwanted.  Even down to taking time to understand how our government works.  So many people blame the wrong office holder for what goes wrong, and give credit to the wrong ones when things go right.  People just don't realize that we have to work at democracy, or we will lose it.  And it seems that we may be well on our way to losing it.

Thought for the day:  To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will. Ronald Reagan  

Nov 19, 2012 Where is the Sun?



"Thank goodness deer season is over!"




JB bringing a rain barrel up on MAX
















Friday we were once again engulfed by fog with a high for the day of only 25.  An indoor day spent relaxing with new magazines, catalogues and our books.  Did the dishes and ran the well pump.  Another couple times and our cistern should be full again.  Hopefully our new washing machine will be working by then.  The service appointment is for 1:00 pm today.

I have finally started the third Lisbeth Salander book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, that I bought months ago.  I waited until our here-for-the-season snow, knowing that it would be a hard book to put down, and I wanted more than just snippets of time during which to read it. 

Saturday we had light fog with a frozen rain falling most of the day.  JB dug out the creek bed that had been driven over.  I dug a trench from the north side of the house through the grove so the water would drain down the mountain.  The whole area needs to be graded with the rake next summer.  I wasn't sore that evening, but I definitely needed ibuprofen Sunday morning!  That was quite a chore.

I also worked on Christmas cards as I finally got this year's card designed.  We had to run the generator since we have had a complete lack of sun for a few days.  I can only use my embossing heater when the generator is running as it sucks too much power for not having any sun.  Actually now we have to run the generator every day.  So much for saving money on propane this year.

We had a nice lazy start to Sunday with our big breakfast and crossword puzzles.  There was no fog, but it was cloudy all day.  I worked on my Christmas cards again.  JB drove MAX down to get the card from the game cam as we haven't checked it in a couple weeks.  It was just too icy in the morning to walk down our steep driveway.  Even the dogs had problems.  We did have some good pictures though, especially the one of the deer I have posted above.

RJ called around noon to say he was Up Here for a few days.  So I quickly wrapped his and Mike's Christmas presents; stuffed them in my back pack; and headed on down to his cabin.  By then most of the icy snow had softened and I had no problems walking down the short cut.  We had a nice visit and RJ showed me everything he's been working on.  Just amazing!  He is tending to all the little details, now that most of the big projects have been taken care of.  He even built two sofa's in his living room and will put futon mattresses on them.  He hopes to make it up once more before Christmas.  It took me and the dogs about 40 minutes to make the mile climb back up to Rose Camp, whereas we had made it down in about half that time.  No gentle slope that short cut.

And speaking of catalogues, one of my favorites that I receive this time of the year is from the Victorian Trading Co.  It has items priced from $10 to $2000.  If I had the money, I could easily order something from every page and thoroughly enjoy them all.  Of course I'd need a much larger house and a completely different attitude towards "things."  Nevertheless, in another life. . .

Thought for the day: Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain