January 30, 2012



Snow slipping off the woodshed roof




View on a sunny day last week
& we were almost too busy fixing MAX to enjoy it



















Sometimes it is good just to be.  Not do.  Down There is like a hive of bees.  Always so much doing.  So many goings on.  Up Here when I get up in the morning, I usually just sit with my cup of tea or coffee and look out the windows.  Or stare at the fire.  Let the morning slowly unfold.  No rush to get going.  I just am.  When one is young there is little time or desire to just be.  Now there is both.  Or maybe it's just my lazy coming out. . .

But it is hard to "be" in the middle of chaos, so being Up Here seems to make all the difference.  Each of us looks at the world and interprets it through our own filters.  Filters that get clogged up with the detritus of civilization.  Nature has a way of cleaning out those filters and letting us see life as it really is, or should be.  I promised myself that I would never take our home (Rose Camp) or its views for granted.  And to date, every time I look about I am still amazed.  At the beauty and the fact that we actually live here.  So far, so good.

With the warm temperatures (38 was Sunday's high), all that beauty may be turning to mud real soon.  Or one good freeze and we'll be back to being covered with ice like we were before the big snow. It is 28 this morning and looks slippery out there.  With any luck it will be too icy to get down the road on Tuesday for my dentist appointment. . .

Speaking of my dislike for water, as I was the other day, when I worked for StairMaster the management had a penchant for "bonding experiences".  One such experience was to go white-water rafting down the Wenatchee River.  I actually like rivers and like to wade in them or even float down them in a boat, but for this event we had to wear wet suits.  At first I thought that was a good idea, thinking a wet suit would keep me dry.  Silly me.  I enjoyed the rafting (I got to sit in the very middle of the raft), but by the time we came to the end of the ride I was soaked inside that "dry" suit.  We then had a 1/2 hour bus ride back to our cars that was simply miserable.  After we shed the suits, tried to dry off and get dressed in an outhouse, we drove to Leavenworth for dinner.  No one told us to bring a change of underwear, so by the time we ate, my wet bra and panties had soaked through the rest of my clothes.  Somehow "bonding" is the least of my memories of that day.

Thought for the day:  You are never to old to learn something stupid.

January 29, 2012



Grooming the road on 1/27
with Dinga in the lead



A view of the Columbia River from our road

















                              Happy Birthday, Elsie!

Friday was another beautiful day, as advertised.  JB drove MAX down the road about 1/3 mile with the dogs before lunch.  An hour later we all went for the full drive to the main canyon road.  Surprisingly there was no drifting, probably because most of the wind was coming from the southwest and the road is on the north side of the mountain.  It was a brisk but invigorating experience, especially when we had to dig our way out at the main road as the person who was plowing neglected to clear where our road meets it and created a burm across it instead.  Will have to give him a call. . .

The dogs had a good workout and Jesse ended up riding most of the way back.  Dinga would never do such a thing unless her leg was really hurting her.  She always has to lead.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, raccoon mating season began on Friday.  I've never seen any in our area, but for those of you who have them around - beware. . .

Friday night is "movie night" so we finally watched "Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides."  I have enjoyed the first three movies in the series and absolutely love the character that Johnny Depp has created in Captain Jack Sparrow (but then I love all of Johnny Depp's characters).  But I'm afraid this fourth one is just not as well done as the others.  But it does remind me of a story that my friend, Kim, told me about her grandson a few years ago.  When she asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween, he said, "A pirate of the can of beans."  The next year he wanted to be macaroni and cheese but I think she finally talked him into something for which she could actually make a costume.  I miss her so much. . .

Saturday morning we heard a loud rapping sound outside and were quick enough to see a female pileated woodpecker on the end of our north row of firewood.  They are so big!  We also saw some nuthatches and a fat little wren during the day.  I hope that's not our "nester" because he is waayyy too early.  Seems like there are either no birds Up Here or there are several.  And it wasn't even a nice day.  It started snowing about noon, although not very seriously.  JB shoveled some of the paths, and I cleared off the deck and brought in the firewood.  Then the dogs and I went on our normal afternoon walk but a few hours early.  There were dark, threatening clouds in the west that I thought might bring more snow shortly, but it all went to the north and south of us.  We even got a little sunshine.  Just enough to turn on the water and take a shower.  NOAA had predicted snow and cooler temperatures, but instead during the night the wind brought in a warm front and it is 34 degrees out there this morning.

There is quite a solid snow drift on the north ridge where we usually stand to enjoy the view.  It is a couple feet high but when I stand on it I barely sink in.  The wind has also made little ice sculptures on most of the stumps and the bird bath.  A couple years ago there was a perfect ice skull on a stump a little ways down the road.  I will have to find that picture and post it.

Thought for the day:  How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?   Satchel Paige

January 27, 2012




Winter sun trying to charge our
solar panels

 


Rose working on MAX



My Dream Tree








As it turned out, Wednesday was not a nice day.  With all its snowing and blowing, we received another inch of snow, so all JB did on MAX was to insert the final bolt and attach the wheel extender.  However, after blowing all Wedesday night, the wind died down to an occasional breeze on Thursday and it was a beautiful, cloudless day.  We were able to get MAX all put back together, and JB packed down the driveway around the house and up to the south ridge.  We plan to groom the road today as clear weather is forecast through Saturday.  There has probably been a lot of drifing on the road, so we may be doing some shoveling too.  Along with its smoothing and sculpting, the wind has created a thin crust of ice on top of the snow which really glistens in the sun.

And, of course, since it was such a nice, clear day, I was down two bars on my internet signal reception.  Go figure. . .

The right hand photo above is of my "Dream Tree" which I bought at an arts and crafts fair in Illinois.  It is metal and each leaf has been soldered on the branches which are soldered on to the tree, and it is a little over six feet tall.  Every leaf is a composite of different colors with a clear finish that is more protective than that on a car.  I fell in love with the tree as soon as I saw it.  I with a little bargaining I got a good deal.  Still spent much more than I should have, but less than I could have.  I am a very visual person and I love its brilliant colors that are even more pronounced in the winter against the white season.  But I need that visual stimulation, which is one reason why I prefer the mountains and forest to the plains.  I am an earth sign (Taurus) and was born with a fear of water.  I don't even like being wet.  Although I do remember a day at Virginia Beach, VA, about 30 years ago when we were caught in a summer shower while at the beach.  It was so refreshing with all that east coast humidity and heat that I thoroughly enjoyed getting soaked with my clothes on.  Hasn't happened before or since.

Thought for the day:  I have abandoned my search for truth, and am now looking for a good fantasy.   Ashleigh Brilliant

January 25, 2012



Polka-dot snow - a good thing!



Poor Jesse needs snow shoes, too!
















Black dots on the snow mean that the creosote gunk in the chimney is peeling off and floating out instead of building up.  That's a good thing.  Especially since I did not get the chimney cleaned out last year.  I do have the brush and necessary poles to do it, so hopefully I can get it done late Spring or early Summer.  That "list of things to do" certainly is getting longer. . .

We got the snow shoes out of the loft on Sunday, and what a difference they make getting around in the deep snow.  Doesn't take too long to remember how to walk in them, and they really give the glutes a good work out.  The poor dogs really need some, too, as the photo above proves.  Doesn't seem to stop them from getting around though, or even slow them down very much.  Jesse has really been out barking a lot, especially down the driveway and up the east slope.  We are going to move the game cam down to the end of the driveway and program it back to still photos.  There are always a lot of tracks down there, including the cougar's, but it's quite a hike back up when we want to get the card.

JB saw a buck and three does down the south side of our south ridge on Monday when he and the dogs went for their morning walk to check the solar panels.  The dogs saw them also, but weren't about to go very far down that steep slope.

It took us 2-1/2 hours on Monday to get everything out to MAX that we needed in order to fix the axle, including the small garden wagon with the little generator, and then actually get the axle out.  The first thing we had to do is suck the air out of the two end tires and for that we needed the generator and vacuum cleaner.  Then off came the tires and track.  The axle wasn't broken, but rather bent right in the middle of the bearing and flange assembly.  So that had to be replaced also and fortunately we had ordered an extra one along with the axle last year.  We got everything taken off and out, then went for our afternoon walk and called it a day.  Tuesday we were able to install the new axle and bearing/flange assembly before it started sleeting.  Today is supposed to be nice like Monday was, so we plan to get MAX all put back together.  The temperature has cooperated with us, being in the high 20's on Monday and high teens on Tuesday.

A strong wind started up in the evening and has continued into daylight, taking with it, I can see now, a very large branch off the tree by the deck.  One I was going to saw off anyway as it was obstructing our view.  The wind also brought the temperature up from 18 to 30, so it seems we may have a bit of a Chinook.  Don't like that idea after having just received so much snow.  We are up to almost two feet.  And, unless the wind dies down, we won't get much work done on MAX as planned.  (I can almost hear God's laughter in the wind. . .)

I had a long, rambling paragraph here in which I failed miserably to make my point and now am not even sure what that point was.  Something about needing the solitude of nature as opposed to the crush of humanity.  How there is mental and emotional room Up Here along with the physical room to grow and become more of the person I was meant to be.  How gathering, cutting and stacking firewood gives me a sense of taking charge of my life, rather than relying on someone else for what I need. And something about not being a very good judge of character; how I can easily stand up in front of a crowd to talk but am not that great one to one with strangers.  Yada, yada, yada. . .  Blah, blah, blah. . .  

Enough blathering.  Here's my thought for the day, or rather someone else's that I really like:   I hope there is a next world, because I'll definitely need another life to understand this one.   Ashleigh Brilliant

January 23, 2012



Dinga & JB resting after a hard day
playing in the snow



Our home in the snow

 










Didn't get outside to work on MAX yesterday - snowing too hard.  It started coming down about 9:00 a.m. and I felt like drinking cocoa all day long.  By 3:30 p.m. we had another two inches.  So quiet.  So beautiful.  At least on this side of the mountains.  The clouds have disappeared for today and the sun is shining brightly on the snow.  A good day to work on MAX.  Aunt Nene has just about had it with the snow on the west side.  They never lost power like alot of other folks, but they have a short, steep driveway for which they needed help clearing off the snow and ice.  And a bad case of cabin fever has settled in.  I keep telling her to come up and spend the winter with us.  I'd even buy her a pair of snow shoes. 

I obviously do not understand the technology behind accessing the internet on our wireless system.  On a clear day I often have problems getting on, yet when it is snowing or storming outside, I get all the bars and have no issues.  Hmmm. . .

We are still getting a few yellow jackets coming out of hibernation in the house.  Not nearly as many as the first few years when we could have as many as 10-15 per day, but there seem to be a couple every day.  Especially when it is really cold outside and really warm in the loft.  I didn't get all the caulking done that I had planned to do last year, so that will be on the top of my list for this year - after we finish the tongue-in-groove pine walls of the great room.

Our major project outside will be to build a shelter for MAX in which we can do repairs.  I had forgotten that MAX will not fit through the shop door with the tracks on, and because of the necessary supports for the roof (deck), we cannot widen the door.  It won't have to be anything big or fancy, or even completely enclosed.  Just someplace where we can get in out of the weather.  Still don't know if we will get chickens or not with all the other projects and expenses that are piling up.  Just have to wait and see.

Thought for the day:  My great ambition is to build something that will last, at least until I've finished building it.   Ashleigh Brilliant

January 22, 2012



Back of kitchen counter that faces living room
(Yes, that is a Starbucks cup)



Woodshed





















Friday the 13th arrived a week late for us.  JB went out that morning (1/20) to start the snow blower and it wouldn't.  Then after lunch JB and I left the dogs in the house and drove MAX to pack down the snow on the road.  We were about 1/4 mile from the Rose Camp when MAX hit a BIG rock that was covered in snow, breaking the front right axle.  Fortunately, MAX can be driven quite aways with one broken axle as there are six of them.  So JB drove back home and I walked in order to keep as much weight as possible off the axle.  Of course that 1/4 mile was all up hill, but I did get some nice photos (see below).  And, yes, one of the dogs did get up on the kitchen counter by way of the desk while we were gone that short time, but there was nothing there of him/her to get into.

As of Saturday afternoon, we had received 18-1/2" of snow since Tuesday morning.  The temperature was in the single digits all week and we really used a lot of firewood.  Each night I set the alarm for every 3-1/2 hours for one of us to get up and feed the fire.  JB gets up around 1:00 am and I get up about 4:30.  It warmed up to 27 on Saturday and we hardly needed a coat!  Very windy though, but it was a warm wind and more gusty than anything sustained.  We had several hours of sun also, which was nice, but it looked like it was snowing all around except Up Here.  The first of the snow slid off the south side of the roof yesterday afternoon with quite a roar.  A few hours later some of the north side slide off with another roar and a big thump.

With the wind and more snow expected today, we plan to fix MAX's, axle on Monday.  Then we will really have a job packing down the road.  Hopefully it won't be too deep to cause problems for MAX.  Larry and Elsie made it up the road just fine last night for a visit.  Was very surprised they came in all that wind, but so glad they did.  They brought eggs for us!  Their hens are starting to lay more now, even with just 30 minutes more of daylight. 

Since JB has been gluten free for almost two years now, I have also cut down considerably.  Now whenever I there is gluten in something I eat, it seems to upset my system.  I may have to go gluten free too.  Thank goodness potato and corn chips don't have any wheat in them and neither do chocolate or ice cream!  I will really miss a good pizza crust.  JB hasn't been able to make one and the ones he buys are really pricey.  Oh, well.  I guess it will be worth it not to feel so sluggish and nauseaus.

Thought for the day:  Those who dwell amoung the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.   Rachel Carson

Looking down the end of our driveway
with road to Erno's off to the right

January 20, 2012




Starting to get some serious snow
on Tuesday




A foot by Thursday afternoon
with more on the way!

 











Once again our world is as silent as it is white.  Only the sound of the occasional train whistle or plane engine reaches us Up Here.  A little green shows through on the snow laden branches.  Even the brown tree trunks are smattered in white.  It has been snowing constantly since before 4:00 a.m. Tuesday.  By 3:30 p.m. Wednesday we had received 8" and by 9:00 a.m. Thursday we had a total of 11-1/2".  I am sure we have another 3" to 5" by now.  All of Western Washington got hit pretty hard too, but they do not expect it like we do.  Nor do they know what to do with it when it arrives.

It is easy to get lazy in the winter when there is no snow.  All the firewood is cut and stacked.  Our provisions have been brought up and put away.  We can still drive JB's Jeep to town.  All that is left is to enjoy - until the snow arrives.  Now "lazy" has to be put aside and it is not all that easy.  Suddenly we have to trudge up to the panels several times a day to clean off the snow if necessary (and we can't see if they need it til we get there).  Two miles of the road has to be packed down at least once a day as long as it is snowing.  The paths and driveway have to be cleared with the snowblower and shovel.  And the deck must be cleared off.  Am having a hard time remembering what I said I liked about snow. . .  Oh, yeah - now I get to use my snow shoes.  Will make "trudging" a lot easier.  Actually the fun begins once it has stopped snowing.

Driving MAX Wednesday morning, JB and the dogs went down to pack the road.  It's a little more difficult in this powder snow with MAX, but they made it just fine.  This is Dinga's favorite weather - snow!  She goes nuts running and playing, making snow angels, eating ice, rooting through the now after small critters.  She would love Alaska.  But she doesn't have to do any of the work!  After doing the road, JB shoveled out in front of the house.  I waited til 1:00 p.m. to clear the deck and by then it was covered in 7" of snow.  Not fun!

JB went Down There yesterday and, this being the first time down on MAX this season, it took longer for him to get going.  Preparations we should have made the night before pushed back his schedule in the morning.  It was 2 degrees and lightly snowing when he finally go on his way at 9:30 a.m.  By the time he arrived back home at 3:30 p.m., it had warmed up to 6 degrees and we had another inch or two of snow.  He had to shovel some of the snow off the road at the end of our driveway to get back up, but it wasn't too bad.

While he was gone I quickly did the dishes and filled the water buckets so as to use as little power as possible.  Then I suited up and brought in firewood; shoveled the area in front of the house; cleaned off JB's Jeep; and cleaned off the panels.  After lunch, I once again found myself out cleaning off the deck at 1:00 p.m.  Only 4-1/2" this time.  Much easier and faster than 7".  Needless to say, I think we have both already got our exercise for the week.

Thought for the day:  The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.   Author Unknown

January 18, 2012

JB's GF bread

The forecast snow arrived at last on Monday and by mid-morning Tuesday we had 1-1/2", with at least a foot due by Wednesday night.  We were just on the edge of the weather system Monday, so we experienced alternating sun and snow, often both at the same time.  The sun would be shining in from the south and the snow blowing in from the north and above.  JB was going to drive Down There on Tuesday, but it was snowing and blowing so much when he got up that he decided to wait until at least Thursday.  By all accounts, we should have plenty of snow by then for him to use MAX instead of his Jeep.  Part of the forecast for the next few days is a "high wind event".  Event?  What is that?!  A good day for kite flying?  Or a better day to stay inside and pray?  The wind had been keeping the deck fairly clean, but it died out during the night so I will definitely have to clean it off today.

Had to post a photo of JB's gf bread.  It turns out so well and is so delicious.  However, it is more moist than wheat bread and should be refrigerated.  It does toast up nicely though.

Forgot to mention that after we anchored down the cabinets and counter last week, JB put in the last of the tongue-in-groove pine on the backside.  We still have to put a half-round along the top for the finishing touch, but it looks really nice as is.

I finally made an appointment with the dentist (oral surgeon) to have a tooth pulled.  It has been bothering me for a few months now, but I thought I might be able to hold out til May when I will have some dental coverage.  (Yes, that $79/month also gets me $500 worth of dental coverage per year.)  Couldn't get in til 1/31, but I think that will be okay as it only really hurts at the end of the day.  Two ibuprofen and I'm fine for another 24 hours.  When asked if I was allergic to anything, I said, "Yes.  Dentists."  You get my drift.

On our walk Tuesday afternoon, Dinga caught a small critter of some sort.  Not a mole or a chipmunk, but something with a rat tail.  What I hate the most about that is she will carry it very gently in her mouth and let it go a few times before chomping down and killing it.  Jesse was very upset that she wouldn't share.

I find that the longer I live Up Here, the more sensitive I am becoming to perfumes and certain scented items.  It is almost impossible for me to walk down the detergent aisle in the store.  I rarely wear perfume any more, and when I do, I can taste it.  Not a pleasant sensation.  I do enjoy a lightly scented lotion, and that doesn't seem to bother me.  However, I have been advised that bears are attracted to perfumes and the like, so I use those lotions mainly in the winter when the bears are sleeping.  I need them more this time of year anyway.

Thought for the day:  A cup of cocoa when it is snowing seems almost a requirement.   Wild Rose

January 16, 2012

Sunrise over the Cascades
(More enticement for Laramie)

We received a little more snow on Sunday, but nothing major.  The forecast is predicting a significant amount on Tuesday and Wednesday, with 90% to 100% possibility on both days.  Finally!  It costs us more to use JB's Jeep to go down the mountain than it does to use MAX as we usually take his Jeep off all but the basic insurance for at least four months.  Oh well, as Larry says, every year is different.  It is just that I am much more aware of the weather Up Here than I ever was Down There.  This morning it is 7 degrees and we received less than 1/2 inch of snow last night.

JB made sourdough biscuits again for breakfast on Sunday with our bacon and cheese/tomato/onion omelette.  This time he substituted one cup of sorghum flour for all purpose gf flour, and doubled the amounts of baking soda and powder.  They turned out much lighter and were delicious, with less of a sour "bite" to them.

It occured to me as I was cleaning the ashes out of the wood stove, that this is quite an art.  One must shovel the ashes out from below, without taking all the hot coals.  It can be quite tricky, but I have learned to do it very successfully.  We have an ash "bucket" that fits right under the door to the stove and can hold two loads.  When the second one has cooled, we dump the ashes into a small metal garbage can that stays outside by the stairs to the porch.  When that is full, JB empties it where we plan to put our garden, as our ground has a high clay content.  (Actually more often than not, we forget to empty the bucket and can. . .)

We checked the game cam on Sunday and had several videos of deer.  The doe and two young ones that JB saw on the ridge a few days ago seem to be staying in the area.  It looks like one might be a yearling while the other one was probably born last Spring.  Very cool to capture them on the camera in motion.  I was going to say "capture them on film", but since the cameras do not use film any more, how does one express that?!  Capture them on the card?  Capture them on the camera?

It would be so easy to just let the days slip away Up Here reading, writing, hiking, doing Sudoku and crossword puzzles, doing basic daily chores.  Being retired takes even more self discipline than being employed.  I guess, in a way, we are self-employed.  It is now up to us to set our own schedule, and it would be so easy not to have one.  We were really busy the first year finishing so many necessary projects, but the second year I would often find myself thinking, "Well, what do I do now?"  That rarely happens any more, as I have so many things I want and like to do.  This blog being one of the main ones.

Thought for the day:  The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.   Lucille Ball 

January 15, 2012



Dinga striking a pose.



Snowing in the canyon.  Can't see the mountains
behind the curtain of snow.

















It was a balmy 18 degrees on Friday, so I had no excuse to stay inside.  After chores, the dogs and I hiked across the crest of the south ridge to the top of Erno's again.  Jesse's hackles went up a few times, but I didn't see any tracks that might have caused that reaction.  Almost to the peak I did see the white hind ends of three very large elk walking into the trees.  Too late to grab my camera.  With their noses to the ground, the dogs didn't see or hear them although they may have got a whiff of their scent.  I think perhaps that elk are not so intimidated by the dogs as the deer are and maybe that's what caused Jesse's hackles to rise.  When we first bought this property in 1989, there was quite a nice size elk herd in the area.  Often when we drove Up Here, we would encounter several of them on the hair-pin turn just down from our driveway.  They would simply stare in our direction as if trying to intimidate us so we would go away.  Eventually, when they realized we were not going to turn around, they would slowly walk off the road and back into the woods.  I really do miss seeing them, so the glimpse I got on Friday was quite a treat.

There was wind and snow forecast for Saturday.  The wind arrived quite early, bringing the snow in about noon, but that lasted less than two hours.  There was also valley fog which surprisingly the wind did not seem to affect.  Maybe it was only windy Up Here.

In the pile of mail that JB picked up on Wednesday, I received my notice of eligibility for Medicare in May.  I had already figured out that I will be saving $244 per month on medical insurance premiums, and that is including the cost of the Medicare Advantage Plan.  I am going to sign up for the same one JB is on, which is a local insurance that costs only $79 per month (plus the $99 the government takes out of our Social Security check) and has better coverage than the one for which I am now paying $422 per month.  One of the advantages of growing older. . .

We also received the current issue of "Capper's" magazine that has some delicious sounding recipes in it, many from antique cookbooks and family favorites from readers.  Just started getting this magazine a few months ago and we are really enjoying it.

Thought for the day:  Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.  Margaret Atwood  (and Wild Rose)

January 13, 2012

My Christmas gift to Aunt Nene

Outside in single-digit weather - one of the few times that hot flashes are welcome.  At least it is still above zero, unlike our friends in Laramie who have been experiencing down to 17 below.  Brrrrrr!  Wednesday, at 10 degrees, I got lazy and took firewood off the porch instead of bundling up and going out to the woodshed.  Always a nice option. 

Above is a photo of the picture frame I made for my Aunt Nene.  It was rather time consuming, especially gluing on the individual pine cone "petals."  I also used moss, small pine and fir cones, and bark, and put a picture of foxes in it as they are her favorite animal (besides the Rose Camp bears).  I was very pleased with the final product and may make some more.

The linen closet finally got my attention the other day.  This is one of the largest linen closets I have ever had, so it is quite a project to reorganize and clean it out.  And every time I do, I find items I have quite forgotten about.  I had no idea I could store so many boxes of Swiffer Sweepers and Wet Mops in there.  Won't need any more til at least 2014. . .

JB drove Down There on Wednesday and was able to slide down quite nicely without chains.  It has only been two weeks since he was last there, but, my how the junk mail does stack up!  He has to go down again next week and will take a couple bags of recycle paper to drop off.

Earlier this week we finally fastened down the two kitchen cabinets we purchased and installed last summer, along with the extended counter.  Should have been an easy enough project, but as I mentioned when we first got them, both the cabinets and counter have been slightly modified from when we first created our kitchen.  But using shims, we were able to get the old and new fairly well aligned.  The "rustic" in our finished project probably won't be noticeable to the casual eye, although I'm sure my brother will see it next time he is up.

We have become addicted to the TV series, "Fringe".  Our son gave the first two seasons to JB for his birthday, along with the first two seasons of "Supernatural", which is also addicting.  Right now we have seven TV series that we are watching, and have scheduled one for each night of the week.  If we want to watch a movie, we just skip that night's program.  "Castle" and "Fringe" are definitely our favorites, but the other six are very close behind:  "Burn Notice", "The Closer", "Bones", "Supernatural", "White Collar" and "Dexter."  Well, except for "Dexter," which is just a little too dark.  We have finished watching the first season of "Justified", but that program is right up there with "Castle".  Last night we watched "Sherlock Holmes" and were very entertained.

Thought for the day:  Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator.  But among those whom I love, I can: All of them make me laugh.   W.H. Auden

January 11, 2012

Moonset & Sunrise over the Cascades

I saw this incredible sight out the window as I entered the loft Monday morning about 7:30, and was able to capture it with my camera from the deck.  This was a Full Wolf Moon.

Tuesday morning's incredible sight was hot-from-the-oven sourdough biscuits!  So good with butter and blackberry jam.  JB is going to experiment a little more with the bread.  The problem with GF flour is that it is heavier than wheat flour, so like with my oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies, it takes a few batches to get it just right.  But it is well worth the effort.

Tuesday was another beautiful but dry day.  All indications are for a low snow pack this year.  Sandy, my BFF in northern California, says they are really in need of rain Down There and she is afraid "they" will soon be using the dreaded "D" word (drought).  We experienced a few dry years while living in the San Francisco Bay area for nine years (1969-1977).  When we left in September of 1977, we drove by an almost empty Lake Shasta.  It was good to see the lake full to the brim when I flew over it last May on my way to visit Sandy.

It was 36 on Monday, which has enticed the birds Up Here again.  I love to watch the little nuthatches on the trees looking for bugs.  They are up and down the trunks like a woodpecker, and hang upside down on the branches.  The hawks and eagles are riding the thermals looking for a meal, or maybe just enjoying the ride.  The dogs are constantly outside running after the deer.  We can tell when there is actually something in the area because Jesse will bark.  Dinga barks just to hear herself.  Jesse only barks when he actually sees something.  It will be interesting to see if we have any videos of deer when we check the game cam again.  (I'd like to check it every day, but JB wants to wait til Saturday.)

It is 10 degrees outside this morning and JB is going Down There.  With no snow on the lower road, he really cannot take MAX so he will be driving his Jeep down to my Jeep.  We tried putting the chains on it yesterday, but to no avail.  A test run down the driveway was done with no problems, so he should be okay.
When I wrote about the cougar tracks, Aunt Nene e-mailed me about the cougars on Mica Peak which is southeast of Spokane Valley.  Their ranch was in sight of it and her Father, my Grandpa Herb, would tell stories from the sheepherders up there.  The cougars could take out a sheep literally in seconds.  In one of Tom Brown's books, Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking, he relates a story of when he was in the mountains of Colorado.  While watching a small herd of white tail deer, he noticed a cougar stealthily approaching them.  When it was close enough, the cougar suddenly ran and leapt on one of the deer.  From it's first leap to the death of the deer was only seconds.  When the cougar had dragged off the carcass, Tom went down and measured the footprints.  While running, it was bounding 14 feet!  Mr. Brown has a fascinating series of survival handbooks that are well worth reading for someone living as we do, or anyone just interested in the subject.

Thought for the day:  I hope it helps you to hear the voices modern man misses - not just the voices that speak to the five senses, but the universal voice that speaks to the heart.   Tom Brown, Jr. (from the introduction to Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking)

January 9, 2012

"Waves" on top of the valley fog

Sunday was a surprisingly beautiful and sunny day, and the fog even cleared out of the valleys.  The temperature got up to 33, so we almost didn't need to wear our coats.  I actually came back from a walk with the dogs with my coat tied around my waist.  We walked down our road and discovered how the cougar had arrived at Rose Camp.  There is a hairpin turn a little ways down from the end of our driveway and the tracks came over the ridge there, right up the middle of the road, up the steep part of our driveway, then veered west to our ridge.  We are packing the .45 whenever we go out, but I really don't think we have much to be concerned about.  As I said before, there have always been signs of at least one cat in the canyon, and they have a range of about 25 miles.

I baked a large batch of chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies yesterday, and JB made his sourdough bread.  It turned out really dry which may be due to the gluten free flour.  From the sound of the recipe, making this bread is not an exact science.  It's "add a little more of this, or a little less of that" to make the dough right.  He'll probably try the biscuits next.

Larry and Elsie came to visit last evening, bearing gifts, as usual.  They had been saying that we need to play Aggravation with them, but we don't have the game.  So Larry made us a board and bought the dice and marbles, too.  Of course, the first game went to the women who really whomped the guys.  The second game was so close that we were all within one or two spaces of winning, so we let the guys win so they wouldn't feel so badly. . .

And speaking of having a good time, whenever I am out walking in the woods, I lose track of all else.  All the worries and concerns melt away, and I am completely there.  When we lived in Illinois for those five years, we would go camping at several different campgrounds, our favorite being along the Kankakee River.  One summer weekend we were sitting by our campfire with our chairs facing the woods, enjoying the evening.  A few sites down the road was a large family with several tents.  We could not believe it as they hung up a sheet and started a movie!  We ended up seeing a much more interesting sight as we watched a raccoon family climb out of a old, hollow tree.  First the parents, then two small cubs.  The smallest one had to be coaxed out, but finally made it and followed the rest of the family into the woods.

Thought for the day:  What business have I in the woods if I am thinking of something out of the woods.  Henry David Thoreau

January 8, 2012

Wildlife caught on our game cam!

As you can see, we finally captured some wildlife on our new video cam.  Each picture is captioned with the date, time of day, the temperature and the phase of the moon.  One of the pictures at 5:15 am Saturday morning of Dinga had a picture of a deer one minute later going in the opposite direction! JB wants videos, so when we put the card back in, that is what he set it for.  Saturday morning the dogs started a loud ruckus inside caused by a doe with two smaller deer following her along the south ridge - just out of range of the camera.  We kept the dogs inside until the deer were well on their way.

There certainly are a lot of after-holiday ads on the internet from all my favorite catalogs!  I usually just delete them without looking, except for Lehman's.  They had their less expensive stainless steel juicer/steamer on sale so I did order one.  When I took the canning class in 2010, the teacher recommended this kind as it is so easy to extract juice from any fruit or vegetable.  You can use the juice for drinking or to make jelly or syrup.  It will be perfect (and so much easier) for the rose hips, which, by the way, are still on the bushes as I did not get any more picked.  And did not get the jam made.  But with this steamer, I definitely plan to do it this year.

Last Fall my brother was raving about the video he saw on PBS called "Alone in the Wilderness", so I bought the book for him for his birthday.  The name of it is One Man's Wilderness, An Alaskan Odyssey, written by Sam Keith from the pictures and journals of Richard Proenneke.  I also gave the book to JB for Christmas and he just finished it.  From his comments, it sounds like an incredible story.  JB gave me the next three books of the Game of Thrones series and I have almost finished Clash of Kings, the second one in the series.  I plan to read the Wilderness book next.  As I have mentioned before, we both do a lot of reading in the winter.

JB made pulled pork yesterday - one of his specialties.  He also started the sourdough bread, using 2 cups of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Flour and 1 cup sweet sorghum flour instead of 3 cups of wheat flour.  After the starter is ready, it takes another 18 hours for the bread dough to rise, and about 12 hours for biscuits.  He got on this sourdough kick while reading the Wilderness book.  I guess Richard started his sourdough biscuits rising first thing every morning so they would be ready for dinner.  As far as I am concerned, JB can bake all he likes.  The more he bakes, the less I have to.

Thought for the day:  One of the good things about getting older is you find you're more interesting than most of the people you meet.   Lee Marvin

January 6, 2012

Cat print next to a Jesse print

I took this photo Wednesday on our north ridge during our daily afternoon walk.  After checking our animal tracks book, we believe it is a cougar (mountain lion).  Those aren't claws, just pointy toe pads.  Wednesday morning when the dogs went out after breakfast, Dinga came back really spooked and would not go back outside.  Needless to say, we will be packing a gun whenever we go out.  I think the main reason we have seen more coyotes, and now the cougar tracks, is because winter has been mild so far.  The deer are still Up Here, when they have normally moved further down the mountain.  It is not unusual to see cat tracks in the canyon, we just have never seen them this close to the house (roughly 300 ft).  And we most likely do not have to be concerned, as they are nocturnal and do not like to be near humans.  Nevertheless. . .

We checked the game cam Wednesday and there were only three photos on it with no animals or people in them.  I think we may have mounted it too high for the slope of the land because we should have tripped it on our walks.  So we moved it to a tree that is near the V in our road that goes up and around the south ridge where we see deer tracks almost every day.  Will check it again on Saturday.  If we don't have anything by then, there is obviously something we don't understand about operating it.

The weather warmed up to 34 degrees on Wednesday with quite a breeze.  Thursday morning was a much cooler 26, so all the melted snow had frozen.  We still had ice underneath the snow and now it's one big skating rink.  Fortunately our new Snowtrax for the bottom of our boots have little spikes on them.  JB plans to go Down There next week and may have to use MAX instead of the Jeep.

I met our resident frog Thursday morning - in the dining area!  He is not the 12" giant I had imagined and he's certainly no candidate for Calaveras, but he is the largest tree frog I've seen Up Here.  It is too cold right now to put him outside, so I just dropped him back down into the crawl space.  We are leaving the trap door open 24/7, so that is how he got up into the house.  If he grows any bigger, he won't be able to squeeze through the grate that we have over the opening.  But I'm sure we'll be meeting again.

JB has been baking this week.  He made GF focaccia bread on Wednesday that has rosemary, parmesan and sea salt on top of it and is scrumptious.  He made a sourdough starter on Thursday.  It has to set for 48 hours before it can be used, so hopefully tomorrow he can made some bread or biscuits.  I have decided to eat more gluten free from now on, so I won't be buying any wheat bread.  GF bread is really too expensive to buy on a regular basis, so we will be baking our own more often.

With the cold and cloudy weather, we have decided to turn off the inverter when we go to bed.  Helps to save on the energy.  So I will not be posting until it starts getting light out, after 7:30 a.m. PST.

Thought for the day:  If life is just a joke, the question still remains: for whose amusement?   Ashleigh Brilliant

January 4, 2012

Dinga & Jesse



Wesley



Buster


I wanted to show these great photos of some of our four-legged friends in the canyon.  Of course, Dinga and Jesse live with us at Rose Camp.  Buster and Wesley belong to Larry and Elsie.  Life just wouldn't be the same without them (even though Dinga and Wesley have been nicknamed Princess and Prince Barksalot).

Dinga, Jesse and I went for a hike along the fence line to the top of the mountain east of us (Erno's).  Don't need my snowshoes yet, but am looking forward to using them.  As I came over the top of the ridge, there were four deer looking at me from just over the next ridge.  We stood and stared at each other for a few minutes, then I finally got my camera out and took a few pictures of them.  (See photo below>)  There was no breeze and the deer stood so still that the dogs didn't even know they were there.  There were lots of deer, rabbit, squirrel and Jesse tracks all along our hike.  I was thrilled to finally see some of the wild life that are making them, other than Jesse!

In checking our game cam, we found some more videos of the dogs and one of me coming back from hike.  So we changed it to still photos and moved it on Sunday to the south ridge on the solar panel post.  By the look of the tracks made since then, we ought to have at least a few good photos.  Will check it today and see.

Thought for the day:  The longer you can look back, the further you can look forward.  Winston Churchill

Four deer I saw on a hike Tuesday

January 2, 2012



Spring with continual ice build-up



Road to Erno's at the end
of our driveway

  

Rimed grass

 


As our new year begins, it will certainly be very interesting to see how it ends, given our current political situation, although I am certainly in no hurry.  I have been told that the National Defence Authorization Act of 2012, which I believe Obama has signed into law, contains the same presidential powers as the one that Truman refused to sign.  He feared the power it would give him and those who followed.  I am not up to reading all 500 pages of the Act in order to confirm this, however, if it does, then this Act nullifies the guarantee of our basic rights.  I wonder if George W. had any inkling when he introduced the title "Czar" into our government's vocabulary. . .

Weather wise it is a beautiful, normal beginning to our new year.  The ground is covered with about four inches of snow, with the additional 1-1/2" we received New Year's Eve.  And with the early morning fog, all the trees are covered in both rime and snow, and the grasses are rimed with delicate crystals.  But all this beauty also means more work.  I have neglected to clear off the deck, so that is first on my list for today. 

I stepped down into the crawl space yesterday to get some potatoes and noticed that there is already more moisture along the edges.  With it weeping (raining) where warm air meets the cold, we have our own little weather system under the house.

Elsie sent me the photo above of one of their springs which is up a small canyon to the east of their house.  It is unusual to have it still running in the winter, but that is probably due to all the rain we received last year (2011).  There is a pond there which has frozen over and as the water continues to flow onto it, it freezes and has built up to quite a chunk of ice.  They may have their own iceberg by the time Spring arrives.

When I wrote about how Larry butchers (is that the right word?) chickens and grouse, I received comments from both my Aunt Nene and friends in Laramie, WY.  Nene wrote that Uncle John's Aunt would grab a chicken; step on its head and pull it off.  Then put it in a bucket of boiling water; take out the insides and have fried chicken!  Nene's mother-in-law used the same method but had one of the kids do it.  She said watching it once was enough, but the fried chicken was delicious.

Our friends in Laramie have been keeping chickens for about five years and are on their third flock.  She says, "We keep them about 18 months or a bit longer before they get too old to lay well.  We do it the 'old fashioned' way and pluck them after they have been blanched in hot water (about 160-180 degrees).  They have not been difficult to pluck.  The feathers pull right out without difficulty for us.  I do think that the breast is probably the meatiest part but when cooked properly it is all usable meat.  A friend of ours who also keeps chickens and sells his eggs locally came up with a nice way to cook these older birds.  I have tried it several times and have success with his method.  Take a whole, plucked bird and put it into a heavy pot.  Add a can of beer or 12 ounces of wine (red or white), cover and place in a 250 degree oven for 10 - 12 hours.  That's all.  Then you can take the meat right off the bone and it will be quite moist and tender.  It can be used for all sorts of dishes."

Unfortunately, I think Elsie is too attached to her hens to eat them!  Possibly the ornery rooster though. . .

Thought for the day:  There are two excellent theories for arguing with women.  Neither one works.