Sept 28, 2012 Busy, Busy Days



Chinook helicopter carring water to the fire
on Wednesday



Whew!  Guess I was more uptight about getting up on the roof than I realized.  And the more that job got rescheduled, the more uptight I became.  Well, it's finally done for this year.  This is the first time I have used a brush and I could only get it down about six feet, which is about where the pipe inside the house attaches to the box in the roof.  Not sure why, but this is the first time I have taken the top of the pipe off to clean it and it didn't seem that bad for four years.  We will burn more creosote cleaner this year and buy a smaller brush for next year.  I'm not sure "filthy" completely describes how I looked when I was done, but it comes close.

After that chore, we drove down to Larry and Elsie's to pick up MAX.  We also borrowed their trailer and loaded three rounds of the Seattle wood to haul back up.  Then JB made two more trips for wood for a total of twenty rounds for the day.  He made two trips on Thursday bringing up a total of forty rounds.  And they aren't small!  I will be going down with him to help with the rest of the loads.

On Monday when JB was in town, he went to the Coastal store where one of the men actually took him to a splitter and showed him exactly how to take it apart to check for problems.  When he got home we did just that and found the broken part.  We should have it by Tuesday and can start splitting.  Yippee!!

We are using our Cobra walkie-talkies whenever we are far apart but still in the canyon, like for JB's trips for wood.  Thursday morning on his first trip down for wood he called me only a few minutes after leaving to tell me he had just seen THREE COUGARS on the road!  Two of them ran across the road in front of him and up the side, then he saw another one behind him who followed the first two.  What an experience!  Needless to say, he was thrilled and I am envious.  However we will both be packing while outside from now on.

Fortunately both days were fairly clear of smoke even though they were backburning on the fires to the southwest of us.  I worked on a few piles of branches,  getting several loads each day cut and stacked.  On Wednesday we could see the huge Chinook helicopter dipping its bucket in the reservoir and taking it to the fire (see photo above).  Even though the past two days have been fairly clear Up Here, we are socked in again this morning so we will be wearing our masks if we work outside.  Of course they are "one size fits all" and being fairly petite, I have rarely been able to wear anything sized in such a way.  The mask fits tightly but it completely covers my lower face from my eyes down.  Not very comfortable, but it does the job.

I think I have finally regained my sanity, or what little of it was left before this whole fire situation started.  I am constantly reminded of Helen Keller's comment, "Life is either one big adventure or it is nothing."  I realize that she was referring to one's attitude, but adventure certainly describes our life on the mountain.  Nothing boring about it.

Thought for the day:  The threat of people acting in their own enlightened and rational self-interest strikes bureaucrats, politicians and social workers as ominous and dangerous.  W.G. Hill

Sept 26, 2012 Blue Sky & Mountains!



Our view this morning



JB was finally able to find some N95 face masks when he went Down There on Monday, but, of course, we had a wind that night and Tuesday morning we had blue sky and mountains!  Unfortunately as soon as the wind died down, the smoke crept back in by early afternoon.  This morning is even more clear, but the smoke looks like valley fog.

It's amazing how much water you don't need when you don't have any.  And how clean you can get washing with just a quart of water.  But I will be so glad with the water table rises again. . .

There were leaves on the road as I drove Down There yesterday.  Almost as if the bushes and trees held on to them until Autumn arrived.  Now that the reds and oranges are leaves and not flames, it's quite beautiful.  Got the laundry and shopping done.  Came home and took a nap.  While I was gone, JB finished chipping the branches from the trees felled by the wood shed.  Looks great!

Our propane is scheduled for delivery next week now that all the roads are open and safe.  That's only a week or two late and we still have about 400 gallons left in the tank.  JB found out that the inverter we need is about $1000 including tax and freight, but it would pay for itself within two years with savings on propane.  I really need to figure out how to get one before winter sets in.

My sinuses have begun to rebel with all the smoke.  Hopefully it won't move back in as badly today.  Am going to climb up on the roof this morning and clean the chimney before it gets too warm and/or smokey.  Haven't seen too many yellow jackets in the past day or two, so that's a good thing too.  Don't want to deal with them while I am on the roof.  This afternoon we plan to drive down and get MAX, who is parked at Larry and Elsie's, borrow their trailer, and bring up a load of the wood that JB brought over from Seattle.  Should be okay to do now that we won't be meeting any large fire-fighting vehicles on the road.

Thought for the day:  Big Brother in the form of an increasingly powerful government and an increasingly powerful private sector will pile the records high with reasons why privacy should give way to national security, to law and order, to efficiency of operation, to scientific advancement and the like.  Justice William O. Douglas.

Sept 24, 2012 Hanging In There



Squirrel drinking out of the dogs'
water dish



RJ came to breakfast Friday.  He stayed and talked til almost noon, and was going to leave for Seattle around 4:00 pm.  He'll be back Up Here in about a week or so.

The smoke cleared up nicely Friday evening so I opened all the windows to air out the house and cool it off.  Since it was so clear, I worked on cutting up branches from the felled trees after dinner when it cooled down.  Am stacking the green wood outside the roof of the wood shed but still inside the fence enclosure.  Worked til it was too dark to see.  Closed all but two windows before we went to bed and woke up to smoke.  Really socked in Saturday morning and looked like a light fog.  Not a very auspicious beginning for Autumn.

Tried the well pump but still no water.  Am going to buy several more 2-1/2 gallon water containers when I go Down There on Tuesday to do the laundry.  Anything larger is just too heavy for us to be carrying around.  Will fill them up at Larry and Elsie's on the way back home.

Everything inside and out is dirty from the smoke.  Am not going to dust until it all clears up.  It is very frustrating not to be able to be outside all the time when there is so much to do.  We need to haul up the wood that JB brought over from the West side and split it.  Have to get that wood shed full.  JB did get a large pile of branches chipped.  He moved the chipper over where we felled the trees and just spread the chippings there.  I worked on getting all the cooked freezer meat vacuum sealed.  Didn't like the idea of him working outside, but chipping doesn't require a lot of exertion.

We heard thunder way to the northeast of us but nothing close by, thank goodness.  Nothing more predicted in the near future, except some rain north of us tomorrow.

The air was so much better yesterday.  Couldn't see the mountains, but we could see the surrounding hills.  We had a slight breeze and 50 seconds of rain.  JB finished splitting the trees by hand (he started on Thursday) and I stacked the wood.  He cuts and rests.  Cuts and rests.  The important part is to know your limits and when to stop.  I worked on gathering and cutting branch wood from stacks on the east slope.  I have filled the area under the roof of the wood shed where I stack it, so am now stacking outside the roof, next to the fence on the opposite side of where I am stacking the green wood.  Still need 3-1/2 rows of the larger wood.

Finally checked the trail cam for the first time in three weeks.  The only animals caught on it were coyotes.  I guess everyone else is just trying to get away from the smoke.

JB is going to town today to pick up a few things for his various small projects.  He is also going to check on a small true-syne-wave inverter that we could use just for the washer and battery charging.  

For about a month now we have had a house frog (under the house) and a shop frog.  They are so small and yet so loud!  When the shop frog gets to talking it seems to echo off the metal walls and you can hear him all over the place.  Fortunately they don't seem to be into duets. . .

Thought for the day:  It is better to wear out than rust out.  George Whitefield

Sept 21, 2012 Smoked In



Smoke, looking east from our porch
Wednesday evening






Cutting down trees on Wednesday



Still smoked in.  The newspaper stated that a week in this smoke is worse than a year in the Los Angeles smog.  Of course when I went Down There yesterday, all the stores were sold out of N95 face masks.  Had to get groceries and help RJ haul up some 4" thick foam for his beds.  Wednesday night the Table Mountain fire to the southwest of us blew up from 5000 acres to 28000 acres, and by yesterday afternoon it had merged with the Peavine fire.  Seems that's a good thing as now there is nothing left to burn between the two of them.

The inversion layer began to lift late Wednesday afternoon and the smoke looked like billowing, grey clouds.  (See photo above.)  Very eerie.  Still no rain predicted in the near future, but possible dry thunder storms.  Well, that's just what we need!

JB cut down six small trees on Wednesday.  I limbed most of them and he cut three of them into 16" pieces yesterday while I was gone.  The air quality was much better Up Here than Down There. 

Wednesday I also completely re-did the storage area in the loft, getting rid of unnecessary things that were in my way when I tried to get to the things we needed in order to leave almost two weeks ago.  Wow, it's been that long?  And yet I can barely remember when the fire wasn't all consuming.  At least it has taken my thoughts away from politics. . .

Thought for the day:  I'm not smart enough to lie.  Ronald Reagan  (And the Obamas have so convoluted the truth that they can't remember what it is.  Wild Rose)

Sept 19, 2012 Thank You Firefighters!



Monday's sunset




Fire to the southwest Monday night
















As of yesterday the fire was 25% contained and our canyon was reduced to a Level 2 Evacuation.  The inversion kept us smoked in all day, but this morning I can actually see the outline of the mountains.  Just barely, but it is the first time in ten days.  Proof that the rest of the world is still out there.  The smoke cleared out Up Here on Monday, but we could only see blue sky, not much of the planet itself.  However, even as I write this, the smoke is moving back in and the mountains are disappearing.

JB went Down There on Monday to pick up his chain saw that was being overhauled.  He is going to cut down a few of the smaller trees today that are near the house.  When the smoke is all gone, he youngest brother will come over from the west side and help us take down some of the larger ones.

The yellow jackets started swarming around the house on Monday.  Not too many yesterday because of the smoke, but they will probably be back today.

I cleared some brush and cut large, low branches off of two trees that still needed to be trimmed.  Then yesterday I went Down There to take the dogs to the vet for shots and ran a few errands.  Home by noon and not feeling well at all.  Thought for sure I was coming down with something but after sleeping all afternoon, I felt much better.  I think I slept off the effects of the smoke and stress.  I downloaded and organized all my photos from the week, then it was back to bed for a good night's sleep.

If my hair wasn't already grey, I'm sure it would be after this experience.  But I learned alot about myself and others.  Some good, some not so much.  I do know that I can no longer take the constant bombardment from TV, so we will not be getting a satellite dish.  Wouldn't get our money's worth.  I know that even though I seem calm, my eruption level is very low.  And you don't want to be around me when it happens. . .  I have absolutely no tolerance for stupidity or arrogance and I let it be known.  JB is much more calm on the outside, and I become a complete ditz.

I am so very gratefull to friends and family for all their support.  I know it was all their prayers that got us through this.

Thought for the day:  Everyone has his burden.  What counts is how you carry it.  Merle Miller

Sept 17, 2012 Back Home . . . for now

We moved back home Sunday morning.  Simply couldn't afford staying in town any longer, either monetarily or emotionally.  It was fairly clear when we arrived, but we are socked in this morning.

Saturday afternoon we cleaned out the freezer.  Everything had defrosted but was still icy cold, so I spent the afternoon cooking it all at Elsie's.  She put it all in her freezer and refridgerator, then I picked it up Sunday afternoon and restocked our freezer.  When I was done cooking, I called RJ to see if he wanted to come to dinner with us Down There.  He was thrilled to get out and we had a scrumptuous, free dinner at McGlinn's.  Just what we all needed.  Don't think I mentioned that they were giving free dinners to evacuees. 

Wenatchee was holding their annual Harvest Festival over the weekend and that included a dog show.  Guess where they were staying.  Yep, I think every show dog was at Motel 6!  Oh, that was fun. . .

So good to be home, smoke or no smoke.  We are at the far east end of our canyon and the fire is at the south and west end.  And we know three different ways to evacuate in three different directions.  Elsie called last night to tell us that the fire boss said things didn't go the way they wanted yesterday, but the lines seem to be holding.  So we set the alarm for 2:30 am and JB got to to go look around.  The only thing he could see were a couple small hot spots high up on one slope where they had back burned.  We are keeping our get-away packs in the cars, just in case.

A few things I could get used to from our week Down There.  All the water  we wanted, when we wanted.  Clean sheets every night.  A latte every morning.  (I splurged on nectar of the gods to help keep my spirits up . . . of course a glass of spirits in the evening helped too. . .)

Thought for the day:  Life isn't about staying out of the storm.  It's about learning to dance in the rain. 

Sept 14, 2012 Still Burning

And the story continues. . .  Fire crews are concentrating on keeping the fires out of the three canyons around us.  The Governor has declared a state of emergency, so we will be getting help from the National Guard beginning today.  The problem is being able to see the fire through all the smoke.  A lot of people who have to be outside are wearing different types of respirators, and the rest of the residents are just staying inside.  The air quality has hit bottom.

Meanwhile I am still working at Elsie's shop and JB is spending the days with Larry and RJ who got up to his place on Monday.  He is working on clearing brush and grass even further away than he already had.  The dogs are thrilled to be able to spend the days on the mountain.  Sounds like today will be the turning point for the fire.  Either they get is somewhat controlled or it's going to be a while.

I know that everyone's Guardian Angels are working hard.  Still no houses lost and no one injured.  Friends of Elsie's and Larry's are constantly calling or coming in to offer help.  Our friends and family are calling and e-mailing to offer support and prayers.  And thank you so much to my Readers for your thoughts and prayers.  It's going to be okay.

Thought for the day:  Sometimes you're the windshield.  Sometimes you're the bug. 

Sept 12, 2012 Wenatchee Canyons Fire

Am blogging from Elsie's shop this morning.  There came a moment yesterday when I realized - I mean really knew - that there is absolutely nothing I can do about our situation except trust in the Universe.  This must be similar to what it is like to be blind.  In actuality, we never know from one moment to the next what our future holds, but now, in our situation, that has really been driven home.  And it is emotionally taxing. . .  Okay, so much for whining.  We are safe.  Our dogs are safe (although they are not too impressed with the motel room).  We have most of our valuables.  Elsie and I spend the day together trying to keep upbeat (she seems better at it than I am), and we are busy.  JB is helping Larry again today and then will go up to our place to use the weedeater around the solar panels.  I drove up last night to get some more dog food and a couple other things.  The dogs were with JB all day and had a great time exploring Larry and Elsie's place.  Jesse discovered their ponds and went right in.  Needless to say, both dogs hit their beds after dinner and didn't budge til about 7:00 this morning.  As a matter of fact, neither did we.

Three of the fires around us merged Monday night, and by noon yesterday, our canyon became a Level 3 Evacuation Level, which means "Leave Now," but if you can produce photo ID that proves you live up there, you can go in.  The fire is 0% contained, but there are many men and several bulldozers Up There, and a friend with a nearby ranch has used his dozer to create a fire line around ours and another house.  As I said, it is simply time to trust, and any prayers will be much appreciated.

We have all agreed that when this is over, we are going to have one big party.  And in twenty years we will still be talking about this experience and that party. . .

Thought for the day:  Once again - The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want nor fear.   David (Cliff Notes version) 

 

Sept 10, 2012 Evacuation!

Am writing from the Motel 6 in downtown Wenatchee this morning.  The five-hour electrical storm we had Saturday night not only lit up the sky, but also the woods.  When it was finally over, there were 8-9 fires in our vicinity.  At 7:00 am some of them could only be seen with binoculars, but by 11:00 am smoke was filling the air and flames could be seen in the distance.  JB arrived in the canyon about 1:30, and the dogs and I met him just above Larry and Elsie's with the car packed.  I unloaded everything in Elsie's basement, then drove JB back up to get his Jeep and whatever else we could get.  Funny, the things you grab at the last minute.  A small painting, two photo albums, two handmade quilts (one made by JB's Mom and one by my Aunt Nene), my "Down There" winter coat, Buttershots schnapps, M&M's . . .  Fortunately, I had all the essentials packed up Saturday night.

When we left, everyone above Larry and Elsie's was leaving.  Those with weekend homes were up and getting what they could.  One of the guys was in the process of getting his trailer out when he got a call from his wife that they had to evacuate their home two canyons over.  Larry helped us unload the truck full of wood, and we took the truck back to the rental place, then we drove back to get JB's Jeep.  A few friends had come from town to help Larry and Elsie, so we got our things and headed to the motel.  By then it was about 6:30 pm, and the sun was blood red through the smoke.  We had dinner and were finally in bed by 9:30.  Unable to sleep.

It's hard to tell just what is going on with the fire this morning from where we are.  JB left to go take care of the paperwork at the rental office and will be able to see much better from over there by the airport.  When he gets back, we will drive up to Larry and Elsie's.  Trusting in the Universe, I am sure our place and theirs are okay. . .

Thought for the day:  Don't mess with Mother Nature.      

Sept 7, 2012 I Feel Like a Country Song

Forest treasures

I feel like our life has turned into a country song.  Diagnosed with shingles on Tuesday.  Wednesday JB determined that the splitter is frozen and we don’t know if we can fix it.  Don’t want to think what the cost will be to have it fixed.  AND - it looks like our well has run dry. Our cistern has about 300 to 400 gallons in it.  We will try to pump again on Monday, but there has been no water since last Monday which we discovered when we tried to pump water into the cistern on Wednesday.  Have to have a new well dug?  Maybe one of those financial institutions that got bailed out will bail us out now. . . Oh, yeah, and yesterday we saw our first yellow jacket inside the house.  That’s more than a month early.  The good news is that our potatoes have grown about as big as they are going to get, so we will be harvesting all of them soon ‘cause we sure won’t be watering them.

We drove down to visit Larry and Elsie Wednesday evening, and ended up staying longer than planned so the guys could play darts. Elsie sent us home with onions, carrots and celery from her garden, and peaches, pears and apples from a friend’s orchard. Thank God for good friends.

JB went Down There yesterday to get a filter and hydraulic fluid for the splitter. Still trying to get it fixed. This morning I will get him to the airport at 10:00 am for his 11:00am flight to Seattle. He will be back Sunday with a truck full of wood, that we may end up splitting by hand.

At this point all we can do is trust in God to work it out.  As someone who likes to be in control, it has always been hard for me to put my complete trust in anyone, even though there have been so many instances in my life where it has been obvious that a higher power is in control.  Watching over us. Protecting us.  Guiding us.  Providing for us.  Loving us.

Thought for the day: The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want nor fear. David (in Cliff Notes form)

Sept 5, 2012 Dogs in Hot Cars

Deer Monday morning

Mother Nature loves to make liars out of us mortals.  Just after I posted on Monday morning, I bundled up and left for Larry and Elsie's.  On my way back, a buck bounded out a few yards in front of me and continued up the road a ways.  He actually bounded.  Wasn't riding a pogo stick like so many others we have seen.  He finally got off the road and up under a tree, then stopped to look at me.  I stopped to look at him, and took a few photos.  Okay, so maybe Larry isn't the only one who sees big game while riding a four-wheeler. . .  So cool!

Larry and Elsie have had a problem with the turkeys not only eating their blue berries, but also getting into their apple tree.  A couple of them will fly into the tree, knocking down the apples for everyone else.  When I arrived Sunday morning, it was obvious that they had been there doing just that.  Pecked apples all over the ground.  However, when I got there Sunday afternoon, all the apples were gone.  I guess a bear(s) had finished reaping their harvest.

I was able to get a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and, yes, I have shingles but they are almost healed up.  Not to say they still aren't painful, but ibuprofen takes care of that.  The doctor gave me a prescription for a vaccination which I will get on Friday when I take JB to the airport.  She didn't seem too concerned, so I won't be either.  I go in for my yearly checkup in October.

I really do not like going Down There on hot days, and not just because of the heat.  I did some grocery shopping and when I returned to my car on my last stop, the car parked next to me had a black lab in it.  The windows were rolled down so he could stick his head out, but it was at least 80 degrees outside.  I sat there for 15 minutes wanting to be sure he was okay, and was actually calling Animal Control when the owner came back.  I told him it was way too hot to leave his dog in the car and the conversation went downhill from there.  Since he was back and the dog would be okay, I decided to leave before I got arrested for assault and battery.

Thought for the day (someone else's as mine would not be fit to print):  The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.  Alfred North Whitehead 

Sept 3, 2012 Babysitting



Cutting down trees



Not a good year for carrots!




















Ahhh, September. Orange has become the dominant color on much of the forest floor. Fire weed has begun to change to its brilliant Autumn red. And morning temperatures are usually in the high 30's or low 40's. It feels good, but I wonder where the summer went.

I was going to clean the chimney on Saturday, but we got a late start and by the time we sprayed the three wasp nests that were being built in the eaves near where I had to climb up on the roof, it was just too hot. Will try again on Tuesday.

Saturday evening Jesse came in the house smelling of skunk. He was smart enough this time not to get too close, but he was certainly in the near proximity. So it was bath time for him, which is definitely not his favorite activity, nor mine as I usually end up spraying myself, even with JB's help. This morning there is only the occasional hint of skunk about him, but I think that is from his collar. It should be gone in a few days.

I am taking care of Larry and Elsie’s place while they are gone for a long weekend at the lake. Sunday morning’s temperature was 42 when I left at 8:15 to drive down, so I layered on the clothes. I saw rabbits, chipmunks and grouse on my way down and back up. Larry is the one who sees the big game - deer, elk and bear - when he is out on his four-wheeler. I think his aura calls to them. When I am on Elsie’s four-wheeler, my aura just screams, "Woo Hoo! Having fun now!"

When I returned, JB had the German pancakes ready to go into the oven. Yummm. We spent the rest of the day cutting down four trees that were in and around the woodshed. JB cuts them down. I trim the branches, then we carry the tree to the pile near the splitter. I use the wheelbarrow to haul all the branches to the chipper pile.

I have a nagging feeling that those "bites" on my side are actually shingles. Guess I better make an appointment to see the doctor this week.

When I wrote of our Grandparents’ propensity for nipping at the bottle, my Aunt Nene sent me an e-mail saying that my Grandpa Herb (her Father) would always have a bottle of Tequila with the worm in it and would offer a swig to guests.  He spent a couple of years working on a ranch in Mexico and developed quite a relationship with those worms. . .

Thought for the day: Every man desires to live long, but no man would be old. Jonathan Swift.