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.