Feb 4, 2013 Happy 38th, Son!



Dinga digging for a critter she hears
under the snow.



Finally, a deer on the game cam!

 


Friday was sunny with a high of 38.  Looks like all the predicted snow and low temps stayed in the mountains, never getting this far east.  With the very little snow we received in January, we could really use some more.

Two golden eagles soared low over the north ridge on our afternoon walk a few days ago.  So beautiful, and regal  On JB's morning walk Friday, Jesse spooked some coyotes who were down the south slope of our south ridge.  He was barking and they started howling.  Dinga played velcro dog with JB as they both stood on a stump, but he couldn't see the coyotes, and Jesse came when called.  He heard them again on Sunday morning, but they were much further east.  I know that family and friends are concerned about the coyotes being in our area, but I would much rather face a pack of them than rush hour traffic on the freeway.

Saturday was sunny and breezy with a high of 40.  The snow is melting in the grove and and ground is beginning to appear.  The south slope down from our south ridge has lost more than half of its cover of white, and that made it easy to hike down looking for our boundary marker.  No luck though.  Will have to ask our neighbor as he says he knows where it is.  The snow may be almost gone from the slope, but up on the ridge if we get off the path, we sink down almost to our knees!

After that hike we cut four openings between fence posts in the barbed wire fence that stretches across the ridge.  JB dragged all the wire down to an old trailer in which we will store it until we can take it down to the garbage dump.

No water from the well so we will try again today. . .

I made a big pot of chicken stew and used the last of the onions and potatoes from our garden.  I had been storing them in a paper bag in our nice cool bedroom to see how long they would last.  They were still in great shape, but I decided to use them anyway.

Since the coyotes have been so active lately and closer than usual, we decided to take the dogs on on leashes for their last trip outside for the night.  And since we had to get all bundled up anyway, we hiked up to the south ridge.  It was a clear night and the stars were . . . almost overwhelming.

Sunday was overcast with a high of only 32.  A dreary, lazy day.  I read a book.  Took a long nap.  JB was a bit more active and took the dogs on an extra hike after lunch, then we all hiked down to the game cam for our afternoon walk to put the card back in.  JB's Sunday morning walk is to go down and get the card.  This week we finally captured a deer on the camera, and also JB and me going down and back up in MAX.

The snow is now too soft on the paths for the firewood sled to slide down by itself, so I have to pull it all the way.  It may not slide by itself, but then neither will it run away by itself.

Since I'll be on the other side of the mountains for the first time in almost two years, I am going to take a day on the way back to visit some family and a friend.  Guess I better start making plans with them.  Some people actually have busy schedules, unlike those of use Up Here. . .

Thought for the day:  If country life be healthy to the body, it is no less so to the mind.  Ruffini