April 30, 2014 Bella & Lucy

Shooting stars, who love the sun
on the south ridge.

Monday 4/28. I was up at 5:50 am to let the dogs out and decided to stay up.  I was out on the porch with my coffee at 7:30 am and the temperature had only warmed up to 32 by then.  Still a bit chilly.  JB got to sleep in this morning.

Looks like we may have put the tomato plant outside too soon, from Siberia or not.  I covered it again, but it has definitely bit the dust.  The pepper plants, however, seem to be doing very well.

I hung the laundry outside but almost froze my fingers off.  It was 44 in the sun and I was in the shade.  The afternoon was much warmer and our high for the day was 53.

After lunch I drove Miss Kitty half-way down the driveway and filled her up with another load of wood.  I now have 1-1/2 rows of kindling.

We drove down to Larry and Elsie's a little after dinner.  Elsie gave me the instructional tour of what to do while house sitting.  They have a new chicken, Bella, given to them from a friend who couldn't keep her any more.  She is very friendly but a couple of the other chickens still pick on her, so she gets special attention.  Their six "new" chicks are no longer babies, almost half the size of the adults now, but still in their own cage right next to the big one.  Bella does have a friend in Lucy, a Rhode Island Red.  When Bella is put up on the roosting ledge in the evening, Lucy will come over and sit next to her.  It is so cute to see.  

After the instructions, we only had time for two games of marbles, which were pretty wild and very close.  The women prevailed on the first game.  The second game came down to whoever rolled a "one" first.  And, again, JB was able to do that, so the men took the second game.  We will have the rubber game in a couple weeks.

It was a great evening, but we didn't get to bed til almost midnight.

Tuesday, 4/29.  Today was a glorious Spring day!  It began with clear skies and a temperature of 36, with a high for the day of 56.  The forecast for tomorrow is 77 for Down There.  Should be a very nice weekend.  I have decided to stay at Larry and Elsie's house all the time for the four days and JB will come down for an evening or two, especially if there are any hockey games on TV.  It will be like a mini vacation for me.

I drove Miss Kitty down the driveway again this morning while JB planted some of the potatoes.  I filled up her bed with wood, then stacked it all after lunch.  I went down for a second load and brought back a lot of pieces for the wood cradle.  Then I helped JB plant potatoes - reds and Yukons.  A lot of reds and Yukons.  I still had a basket with a few reds from last year that were trying to grow, so we planted four of those just to see how they would do.

JB will be going Down There tomorrow for his annual cardio check up.  And, of course, the list of errands for him to do just keeps getting longer.  After all, I do need some ice cream to take with me for the weekend. . .

The dogs and I went for a nice, lazy walk after dinner.  A cool breeze had sprung up over the south ridge, but my bench on the north ridge was in the sun with just a light breeze.  The perfect end to a perfect day.

Wednesday 4/30.  This morning is 43 and clear.  The end of April already.  My, that was fast.  I will be posting on Friday but then not again until Tuesday as there is no internet reception at Larry and Elsie's.

Thought for the day:  Guard your own spare moments.  They are like uncut diamonds.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

April 28, 2014 Spring Planting

Our first bluebell, growing near
the garden.

Looking up from the south slope to Jesse and a
balsam root bloom on the ridge.

Friday 4/25. When I was Down There yesterday, I stopped in to visit Larry and Elsie.  They have to go out of town next weekend and asked if I could house-dog-cat-chicken sit.  Of course I said Yes!  It will be the first time I have stayed at their house, so it will be quite an adventure.  Plus, they have TV. . .

I finally finished all the papers JB brought back for me.  Twelve days of the Seattle Times.  I did ask for them but got rather overwhelmed with all the news, mostly grim.  I mainly like them for the comics and crosswords.  Now I have all the "homesteading" magazines to read.

Did the laundry but hung it inside as the clouds were getting darker.  We had about a ten-minute snow shower at noon and then the sun was out off and on.

We planted four rows of onions: Walla Walla, red, and white.  JB will cut the potato starts and we will plant them in a day or two.  This is much earlier than we have planted before.

On our afternoon walk there was snow falling on the south ridge.  When we arrived back from our walk, it moved down to the house as a short, mixed rain-snow-sleet shower.  The high for the day was 48, but it sure didn't feel that warm.

It was nice to have our Friday-night pizza again.  After which we watched the movie The Rum Diary with Johnny Depp.  Don't know why it got panned.  We sure enjoyed it.

Saturday 4/26.  It was 32 and clear this morning.  34 by the time I got out on the porch with my coffee.  Sitting outside even for a few minutes really gets me energized for the day.

After morning chores, we took a drive in Miss Kitty down to sandstone corner and collected a load of wood on the way back up.  Back home I broke up the pieces and stacked them in the woodshed, while JB planted the leftover onions in some pots we have.  Then we planted the tomato and pepper plants I bought on Thursday.  The tomato is a Black Prince, an heirloom tomato that originated in Siberia.  Thought it might be perfect for Rose Camp.  Then we have one green pepper plant and one red pepper plant.

Our high for the day was 50, but with an icy wind.

Dinga and I went out for a bit after dinner for a short hike, but Jesse stayed inside with JB where it was warm.

JB and I are going down to Larry and Elsie's Monday evening for some marbles and instructions for taking care of their house.

Sunday 4/27.  It was 33, mostly clear, and windy.  According to NOAA, it was snowing at both passes, but temperatures are supposed warm up back to normal in a few days.  Again, it is a very icy wind.  Of course we just planted the peppers that do not like the wind.  Don't know how to shelter them from the wind without sheltering them from the sun.  Fortunately, I covered all three plants last night.  We had frost on the roof this morning.

While JB worked on getting our new computer set up, I drove Miss Kitty down the driveway a ways to start collecting wood from the several piles stacked along it.  Brought up a full load and stacked it in the woodshed.

I wanted to go back outside after a late lunch, but the wind was stronger and even colder.  Sleet cells were passing over and dropping as much as they could.  I did go out to cover the tomato and pepper plants again, which is good because in less that an hour we were in the middle of a snow storm.  And then we weren't.  Oh, that's right - it's Spring!

I think the best part of my visit to the doctor on Thursday was a recipe for vanilla pudding that I copied out of Good Housekeeping.  Am still rather irritated about that whole episode.

When the dogs and I ventured out for our afternoon walk, the wind was not as icy as it had been before the sleet and snow passed through.  While we were up on the south ridge, Dinga disappeared over the side, obviously on the trail of some critter.  Jesse and I continued on, but still no Dinga when we were back at the house.  So back up to the south ridge we went in search of her.  I glimpsed her about 150' down, trying to get a critter out from under a log.  Jesse got a whiff of whatever she was after and ran down to help.  I went back to the house, and they both showed up about 15 minutes later for their dinner, since they hadn't seemed to be able to catch their own. 

After dinner we watched another couple episodes of Homeland, season two.

Monday 4/28. It is 31 and clear this morning.  I hope to get another load of wood up from the driveway today, and JB still has some more issues to deal with on our new computer.  

Randy and Arlene are on their way back to southern California from northern Idaho today.  Godspeed.

Jim, would love to see some of the photos you took of the bridges!

Thought for the day: You must speak straight so that your words might go as sunlight into our hearts.  Cochise

April 25, 2014 He's Back!

A new bloom on the south slope that I don't
believe I have ever seen before.

Wednesday 4/23.  In this morning's posting I made it sound like I was just waiting for the dogs to catch the little critter in the wood pile, but that wasn't it at all.  I knew they would never be able to tear the pile apart and get to it, but it was fun to watch them try.

I washed the dishes, did the laundry and hung it outside.  By that time the clouds had moved in with the breeze, but it didn't look like rain.  The breeze acted like a cool dryer and the sheets were dry before JB arrived home just before 1:30 pm.  Soooo good to have him back!

We unloaded all his things from the Jeep, including goodies from the family and the mail.  I had ordered some Christmas and birthday presents so there were several packages.  The problem with ordering gifts so early is that I often have a hard time waiting to give them.

In my sorting of the loft, I discovered a little book by Robert James Waller entitled Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend.  He is also the author of The Bridges of Madison County, and I had forgotten how much I enjoy his style of writing.

A few days ago, in an evening of high spirits, Larry was unable to pronounce the word "rototiller" and coined the nickname rotilararie.  And so it shall be known as from this day forward.  So when I suggested to JB that we plant the onion and potato starts he had brought home, he moaned about having to till the garden first.  I told him that Larry had already used the rotilararie on it and I am pleased to say that he was very grateful.

Just after I hung up the laundry this morning, I decided it was time to call Randy.  He is the one with whom I have been corresponding by email for several months since he contacted me because of reading my blog for more than a year.  He and his Mother are moving from southern California to the mountains of north central Idaho and are up there for a couple weeks.  We had a lovely chat and he is just as delightful and funny over the phone as he is via email.  I do believe JB and I have two new friends. . .

As much as JB wanted to go for our afternoon walk, it had been a long day for him, so he read the paper while the dogs and I went.  It was obviously snowing in the mountains and on Mission ridge.  But wildflowers were still popping up everywhere Up Here.  Our high for the day was 44.

JB had found the fourth season of Justified for only $12, so we began watching it this evening.

Thursday 4/24.  It was 38 and foggy at 6:00 am after a night of rain, that I am sure JB brought with him.  The dogs went out on the porch, but only Dinga braved the chill.  It was raining again at 8:00 am when I got up to stay, but it stopped at about 9:00 am.

I had finally called my doctor yesterday for a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist.  I have chronic ear pain that is an on-and-off type of annoyance and have been to doctors about it for the past twenty years, but to no avail.  It has been getting worse the past several weeks, so I decided to try a doctor in Wenatchee as my last resort.  I was given an appointment for today at 4:00 pm.  So I left for Down There at 11:30 am to do some shopping first.

The road was a bit dicey in places, but almost completely dried out when I made my way back up at 5:00 pm.  As expected, the doctor had no clue as to was is causing the pain, but he did have a couple suggestions that might help.  I am getting like Larry is with doctors.  He won't go to one because he says they are still just practicing medicine.  As soon as they learn it, he might go.

Everything is so lush at the bottom of the canyon and the rest of the way down.  And not just green, but GREEN!  It was a lovely drive both ways.

JB worked on our new computer for most of the time I was gone.  He found a great deal at Fry's on one with an Intel N3520 processor and a half of a terabyte of memory.  I sound like I know exactly what that means, but all I understand is that it was a great deal and so very much better than the ones  we have.

After dinner we started watching the second season of Homeland, which JB also brought back.

Friday 4/25.  It is 34 and mostly cloudy this morning.  I have lots of Seattle Times papers to read yet and several magazines, so I am going to have a lovely, relaxing morning.

Thought for the day: The truth is always the strongest argument. Frederick the Great

April 23, 2014 Dogs & Tales

The dogs after a critter in the wood cradle.

Monday 4/21. While I was sitting on the porch this morning, Dinga discovered a little critter in the wood cradle.  Jesse soon joined her and they were doing their very best to tear it apart.  Dinga gets not just focused, but obsessed, clamping on to the logs and trying to pull them out.  I often yell at her not to tear such piles apart, but this could easily be redone so I didn't this time.  Jesse, however, kept looking at me and twice ran back to the porch as if asking if it was really okay for them to be doing this.  He lost interest after about 20 minutes, but Dinga kept at it for quite a while, never catching whatever squirrel or chipmunk was in there.

Meanwhile, I just sat on the porch, enjoying the show and writing.  I feel as though I could sit there and write for hours each day.  Too bad I actually have to work in order to live Up Here. . .

Our "resident" butterflies have been here for a few weeks, even before the snow was all gone.  They have chestnut brown wings with a light tan outline.  I really do need to get a book with which I can identify them and the others that we see Up Here.

Our wildflowers are multiplying each day.  On our morning walk, I could see bright yellow bouquets of balsam root dotting the south slope.  More such plants are sprouting all along the south ridge and will soon be blooming also.  Lupine is sprouting along the north ridge in all the old familiar places, each one a promise of beautiful lavender blooms.  As is the case with most wonderful events, anticipation is half the fun.

After doing the laundry and eating lunch, I cooked a pot of chicken stew for the dogs and baked some chicken for myself.  Then I took a nap.

The sky had mostly cleared when I woke up 1-1/2 hours later, just in time for the dogs' afternoon walk.  Now there are almost as many western spring beauties as there is grass.

I went out again after an early dinner to cut down a couple small trees that were crowding others on both the south and north ridges.  I also tossed a lot of the rocks out of the garden that Larry had dug up with the tiller.  Then the dogs and I just walked around a bit enjoying the views. 

As often on his visits, Larry was talking about some of his boyhood adventures when he was Up Here on Sunday.  He has some incredible stories to tell about growing up in the Wenatchee area.  He spent most of his free time out in the woods backpacking and camping, and driving the back roads when he was old enough.  There are lots of those dirt roads in our area that go on for miles and they are accessible from where we live.  Am looking forward to exploring them with Miss Kitty.

I spent a lot of time camping in the summers up through grade school with my parents, then at church camps as I grew older.  But there was a big change in my life when I was about twelve years old.  Within less than a span of two years I was presented with a baby brother, both my Grandmothers and a Grandfather passed away, my parents were divorced and we moved to a new town.  And that was when I decided that I never wanted to be too happy because it would be so much worse when things went wrong, as I knew they would.  

It has taken most of the rest of my life to learn that I should give thanks in all things.  Which is not to say that I am always, or even often, successful in this, but I am no longer wary of being happy.  And upon that note, I realize that my blog is not simply the tale of our adapting to and living off the grid, but has indeed become an autobiography of sorts.

And speaking of living Up Here, since the snow is all gone and the chipmunks are about, it is time to close the gate on the woodshed so Dinga doesn't get in there and start tearing it apart looking for the little critters.

And, of course, I couldn't let a day go by without mentioning Downton Abby.  When talking to Sandy on the phone the other day, she commented that on my blog I am beginning to sound like a woman obsessed.  I suppose I have been lately, but it is such a refreshing change to the other series we watch that can be so violent and harsh.  Which is not to say that I don't like action-packed films, but the historical and verbal action of Downton Abby is just as entertaining for me.

In watching movies and TV series, I am often impressed by the actors' lines and think, "Wouldn't it be nice if someone clever could write mine!"  One of my all-time favorite lines is from the HBO series Deadwood.  One of the men swears in front of a woman and says, "Pardon my French."  To which she replies, "Oh that's okay.  I speak French."  And, of course, Granny in Downton Abby (played by Maggie Smith) has some of the most incredibly funny, sensitive and clever lines that only she could deliver so effectively.

Back to Up Here, rain began falling as I was getting ready for bed and 9:30 pm.  A gentle, fresh rain.

Tuesday 4/22.  It was 37 and lightly raining at 6:00 am when the dogs wanted out.  After lighting a fire and letting the dogs back in, I was back to bed until 8:30 am.  By then the rain had stopped, but the breeze was blowing around a few snowflakes.  They soon disappeared but the wind stayed all day.  The clouds moved on and we had sunshine, but our high was only 45.  Didn't figure out the wind chill factor with that biting wind, but if I had, with the wind speed in the mid teens, I probably would not have gone outside at all.

I washed my delicates in my hand washer, then put them in the big washer for a rinse and spin.  Of course with my life Up Here the only delicates I really have are camisoles, some of my long underwear, and a few bras.  Then there are a few slips for special events, but never again stockings.  I haven't worn them in years.

I cut up a pile of branches and stacked them in the shed, then brought in the firewood.  It was really too windy to be outside, but we did take both our daily walks.  I did some reading, some sudoku, and baked our favorite banana coffee cake.  JB will be home tomorrow, thank goodness.

Wednesday 4/23. It is 35 with a blue sky and clouds around the horizon.  JB plans to leave the winery at about 8:30 this morning and take Highway 2 home across Stevens Pass.  It snowed there a few days ago, so it may be slow going.  It will be so good to have him home again!

Thought for the day:  As much of heaven is visible as we have eyes to see. William Winter.

April 21, 2014 Easter

Dinga enjoying a last bit of snow on our road.

Delicate spring beauties with their
tiny purple stripes.

Friday 4/18. With the temperature down to freezing, there was quite a thick layer of ice on the dogs' water and bird bath this morning.

At 8:00 am, having been up much earlier to light the fire and let the dogs out, I was lying in bed and enjoying being lazy when the dogs started barking.  I got up and discovered that our coastie neighbor's dog was back for a visit.  If the dogs don't come out when he arrives, he will give a few barks to let us know he is here.  He is obviously so delighted when they do come out to play.

I fixed my coffee and took it out to the porch.  I love watching the birds, and when I think of them as tiny, flying dinosaur-descendants, it makes them even more fascinating.  The rows of wood on the porch are dwindling now, so sitting on the porch, I can see to all sides, instead of just straight ahead to the east.  I can easily watch the birds at their bath - bathing in and drinking the water.  Something their digestive systems can withstand, but certainly not mine!

I spent a lot of time sitting on the porch this morning, in and out of the house a few times.  And as I was there, Jesse came up and gave me the "Jesse mind meld."  I looked at the clock and, sure enough, it was time for our morning walk.  I wasn't dressed but had my capote on over my dressing gown, which was over my pajamas.  So I just put on my boots and off we went.  My capote is from our rendezvousing days and is a long coat with a hood made out of an Early's Witney 4-point blanket which is 100% wool and made in England.  Warm enough to keep out the coldest wind.

The problem I often have with sudoku is looking but not seeing a number and that causes me to make mistakes.  Kind of like life, I guess.  I often look but do not see.  Some things have to be believed to be seen.  Simple things, like the goodness in others.  That God-spark that is within all of us.  I tend to be lazy in that aspect and think that each person's goodness should be right out where I can see it.  Sadly, I often don't want to have to exert myself and go digging.

I know that certain closets, including mine, tend to shrink clothes that are hung in them for too long, but now it seems to be making either the buttons larger or the button holes smaller.  I was talking to my son about this concept and he said something to do with cookies and chocolate, but I really did not understand what he was talking about.  

After our walk I washed the dishes, did the dishes and hung it up outside.  With JB gone, I only wash the dishes on days I do the laundry, as there are not that many and I have to have the water on for a while anyway.

I have this great idea for making pine-cone flowers.  Well, at least I will find out how great it is when I actually start trying to make them.

After lunch the dogs and I took a walk down the driveway and I realized that I could drive Miss Kitty down and get a load of wood from the jumble at the foot of our driveway.  So that is exactly what I did.  I took the large pieces to the cutting cradle, then broke up the smaller ones and stacked them in the woodshed.  By then it was time for our afternoon walk, but since the dogs had walked down and back up the drive twice today, we only took half a walk.

I took the laundry down after our walk, but I had washed jeans and they were not quite dry.  So I hung them up inside the house.  I really need to get them hung out much earlier, especially on a day when our high was only 46.  By the time I brought them in, the sky was mostly overcast with the sun breaking through occasionally.  But by sunset, the sky was as clear as it had been in the morning.  That seems to happen a lot Up Here.

I finished watching season four of Downton Abby, but I'm sure there must be some special features from some of the seasons that I haven't watched yet.

Saturday 4/19.  It was 32 again this morning with thin, high clouds drifting slowly to the northeast.  The dogs water had no ice on it, but the bird bath did.  I was up at 6:00 am.  Fixed a poor-man's mocha (a packet of cocoa, a heaping teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa, a heaping teaspoon of instant coffee, and a dollop of milk).  And took it out on the porch to enjoy.

I listened to a conversation between two birds, one in our grove and one towards the south ridge.  They went back and forth with different sounds and intonations, and was simply fascinating.  Don't think I have noticed anything quite like it before, especially because of all the different tones and length of "tweets".  Just wish I had an interpreter, as their meaning was just out of my grasp.

It seems that our landscape has gone from white to brown to green so quickly this year.  Just a few weeks ago I was breaking up ice in our yard, and now I am pulling weeds.

Dinga was in a wild mood this morning.  While I was sitting on the porch, she came up to me with a wild, let's-play look in her eyes.  That consists of me acting as if I am going to grab her and her running away, darting about the yard and sometimes running completely around the house.  I don't have to move much, just make like I am going to go after her.  Even Jesse has caught on to the game.  She does all the running and he simply has to dart and pounce a bit.

I tackled my side of our bedroom closet before lunch.  I tend to just stuff things in there to get them out of the way, but then they seem to stay there.  Now I can actually see the floor.

At 1:00 pm the sky was clear to the west and north and the sun was shining.  I thought it would be a good time to drive Miss Kitty down the road for another load of wood.  I went down to the rope gate, but by the time I had a small load, the clouds had moved in.  There was no more sun and no blue sky.  In fact I could see rain moving our way from the west.  I finished filling Miss Kitty's bed with wood and drove back home.  I just wanted to yell at Mother Nature, "Oh, for Heaven's sake!  Make up your mind!"  Wouldn't have done any good, I am sure.

I had a great conversation with Sandy, mostly about Downton Abby.  We both have the same thoughts about what we think is going to happen next season and the same opinions about what has already happened.  When we were done, I went in and brewed myself a big cup of Earl Grey tea.

I could hear loud gunfire in the canyon this afternoon, which even made Dinga nervous.  Neither of the dogs strayed more than a couple feet from me on our afternoon walk.  Well, this is redneck territory, so I am sure that a lot of the guys around here thought, "Hey, it's Easter weekend.  Let's go shooting."  I guess that's one way to celebrate.

That got me to thinking about living in a place where guns are a part of everyday life.  I have become so used to the sounds of gunfire that I don't give it much of a thought, other than, "Oh, I wonder who that is?", and try to figure out where the sound is coming from.

During my evening chat with Larry and Elsie, Larry said they would be up tomorrow afternoon with "Easter" eggs and the rototiller.  He is all done tilling their garden and now he said he would till ours.  Says it will only take him about and hour and a half as ours is so small, and anyway JB isn't here to say, "No! We can do it."

The wind blew a rain cell through at about 8:00 pm, but by 9:00 pm the stars were out.  I went to bed at 10:00 pm with the wind howling, but within just a few minutes there was suddenly a very loud silence and the wind had completely disappeared.

Easter Sunday 4/20.  It was 33 and clear, with a light wind this morning.  Whatever one's beliefs, this is a day to celebrate renewed and forever life, from Spring itself to infinite possibilities.  I awoke at 5:00 am with the dogs wanting to go out.  The moon still out and riding high.  It too seemed to be in joyous celebration as it reflected the golden light of the new day.

But it was just too early to stay up, so I went back to bed for a couple hours until the phone range at 7:30 am.  It was my son calling to wish me a happy Easter, while he was getting ready to go to church.  How nice!

Took my coffee out on the porch again.  Just had too, even though it was cold and breezy.  The birds don't seem to care, so why should I?  I always take my pen and notepad with me, but this morning my pen was rebelling against the chill.

As the wood piles on the porch shrink, I am thinking how to arrange everything.  I love to nest, and this is really the only place I can re-arrange.  We are definitely going to take the washer and (unused) dryer that are sitting there Down There and donate them to Habitat for Humanity.  Should have done that last summer, but lots of "should have's" didn't get done last summer, just the "must do's".

Years ago I read in a holy scripture, "Man is that he might have Joy."  If this isn't a joyous time, then I don't know what is.  So today I am going to be especially Joyous.

The dogs wanted in while I was eating breakfast and both seemed a bit spooked.  They both lay down on the floor near my chair.  I hadn't heard any gunfire, so there must have been a furry, four-footed critter of some sort out there - bear or cougar?

After breakfast I had some M&M's, after all, it is Easter.  And I take much Joy in chocolate. . .

Then I cleaned up the house and vacuumed.

People have commented to me that they think I am a natural-born writer.  But I think that is only because I communicate better when I have time to think about my words.  What I am "natural born" is really a scatter-brained klutz.  I am sure that one of my Mother's most-used expressions while I was growing up was, "Rose, pick up your feet!"  That would still apply today, were she here.  And I am personally acquainted with every door jamb in every house I have ever lived in.  I am sure much of that comes from lack of focus on what I am doing, thus the scatter-brain.

I started on my idea for pine-cone flowers today.  First I cut the bottoms off of a stack of cones with my large clippers.  Then I pulled the little seeds out of them with a small pair of needle-nosed pliers.  Now I have to figure out how to put a stem on them.  I already have a few ideas on how to decorate them.

One chore I did have to get done before Larry and Elsie arrived was to put the corner post back up in the garden.  The wind keeps blowing it over.  I used the post-hole digger and managed to get it upright again.

While doing that, I noticed that my iris are popping up and two of them have divided.  So I weeded around them and transplanted the two new plants.

A light overcast formed and dissolved a couple times during the day, but by late afternoon the sky was mostly clear.  Our high for the day was 52, but sitting in the sun in my swing, it felt more like 72.

Larry drove up at about 4:30 pm, but Elsie had a migraine and was unable to come.  It did indeed take him about 1-1/2 hours to till the garden and I was so grateful.  We chatted a bit until the setting sun began to cool.  Then he left and I went inside to put in a fire.  I had spent most this glorious day outside, and it felt so good.

Well, it is obvious that with JB gone I have more time to think and write, and tend to get very verbose in my blog.  Am so glad he will be back on Wednesday.  Am going to have him pick up some onion and potato starts on his way back.

Monday 4/21.  It is 39 and overcast this morning.  Rain is forecast for much of the week.  We'll see if it really gets here.

Thought for the day: Thank you, Lord, for this new day.  Thank you for all our blessings and those that are on their way.  W. Rose

April 18, 2014 Finally - April Showers

Easter Eggs!!

Trillium is blooming too.

Wednesday 4/16. My Aunt Nene emailed me a couple weeks ago about coming to visit and bringing a couple friends.  They plan to be here around mid-June for a day.  I was so excited and talked about it so much to JB that I completely forgot to write about it!  Can't wait!

Rain is in the forecast for the end of this week, but with a dry weekend.  If the road is sufficiently dried out, I would like to make a garbage run early next week.  We will have to take two loads down this Spring.  With both trips last year, we had too much for one load and now that extra has grown into another full load.  Not kitchen garbage, but everything else.

About mid-day, before lunch, I decided to walk down the driveway in search of trillium.  I know where they usually bloom each year among the trees.  Just as I was about to give up, I spotted the one in the photo above.  Then I saw several other smaller ones nearby.  They are so pretty.

Coming back up the drive, I heard the deep-throated mating call of the blue grouse.  I finally located him and was able to get a few pictures, until Dinga got too close.  He spread his wings and his tail feathers, then glided from the ridge into a tree.

When I came inside for lunch, I realized that I still needed to wash the dishes and do the laundry.  That never would have happened if JB were at home.  They would have both been done by 10:30 am!  I am simply not on the same schedule that he is. . .

After lunch I split some pitch wood into fire starter size.  When I brought the basket of it into the house its wonderful scent was almost overwhelming.  Certainly better than any man-made air freshener.

Later in the afternoon I was sitting on the porch and got buzzed by our first hummingbird of the year.  Guess it's time to stock up on even more sugar.  Then I saw Dinga acting a little strange and realized she had caught a mouse.  It wasn't quite dead, so I had to do the deed.  I really hate that.  It still almost brings me to tears.

Forgot to mention that when JB's grandnephew was visiting, I showed him the dozen eggs that Elsie had given us.  His face lit up and he exclaimed, "Easter eggs!"  Not quite, but they certainly look like it.  The photo above just didn't capture the blue and teal hues, especially the second one from the top on the right.

When JB called this evening, he said that they just won't be done with the work until Tuesday.  So he will be coming home on Wednesday instead of this Saturday.  I said that was okay but I was going to need a chocolate bribe, it being Easter and all.  Preferably hand made from a specialty shop.

Thursday 4/17.  It was 40 and overcast when I got up at 7:30 am.  NOAA is predicting a 100% chance of rain in the form of a thunder storm.  Upon hearing that, I grabbed a garbage bag and dashed outside to gather some needles for fire starter, as I only have one bag left.  I could smell rain, as I did yesterday on our afternoon walk.  And, speaking of that walk, it looked as if there were three times as many balsam root plants blooming on the south slope as there had been the day before.

And the swallows are back on the south slope.  They nest in the trees there, where there is more sun.  Each year some of them check out the eaves on our house, but obviously find them wanting.  However, they always find room for nests under Larry and Elsie's eaves.

Dinga's mountain snow cone has completely disappeared.  Yesterday there were still a few dots of snow left in some very shaded areas, but I don't see any today.  She is going to be very disappointed.

On our morning walk, the air was heavy with moisture.  It almost smelled as if it had already rained.  And, no wonder, as according to our weather station, the humidity was 78%.  Rain finally moved in slowly about 1:30 pm, a light and gentle rain.  It fell until about 4:00 pm, but there was no thunder.  In anticipation of the "storm", I had swept out our little drainage "canals".  They tend to fill up with loose dirt, needles, fir cones and sticks that all form little dams.  It began raining again at about 7:00 pm, but by 9:00 pm the wind had kicked up and the stars were out.

I spent most of the day doing little things and by dinner time I had actually accomplished a lot that one could actually see.  Even fine-tuned the loft.

And, speaking of Downton Abby, I have found myself being a snob at times throughout my life.  I am sure I got that from my Mother, which will be very surprising to anyone who reads this and knew her.  No one who did know her would ever suspect it, but she was always very gently with her snobbery, much more so than I was.  But then I am sure she learned it from her Mother who was born into a wealthy family, married a very well-off man and lived in London from 1925 until 1942.  I am glad to report that I have left my snobbish ways behind many years ago.

It could have been a dreary day, but it wasn't.  I kept a small fire in the stove and it was quite cozy, and the rain smelled so good.  But by 4:00 pm, it was a little too cozy and I had to open a couple windows.  Our high for the day was 48 outside, and 75 inside.  When I spend the day mostly inside, I never have to worry about getting enough exercise.  Just letting the dogs in and out gives me plenty.

Saw a video on Facebook of the showdown in Nevada.  Wish I could have been there!

I re-watched two episodes of Downton Abby, series four after dinner.  Tomorrow I will finish watching it and be very sad about that, but JB was able to find three different series that we want at very good prices.  So when he returns, we can watch those. 

Friday 4/18.  It is a very nippy and windy 32 this morning.  The wind is tearing off little pieces of clouds that are over the mountains and sending them our way, otherwise the sky is clear.  I will definitely stay inside today if this wind keeps up.  The wind meter shows the gusts to be in the low twenties, but it sure seems stronger.  Actually, the outside part of the station is in a place where the house may block some of the wind, so perhaps it is a little stronger.

Thought for the day: The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants. Albert Camus

April 16, 2014 More & More Flowers

More balsam root on the south slope.

Monday 4/14. I sat out on the porch with my coffee for quite a while this morning, listening to the cacophony of bird song and just being in the moment.

Did the dishes and laundry.  Hung the laundry outside and took the dogs for their morning walk, but by 11:30 am I knew I could no longer put off working in the loft.  I have to look in every box, try to consolidate and make more room.  I took a break about an hour later and, while on the porch getting some firewood, I heard shouting.  From the west ridge it sounded like it was coming from down near RJ's cabin.  I called Elsie and she said that their dogs were barking up a storm, but she couldn't hear anything other than that.  I put the dogs inside the house; grabbed my backpack, gun and gloves; then drove Miss Kitty down to the top of the steep part of the short cut.  Everything was quiet.  But since I was this far, I decided to brave the rest of the short cut and drive to RJ's.  Larry had driven down it the previous night and moved the tree enough to drive around it, so down I went.  A little slippery in a couple places, but I made it just fine.  Still no sight or sound of anyone, so I had a nice drive home the long way.

A light overcast formed mid-morning and our high was 53, but with the sun unable to break through the clouds, it was a chilly 53.

The neighbor's dog came to visit.  Haven't seen him for almost a year as it has been that long since they have come over from the coast.  Jesse won't let him come near me and doesn't like me to talk to our visitor.  Dinga just sits on the porch and lets the boys do their thing.

In watching Downton Abby, it is interesting how it could also be entitled Pride and Prejudice.  But then so could almost any story involving mankind.  Rather a sorry state of affairs.

And speaking of a sorry state of affairs, I have been thinking about people who have government jobs.  What would I do in their shoes if I knew my department was being used in a flagrantly illicit way for the whims of the current administration?  In our economy it is difficult enough to find a job when laid off, but even more so when you quit and cannot collect unemployment.  Would I quit?  Would I just do a poor job?  Or would I try to under mind their agenda?  It would be an extremely difficult situation to be in.

Larry and a friend stopped by in the early evening on their way back from target practice with his friends who own the property to the south of us.  Then I finished the evening by watching the last of season three of Downton Abby and all the special features which were fascinating.  I found myself getting to bed by almost midnight.  I had planned on setting my alarm to get up for the eclipse but realized I had "been there and done" that several times in my life.  Plus clouds had moved in, so that settled it.

Tuesday 4/15.  It was 35, clear and breezy this morning.  Instead of coffee, I made a cup of tea, bundled up, and took it out on the porch.  I ended up taking a late morning nap because of my late night.  It was just too windy to work outside anyway.  After lunch I forced myself back up into the loft and actually finished the chore.  But with all that dust and sweat, I had to shower before even taking the dogs on their afternoon walk.  I mention that because a daily shower is not one of our activities Up Here.  It just uses too much water and is not really necessary.  We do wash up every night though.

On our afternoon walk I could see that yellow bells and prairie stars are popping up all over now.  And more balsam root is blooming on the south slope each day.

In watching Downton Abby, I am reminded that my Mother's oldest brother abhorred the way the King's English has been so Americanized, slaughtered really.  I do enjoy listening to the characters talk as it is very reminiscent of my maternal grandparents.  My Mother was born in 1923 and her family lived in France and Belgium until she was two years old, when they moved to London.  They visited us every couple of years and I loved listening to them talk.

It may seem odd that I love watching the early twentieth-century English way of life which is so very opposite of ours, but I love them both.  I go to bed enthralled by the castle, clothes and language, but wake up in our little cabin in the woods loving our way of life even more.

Wednesday 4/16. It is 39 and overcast this morning with a slight chance of rain in the forecast.  But the breeze has calmed, so I may get outside to work today.

Thought for the day: I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

April 14, 2014 Spring, Views and Cougars

RJ's cabin with its sod roof.

My bench on the south ridge.

Friday 4/11.  Right after breakfast, while the mud on the road was still firm, we drove Miss Kitty down to our turn-off to get my Jeep.  The dogs came with us and had a good run, but on the way back Dinga rode with me in the Jeep and Jesse rode in Miss Kitty with JB.  We picked up the card from the trail cam on the way back up and discovered we had three clips of a rather large cougar at about 3:30 am on April 2.

Still reading the papers and magazine I brought up yesterday.  In Time magazine there is an interesting interview with Barbara Ehrenreich, a professed atheist who has written a book entitled Living With a Wild God.  It is about her "mystical encounters."  Sounds fascinating!

After lunch we took the chains off of Miss Kitty and JB's Jeep.  There will only be mud to be concerned about on the road from now on.  Then JB prepared for his trip tomorrow, loading his Jeep with several of his tools to help with building his brother's wine tasting room.

It was a beautiful day with a few clouds floating over and a high of 56 with a cool breeze.

We finished watching season four of Downton Abby.  So nice to have an ending on a happy note.

Saturday 4/12. It was 37 and clear this morning.  JB was on his way to Seattle a little after 8:00 am, checking his CB and his new radio several times on his way down the mountain.

JB had put one of the benches he built a couple years ago into the back of Miss Kitty for me so I could take it up to the south ridge.  I did that right after breakfast and set it where I could sit and contemplate the Universe or whatever was on my mind or maybe just sit and be.  Then I brought a small load of kindling down with me and stacked it in the shed.

Each and every Spring is such a delight with its green grasses and rainbow of flours.  Just as the first snow of Winter sports a feeling of wonder.  And the raging colors of Autumn gets one's blood flowing.  And the heat of summer puts one in the shade of the porch to just sit and enjoy.  The whole wonder of it all is that these feelings emerge every year with the same fervor, as if it were the first time.

I read an interesting interview with Morgan Freeman (one of my all-time favorite actors) who said that perhaps humans are not the main intelligence in our world, but rather the planet itself.  And if we cause her harm, she will simply get rid of us. . .

After lunch I drove Miss Kitty down the shortcut to RJ's to the first steep incline.  Just not ready to tackle that yet, so I parked her there and walked the rest of the way, about a half mile.  The dogs were thrilled and so was I.  RJ had put in some run-offs that seemed to have done their job perfectly, but could not prevent a large, dead tree from falling across the road.  I cleaned up most of the broken branches, but left the rest to RJ.  His place was even more green than ours.

When we got back home, the dogs with their tongues hanging down, I vacuum sealed and froze the meat I had bought on Thursday.  Read BackWoods Home magazine, which is always a great read.  This issue there is an article on pear trees which covers everything you would need to know, and more.

On our afternoon walk, I discovered some prairie stars.  They are such a pretty and delicate little flower.  Our high for the day was 52, but it felt much warmer when I went out on the deck to sit in the sun for a little while.

I had a nice long chat with Nene, which I always enjoy, and really must do more often.

After dinner I re-watched three episodes of Downton Abbey, then fell into bed feeling very tired in a good way after such an active day.

Sunday 4/13.  I woke up at 4:20 am with my mind churning.  Put in a fire and fixed some cocoa.  Wrote down some thoughts, did some sudoku, and watched the moon set.  Then I went outside on the porch at 5:30 am, wrapped in my dressing gown, a blanket (the temperature was 35) and a hat, to watch the sun come up and listen to the birds awaken.  By 6:00 am I was back inside to warm up and go back to bed for a couple hours.

I was back up at 8:00 am and took my coffee out on the porch.  It looked like it was going to be another beautiful, cloudless day.  These early, dry Spring days are really splendid.  Although a part of me is concerned about the "dry", I am not going to waste time worrying about tomorrow when I have today to enjoy.

It was a great Sunday morning with phone conversations with Sande, JB and Nene again.

When I was at Costco on Thursday, I bought a bag of their salmon and sweet potato dog food.  It has no grains in it.  It is a bit pricier at $34 for 35 lbs, compared to $30 and $34 for 40 lbs, but seems worth the difference.  I will slowly introduce it to the dogs, especially since I have three bags of their other food - 1/4 cup new with 3/4 cup old.

After lunch I drove Miss Kitty down our road about 1/2 mile to thin out the trees growing along the road, as I do every year.  New little seedlings are always springing up and threatening to crowd the larger trees.  I also gathered dry wood and succeeded in filling Miss Kitty's load area.  When back home, I put several large pieces of wood in the cradle for cutting.  The smaller ones I broke or cut, then stacked in the wood shed.

Our high for the day was 52, but a very warm 52.

I closed the day by re-watching four episodes of season three of Downton Abbey, and then, literally, fell into bed and asleep.

Monday 4/14.  It is 37 and clear this morning, with nothing different in the forecast until tomorrow or Wednesday.  Hopefully going to be another busy, productive day.

Thought for the day:  Frequently people think compassion and love are merely sentimental.  No!  They are very demanding.  If you are going to be compassionate, be prepared for action.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu

April 11, 2014 Nothing Sacred

A yellow bell I found on our
Thursday afternoon walk!

Balsam root starting to bloom on
the south slope.

Wednesday 4/9. JB is still working with his new radio, programming in the channels he wants to listen to from the 128 that are available from our location.  Right now he is getting the local and state police, state forest fire information, weather, etc.

Hung the wash outside again.  Very cool, but sunny with a light breeze.

Another day that began with sudoku brain failure.  Very frustrating and very curious.  I kept at it off and on during the day and it finally started coming together.

JB has his radio, and now I need an inside project.  There are lots of outside ones, when Mother Nature allows, which she did today.  I trimmed and cut up several large branches that JB had cut down in January.  We cleared some bushes off the south ridge.  The dogs really get to digging after the moles and such - one of these days they are going to strike gold!

Our son has been helping JB in his search for a new lap top computer to buy since both of ours run on XP.  The support for that ended yesterday.  At least we can get one for under $300 now that everyone wants the tablets instead.

Our high for the day was 51, but with an icy breeze.  Far different from the past few days.  Typical Spring.

The dogs and I went for another after-dinner walk, a little longer one this time.  I discovered some balsam root beginning to bloom on the south slope!

We watched two more episodes of Downton Abby this evening.  We have decided to finish season four before JB leaves, then I can re-watch seasons three and four while he is gone.

Thursday 4/10.  The day began with a partial light overcast and 34 degrees.  I was able to get on the road a little before 9:00 am and it was a delightful ride down the canyon.  Last Thursday when I went Down There only the daffodils and forsythia were blooming in town.  This Thursday EVERYTHING was in bloom - bushes, trees, more flowers!  With our warm temperatures, every plant had sprung back to life.  By the time I was done with my twelve stops, the day had warmed into the high sixties.

I arrived back home around 2:00 pm with lots of groceries to put away.  Our high for the day Up Here was a very warm 55 with no wind chill. 

I have been trying to determine I am so fascinated with Downton Abby and other movies and series of that place and time, and in doing so, I feel a rant coming on.  I realized that in our American culture of today nothing is sacred and nothing is taboo.  So I enjoy going back to a where and when there were rules, and lines that were simply not crossed in public without great consequence.  Many ideals were sacred and many more were taboo.  The lines may not have been fair or kind, but they were something one could rely on.  People took pride in their work and generally worked hard.  Maybe I am beginning to sound like "Granny", but I really am ashamed of how many Americans take so little care of how they look or act in public.  And when did Americans become so thin-skinned?  I am quite sure it all began with the concept of "politically correct" which is the complete opposite of freedom of speech.

I realize that all I can do about this is to watch these shows that I enjoy so much, and try to be the kind of person I admire.  And, of course, continue to exercise my freedom of speech.  

Friday 4/11.  It is again 34 outside this morning, but the sky is clear and a warm day is promised.  We plan to bring my Jeep up to Rose Camp and get JB ready to leave for the week tomorrow.

Thought for the day: A man becomes the song he sings. Pat O'Brien

April 9, 2014 Nice & Warm

Looking southeast from the top of the peak
on Monday - no snow.

Monday 4/7.  I don't remember April being this warm.  Will have to check our records 'cause it seems more like May or June.

I hung the laundry outside again - sheets this time.  It is going to smell so nice when I put them on the bed.  Defrosted the fridge.  Cleaned out the wood stove (long overdue).  Such a warm day that I opened a few windows and the side door.  Our high for the day was 59.

I am going Down There on Thursday to do my after-winter restock.  I will probably always have a little more on hand now with the way things are going.  Especially dog food.  I often let that get down to one 40# bag.  Won't do that any more.

JB had somehow twisted his knee, so he spent most of the day getting to know all about the hand-held HAM radio his nephew had given him (FM instead of AM like our short-wave).  Funny how that knee was acting up today.

After dinner the dogs and I went on a walk.  Jesse was just so excited when he realized what we were doing.  An after-dinner walk - Woo Hoo!!  Just as were were coming back down the south ridge, Larry and Elsie were driving up to the house.  As soon as they got out, Larry took the chains off the tires as he didn't think he would need them any more on our road.  It was kind of odd to see them in the light of day, as all winter it is dark when they come up to visit.

Tuesday 4/8.  It was 47 and mostly clear with a light wind this morning.  The first morning we did not need to put in a fire.

I could not sleep last night, even though I was really tired.  It's been quite a while since that has happened.  When I got up at 8:30 am, and took my coffee out on the porch as it was another magnificent day.  But I was still so sleepy that by 9:30 am, I was back in bed.  Got up again at 11:00 am much more refreshed.  I love being retired. . .

As I suspected, NOAA said that temperatures for the past few days have been 10 to 15 degrees higher than normal.  Our high for today was 63, which is our highest yet this year.  It's a good thing that JB's nephew was here over the weekend, because most of the snow and mud are gone now.  But the sky became overcast by 4:30 pm and at 5:00 pm we had a short rain shower.  

After lunch we drove Miss Kitty down to my Jeep and I brought it up to where our road turns off the main canyon road.  We should be able to bring it all the way home in a week or so.  It was a beautiful day for a ride.

JB is going to Seattle on Saturday for the week to help his brother build a new tasting room for his winery.  He will be back the day before Easter.

Am seeing lots of different kinds of birds about.  Saw our first grosbeaks today.  And I saw a bird that looked like a dull green parakeet.  Don't think we have any wild parakeets around here, although there are plenty in Chicago.

JB baked a cranberry (craisin) pound cake this afternoon and it turned out perfect.  Yum!

Downton Abbey night!  If we didn't schedule it for a specific night, I am sure I would have just watched it all by now.  But I really do want to try to make it last.

Didn't put in a fire this evening as it is still 71 degrees in the house.

Wednesday 4/9.  A very cool temperature of 34 greeted us this morning with mostly overcast skies.  I put in a fire at 5:00 am when the dogs got me up.  At that time the house had cooled down to 64.  Not bad at all.

Thought for the day: Everything you want is on the other side of fear.  Jack Canfield

April 7, 2014 Making Memories

MUD!!

"This is the best day ever!"

Friday 4/4. I hung the laundry outside for the first time this year.  Oh, I love that smell!

We finished taking down the last bit of fence on the west of the south ridge.  There are four strands of barbed wire, so that is quite a bit to wind up as we take it down.  Then we used Miss Kitty to pull out some scrub brush.  What a work horse she is!

The rest of the day I used to clean house.  I thought I was going to have to use my gun instead of the dust cloth on some of the dust bunnies I found while dusting. . .

The clouds floating over us became larger as the day wore on, but the sun managed to shine most of the time.  Our high for the day was 48, with a cool breeze.

Larry and Elsie saw their first bear for the season a few days ago, a little blonde yearling.  And, of course, lots of wild turkeys.

We watched Crazy Heart this evening.  Great movie.  Great music.

Saturday 4/5.  It was 35 with a few clouds this morning.  I finished cleaning house.  Even after having dusted yesterday, it looks like I haven't done it in a week.  I left the vacuuming for this morning.

JB's nephew and his son arrived at Rose Camp at 1:00 pm.  JB met them at the gate and his nephew was able to drive his Jeep up to the turn-off to our road, then JB drove them up in Miss Kitty.  Being a typical six-year-old, our grandnephew grabbed his dump truck and headed for the mud puddles as soon as he jumped out of Miss Kitty.  After lunch, we hiked up and all around the south ridge.  I went inside at 4:00 pm to feed the dogs, but the nephews stayed outside until 5:30 pm when dinner was ready - hot dogs on the grill by JB.

We had a great evening and when our nephew went to put his son to bed, reading books, he fell asleep too.  It was a very good day.

Sunday 4/5.  We all slept in til 8:30 am.  The temperature was 35 with a clear sky.  After a big breakfast, our g-nephew went on the morning walk with JB and the dogs, throwing sticks for Dinga most of the way.  Then it was time to get the tractor out and go for a ride.  As we got up to the south ridge, our g-nephew said, "This is the best day ever!"  I love being an aunt and helping to make memories for the younger generation of our family.

Our g-nephew has a fascination with pine cones, so after lunch his Dad and I went hiking all over the east slope to look for them, and then down around the house.  He ended up taking a large garbage bag full of them when they left at about 2:30 pm.  It was a beautiful, sunny day with a high of 53.  So glad there was still a little snow left for him to play in, along with the mud.

What a great visit!  I really had forgotten about the energy level of six-year-olds, and this particular one seems to have an abundance of it.  It was very quiet Up Here after they left.

JB grilled a couple chicken breasts for dinner and we relaxed with some episodes of Duck Dynasty.

Monday 4/6.  It is 41 and mostly clear this morning, and the birds are welcoming the day with their songs.  We will probably work on taking down more of the fence today. 

Thought for the day: For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 second of potential happiness.  Guideposts reader, Edna Trammell