May 26, 2014 Home Again

Paintbrush blooming in May
instead of June.

Bitter brush blooming on the
south ridge and slope.

Friday 5/23.  A very warm early morning, 63 and overcast.  I was able to leave for Down There at 8:15 am.  Got all my errands and shopping done quickly and was home by 1:00 pm.  Put everything away and then relaxed on the porch, picturing JB there with me tomorrow.

Saturday 5/24.  It was 50 and clear with a breeze this morning.  I have switched back to watering the garden in the evening, so no more doing it in my pajamas.  There is lots to do today to be ready for JB's return, but first, sit on the porch with my coffee.  Doing so, I was greeted with sweet, heavy scent in the air.  I knew right away it was from the bitter brush bursting into bloom on the south slope.

Randy called and we had a nice chat.  JB also called at various points along his journey.

Dishes, laundry, cleaning, vacuuming, morning walk, baking.  Busy, busy, busy.  JB was home at 3:30 pm, having stopped by his brother's winery on his way back.  Then he had a couple errands in town.  So very good to have him back.

Sunday 5/25. This morning began overcast and 48, but the clouds cleared by mid afternoon.  I didn't let my decision to get up at 7:30 am from now on keep me from sleeping in til 8:15 am.  I was actually up before JB.  It was a slow and lazy Sunday morning.  No sitting out on the porch first thing, but rather inside devouring the human side of life in magazines and newspapers.  Not the most inspiring lot, but entertaining enough.  I know Mother Nature is out there and she knows I know, but JB is back and we enjoy being together, even if it is often just being in the same room, engrossed in our individual readings.

The dogs are also thrilled that he is home again.  After fixing a Sunday brunch of eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon, he took them for their morning walk a bit late.  Then we all sat on the porch for a little while.

Yesterday was a beautiful beginning to the holiday weekend and JB saw lots of white water rafts on the Wenatchee River.  Even though I am not a water person, I have rafted the river and it is quite exhilarating, and wet.

While shopping on Friday, I made a tentative foray back into the world of rice cakes, and got hooked.  These are not the dry, cardboard snack they once were. . .

JB spent a few hours fixing the electrical problem and discovered it was a failed outlet.  He replaced it and we are up and running again.  This means the short-wave radio is working again, and when we talked to Larry this evening, he said traffic into the canyon began Friday evening.  There is one large family who usually comes over for one holiday weekend, and this was obviously it.

Our neighbors from the coast were up in their yurt for the weekend and came to visit for a couple hours this afternoon.  It was so good to see them and we had a lively conversation, as usual.  While on his morning walk, JB saw four cars lined up at the gate to come in.  Always a busy time in the canyon on a holiday.

Monday 5/26.  It is a cool 47 this morning with a mostly clear sky.  Hoping to get a start on all the mowing that needs to get done.

Thought for the day: Responses to an article on the new "tiny home" movement in the Tacoma newspaper: "Lots of people live in tiny spaces.  It's called poverty." "A lot of people live in big houses they can't afford.  It's called debt."