Sept 29, 2014 Timmberrr!!

Pizza with home-grown tomatoes!

Timber!!!

Friday 9/26.  Put a fire in to get the chill out this morning.  Fog and rain moved in a little after 10:00 am, but both were gone by noon.

JB finally unpacked his go bag as I had done a week or so ago.  So nice to have everything in drawers again.

After lunch we cut another cradle load of wood.  Stacked the larger pieces on the porch, and the rest in the wood shed.

I started reading Vince Flynns series of books, the first one being Term Limits.  Every time I read this book, I think, "If only. . ."

A very warm sun peeked through the cloud cover about 3:00 pm and blue sky began appearing.  Our high for the day was 58. 

Pizza Night!  Tonight, as last Friday night, we made a cheese and sweet onion pizza.  After we baked and cut it, we put on sliced, home-grown tomatoes from Larry and Elsie.  Oh my. . . , regardless of what some of you ex-Chicagoans might think.  Then we watched the last episode of Lonesome Dove.  I think JB needed more kleenex that I did.

Larry and Elsie drove up after Lonesome Dove was over with a new hand-held short-wave radio that Larry just bought.  It is much like JB's, and JB is going to program it for him.

Saturday 9/27.  Today began with 46 degrees and clear skies.  Instead of taking down one of the big, dead trees, we decided to complete our project of cutting up all the branch wood.  There was a lot of large, old, thick and gnarly branches left.  JB cut them into rounds and used the tractor to take them in three loads to the splitter. 

With time still left in the afternoon, we decided to use the tractor to take out all the rocks along our path to the north ridge, as they are in the way for mowing.  I tossed them in the bucket and JB drove them up the driveway.  It took eight bucket loads, compared to Lord-only-knows-how-many wheel barrow loads to create the path.  I felt a little melancholy about doing this, but the path is so well-worn that I think it will look just fine without the rocks.

The skies stayed clear all day and our high was 70.  A very pleasant day.

Sunday 9/28.  It was 53 and partly cloudy this morning, but the clouds soon disappeared and our high for the day was 68.

JB made German pancakes with peaches for breakfast.  Haven't had them in a while and they are so good!

I went on the morning walk with JB and the dogs.  On the way we hiked down to the tree we wanted to fell to look and plan our strategy.  After lunch we went down to do the deed.  Had to trim several branches to be able to get to the trunk and then it took almost two hours to cut it.  It simply would not fall.  Because it was on such a steep slope, JB did not want to be holding the big, heavy chain saw when it started to fall, as he wouldn't be able to move very fast. We finally got a metal wedge and hand saw, but after working with those for a while, an exhausted JB gave up.  I gave the wedge about 10 whacks, used the hand saw for about 10 cuts, and down it came - just where we wanted it.  What can I say. . .

Our son, Jake, called while we were in the middle of all this and said he needed to talk to JB for just a few minutes.  It seems that he had an American flag flown from the new USS America and a Lieutenant friend of his, who is part of the ship's crew, will give it to JB at the commissioning ceremony.  It was supposed to be a surprise, but his friend had answered an email Jake sent to both him and JB, and mentioned the flag.  Jake wanted to tell his Dad about it before he read his email.  JB was so choked up that I had to take the phone and offer his thanks.  Quite a physically and emotionally draining day, but a very good one.

Monday 9/29. It is 53 and clear this morning, and both of us are achy.  Will probably just take it easy today, as we can't slice the tree into rounds until we sharpen the chains for the chain saw.

Thought for the day: Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of those Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Governments. . . . it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their Future Security.  Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

Sept 26, 2014 Foggy & Soggy

JB slicing wood in the cradle while
Dinga keeps watch.

Wednesday 9/24. So nice to be rid of the dust!  With all the needles and chippings on the ground, there really isn't a lot of mud, depending upon where you walk.  

This morning I vacuumed-packed a 25 lb bag of GF oats into a couple of 1/2-gallon mason jars and several bags.  Then after lunch we sliced the pile of 6 ft tree trunks into rounds.  These were from the trees we had cut down on the north ridge a few weeks ago.  Now I can split them at my leisure.  This should almost finish the last row in the wood shed, then we'll start stacking on the porch.

Our local bear showed up again on the game cam.  Probably a three year old, and a beautiful chocolate brown.

Our high today was 54.  Seems like there was always some moisture coming down, whether light or hard.  It was a light mist when were were out slicing rounds.

Still reading magazines from Monday's mail.  So often someone asks, "Why did God let that happen?"  I have never been one to think that.  I believe we humans have our free will and unfortunately many are often drawn to use that for selfish reasons.  Drawn to evil, if you will.  I believe we are in this life to learn and grow.  To learn to draw on the strongest power in the Universe - that which we call Love.  The closer we become to that power, the more we are in sync with that flow, the more we understand.  In all things give thanks.  Not so much that it happened, but that we will be given the strength to get through it, and from it we will grow.

Never did have to report for jury duty. . .  And I certainly gave thanks for that.

Thursday 9/25. It was 48 and overcast with valley fog this morning.  Seems like it rained most of the night.  I know because I couldn't sleep.  Got up and finished reading National Geographic, which has a very interesting article on GMO's.  Then finished my book.  Finally took some melatonin.  Very interesting how that works.  Just seems quiet my mind and slow down my thoughts so they don't race, and then I can get to sleep.  Up at 8:30, but on dreary mornings like this, whether I have slept or not, I simply cannot get going in any sort of quick manner.

I sorted and organized a bit.  Just when I am sure it's all done, suddenly I think of more to do.

We moved the rounds down to the splitter and stacked them.  Then cut most of the wood in the cradle.  Stacked the larger pieces in the wood shed and took some to the splitter.

Fog traipsed in and out most of the day until the sun finally peeked out from the west about 4:30 pm.  Our high for the day was 55.

Watched the third installment of Lonesome Dove this evening, with just one more to go.  Love that Gus McCrae.

Friday 9/26. It is 48 and mostly cloudy this morning.  If it doesn't rain, we may try to get one of those two dead trees cut down today.

Thought for the day: The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.  Robert G. Ingersoll

Sept 24, 2014 Rain!

Tree growing in a rock that we saw on our
Monday ride.

Monday 9/22. If it weren't for JB, I would have arrived at the laundromat with all the laundry but no soap and no quarters.  Ditz. . . with a capitol "D."  I took the tractor tire in to be fixed while I was doing the laundry.  The tube had been punctured, but instead of putting in another tube, they sprayed the inside of the tire with a self-healing goo, which was actually cheaper than a tube.  Now if the tire gets punctured, it will seal the hole.  How cool is that?!

Picked up a few groceries and the mail, and was home by 1:30 pm.  While I was Down There, a small thunder storm passed over the mountains.  Some rain fell while I was in the grocery store but I didn't hear any thunder.  JB said it was really nasty Up Here and a lightening strike started a fire in the canyon on the west side of the mountain that is to the northwest of us.

I met Larry in our canyon as he was coming down from his after-thunderstorm-check ride.  I told him we would drive around later in the afternoon to look for sleepers.  We did at about 4:00 pm, right after our afternoon walk and feeding the dogs.  Didn't see anything, but it was a very pleasant ride.  Filled me up with forest aura after being Down There.

Tuesday 9/23. It was 58 and overcast this morning, and there had already been a light sprinkle by the time we got up at 8:00 am.

Since I picked up quite a bit of mail yesterday, it was mail morning.  A nice, slow start to the day sorting all the junk mail and reading all the magazines, catalogs and newspapers.

It rain for a couple hours this morning, then sprinkled on and off all afternoon.  So we both stayed in the house reading books and doing inside things.  I defrosted the fridge and did a load of laundry, hanging it inside.  A fire in the stove is always nice on such a dreary day, but it just wasn't cool enough til about 7:00 pm.  Our high for the day was 62.

The fire to the west of us is completely under control now, having burnt about 40 acres.

We started watching Lonesome Dove this evening for about the fifth time.  Definitely one of - if not THE - best western ever made.

Wednesday 9/24.  It is 53 and breezy this morning.  Looks like it rained a lot during the night.  Hopefully we can get out and cut down at least one of the two dead trees today.

Thought for the day: Don't let life happen - make it happen.  Sheryl Sandberg

Sept 22, 2014 Fall is Officially Here & the FDA is Officially Incompetent

My favorite Fall bush -
deer brush.

Friday 9/19. JB did more chipping and finished the yard area.  I took a nap. . .

The girls were so noisy today that we thought for sure we were going to find six eggs instead of the one we did!

Once again the FDA has proved themselves completely incompetent.  Seems they approved tiny plastic beads to be used in some Crest toothpastes.  Now dental hygienists are finding them lodged in patients' gums, and they are gumming up the environment.  Will it never end?!

And a big "Thank You" to JJ for explaining the difference in the jays. . .

Saturday 9/20. Another beautiful morning.  Summer is exiting so very graciously.  Our high temp yesterday was 77, as was today's.

I began the day with a nice long talk with Sandy.  Always a good start.

Then I got a chicken stew going, with fresh, small red potatoes from the garden.  JB drove Miss Kitty down to the Gridders to help Mr. Gridder load his huge trailer full of lumber that he had left over from building the tree house.  There is even some we can use to finish the bathroom ceiling and the loft wall, not exactly lumber but a type of wall board.  We loaned him several movies, mainly for his seven-year-old and eleven-year-old sons.

I had to leave before Gridder did to go to Larry and Elsie's.  They had an evening out (which they so rarely do), so I fed all the animals and stayed there for a while so the dogs could be outside.  I always love visiting their dogs and cats.  Yes, and their chickens, too.

Sunday 9/21.  It was clear and 60 when I got up a little after 7:00 am this morning.  Had to prepare apples for dehydrating.  Never used the dehydrator before, but the apples turned out pretty good.  Only a few weren't completely done after six hours, so I put them in a bag in the refrigerator.  I vacuum sealed the rest in a half-gallon jar.  I want to try potatoes next week.  

I cut up half an apple I had left over and JB made apple pancakes for breakfast.

After breakfast I went out to bring more downed branch wood up from the west slope, as I have been doing for the past several days.  It's great exercise as that slope is pretty steep.  I also spent some time on the north ridge just enjoying the day.  It was nice and cool in the shade, but a hot high of 80 in the sun.

JB took the front left tire off of the tractor for me to take Down There tomorrow to be fixed.  Hopefully it can be fixed.  I'll drop it off before I attack the huge pile of laundry I am taking down.

While he was working on the tractor, I dug up the rest of the potatoes.  The last Yukon plant was sporting two big spuds.  I ended up with two bags full of reds from the last of those plants.

We hit the jackpot for eggs today!  The girls gave us three of them.

JB cooked one of the salmon fillets that were given to us at the BBQ.  So very good with butter, salt, pepper and sweet onions!

Monday 9/22. The first day of Fall and the forecast is for 92 degrees Down There!  Right now it is 62 and overcast Up Here.  I should be on my way in about an hour.

Thought for the day: Youth is a gift of nature.  Age is a work of art.

Sept 19, 2014 Fall Colors & Wasps Have Arrived

My wild roses dressed in their
Fall finery.

More Fall colors at Rose Camp.

Wednesday 9/17. Mid September and the wasps are swarming, especially at the apex of our porch roof.  A couple have found their way into the loft, but I really don't know from where.  And there are now yellow jackets in the bird bath instead of honey bees.

But the good news is that our Fall colors have also arrived, and just over the past weekend.  There was barely any color other than green and some yellow when I drove Down There on Friday, but when we drove down to Larry and Elsie's on Monday, the Fall brilliance had taken over.  Now yellow, gold, orange and red against a backdrop of evergreen is the canyon standard.  The change is late this year, but as Larry always says, "Every year is different."

And there are so many birds out and about.  Foraging and fattening up for winter, I guess.  Speaking of birds, I need to make a correction on an observation I made several days ago.  It is not a Canadian Jay that we have Up Here, but rather a Stellar Jay.  Don't ask me what the difference is.  JB is the bird expert.

We started planning our garden for next year as some of the lumber that Gridder is bringing up on Saturday can be used for raised beds.  We need to rotate the onions and potatoes, and I would love to grow spinach, kale, acorn squash, zucchini and carrots.  Don't know if the yellow raspberry cuttings are going to make it or not.  They are looking pretty sad.

Am planning to go to the laundromat on Monday to wash our winter coats and overalls.  They should have been done in the Spring, but that just didn't happen.  Will also do a load of JB's slacks for his trip and some of my tops that really need a spin in a dryer.

After lunch we drove down to harvest the rest of the elder berries off the big bush on our road.  Just as we were finishing up, the husband and wife of the family of six who didn't show up for the BBQ drove up our road.  They came bearing gifts and apologies.  Seems her parents showed up unannounced from Idaho.  We all drove up to Rose Camp and we gave them the grand tour, as they had never been here before.  We had a very nice visit and hope to see them often again.

After dinner I picked the elder berries off the stems, and will prepare them tomorrow.

Our high for the day was 82, but I'm sure that was only for a few moments.  Most of the time it was a pleasant mid-70's.

Thursday 9/18. It was 61 and mostly cloudy with a cool breeze this morning, and raining pine needles with every strong gust.

I love the fact that between the girls and the compost pile, no food is wasted.  Something I have always tried to prevent, but to no avail.

Emergency Essentials has a great sale this month and on many items we need, so I got my order ready to mail when I go Down There on Monday.  Don't have to report for jury duty this week, but must call again Monday evening to see if I have to go on Tuesday.

I washed the elder berries and tried to get all the small stems out.  There is not enough for jam, so I made tincture.  Or rather I wanted to make tincture, but when I finally found the magazine article about it, I discovered that these blue elder berries are not the medicinal ones.  So I made it anyway, and in 30 days we will end up with elder berry vodka, not tincture.  I would like to plant a medicinal, or "common", elder berry bush at Rose Camp next Spring.

Our high for the day was a breezy and cloudy 69, with a few sun breaks.

Friday 9/19. This morning is 56 and mostly clear with a cold front on the way.

Thought for the day: We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.  Abraham Lincoln

Sept 17, 2014

Mother & child potato

Monday 9/15. There was smoke on the western horizon from a small fire in Tumwater canyon.  With this warmer and drier weather, NOAA has issued a fire watch.  However, there is a 20% chance of rain on Wednesday.

We washed dishes and more dishes from yesterday.  If we hadn't used paper plates and plastic utensils, we would have spent the day in the kitchen.  But it was definitely worth it.  Then we cleared up everything outside.

After dinner we took the chairs that Larry and Elsie had loaned us back down to them.  Then we took some left over buns to the family who lives on the other side of the gate.  Since they are on the grid, we refer to them as the Gridders.  Mr. Gridder told JB that he has some left over wood from building his incredible tree house that we could have.  He is in the construction business and is able to get very nice leftovers.  JB will go down on Saturday to help him load it in a trailer to bring up to us.

A few light clouds had moved in during the afternoon, but our high for the day was 78.

Tuesday 9/16.  It was 61 and partly cloudy this morning, with more smoke on the horizon.  The fire is fairly small, so all the smoke must be from it being almost out.

Couldn't sleep last night, so I went back to bed after breakfast.  It is so nice to be able to do that.  While I was snoring, JB fixed Miss Kitty's tailgate that had some missing screws.

After lunch I put my summer clothes away and got out my winter ones.  And, of course, our high for the day was 80!  But it was a September 80, which doesn't seem nearly so hot has an August 80.

After dinner the dogs and I went for a short hike up to the peak, then I dug up some of our red potatoes.  There were 22 on just the first two plants!  Including the "mother and child" in the photo above.

We watched the movie Real Steel this evening.  Very heartwarming.

Wednesday 9/17.  It is 63 with a partial light overcast this morning and most of the smoke is gone.  Once again, the frogs are singing their morning serenade.

I have to phone in this evening to see if I have to report for jury duty tomorrow.

Thought for the day: Solitude is the soul's holiday. Katrina Kenison

Sept 15, 2014 A Good Time Was Had By All

All prepped & waiting for our guests.

Friday 9/12. Shopping, chipping and prepping for the BBQ.  A beautiful day with a high of 65.

Larry and Elsie came up this evening with a load of chairs for the BBQ and we ended up chatting for quite a while.

Saturday 9/13. It was 50 and clear this morning with a high of 69.  I sure hope this great weather holds.

We spent the day cleaning, chipping and prepping for the BBQ.

Sunday 9/14. BBQ Day!  It began with 52 degrees and a clear sky.  A glorious day with a high of 73.

Guest began arriving at 1:30 pm and the last of them left about 8:30 pm.  There were 13 of us, with 11 no-shows, but we had a blast.  We have such a wonderful group of people in the canyon.  And even with a different partner for horse shoes, Larry was once again the champion.  And the desserts, oh my!

Lots of left over food (except for Italian sausages), but much of it went home with the guests.  

Monday 9/15. It is 56 with clear skies this morning.  And we are still basking in the glow of yesterday, and the frogs under the house seem to be celebrating still.

Thought for the day: Judging others leaves no time to love them.

Sept 12, 2014 Busy for the BBQ

JB mowing at the intersection of our road and
the main canyon road.

Wednesday 9/10. JB put a fire in the wood stove when he got up a 6:00 am this morning.  It took the chill out and we didn't need one for the rest of the day.  Our high was 62.

I did a lot of inside projects and chores, including defrosting the fridge and making broth for the dogs.  JB chipped three loads of branches into the yard.

Blondie is finally roosting with the other two girls at night.  Might be because the nights are getting cooler.

Thursday 9/11.  Remembrance Day, and we do remember.

It was 38 with a bright, blue sky this morning.  Had to bundle up to go Down There.  JB left at 7:30 and I was on my way at 8:00 am.  I picked him up at the shop where his Jeep is being fixed, then we got rid of the big load of recycle in my Jeep and ran a few errands.  Home by 11:00 am.  And tomorrow, for the third day in a row, I have to get up earlier than usual and be on my way.  I'll take JB to the shop to pick up his Jeep, then I will go shopping for "fresh" items needed for the BBQ.

We finally have peppers on our two bell pepper plants - after three months!  And the temperature is supposed to dip below freezing tonight, so we put a plastic bag over them.  Our high for today was only 58.

Had a nice long talk with Randy this evening.  He has found a source of wood and is having huge rounds delivered to him.  Their new splitter is his new best friend.

From now until after the BBQ is going to be crazy.  So much to do. . .

To answer the question about fat wood, it is wood with a high pitch content and burns very easily.  Fat wood (or touch wood) is cut into thin sticks and used for fire starter.

Friday 9/12. It is 48 with a clear sky this morning.  Going back Down There and, hopefully, that will be it for a while.

Thought for the day: Old age is 15 years older than I am.  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Sept 10, 2014 Still Bit of a City Girl

Thistles are blooming in the canyon now.

Monday 9/8.  We have at least three, and possibly four or five, rather vocal frogs under the house now.  I think their croaking is what is waking up the dogs at 4:00 am!

After lunch JB drove the tractor down to fill in a few more pot holes and bring up another load of sand for the horse shoe pit.  We are having a problem keeping air in one of the small front tires for more than one trip down.  Will have to take it in to get it fixed after the BBQ.

Forgot to mention that we learned quite a bit about dairy goats at the Chelan County Fair last week.  It seems that dairy cows and goats are not born to be such, but after the female has her first calf/kid, you just keep milking her after the baby is weaned.  If she isn't milked each day, it will dry up.  Seems I am still much more of a city girl than I thought.  I can only imagine what the lady we were talking to thought of us. . .

But, speaking of learning, I found that after the seven day break in my daily routine, because of my trip to Idaho, I have been able to give up M&M's.  I do not have the cravings for them any more and have switched to dark chocolate, of which I eat much less.

Our high today was 78 and the sky had cleared by the time we took our afternoon walk at 3:30 pm.  The wind had kicked up but it was mostly treetop.

After dinner we decided to go down to visit Larry and Elsie.  We were chatting on their lower deck and, as the cool set in, they started up their small gas fire pit.  A very enjoyable evening.

Tuesday 9/9.  The day began with blue sky, 50 degrees and a cool breeze.

We have two important family birthdays this week: JB's Mom turned 93 and Mike turned 16.  Happy birthday to them both!

It is so nice not to rush in the morning.  After so many years of getting up early and rushing off to a cubicle for the day, sitting on the porch with my coffee is pure bliss.  I think that is why I don't go for early morning walks Up Here.  It isn't that I don't enjoy them, I just enjoy slow mornings so much more.

But speaking of rushing, tomorrow morning we have to take JB's Jeep in to be fixed.  A few months ago a critter chewed up the wires to his front right light, turn signal & fog light.  Fortunately the insurance covers that.  I am going to take down a load of cardboard and cans for recycling, and do a few other errands too.

Before lunch we went on a drive and finally found one of our neighbor's places.  Discovering more and more of our canyon.  I was greeted at his gate by a prairie rattler and didn't have my snake stick or snake shot in the pistol.  It slithered away before I could find a rock or some other stick.

After lunch JB put the trailers back in their places and used the tractor to mow what little needed to be done around the house.  I cut up fat wood.  Am going to give each family who attends our BBQ a coffee can full.

It was a very pleasant day with a high of 71.  A few clouds blew over, but the sky remained mostly clear.  We finished watching the first season of Game of Thrones, and will start the second season next week.

Wednesday 9/10. It is 46 and mostly clear this morning.  JB got up at 6:00 am and woke me up at 6:45.  I was just about to wash my hair when he discovered that our appointment for the car is tomorrow.  I had wanted it today, but there was nothing available til Thursday.  Didn't keep us from thinking it was today.  So it was back to bed for a while.

Thought for the day: Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.  Gardening is an instrument of grace.  May Sarton

Sept 8, 2014 JB's Bucket List

Dinga wanted to bury this stick, but gave
up trying to get the hole big enough!

Hairy woodpecker on our fence post Saturday.

Friday 9/5. JB served in the Navy for eight years and is a plank owner of the USS America, CVA-66, which was an aircraft carrier.  That means he served aboard her while she was being built and was commissioned in 1965.  CVA-66 was ultimately decommissioned and is now a man-made reef off the east coast.  Several months ago JB learned that a new USS America has been built and will be commissioned in San Francisco on October 11.  As a member of the USS America Carrier Veterans Association, he has been invited to the ceremony.      Being able to attend went right to the top of his bucket list.  Ever since we have been trying to figure out how to get him there, and actually be able to afford it.  Enter my BFF, Sandy.  JB is going to fly to Santa Rosa and stay with her.  She will drive him to the ceremony and be his guest!  

Anything else I have to write seems to fade in the excitement. . .

I thought I had figured out what to do with my elderberry "jam", but it has too many seeds to be a successful taffy.  Maybe I can figure out a way to get some syrup out of it.  Probably easier to just go pick some more berries after our picnic, and try again.  Thanks to the reader who gave me the names of two books and a website on canning.  I will definitely check it out.

JB chipped three Miss Kitty loads of dry branches from the pile across the driveway.  Am so glad we are finally using it.

Our high for the day was 78, but quickly cooled off in the evening.  I love when the nights are clear and I can watch the moon grow throughout the week.

Saturday 9/6. It was 60 and clear this morning with warmer temps in the forecast for the next several days.

Today JB chipped four loads of branches and we are making quite a dent in that big pile.  I took the loads down to him and puttered around beginning to clean up some things I want done before the picnic.

I also pulled the last of the Yukon potatoes from the garden, about another 12 to 15 pounds.  Haven't even started harvesting the red potatoes as they are still going strong.

Our high was 81 but it was pleasantly cool in the shade.  September's heat is nothing like August's.

Sunday 9/7.  It was 63 and clear this morning.  The dogs have begun to wake up and want out between 4:00 and 4:30 am.  Way to early!

After a breakfast of O'Brien potatoes (fresh from the garden) and eggs (fresh from the chickens), we took the tractor down our road to mow the center in preparation for all the traffic next Sunday.  It hasn't grown up nearly as much as in past years, but it really did need to be done.  So far we are expecting 24 guests, with a possibility 30.  That could be up to nine desserts.  Oh, yum!

On our way back, JB filled the tractor's bucket with sand from sandrock corner and brought it back up for one of the horseshoe pits.  After lunch he drove back down to bring some up for the other pit.  I worked on computer projects that I had been putting off.

Our high for the day was 86, but our road is mostly in the shade so it wasn't too uncomfortable.  Very dusty though.

Monday 9/8. It is 60 with a light, partial overcast this morning.  Going to be busy, busy, busy.

Thought for the day: There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally.

Sept 5, 2014 Jam, A Wallet & A County Fair

Rock formation seen on our Wednesday drive.

Wednesday 9/3. The wind blew til late afternoon and our high was 69.  This certainly has been the year of the wind.

When I was Down There yesterday, I bought a set of glass storage containers at Costco.  I had been thinking of replacing my 30 to 40-year-old Tupperware, but when I got an email from Sandy telling me that she had got rid of all her plastic food storage containers and replaced them with glass, I decided that I really needed to get off my patootie and do it also.

We took a drive in Miss Kitty around noon to check out one of the roads we had never been on and were gone for about an hour.  Talked to a young neighbor on the next canyon and advised him that the garbage strewn about his place was simply unacceptable.  You just do not do that to Mother Earth.  He apologized and promised to clean it up, but we'll see. . .

After lunch, I started the jam.  Have you ever tried to get all the bits and pieces out of a big bowl of elder berries, or better yet, tried to crush them?  I really need to get one of those funnel-shaped crushers.  Finally got the berries, sugar and vinegar into the pan and cooking.  The pectin-free recipe neglected to advise just how much longer this type of jam needed to be cooked.  Didn't say it would take twice as long!  During this whole process I discovered that my candy thermometer was defective, so I ended up with a batch of really thick elder berry goo.  I canned it anyway, hoping for the best.  The best may turn out to be elder berry candy.

We began watching the first season of Game of Thrones again, in preparation of watching the second season that I was able to get on Hastings web site for $15.

In talking to Larry on the radio this evening, we learned he has been called for jury duty and has to report tomorrow.  I will go in to their store to help Elsie til he is done.

Thursday 9/4. It was 47 and clear this morning.  I was on my way Down There at 8:45 am, but had to make three trips back inside to remember everything.  Just on of those days.

Went to the drive-up window for my latte and discovered that the person in front of me had paid for mine!  That has never happened to me before and was so very cool!

Larry was excused from jury duty and back to the store by noon.  When I got to my car, I realized that my wallet was not in my purse.  I looked everywhere possible and impossible that it might have fallen out of my purse in or around the car, and went back to the store to see if it was there.  No sign of it.  I was standing by my car thinking, "Ok, Lord.  I really need your help with this," when the locksmith car that had been parked there when I parked, drove up.  I heard a voice say, "I think I have something of yours."  Woo Hoo!  When I went back to tell them, Larry said I was so lucky.  I told him it had nothing to do with luck.  Being such a ditz, I have a very alert and active Guardian Angel.

I called JB and he suggested we still had time to go to the Chelan County Fair.  Today is Senior Day, so we get in free.  He drove Miss Kitty down to Larry's and Elsie's house, and I met him there.  Then off to the fair we went, which was about a 15 mile drive.  It was one of those perfect fair days and we had a great time.  Began talking to a lady at the Republican booth only to find out she is the Chelan County Assessor.  Had a very interesting discussion and got the card of someone else to talk to about our taxes at her office.  With lunch, music, goats, dollar-collecting American parakeets, and much more, it was a very entertaining afternoon.

Friday 9/5.  It is 53 and clear this morning, and getting very close to BBQ time.  So much to do to get ready for it.

Thought for the day: A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.  Lou Holtz

Sept 3, 2014 Cold Fall Weather

Green sun berries

A very late-blooming potato plant

Monday 9/1. The grove was alive with nuthatches, finches and juncos as I sat on the porch with my coffee this morning.  The temperature was a cool 52, but the sun was warm.  JB and I split a big GF cinnamon roll for breakfast.  Oh, yum!

Nene responded to my mention of Irish Spring soap by saying that a couple of her friends and her daughter-in-law keep the deer away from their garden and small trees by hanging a bar of it in a cloth bag close by.

We now have 18 people confirmed to attend our BBQ and could end up with close to 30!  Good thing we have 40 acres. . .

The dogs and I went for a long, lazy walk down the road.  JB worked on cleaning up his desk and checking his email.  The dogs flushed a large flock of grouse on our afternoon walk.

Clouds blew over during the day and our high was 77, but most of the day was in the low 70's with a nice breeze.  By 4:00 pm the temperature had dropped to 65 and it was in the low 50's by the time we went to bed.  I love these cool evenings.

Last night Elsie had brought up a big bag of apples from their tree, and green beans and chilis from their garden.  Also some sun berries for the girls.  Our sun berry bushes are blooming and filling with green berries, soon to be ripe.  We had half of the beans in stir fry for dinner tonight and they were so good.

I dug up at least 15 lbs of Yukon potatoes from plants that are obviously finished.  Most of them are a pretty good size.  We haven't even started on our red potatoes who's plants are still going strong.

Tuesday 9/2.  It was 51 and clear this morning.  I decided to go Down There grocery shopping, and will make jam on Wednesday.

The wind picked up and clouds raced across the sky most of the day.  Our high Up Here was 73, but the wind was quite chilly.

Wednesday 9/3.  This morning is 46 with a clear sky.  It's definitely jam making day.

Thought for the day: It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.  Dave Barry

Sept 1, 2014 A Very Social Weekend

Elder berries we picked on Saturday.

Huge rose hips along our road -
 future jelly.

Friday 8/29.  Clouds covered the sky and a brisk wind arose by noon, but our high for the day was 70.  

JB was home by 1:00 pm.  We fixed the hen house door that was starting to come apart on the bottom and did a few other odds and ends.  

There is a Canadian Jay that has been around for several weeks, having discovered the few grains from the hens' scratch that get kicked out of their pen.  Dinga snacks on them too.

After dinner we went for a "short" drive and ended up staying out til almost 9:00 pm.  Met a couple "coasties" over on the flats who were up for the holiday weekend.  They have quite a nice vacation home, which they hope to some day be their retirement home.  Had a very nice visit, and then on our way back home we met up with another property owner we know who was just coming back from looking for bears in the large canyon to the south.  When we finally did make it home, my phone rang just as I walked in the door.  Elsie was concerned because they couldn't raise us on the radio, and I didn't realize it had got so late or I would have called her on our way back.  

Saturday 8/30.  It was 53 and overcast this morning.  Because it is a holiday weekend we often have visitors, so I cleaned up the house a bit and vacuumed.  After lunch it was nap time.  

After dinner, it was time to go pick elder berries.  The closest bush is about 1-1/2 miles down our road, so JB drove Miss Kitty slowly and the dogs had a good run.  The berries are so small, I wasn't sure if we would be able to get enough to make jam, but as it turned out, we got more than enough.  Finally!  I have been wanting to do this for several years now.

The day was cool and our high was 66.

Sunday 8/31. The day began with 50 degrees and a cloudy sky.  JB chipped the last two loads of branches, and I brought them down to him in Miss Kitty.  I puttered around doing lots of little chores.  Then we sat on the porch for a while just enjoying the cooler weather.  The cooler it gets, the higher Dinga's energy level rises.  She's been a wild girl the past few days!

My brother called to say that he, Mike and seven others were down at his cabin for the weekend and would be up to visit in the afternoon.  They all arrived at about 4:00 pm for a couple hours and we had a great time.  I was so glad to see Mike, as I had missed his last visit when I was in Idaho.  His Mom always brings us LOTS of gluten free goodies for us when she comes Up Here, and today was no exception.  Bread, rolls, desserts - oh, my!

About 15 minutes after they all left, Larry and Elsie arrived.  All our favorite visitors in one day.  How nice!

It was a cool and windy day, with a high of only 64.

Monday 9/1.  It is 50 and clear this morning.  August certainly slipped quickly by, but it was a very good month.  I think we are going to treat today like the holiday it is, and I will make the jam tomorrow.

Thought for the day: No matter how happy I had been in the past I do not long for it . . . The present is always the moment for which I live. Jamaica Kincaid