September 30, 2015 Living Life on the Mountain Again

Randy's root cellar under his garage.
It's huge!

A squirrel at Nene's back door,
wondering where the peanuts are.

Our helper on the
tractor.

Monday 9/28. Today was mainly used for getting re-settled.  I unpacked; did laundry; read newspapers.  Just got used to life on the mountain again.  Twelve days away and my fingernails were finally clean, long and unbroken.  That lasted until I gathered two more bags of pine needles for fire starter.  Broke one and got them all dirty.

Sandy called just as I was finishing my blog for today, which took much longer than usual.  We had a nice talk and I told her to be sure to check out the photo of Nene in her birthday hat.

The quiet of Rose Camp.  So different from the hustle and bustle of Down There.  Only one person and two dogs to talk to.  So different from the groups of friends and family on our trip.  I am pretty sure that I talked more in that twelve days than I have all year since our last trip.  And that's a good thing.  I really did need the social connections.  They completely revitalized me, so now I figure I'm good to go for another year.  My world tends to shrink Up Here.  It is so easy to get into hermit mode.  Even just driving back up our road, I could feel the social layers begin to slough off and I had to grab onto them.

One thing that really stood out on my trip was the pale eggs!  The yolks in store-bought ones simply cannot compete with the bright orange ones in the eggs that the girls give us.

Today was such a beautiful reflection of Autumn.  Our high was 60 and the sky remain blue.  JB had to drive Down There this afternoon to pick up our order from Emergency Essentials at the UPS office.  While he was gone, I put my summer clothes away and got out my winter ones.  I even remembered to go on our afternoon walk, and feed the chickens and dogs. . .

Tuesday 9/29. It was 50 with blue sky this morning.  Was still reading newspapers and magazines with my breakfast.  I called Randy and his Mom, and had a nice chat with them both.  It seems odd not to have talked to Nene since Sunday.

After washing the dishes, we went outside and I split 3-1/2 of the 4-1/2 large rounds that were left.  Turned out to be four tractor-bucket loads, and I got it all stacked in the wood shed.  One smaller round to split tomorrow and that will probably fill the shed, leaving the huge stack of branch wood to be stacked on the porch once it is all cut up.  We will be getting all the supplies to build the wood cradle within a week.

We unpacked all our go-bags and boxes.  Getting ready for the change of season and weather.

It was another beautiful but warmer day, with a high of 64.  Actually quite hot in the sun, especially while splitting the wood.

I noticed that my tastes have changed since being gone for almost two weeks and eating so differently (and so much more) than we do Up Here.  I had hardly eaten any chocolate during the trip and when I had a few M&M's yesterday, they did not taste very good at all!  However, I loved the dark chocolate bars that are 79% cocoa.  I guess that's a good thing.

I plan to go Down There for groceries and a few other items on Thursday.  Not sure when we will get the supplies for the wood cradle, but it will be soon.

Couldn't go another day without talking to Nene, so I gave her a call after dinner.  Had such a nice chat.

Wednesday 9/30. This morning is 54 with clear skies.  The last day of September.  Our main project for October will be building the wood cradle, cutting all the branch wood and getting it stacked on the porch.

Thought for the day: I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.  So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. Nathaniel Hawthorne

September 28, 2015 The Tale of Our Trip

A view from the top of our hike.

Nene in her birthday hat, eating clams
as we arrived at Tillicum Village on
Blake Island.

Wednesday 9/16. As I drove over Blewett Pass and Snoqualmie Pass, I could see the Fall colors beginning to pop through the forest green, getting ready to explode.  I stopped for a visit with JB's Mom and then arrived at Aunt Nene's at about 1:30 pm.  We spent the rest of the day talking.  

Thursday 917. Our journey together began Thursday morning as we hit the road at 7:30 am.  I fueled up with a latte and then fueled up the car with gas.  A light rain was falling and continued until we left western Washington behind at Snoqualamie Pass.  The sun broke through the clouds to shine on eastern Washington, as it usually does.

Down through the mountains and out into the rolling hills we went.  Over the Columbia River and into the wheat, alfalfa, and other grass fields.  We stopped in Moses Lake and met Mrs. Gridder's parents for lunch.  Then on through the flat lands to Spokane, where mountains once again rose to greet us.  We turned north at Couer d'Alene, Idaho, and began our entrance into the cedar forests of Bonner's Ferry.  We arrived at Claudia's home at 5:30 pm, tired but thrilled to be there.

Friday 9/18. I walked with Claudia, her dog, Jake, and her neighbor, Clint, each morning on her upmountain (that ain't no hill) hike, trying to work off all the food I was eating.  Clint drove us over the short-cut to Randy's, which cut more than half the miles off from going the paved roads (well, mostly paved roads).  We finally met Randy and his Mother in person after more than three years of corresponding by email and talking on the phone.  We had a great visit, and, after giving them the gifts that Nene and I had brought, Randy gave Nene and me a driving tour of their place, then drove us down to meet one of his neighbors.  We made plans to meet them for lunch on Tuesday at Fiest Creek Resort by the waterfall.

That evening, Claudia, Nene and I played Skip-Bo, a we did each evening.

Saturday 9/19. After our morning hike, which included Clint's wife, Amy, we all walked back to Claudia's for a photo session and light breakfast which included my rose hip/orange marmalade that I had brought for everyone.  Nene had been working on her gifts that she brought for several months: hand made pillow cases in a variety of vivid and appropriate fabrics, and hand-embroidered pillow cases and a runner, which, of course, thrilled them all.

After our drive into Bonner's Ferry, Clint drove Nene in his Kowasaki Mule (ATV) up to the ridge to which we hiked each day.  She had hiked it many times over the years during her visits with Uncle Jack, but now is unable to.  Claudia, Amy and I once again hiked up to meet them.  I was hoping that once Clint drove Nene back to the house, he would come pick us up, but no such luck.

Sunday 9/20. We drove to Spokane today for a family get-together of Uncle Jack's side of the family that Claudia had arranged.  It was an especially poignant experience as Nene thought she would never see any of them again after Jack passed away a few years ago.  He comes from a family of twelve children, and some have passed on.  I had never met any of them but had heard many stories throughout the years, so it was great to be able to put faces to some of the names.

Monday 9/21. Today was a day of rest, just staying at Claudia's and playing Skip-Bo.  But I did earn my keep by chopping up a couple big cedar rounds into kindling for her.  Her home has a big wood furnace in the basement.  Clint always gets her wood cut for her, but she was out of kindling.  Then we had a big roast beef dinner with fresh carrots and beans from her garden and, of course, her home-made noodles especially for Nene.

Tuesday 9/22. We met Randy and his Mom for lunch by the waterfall, then drove back up to their place for more visiting.  Randy gave me the walking tour of his place which is just phenomenal.

Back at Claudia's and after more Skip-Bo, it was early to bed to get a good rest for our trip tomorrow.

We saw so many wild turkeys during our stay.  It seemed like there was a flock in every clearing.  Lots of deer too, but no moose or bears.  I am pretty sure someone told them we were coming so they just stayed in the trees.  I could almost see their eyes twinkling through the branches.  We were both a bit disappointed.

Wednesday 9/23. We were on our way home early this morning, finding it hard to believe that our visit was over.  We stopped in Spokane for breakfast with our cousin and his wife, then visited the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum where I dropped off some old photos and a program from the Spokane Exposition in the early 1900's.  Both Nene and I definitely want to be able to come back and spend time looking at all the exhibits, especially since we were told that they had a lot of information on the families of both Nene's parents (my grandparents).  Both families were pioneers there in the valley.

Then it was back through the plains, back over the Cascade mountains and across a leg of the Puget Sound to Port Orchard where we arrived at Nene's house about 6:30 pm.  Tired, but looking forward to preparing for Nene's 90th birthday celebration on Saturday.  And where Nene gave me a pillow case with an embroidered moose on it!  Even better than seeing one in person.

Thursday 9/24 & Friday 9/25.  We spent the days buying food and decorating for Saturday, as many of those going to Blake Island would be coming back to the house.  And, of course, we talked and talked, and played some Skip-Bo.

Saturday 9/26. Twenty-seven friends and family met us at the ferry dock in Port Orchard for the trip to Blake Island.  One of Nene's friends is living in Virginia for a couple years and flew back just for the party.  Nene wore the birthday hat I gave her for the whole trip!  (See photo above.)  The day was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  After everyone had left, we cleaned up and talked.  And talked.  Neither one of us wanted to go to bed.  We didn't want the day to end.

Sunday 9/27. I was on my way home by 9:00 am, unable to believe that my visit had ended.  It was very difficult to say goodbye to Nene.  But it was a beautiful day and in just the few days since we had driven back over the pass, the Fall colors had begun their explosion.  I was home by 1:15 pm and it was good to be at Rose Camp.

Monday 9/28. It is 46 with a clear, blue sky this morning.  We had hiked up to the south ridge last night after dark in hopes of seeing the Full Blood Moon eclipse, but the trees were in the way.  By the time we could see the moon from the house, the eclipse was over.  

So now it is time to go feed the chickens and get back into the swing of life Up Here.  That's the great thing about vacations - no meals to cook, no dishes to wash, no bills to pay, no getting up at 4:00 am to let the dogs out.  And Nene thoroughly spoiled me. . .

Thought for the day: I love you, Nene.

September 16, 2015 On Our Way to Idaho!

My jars of marmalade.

Monday 9/14. We stopped by Larry and Elsie's on our way Down There.  The root cellar that Larry is building looks great!  Now they basically just have to cover it with dirt.  Looks more secure than a bomb shelter. . .

Dropped my Jeep off for an oil change, then ran a few errands and did a big grocery shopping.  My Jeep was done just as we were, which worked out perfectly.  Driving back up our road, I knew I could not ignore all the big, beautiful rose hips that were still on the bushes.  So after unloading the groceries and putting everything away, I drove Miss Kitty down and picked rose hips for a couple of hours.  Ended up with two more pounds.

Our high for the day was only 52, which was perfect for picking fruit.

Tuesday 9/15. It was 38 and partly cloudy this morning.  Our first morning this season in the 30's.  JB left at 9:00 for Down There again to pick up a computer cable he had ordered.  Since he was going, I added the girls' winter feed to his list.

I was so incredibly busy today!  The day before a trip somehow always turns out to be even more hectic than one could plan for.  I didn't stop to eat until JB returned home a little after noon.  I had taken the dogs on their morning walk, though, which was a good break.  My next break was for their afternoon walk.

I now have three pounds of rose hips in the freezer, so hopefully in October I can get some more marmalade canned.

By noon the sky was completely overcast and I thought we might get some rain while I was packing the car.  No drops fell though, and I was able to stay dry while getting all my projects done.  Even had time to relax with a movie, the second Jason Bourne one.  We watched the first one last night.

I plan to leave at 8:00 tomorrow morning and will stop to visit JB's Mom on my way to Port Orchard.  Nene and I will leave Thursday morning for Idaho, and I will be back home either Sunday, 9/27, or Tuesday, 9/29.  So my next posting will be either 9/28 or 9/30.

Wednesday 9/16. It is 41 this morning and, I think, partly cloudy (really too dark to tell).  The car is packed and I hope to be on my way by 8:00 am.

Thought for the day: To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.  Oscar Wilde

September 14, 2015 Heat & Bugs

Our project for the weekend, and. . .

. . . our supervisors.

Friday 9/11. I cooked the rose hip-orange marmalade and ended up with 13 little jars.  Then put in the laundry and washed the dishes while happily listening to the jar lids pop and seal.

JB was prepping the garden fence, taking out poles, etc., so we could move it around the two raised beds.  After lunch, I finished weeding the beds.  JB brought several more loads of dirt for the large bed and I raked it level.  He drove the tractor.  I did the heavy labor.  Didn't think I would be wearing my boonie hat or UV protectorant shirt any more, but there I was with both of them on and dripping sweat.

I have been as busy this week as Elsie normally is.  I doubt I will ever be as slender as she is, but I'm pretty sure I lost a pound or two, despite the potato salad and pie.

Our high for the day was 80 and it definitely felt like it.  There were bugs everywhere, as if they knew this was the last of Summer's heat and were going to make the most of it.

Saturday 9/12. It was 66 and clear this morning.  We couldn't smell the smoke but there was a light haze on the horizons.

The two frogs under the house continue to serenade us daily, with both solos and duets.  Very entertaining.

This morning we moved five of the eight poles for the fence, and then it was just too hot to do any more.  And, once again, the bugs were everywhere.

We drove Missy Kitty down to our rope gate to cut limbs that were hiding our "No Trespassing" sign.  I walked half way back up, filling the back of Miss Kitty with branch wood.  Also stopped to pick some big, beautiful rose hips that I just couldn't ignore.  I ended up with a pound that I washed, vacuum sealed and put in the freezer.

The wasps were swarming today and we already have a few in the loft.  I simply do not know where they are getting in.  Our high for the day was 82, which brought them out.

After dinner I stacked the wood we brought up in Miss Kitty, taking a few large branches to the pile that needs cutting.   There was very little air movement today until a breeze picked up after sunset.

Sunday 9/13. It was 60 and mostly cloudy this morning with a light wind.  So glad I did not put the flannel sheets on last weekend, as the nights have been unpleasantly warm.

Right after JB ate breakfast, we were out to finish putting in the last of the poles and the fence up around the raised beds.  One more project we can cross of the list.  It is not so much to keep out the deer and rabbits as it is to keep Dinga out.  She will eat the compost and chicken manure we put on the garden!

Washed the dishes and did more laundry.  Then we vacuumed out my Jeep and washed the inside.  I wrapped Christmas and other gifts that I will be taking with me.  And started getting items other than clothes ready for the trip.

Tomorrow morning we will take my Jeep Down There for an oil change and do a big grocery shopping.  We also plan to stop at Larry and Elsie's on the way down to see what spray he is using for the bugs, and check out his root cellar that is almost finished.

Monday 9/14. It is 44 and overcast this morning.  I put a fire in the stove when I let the dogs out at 6:30 am.  The forecast is for cold and rainy weather this week.

Thought for the day: There is nothing scarier than the split second where you lose your balance in the shower and think, "Oh gawd, they're going to find me naked!"

September 11, 2015 More and More Rose Hips

A grouse on top of the chicken coup visiting
its cousins.

4.2 lbs of rose hips (left)
separated from their seed pods
(right).

Wednesday 9/9. After doing the dishes and laundry, I made more rose hip marmalade, this time adding some orange peel.  So the recipe turned out to be: 2-1/2 cups rose hip mash, 1/2 cup thinly sliced orange peel, 2 cups brown sugar and 1 cup rose hip juice.  I cooked it until it thickened, then ladled it into sterilized half-pint jars.  It made three jars plus one cup that I put in the fridge for us.  It tastes sooo good!

I also pinched the tails off of all the small rose hips, which took a good hour.  Then I washed and dried them, and spread them on two cookie sheets.  Put them in the oven where they will dry for about four days, and then be ready for making tea.

It was a warm day with a high of 72, and all the bugs were out en force.  My two white table cloths, hung out to dry, were covered with the small, hard-shell bugs we get in the house.  Warm, yes, but a Fall warm.  Probably Summer's last hurrah.

The rain we received Sunday morning gave us a total of fifty gallons of water in two barrels.  About thirty-five in the first one by the wood shed and fifteen in the one by the hen house.  We can start using it again for flushing the toilet.

We have had potato salad every day since Sunday and still not tired of it!  Same with the pumpkin/peach pie that Mrs. Gridder's Mother made.

JB filled up all the vehicles with gas as he plans to go Down There tomorrow to fill up our gas cans and run a few errands.

It was still so nice out after dinner that the dogs and I went for a walk up to the peak and then all the way down to the north ridge.  Such a gorgeous day!

Thursday 9/10. It was 56 and clear this morning, but we could smell smoke again.  It was a bit hazy to the west and northwest, so don't know if it is a new fire or just the older ones.

JB left at 9:00 am for Down There.  The dogs and I were on our way down the driveway by 9:30 to pick more rose hips before the day got too warm.  It was 11:00 before I looked at the time.  By then I had already made one trip back up to the house with a load, and just about had another couple pounds.  Upon weighing everything, I found that I had gathered 4.2 lbs, which is a record for one day, and goes to show just how many large, perfect ones there were.  I washed them all and had them in the juicer/steamer within an hour.  They won't be losing any of their vitamins.  I used to think that it wouldn't be worth all the time and hassle to prepare rose hips, but, now that I have tasted the fruits of my labor, I know it is well worth it.  And every jar of marmalade and juice is worth its weight in gold!

I steamed the hips for 2-1/2 hours for juice and got one pint jar, one half-pint jar and a cup that I will put into the marmalade when I make it tomorrow.  I wasn't done squeezing out the seed pods til 5:00 pm and by then was just too tired to do any more.  JB bought a box of small jelly jars (1/2 cup) while Down There and I will use those this time.

It was another day with a high temperature of 72.  So glad I was able to be outside all morning.

Friday 9/11.  A day of remembrance. 

It is 62 this morning with clear skies except for a smokey haze to the west and north.  Can barely make out the mountains.

Thought for the day: I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be "happy".  I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate.  It is above all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.  Leo Rosten

September 9, 2015 Tales From The BBQ

Rose hips ready for the picking.

The salmon we had for dinner on Tuesday.

Monday 9/7. Happy 94th birthday to JB's Mom!

Celebrating birthdays has become a tradition at the BBQ, so even though Larry and Cowboy got older in August, I asked Larry to wear the T-shirt we gave to him - and he did!  I gave Cowboy his T-shirt which said: This beer is making me look awesome!  It is also Mrs. Gridder's birthday in September, so I made some magnets that I thought were appropriate for her.  One of which said: Coffee is that magic potion that turns morning from "Leave me alone or die" into "Good morning, Honey."

Oh, the stories we heard at the BBQ!  One couple was in Waco the same day as the biker shooting and were staying at the hotel where the police interrogated all the bikers.  Mr Gridder discovered, quite by accident, that their chickens love beer, and now will drink right out of the can while he holds it for them.  Larry built a swing for their chickens, but he hasn't seen them use it yet.  And, of course it rained yesterday because Mrs. Westie was here, which happens more often than not.  She was in Texas a few years ago which broke their three-month drought.

And it seems that people living in Wenatchee are not only having problems with raccoons, but also skunks.  Animal Control told someone who called them about the skunks to "Just shoot them."  I guess it isn't against to law in town to crank off a firearm within the city limits. We had problems when we lived in Kirkland with raccoons and roof rats, but never skunks, thank goodness.

Larry was replacing the batteries in his game cam, which is set up by their pond, when he heard some snuffling and thought it was his larger dog, who now tends to get out of breath easily.  It continued and he looked up to see a bear looking at him through the bushes about twenty feed away!  As they made eye contact, the bear turned around and left which allowed Larry to catch his breath.  Just another adventure on the mountain.

Just before dinner this evening we walked down to our neighbors at the yurt to see how they were coming along with the outdoor kitchen they are building.  This weekend they are making the doors and it looks great.

Tuesday 9/8. It was 50 and overcast this morning.  No wind though.  Sandy called and I was able to sit out on to porch to talk to her without freezing.  It was going to be 95 in Santa Rosa today, with even higher temperatures forecast for the rest of the week.  Thank goodness our heat has subsided.

Aunt Nene called me yesterday and was very upset with me for climbing up on the roof and cleaning the chimney.  Between her and Sandy, I may be convinced to hire someone next time.

I was feeling rather melancholy today with the BBQ being over.  But now I have to prepare for my trip to Idaho with Nene.  I leave for her place in Port Orchard next Wednesday.  Then we will leave for Idaho on Thursday and be back on the 23rd.  I will stay with her for a few days after that as we are having a large celebration for her 90th birthday on the 26th.  I will post my blog on the Wednesday, 9/16, but then not again until Monday, 9/28.

We will finally meet Randy in person on our trip.  He had a small bear at his place last week that hung around for a couple hours.  He asked he Mom just what she thought they should do to get rid of it and she said, "Get a bigger gun!"  

I did another load of laundry today to be sure I am all caught up by the time I leave, so JB won't have to worry about doing any.  He was working on hand-held radios, trying to download frequencies on them for some friends, and having problems with the program now that he has Windows 10.  After hanging out the laundry, I walked down the driveway with the dogs and spent almost two hours picking rose hips.  There are a lot more of them that are ripe now and I was able to find a lot of large, perfect ones.  I gathered a total of three pounds this time.  I washed the large ones and put them in the steamer/juicer for two hours.  That produced another pint+ of juice.  When the hips cooled, I squeezed out the seeds of each one, which took me an hour and a half, and will make more marmalade tomorrow.  This time I plan to add some orange rinds to it.  Tomorrow I will also clean the small ones and start drying them for tea.

One of the couples who came to the BBQ brought us three frozen fish that they had caught this summer - two salmon and a trout.  I only had room for two of them in the freezer, so we had one of the salmon for dinner this evening.  They also gave us a box of home-canned goods.  They brought all this last year, too.  JB had never cooked a whole fish before, just fillets.  So he looked up recipes and we tweaked one to our own liking, using butter, thin-sliced onions and dill.  He grilled it and we pigged out, eating more than half of it!  But it was soooo good!

Our high for the day was 66 even though the sky stayed mostly overcast.

Wednesday 9/9. It is 54 this morning and mostly clear.  Lots to do in this good, cool weather.

Thought for the day: Don't be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived life.  You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.  Author Unknown

September 7, 2015 A Chimney Sweep, Another Skunk & A Great BBQ

Mums in a log.

Friday 9/4. While JB was Down There I baked cookies.  The recipe makes 8-1/2 sheets of 13 that turns out to be 112 and I knew I would be giving some away on Sunday.  JB took my Jeep's dead battery with him and we were given a replacement for free under the warranty.  His "battery" passed inspection and all is well.  When he returned we put the new battery in my Jeep and she started right up.

After lunch I climbed up on the roof and cleaned the chimney out.  That was quite an experience!  I figure I could make some extra money as a chimney sweep now.  There was some soot in the stove which I cleaned out, so I thought we were good to go.  Unfortunately when I tried to start a fire in the evening, all I got was smoke.  After everything was out and the stove was clear, I pushed a stick up the chimney to see what the problem was.  Somehow most of the soot didn't fall all the way down and was stuck about 6" up.  So I just got out a blanket and had to wait til tomorrow to deal with it.

Saturday 9/5. It was 44, cloudy and windy this morning.  I was on the road by 8:30 for my shopping expedition and home by noon.  Along with the groceries, I bought a couple small yellow mum to plant in two short, hollow logs. 

We put up my Easy-Up booth that I had used for arts and crafts fairs in Illinois, but because it was so windy, gusting to 19 mph, we didn't put up the sides.  Tried to put up the net tent for the food but decided to wait til morning.  Got as organized as we could for the BBQ and made a big dish of cole slaw.

We cleaned out the chimney of all the soot and ended up with a small garbage can about a third full.  I could feel a draft and hear the wind, so I figured this time we really were good to go.  After dinner we put in a fire and quickly warmed up.

Larry and Elsie arrived shortly thereafter to bring up fresh tomatoes, onions and salsa for the BBQ.  Elsie and I had a nice visit while JB and Larry walked out to look at the standing-dead trees that need to be cut.

Sunday 9/6. 3:30 am and Jesse is skunked again!  That critter must have been right out in the yard.  So there we were, washing the dog off on the porch in the early a.m. - again.  This after he had run in the house and jumped up on our bed.  JB went back to bed, but for me there was just no getting back to sleep after that, so I had some cocoa and cookies.  I crawled back into bed just before 5:00 am and realized that it was raining.  When we got up at 7:30 am, it was pouring.  By 9:30 we had received 1/2", and by the time it quit coming down at 11:00 am, we had .64".  I figured this weather would separate the mountain folk from the flatlanders of the 29 people who said they would be here for the BBQ.  I just couldn't complain as we need the rain so badly.

We put three sides up on my booth, and raised the soaking net tent.  Put up the food tables in the booth and got everything ready.  Fortunately Elsie called before she made a run into town to see if I needed anything and I did - ketchup.  A little after 1:00 pm the trucks, Jeeps and 4X4's started coming up the drive.  Everyone turned out to be mountain folk!  We were only short half of one family (three) and a couple extras (two) that another family was going to bring.

We had some fog, but no more rain.  The clouds gradually cleared and the sun shone, but our high was only 54.  But everyone was dressed for the weather and we all had a great time.  There were lots of yummy desserts and all but one of our twenty Italian sausages disappeared, along with many hamburgers and a few hot dogs.  It was 8:30 pm by the time the last truck headed on out.

The mountains seem to attract good people.  I guess that says it all.

Monday 9/7. It is 44 and clear this morning, with snow on the mountains and a few clouds to the west.  Am going to put a fire in the stove as soon as I feed the chickens and dogs.

Thought for the day: What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other. George Eliot 

September 4, 2015 Rose Hip Marmalade & A Dead Battery

Rose bushes in their Fall finery.

Wednesday 9/2. Well, I put "skunk" in my title this morning and then didn't write about it!  I am going to be even more ditzy than usual until our BBQ is over, which more than a little scary.  Back to the skunk - just as JB let the dogs out Tuesday night, I smelled a skunk through the kitchen window.  I yelled, but it was too late.  Jesse came running back a few minutes later, drooling from the spray.  It is nearly impossible to get him into the bathtub, and absolutely impossible when he has been skunk-sprayed and you don't want to get any of it on you.  So I grabbed the special dog soap, some washcloths and jug of water, and we washed him out on the porch.  It wasn't as bad as I first thought, just his face and front.  I smelled a bit on Dinga too, but she rolled in the dirt and grass while we were washing Jesse, and came up odor free.

I bought this dog soap at the annual Fall craft fair last year and it is amazing.  Made with a base of coconut oil and with goat's milk and hemp, it takes the skunk smell right out.  It can be found at petgifts@gmail.com.

This morning I woke up feeling irritable.  I knew I could change that very quickly with an attitude adjustment, but sometimes I just want to wallow in my ire for a while.  And so I did.  Kind of stupid, but I did.

We did laundry and dishes.  I hung some of the bigger pieces of laundry outside, but the wind was just too brutal to stay out very long, so I hung the rest inside.  First time we have had laundry hanging inside since before Christmas.

I still got the occasional whiff of skunk in the house, but that is something that just takes a while to dissipate, no matter what you do.

I made the rose hip marmalade this morning which came out to two 1/2-pint jars and one 1/2-cup jar, with a little left over.  It tasted really good and has only two ingredients: rose hips and brown sugar.  The recipe called for an equal amount of both, but I may put in a little less sugar next time.  And hopefully next time will be next week.

JB has been busy in the shop for the past week or so.  There is much more room now and most of his tools are hung up and organized.

I was going to bake cookies today, but didn't have enough eggs, so I will do that on Saturday.  Instead, I collected a bag of kindling, and two bags of pine needles.  Did some work in the house and finished my book, Fire Trap by Earl Emerson, who is from the Pacific Northwest and writes mysteries set in Seattle.

Thursday 9/3. It was a cold 40 with clear skies this morning and just a light breeze.  I didn't have to leave until 12:30 pm, so we did dishes and more laundry, as I won't be here tomorrow.  Or at least I didn't think I would be.  Jesse and I went to leave and my battery was dead!  So I took JB's Jeep, much to Jesse's delight, as he gets to sit in the front seat.

I did a few short errands as the day was cool enough to leave him in the car.  Picked up a few things for Sunday's BBQ, and the vet was our last stop.  So Jesse finally got his rattlesnake booster.  There were big, dark clouds overhead by the time we were on our way back to Rose Camp.  We were home by 3:00 pm and we actually got a little sprinkle of rain.

Tried to jump my Jeep's battery with JB's Jeep, but to no avail.  I just bought it last summer, so JB is going to take it with him tomorrow when he goes Down There for his appointment at the pace maker clinic.  I hope it is still under warranty, the car battery, that is.

I will take JB's Jeep Down There on Saturday to do all the shopping, and will bake cookies tomorrow.  The girls have been giving us one egg a day, so I now have enough for the recipe.  Not looking forward to going to town on Saturday of a holiday weekend, but that's just the way it is.

We can actually see a little snow on the mountains, but there is none on Mission Ridge yet.  I really wanted to put a fire in the wood stove, but I just put on another shirt instead.

Friday 9/4. It is 42 and mostly cloudy this morning.  JB just left for Down There and I am still waking up.

Thought for the day: The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

September 2, 2015 Rose Hips, A Skunk & My Favorite 4-Letter Word

Ooops!

Rose hips I picked on Tuesday.

Monday 8/31. This morning's posting was written this morning while I was still half asleep, so I hope it made sense.  I usually write it the evening before, then edit and add to it the morning that I post.

We had oatmeal for the first time in months this morning, and I was tempted to put a fire in the wood stove.  I didn't, but I may put flannel sheets on our bed this weekend.

Elsie's and the Gridder's hens have cut back on their egg production also and they attribute it to the smoke.  Well, no more excuses, girls.  The worst of the smoke is gone, at least for now.

I gathered a couple bags of pine needles today for fire starter.  Will be gathering a lot more before we're ready for the cold.

I noticed that the last row I stacked in the wood shed fell over onto the shed wall.  It didn't have far to fall and is actually just leaning against it.  But there is no way I can re-stack it, so I will just toss pieces into the openings.  Next year I am going to stack all the rows across at once, instead of one at a time, so that won't happen.

The sky remained overcast most of the day with a few sun breaks.  The wind finally died to a light breeze mid afternoon, and our high for the day was just 60.  However, as the sun set, the breeze grew into a wind again and we had a very noisy night.

When we spoke to Larry on the radio this evening, he said there was SNOW on Mt. Stewart!  Snow - right now that is my favorite 4-letter word.  Rain is good, but snow is better.  And the forecast is for the snow level to drop to 5500 ft tomorrow, which means that Mission Ridge could even be covered in white.  JB's forecast of an early, long winter could be right on the money.

Tuesday 9/1.  It was 50, windy and overcast again this morning.  Still too many clouds to see if there is any snow on the mountains.

I picked almost 2-1/2 lbs of rose hips today.  As I walked all the way down our driveway to the hairpin corner, I found lots of large, perfect ones.  Once down at the corner, I saw a huge rose bush at least 8' tall and 9' wide that was covered with dark red hips.  I thought for sure I had found the mother lode.  Unfortunately they turned out to be hard and dry.  Possibly too much sun and wind, as they are not at all sheltered.

Back at the house, I washed what I had picked and put them in the juicer for two hours.  I only got two pints of juice, but I discovered that, once the hips are steamed, I can squish the seed pod out in one piece and keep most of the pulp and skin.  It's a time-consuming job, but I think I have enough for several pints of rose hip marmalade that I will make tomorrow.  I can use the juice for jelly or other recipes.

I have written a lot about buying used clothing at the Salvation Army thrift store and at garage sales.  I am sure many people would never dream of doing that, but I grew up wearing a lot of hand-me-downs from my wealthy cousins.  I even bought my prom dresses as a used clothing store, all except for my senior prom dress.  And lately I have met very well-dressed women who buy all their clothes used.  It certainly saves a lot of money.

Today the sky remained overcast but our high got up to 68.  Mt. Stewart remains enshrouded in clouds, so we still can't see if it indeed has snow, but this evening I saw a shower pass over mountains to the north of it which may have dropped some snow.  The forecast for Sunday is clear and 80, which means the temperature would only be in the low to mid 70's Up Here and will be perfect for our BBQ.

I am going Down There on Thursday to finally have Jesse get his rattlesnake vaccination and buy a few items at a store near the vet's.  Then down again on Friday to do a big shopping for the BBQ.

Wednesday 9/2. It is 46 this morning with wind gusting to 17 and clear skies, except to the west where the mountains are still hidden.

Thought for the day: . . . every time we fall into our comfort zones, it's harder to make dreams happen.  We need to coax our brains along with us.  Pamela Mitchell, Sept 7/14 issue of Time magazine