December 30, 2015 Groot, MAX & Mail

Jesse napping in our cold bedroom.  Never let
it be said that our dogs are not spoiled.

Monday 12/28. While JB was getting organized to leave, I slogged (and I do mean slogged) up to the solar panels to clear the snow off of them.  Also measured, and we had received another inch in the past 24 hours.

JB was on his way by 9:00 am, and somehow always manages to go Down There on days that the dishes need to be washed.  So I did that and laundry.  Puttered around, sorted photographs, and read my new book.

Clear skies were in the forecast for this afternoon, but it just didn't happen.  This morning's patches of blue disappeared by noon and the sky was overcast for the rest of the day.  But there was no valley fog like there has been for the past several days.  Our high for the day was 22.

With these below-freezing temps, we have to be sure that the girls' water isn't iced over all the time.  So in the morning when I give them their oatmeal, I also pour hot water into their dish to melt the ice.  Then later in the day one of us will flip the ice out or pour more hot water in.  Belinda likes to eat the little chunks of ice and peck at the bigger ones.

JB returned home at 3:30 pm with all his errands and shopping done, but he had forgotten to take the mailbox key so we will go down for the mail tomorrow.  He gave me the rest of my Christmas presents - two more books and a dancing little Groot!  It is so cute!  Puts a big smile on my face!

Tuesday 12/29. It was 20 this morning with a few tiny snowflakes floating down.  We left to get the mail at 10:00 am with me driving MAX.  A very frustrated me driving MAX.  Did I mention that MAX drives like a tank - literally!  He does not have a steering wheel, just two sticks for steering with a hand throttle attached to one.  Now I am pretty efficient at multi-tasking, but this is ridiculous.  Of course it doesn't help that I have a 180-lb weight sitting on the right side (JB). . .  But we made it down to Miss Kitty and I drove us down to the mail box and back up to MAX.  Then back home in MAX, grumbling all the way.  We were only gone an hour and a half, but it seemed much longer.

The girls cheered me up though by giving us an egg.  I am pretty sure it is Belinda and she is using the large nesting box.

Snow continued to fall all day and by 3:30 pm we had another 1-1/2".  Our high for the day was 24.  

We are watching the third season of Longmire in the evenings, which is one of the DVD's that our son gave us for Christmas.  Very entertaining and well done.

Wednesday 12/30. It is 18 this morning and the overcast sky has sliced the top off of the mountains.  We will be celebrating New Year's Eve with Larry, Elsie and the Gridders at Larry and Elsie's home.

Thought for the day: Do not move into 2016 without letting go of something significant from 2015, an old idea, label, habit, fear, concern of ego.  Let go to free up the whitespace for something new to enter.

December 28, 2015 Eggs & An Anniversary

Looking down the main
canyon road, which has been
plowed.

Dinga supervising JB as he tightens
an axle on MAX.

Friday 12/25. A wonder full Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!  The last egg the girls gave us was on JB's birthday, 11/1.  Then on Christmas Eve day they gave us another one.  Obviously they have their calendar marked.

We had mostly clear skies, sunshine and a high of 30 today.  Just perfect.

I spent about three hours on Wednesday and Thursday learning how to drive MAX in the snow.  JB makes it look much easier than it actually is. . .

This evening we watched Love Actually which, along with The Holiday, is a perfect Christmas movie.  On Christmas Eve we watched UP, which Gridder had loaned us, and it also is perfect for a holiday of love.

Saturday 12/26. It was 18 and partly cloudy this  morning.  The sun and the fog fought for dominance, with the fog finally winning out in early afternoon.  It was back to daily chores today, but also reading books we got for Christmas.

Larry and Elsie's son is home for Christmas with his German Shepherd.  She came running in last evening and hid in the corner as if something had scared her outside.  This morning Larry found the bobcat lying near their house, obviously mortally wounded.  He put it out of its misery and will probably have a rug made from the pelt.

Sunday 12/27. It was 16 and overcast this morning, with very cold temps in the forecast for the next few days, and we had received another 1/2" of snow overnight along with rime.  An icy start to our 46th wedding anniversary, but, as I said, the girls have their calendar marked, and we received an egg from them today!  Just too amazing!

Had a nice long chat with Sandy this morning.  As we were talking, a few small snowflakes began to drift down.  She hasn't received our gift yet as the USPS, Fed Ex and UPS are overloaded.

We left at 10:30 am in MAX to groom the road and go start Miss Kitty.  She started right up, but we had to dig her out, as the tires were frozen into the snow.  I drove her down to the S-curve and back, then we were on our way home in MAX.  The heavier snow was moving in by then and arrived at Rose Camp about the same time we did, noon.  It only lasted for a couple hours, but we received another 1/2".

Our high for the day was 20, but that was only for about five minutes.

JB plans to go Down There tomorrow for mail, groceries and errands he was going to run last Monday.

Wow - 46 years!  My how the time passes when you're having fun. . .

Monday 12/28. It is 19 and mostly cloudy this morning.  JB plans to leave for Down There by 9:30 am.

Thought for the day: To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.  So do it.  Kurt Vonnegut

December 25, 2015 Merry Christmas from Rose Camp!

Merry Christmas from Rose Camp!

Thought for the day: If you would find happiness, seek gratitude.

December 23, 2015 A Wild Winter Solstice!

Going. . .

. . . going. . .

. . . gone!

Monday 12/21. Snow began to fall at 8:00 am this Winter Solstice morning, with more in the forecast each day through Christmas.  JB left in Big Red at 9:30 am to go trade her for Miss Kitty.  Ah, the plans of mice and men. . .

He got about a mile down the road and belly panned.  Used the winch to pull Big Red another 50 feet, and then there were no available trees to do so again.  Larry and Gridder came up in Larry's Snow Cat to rescue him and pulled Big Red all the way to the main canyon road.  Gridder drove Big Red down to Mr. Sixes who had brought Miss Kitty to Larry and Elsie's.  While JB was being rescued, Mr. Sixes had driven back to his house and brought his snowmobile to use in the rescue.  Gridder drove Miss Kitty up to the big S-curve, which is about 1/4 mile from our road, and where the Snow Cat had stalled.  Everyone finally made it down to Larry and Elsie's at about 6:00 pm, where JB spent the night.  One simply cannot make it in the mountains without good friends and neighbors.

Snow continued to fall all day and we received 11 more inches, this on top of the more than three feet we already had!  I shoveled the paths mid day and dug MAX out in the hope that JB would make it back up.  Looks like we may have to park Miss Kitty at the junction of our road and the main canyon road, using MAX to get to her.  This is just the kind of "adventure" we usually have once a winter, and usually around Christmas.  

I had used the generator to do laundry & fill the cistern, so I didn't need to run it this evening.  We only have four solar panels, so that is a main factor in deciding when and how to use our electricity.  Larry and Elsie have been off the grid more than twice as long as we have and have been able to add to their number of panels.  They now have 14, I think.  This gives them much more flexibility for the use of their power.

Our high for the day was 24.  Snow stopped falling at about 5:00 pm, but MAX was buried again and the paths did not look like I had done any shoveling.  By 6:00 pm, the sky was clear and the stars were out.  Soon the moon was shining brightly on the snow.  Beautiful!

Our mutant frog under the house was singing his praises for the Winter Solstice.  I call him a mutant because he has to be part warm-blooded to still be awake in these temperatures.

Tuesday 12/22. It was 27, clear and breezy this morning.  JB finally made it to town this morning by 10:00 to do the errands he wanted to do yesterday.  By that time I had shoveled all the paths, dug out MAX (again), and brought in the fire wood.  I would much rather be doing that than sitting inside trying to stay cool in the summer heat.  Plus, it helps me work off the eggnog and cookies. . .

JB was back to Gridder's at 11:30 am.  Gridder followed him in the snowmobile up to Larry and Elsie's, where they loaded our cooler on a sled and filled it with our mail, and JB parked the Jeep.  JB followed him as far as he could in Miss Kitty, which was not quite as far as the S-curve.  He parked Miss Kitty and rode on the snowmobile back home, where they arrived at 1:30 pm.  So good to have him back safe and sound!  He plans to use MAX to groom the road tomorrow and Thursday.

The sky remained mostly clear all day, but more snow is on the way soon again.  We now have received a total of 49" (more than 4 feet), and it is just the first day of winter!  We sure need it, though, so all is well.  And it is almost Christmas!

Wednesday 12/23. It is 26, mostly cloudy and breezy this morning.  Looks like it may have snowed another inch or so during the night.

Regarding the comment about Gridder, he is a 6'2" ex-Marine.  We weren't too concerned. . .

Thought for the day: The one who follows the crowd will get no further than the crowd.  The one who walks alone will find himself in places no one has ever been.

December 21, 2015 More Snow & Our OTG Attitude

JB using the tractor to clear snow.

Friday 12/18. Yesterday our temperature didn't fluctuate at all from 20.  It was our high, our low, and in between.

The snow cannon at Mission Ridge was booming all this morning, and Jesse did not want to be outside because of it.  Pretty sure they must be ecstatic over there with all this powder snow.  Certainly making up for last year.

The girls aren't outside until 8:30 am now.  They were very discomboobilated yesterday when I arrived with their breakfast at 8:15 am.  So now I will wait so I do no get there til 8:30 or later.

We received 7-1/2" of snow in the past 24 hours and it began to snow again a little past 8:00 am.  Now this is how winter is supposed to be!  JB left in MAX at about 1:00 pm to groom the road.  It took him a while to get MAX dug out of the snow first.  I shoveled the pathways while he was gone.  The powder is so light that you can barely feel it on the shovel.

Our son and his family went to the 7:00 pm showing of Star Wars this evening and he sent selfies of them in line and in the theater!

JB made a phenomenal lasagna for dinner this evening.

Saturday 12/19. It was 27 and snowing this morning, with valley fog.  The snowfall didn't last very long and we only got another inch.

JB tried using the tractor to clear some of the snow, but there was just too much powder and we had to shovel some out of the way so he could park it by his Jeep.  Couldn't get it back up by the wood shed.

Earlier this year I purchased some 120-hour candles that we are beginning to use.  Our OTG attitude does not allow for electric lights whenever we want them.  We don't use them in the morning, or in the evening before 7:00 pm unless we have had a lot of sun powering our batteries during the day.  Candles and battery lights are the name of the game.  Or we just do whatever it is we want to do that needs light between sunup and sundown.  We get so spoiled Down There, using electricity whenever we want to.  Electricity and water, the two things that most of the world does not have in abundance and most Americans waste them shamelessly.  Well, what can I say?  The further off the grid you get, the bigger the attitude.  And we are wayyyy off the grid.

Sunday 12/20. It was 20 and snowing this morning til the clouds began to clear around 10:00 am, giving us another 1-1/2" of snow.  We shoveled the paths again.  Good exercise.

Not sure where the rest of the day went.  We both read our books and did chores.

Gridder came up at about 3:30 pm with some books and movies to loan us.  He drove an old snowmobile that he had refurbished.  He's been driving it around quite a bit just fine, until he got up to just below our driveway and it died.  He walked up the rest of the way and figured it would probably start after it cooled down.  If not, he would walk home, after all it is all down hill. . .  We thought we heard the motor start, so hoped he didn't have to walk that four miles.

During our nightly chat with Larry on the radio, we found out that Gridder was unable to get the snowmobile started and had indeed walked back home.

Monday 12/21. It is 22 with valley fog trying to intrude Up Here.  We get Miss Kitty back today.  JB will drive Big Red down to Larry and Elsie's for the exchange.

Thought for the day: When all the angels are busy, God sends a dog.

December 18, 2015 Gasification, Star Wars & More Snow

A view from the woodshed.

Wednesday 12/16. JB left for Down There at 9:30 am in Big Red.  The sky soon cleared and we had another beautiful, sunny day.  I measured the snowfall on our morning walk and we had actually received an inch more of snow during the night.

I kept busy with laundry, cleaning house, baking cookies, and the day whizzed by.  JB didn't get back home until 4:30 pm.  It was his first main run for a while and he is re-learning where everything is in the stores.  He mailed all the last-minute Christmas gifts and cards, well, except for Sandy's.  She opens her gifts as soon as the package arrives, so we will have to wait til next Monday or Tuesday to send hers.  Then I had given him my Christmas list.  There were also groceries to buy and other errands.

We have started watching the third season of Homeland and I am not so sure that I care for it.

Thursday 12/17. It was 20 and snowing lightly this morning.  As the day progressed, so did the snowfall, with more and larger flakes.  By 10:30, when JB and the dogs went on the morning walk, we already had another 2".  By our afternoon walk, we had 4" and it was still coming down.

JB couldn't get the snow blower started today, so he did some shoveling.  Fortunately this snow is all powder and very light.  He will probably groom the road with MAX tomorrow.

The Arctic Cat repair shop called to let us know that Miss Kitty was ready to go!  It seems that the owner himself did the job so we could get her back.  Now it is just up to Mr. Sixes to pick her up at his convenience.  We will meet him down at the pavement and exchange Miss Kitty for Big Red.

Because it was a dark, snowy day, we ran the generator for an hour after dinner to help charge the batteries.  I am looking into the gasification possibilities for running the generator, which seems to be the logical answer to any fuel shortage that may occur.  Gasification uses the gases from a wood fire to run any gas generator.  I mentioned this in my blog more than a year ago.  What can I say - sometimes it takes me a while to get going on a project.  Even an important one like this.

We received the new issue of BackWoods Home magazine yesterday.  It never disappoints.  Some great articles in there, one of which is how to build a very inexpensive greenhouse.

Friday 12/18. It is 20 and mostly overcast this morning.  Looks as though we may have received 6" of snow in the past 24 hours.  JB is getting ready to go clean the solar panels and measure.

Opening day of the new Star Wars movie and I'm not going!!  Our son and his family have tickets for the 7:00 pm showing in Mobile, AL.  I am so envious.  I definitely plan to see it though while it is in the theater.

Thought for the day: Worrying is betting against yourself.  Alex Bova, Guideposts, December 2015

December 16, 2015 Off-the-Grid Attitude & Grief

Trail?  What trail?

Monday 12/14. Had a nice long talk with Randy today.  He thinks I should write more about being off the grid.  He is probably right as I tend to write more about living on a mountain than being off grid.  When I first began writing my blog, I wrote a lot about our solar power set up and living with it, but I guess I have not been too specific lately.  

We really have to adjust more to solar power in the winter, with the shorter days and more cloudy weather.  We use candles or battery-powered lights when the sun goes down until about 7:00 pm when we turn on an electric light and the TV to watch a movie or TV series.  With the introduction of LED lights, there are now several good little battery lights that are very bright and use little power.  We usually have the TV on for about 2 to 2-12 hours.  During the day, we only use electricity to pump in water, run the computer, or run our few electric kitchen tools.  If it is a very cloudy day, we will use the generator to power up the batteries.

Another issue with winter and solar power is that the cold tends to affect the batteries adversely, so the charge, whether from the sun or generator, does not last as long.  With only four solar panels, we really have to watch our use.  We do have a 3000 kwh set-up and the panels are on top of a ridge, but it's not at all like being Down There with unlimited usage.

There is an excellent article in the Jan/Feb issue of Countryside magazine about living off grid.  Truly living off the grid is a matter of getting back to basics.  Keeping it all simple - KISS.  Using solar power instead of grid power to run all your toys and electronics is not what it is all about.  Our attitude is like the author of this article, use electricity as little as possible.  We have lots of candles and oil lanterns.  Unlike the author, we do not have any kerosene lanterns, but I think we're good.  A wood stove is our only source of heat, which means stocking up on fire wood each year and lugging it into the house each winter.  What feels so good about this is that we are helping ourselves and not relying on the "system."  I will be writing more about this in future posts.

It is actually more fun to write about living on a mountain.  Like today when we all went down the road to groom it.  JB and I in MAX with the dogs walking/running.  By grooming it, I mean that JB uses MAX to flatten out the middle ridge.  Without Miss Kitty, we won't be able to plow this winter as our plow will not fit on Big Red.  (Wouldn't want to use it on a borrowed vehicle anyway.)

It was a beautiful day and a great ride.  Has been a while since we used MAX, so I forgot how cold my face gets and forgot to wear a scarf I could wrap over it.  I did remember hand and toe warmers though.

Our high for the day was 34, but even with the bright sunshine, there was no noticeable melting.

Larry and Elsie drove up for a visit this evening in their side-by-side Arctic Cat (same as Miss Kitty).  Larry drove in Big Red's tracks that he could see.  The only problem with using MAX as opposed to plowing is that with his wide tracks, MAX tends to sit up on the snow, whereas the Arctic Cats will sink down with their tires.

Tuesday 12/15. It is 24, partly cloudy and breezy this morning.  That four degrees between 28 and 24 makes a big difference.

I found out this morning that my cousin's stepdaughter had lost her fight with breast cancer on Sunday.  She was only 28, had two little boys, and had put up such a long, hard fight.  This is going to be really rough on everyone.

So our day had a pall to it, as will the whole holiday season.  Got ready for JB to go Down There tomorrow to mail all our Christmas cards & run a few errands.  We are supposed to get more snow tomorrow night, and there is a big storm due in over Christmas.

Our high for the day was 32 and the sky remained partly cloudy.

Wednesday 12/16. It is 23 and overcast this morning and it looks like we received about 1/2" of snow overnight.

Thought for the day: Grief is a privilege - a privilege of having loved so much.  Nancy Roberts, The Circle of Life

December 14, 2015 More Snow, Tracks on MAX & Falling Stars

Putting the tracks on MAX - 1 . . .

. . .2 . . .

. . . 3!!

Friday 12/11. All three girls (hens) are sleeping in the nesting boxes most nights.  Sometimes Belinda will sleep on the bottom rung of their roosting ladder.  They are finishing their oatmeal every morning now, and when I pour hot water in their bowl to melt the ice, Blondie comes running to drink it while it is still warm.

Yesterday JB used the snow blower and shovel to clear the paths.  I put up about half of the Christmas decorations.

Mmmm.  This morning I had eggnog in my coffee and a newspaper to read while I sipped it.  Perfect!

After that treat, I printed out our Christmas letter.  I will also make some cards for those friends and family whom I know read my blog.

After lunch we finally put the tracks on MAX.  In order to save our marriage, we have an agreement that anything we say during this process doesn't count.  We simply forget it and get on with life.  And today was not one of the easier times doing this.  We have to suck the air out of four of the tires (with a shop vac) and try to get them into a square shape which makes it so much easier to get the tracks on.  Today one of them was a triangle.  Not fun.  The whole process took about 2-1/2 hours.  But from now on, this WILL be done the first week in October. . .

JB then drove MAX up and around the south ridge successfully, finding just one broken cleat that will have to be removed.

During our conversation with Elsie this evening, we learned that a bobcat got one of their chickens last night.  Then this morning they found some LARGE cougar tracks in their yard.  Oh, goodie!

Saturday 12/12. This morning was 28 and overcast, and another inch of snow fell during the night.

I finished putting up the decorations, including our little metal tree which we refer to as our Suzann tree, as my cousin (Suzann) made most of the decorations for it.  Then I worked on the children's Christmas cards which is always so much fun.  Also got the adults' cards partially addressed.

JB left to groom our road in MAX a little after noon, just as snow began to fall.  It only took about an hour as Buster's owner had plowed the main road.  By mid afternoon it looked like we had at least three more inches and it was still coming down.

I had a nice chat with my friend, Jane, this afternoon.  They live in N. Carolina and her husband was out playing golf yesterday in 69-degree weather!

Our high for the day was 30, but at 10:00 pm a wind had picked up and the temp had risen to 32.  The wind blew all night, not hard, just noisy.

Sunday 12/13. It was 30, partly cloudy and still windy this morning.  Neither of us had much sleep as Buster decided to come for a visit at 1:15 AM!  I got up and put in a fire, but didn't let our dogs out.  After about a half an hour, I took them out on leashes so they could pee.  Then I went back to bed, but JB got up because the dogs were wound up, especially Dinga because she doesn't like the wind.  He ended up sleeping on the couch.

After breakfast, JB trudged up to check the solar panels but the wind had kept most of the snow off of them.  He measured the snowfall and we had received another 4-12" in the past 24 hours.  He used the snow blower to once again clear the paths, and then drove MAX up and around the south ridge and down to our hair pin.  He plans to do the road again tomorrow.

I spent the day addressing Christmas cards and making some more.  Also spent a little time on the computer.

The wind has flattened and sculpted the snow, like icing on a cake.  We no longer see or walk on the ground.  On most of the paths, we are walking on several inches of snow.

Elsie told us that they lost another hen to the bobcat Saturday night.  It had pulled the wood away from the little door to the hen house. Part of their pen does not have a top, so yesterday they fixed that so there is no way the cat can get in now.

Monday 12/14. It is 28, partly cloudy and windy this morning.  I set my alarm for 1:45 am so I could get up and watch the meteor shower.  I got up only to discover that I had fallen back to sleep and it was now 2:45 am.  I watched for a while and was able to see three falling stars.  I'm not much of a star gazer, but meteors, or falling stars, have always fascinated me.

Thought for the day: The biggest mistake you can make in life is always being afraid you'll make a mistake.  Nancy Polley

December 11, 2015 More Snow & A Wild Ride

Snow blowing vertically past
the window.

Wednesday 12/9. By the time I went outside to feed the girls at 8:15 am, the wind had sent the clouds on their way and we had blue sky overhead.  An hour later we were in the middle of a blizzard.  And that was pretty much our weather all day, back and forth between blizzard and blue sky.  As if the snow-laden clouds were getting stuck on the mountains and the wind was tearing a few off at a time and blowing the snow sideways past our windows.

During one of the lulls, we put a set of our chains on the rear wheels of Big Red.  Then I drove her down our road to the short-cut turn-off.  Definitely put her through her paces and all I could think of to say when I returned was: Yippee Ki Aye!  Having made it back up our driveway, I decided to go Down There tomorrow.  Our high for the day was 40.

After waiting 50 years for an idea for a novel, my muse has once again demonstrated her wicked sense of humor by giving me my inspiration at the beginning of the holidays. . .

We began watching the fifth season of White Collar this evening.  Entertaining, but just not the quality of Elementary.

Thursday 12/10. We woke up to three more inches of snow and 28 degrees.  I was able to get on my way by 8:45 am and the road was actually better than it had been yesterday, due to the cooler temp and more snow.  Although once I made it down to Larry and Elsie's, I wasn't quite sure I'd be able to make it back up again.  I decided it would help if I had a lot of weight in the back, so I would have to buy a lot of groceries.

The snow had turned to rain yesterday about a quarter mile down the pavement.  Wenatchee was bereft of any snow, but surrounded by white hills.  I mailed all our packages, got all the shopping done, and was on my way back home by 1:30 pm.  I put my winter overalls back on inside Larry and Elsie's nice, warm house.  Picked up another package, let their dogs out, and transferred everything from my Jeep to Big Red.  Wasn't sure if I was actually going to make it up in a couple places, but I was home by 3:00 pm.  And, once again, I let out a loud "Yippee Ki Aye!!  So very glad to be back.

One of the best things about going Down There is being back home and knowing that I won't have to going back down for a while. . .

Friday 12/11. It is 28 and we are encased in fog this morning.  Definitely have to get those tracks on MAX.  Looks like it is going to be a MAX winter.

Thought for the day: I think Christmas is about celebration and, come on, on the inside everyone wants to dance.  Tobymac

December 9, 2015 Wind, Rain & Slush

Clearing the drain for the
 rain and melting snow.

View from the deck
on Sunday.

Monday 12/7. Rain began to fall a little after 9:00 am.  Pouring rain on a foot of snow!  It lasted until noon and then there was about an hour of indecision as to whether it was going to rain or snow.  A little after 1:00 pm the precipitation was definitely snow, and stayed that way until sundown.

Yesterday Larry spent four hours plowing the mile of road from their place down to the pavement.  Of course he also does a few driveways, but that is a long time.  Just hope it doesn't freeze after all this rain. . .

JB baked a loaf of dilly bread this afternoon (Nene's recipe).  I finished all my last Christmas present.  Wrapped it.  And got all the packages ready to mail when I go Down There Wednesday or Thursday.

This morning there were deer tracks all around the yard and by the rose bushes.  They ate just about all the rose hips that were left!  

With this weather, we did not get the tracks on MAX.  Maybe tomorrow. . .

Tuesday 12/8. It was 34 and raining this morning.  I got dressed right away and went outside to dig out the drainage "ditch" from the south side of the house.  It remained a river all day long.

The rain stopped falling for a while around 9:30 am and the wind picked up.  Winds gusting from 45 to 65 mph are forecast for tomorrow along with more rain.  Rain fell off and on throughout the day and we had wind gusts up to 24 mph.  Needless to say, we did not get the tracks on MAX.  We did, however, get the tracks moved out of the wood shed and down next to MAX for when the opportunity arises.  I drove Big Red up and around the south ridge to see if it could actually be done.  With that success, I figure I should be able to drive her down to my Jeep on Thursday.  Won't try it tomorrow in the wind.

Our high for today was 46 and the snow is very obviously melting.  It still looks like snow, but is really a foot of slush.  We received 1.48" of rain yesterday and probably 1/4" of snow.

I probably should get the Christmas decorations up tomorrow since there is only about two weeks left until the magic day.  At least I created our Christmas card today, and now need to get ink and paper on Thursday so I can get them printed.

Finished watching the second season of Elementary this evening.  Love this series!

Wednesday 12/9. It is 32 with wind gusts to 29 this morning, and a few snow flakes being tossed around.  The wind roared most of the night, so none of us got much sleep, more from a restless Dinga than the noise.  We received 1-1/4" of rain in the past 24 hours.

Thought for the day: Your multiple choice for the day:  Busy is a choice.  Stress is a choice.  Joy is a choice.  Choose well.

December 7, 2015 Sunshine, Lots of Snow & Finding My Book

Dinga digging after critters.

MAX, before we dug him out.

Friday 12/4. I started reading the new Cowboys & Indians magazine this morning and could not put it down.  A large portion of it is dedicated to the new mountain man movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant, which opens Christmas Day.  Definitely going to see that one when it is out on DVD.

So with such a late start, I didn't get much done today other than daily chores.  Worked on finishing Nene's gift.  JB got the snow blower running and cleared a lot of paths.

It was a day of delicious, bright sunshine in a mostly blue sky.  Our high for the day was 40, but it really didn't cause much melting.  There was a crunchy frosting of ice atop the snow when we went for our afternoon walk.  Dinga was in heaven, making snow angels and digging in the snow after little critters.

I actually made a little time to write on my book after dinner and try to organize all my notes.  I am usually writing notes for it during most days (and nights), but haven't done much actual writing.

Saturday 12/5. It was 26 and we were in the clouds this morning.  A very fine snow began to fall around 9:00 am, which soon increased to larger flakes.  It didn't stop snowing until Sunday morning, and by 3:00 pm we had four more inches.  Our high for the day was 28.

I feel like the book I am writing already exists in its entirety.  I just have to gather all the little snippets that fall through the sieve between realities, and make sense of them.  Like putting together a puzzle of ill-defined pieces.  And poor JB has to put up with me turning on my bedside lamp at all hours of the night, or holding up my hand to stop a conversation while I jot down some notes.

I drove our loaner ATV down to pick up the mail, visit the Gridders and pick up another package at Larry and Elsie's that I had had shipped to their shop.  The snow was really coming down and I had to stop every half mile or so to wipe off the windshield, as the vehicle does not have wipers.  Our road was better than I thought it might be, but the main canyon road had a bit of ice under the snow.

When I arrived at Gridder's, their boys were building a very cool snow fort out of a pile of snow that Larry made while plowing out their driveway.  The whole trip took about 2-1/2 hours.  Driving back up the mountain, about a mile from home and after I stopped to wipe the windshield, I noticed a flashing yellow light on the dashboard.  Nothing sounded wrong and all the engine lights were okay, so I drove on home.  

I called Mr. Sixes about the light and he said I must have hit the blinker switch!  His vehicle is licensed to be on public roads, so it has blinkers, a horn, rear-view windows, etc.  Well, that was a big relief!  

The snow was still piling up as the sun set.  Could only guess what we would wake up to in the morning.

Sunday 12/6.  The snow had stopped falling when we got up and it was 32 outside.  But there was A LOT of snow on the ground.  JB got dressed right away and went up to clear off the solar panels and measure the snow.  We had received 11" in the past 24 hours.  He could hear the avalanche cannons booming on Mission Ridge.

Even with a tractor and snow blower, there are times when we just have to shovel the snow, and this morning was one of those times.  JB shoveled the basic walkways to the hen house, shop, battery room and wood shed.  I cleared off the foot of snow on the deck, which always seems so much larger in the winter.  We both got a good cardio workout, and that was before we even started on MAX.

By 10:00 am, the sky was almost clear.  The sun had driven the fog down into the canyons and valleys.  The snow was sliding off of the roof and dropping from the tree branches.  Very soon, it was raining from the trees.

We wanted to put the tracks on MAX today, but first we had to dig him out, which we did after lunch.  Then JB drove him over by his Jeep, and we had to dig out a place to park and work on him.  By the time we were done with all that and bringing in fire wood, it was just to late and we were just too pooped to put on the tracks.  Hopefully we can get that done tomorrow.

Our high for the day was 38, but once again, there didn't seem to be much melting except for off of the trees and roof.  The weather forecast calls for more warmer temps for the next few days and possibly some rain.  Miss Kitty should be fixed by Wednesday or Thursday, and I need to get down and pay for the repairs so Mr Sixes can pick her up.  Also need to get some shopping done and packages mailed.

Monday 12/7. It is 34 and overcast this morning with valley fog.  Not really looking forward to putting on MAX's tracks. . .

Thought for the day: Sometimes the grass will appear greener on the other side because it has been fertilized by bullsh*t.

December 4, 2015 More Snow & Rime

Rime & snow on a wild rose bush.

Wednesday 12/2. Did laundry & dishes.  Some folks hang their laundry outside in the winter to be freeze dried.  I have nothing against that except for the actual hanging part of it.  It is way too cold to stand out there and clip the clothes onto the line and then take them down later.  Would much rather do it inside where it is warm.  I don't mind looking at the laundry drying.

With more storms and then a melting/freezing trend due in, today was definitely the day to take my Jeep down for the winter.  So JB drove it and I followed in our loaner ATV, which is a Honda Big Red, down to Larry and Elsie's.  Let their dogs out and picked up a package I had delivered to their shop that they brought home yesterday.  It was a nice outing and am so glad we got it done.

Our high for the day was 24, and as we discovered on our drive, we were not fogged in but rather up in the clouds.

Am working on an idea for our Christmas card and have it mostly figured out.

Thursday 12/3. Snow began falling sometime before 4:00 am this morning.  It was still coming down when we got up at 8:00 am, and the temp was 26.  JB and the dogs slogged up to clear off the solar panels and measure the snowfall, while I got the dogs' and chickens' breakfasts ready.  We had received another 2" of snow, so now there is about 5" on the ground everywhere.  There was a very thin layer of ice under the new snow, and the snow itself made a light rustle as it landed on my coat.

I can tell immediately upon waking up about how cold it is outside by the temperature in our bedroom.  There is a subtle difference between the mid to high twenties and the low twenties to high teens.  Then another subtle difference between the high and low teens.  And another difference between that and the single digits.  However, there is a huge difference between the twenties and the single digits.  After the 8 degrees we experienced, the mid twenties seem almost warm.  Our high today was 29.  Almost balmy.

JB used the tractor to clear basic walkways.  He couldn't get the snow blower started, so will try again tomorrow.  It worked just fine last winter.  He had emptied all the gas out of it in the Spring and put fresh in today, so don't know what the problem is.

Can't believe it is December already.  It seems as though we are racing towards Christmas.  Probably because I am not nearly ready.

Snow quit falling a little after 9:00 am, but then was off and on throughout the day.  And a very dark day it was, as if it was 4:00 pm beginning at dawn.  Had to run the generator this evening for an hour to recharge the batteries.

Friday 12/4. It is 34 and overcast this morning with a light wind.  The warming trend made for a very noisy night as the ice and snow were sporadically roaring off the roof.

Thought for the day: Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.  Nathaniel Hawthorne

December 2, 2015 Snow & Rime

Rimed, but not rhyming.

Rimed rose hips.

Monday 11/30. It looked like tiny flakes of snow were falling as I went out to feed the girls this morning, but I thought it was just flakes of frozen fog - pogonip.  Within a half hour, it proved to be snow.  We had another storm due in tonight.  Guess it arrived a bit early.

As the snow began falling, the fog moved out.  When the snow let up, the fog moved back in.  This went on most of the day, but the snowfall was so light that we barely got a quarter inch.

I wrapped most of the Christmas presents and packaged them for mailing.  JB spent time on his computer, and baked some double-chocolate, Costco-size muffins.  Neither of us spent much time outside.  Only out there for chores.

Tuesday 12/1. It was 12 and overcast this first day of December.  By 9:00 am we could see blue sky to the east, but that was soon covered over again.

JB left for Down There at 9:30 a to see if we could get a better deal with Verizon.  Turns out it was one day late to not have to pay for our data overage in November.  But we got a better deal for another $25 a month, including no limit on anytime minutes on our phones.  And, of course, we never go down for just one errand, so I gave the grocery list to JB plus a couple other items.  He also mailed the Christmas box to Alabama.

I cleaned house a bit and spent some time on the computer.

JB was back home by 2:30 pm.  So nice to sit down with the newspapers after unloading everything.  Our high for the day was 16, and it turns out that we were in the clouds, not fogged in.

The initial thrill from having actually started my book has changed to almost panic about not having the time to write it.  The project having caused a major shift in my life.  That old adage keeps popping into my head: Be careful what you ask for.

Wednesday 12/2. It is 18 and partly cloudy this morning and we received 2-3/4" of snow during the night.  We have to get my Jeep down for the winter soon, if not today.

Thought for the day: The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. Herbert Spencer