June 27, 2016 White Tail vs Mule Deer

The "flying saucer" clouds over
Mission Ridge, which are
often seen by Mt. Ranier.

Asters & yarrow.

Friday 6/24. Sandy called my shortly after JB left for Down There this morning.  She just had to share her elation over the UK voting to opt out of the EU!  But she is not looking forward to the very hot weather that is in the forecast for them.  We'll be getting some too, but not into the 100's.

The wind was gusting to 14 mph, so I decided to stay busy inside.  I made four 1/2-gallon jars of the ingredients for the broccoli-cheddar soup in the Meals in a Jar book.  I also made chicken broth for the dogs.  Then baked my world-famous gluten-free chocolate chip-oatmeal cookies.  That always takes a while as the recipe is for about 10 dozen.  JB arrived home just as the first batch was coming out of the oven. . .

Besides buying the various types of gas, he made stops at businesses that sell propane.  The dealer who has been delivering up our canyon for the past 15 years or so has decided he doesn't want to any longer.  The manager of one of
the places JB visited will be coming Up Here on Wednesday to check out the road.

The wind continued to blow all day and our high was 62.

JB stopped in to see Larry and Elsie while he was in town.  It seems that the deer we had up here on Thursday were in fact immature mule deer.  The giveaway was the black tip on their white tale.  Interesting that, like humans, the teenagers don't look much like the adults they become.

Saturday 6/25. The day began with a temp of 50 and partly cloudy skies. 

JB and I got outside after breakfast to do work with the tractor.  He took several bucket loads of small fir branches and needles, that I loaded into the bucket, from south of the house to the new swale.  Then he took the bushes I had cut out yesterday evening and most of a rotten stump to the swale also.  After that he covered it with several loads of dirt, that I raked level and tamped down.

The wild rose blooms don't seem to have lasted as long this year as they usually do.  There are still a few scattered bushes that are in bloom, but not many.

Looks like just members of the younger generation of JB's family will be Up Here for the weekend of July 4th.  Two nephews are coming, one with his son and girlfriend.  We haven't seen either of them in a while, so we are very pleased they can make it this year.  But now there is so much to do in preparation!

Our high for the day was a very pleasant 66, but it is going to get much warmer.  After dinner I cut out some more bushes on the east slope and broke up another rotten stump.

Sunday 6/26. It was 56 with clear skies this morning.  Wanted to get the outside projects done early before the heat set in.  So after morning chores and laundry, I began clearing bushes away from the swale by the hen house.  Surrounding all these bushes is fantastic mulch made up of dead grass, leaves and needles that I also put on the swales.

I also pulled everything that was growing on the tipi floor.  Gridder will be bringing up his boys tomorrow morning so they can help put it up and see how it is done.

After lunch the splitter was in the shade and there was a nice breeze, so I split some more wood.  Tomorrow morning JB will use the tractor to move the bushes I cut out yesterday evening and the rotten stump to the swale. Then he will move the fire wood to the wood shed.  I will stack it after we put up the tipi and take the boys home.

Our high for the day was 74.  Not too bad, but tomorrow is supposed to be warmer.

Monday 6/27. It is 64 with clear skies this morning.  Going to be a busy week.

Thought for the day: Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.  John Muir