August 31, 2018 Love My New Yard!

My swing moved to the yard.

Wednesday 8/29. We were out early to scoop up all the piles of fir cones with the tractor bucket and dump them over the west side.  Then we moved the swing from overlooking the west ridge to the front yard.  It was a great view of the mountains, but we just rarely used it.  We also moved two of the benches to the front yard for Sunday seating.

JB made stakes for the Rose Camp signs that I will post on our road, as we have two new families coming to the BBQ this year.  One of them just bought land Up Here this summer and plans to live there year round.

I love my new, huge yard!  And especially the swing.  Also the fact that we are no longer parking the vehicles in the yard, but across the driveway.

The wind picked up just after 1:00 pm and our high for the day was 80, although it didn't feel that warm.

Thursday 8/30. It was 52 with clear skies and a breeze this morning.  Now we are into projects specifically for Sunday's BBQ.  I made the signs to post on our road tomorrow when I go Down There grocery shopping.  I also baked peanut-butter/chocolate-chip cookies.

We finished building a short fence on the north side of the yard by the drive.  And JB moved the trailer back up where we usually keep it except for fire season (which is right by the porch).

My Aunt Nene and her friend canned 37 quarts of her famous dill pickles early this week!  That woman just doesn't stop!

Our high for the day was a lovely 74 and it remained breezy all day.  I love my swing in the yard and I am sure I will be enjoying sitting on it every day now.

Friday 8/31. It is 48 this morning with a few clouds to the east and some more barely peeking over the mountains.  It's going to be a busy and fun weekend.

Thought for the day: Buddha was not a Buddhist.  Jesus was not a Christian.  Muhammad was not a Muslim.  They were Teachers who taught Love.  Love was their religion.

August 29, 2018 Getting Ready For the BBQ

The fence is back up.

Monday 8/27. I raked up the sawdust and chips in the yard and JB took them to the drive in the tractor bucket where I spread them with the rake to help keep down the dust.  Then we put the bird bath back up.  Except for raking up all the fir cones, I do believe we are done cleaning up from the felled trees.

After lunch we put in the fence posts on the east side of the yard.  Not sure yet how much fence we will put to the north.

Clouds blew over most of the day from the north and our high for the day was a very comfortable 68.

Another thing I love about the pound cakes that JB bakes, besides the taste and texture, is that you can only take just a thin slice at a time.  Not a big slab like with the banana bread, so it lasts much longer.

Tuesday 8/28. It was 52 and clear this morning.  We were out to finish building the fence after breakfast.  It looks great!

Then JB drove Down There to have his new tires put on that he had ordered for his Jeep.  While he was gone, I raked up several piles of fir cones and just worked on little details in the yard and across the drive.

Just as he drove off the pavement, JB's Jeep started acting up.  I thought I might have to go down in Miss Kitty to bring him home, but he finally got it started again.

Our high for the day was 74.

Wednesday 8/29.  It is 58 and partly cloudy this morning.  We now have 35 people confirmed for the BBQ!  So glad we have so much more room in the yard now. . .

Thought for the day: You had the power all along, my dear.

August 27, 2018 Rain, Labels & Just Taking My Time

All clear.  Woo Hoo!

Branches to be cut in the
wood cradle.

Friday 8/24. We worked on trimming and cleaning up the branches from the 90-ft. pine tree today.  After lunch the dogs and I walked down to our neighbors with the yurt.  They were over just for the day to get their outdoor kitchen upright again.  Our eleven feet of snow from two years ago had knocked it over, but now they have a cement foundation to attach it to.  I took some fresh eggs and blueberry jam to give to them, and helped them a bit.  She will be back for our BBQ a week from Sunday.

While I was gone, JB baked a pound cake.  It always turns out so good!

Our high for the day was a very pleasant 74.

We have good friends who consider themselves gun-toting, very LIBERAL Democrats, while I think of myself as a gun-toting, liberal conservative.  But the problem with labels is that they are very limiting.  Once you name something, it is now defined and suddenly it becomes this rock-solid thing with boundaries, with limits.  And neither of us really fit those definitions.  That's the problem with today's politics.  People are pigeon-holed and judged by adjectives that don't completely fit.  It's really quite sad that we can't just be people who have different beliefs but get along just fine.

Saturday 8/25. It was 50 and overcast this morning with smoke that had crept back in.  I needed a day off from clipping, so we mostly moved branches to the edge of the area across the drive and took the tiny stuff over the west ridge.

After lunch I did laundry and made chicken broth for the dogs.

I find myself walking slower in the past year or so.  Not because I have to, but because I want to.  I am rarely in a hurry any more after no many years of bustling about, and it is quite a joy to just take my time.

The wind picked up in the afternoon and by 2:30 pm we felt rain drops!  A lovey, lazy rain that lasted almost three hours.  We covered and closed up everything, and I brought in the laundry to re-hang inside.  But I didn't hurry.  It was just too nice to be out in the rain.  The smoke disappeared and the air smelled SO fresh!

Fall is definitely in the air and has been for the past week or so.  The bushes and undergrowth have begun to turn yellow and orange.  Our high for the day was just 67.

Sunday 8/26. It was 48 and overcast this morning with a very little smoke on the horizon.  We were outside early working again.  I trimmed the last of the large branches and JB drove them to the wood cradle in four bucket loads.  Then he pushed the smaller branches against the large swale, making room for BBQ parking next Sunday.  We were done by 10:30 am except for raking up the really small stuff.  It looks great!  And not nearly as much dust today, thanks to yesterday's rain.  Just as JB came in the house after covering and closing up everything, today's rain began.  It was very light though and only lasted about ten minutes.

After lunch Larry and Elsie drove up in their side-by-side and four-wheelers with their grandsons.  Their oldest, who is ten, has his own four-wheeler and he had a blast when I suggested that he should ride around our place on the mowed areas.  We all had a very nice visit.

Our high for the day was just 65 and the smoke completely disappeared.

Monday 8/27. It is 46 and clear this morning with a breeze.  We now have a 31 people coming to the BBQ next Sunday, including us.

Thought for the day: If you can't laugh at your mistakes, you messed up for nothing.

August 24, 2018 Still Clearing Branches But The Smoke Is Gone

Our big, clear yard.

Wednesday 8/22. We were outside before 9:00 am clipping branches and moving small ones down the west ridge in the tractor bucket.  An hour later we were back inside for a breakfast of fresh eggs scrambled with garden fresh tomatoes.  Yum!  Then back outside to move large, clipped branches to the wood cradle and kindling to the shed where I stacked it.  A good morning's work.

After lunch I canned eight 1/2-pints and one pint jar of blueberry jam with the berries I had picked on Monday.  Again - yum!

Our high for the day was a smokey 82.

We watched Marley And Me this evening.  Between Marley, The Notebook and Five People You Meet In Heaven, I think we've shed enough tears for one week!

Thursday 8/23. It was 60 and still smokey this morning.  We finished cleaning up the house side of the driveway before noon.  The yard looks so big!

I waited to do laundry until after lunch when we were done creating dust clouds with the tractor.  The generator worked just fine for this load.  Since we have the gasoline generator for back-up, the propane generator is just going to have to wait to get checked out.  Too many other things have to get done, like tires for JB's Jeep and the electric windows fixed on my Jeep.

A light overcast had formed by noon, but it broke into clouds within a couple hours, and the sun shone through.  Our high for the day was 82 with a pleasant breeze that grew into a wind mid afternoon.  By 4:00 pm we could see the mountains!  I was beginning to wonder if they were still there. . .  So nice to breathe fresh air again.

The girls have begun to molt, so we are getting just one or two eggs per day on average.

Friday 8/24. It is a chilly 48 this morning with a breeze.  A nice, cool day to work outside.

Thought for the day: Like would be tragic if it weren't funny.  Stephen Hawking

August 22, 2018 Cleaning Up And A Bear In The Berries

Cleaning up the branches.

Monday 8/20. I drove Down There for some groceries, errands and mail, and was home by noon after visiting Mrs. Gridder.  JB had been using the tractor to move most of a large pile of small branches over the west ridge.  I helped him finish it after lunch.  Then we both took a nap.

Again, I picked up kindling and stacked it.  Will be doing that for quite a while.

Our high for the day was 74.  Very pleasant except for the smoke, although the cooler temperatures and increased humidity are helping to fight the fires.

Elsie woke up a few days ago to find a bear in the blueberries.  He was just sitting there and very delicately picking and eating the berries just like a person would.  He showed up for a few days, eat and then wander off.  They figured he ate about 5-6 flats worth of berries.

Tuesday 8/21. It was 56 this morning and we could actually see across the canyon.  I drove down to Larry and Elsie's at 8:30 am to pick blueberries before the bear got the last of them.  They are done for the season and have turned off the wild bird recording that they use to keep the birds away.  It works quite well for the birds, but obviously not for bears

While I was gone, JB moved six of the eight huge rounds from the bottom of the pine tree that were still sitting along the drive.

Our propane generator quit while we were doing laundry, so we just plugged the washer into the gasoline generator.  JB will have to take it to Yakima to be fixed.  In order to make that long drive, he had to go Down There to have the spare tire replace one that had a small slice in it on his Jeep.

While he was gone, I cleaned up the gravel area up from the hen house, piling large branches and raking the small ones into two piles.  After dinner, JB used the tractor and we moved a large pile of small ones over the west ridge.  It's been a week now since the trees were cut and the area is looking good.

Our high for the day was 80 with lots of blue sky.  There is a possibility of rain in the forecast for the weekend.  That would certainly be nice.

Wednesday 8/22. It is 64 with blue sky overhead this morning.  We can see a bit further than just the other side of the canyon, but the mountains are still hiding.

Thought for the day: Falling down doesn't make you a failure, staying down does.

August 20, 2018 Rose Camp Looks So Very Different!

150+ rounds

Our smaller grove.

View from the north ridge.

Saturday 8/18. The men who came up to fell the trees on Wednesday had all six trees cut and were back down on the pavement before noon!  JB and I started limbing and rounding the three trees from the grove.

JB's brother and nephew arrived at 8:30 am on Thursday, raring to go.  We continued on the three grove trees, rounding and limbing.  JB and his brother did the rounding, while his nephew and I moved rounds to the splitter, large branches to the wood cradle, and kindling to the shed.

Larry arrived at 9:00 am on Friday and began rounding, with the rest of us pulling cut branches out of the way.  By noon he had finished four trees.  All limbed and rounded.  He made it look so easy!

Larry didn't stay for lunch, and after that the four of us moved the rounds from four trees to the splitter.  JB's brother and nephew left for their home on the west side of the mountains around 3:00 pm.  JB and I just sat and stared at our "new" yard.  It looks so very different, but we really like it and feel more comfortable with such a larger fire break.

On Saturday, JB and I moved the rounds from the last two trees to the splitter.  There are at least 150 rounds!  Probably two years worth of fire wood, and five years worth of shavings for the outhouse.  I sincerely doubt that I will get all the rounds split before winter, but don't have to worry about that.  Five of the trees are fir and one pine, so we are set.

It was very smokey with a high of 80 today.  Since our DVD player died, JB's brother brought us the one his Mom had, so we watched The Notebook this evening.  Just as it ended (and we had tears in our eyes) Larry and Elsie drove up so she could see how Rose Camp looks now.  We had a nice visit, as usual, and Larry was impressed that we had done so much more work since he left on Friday.

Sunday 8/19. It was 64 this morning and we were really smoked in.  I think this was the worst day yet, with the strongest smell.  Not really healthy for working outside, but JB made several trips with the tractor to dump the huge mistletoe balls over the west ridge.  Those balls are where the yellow jackets build their nests.

I went outside off and on during the day to gather kindling, and continue cutting the large branches into kindling and pieces for the wood cradle, then stacked the kindling in the shed.  The three trees in the grove were very brittle from the mistletoe, so it is easy to break even 3" branches into the lengths we need.

I am going Down There tomorrow for a few errands and groceries.  A new cold front is supposed to move in, which will clear out the smoke but probably whip up the fires again.

Monday 8/20. It is 64 this morning and we are still smoked in.

Thought for the day: Not to brag, but I can forget what I am doing while I am doing it.

August 18, 2018 The Photos Tell The Story

Before:  

During:

After:

August 17, 2018 Will Post Saturday Morning

Friday 8/17. Six trees down.  Too tired and too busy.  Will post tomorrow morning.

August 15, 2018 Smoke & More Smoke

My "new" clothes pin bag.

Smoke to the south. . .

. . .and the north
(where it is coming from)

Monday 8/13. Our overcast this morning was more smoke than clouds.  Really hard to tell the difference any more.  If summer smoke season is going to be the new norm, it is a sad state of affairs.

JB and I played three games of cribbage last night.  As far as who won, let's just say I was on a roll and there was the smell of skunk. . .

I pulled weeds and encroaching rose sprouts in the gravel area and JB used the weed eater behind the shop.  He really seems to be able to do a lot things that I find rather unlikely.  He's no worse the wear for it though.

We all went on a morning walk, well, except for Jesse who seems to be more interested in the treat that comes at the end of it than the walk itself.

I broke small branches into kindling off and on during the day, and JB drove them to the wood shed where I stacked them.  He also took a huge load of pulled and cut weeds, and dumped them over the west side.

Our high for the day was a pleasant 76, except for the smoke.

Tuesday 8/14. It was 60 and still smokey this morning with no air movement.  No wind or breeze is good for the firefighters, but not so good for the air quality.

I drove Down There to do some errands, get a few groceries and fill up the three diesel cans.  Stopped by Elsie's on the way home and she gave us a large salmon!  One of the many they had caught at the lake.  

When putting away some items in the loft, I noticed that the mice had chewed their way into two bags of chips.  I have become rather lax at keeping all such foods in plastic containers.  Got that situation fixed!

With everything moved out of the way so the trees can come down tomorrow, our "yard" looks very open and empty.

While on our last garage saling expedition, I found a cute clothes-pin bag along with a life-time's supply of clothes pins for just $5.  (See photo above.)  I have quite literally worn out the bag that my Aunt Nene gave to me.

JB baked the salmon that Elsie gave us for dinner with lemon slices and dill weed.  Delicious!

Our high for the day was 80 with lots of smoke.  Even worse in town.

Wednesday 8/15. It is 68 and still smokey this morning.  I will be driving down to the pavement to meet the men who will be cutting down our trees this morning.  It is going to look so very different Up Here.

Thought for the day: Another wine bottle with no genie at the bottom.  I'll keep looking.

August 13, 2018 Cooler Temps So Back To Work

A "before" photo of the trees
to be cut on Wednesday.

Friday 8/10. The house did not cool off last night and it barely cooled outside with this morning's temperature at 78.  Fortunately, driving down to Larry and Elsie's on their four-wheeler was nice and cool.  JB picked me up there at 9:30 and I dropped him off at his doctor's.  So enjoyed the air conditioning in the stores, but driving back up the mountain and unloading all the groceries was not at all fun.  

JB's doctor gave him the go-ahead for all activities.  The more he does, the better, as deep breathing will help him heal faster.  He just has to use the pain as an indication of when to stop.

Our high for the day was 94 and if it weren't for the promise of a cold front moving in, I was all ready to get an air-conditioned motel room for the night.  I noticed the breeze picking up around 4:30 pm and by 8:30 pm we had a cool wind.

We only have one or two hummingbirds left Up Here, but lots of crickets singing to us each evening.

Larry and Elsie had a great time at the lake, with their grandsons catching more fish that anyone else!

Saturday 8/11. It was a lovely 68 this morning with the wind still gusting to 15 mph.  All the smoke is gone so we had blue sky and mountains.

We took down the last two sections of the fence and used the tractor to move all the planters out of the way from where the trees will fall.  Then we cleared three piles of small branches and needles from across the drive.  I filled the tractor bucket and JB drove the loads to the woodchuck village.  After that, it was nap time, but it sure felt good to be outside working again.

I have to admit that I might actually be passing from middle age to "getting old-er".  The energy and strength that I had when we first moved Up Here ten years ago just aren't at the higher levels than they were.  I am much more willing to take things slower.  I enjoy sitting on the porch for longer periods of time than I used to.  Before, I was always jumping up to do things.  Now I just like to relax.  It's a very long ten years between 61 and 71 years old.

We watched Adaptation this evening, but our DVD player died before the movie ended.  Will have to buy a new player, blue-ray this time

Our high for the day was a windy 78.  A lovely 78 that we all enjoyed.

Sunday 8/12.  It was a chilly 58 this morning with clear skies, but a light overcast had formed by 11:00 am.  There was just a slight breeze and by early afternoon the smoke had moved back in.  Unfortunately, yesterday's wind had whipped up the fires again.

We were outside to clear another large pile of small branches and needles from across the drive.  Again, I loaded the tractor bucket and JB drove the loads to the woodchuck village, giving them a lot more nesting material.  Between loads, I broke up branches from other piles into kindling.

After lunch we changed the air filter in Miss Kitty.  Then JB drove the kindling in a large bucket-load to the wood shed and I stacked it.  A bit later, I worked on making more kindling.

Our high for the day was just 72 and JB actually had to wear a jacket.  I was wearing long pants and shoes instead of cut-offs and sandals for the first time in weeks.  Funny how cooler weather can pick up your spirits so much.  The dogs were practically giddy, racing around chasing each other.

Monday 8/13. It is another chilly 58 this morning with a light overcast, and we are smoked in.  Can barely see the other side of the canyon.

My bladder woke me up at 2:00 am and then the dogs decided their bladders were full also.  Twenty minutes later the dogs were back in and I was wide awake.  Sat up for an hour eating Ritz crackers with Swiss cheese, and nibbling on dry Honey Nut Cheerios while working sudoku and then reading my book.  My sleep issues seem to be back.  Will see what works this time.

Thought for the day: There is no place like hope.  Guideposts, August 2018

August 10, 2018 Who Let The Crazies Out?!

No photo today.


Wednesday 8/8. On my way Down There this morning I rolled a couple large rocks back off the road.  The bears had obviously turned them over looking for grubs and other bugs.  By the time I was out of the doctor's office the smoke was drifting down the river and into town.  Don't know who let the crazies out this morning!  These people must have stayed out in the hot sun too long and fried their brains.  Unbelievable!

I did a few errands and got back home as soon as possible.  Stopped by Mrs. Gridder's to get a hug from a sane person!  Even the grouse were were having issues.  One of them kept running in front of me, flying up and landing back on the road.  Finally I just pulled around and passed it.

Another hot day with a high of 89.  I drove down to Larry and Elsie's to water and feed about 6:00 pm.

Thursday 8/9. It was 72 with a thick, smokey haze this morning and no air movement.  Made my morning run down to water before 8:00 am while it was still in the mid-70's.

Finished reading Nicholas Spark's The Choice.  I love his books and they are a nice break between the murder and mayhem I usually read.  Then I started to re-read Spy Mom by Beth McMullen.  More murder and mayhem but with a great sense of humor.  Very entertaining in a completely different way than Mr. Sparks.

Our high for the day was 93.  Just too hot!  The only thing one can do in this heat is just get through it.  I waited til 6:30 to go down and water.  Many cool stretches on the drive down and back up.

Friday 8/10. The night didn't cool off much and it is 78 this morning with a thick haze and a few clouds.  A cold front is supposed to move in this evening bringing thunder storms.  I plan to leave at 8:30 to water and feed, then JB will be down around 9:30 to pick me up.  He has a doctor's appointment this morning to follow up with his broken rib and I plan to do some grocery shopping.

Thought for the day: Sometimes you're the bug.  Sometimes you're the windshield.

August 8, 2018 A Trip Down There & More Heat

Ground in grove covered with
fir cone "petals".

Monday 8/6. I was on my way Down There with all the gas cans by 8:30, and home before 11:00 am.  Our little flock of grouse was visiting the girls as I left.  By the level of the girls' water in the morning, I think the grouse stick their heads through the wire fence and drink.  We are seeing more wild turkeys on the road lately, big ones and little ones.

We caught a mouse in one of the loft traps early this morning.  I am sure there will be more.

I harvested our first tomatoes and we had them in our scrambled eggs last night for dinner.  So good!

The ground in the grove is covered with fir cone "petals" that the squirrels and chipmunks have pulled apart to get to the seeds.  (See photo above.)

The heart meds must be in my system now.  It has been a week and this is the first day that I have had no PVCs.  Very nice.

It's getting hot again.  Our high for the day was 86.

Tuesday 8/6. It was 72 and clear this morning with just a little less smoke.  I could barely see the outline of the mountains.  No air movement though.

Again, early this morning, a mouse got caught in one of the loft traps, only this one just got his leg caught, so he was dragging the trap all around.  Had to go up and catch him, and let him go outside.  By then I was too wide awake to go back to sleep right away, so I stayed up for some graham crackers and sudoku.  I have really had this thing for graham crackers lately, ever since we made s'mores.  I have come to the conclusion that commercially made gluten free crackers just don't do much for me (except for the pretzels which I really like).  Two squares of graham crackers with peanut butter and Nutella in between is quite heavenly and not nearly as bad for me as other concoctions I could make.  Last Friday, when JB was fishing, I had a banana, peanut butter and Nutella sandwich for dinner.  Quite delightful and actually nutritious.

The moon is waning and there was about a quarter of it hanging in the sky when I was up at 2:30 am.  I was back to bed in an hour and quickly fell asleep.

When I got up for the day, I reset the traps in the loft and got a load of wash going.  Was almost finished hanging it up when Larry and Elsie arrived with their grandsons.  They brought up their four-wheeler for me to use to go down to water and feed while they go to the lake with their boat tomorrow through Friday.  They have offered to help us slice up the trees we are having felled next Wednesday.

JB's brother called today to say that he will be up next week on Thursday and Friday to help slice up the trees, also.  Friends and family - can't do it without them.

JB is getting around better than I had expected.  He says it's down to a dull ache as long as he moves slowly and doesn't cough or laugh.  It's going to be a long haul.

I took a long nap to make up for last night.  Our high Up Here for the day was 84 with a slight breeze.  Sure didn't seem any cooler than yesterday.  I have to go Down There again tomorrow for a follow-up appointment with my doctor regarding my heart and meds.  Not looking forward to the trip as the temperature is supposed to be pushing 100.

Wednesday 8/8. It is 70 this morning with no breeze.  The smokey haze seems to be thinning a bit.

Thought for the day: Sometimes I look in the mirror and think - Oh, that can't be right!

August 6, 2018 JB's Turn In The ER

The dogs watching for JB to
return from fishing.

Smokey haze hiding the
mountains.

Friday 8/3. I was on my way down to meet Mrs. Gridder for a day of garage saling at 7:30 am.  JB left for his day of fishing at 10:00 am.  My day turned out to be more successful than JB's.  I found a few items, but JB and Larry had no luck catching fish.  I was home by 1:00 pm, and JB finally arrived back about 8:00 pm.

They boated out to Larry's fishing hole on the Columbia River, then fished from the shore.  JB had slipped and fallen on some rocks while getting back in the boat and was pretty sore.

It was a perfect day for both outings with a nice breeze and a high Up Here of 77.

Saturday 8/4. By 1:30 am, JB was in so much pain that I drove him down to the ER.  They had been really backed up, but the waiting room was thinning out by the time we got there a little after 2:00 am.  It was an hour before we got into a room, then the doctor ordered a CT scan to be sure JB hadn't injured his spleen.  When they were sure it was "just" a broken rib and there was no damage to his spleen, we finally got to leave at 6:30 am.  So seven hours after we left home, we were back in bed.  Dogs and chickens fed.

Needless to say, it was a very slow day.  I did get a load of wash done, but had to use the gasoline generator, as we are still having issues with the propane one.

The yarrow is going to seed, and there are only dried, brown stalks left of the once firey paint brush.  Some of the south facing slopes are still a little green, but the dominant color of the ground around the Wenatchee area is yellow.  Dried grass yellow. 

We have a lot more bees this year and a lot less grasshoppers.  The dogs do not enjoy being outside as much this summer because of the bees.

After dinner I pulled some of the dead grass around the house and cut encroaching wild rose shoots.  JB spent most of the day just lying down or sitting, although he was told he should not do that every day.  He needs to be moving around.  Our high for the day was 75 with a light breeze.

Sunday 8/5. It was 64 this morning and the horizons still had a thick, smokey haze.

JB was moving very slowly.  It will be eight to twelve weeks before he is back to normal.  Definitely going to need some help slicing up those five trees we are having cut down on the 15th.

I finished taking down the rest of the fence except for two sections on which we hung the wasp/bee traps.  (These are NOT honey bees I am talking about.)  Most of the posts were a real pain in the patootie to get out of the ground, but I managed to pull them out and got all the pieces stacked on the ground by the chicken run.

Also worked on updating our supply list and printing out a new one.  Have to have it all up to date by September when I start bringing in supplies for the winter.

JB moved around a lot more today and actually fixed a dinner of bacon and eggs.

Fluffy clouds drifted across the sky most of the day, and our high was 79.  More hot temps are due in Tuesday through Thursday.  I am going Down There tomorrow to fill up the gas cans and run a few errands.

Monday 8/6. It is 63 this morning and I can just barely make out the mountains through the haze.

Thought for the day:  Where men cannot freely convey their thoughts to one another, no other liberty is secure.  William Hocking

August 3, 2018 Cooler Temps & Trips Down There

Smoke on the northern
horizon.

Wednesday 8/1. There was smokey haze on to the north this morning, but the rest had been blown away by last night's wind.  And the morning's coolness was an absolute delight.

The tech from the propane company was here and gone by 9:30 am, having replaced the regulator.  JB left soon after to run some errands and pick up a few groceries.

The dogs and I went on a morning walk for the first time in a couple weeks.  We went all the way up the peak and I was pleasantly surprised that my legs weren't screaming too much from the effort.  I watched a golden eagle soaring down into the canyon, and heard the woodchucks chirping at us.

The girls gave us 72 eggs in July, but we gave a couple dozen of those away to guests.

I worked on the invitation to our almost-annual Rose Camp BBQ and Potluck which will take place on September 2 for all those who own property in the canyon, and printed them out.

While sitting on the porch before dinner, I watched a grey squirrel take a dirt bath in the dust on the driveway.  Didn't know they liked to do that.  The chickens and grouse certainly like to.

It was another hot day with a high of 88, but it does seem to be cooling down.  A cool breeze picked up again in the evening and blew most of the night.

Thursday 8/2. It was 60 and clear this morning with haze and smoke still on the northern horizon.  Again, the cool air was a delight, as was the breeze.

I was on my way Down There with Jesse a little after 8:00 am for his annual visit to the vet.  He loves the ride, just not the destination.  On the way home, I stopped by one of the Redbox machines where JB had discovered on line that they had two movies we wanted for good prices.  Bought The Last of the Jedi and Thor: Ragnarok for a total of $12, and was home before 10:30.

JB had hung up the wash while I was gone, and taken down most of the rest of the fence.  After lunch we tipped the solar panels half-way down.  Couldn't believe it was time for that already!  Then JB baked a couple loaves of banana bread, while I addressed all the invitations to the BBQ and got them ready to mail next week.

We enjoyed a strong, cool breeze breeze all day which made our high of 82 very pleasant.

Tomorrow I am leaving early to go garage saling again with Mrs. Gridder, and JB will be driving down a little later to go sturgeon fishing with Larry.

Friday 8/3. It is a chilly 50 this morning with a steady wind at 9 mph.  May actually have to wear a jacket today.

Thought for the day: The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-flag for the urge to rule it.  H.L. Mencken

August 1, 2018 Just Trying To Stay Cool

Sunset through the smokey haze.

My favorite flower barrel
with pansies.

Monday 7/30. Again, we just tried to stay cool, or rather warm as opposed to hot.  I updated our list of movies before it became too hot in the loft.  We have 585 collected over the past 20 years.

Our propane gas generator is still acting up, so a guy from the propane company will be coming up on Wednesday to install a new regulator.

With the dry, hot weather comes our dust season.  It is everywhere.  I think I almost prefer mud.

Our little flock of grouse continues to visit the yard each evening and JB has seen them in the morning also.  He usually gets up 1/2 to one hour earlier than I do.

There was a lovely breeze for most of the day but is disappeared along with the sun.  Our high for he day was 90.

Tuesday 7/31. It was 74 with a light overcast this morning and no breeze.  The clouds mostly cleared out by 10:00 am and the sun was blazing.

We got outside early to start taking down the fence in front of the trees that will be coming down, but it soon became too hot to be out there.

We putted around inside, read our books, and I got caught up on Facebook and my email.

A breeze picked up in the afternoon and grew into a cool wind in the evening, as predicted.  We sat out on the porch enjoying the cool after watching Tin Cup with Kevin Costner.  Our high for the day was 91.

Wednesday 8/1. It is a very comfortable 64 with clear skies this morning.  The house cooled off nicely during the night.

Thought for the day: If we didn't have lawyers, we wouldn't need them.