October 31, 2018 Panels, MAX & The Last Wood Splitting

Our winter porch from the outside.

Monday 10/29. After feeding the animals their breakfasts, I went back to bed for two more hours of sleep.  A bit of a lazy day.  More like Sunday than Monday.  Brought in wood & did a load of laundry.

JB was going to work on getting the second axle in MAX, but the wind was just too cutting where it is parked.

I wonder what Mother Nature is up to with all the fir and pine cones this year.  I don't remember ever seeing the trees so laden with them.  What does she know that we don't?

We tilted the solar panels all the way down today for the winter sun.  Seems like we just tilted them for the Autumn sun. . .

The dogs and I hiked down the road to the hair-pin corner, cleaning out all the pine-needle dams in the drainage ditches.  So many needles this year, too.

When I visited Larry and Elsie on Saturday, Larry convinced me that I had actually seen a bobcat instead of a lynx by showing me a picture of the two side by side.  We had a bobcat up here several years ago, and in looking at the photos I took, it did not have tufts on its ears.  So I assumed that what I saw was a lynx.  Nope, bobcats do have small tufts on their ears.  Hmmm. . .

A nice but cool day with clouds floating over and a high of 50.

Tuesday 10/30. It is 34 with a mostly clear sky this morning.  Brrrr!  Gave the girls oatmeal for breakfast, which they loved.

I was outside before 9:30, splitting some more wood.  JB moved it to the porch in two loads where I stacked it on the second south end row.  That is it for the year!  I am done!  We always plan to be done with wood by November 1, so I am two days early.

After lunch we worked on MAX and finally got the axle in.  Very frustrating due to a defective nut.  (No, not either of us. . .)

There is more snow on the mountains, especially to the north.  By the end of our afternoon walk, the sky was overcast but the sun found one little break to shine through.  Our high for the day was 51.

Wednesday 10/31. This Halloween is starting out wet and foggy with a temperature of 34.  Rain began falling around 11:00 last night.

Thought for the day: If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. Katherine Hepburn

October 29, 2018 Down There, More Splitting, & More Rain

Our porch is all ready for winter.

Friday's valley fog.

Chips & blows from
splitting.

Friday 10/26. By 9:30 am we had sun and blue sky, while the canyons and valleys remained fogged in.  Our fog was blown away by a wind gusting to 11 mph.

I split wood and JB moved it to the porch in four loads.  I stacked it on the east side (front) and made more than half a row.

The wind blew all day, increasing to 17 mph by evening.  The road should be dried out nicely for my trip Down There tomorrow.  Our high for the day was 58.

Saturday 10/27.  It is 38 and partly cloudy this morning.  I was on my way by 9:00 am, all bundled up, and home before noon.  I stopped in to visit Mrs. Gridder on my way down.  Stopped in to visit Larry and Elsie on may way back home.  Thursday night's storm tore most of the leaves off the trees, so in many places driving down the canyon, it looked like I was on the yellow brick road.

After lunch, I split some more wood and JB took it to the porch in two loads.  Stacking it almost completed the east row.  If I don't split any more wood, I'm sure we have more than enough for winter.  However, I do plan on doing some more splitting, as the weather allows.

The forecast rain arrived as we were eating dinner, about 5:00 pm, and it was still coming 4-1/2 hours later when we went to bed.  Our high for the day was 52.

Sunday 10/28.  It is 39 and mostly cloudy this morning with valley fog.  During the night we received .93" of rain, which is a lot for Up Here.  The wind soon blew the clouds away, allowing us to see the new snow on Mission Ridge and the Cascades.

So, just after writing that Fall is my favorite season, I began thinking that I much prefer the weather changing from cold to warm, rather than warm to cold.  The colors do make Fall worth the nippy temperatures, but they just don't last nearly as long as the Spring colors do.  I guess it's a toss-up between the two.

My little brother turns sixty today.  Somehow that doesn't make me feel old, although I'm pretty sure it makes him feel old.  I just feel like I'm leading the way. . .

Just as I went out to split wood around 1:00 pm, the fog sneaked in.  Halfway through splitting the first round, a light sprinkle began to fall.  I finished two rounds and pulled the wood to the porch on the sled in two loads.  The east row is now finished and there is more wood on the second south-end row.  The porch is ready for winter, as shown in the left photo above.  There are two garbage cans in the photo, the small one contains pine needles and the larger one is full of very small pieces of branches, and chips and blows from splitting,  (see right photo above) both of which I bag and save for fire starter.

There are seven rows of wood in the shed, one row for each month October through April, but with the lovely Indian Summer we had, we have barely used even a third of October's row.  And we have about 52 rounds left that I have not split.  We may even have enough for next year.

The day's weather was constantly changing from clouds to sun, to fog, to clouds, and back to sun.  The wind blew all day and our high was just 46.

I got a really strong wi-fi signal last night and this morning, and have been able to download two more TV series: the first season each of The Ranch and Daredevil.  I watched the first episode of The Ranch this afternoon and LOVED it!  Sam Elliot and Debra Winger - two of my favorites.  Ashton Kutcher isn't so bad either.

Monday 10/29. It is 36 this morning with mostly clear skies.  The mountains received more snow during the night, and there is more rain in the forecast for this week.

Thought for the day: Morality has nothing in common with politics.  Bob Dylan

October 26, 2018 Lots of Splitting Before The Rain

My "new" clothes drying rack.

Wednesday 10/24. Did a load of laundry this morning and it is so nice to just start the propane generator with a push of a button from inside the house, instead of having to go outside, string an electric cord from the gasoline generator to the bathroom window, and pull-start the generator!

I hung all the wash inside on the clothesline and the tall, wooden clothes drying rack that Mrs. Gridder's Mother gave to me when we had a garage sale.  I love it!

After lunch I went out to split some wood, which felt so very good to do.  JB moved it all to the porch where I stacked it, almost finishing the first row on the south end.  I feel so great!  Even better than I did before I got sick.  I think the Universe knew I just needed some time off.  A complete rest.  Although winning a free vacation would have been a lot more fun. . .  Just sayin'.

We switched cards in the game cam yesterday when we went Down There.  So surprised that there were NO photos of deer.  No wildlife other than the two of us and Jesse, a grouse and some coyotes.  However, deer season opened a week ago Saturday, so they are probably all laying low.

The sky remained mostly cloudy today and our high was 55.  Each day seems to be getting a bit cooler.

Thursday 10/25. It is 44 and overcast this morning with rain due in later today.  I got out early to do more splitting before the rain moves in.  It arrived around 11:00 am in the form of a light sprinkle, just as I finished loading the second of two loads of wood in the tractor bucket.  JB drove it to the porch and I stacked it, finishing the first row and starting the second on the south end.  We covered up everything that needed it, and by 12:30 pm, it was raining fairly steadily.

I am going to have to go Down There on Saturday to mail all the Halloween cards and a gift.  I have gathered up all my Ritz and graham crackers and will drop them off for the Gridders, which really hurts. . .

Our high for this drizzly day was 48.

Friday 10/26. It is 40 this morning and as the sun rises, the fog is quickly receding.  Rain fell most of the night and we will probably get more today.

Thought for the day: I can't tell if it is killing me or making me stronger.

October 24, 2018 Another Girl Gone, The Larch March, & Gluten

A clean hen house.

A coyote on our game cam.

Monday 10/22. When I went to feed the girls their breakfast, I discovered that Blondie had died during the night.  She had been acting a little off the past couple of days, and had shed a lot of her feathers all at once.  She was definitely our character, and probably the oldest.  She had a good life.

I got going early this morning.  Brought in wood, then down to the hen house for the semi-annual cleaning.  This project needs a face mask and I sounded like Darth Vader in there.  Shoveled out the manure and most of the old straw.  Sprinkled diatomacious earth around the bottom edges of each nesting box, inside walls of the hen house, outside walls of the hen house, all around the inside edges of the run, and in their favorite dirt-bath places.  When done, I headed straight for the shower.  

JB sounds worse this morning, so I made sure that he is taking the day off.

I have been trying to find the cause of my constant abnormal heart beat for the past several weeks by cutting certain foods out of my diet.  Conclusion: it's not coffee; it's not sugar; it's gluten!  Which really sucks because I love my wheat-flour breads and crackers.  I am going to have to find a good recipe for GF crackers.

I wanted to split wood today, but instead took care of small, getting-ready-for-winter projects that didn't call for so much exertion on my part.  I attached the tarps to the porch for covering the stacked wood.  Filled the small garbage can on the porch and three large bags with pine needles.  I use and re-use the bags until they are too full of holes to be used again.  Got JB's Jeep and the trailer ready for our garbage run tomorrow.  And buried Blondie next to Blackie.  I do this inside the wood shed fence so larger critters can't dig them up.

We could barely see the mountains today through the inversion layer.  There is an air stagnation warming for Chelan and other counties.  Other than that, it was another gorgeous day, with a high of 61.

Tuesday 10/23. It was 47 with clear skies this morning, ten degrees warmer than Down There.  We made our garbage run and did a few errands.  Stopped in for a short visit with Larry and Elsie, and were home before 1:00 pm.  By then clouds were coming in from the south.

After a late lunch, I baked a coffee cake using a jar of the peach pie filling I had canned.  Then JB made corn bread to go with the chili we are going to have for dinner.

The colors on our drive Down There were phenomenal!  There has been no wind or storm to rip the leaves from the trees, and our Indian Summer has allowed the leaves to develop even bolder colors, so around every corner there was gold and orange.  The larch (tamarack) trees are slowly spreading through the forest in the canyon and up our road.  They add to the brilliant gold.  Larry and Elsie's blueberry bushes have turned brazen red.  The trees going down the paved canyon are ablaze of orange, gold, red, and every color in between.  Color - the main reason that this is my favorite season.  That said, Spring is a tight second with its soft pastels and bright hues after months of only white and evergreen.

Sitting here this evening and watching the full moon through the window after we have turned off the power for the night, I cannot believe how dirty my windows are!  Something else to add to the list of things to be done. . .

Another beautiful but chilly day with a high of 60.  Clouds came in from the west to join the ones from the south, causing an overcast sky for the first time in weeks.  They cleared a bit after sundown.

Wednesday 10/24. It is 40 with mostly clear skies this morning.  Lots to do before the rain arrives tomorrow.

Thought for the day: I've come to believe that if we start each day from a place of gratitude, then it's bound to go a bit better than it would if we didn't.  Maria Shriver

October 22, 2018 Home Remedies & A Working Generator

Moving the generator back to
where it belongs.

More wood on the porch.

Wednesday - Saturday 10/17-10/20. The days began in the low 40's and highs were in the low 60's.  Part of our fantastic Indian summer that may even continue to middle of next week.  So hard to be inside and sick, when we really need to be outside working.

JB used the tractor to move the wood I had split and the rest of the small branch wood to the porch where I stacked it over two days.  He is feeling a little better.  I had a sore throat Wednesday and Thursday.  So sick I completely forgot it was my Aunt Nene's 93rd birthday on Thursday, but was able to call her on Friday.

On Friday I helped JB move the generator out of the trailer and back where it belongs.  Didn't take too long.  Then we were back inside sipping our herbal tea with lots of honey.  Also sucking on hard, peppermint candies which soothe a sore throat and stop most of the coughing.  In the evening I fixed hot wine with butter and honey.  All much better than anything at the drugstore.  Well, except for ibuprofen.  Taking two of those most days, too.  Also sleeping a lot.

JB has been doing my chores and taking such good care of me.  He makes a much better nurse than I do.  Also, when he is sick, he isn't nearly as cranky as I am when I am sick.  It has been literally decades since I have had the flu.  I may start getting flu shots.

The girls have been giving us one egg a day for the past couple weeks, and on Wednesday and Thursday they didn't give us any.

Deer have come to our yard during the night to eat the mushrooms.  Then they helped themselves to the flowers in one of my half-barrel planters.  

Saturday JB started hooking the generator back up.  I just forced myself to do nothing but sleep and watch Netflix TV episodes on my tablet.

Sunday 10/21. It is 42 and clear this morning.  And I feel almost human again.  JB is much less congested.  Things are looking up.

JB finished wiring the generator while I worked on the trailer, tightening all the bolts and nuts, and replacing ones that were missing.  Then together we attached the propane line and battery to the generator.  Placed the top back on and started it up.  It came on as soon as we remembered to attach the ground to the battery.  Woo Hoo!!

We plan to make our Fall garbage run on Tuesday, and pick up a few sale items at Grocery Outlet.  That is my new first-stop now whenever I go grocery shopping.

Such an incredible day to be outside!  Our high was 64 and the sky remained clear, with a little inversion haze.

Monday 10/22. It is 46 and clear this morning.  Am giddy just feeling healthy again.  Lots to do, but am not going to push myself.

Thought for the day: I don't want life to imitate art.  I want life to be art.  Carrie Fisher

October 19, 2018 Just Trying to Get Thru The Flu

Friday 10/19. As the title says, just trying to get thru the flu.  Will post more on Monday.

October 17, 2018 Bye Bye Birdie & Back to Work

Mushrooms popping up
in our yard.

Larch spreading their Fall
colors on Mission Ridge.

Monday 10/15. When I went out to feed the girls first thing this morning, I discovered that Blackie had died some time during the night.  The rest of the girls were all lined up along the fence near her.  Interesting.

I was on my way Down There by 9:00 am with three large bags of laundry and a short list of groceries.  There is a woman who works at the laundromat who is just a hoot.  We spent most of the time trading stories and laughing.  I also downloaded several more TV episodes on to my tablet.

Didn't get home til after 2:30 pm, but it was a gorgeous drive with all the Fall colors sparkling brilliantly in the bright sun.  Our high Up Here was 62.

Tuesday 10/16. It is 47 and clear this morning.  No fire needed in the wood stove.  JB's turn to go Down There today for two regular doctor's appointments.  He has a quarterly check-up on his pacemaker, and this was his last check-up on his back.  They also checked his rib and it is mending nicely.

I finally got outside to get some work done.  Buried Blackie and took down her little pen.  Then the dogs and I went for our morning walk.  Deer season has started and I noticed our neighbor to the south was up on the peak scouting for deer.  (They actually own the very top of the peak.)

After lunch I split four large rounds that we will move to the porch tomorrow.  JB was home just after 2:30 pm.  Another beautiful Indian Summer day with a high of 64.

We watched Message in a Bottle this evening, and that is it!  No more Nicholas Sparks' movies for me for a while.

I felt so good all day long, with lots of energy, and now I have a raspy, sore throat.  At least I don't have all the congestion that JB did.  He is feeling much better.

Wednesday 10/17. It is 42 and clear this morning.  Sore throat or not, we need to get the wood moved and stacked on the porch.  Also need to get the generator moved out of the trailer and back where it belongs.

Thought for the day: We're all just walking each other home.  Ram Dass

October 15, 2018 Lynxes, Guests & Germs

A look at the Columbia River
from our north ridge.

Friday 10/12. My vacuum actually worked this morning, and thank goodness our guests were a bit later than planned.  JB left for Yakima at 8:30 am, and I met his niece and family where our road turns off from the pavement at a little after noon.

Going down to meet them, about 1/4 mile down our road, I saw a lynx and two kittens!  The kittens scrambled up the side of the mountain, but mama didn't go up very far at all.  She just stood and looked at me.  I looked right back and was in awe.  She was so beautiful.

This was our guests' first time Up Here, so there were lots of "oohs" and "aahs".  They were sufficiently impressed and it sounds like they want to come back often.  It was the perfect day for a visit with a cloudless sky and an high of 66.  Looks like we will be having an Indian Summer for another week.

JB made it back with our repaired generator in time to say "hello" to everyone, then I drove them down to my brother's place.  We even saw some wild turkeys on our way.  They loved it!  But then it was time to get them back to their car that we parked at the Gridder's.  Lots of goodbye hugs and promises of many future visits.

JB said that all day he felt like he was coming down with something, and it hit him hard this evening with congestion, sore throat and coughing.  He was in bed by 7:30 pm.  I followed soon after.

Saturday 10/13. It is 40 and clear this morning.  The weather is great, but we sure aren't.  JB coughed a lot during the night and can't talk without coughing more.  I don't feel so great myself.  So it's a day for doing absolutely nothing but drinking clear liquids and concentrating on getting well.

By evening we were both feeling a little better, but had not been able to get out and enjoy the beautiful day with a high of 55.

Sunday 10/14. It is 37 with clear skies this morning, well into our Indian Summer, although our days are a bit nippy.

I feel much better this morning and JB isn't coughing as much, so things are looking up.  I forced myself to take it easy again today, but did get some things done around the house.  Am going to go Down There tomorrow to do some laundry, buy some screening to lay under the propane generator before we put it back in place (to try to keep out the little critters), and run a few other errands.

Randy called this morning.  He certainly is having problems with a lot of his neighbors.  Not at all like our canyon community.

I took the dogs on an afternoon walk.  So nice to get out of the house for something other than chores.  Poor Blackie never moved out of her little nest.

Another Indian Summer day with a high of 57.  My nose didn't run at all today until the end of the movie we watched - Nights In Rodanthe with Richard Gere and Diane Lane. . .

Monday 10/15. On this, the 23rd anniversary of my Mother's passing, it is 42 with mostly clear skies.  We are both feeling much better this morning and I hope to be on my way down there by 9:00 am.

Thought for the day: There are men in government who shouldn't be allowed to play with matches.  Will Rogers

October 12, 2018 A Sick Chick & An Electrical Bypass

Dinga camouflaged by Fall colors.

Wednesday 10/10. It was a long day Down There and I didn't get home til after 2:30 pm.  JB was busy with his electrical bypass project and ran into some issues.  A long day for both of us by the time everything was put away and logged in.

When I gave the girls their afternoon scratch, they all started beating up on Blackie.  I thought for sure they had killed her, but I got her out of the pen and she seemed to enjoy being held and petted.  Just the natural way of the flock to get rid of the sick and dying members, but that's just not going to happen in my chicken coup.  We built a little pen for her at the end of the big one, giving her food, water and a place to sleep.  She seems a little better.  At least she won't be picked on.

It was almost hot in town, and our high Up Here was 50.

Thursday 10/11. It is 38 and clear this morning with a little frost on the ground in places.  JB's niece and her family are coming up for the day tomorrow for the first time, so I spent the day getting the house ready, or at least trying to.  Seems like everything went wrong.  Just not a good day for either of us.  And on top of everything else, the vacuum overheated and I had to do a bit of maintenance on it, but couldn't continue using it as I have to wait until the parts I washed are dry.

JB had to go Down There for a couple of items for his project and finally finished it before dinner, but didn't have the right socket to be sure that everything worked right.  He is going to Yakima tomorrow to pick up the repaired generator and will buy a socket on the way home.  No, he won't be here to see his niece, but with October weather the way it is, we really don't want to wait any longer for their visit.

Blackie seems a little better today, now that she can get food without being attacked by the other girls.  Even so, I doubt she is going to last very long.  We can just make her as comfortable as possible.

It was a beautiful day with a high of 54.  Sure hope I can vacuum in the morning.

Friday 10/12. It is 42 and mostly clear this morning.  JB plans to be on his way by 8:30 but is definitely coming down with a cold.  Our guests should be here around 11:00.  Lots to do before they arrive.

Thought for the day: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!

October 10, 2018 Rain & Stacking Wood on the Porch

Starting to stack wood
on the porch.

Our Fall landscape.

Monday 10/8. The rain let up a bit and low clouds settled in before JB left for Down There at 8:30 for the annual senior medical insurance meeting.  There are always some changes for the next year and this is where they explain them.

I found several DVD's, a few books and a five-gallon water container (paid $2 and it is $25 new) at the garage sales on Saturday.  Not quite as good a deal as Mrs. Gridder's $10 bike, but I was pleased.

Today was very dark and gloomy.  Rain fell on and off.  When it wasn't raining, we were socked in with clouds.  Our high for the day was 43, but it felt cooler because of the dampness.  Because there is no generator hooked up to charge the batteries, we didn't use any electricity.  We watched the second episode of  Sherlock Holmes this evening on my tablet.

Tuesday 10/9. It is 39 and still raining this morning.  The snow level is down to 5000 ft. but this should be the last day of precipitation for a while.

The rain let up around 9:00 am.  The batteries had enough of a charge to turn on the power and water to flush the toilet and re-fill the pipes and water jugs.  When we turned the power off, JB began his all-day project of making a bypass in the battery room in which to plug the gasoline generator.  This instead of having it wire it in each time we need it to charge the batteries and/or use it for power in the house when the propane generator isn't working.

By noon the low clouds had dissipated.  We could actually see some blue sky to the north and the sun was peeking through to the south.  However, just as I was getting excited about seeing the sun, more clouds moved in and the sky became completely overcast again.

I split some rounds and began re-arranging the porch for the winter.  JB got a call from the shop fixing our propane generator letting us know it is repaired and ready to be picked up.  It wasn't the cylinder after all, but the controller.  That is a more expensive part, but easier to fix, so the price was the same as they had quoted us - $1425 with tax.  JB will probably drive over on Friday to pick it up.

While JB was still working on his wire project, I pulled the wood I had split over to the porch in five sled-loads and stacked it.  Then the dogs and I went for an afternoon walk.  By then patches of blue sky were re-appearing.  Not nearly as dreary as yesterday and our high was 46.

I think I will be able to get down our road okay tomorrow.  It is payday and I have a long list of groceries and chicken supplies to get.

One of our girls probably won't make it through the winter.  Don't know what is wrong with her, but Blackie is not looking good.  She rarely comes over for the  breakfast and afternoon food we give them.

Wednesday 10/10. It is 40 and overcast this morning.  I hope to be on my way Down There by 9:00.

Thought for the day: The strength of a civilization is not measured by its ability to fight wars, but rather by its ability to prevent them.  Gene Roddenberry

October 8, 2018 Propane Generator Diagnosis & A Weekend Off

Fall colors in the canyon.

Friday 10/5. The shop fixing our propane generator called at 8:00 this morning.  Seems a cylinder head has popped and this is the fifth one they have fixed this summer, same make and model.  It's going to be pricey, about $1300, but we'll just have to whip out the Visa card.  They said it would probably last another three or four years.  The price for these generators has skyrocketed in the past ten years, so we will be researching our options.  Even a used propane generator would be $5000.  At the moment it seems like we may buy another gasoline generator and a new inverter that will run our washing machine.  The price on these has actually dropped, as have many off-grid, solar items.

I split wood, as usual.  After JB installed a new front doorknob that he bought on Wednesday, we moved the wood to the shed and finished the seventh row.  Woo Hoo!  The shed is full!  Now we get to start on the porch.

It gets a bit old splitting wood every day, but at least I have the weekend off.  I have to be down at Mrs. Gridder's at 8:00 am tomorrow morning, which means leaving here at 7:30.  I showered this afternoon as I doubt we will have enough power in the batteries in the morning for it and there is no generator hooked up to the batteries.

A light, steady rain began falling around 3:00 pm and our high for the day was 46.  The temperature had dropped to 34 and it was still raining at 9:00.  Looks like we may wake up to snow in the morning.

Saturday 10/6. It is 36 and overcast this morning, but no snow on the ground.  I was up at 6:30 and just made it out the door at 7:30.  Am wearing a hat as I wasn't able to wash my hair.

We had a good time garage saling and Mrs. Gridder even found an amazing bicycle for $10!  By the time we were back to her house to pick up the boys and head out to Moses Lake, the sky was blue.  Turned out to be a beautiful day.

Lots of talking, eating and playing pinochle at her folk's house.  We always have such a great time.

Sunday 10/7. More eating, talking and cards this morning, then the visit was over and we had to leave.  I was home by 2:30 pm, relaxed and rested.

Our high for the day Up Here was 50.  A mostly overcast day with a forecast for rain.

Monday 10/8. It is 40 and raining this morning.  Oh dear, I may not be able to split wood today. . .

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

October 5, 2018 Snow On The Mountains & A Trip To Yakima

Moving the generator.

Moving wood to the shed
on the sled.

Wednesday 10/3. Not really sure I'm ready for the cold weather yet, as if I had a choice. . .  JB left for Down There a little after 9:00 am and had to scrape the frost off his Jeep windows.  He is going to pick up MAX's re-machined axle, drop off some recycle, and run a few other errands.

I hung the laundry inside today.  By noon the sky had become overcast.  On our morning walk, I could see snow on Mission Ridge to the south and some of the mountains to the west where Stevens Pass got hit hard in yesterday's storm.  

I did my daily chore of splitting wood.

After JB got back home, we spent a couple hours getting the propane generator loaded into the trailer.  I know this thing weighs at least 200 lbs.  So because of JB's allergy to asking for help, we rigged up a sling on the tractor bucket which actually worked pretty good.

Today's high was 44, 18 degrees colder than yesterday.  As I said, I am really not ready for the cold.

Thursday 10/4. It was 34 and mostly cloudy this morning.  After a few adjustments on tying down the generator, JB was on his way to Yakima at 9:00 am.  It took him an hour just to drive down our road. . .

After lunch I split some more wood, then used the sled to move yesterday's and today's wood to the wood shed with the sled.  I stacked it and am closing in on the end of the seventh row.  Then I went in and baked some cookies.

JB was home by 5:00 pm.  A good trip, but a lot of driving.

Today's clouds were the opposite of yesterday, with the sky mostly clear by noon.  Our high for the day was a balmy 56.

Friday 10/5. It is 35 this morning with a few high, wispy clouds.  Will probably do some more splitting, then get ready for my weekend trip to Moses Lake.

Thought for the day: Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.  Aldous Huxley

October 3, 2018 Splitting Wood & Fighting Wind

A wild rose bush in its
Fall finery.

Monday 10/1. JB and Dinga drove Down There to take one of MAX's axles in to have a new hold drilled in it and run a few other errands.  While they were gone, I split more wood (of course).

When JB was back home, and after lunch, we moved the split wood and all the rest of the large branch wood to the wood shed.  I stacked the split wood and some of the branch wood in the shed.  Then stacked the rest of the branch wood outside next to the fence that encloses the shed.

And then it was time for a nap. . .

The days and nights are getting colder.  Today's high was 63 and mostly cloudy, although the sun was warm when it was able to peak through.

Tuesday 10/2. It was 46 with clear skies this morning and a wind gusting to 14 mph.  Strong winds are in the forecast for all day with possible thunder storms.  Oh, goodie.

We enjoyed a nice, slow morning, then after hanging out the laundry I did some more splitting.  Had to tilt the splitter up, as I have finished splitting all the smaller rounds that I can lift into it.  

JB got the propane generator disconnected and ready to take to Yakima on Thursday.  He finally found a shop that will fix it for a better price and faster time.  The Onan shop wanted $350 just to figure out what was wrong with it and would take two months to fix it.  Obviously they do not want our business.

I helped him a bit when two sets of hands are needed, then re-fastened down the tarps over the deck.  The wind had ripped apart about half of the smaller bungie cords I had used.  By then the wind gusts were up to 19 mph.  Not fun.

Our high for the day was 63, but that cold, strong wind made it seem much colder.  By 4:00 pm, it looked like a black wall of rain was going to hit us, but then it went just to the south and way to the north.  However, the rain finally did blow in at 6:30 and lasted for about an hour.  Then the wind disappeared along with the wet.

Wednesday 10/3. It is 28 this morning and not a cloud in the sky.  Our first freeze of the season.  JB is going Down There to pick up the axle and a few groceries.  As soon as it gets up to 40, I'll be back to splitting.

Thought for the day: Kindness doesn't cost a thing.  Spread that shit everywhere.

October 1, 2018 Splitting More Wood, MAX & A Guest

Our second crop of
tomatoes.

The golden aspen grove
on the main canyon road.

Friday 9/28. As I was splitting wood this morning, the propane truck arrived to fill our tank.  These two men always look forward to driving up to Rose Camp each year.  They are fascinated with our way of life.  They are also good for my ego.  Their comment of the day: There is a lot to be said for a woman who has her own wood splitting machine.

After splitting more wood, I sorted out the rest of the cut branch wood into kindling and regular fire wood.  After JB's chocolate bundt cake was out of the oven, he moved three loads of split wood and two loads of large branch wood.  I stacked it all, almost finishing the sixth row.

I love that we can each just do what we enjoy, me splitting wood while JB is baking a cake, and not identify what should be woman's or men's work.  I keep telling him that's why he married a younger woman, so I could to the heavy work when he got older. . .

Another ideal Fall day with a high of 67.

Saturday 9/29. It was 48 and mostly cloudy this morning.  We were up early to get ready for my brother coming up for breakfast.  JB fixed German pancakes and we had a great visit.

Then it was back to splitting wood, and after lunch we worked on MAX.  We came to the conclusion that the hole in the original axle we received was just not in the correct place.  So JB is going to drive Down There on Monday to have it re-drilled.  Hopefully that will work.

We moved four loads of wood to the shed where I finished the sixth load and got a good start on the seventh.  All this in another nice but cloudy Fall day with a high of 67.

After dinner we watched Out of Africa with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.  Three hours of incredible drama and photography made 33 years ago.

Sunday 9/30. It is a chilly 40 and mostly cloudy this morning.  Another morning fire in the wood stove, and I am going to take the day off from hard labor.  I watched the first episode of Sherlock Holmes (the British series) on my Ipad and absolutely loved it!  Then after an afternoon shower, I drove Miss Kitty down to pick up the mail and send some cards.  Stopped in to visit with the Gridders.  Mrs Gridder invited me to go garage saling on Saturday and then we will be off to visit her parents in Moses Lake for the night and come back Sunday afternoon.  Can hardly wait!

I stopped in at Larry and Elsie's to feed and visit with their cat as they are gone for a couple days.  By then the clouds had begun to clear a bit, letting the sun through off and on.  Our high for the day was just 57 and the house was chilly enough to put in an evening fire.

Monday 10/1. This first day of October is beginning with a temperature of 40.  The sky was mostly clear, but the clouds are quickly moving in.  We may just get the rain that is forecast.

Thought for the day: The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in.  Mitch Albom