March 30, 2015 A Very Social Weekend

The result of Saturday's work.

The hillside of yellow balsamroot across from
Larry and Elsie's house, at least a  month early.

Friday 3/27. I probably should have worn shorts and flip flops when I went Down There today.  It was a muggy 71!  I did dress lightly, but it was just too unseasonably warm.  Got the laundry and errands done, and was home by 3:30 pm.  Our high for the day was 60 Up Here.

JB was going to move all the rounds while I was gone, but the front tire on the tractor was low and I had the air pump with me.  So we did all that after dinner.  I love that it is now light enough to do such things in the evening.  

Saturday 3/28. It was 40 and clear this morning with a wind gusting to 34 mph, as it had all night.  Neither of us got much sleep.

Sandy called this morning and we had a nice, long talk.  Always a great start to the day.

The April National Geographic is a fascinating issue.  It has a very interesting article on Abraham Lincoln with a lot of photos I had never seen.  There is also an article on the Hubble telescope with some amazing photos it has taken in space.

The wind wasn't so blustery by noon, so after lunch we went out to work on the trees again.  JB cut 7 rounds off the large tree and I stripped some more branches.  Then he moved all the rounds to the splitter, and one pile of branches to where the cradle will be.  It finally looks like we are getting this mess cleaned up.

Big clouds skittered across the sky all day, but the sun managed to shine.  Warm sun and a cool breeze made for a perfect day to work outside.  Our high was 54.

Still enjoying watching The Following in the evenings.  And it was so nice to have a quiet night in which to fall asleep.

Sunday 3/29. It was 45 and overcast with a breeze this morning.  JB made German pancakes for breakfast which we topped with peaches and brown sugar.  A yummy beginning to a day off from physical labor.

The sun managed to break through the clouds early on and we had a high of 54 again.  The cool breeze stayed around all day.

After lunch we drove Miss Kitty down to pick up my Jeep at Larry and Elsie's, and get some more water.  While we were there, two more neighbors stopped by.  On our way back home we met two more neighbors.  Then just after we arrived home, our neighbor to the south came up for a visit, and we were having a very enjoyable one until Jesse passed some hellacious gas and sent us all running for the door.  All in all, a very social day.  I'm not used to seeing so many people Up Here at least til the end of April. . .

We finished watching season one of the Following and will definitely get season two when it is available!

Monday 3/30. It is 42 with a mostly clear sky this morning.  Fortunately the wind seems to have blown itself out.

Thought for the day: Elections are a good deal like marriages.  There's no accounting for anyone's taste.  Every time we see a bridegroom we wonder why she ever picked him, and it's the same with public officials. Will Rogers

March 27, 2015 Wild Flowers, Stretchy Fabric & Fruit

Western Spring Beauties popping up
everywhere overnight!

Wednesday 3/25. The overcast began breaking up and the sun was peeking out by 10:30 am when JB and the dogs left for their morning walk.  Our high for the day was 48.

Last night JB discovered a couple small trees that had fallen over the road where the bank gave way.  He was able to just barely drive around them, so today we drove Miss Kitty down and cut them.  Was a beautiful day and the dogs loved the exercise.

We are enjoying the gluten free chocolate cupcakes that JB brought back from Trader Joe's.  So yummy!  Unfortunately none of the Costco stores he went to carry the gluten free pretzels and other snacks any more.

What is it with the fashion industry's fascination with stretchy fabric?  It seems as though women's clothes these days are all in some way stretchy: tops, bottoms, everything.  Whatever happened to plain old cotton/polyester blend?  Even the fleece sheets that JB's Mom gave to us are stretchy.  They are very cozy, but they just don't stay in place.  Same with the queen-size fleece blanket we bought at Costco.  Arrgggh!

Thursday 3/26. It was 45 and partly overcast this morning.  The snow has completely disappeared, and the mountains are back in sight.  And, suddenly, overnight there are Western Spring Beauties popping up in several places.

JB cut nine rounds off the smaller tree today, his back giving out before the chainsaw did.  I stripped some more branches, and gave the girls fresh shavings in their nesting boxes.  Two eggs today.

Am now also using the rinse water from the dishes to flush the toilet.  Every little bit helps.

Tomorrow I plan to go Down There to do laundry and run some errands.  JB plans to move all the rounds to the splitter in the tractor bucket, as well as the stripped branches to where we will build the new wood cradle.

Today was an absolutely magnificent Spring day that we all thoroughly enjoyed.  The sky cleared early and the sun shone brightly.  Our high was 56, but I am sure it was at least 60 in the sun.  No jackets needed today.  And this is the first day that I have finally felt 100% again.  Have never eaten so much fruit on a daily basis in my life, but it seems to be working.

Friday 3/25. This morning is 45 with mostly clear skies.  The forecast temp for Down There is 70!

Thought for the day: What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? Brad Johnston, quoted in Guideposts March issue

March 25, 2015 The White Lion of March & Merchants of Doubt

Dinga helping JB.

Monday 3/23. After lunch we worked on the downed trees for a couple hours.  JB cut four rounds from the big end of the largest tree.  I stripped branches.  JB was going to start cutting from the smaller end of the tree, but after those four big cuts, the chains saw pleaded, "No more!"

The wind picked up a little before 3:00 pm and ushered in a short snow flurry.  Then the sun popped out and the rest of the storm was blown to the north of us.  Our high for the day was 45, but with quite a wind chill.

Larry and Elsie now have three bears roaming the hillsides near their place.

Sandy sent a very interesting article to me about "spin doctors" and a new documentary on them, Merchants of Doubt.  It is quite worrisome, actually, and is about "the spin doctors and lobbyists who drive so much of our public debate about everything from cigarettes to flame retardants to climate changes."  One of the men interviewed for it was very frank and open about what he does, and obviously has no moral issues about it.  He says, "You can take James Hansen, the climate scientist, and I can take a garbage man, and I could get America to believe that the garbage man knows more about science."  Scary. . .

We started watching the first season of The Following this evening.  Very dark, but very good.

Tuesday 3/24. We awoke to 4" of snow this morning!  It was 32 with a partly cloudy sky and a breeze blowing snow bombs off the trees.  Snow soon began sliding off the roof, and by noon it began to melt in many places.

JB saw a bald eagle soaring above the canyon on the morning walk.

We have finished all but three rows of wood in the shed, so I will start taking wood off the porch from now on.  We have used 3-12 rows so far.

Our water problems seemed to have trickled down to Larry and Elsie.  They had pipe problems at their well.  Larry had to make three trips into town yesterday for parts.  He got it fixed and then the pressure blew out the seal on the pitless adapter.  If he has to go into town even once on a day off, he's not a happy camper.  So BJ went down this evening to help him replace the seal, and fill our water containers.  He also got to see one of their bears.

Wednesday 3/25. This morning is 35 with a very low overcast.  The mountains have disappeared, as has more than half of our snow.

Thought for the day: Passion is a young man's game.  Young people can be passionate.  Older people gotta be more wise. Bob Dylan (from an interview in the current AARP magazine)

March 23, 2015 All's Well

(Internet connection is too slow this morning for a photo.)

Friday 3/20. Took my last two pills today.  Will be glad to get rid of that metallic taste in my mouth and the off-kilter feeling.

The sky remained overcast and our high for the day was 50.  A perfect day to finish my book, Odd Apocalypse.  Dean Koontz never fails to entertain.

The first day of Spring and it went almost unnoticed Up Here, as all the flora, fauna, and us humans are pretty sure it began a few weeks ago.

JB's Mom is being released from the hospital today and is going into a rehab facility so she can build her strength back up.  JB plans to come home tomorrow.

Saturday 3/21.  It was 40, clear and windy this morning.  I got on my way at about 9:45 am to go to the track meet and see Mike.  Picked up a latte on the way, and as I walked to the bleachers, almost ran right into him!  We had a nice chat before he had to go.  I found RJ and we got a good seat.  Only had to wait about a half an hour before Mike's first event - a hurdles relay.  I was so excited to finally be able to see him compete in person and be able to cheer him on.  I got some great photos, too.

I couldn't stay for his second even which wasn't until 3:00 pm, so I said my goodbyes and left to do some grocery shopping.  I was home by 2:30 and JB arrived back at 5:30.  So very good to have him home again!

Sunday 3/22.  It was 35 and overcast this morning.  We had a nice leisurely start to a relaxing day with a big breakfast and lots of newspapers.  Just took the day off.

A light precipitation began falling around noon.  It couldn't decide if it wanted to rain or snow, so we got some of both off and on for the rest of the afternoon.

Jane called and we had a great chat - until my phone battery died.  She is enjoying beautiful Spring weather in the 70's, and is very thankful that their snow is all gone.

We watched the last three episodes of season three of Homeland.  Not sure why the critics thought it was a slow season.  

Monday 3/23.  It is 35 and partly cloudy today.  We want to get out and finish cutting up the trees and move the rounds to the splitter.  Also want to drive Miss Kitty down so I can bring my Jeep up to our road.

Thought for the day: You can't wait for inspiration.  You have to go after it with a club. Jack London

March 20, 2015 Flowers & Two Drives

A blue grouse I saw on my drive down to Elsie's
on Thursday.

Wednesday 3/18. Such a wonderous day!  There is a balsam root plant in bud on the south ridge already.  We usually don't see them until May.  Elsie says there is one in full bloom on the hillside near them.

I really wanted to hear music today, so I got out my Andre Rieu CD's and popped them in the stereo.  Wow!

At about 1:30 pm I drove Miss Kitty down to check the mail, pick up the package at Larry and Elsie's, and let their dogs out for a romp.  At the mailbox I met another neighbor for the first time and we had a nice chat.  He lives on the paved road.  When I let the dogs out, they really were slow going back in even though they knew they would get a treat.  It was just too nice outside!

On my drive down our road I had to make a couple stops to move large rocks that I could not drive around.  On the way back up I had to make several stops to remove smaller ones.  But it was a great day for a drive.

JB's Mom may be able to come home tomorrow.  Each day seems to bring another delay.

Thursday 3/18. It was 38 and overcast this morning, with rain and snow in the forecast for the next several days.  The clouds started breaking up in the late morning, and the sun shone for the rest of the day.  Our high was 53.

I want so much to get to know my Grandchildren, but since that is just not an option right now, I think that by writing about my life and thoughts that they may get to know me in some way.  Both my Mom and Dad saved letters that they and their parents wrote and received, so I have letters dating back to the very early 1900's.  By reading them I have come to know my great-Grandparents (whom I never met) and my Grandparents a little more.  And that feels very good.

I had a very social day on the phone.  Talked to JB, Elsie, Randy and our son.  JB's Mom will not be coming home today and things are a bit up in the air right now.  Had a good chat with Randy who has become quite the mountain man by packing a .45 now whenever he is walking out and about.  Since it looks like JB will not be home for a while, I called Elsie to ask if she could drive me back up from their place if I drove my Jeep down.  The road is pretty good right now, but I am not sure that will last with all the rain and possible snow we are supposed to get.  Any other time I would have just driven the Jeep to where our road meets the main canyon road, parked it there, and walked back home the two miles.  But with the meds I am on, I just don't feel I would make that hike very well.

After dinner I drove my Jeep down to Elsie's and she drove me back up in their UTV.  As she says, "That's what neighbors are for."  And such a good neighbor she is.

Friday 3/20. It is 42 and overcast this morning.  The dogs got me up at 6:00 am, but I went back to bed and overslept.  Couldn't get on the internet right away, so fed the chickens and dogs first.  Crazy morning!  But it's my last day for meds - Woo Hoo!!

RJ's son has a track meet in Wenatchee this weekend and I am so looking forward to going to it.  

Thought for the day: It takes courage to grow up and be who we really are. e e cummings

March 18, 2015 Plastic Sacks, A New Author & Toilet Water

Our first blooms of the year.

Our wood from the two trees so far.  Only about
1/4 of what we should get total.

Monday 3/16. With all my spare time, I have been driving through books.  Am now reading True Believer by Nicholas Sparks.  I can't believe it has taken me this long to discover him considering the many books to his credit, and the fact that three of them have been made into movies.  Well, I'm a fan now and I look forward to reading all of his books.

Valley fog began forming as the sun rose and threatened to visit us, but never quite made it.  By the time we went for our morning walk at 10:30 am, the last wisps of the fog were floating up and out of the canyons.  Our high for the day was 42.

I am pretty sure that the flora and fauna are convinced it is already Spring Up Here.  There are birds and greenery everywhere, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some bears out and about.  Unfortunately our game cam is kaput, so it may be a while before we get any photos as I will have to take them in person.  We saw some robins down in the canyon last Tuesday on our way Down There although they haven't come up to us yet.

With all the energy from the sun, and my renewed energy, I was finally able to vacuum.  That in itself made me feel better.

I read in one of my magazines that an easy way to organize your plastic sacks is to form then into donuts.  Just stretch them out, wrap them around your finger, and tuck the end into the hole.  I tried it and it works great!  I don't have many, as I always try to remember to bring my own bags when shopping, but the bag of them that I do have is much easier to manage now.

Our cistern is down to about 500 gallons, and it occurred to me that we could use rain water from the barrels outside to flush the toilet, now that it has all melted.  We have three full ones, so that's what I have started doing.  I fill a 2-gallon jug that I use to fill the toilet tank and then simply refill each one after each flush.  We only flush twice a day, so it's really no problem.

We received more than 3/4" of rain yesterday, which is unusual for Up Here, unfortunately none of it leaked into the cistern.  Wish I had a giant funnel to direct it all in there.

I put the candles away today as with the longer days and Daylight Savings Time, we don't need them in the evening any more.  I LOVE the longer days!

The girls gave us three eggs today.  I always delight in finding them, whether is is one, two or three.  It is just as exciting as it was when we first got the girls.  After getting eggs out of a carton for more than 67 years, finding them in the hen house seems absolutely magical.

In talking on the radio with Larry this evening, I learned that he saw his first bear of the year today across the canyon from their house.  He believes it is about a 400 lb. male.  OK - I'll definitely be packing from now on when we go on our walks. . .

JB calls every day around noon, and today his Mom is feeling much more perky.  She may even be able to go home tomorrow.  One of the errands he is going to run while over there is to stock up on Costco's gluten free products, as our Costco over here doesn't carry many of them any more.  

Tuesday 3/17. It was 38 and overcast this morning with more rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  Plenty of power coming in to turn on the water even with the clouds.

I finished True Believer - a fantastic book.  And now I have started Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz.  Also re-reading some of my books on angels.

Not quite sure where the day went.  I read, putzed around, and addressed all my Easter cards.  The girls gave us two eggs today, which means that two of them are laying almost every day!

Larry and Elsie saw "their" bear again today, grazing on the hillside.

JB's Mom will probably be going home tomorrow.

Am re-watching season three of Warehouse 13 and loving it.

Wednesday 3/18. It is a chilly 35 this morning with clear skies and a breeze.  I am going to drive Miss Kitty down to pick up the mail at our box on the pavement, drop off our chainsaw chains for Larry to sharpen, get a package they picked up at the post office for us, and let their dogs out for a break.

Thought for the day: Coincidence is Gods way of doing a miracle anonymously. Sophie Burnham

March 16, 2015 Pi Day, Rain & A Trip to Seattle

JB moving the big rounds.

Friday 3/13. JB cut five rounds on the smaller tree and went through three chains on the chainsaw.  I think that tree is petrified!  He also cut the top twenty feet of the larger tree into rounds, and with no problems.  Then he moved all the rounds to the splitter.  I broke all the little branches off a pile of large branches.  Both these trees had mistletoe which causes the branches to be very brittle.  A bad thing in a wind storm, but it makes clean up a lot easier when you are taking them down.  Don't have to clip, just bend and break.

I also broke a pile of smaller, dead branches into kindling and took two wheelbarrow loads to the wood shed.  Looks like we actually got a lot of work done today.

In the mail I picked up yesterday was an invitation to my 50th high school class reunion!  If that doesn't make me feel old. . .  And I have no desire to attend.

I finally read the paperwork for the antibiotics I am taking and I probably shouldn't have.  One of them seems to have more than two hundred possible side effects, most of which are worse than what I am taking it for.  I figure by next Friday, when I am done taking them, I will either be completely well or I will be dead. . .

JB's Mom had to be taken to the emergency room and no one is quite sure what is wrong.

Watched more Homeland, and season three is a bit slow but there are some great twists and turns.

Saturday 3/14. This morning was 45 with a light shower.  By noon the clouds began to break up.  The sun peeked out.  And the wind was gusting into the high 20's.  At least it is drying out some of the mud.

I am experiencing a couple of the side effects from the pills: nausea and diarrhea.  Looks like it is going to be a fun week.  At least there is no more pain.  I just have to do less and examine my ideas about bland foods.  In my boredom, I baked cookies and read a book. 

As JB put it, we hit the trifecta today - the girls gave us three eggs!

JB's Mom was admitted to the hospital last night and the problem seems to be viral, but they still are not sure exactly what it is.  JB will probably go over there tomorrow.

Our son emailed us photos of the grandchildren on Pi day!  Pi is 3.1415916 and so on.  Today is 3/14/15 which only happens every 100 years.  So in the photo the children are holding a sign which says "Happy Pi Day! 3.1415", holding a phone with the time of 9:16 next to the sign, and eating apple pie!

Sunday 3/15. This morning was rainy and 40 degrees.  I am really upset that my Aunt Nene did not keep the rain on her side of the mountains.  Well, we actually need more moisture, but I just wish it had come in the form of snow.  

We loaded up Miss Kitty with JB's luggage and I drove him down to his Jeep at Larry and Elsie's at about 10:30 am.  Don't know how long he will be gone, but he needs to be there when his Mom is released as both his brother and sister-in-law, with whom she lives, work.

I spent the rest of the rainy day just napping and reading.  The rain continued to fall steadily until about 9:00 pm, and then the wind picked up again. 

Monday 3/16. It is a chilly morning with a temperature of 38 and a mostly clear sky.  Will probably be another quiet day of just putzing around the house, reading and napping.

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