Apr 1, 2013 Spring Firsts



Dinga, our little fox.




JB cutting out the last piece of the stump.

















Friday, 3/29.  Another 30% of our snow has melted in the past 24 hours.  We are into full-blown mud season.

I hung the wash outside today for the first time this year.  It was already 40 when I hung it and 48 (our high) when I brought it in.  Lots of clouds drifted over during the day, but there was enough sun to dry it by the time for our afternoon walk.  Oh, that heavenly scent!

I made two more paths over the mud with the pieces of bark.  Both beginning at the porch steps.  One heading towards the grove and one towards where MAX is parked.  Then with my small hands, I was able to get the sprocket out of MAX.  We then took off the last tire and the extenders.  We brought out the other, larger set of tires which we will put on MAX when we are done with the axle.

JB got out his chain saw, another first for the year, and started cutting on the large stump on the north side of the house.  He also cut out a BIG chunk of the root that was in the way of our drainage "ditch".  I got to play in the mud in order to get the water draining.  Maybe I should have majored in hydro engineering instead of elementary ed.  Although understanding how to deal with gradeschool children would be a great foundation for dealing with bureaurocrats.

After a 3-cheese and onion pizza, we watched "American Gangster" which we had never seen before.  But before the movie, I went outside and hiked down the west ridge a little ways below the garden.  There are several bunches of small trees that need to be thinned, and lots of larger ones that need to be trimmed.  It is finally that time of year and I am really getting energized about it.

Saturday, 3/30.  Birdsong in the morning - how wonderfully Spring!  It was clear and 32 with predictions of highs reaching 70 Down There this weekend.  Yesterday we were working outside with no coats, just flannel shirts.  Woo Hoo!  That warm sun felt so good.  And since the weather is so very nice, we decided to attend JB's family Easter dinner tomorrow.  His neice in Snohomish is hosting this year, so it would only be a little over a two hour drive from Wenatchee.  With that decision made, we spent the morning getting ready for the trip.  JB cleaned out his Jeep and I packed.  I also had to make a card to mail for our Granddaughter whose sixth birthday is on Friday, April 5.

After all that, JB went to work again on the big stump.  He managed to make a cut through most of it, then cut the top into three sections.  Three very large, heavy sections.  I scraped up enough shaving to fill five coffee cans and a small plastic bag for the outhouse.  That is going to be some great firewood, although it almost seems a shame to burn it.  I am just sure that with the right tools, we could make a small table or seat with one of the pieces.

Today's high temperature was 49, and being outside in it was wonderful.  After dinner we watched "The Vampire Diaries".  Then set the alarm for 7:00 am and dropped into bed.

Easter Sunday, 3/31.  We left Rose Camp at 9:00 am with two very excited dogs.  Driving down our road was a little dicey, but we made it just fine, and saw the first butterflies of the season.  Don't know if we will be able to make it all the way back up again, though.  Lots of slush, mud and ice.  It took a while to get my Jeep ready for the trip, but we were on the road at 10:00.  Had to stop by the post office to mail our Granddaughter's card, then Starbucks for a latte.  We left Wenatchee at 10:40.  

It was an incredible day with no clouds and snow-covered mountains stretching into the blue sky.  We drove over Steven's Pass, highway 2, which I hadn't been on for almost eleven years.  I love it because it is much more rugged and about 1000 feet higher than Snoqualamie Pass.  One thing that really caught my eye on the east side was the number of trees that were down.  There must have been a horrendous wind storm this past winter, as it was obviously a recent event.

We were both so glad that we had decided to make the trip as we had a great time.  Many of our neice's husband's family were there also which made for a total of 26 of us.  I am sure the temperature was at least 70.  I don't remember such a warm and beautiful Easter Sunday that side of the mountains.  We left at 5:30 and were actually home by 9:00.  I drove my Jeep up to the beginning of our road, then because of all the melting during the day, JB was able to drive his Jeep all the way up.  No walking required.  It was still 46 and I am sure the temperature Up Here must have been in the high 50's at least.  The house was still so warm that we didn't need to put in a fire.  Another first for the year.

Monday, 4/1.  Another clear day and already 41.  Lots of new bare ground.  We are just going to relax today.

Thought for the day:  No man can taste the fruits of Autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of Spring.  Samuel Johnson