July 31, 2013 Smokey Skies

From this. . .

. . .  to this during the week.

Monday 7/29. I split and stacked the last load of wood before breakfast, then vacuumed after eating.  Even dusted a bit.  It's going to be another nice day in the low to mid 70's.  And JB will be home today.  A good day.  And we are all so much perkier now that the temperatures have dropped a bit.

The Colockum fire is headed south across mostly uninhabited land.  Unfortunately it is burning the elk habitat.  But fires are not an aberration.  Mother Nature likes small ones to keep down the undergrowth, but when mankind puts them out and does not cut the bushes and grass, then little fires can quickly become large, devastating firestorms.  One reason why I trimmed our trees of branches up to 14 feet.  And why I am so pleased that we were finally able to buy a tractor, so we can mow down most of the bushes and grass.

After lunch I mowed the green in the front of the house and on the north side.  It isn't lawn, or even grass, but it isn't weeds either because I do want it to grow there.  So it's just "the green."

The dogs and I were so very glad to see JB drive up the road this afternoon.  And he was glad to be back home, even though he always enjoys his annual visit with his Mother.  She always sends lots of books and goodies back with him.

Of the three nesting pairs of wrens we had Up Here in the spring, only one female remains.  I hear her chitterings every day, as if she is calling for her missing mate.  Or perhaps she is simply vilifying the male of her species.  Either way, I talk to her as she sits in the rose bushes.  She listens and answers me.  If only I could be sure of her meaning.

There was no wind today and little breeze, so the smoke from the fire moved in creating quite a haze.  But our high for the day was only 73.

Tuesday 7/30.  We emptied the trailer of the cherry wood first thing this morning.  The sky is still hazy with smoke and no air movement.

We spent most of the day Down There running errands and at JB's doctor.  We finally were able to get the durable power of attorney document notarized at our State Farm office.  We were both very pleased with the surgeon who will be performing JB's operation, and feel much more comfortable about the whole situation.  However, because of the tests that he had done on Monday, he has to have a stress test for his heart tomorrow and another test for his kidneys on Thursday.  So we won't know for sure if the operation will still be on the 14th or not until Thursday or Friday.  The surgeon thought JB should pass the stress test with flying colors with his active lifestyle and the kidney issue is probably just due to a medication that his regular doctor told him to stop taking.

It was uncomfortably hot Down There (91), but our high for Up Here was just 73.

Wednesday 7/31.  Overcast with smokey haze and 59 this morning.  Again, no air movement.  Thunderstorms are forecast for this evening and the next few days. 

The dogs chased a small flock of wild turkeys into the trees on the southeast slope first this this morning.  So proud of themselves.  JB will leave for his appointment about 11:00 am and I will attack the cherry wood with the splitter.

Thought for the day:  Live now.  Procrastinate later.  Karen Salmansohn