August 30, 2017 Hot, Smokey Days

One of my great
garage sale finds.

One of our girls must have
thought is was Easter.

Monday 8/28. That last bolt on the tractor tire was a real pain in the patootie to get out, but after 45 minutes JB finally got it.  He was on his way Down There by 9:45 with the two front tractor tires and one flat MAX tire.

Other than my outside chores and hanging up the laundry, I spent most of the day working inside.  Lots to do to get ready for Sunday's BBQ/Chili Feed.  I took down the humming bird feeders, which always makes me feel a bit melancholy.  Not many birds at all Up Here right now except for a couple blue jays.

JB was back home by 2:00 pm.  With the smoke & no breeze, it was not a comfortable day and our high was 84.

In speaking with Larry on the radio this evening, we got news of another wolf in the canyon to the south of us.  Our neighbor who has several hundred acres where he lets his three horses and a small herd of cattle range, lost one of his horses.  At first it was thought a bear killed it, but with confirmation of a wolf nearby, it's more likely that the wolf took it down and the bear ate what was left.

Tuesday 8/29. It was 68 and still hazy with smoke this morning.  The forecast is calling for more hot days through the weekend.

We were out early to work on the three felled trees.  JB used the chain saw to trim all the large branches that were left, then sliced the smallest one into rounds.  After lunch he sliced up the large one, and that was definitely it for the day.  It was really getting hot and our high for the day was 88.

Wednesday 8/30. It is 66 and still quite smokey.  There is a nice breeze though, and I can barely make out some clouds.  We won't be doing any more work on the wood.  Just going to clean up for the BBQ.

Thought for the day: The universe is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons and morons.

August 28, 2017 Felling Trees & Garage Saling

82' of rounds.

Friday 8/25. JB felled three more trees.  Two small (11" and 12" in diameter) and one medium (16" in diameter).  I limbed the first one with my clippers while he napped.  Then after lunch he limbed the larger one of its big branches with the chain saw and I snipped off the smaller ones.

The rose hips are all at least orange now and most of them are on their way to deep red.  The last two humming birds finally left for their migration south a couple days ago.

It was a very pleasant day with a high of 72.

Saturday 8/26. It was 54 and clear this morning.  A perfect day for garage saling and I was on my way to Mrs. Gridder's by 7:45 in Miss Kitty.  There were a lot of people selling their things today, but we really hit the jackpot at two that were actually estate sales.  At the first one I bought eleven books, a sweater, a Christmas sweatshirt, a beautifully decorated Christmas sweater and a practically new, heavy bathrobe all for $7!!  Mrs. Gridder showed a lot of restraint.  Don't know how she did it.

At the second one, I bought three movies and all five seasons of Boston Legal for $8!  I also found a meat grinder and DVD shelf.  Wow!  We had so much fun and the weather cooperated.  A beautiful day with a high at Rose Camp of 75.

Sunday 8/27. It was 63 and clear this morning.  I made an unplanned trip Down There for groceries and non-perishable items for next Sunday's BBQ.  I will go down again on Friday for the meat & salads.

I was home by noon and the day was becoming too warm.  Our high turned out to be 82.  We both napped and then worked on getting the front tires off the tractor.  Got all but one bolt off, so JB sprayed it and we let it sit all night.  He wants to take those tires down so we can buy new ones and have them filled with foam.  He will also take MAX's flat tire in to be fixed.

Smoke moved in from the northwest and the sun was bright red as it ended the day.  

Monday 8/28. It is 69 with no clouds but still lots of smoke to the west.  Hope to get that last bolt out first thing.

Thought for the day: Counting your blessings builds up your "thank account." Thomas Butler, Guideposts , Sept 2017

August 25, 2017 Limbing & Slicing

No photos today because of a problem with Google.


Wednesday 8/23. It took us 25 minutes to limb the tree this morning with JB using the chain saw to and me pulling the branches away as they were cut.  As Elsie said, some of those branches were as big as the small trees we felled.  The tree turned out to be 82' long with a 41" stump!  JB figured out that we should get 1-1/2 cords of wood and possibly two including the branches.

After lunch JB cut 40 rounds, beginning at the top.  A good day's work.  After dinner, I gathered three bags of kindling.  Arriving at the wood shed with the first load, I discovered that part of the last row of wood had toppled over. . .

Our high for the day was 82, but there was a good breeze to cool us off.

Thursday 8/24. It was a chilly 55 this morning with clear skies and a wind.  After breakfast JB cut the last of the log into 19 rounds ranging from 20" to 32" in diameter.  Very LARGE rounds!

After lunch I loaded Miss Kitty's bed with kindling; took it to the wood shed and stacked it.  Then I gathered two large bags of shavings for use in the outhouse.  There are enough shavings to get at least two more bags, but that will have to wait.

Thin clouds formed overhead during the day, and by dinner time the sky was overcast except for a blue ring around the horizon.  Our high for the day was a very pleasant 75.

Friday 8/25. It is 48 and mostly clear this morning.  We plan to cut down a few more smaller trees today.  Tomorrow I am going garage saling!

Thought for the day: The philosophy of the classroom today will be the philosophy of the government tomorrow.  Abraham Lincoln  (Well, that certainly explains a lot!)

August 23, 2017 An Eclipse & Working On The Tree

Sunday's sunset.

Monday 8/21. We were on our way Down There by 8:30 am, pulling the trailer so we could pick up the repaired snow blower.  By the time we arrived at Larry and Elsie's the eclipse had begun and she let me use her special glasses to look at it.  Very cool.

Our first stop was at the Forest Service to buy my park pass, or at least get a rain check, which I did.  Most of the employees were outside looking at the eclipse through a special telescope, and by then the morning had definitely darkened.  What surprised me was the sudden drop in temperature.  Must have been at least ten degrees cooler, and it took a little while to warm up again.

The eclipse was almost definitely waning by the time we got to the new store in town - Cash & Carry.  It is a restaurant supply store open to the public.  We walked down every food aisle and were very impressed.  There are some items less expensive than Costco, plus they have the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour that I buy on line, only cheaper and I don't have to pay freight!

We were home by 2:00 pm, after a very slow drive up our four miles of bumpy, dirt road.  Before dinner I began cleaning up branches around the fallen sentinel.

Tuesday 8/22. It was 63 and clear this morning.  JB was on his way Down There for two doctor's appointments by 8:30 am.  

After my morning coffee and newspaper, I went out to continue cleaning up branches from the tree.  This is going to be quite a job.  I stayed out for about an hour til the temperature began to rise, then went in and worked on re-organizing several of the kitchen cupboards to make more room and get rid of items we do not use.  It was quite warm today with little breeze and a high of 82.

I got dinner in the oven and JB was home by 4:30, in time to relax before we ate.  His appointments went well.  Life is good.

Wednesday 8/23. It is 61 and clear with smoke on the western and northern horizons.  We could smell the smoke last night and still can this morning.  It is from a couple fires way to the north.

Thought for the day: Stress: the confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it.

August 21, 2017 A Snake & A Sentinal

The snake head clamped onto
the end of my snake stick.

Sawing the tree.

Timber!

Friday 8/18. JB left about 9:00 for Down There.  I did the morning chores and took the dogs on the morning walk.  At the top of the peak I saw what I thought was bear scat and upon a closer look I saw apricot pits in it.  Yep, bear scat.

When we got back to the house, the splitter was in the last of the morning shade, so I split a few of the larger rounds, having finished all the smaller ones.  Because the wood in these six trees is green, I am cutting it into smaller pieces than usual so it will dry more quickly.  I also cleaned up branches from the last three trees, broke some into kindling and stacked them in the wood shed.

JB was home by 1:00 pm from his appointment with the surgeon.  His operation will be on 10/9.  A little later than we had hoped, but still okay.  He will have a four to six week recovery period.

After lunch I split some more wood.  JB brought the tractor over to move it, but the one back tire was going flat again, so he just did one load and I stacked it.  It looks like the two front tires and one back one will have to be replaced.  It is definitely the year of the tires, as my Jeep has to have new tires and Miss Kitty needs new front ones.

The dogs and I took off on our afternoon walk at 3:30 but didn't get very far.  Just a few feet past the wood shed was a large timber rattler going west in the clearing.  Jesse ran for home while I dispatched it.  This is the third rattlesnake we have seen this year and they have all been timber rattlers.  Large ones.  This one had ten rattles which are now being displayed with the rest of our nine-year collection.

After dinner, while we were sitting on the porch, our little flock of grouse came to drink at the bird bath.  There was a chipmunk up there and for a few minutes it shared with one grouse.  I wasn't able to get my camera out in time to capture the moment.  So cute!

Our high for the day was 84, but with a nice breeze.

Saturday 8/19.  It was 52 and windy with mostly clear skies this morning.  Since the tractor is out of commission for a while, we used Miss Kitty to move seven loads of wood to the shed.  Fortunately her back container dumps.  I stacked all that wood, and after lunch finished splitting the last twelve large rounds.  I also clipped a stack of branches.  Just full of energy today!

JB worked on the maintenance that was due on the tractor at 150 hours.  A short but messy job.

Very pleasant weather today with a high of 76.

Sunday 8/20. It was 54 with a light overcast this morning.  After the morning watering, we moved the last of the wood to the shed in Miss Kitty and I stacked it.  Those six trees created the fourth row.  After that we worked mostly inside.

The Sept/Oct issue of Backwoods Home magazine is one of their best.  There is an article regarding the home-made laundry soap that many people are using that contains Fels Naptha soap.  This was originally designed for use with washboards, and the washing machines do not break it down enough, so it will gum-up the machine.  Ooops!

The girls have been molting for a while, so we are averaging two to three eggs a day, and sometimes four or one, as we got today.

Larry and Elsie arrived at 5:30 pm to help take down the large, dead pine tree.  This was the largest tree that Larry had ever cut, but he did a great job. It fell within three feet of where they had planned.  Afterwards we sat on the porch and visited for a while.  They stayed til 7:30 and after the evening watering, I walked around the tree for a while and then out to the north ridge.

This had been a very comfortable day, with a few sun breaks and a high of 78.

This was not just a felling of another tree.  This was an event that caused a slight disturbance in the Force, at least at Rose Camp.  There had been a shift in the ambiance.  A change in the skyline.  With a 32" diameter, this was the largest and tallest tree within acres of our home.  The sentinel was gone.

But the fire wood this tree will give us is a gift from the Universe, right when we needed it the most.  This is the tree that literally died overnight last summer and the Universe knew then that we would need it now.  I am sure It had known our needs from the beginning of time. . .

Monday 8/21. It is 60 with clear skies on this day of the eclipse.  We plan to go Down There to pick up the snowblower and check our the new Cash & Carry store.

Thought for the day: You are not a human being having a spiritual experience, but rather a spiritual being having a human experience.

August 18, 2017 Cleaning & Splitting

Enjoying the sun the the
horseshoe pit.

Another critter enjoying water
in the bird bath.

Wednesday 8/16. JB left for Down There about 9:00 am pulling the trailer with the snow blower.  He had a doctor's appointment and a list of errands to run, including bringing back three bales of straw for the top of the root cellar.

When I buy newspapers Down There, I always save one to read with my morning coffee, which I did today.

By the time I finished my chores, including hanging up the laundry and going for a morning walk with the dogs, the splitter was in the sun.  So I forced myself to organize the storage part of the loft which was completely out of control.  I dragged myself down about three hours later and there was no way I was going to do any splitting today.

We have had a blue jay hanging around for the past week or so.  The other evening he was quite vocal with his frustration at the grouse for hogging the bird bath.

JB was home by 4:45 pm, just in time for dinner.  He had been able to buy a parks pass at the Forest Service office as an employee who just returned from vacation had stashed a few.  I am going to have to get over there and buy one for $10 and get a rain check like Larry did.  They cost $20 on line.

Our high for the day was 84 with warmer temps in the forecast.

Thursday 8/17. It was 54 this morning with clear skies and a breeze.  After I vacuumed, I got outside and split wood.  After lunch I split more wood.

JB unloaded the bales of straw, sharpened our three chain saw blades and did other chores.

It was a very comfortable day with a high of 76.

Friday 8/18. It is 60 with clear skies and a light breeze this morning. JB is leaving for Down There again at 8:00 for an appointment with the surgeon who will be doing his back surgery.  And, of course, a few errands.

Thought for the day: Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.  Princess Diana

August 16, 2017 Slicing & Dicing Logs

Pine buttons (before I
picked them)

Monday 8/14. We sliced the three small fir trees into rounds and moved them all to the splitter, adding another 63 pieces to the pile.  After lunch I began splitting them, but JB has to do maintenance on the tractor before we can move the wood to the shed.

Autumn is definitely in the air now.  There is always that one day in mid August when you can feel it coming, and today was the day.  Our high was 70.

Tuesday 8/15. It was 50 this morning with mostly clear skies and a bit of smoke on the northern horizon.  I was up early to get ready to go Down There and help Larry in their shop for a few hours and then do some grocery shopping.  I left at 8:00 and was back just before 2:00 pm.  

I like going Down There on Monday or Tuesday as the Sunday papers are still available.  JB and I spent a few hours reading them and magazines until dinner time when JB grilled pork chops.  I think that is the very best way to cook pork chops!

Our high for the day was 74 with our lovely breeze.

Wednesday 8/16. It is 56 this morning with clear skies and a strong breeze.  I plan to get out and continue splitting wood today.

Thought for the day: Happiness is not a goal, it is a byproduct.  Eleanor Roosevelt

August 14, 2017 Finally - Relief From The Heat!

Before. . .

. . .and after.

Friday 8/11. I was back from Down There by 11:30 and not too sure if that was a good thing or not.  No air conditioning Up Here and our high for the day was 94.  One of the best things to do in this heat is take a nap.  Which I did.

Crickets have been serenading us in the evening for more than a week now.  I think the little flock of seven grouse have adopted us and the dogs rarely chase them any more.

Saturday 8/12. It was 70 and mostly cloudy with a cool breeze this morning.  Amazing how a cool morning can have such a positive affect on one's mood!

I called Sandy and, while we were talking, a light rain began to fall.  I was immediately out dancing in it!  We had sprinkles off and on all morning.  What a treat!

We cut both halves of the large pine tree into rounds, then after lunch we sliced up the two small pine trees.  JB baked a ham and pineapple pizza in the grill.  After enjoying that for dinner, I loaded rounds in the tractor bucket and JB drove them to the splitter.

Our high for the day was 82, which didn't seem very hot at all after yesterday.

Sunday 8/13.  It was 54 and windy this morning - being chilly never felt so good!  Rain fell during the night, so everything outside is fresh and clean.  The mountains are hidden under clouds, but at least we can see that far again.  The smoke has disappeared and we have blue sky instead of brown once again.

We took the day off from working outside and began working on the inside by washing three days' worth of dishes.  Then after lunch and a nap, I made chicken/salmon dog broth and baked cookies.  JB puttered around outside doing odd jobs.  We read our books and just enjoyed the cooler weather.  Our high for the day was 76 - perfect!

After dinner I drove Miss Kitty down to check the mail and send a letter.  Then it was back up to Larry and Elsie's to give Larry his birthday present and chat a bit.  On the drive back home I actually had to put on my jacket, and that felt so good.

Monday 8/14.  Oh, my!  It is a cold 46 this morning with clear skies.  The wind blew most of the night, but there was no more rain.  We will probably cut down a few more trees today.

Thought for the day: Of course, there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.  Arthur Rubenstein

A note to JB's brother who may want to comment on the type of pizza we made:  You have now lived longer in Washington that you did in Chicago, so give it a rest. . .

August 11, 2017 Cutting Down 3 More Trees

Huge caterpillar JB found
on Thursday.

Four grouse drinking out of
the bird bath Thursday evening.

Wednesday 8/9. We were out early this morning and JB cut down two small trees to the south with the chain saw.  Not a lot of brush around these, so we thought it would be safe.  By then it was getting uncomfortably hot, so we waited until after dinner to cut down the third, larger one.

There was just a sporadic light breeze today with a high of 89.

Thursday 8/10. It was 74 and still a bit smokey, although we could see much further this morning.  Again, we were out early to work before the heat set in.  JB used the tractor to move the limbed branches into a pile and make room for the trees we cut down yesterday.

JB pulled the trees down with the Jeep, but he had to cut the big one in half.  After lunch JB limbed the big one with the chain saw as its branches were huge.  And that was it for the day's work.

Our high for the day was a very uncomfortable 92, but with a breeze.  Temperatures are supposed to get back down to normal this weekend, but there are thunder storms in the forecast.  With the possible threat of lightening, I packed our go-bags. . .

Friday 8/11. It is 72 this morning and we can actually see the outline of the mountains.  I am going Down There to mail the invitations to our Labor Day Rose Camp BBQ and run a couple other errands.  Not looking forward to the heat, but I will just linger in the air conditioning.

Thought for the day: We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.  John W. Gardner

August 9, 2017 A Trip Down There & Limbing Trees

No pictures today.  Connection is too slow.


Monday 8/7. I was on my way Down There by 8:00 am and managed to make it back home by 12:30.  I saw my first bear for the year on my way down.  He was coming up the road in the aspens and I glimpsed him just as he ducked into the bushes.  It wasn't as bad as thought it might be in town.  I cooled off in the air conditioning of each store and stayed fairly cool on my way to my next stop.  The worst part was coming home.  By the time I got to our mail box, I was wilting.  By the time I got to the gate, I was sweating.

It was very uncomfortable at Rose Camp with only a slight breeze and a high of 88.  After unloading the car and eating lunch, I was ready for a nap.

Tuesday 8/8. It was 72 and still smokey this morning.  We got out early to limb the three trees we had taken down on Sunday.  It took us an hour to do two of them.  We rested and then limbed the third one.  By then, I was so sweaty and dirty that I hopped in the shower.  I am pretty sure I have taken more showers this summer than any other since we moved Up Here.

84 seems to be the temperature break point for me.  Anything over that and I wilt.  Perhaps melt would be the more appropriate word.  Our high today was 89, again with very little breeze.

There were two hummingbirds at the feeders this evening.  Actually at just one of the feeders and fighting over it.  I told them there was another feeder, but they just wouldn't listen.

Wednesday 8/9. It is 74 and still smokey this morning, although I can see two canyons over.  It seems to be lighter in the morning and then moves back in during the afternoon.  There is absolutely no air movement, which does not bode well for the rest of day. . .

Thought for the day: Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy.  Robert Heinlein

August 7, 2017 Hewing Trees By Hand

Grouse at the bird
bath Saturday morning.

Jesse waiting for us to
come back from the panels.

Tree completely cut but
caught in another tree's branches.

Friday 8/4. I threw on some clothes and hopped in Miss Kitty to go down and pick up the mail first thing before the heat set in.  Wasn't too bad until that last mile.  As I was driving back up, I met Larry at the gate taking their dog for a walk. 

Garden fresh tomatoes with my scrambled eggs for breakfast!  Yippee!

We tilted the solar panels half-way down this morning, which means that cooler temps aren't far away.

Jesse was barking at the east slope with his tail and hackles up early this afternoon.  He didn't run up there, so we can only assume that it was a bear.  Nothing else deters him.

Last night we actually saw the stars and some of the lights from town for the first time since the smoke settled in.  But early this morning there was a lot more smoke and we couldn't even see across the canyon.

It was a very uncomfortable day with a high of 90.  This heat just sucks the energy right out of you.

Saturday 8/5. It was 70 this morning with lots of smoke and not much of a breeze.  About a dozen grouse were in the yard, two of them drinking out of the bird bath.  Not too many other birds about.  Probably because of the smoke.  

JB saw a deer on the south ridge this morning for the first time in quite a while.  But, as Larry says, just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't see you.

I baked bar cookies this afternoon from a recipe I found in a cook book I made for my eighth-grade Home Ec project.  There is some good stuff in there, and much more simple than many of today's recipes.

I haven't seen any hummingbirds for a couple days, but there were two at the feeder this evening.  The little bats are quite active each evening beginning at dusk.

Our high for today was 84, which was much more comfortable that yesterday's 90.

Sunday 8/6. It was 68 and still smokey this morning.  A little after 6:00 am we were all awakened by grouse flying off the deck and on to the ground just outside our bedroom window.  They are everywhere now!

JB and I got out early to cut down trees by hand.  Just don't feel comfortable using the chain saw right now with everything so dry and hot.  We used a hand saw and the wedges to take down three small ones.  The first tree we cut got hung up in another tree's branches and we had to pull it down with JB's Jeep.  We chose the three smallest ones that turned out to be 7" to 9" in diameter.  We were working in the shade where it was quite comfortable with a nice breeze. Still got dirty and sweaty, so a nice cool shower felt so good, as did being able to get some actual work done again.

Only saw one hummingbird today.  They are usually gone by mid August.

Our high for the day was 85, with a light breeze most of the time.

Monday 8/7. It is 70 and smokey this morning with no breeze at all.  I plan to leave for Down There as soon as I can this morning for groceries and other errands.  This heat is supposed to let up a bit by the end of the week, but I just can't wait til then.

Thought for the day: We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home, but not quite knowing what or where home is.  We glimpse it sometimes in our dreams, or as we turn a corner and suddenly there is a strange, sweet familiarity that vanishes almost as soon as it comes.  Madeleine L'Engle

August 4, 2017 Just Trying To Stay Cool

Tomatoes!

Refrigerators almost buried.

Smokey days.

Visitors!

Friday 8/4. It is 68 this morning with a strong breeze, but still smokey.  Yesterday's high was 90, and that pretty much says it all. . .

Thought for the day: The single most exciting thing you can encounter in government is competence, because it is so rare.  Daniel Patrick Moynihan

August 2, 2017 A Trip Down There & Hot Smokey Days

Sorry but no pictures today.  Google is just too slow.


Monday 7/31. We were back home by 11:00 am with a dog who wasn't quite sure if he was glad for the outing or not.  Jesse is so good at the vet.  Doesn't even react when he gets his shots, but when they take his temperature the look on his face is priceless.

The USFS was out of National Park passes, but we can order them online.

Mr. Sixes and his Dad drove up on their motor bikes to visit.  First time we have seen him this year.

It was another hot day with a high of 89 and very little breeze.

Tuesday 8/1. It was 72 this morning with no breeze, and the air was full of smoke from fires in British Columbia and Montana, and closer, from a small fire on Blewett Pass and a much larger one way to the northwest in the Peshastin Wilderness.  All the smoke is trapped by a high pressure dome.

We were out early and by 10:00 am we had finished building the frame; installed it in front of the refrigerators; filled in most of the dirt around them; watered the plants; and hung out the laundry.  It was definitely time for a shower.

We spent the rest of the day mostly inside trying not to get too hot.  I sorted all the photos we had been given from JB's Mom. We both napped.

In the past several months, Dinga has developed the habit of waking JB at 6:00 am most mornings.  She puts her two front feet on the bed and licks his face!  When I get up, I absolutely must pet her for a bit or she refuses to eat breakfast.  What a character.

A little breeze popped up off and on during the day, but the smoke did not dissipate at all.  By afternoon it really bothered my eyes when I went outside.  Our high was 86.  A very uncomfortable 86.

Last night I heard crickets for the first time.  And we now have the little hummingbirds who have learned to fly and are learning to drink from the feeders.  They are so cute.

Wednesday 8/2. It is 68 and still very smokey this morning, with forecast temps into the 100's for the next few days.

Thought for the day: I don't know if I can live on my income or not - the government won't let me try.  Bob Thaves