Dec 11, 2013 Exploding Cans

Clouds moving in Tuesday afternoon.

Deer & rabbit tracks on the north ridge.

Monday 12/9.  The drive down our snowy road was certainly beautiful, but slow and fairly uneventful, except for one corner.  Our road is obviously a wildlife thoroughfare for deer, rabbits and squirrels.  

The line at the post office was fairly short, and I was done at the laundromat by noon.  Then to Costco, Fred Meyer, and the UPS store to pick up the mail.  I called JB as I was leaving Fred Meyer so he could start down in his Jeep to pick me up at Larry and Elsie's.  He actually got there before I did.  The paved canyon road from town to our dirt canyon road had been plowed but was very icy.  So glad this will probably be my last trip down until March.

We made it back to Rose Camp by 3:00.  Our high for the day was 14, which I don't think was very much below the high Down There.

I am beginning to think that when I drink eggnog, it never makes it to my stomach, but rather seeps out directly to my waist and piles on another layer with each glass. . .  Ah, the holidays.  I'll work it off next summer.

Finally figured out what the occasional noise was out on the porch.  We had about five cans of soda that we could not fit into the cooler and they were exploding!  Fortunately they were still in the case, which kept the mess mainly contained.  And, yes, most of the beer froze, but mine did not leak or explode.  However, JB lost two of his last three gluten-free beers.  They did leak.  I thawed out one of mine (Corona) and drank it.  Tastes just fine, so we're not in deep doodoo after all.

Some of the DVD's I had ordered were in our mail, including the first season of Homeland.  We watched the pilot and the next episode this evening.  This is going to be a great series!

Tuesday 12/10.  This morning was 15 and overcast, but blue sky soon began appearing and by 10:00 am, when we went out to put the track back on MAX, the sun was peeking out.  We enjoyed a bright and sunny early afternoon with a high of 21. 

By 11:30 we had the track back on MAX, which entailed jacking MAX up onto pieces of wood.  Taking off the middle tire, and using the shop vac to suck the air out of the other two tires.  Then juggling the track back on, before which we always kiss and apologize for any angry remarks we may growl during the process.  It actually went on fairly easily this time, and then we reversed the operation, putting the tire back on.  The air back in the other two, and lowering MAX back down to the ground.

There are so many deer tracks all around the house and on the west and north ridges just since yesterday!  Not sure if they came during the night or while we were gone on Monday.  Lots of rabbit and squirrel tracks, also. 

After lunch, I climbed up to the loft to make some cards while JB went out to try to start the snow blower again.  I suggested that he just stay inside and bang his head against the wall, as he would probably have the same results.  He didn't take me up on my suggestion, but the outcome was as I had predicted.

By the time we went for our afternoon walk at 3:30 pm, clouds, most likely carrying the forecast snow, were moving in from the southwest.

Wednesday 12/11.  It is overcast and 11 degrees this morning, however the snow forecast has been moved out until Friday or later.  Who knows though, those clouds looks pretty ominous.

Thought for the day: For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.  Nelson Mandela - Rest in Peace, Oh Brave One.

Dec 9, 2013 "Warming" Up

No words needed.

Friday 12/6.  We actually began the day with 3" of new snow for a total of 6".  RJ did drive up for breakfast and we had what was probably our last visit until Spring.  The snow is very light and powdery, so it's not bad to drive in.

Seems as though it is cold everywhere.  There's even snow on the ocean beaches!  And in Santa Rosa, Sandy has been waking to 25 degree mornings.

I have decided to go Down There tomorrow as we should take my Jeep down to Larry and Elsie's for the winter.  There is more snow in the forecast for next week.  JB will pick me up in MAX when I get back.

JB tried to start the snow blower again, but to no avail, so he plowed with the tractor.  Much more fun for him, I'm sure.  Looks like we'll be sans a snow blower for the winter again.

The orange juice in our outdoor "refrigerator" finally froze.  We'll be in deep doodoo if the beer freezes. . .

We used the extra meatballs on the pizza and it was pretty good.  Blasphemy in Chicago, I'm sure.

Saturday 12/7.  Because it is -8 this morning and the forecast is for sunny days through Monday, I have decided not to go Down There until Monday.  Also the temperature is supposed to start rising by then.  When JB trekked up to clear off the panels, only Dinga went with him, and she had problems with her paws.  Our main object for the day will be to just keep everyone warm.

After a nice, lazy morning, JB baked three loaves of "rye" bread.  A recipe for gluten free bread that tastes like rye.  It does taste a little like rye bread, but a bit sweeter.  I defrosted the refrigerator, then made some more cards and started a new book.  I also brought in fire wood and took the dogs on their afternoon walk.  Too cold to really enjoy it, although the sparkling white vistas made it worthwhile.  Our high for the day was 3. . .

Sunday 12/8.  It was zero and mostly cloudy this morning.  By the time we got to the dishes at 10:30, after our big Sunday breakfast, the sun was powering up the batteries.

There seems to be a big difference between a temperature of above zero and below zero.  Today's high was 7 and the low was zero.  I got so warm getting the wood that I had to take off my gloves!  It was much easier to keep the house warm too.

I finally got the Christmas decorations out, but only put up the larger ones and the creche.  I think I'll pass on all the little ones this year.

The wren is back.  He sat on the wood stacked just outside our dining room windows and looked in at me.  He was all fluffed out to keep warm and looked like a flying ball of feathers.  He comes up for a few days every winter.  Not sure why.

JB got MAX started and drove around to be sure everything was working well.  It was until one of the tracks came off.  But the road is still passable by Jeeps, so he will drive down to Larry and Elsie's in his Jeep tomorrow to pick me up.  He drove his Jeep down to the game cam to put the card back in with no problem.

Monday 12/9.  It is 7 and mostly clear this morning.  We watched three deer mosey over the south ridge and along the east slope, nibbling as they went.  The dogs were barking up a storm at first, but we didn't let them out.  I hope to leave about 9:00 am and will do some laundry Down There along with the grocery shopping.  The main reason for going is to mail all the Christmas cards and packages.

Thought for the day:  Let us be thankful for those who make us happy for they are the gardeners who make our souls bloom.

Dec 6, 2013 Yikes! It's Cold!

A cold, cold Columbia River

Wednesday 12/4. When the temperature falls below 10, I can't really tell the difference.  Cold is cold.  It did make it back up to 10 for our high today.  But as I said, cold is cold.  Must be getting used to it as I went for a little hike, then brought the wood in.  JB started all the vehicles, then drained the generator's oil of 0 to 100 oil and refilled it with -20 to 50 oil.

It was the perfect day for roasted red pepper and tomato soup with a toasted cheese sandwich.  Costco now carries that soup and I have become addicted.  Reminiscent of the Campbell's soup of my childhood but so much better.

JB is going Down There tomorrow to buy more diesel gas, pick up the mail and do some Christmas errands.  Now with the wind chill forecast of -17, I am going to wait til Monday to go to town.

RJ is at his cabin and plans to come up for breakfast tomorrow morning.  With these temperatures, he is finding all the cracks where the cold air is coming in!

We spent the late afternoon cooking.  JB baked bread sticks to go with the pasta I was making, and brownies for desert.  I made a huge batch of meatballs, half of which we will put on the pizza for dinner on Friday.

Thursday 12/5.  It is 0 and overcast with a few snowflakes drifting down.  They are very tiny, and a definitely drifting, not falling.  By the time JB left for Down There at 9:30 am, the snow had increased a bit and remained like that for the rest of the day.  But it was so light, that it barely changed what was on the ground.  

Because it was so cold and he has no heater in his Jeep, JB couldn't get all the ice off of the windshield.  It took him 20 minutes to go the first two miles of our road, mainly because he couldn't see that well.  The first item on his list became de-icer!  

My main chore was to wash the dishes and I swear we must have used almost every pot, pan and bowl we had yesterday!

JB picked up the card from the game cam on his way back up.  Lots of wildlife activity lately.  We have videos of lots of deer, a couple coyotes and two cougars.  One of which is quite large.  As soon as I figure out how to get a still photo from the video, I will post it.

Friday 12/6.  We woke up to a temperature of -1, two more inches of snow, and it is still coming down.  The flakes are very fine, which I am sure is due to the temperature.  Not sure if RJ is going to want to come up for breakfast or not.  Looks like it is time to hibernate. . .

Thought for the day:  An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.  G.K. Chesterton

Dec 4, 2013 Snow & Single Digits

Looking to the north with dawn's
rays in the background.

Warming up after being out in the snow.

Monday 12/2.  Well, that was snow moving in, not fog.  Flakes began falling about 8:45 am and the ground was white by 8:50.  The sun was back out by 10:30 and we had just under 1/2".  Our high for the day was 22 with an icy breeze.  On our afternoon walk, my cheek bones literally ached by the time we got back to the house.  We didn't venture out into the snow storm for a morning walk.

I actually put up a few Christmas decorations today, some silk red and white poinsettias.  I'm getting there. . .

For readers who are fairly new to my blog, if you are interested in how we planned for and built our home Up Here, please check out the beginning of my blog.  I was Up Here for three months by myself, living in a pop-up camping trailer and organizing the preparation of the building site and the construction of our home.  JB joined me when he retired in August.  I had bears and deer visit me quite often and got some great photos.  Also some good pictures of our pole-building home being built.

Larry and Elsie drove up for a visit in the cold and snow.  Was so nice to see them.  While we had mud and a high in the mid 30's on Sunday, their temperatures stayed in the 20's and all the rain had frozen to ice.  It was windy at their place when we had no wind, and calm down there while it was blowing Up Here.  Not unusual though, just the way the weather can be in the mountains.

It was down to 16 and was snowing again when we went to bed at 10:30 pm.

Tuesday 12/3.  We awoke to a temperature of 9 and a partial overcast with an additional 1-1/2" of snow, for a total of 2".  No more precipitation predicted in the near future, but that Arctic air mass has arrived and we will definitely be cold.  Our high for the day was 13!

JB was out of bed at 7:30 am and out the door shortly thereafter to clear off the solar panels.  Dinga loved the early outing, but Jesse just stayed by the wood stove.  Smart dog.

There is just something about snow in the woods.  So quiet.  So calming.  And Dinga is in her element.  She will run along with her lower jaw down, scooping up snow as she goes.  Soon she will diving into the snow banks. 

The sky cleared by 10:00 am and the sunlight bounced off the white landscape causing us to squint when looking outside.  The sun melted the snow and ice off the south side of the roof, while the temperature soared to 12.

Except for bringing in the wood, I stayed inside.  I did laundry, started a new book and made some greeting cards.  I like the snow, but I don't particularly like being outside when the temperature sinks below 20.  JB took the dogs on their afternoon walk, while I stayed in the cozy loft.

Jesse had gone out after dinner and was still out an hour later.  We could hear him barking but he wouldn't come when we called.  He does not bark at the deer, so I was getting concerned.  At 7:00 pm we finally went out after him.  Love those "head lights" we got at Costco!  After almost 1/2 hour, we still couldn't find him and he had stopped barking.  So we headed back to the house - and there he was!

The thing about going outside in this weather is that it takes several minutes and a lot of exertion to put on all the layers and then take them off again. . .

Wednesday 12/4.  It's a balmy 2 degrees this morning with blue sky.  It has not been this cold since our first winter Up Here, 2008/09, when the temperatures dipped below zero.  Needless to say, I plan to stay inside today.

Thought for the day: Coffee makes the world to round, love only populates it!

Dec 2, 2013 Answer on a Rant

Fog creeping into the canyon south of us
on Friday.

Amount of wood I like to have inside
after I bring it in each day.  We
usually don't even use 1/2 of it.

Friday 11/29.  The river valley fog soon spread to the canyons, and our high for the day was 35.  I washed sheets and hung them out to freeze dry.  Oh, they smelled so good!  I really missed hanging the laundry outside this summer when I was going to the laundromat.

I have been very remiss in checking my blog e-mail, which Google has changed a bit.  I was notified that I now have 28 followers on Feedspot.com!  How nice!  It is a great site and under "Humor" I signed up for Puppies and Cats, which will give me my daily dose of "ahh."

I also received an e-mail from a reader regarding one of my political rants in which I stated that the arrogant impostor in the White House is a Muslim.  This reader felt I should not have said such a thing, as that man is not a Muslim.  Well, it is my opinion that if he is not such a believer, then he certainly supports its followers.  I have no issue with Islam in its purest form, but like Christianity, it has been bastardized into sects by those who would bend its tenets to their own agendas.  I am sure that both Christ and Muhammad are appalled and grievously saddened - although not at all surprised - at the twisted changes man has made to their teachings.

Back to the impostor, one cannot listen simply to a man's words.  You must also, and more importantly, listen to his actions.  I rarely put any credence into conspiracy theories, but I am certainly leaning towards the one that states that the man living in the White House is out to destroy America as we know it.  I do not believe that he is smart enough nor wily enough to plan this himself, but rather is being controlled by those who put him in office and pull his strings.  Puppet that he is.

I am not easily goaded into ranting, and when I do my ire tends to get the better of me.  Perhaps I need an editor. . .

OK. . . We now return to our regularly scheduled Rose Camp Diary. . .

I so enjoy holiday leftovers.  I had them for lunch, but we broke the cycle for dinner with pepperoni pizza.  

With temperatures rising above freezing, the ground has thawed in places making mud where there had been heavy frost beginning yesterday.  Definitely moisture in the air now.  You can smell it.

We watched one of our favorite westerns this evening, Appaloosa.

Saturday 11/30. It was mostly overcast and 27 this morning with valley fog.  Snow is in the forecast for tonight through Monday, but our high for today was 34.  That arctic mass hasn't reached us yet.

We are seeing deer almost every day now, which I really enjoy.  As much as I love our dogs, I do miss seeing the wildlife they are chasing away.  Wouldn't be without them though.

I wrote my Christmas letters today.  Short and sweet for those who do not read my blog.  My Mom always wrote detailed Christmas letters, but I just mention the main events.  But I do love receiving such letters from friends and family.

Thanksgiving leftovers are wonderful, and that's what we had for dinner, but there is just nothing quite like that first, carefully orchestrated bite of the holiday dinner - dressing, cranberry sauce, turkey and gravy.  It's the best bite of the year.

Sunday 12/1.  Rain fell most of the night as it was too warm for snow.  It was 34 when we got up and the wind was blowing the rain around.  We had so many thunderstorms this summer that now every time it rains hard during the night, Dinga jumps up on our bed like a frightened child seeking protection.  It does not bode well for sleep.

December 1 and I haven't begun to decorate for Christmas.  When we were living Down There, Thanksgiving weekend was always the time to decorate.  Up Here it takes me longer to mentally get to that place.  JB wants to cut one of the small trees that need to be thinned and put it in the front yard to decorate.  We used to decorate one of the smaller trees that were growing there, but we always had a problem with the wind.  Maybe we'll put it on the porch, or inside on the landing at the top of the stairs.  I could get a small tree to fit there.  Hmmm.

When I was at Costco a couple weeks ago, I splurged on some Egyptian Magic skin cream.  I had been reading so much about it for the past month or so in several different magazines, that I decided I really needed to try it.  Well, in the two weeks I have been using it, I can see a subtle difference.  My face seems softer and looks like it has been slightly airbrushed.  And my throat is more firm with less lines.  Of course I doubt that anyone else will notice, but then if it could make a dramatic difference in my old skin, it would be referred to as Egyptian Miracle, not just magic.

Today was just too nasty to go out to do anything but bring in fire wood.  It is really muddy outside now and our high for the day was 35.  BJ did go out to his shop for his cordless drill so we could put some more shelves in a cabinet in the loft.  So glad to get that done, as it allowed me to store more items inside of it.  I have redone the storage area in our loft so many times, but then that is part of nesting.  And I just love nesting.

Monday 12/2.  It is 19 and there is blue sky and sun to the south and east, but there is a huge fog bank to the north.  Or is that snow moving in?

Thought for the day:  Courage is fear that has said its prayers. Karl Barth  

Nov 29, 2013

A little valley fog over the Columbia River
on Thanksgiving Day.

Wednesday 11/27.  Today was partly overcast with a high of 27.   Neither of us were feeling very well, so we just puttered around inside.  I finished wrapping and packaging the last of the gifts, which were RJ's and Mike's.  He may be up next week, which will save me some postage.  I addressed all sixty Christmas cards, so now I am just down to writing personal messages in them.

JB took the dogs on their morning walk and I went on the afternoon walk, after bringing in the wood.  It felt good to get outside for a little while and connect with the earth.

We started getting ready for our Thanksgiving dinner today.  I baked the sweet potatoes.  JB made the corn bread for the dressing then cut it into 1/2" squares to dry out during the night.

Twice during the day deer were walking up our driveway just as we let the dogs out.  None of us saw them til the dogs were well into the yard.  Dinga barked and the deer bounded up the east slope.  Jesse chased them just to the fence.

Lots of interesting facts from the forest health seminar JB attended.  According to journals from early white men crossing our country, trees in the forests were far enough apart for them to ride three abreast through them!  For a healthy trees, they should be an average of nine feet apart.  Boy, do we have work to do. . .

The heavens during these past, cold starry nights have been phenomenal.  The stars seem twice as bright as usual.

Thursday 11/28.  Clear and 24 this Thanksgiving morning.  Jesse went outside right after I fed them at 8:30 am and was gone for two hours.  We heard his occasional bark but didn't see him until he returned right at 10:30 am for their morning walk and treat.  His internal clock is amazing.

I was feeling much better but JB was not, until I gave him a decongestant and some tylenol.  We both worked at fixing dinner.  I made the pie filling and JB made the crust.  Then he made the dressing and turkey, and some celery sticks with cream cheese to nibble on.  I fixed the bourbon sweet potatoes and gravy.  He broke out a bottle of Orange Muscat wine given to us from his brother - oh, my!  I have found my new favorite wine.

I had always seen pictures of home made pies cooling on window sills and thought that someday I would love to do that.  Well, today was the someday.  It wasn't on a windowsill, but I did set the pie outside to cool.

We have so much to be thankful for, which made our Thanksgiving dinner even better.  I could have easily fallen into a post-turkey-dinner stupor, but I left the couch to JB and went out to get fire wood, then took the dogs for a nice, slow walk.  Very enjoyable and just what I needed.

Then I got on the internet and spent my Christmas money at gohastings.com on many of the TV series we wanted.  After that, we settled in to watch three episodes of Bones.

Friday 11/29.  It is 30 and mostly cloudy this morning, with river-valley fog.  Already two degrees warmer than our high of 28 for yesterday.  We will probably spend most of the morning cleaning up our kitchen mess from yesterday.

There is a snow storm predicted for Sunday and icy temperatures from the Arctic moving in on Monday.  Possibly into the single digits, and sub-zero Up Here.

Thought for the day:  When there is trouble on earth it means there is movement in Heaven.  Irish tradition

Nov 27, 2013 Giving Thanks

Inversion layer over the Columbia River.

Sun on the mountains to the far northwest.

Monday 11/25.  By noon our blue sky was overcast and our high for the day was 28.  The high pressure system sitting off the coast is causing an inversion layer and air quality warnings, but supposedly there is a storm heading our way on Sunday.

I am in the process of losing a friend.  Someone I have known since high school.  I realize that people flow into and out of our life.  Sometimes we drift apart on a gentle current, and other times a tidal wave of differences sweeps us apart.  That emotional tidal wave can hurt as badly as a physical one, especially if you don't see it coming. . .

After being a bit of a social hermit for five years, I have decided to reconnect on a daily basis, so I am getting on Facebook almost every day instead of once a month.  It is time.

JB feels like he is coming down with something, so we may be staying home for Thanksgiving.

Tuesday 11/26.  This morning was 19 with a light overcast.  I left for Down There at about 9:00 am and just took my time doing my shopping and errands.  With the crowds, there wasn't going to be any rushing anyway.  So glad I don't have to be Down There on Wednesday.

I don't think the temperature got out of the 30's in town.  And I think the moisture from the Columbia River makes it seem colder than it is.  Our high Up Here was 27.

I was home by 2:30 pm.  JB did indeed catch a germ over the weekend and is congested with a sore throat.  Trying to keep me from getting it, he had me sleep on the couch.

Wednesday 11/27.  Well, sleeping apart didn't do the trick.  I am definitely coming down with whatever it is.  I am so disappointed about missing Thanksgiving dinner with Larry and Elsie and their family.  But that's just the way it goes sometimes.  I did buy a turkey breast and we have all the trimmings, so the four of us (two dogs and their humans) will enjoy a quiet Thanksgiving.  Instead of eggnog, we'll have hot wine, honey and butter.  So good, and it does the trick on the sore throat.

Thought for the day:  Whatever life has brought, the message is: Give Thanks.  And as you do so, greater things will come.  Norman Vincent Peale