Dec 27, 2013 Back to MAX

Rose working on MAX.

Distant valley fog this morning.

Wednesday 12/25.  A bright and sunny, if brisk, Christmas Day.  First some coffee, then the gifts.  Boy, did we get spoiled this year!  I gave JB a list of "suggestions" and he bought me everything on it!  I have enough books to read until my birthday in May, or at least til Easter.  And speaking of Easter, we have enough candy to last until then. . . or at least January.  I did not know that Peeps came in Santa Clauses and gingerbread men. . .

We were going to have our Christmas dinner at about 2:00 pm, but after nibbling all morning, we decided to wait until our regular time of 5:30 pm.  Other than making gravy, it was basically just warming up leftovers from Thanksgiving.  But still soooo good.

I started reading one of the books JB gave to me, Brimstone by Robert B. Parker.  One of my favorite authors.

All the rabbits around our home must have come out to celebrate Christmas.  JB saw tracks when he took the dogs on their morning walk, and then we all saw even more tracks when we went for our afternoon walk.  They were everywhere!  Even right outside the bathroom window and all around the outhouse.  I wish I could actually see one of the rabbits making the tracks.  Some of those tracks are pretty good size.

This evening we watched Silver Linings Playbook.  What a great movie!.

Thursday 12/26.  It is 27 and clear this morning.  Enough playing, it's time to get back to work.  Did laundry and defrosted the fridge in the morning, then it was outside to get back to working on MAX.

Our high for the day was 35, so it a nice day to be working outside, but nothing seemed to go right.  We finally got the center rod out and inserted in the opposite axle.  Got the rod and cotter pin back in.  But it was a struggle, and then just couldn't get the chain back on.  Enough already!  By 3:00 pm I was just too frustrated to continue.  And my arthritic hands needed a rest.

I brought in fire wood and we went on a nice, slow afternoon walk.  Then, I settled in with my book and just relaxed.

Friday 12/27.  It is 27 and mostly overcast with valley fog.  A very light overcast.  And it is our 44th wedding anniversary.  JB is going Down There to have a tire on my Jeep fixed, as it keeps going flat.

Thought for the day:  Happiness is to see the world in a grain of sand, and Heaven in a wild flower, to hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in a single hour.  William Blake

Dec 25, 2013 Merry Christmas!

Monday 12/23.  It is amazing how warm 32 degrees seems first thing in the morning!  The wind arose and it was very gusty all day.  Our high was 34 and everything was melting until about 2:45 pm.

I baked oatmeal-raisin cookies instead of really sugary Christmas cookies.  Oh, dear.  I must be getting old. . .

It was partly cloudy all day but the sun managed to shine on us most of the time.  Then about 2:45 the sky darkened.  It was 34 and I was sure that the white wall that the wind was quickly blowing towards us from the west was rain.  I went out to get the wood in, and by the time the wall of wet arrived 15 minutes later, the temperature had dropped to 32 and it was snow, not rain.  Hurray!!  A snowing, blowing blizzard that lasted about 40 minutes!

JB called at 3:05 pm.  He was at the turn-off to our road and also in the blizzard.  So glad he was in his Jeep and not MAX!  Within minutes the ground went from brown with a few white spots to all white again, and we had to unload the Jeep in the midst of blowing snow.  Looks like we will have a white Christmas after all.

Tuesday 12/24.  It was 22 and clear this morning.  We are taking these two days of Christmas off to just relax and enjoy all our blessings.  This sun is shining on the new-fallen snow.  The Christmas carols are playing.

Wednesday 12/25.  It is 18 with a clear sky.  Merry Christmas to All!

Thought for the day:  This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.  Taylor Caldwell

Dec 23, 2013 Prayers Needed

'Nuff said.

The new rod and the old, after
 18 years of wear and tear.

Wild Rose working on MAX!

Friday 12/20.  I get snuggled down in my cozy, winter bed and simply do not want to get up in the morning.  Then I remember when I first began to blog and got up at 5:00 am to post.  What was I thinking??!

Light snow began falling again at about 10:45 am and swung back and forth between heavy and light til about 3:00 pm when it stopped.  We were on the very southern edge of the clouds and the sun was often shining on the south ridge while it was snowing at the house.  The wind picked up when the snowfall ceased and so did the valley fog.  It was a very brisk afternoon walk.  We only received 1/2" of snow, just enough to make everything white again and hide the icy spots.

I made cheeseburger biscuits for our dogs, and some to give to Larry and Elsie's dogs for Christmas.  Oops - nothing for their kitties.

Jesse has really been out and about for the last few weeks, being gone for more than an hour at a time, even when the temperatures are down in the low teens.  He has had some rather odoriferous emissions lately, so he may have come upon a carcass of some sort that he is snacking on.

Saturday 12/21.  And the light is on its way back to us. . .  It was 24 and clear with valley fog that didn't clear out til after sunset.  Our high for the day was 30.

Did the dishes, vacuumed and cleaned the house a bit.  Even actually dusted.  Then after lunch we went out to tackle the MAX job.  It took us 1-1/2 hours just to get the cotter pin out of the center rod!  Then another 1/2 hour to pull the rod out and coax the new one in.  I did not do a victory dance until that was all completed.  Then there was wild celebration!

Larry and Elsie drove up for their Christmas visit this evening.  Hadn't seen them in a while.  We exchanged gifts and enjoyed each other's company.

Sunday 12/22.  It was 26 and mostly clear with low valley fog this morning.  The sky soon clouded over some, and the fog cleared out by mid afternoon to just a light mist.

We were out to work on MAX right after breakfast and got everything put back in, we thought.  Found out that we did not check the opposite middle axle when we put the rod in, so instead of going into the axle, the new rod actually went to the side of it.  I got very discouraged.  Next time I will save the victory dance until we are completely done and have test driven MAX.  Then maybe I will just give a quiet but joyful "Woo Hoo!"  I am sure that "moderation in all things" applies to celebrating also.  However, the French have revised this adage a bit to "moderation in all things, including moderation."  Maybe I'll go with that one.

So after lunch, we put chains on all four tires of JB's Jeep.  With our lack of snow, he will now be able to drive his Jeep down to my Jeep.  MAX would not make it all the way down with the tracks on.  The Universe knew this and we have a game plan for completing the work on MAX. . . after Christmas.  It seems that the original forecast for a wet winter has reversed itself.  Those darn butterflies in China. . .

Prayers would be greatly appreciated for Baby Wes who is just six months old and needs more heart surgery a day or two after Christmas.  He is quite the smiley, giggly little champ who has already been through a lot.

Monday 12/23.  It is mostly overcast and 32 this morning, with a light breeze.  JB will be leaving for Down There by 9:00 am and I plan to bake cookies.  Loving the Christmas season. . .

Thought for the day:  It is not simply that we share with each other a common humanity, but that individually we have no humanity without each other.  Sara Maitland, A Big Enough God 

Dec 20, 2014 Political Correctness BS

Our icy front yard

Wednesday 12/18.  Partly cloudy soon gave way to overcast, but we had some blue sky in the afternoon.

JB drove MAX down to put the game cam card back in, and then a bit further to give the dogs a run.  By the time he got home, the middle axle had worked itself loose again.  Guess we have no choice but to take it apart. . . tomorrow.

Our early morning temperature of 26 turned out to be our high for the day.  It was 24 when we left for our afternoon walk.  Nothing melted today and the snow was crunchy again.  It was down to 17 by 9:00 pm.

Thursday 12/19.  I checked the temperature when I let the dogs out at 6:00 am and it was 16.  When we actually got up for the day at 8:00 am, the temperature had fallen to 12.  The sky was clear and the ground was icy.  However, it was overcast by noon and our high for the day was 18.

We knew the job on MAX would take two days, so we did the basics today.  Jacked MAX up on blocks.  Took off the middle wheel on the loose axle side.  Took off the necessary chain to access the bolt to loosen the sprocket from the axle - a very greasy, messy job.  Tomorrow we should be able to take the cotter pin out of the opposite axle that is holding in the center rod.  Put the new rod in and reverse everything.  Ten years ago we could probably have done it all in one day.

Now for my rant:  In a free country where there is free speech, there should be no such catch phrase as "politically correct."  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and if they are always politically correct, then they have no opinion of their own.  Have we come to the point where people can no longer be on TV if their opinions differ from the "mainstream"??!!  If one of the men on Duck Dynasty believes that being gay is a sin, it is his right to believe so and he should not be vilified for it.  I disagree with him, but I certainly don't believe he should be punished for it.  There are many people in this country that feel the way he does.  That is their right.  Doesn't anyone remember, "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

I am sure the TV channel is just worried about ratings and losing income, so it all comes down to the bottom line, as usual.  But it is a sad commentary on the American public if they are concerned.

But this is scary because it can so easily lead to worse scenarios.  If you don't believe the government is doing the right thing, you may have to answer to the men in one of those Homeland Security vehicles that are beginning to appear in our cities.  There is as least one such vehicle in Wenatchee, and I am sure that Homeland Security will have no shortage of power-hungry, idiotic, control-freak applicants for their available positions.  It is quite scary and I am not sure what can be done about it.  I really have no faith in our voting system any more.  Too much fraud.  I want to cry.  I want to scream.  And if I wrote what I really wanted to do, well I know a lot of people would agree with me, but I doubt I'd be here tomorrow to post my blog. . .  However our country was founded on revolution.

Back to Rose Camp:  NOAA has been predicting snow for more than a week now and with our overcast sky this evening, I might even think it is possible.  They have to get it right at some point.  Right?

Friday 12/20.  Finally, some snow.  We watched it move in and the first flakes arrived at 8:35 am.  It is even snowing in Seattle.  The temperature is still a low 15, so it will probably be just the tiny flakes we are seeing now.  Well #@!*, even as I write this, the snow has stopped and I can see the mountains. . . 

Thought for the day: Democracy in itself does not define or guarantee a free society.  History has told many stories of democratic societies that have degenerated in corruption, plunder and tyranny.  Richard M. Ebeling

Dec 18, 2013 Fixing MAX Again

Snow melting off the roof of the
garbage/recycle shed.

Dinga helping JB with MAX.

Monday 12/16.  It remained partly cloudy most of the day with some sun and a high of 33.  No new cougar tracks that we could see, at least on our walk.

Today I got to do what I just love - crawl under the house.  Before JB snaked the pipe, I wanted to be sure that everything was okay with the pipes as far as them being where they are supposed to be, ie. no sagging, etc.  They were fine and everything except one corner is completely dried out.  We just need another vent on the northwest end of the house.  Going under the house isn't so bad when it is all dry, except it's hard on the knees.  Have to remember to use JB's knee pads next time.

The pipe snake that we have did not work the way we needed it to, possibly because it may be at least 50 years old.  It belonged to my Dad.  So JB is going to buy a new and more pliable one when he goes Down There on the 23rd.  Meanwhile we'll just go easy on our daily use of water.

Last week I finished the second row of wood in the wood shed.  The next six rows are each almost three feet longer than the first two.  And I have used only about 1/3 of the first of two rows of the branch wood.  Then, of course, we have all the wood on the porch.  I think we're set.

I cleaned up my craft corner in the loft, ready my book and just enjoyed another day on the mountain. 

Tuesday 12/17.  It was 29 and mostly clear this morning with some river valley fog.  Our high for the day was 35.  The sun shone most of the day and urged the fog up into the canyons a bit, but not too high.

With all the melting and freezing going on outside, it is definitely time to strap on the cleats.

JB drove MAX down to get the game cam card and realized something was wrong with the last axle we replaced - again.  So after looking at the videos on the card (no cougars this time, just deer, rabbits, blue grouse and coyotes) and eating lunch, we went out to work on MAX.  Since it was the middle wheel, we didn't have to take off the track, thank goodness.  Took us about an hour to get everything tightened up and back on.  I think the main problem is that the rod between the two middle axles has been worn down where it fits into the axle.  That allows a little wobble, which, in turn, makes the axle loose again.  We do have an extra rod but if that is indeed the problem, it means taking MAX almost completely apart.  We'll take a look tomorrow.  It would really help if at least one of us was half a mechanic. . .

The sky was clear for the full moon and it shone brightly on the snow and ice while we were inside watching the first episodes of season three of The Vampire Diaries.  Werewolves and vampires during a real full moon. . .

Wednesday 12/18.  It is 26 and partly cloudy this morning with freezing rain and/or snow in the forecast.

Thought for the day: I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas lights.  Maya Angelou

Dec 16, 2013 Mud & Cougars

Cougar track on our south ridge.

Friday 12/13.  The last "Friday The 13th" of the year and exactly 13 weeks since the last one.  Interesting.  It was a good Friday for us.  Since it was so warm (24) and we had no new snow, JB decided to go Down There.  The last of our packages we had ordered had arrived and one of the items was a Christmas gift that needed to be mailed in order to arrive in time, and we were concerned that with these warmer temperatures now and another arctic blast due next week, our road might turn to ice.  He got a late start at 10:30 am and was back by 2:00 pm.

While he was gone, I finally got rid of the dust bunnies that were nestled among the picture frames on the coffee table.  A little sad, as I have mentioned before, Up Here we consider them pets not pests.

The sky has been fairly clear these past nights, so, as the poem says: "The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow" makes it look like daylight.  So beautiful!

Since we are having a problem with water backing up in the pipe, we don't wash dishes on the days we do laundry.  Since it was laundry day, I didn't get stuck doing the dishes by myself.  JB is going to try to snake out the pipe probably on Monday.

I finished The Hunt Club by John Lescroate yesterday - an excellent read - and have started The Forgotten by David Baldacci.  I really did not read very many books this summer and fall, which is unusual.  I guess the snow has put me back in the mood.

There were several magazines in the mail JB brought back, including BackHome.  It has an article on honeyberries which we think are the berries that started growing in our garden this year from Larry and Elsie's chicken manure they gave us.  Turns out these are quite a "hardy and nutritious" berry.  There were also several Christmas cards, in the mail not the garden.  Another great thing about the holidays.

Saturday 12/14.  It was 24 and overcast, but cleared up a bit and we had sun peeking through in the afternoon.  Our high for the day was 30.  The snow that used to crunch and squeak under my boots now barely makes a sound at all.

It was a busy day, doing a lot of little things.  I was in a cleaning and sorting mood that usually doesn't hit until closer to New Year's.

On our afternoon walk, we saw what were definitely fresh cougar tracks on our lower south-ridge-loop road.  They are at least twice as big as the dogs' tracks but with no claws.  And they were not there yesterday. . .

The snow has begun to melt in the sheltered areas where there was less of it to begin with, and where the sun hits it.

Sunday 12/15.  Quite warm this morning, 32 and partly cloudy with a light wind.  The sun shone most of the day and our high was 37.  The snow is really melting now and there are lots of muddy spots, plus the ice on the areas where we have walked a lot.

Another magazine we just received is Archeology.  My Dad got me interested at a very young age as I spent my childhood summers exploring the southern Oregon deserts and mesas looking for Indian artifacts.  We would also often come upon primitive cabins insulated with old newspapers that we could still read.  My Dad's interest was mainly in U.S. history, but my interest has spread world-wide.  I always read every word of this fascinating magazine.

I am still amazed and so pleased with the wonderful taste of our home-grown potatoes.  They are so much better than the store-bought.

On our afternoon walk, we saw fresh cougar tracks again.  So he has been down this road twice now in the past two days.  Oh, goodie. . .

And speaking of eating, I really to have to cut down.  I have been blessed with a high metabolism and could always eat as much and whatever I wanted to - until I moved to Chicago at age 56 and was introduced to all their fatty foods.  But that aside, with our now-healthy diet I can eat a lot and not have a weight problem.  However, I tend to nibble when I am not hungry, just out of habit, and that is not good.  So now I have to exercise some self-control and just stop that.  Unfortunately, self-control is not one of my fortes.  My unhappy stomach is helping me though, it's just really tough around the holidays.  Especially when I buy eggnog and receive such gifts as petite fours!  I really overdid the nibbling today and I am sure I will pay for it.

Monday 12/16.  It is 28 this morning with a very light overcast.  No night time fires needed these past few days.  The house is still warm in the morning from our last evening fire and we certainly do not need to keep it stoked during the day.  It's getting awfully muddy though. . .

Thought for the day: There are mornings when everything brims with promise, even my empty cup.  Ted Kooser

Dec 13, 2013 Clouds & Fog

Dinga & Jesse on the north ridge Thursday.

Wednesday 12/11.  I called Sandy after I posted and we had a nice long chat.  Love to start my day that way.  Talked to my Aunt Nene in the afternoon, so it was really a great day!

The sky never cleared, but the overcast did thin out a bit to the south and allowed the sun's brightness through, so the solar panels were able to draw in some power.  

Did some laundry.  Read the January issue of Cowboys & Indians with Chris Cooper on the cover.  Always a good read.  Also read more of my book, The Hunt Club, which is excellent.  Trimmed JB's hair.  And just enjoyed the day.

Only ten more days until the rebirth of light.  Will definitely be looking forward to that. . .

Thursday 12/12.  It was 10 and overcast this morning, with a fog bank moving in.  The fog didn't even last until noon, and we actually saw a little blue sky.  The temperature got up to 16, but there's another arctic blast in the forecast for next week.  The forecast snow has not yet arrived.

I slept tight last night, but had lots of dreams.  JB had to wake me up twice as I was crying.  Don't remember that dream, except that it was sad not scary.  Of course my bladder also woke me up, and then I got up at 6:00 to let the dogs out.  So by the time I got out of bed at 8:00 am, I was still very tired.  I fed the dogs and ate my breakfast, then I went back to bed for a good 30-minute nap.  That's all I needed.

Naps.  I love them so much that I have written the following Ode to Naps:
     Now that I am retired
     And my time is actually mine,
     I often stop and take a nap
     Which is oh so divine.

We both read our books.  JB was doing projects on his computer and I worked on my computer to get photos sorted out and saved onto archival DVDs.  I love the external DVD-RW that Jake bought for me.  So easy to use.

We saw even more new deer tracks on our afternoon walk.  I don't ever remember seeing so many tracks Up Here, especially so close to the house.

The winter bed is so much more inviting than the summer one.  We like the bedroom cold, which makes snuggling down into the flannel sheets and feeling the weight and warmth of the blanket and comforter so. . . well, comforting.

Friday 12/13.  Blue sky and 24 this morning.  No new snow in the forecast til the middle of next week.  And our resident frog is serenading us.  Can't believe he isn't hibernating.  I would be if I lived under the house.

Thought for the day:  Winter is not a season, it's an occupation.  Sinclair Lewis