May 16, 2014 A Working Girl

A small patch of sweet peas on the east ridge.

A prairie star which is about 1/3" wide,
one bloom per stem.

Wednesday 5/14. I brewed my coffee then went out to water everything.  So there I am, in my pajamas and holey, straw Stetson, watering the garden and my irises that are just outside the garden fence to the west, when I realize that I have a photo of my Grandmother taken in the mid 1950's in her housecoat out watering her irises.  And here I am, a grandmother myself.  And around it goes. . .

So then I sat on the porch and contemplated that thought as I sipped my coffee and listened to the birds.  It is going to be hot again today.  On days like this, I open all the windows, and now all the winter stuffiness has aired out.

I brought another load down from the now not-so-big pile of wood on the east slope.  It was fine as long as I could stay in the shade, but it was just too hot to work in the sun, especially since there was barely any air movement.

As I drove Miss Kitty back down to the wood shed, the odometer turned to 2000 miles.  The first owners had her for almost eight years and put about 1870 miles on her.  We have had her for about three months and have already driven her 130 miles.  All these little trips really add up.

Elsie called to ask if I could come in to the shop tomorrow afternoon to help, as their friend had another appointment.  So I will go Down There about noon to run some errands and have lunch, then I can be at the shop at about 2:00 pm.

Randy from SoCal called after dinner and we had a nice, long talk.  Turns out he had been looking for property in Idaho for several years after realizing that Hoover Dam is soon going to be in deep trouble with very shallow water.  Unless there is rain of biblical proportions (to quote Randy), the water level will fall too low to produce any electricity.  And there goes Las Vegas and southern California.  I read that the water from the Colorado River has not reached the ocean in more than 50 years.  It seems that no one is really doing anything about this situation.  Hmmm. . .

There was no bright blue sky today, rather a light hazy overcast, but it was already 67 by 11:00 am.  Our high for the day was 72.  Would have been much more enjoyable with a breeze.

Got to bed early for the big day tomorrow.

Thursday 5/15.  The dogs got me up at 5:30 am and it was already 59 outside.  So nice, that Jesse decided to stay out for an hour.  I tried to snooze on the couch but not very successfully.  Back to bed when he finally decided to come home, and completely overslept til 9:00 am.  So no coffee, just out to water the garden, peppers and hanging basket - in my pajamas again.

I was actually ready to leave at noon as planned.  Three hours may seem like a long time, but not for me when there simply is no rushing in the morning.  I tried to dress lightly, knowing it was going to be very hot Down There, but it doesn't really matter what I am wearing, I just don't do well in the heat.  And the air conditioning in my Jeep quit about eight years ago.  

I got my errands done and had lunch, but arrived quite wilted at Elsie's shop as it was 90 Down There!  Fortunately, she does have air conditioning.  It was a very pleasant afternoon with her, as business was slow and we had plenty of time to chat.  I brought a package I had received into the shop with me.  It was from my Mom's best friend and she always sends me Frangos (chocolate) for my birthday.  Didn't want to leave them in the car in that heat.  

I think that was the longest I have left the dogs, but everything was just fine when I arrived home at about 6:15 pm.  I'm sure they just slept the whole time.  JB called just after I fed them to say that his Mother is doing better and the Blackhawks are in the divisional play offs.  Hopefully it will be Chicago against Montreal in the Stanley Cup.  I spent a few hours reading newspapers and mail, then watched one episode of Downton Abby.  Our high Up Here for the day was 76.

Friday 5/16. It is 56 with a light overcast this morning and a breeze.  Cooler temps are forecast for today and rain for tonight.  I will leave for Down There at about noon again today.

Thought for the day: In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted. Bertrand Russell

May 14, 2014 Summer Weather

Tiny purple buds on my lilac bush!

Monday 5/12. I was so wound up after Larry and Elsie left at 10:00 pm last night that I stayed up until almost 1:00 am.  Finished watching Downton Abby.  Started a book.  Then went up to the loft and wrote my blog.  When I got up at 7:30 am this morning, I didn't feel the lack of sleep.

Did the laundry and hung it outside.  Then I drove Miss Kitty down to Larry's and Elsie's for chicken poop to put in our garden.  They gave me the tools and showed me how to clean it out of the coup.  Not so bad until I got down to the moist part. . .  But it was an incredibly nice day and when I was done, we all sat on the grass and chatted.  Larry had just let the young chickens out of their coup for the first time and they were getting along just fine with the older ones, and loving all the grass.  Elsie had combed Buster and the swallows were diving to catch the tufts of his fur blowing around in the breeze.  It was a wonderful interlude, but we all had things to do.  So it was back to Rose Camp to spread the manure on the garden.  Our high for the day was 60.

After I ate lunch and then grabbed the shovel.  Got all the manure spread and it seemed to be just the right amount for a light cover.  Then I brought in fire wood, although I probably won't need much this week.  By that time the late night finally caught up with me and I took a nap.

Funny how, when weekends and evenings are your only free time, naps seem like such a waste of it.  Nowadays naps are just a natural and lovely part of some days.

I went for a leisurely walk before eating a late dinner.  Watered the garden, but will change to watering in the morning tomorrow.

I thought for sure I had managed to get some of the chicken manure on my pants, as the smell seemed to follow me wherever I went.  When talking to Elsie on the radio, she said that the odor did tend to linger. . .

A glass of wine, a bit of chocolate and Downton Abby.  The perfect evening, even though I was alone.

Tuesday 5/13.  This morning it was 47 with a light, partial overcast that quickly disappeared.  I took my coffee out on the porch, as usual.  There were seven humming birds at one of the feeders.  There are only four places to drink but there was no fighting, so they must have all been part of one family.  But when they had left, spats broke out between other birds who had arrived, giving rise to "sword" fights.  It's a good thing my pajamas are not red.

I was rather lazy this morning, spending a lot of time out on the porch and then in the loft on my computer.  Didn't even get dressed til it was time for the dogs' walk at 10:30 am, and  watered the garden when we got back.  Such a beautiful day!

After lunch I drove Miss Kitty up the east slope and filled her up with wood from the large pile there.  It was all good kindling, most of it on the large size.  My plan is to gather at least one load a day.  Very soon I should have all the piles gone.

The water barrel that is collecting rain water from the roof of the wood shed is full, so I connected a hose to its tap and am using that water for the peppers and bird bath that I fill with my watering can.

Our high today was 67!  There was a light breeze all day, so it was just perfect.    

Back in 1995, when we had just purchased the large family house from my step-mother, we were sorting out the storage room in which my Dad had hoarded many of his family's effects.  Unfortunately, because of a leaky basement, some were damaged beyond repair.  However, we did find my Dad's violin which he played in high school.  My Brother asked for it and I gave it to him.  He has recently been researching it and has found that it is quite valuable, even in its condition.  He wanted to know the provenance on it, so when Aunt Nene called yesterday evening to see how JB's Mom was doing, I asked her about it.  She was quite surprised we still had it, as she thought Dad might have sold it years ago.

Turns out my great-grandfather purchased it, probably in the late 1800's.  He played it quite well, and he and my great-grandmother would often play at grange meetings, she on the piano.  He is the one who taught my Dad how to play.  It is a Steiner, and even in its disrepair, worth a few thousand dollars.  Nene definitely wants to keep it in the family, and fortunately, so does my Brother.

When JB called this evening, he said they were discussing the possibility of putting his Mother into a rehab facility.  Her inability to walk is really wearing him out, and she would probably do better with professional help.

I am "on call" to help out at Larry's and Elsie's shop.  Larry is going fishing on the coast tomorrow afternoon through Saturday and their friend who usually helps out is on jury duty.  Turns out there is no problem with the jury duty, but he cannot help out on Friday afternoon.  So I will go down to be with Elsie then.

Downton Abby once again closed the day for me, although I did stay up a bit later til 11:00 pm just putzing around and doing some sudoku.  It is hard to close the day without JB Up Here.

Wednesday 5/14. It is already 58 with a clear sky at 7:30 this morning.  Going to be another warm and delicious Spring day.

Thought for the day: People say money can't buy happiness.  They lie.  Money buys Coffee, Coffee makes Me happy!  Unknown

May 12, 2014 Fixing the Road, Trapping Chickens & The Mother's Day Curse

Our Friday evening visitor.

Wild flowers I discovered on
our Saturday drive.

Friday 5/9. The dogs let me sleep in til 5:45 am, so I just stayed up.  Got a fire going, then finished and posted my blog.  I worked on inside projects, including defrosting the refrigerator, until lunch, hoping the wind would die down a bit.  It never did, so I went out for another load of wood.  Finished the pile by the tall pine tree and started on the pile at the top of the ridge.  This load was mostly kindling.

BJ left for Down There at 11:00 am to pick up the parts for Miss Kitty he had ordered, which included a repair manual.  Of course he picked up the mail and a few groceries too.

The new issue of Countryside magazine has a one-page article on canning cheese and butter.  Sounds fairly easy.  I may try to do them both.

My arthritic fingers are getting weaker, all ten of them.  This is very frustrating, but seems to be making me more patient.  I don't ever remember asking for patience.  If I had, it would have gone something like this: "Please Lord, give me patience and give it to me right now!"  I can only imagine the many unwanted life lessons that request could cause to rain down on one.  But I must admit that just living Up Here is making me a more patient person.  Everything in its own good time. . .

The humming birds had insisted on my filling their feeders Wednesday morning before we left for Down There.  We have several kinds of humming birds Up Here, but the rufus and the ruby throated seem to be the most aggressive.  I keep trying to tell them that there is enough for everyone, but they just don't seem to listen.

While we were watching the last two episodes of season two of Homeland this evening, a small deer cautiously walked down almost to our fence.  It was just losing the last of its winter coat, which made it look spotted.  The dogs never noticed it, so I was able to get some good pictures.

Saturday 5/10. It was 37 and breezy this morning.  Sandy called.  There is nothing like a stimulating conversation with a good friend to start the day off right.  Even better than a cup of coffee.

I mentioned to her that one of the magazines that comes with the Sunday paper had an article about things that had happened fifty years ago.  My first thought was, "That can't be!  I remember that!"  Which got me to thinking that my fifty-year high school reunion will be next year, if they have one.  The last one I attended was our ten-year and I wasn't very impressed.  I have a membership to Classmates.com and several people have visited my "site".  I had a fleeting thought that it might be fun to communicate with them, possibly make new friends fifty years after the fact and attend the reunion.  That thought was very fleeting. . .

JB drove the tractor down the road to the sandstone corner and used it to fill some of the potholes with sand.  He dumped it and I spread and smoothed it with a shovel.  Seems to have worked quite well.  

It was such a nice day (our high was 59) that when we got back to the house, we decided to take a ride in Miss Kitty.  We left the dogs in the house to nap after all their exercise, and drove up to one of the neighbors who were up for the day.  We knew they were there because we could hear them shooting.  Then we drove up to see if one of our other neighbors had come up for the weekend.  They had not, but we had a great drive.  

JB received a phone call when we returned home from his sister-in-law who told him that his Mother had fallen and the doctor wanted them to take her to the emergency room for xrays.  Several years ago she fell on Mother's Day, breaking her wrist and badly bruising most of her body, and ended up spending a few days in the hospital.  For the next three years - on Mother's Day - she fell and hurt herself despite everyone watching out for her on that weekend.  Then for the past two Mother's Days she has been fine - until today.  

Turns out there was nothing broken, but she is so badly bruised that she cannot get out of bed or walk by herself.  So JB will be going over there to take care of her while everyone is at work during the day.  Hopefully it will be just for the week, but he will stay as long as he is needed.

Sunday 5/11.  It was 38 and clear when we both got up at 7:00 am this morning.  JB wanted to leave by 9:00 am, but he also wanted to fix me a nice breakfast for Mother's Day.  So I got up early too, and we had German pancakes with peaches and brown sugar.  He fixed an extra one also, so I could heat it for breakfast tomorrow.

I sat out on the porch after he left.  There is no such thing as a quiet Spring morning.  Nature's chorus of birds and bugs creates the most amazing symphony.  And every day it is at once the same and different from the day before.  The landscape is a symphony in green for the eyes.  A myriad shades of green all coming together to delight.  Have I mentioned how very much I like Spring?!

After seeing the photo I posted of Elsie's chicken, Bella, my Aunt Nene said it looks just like the one of her Mother's that she caught in a coyote trap!  When Nene was about eight years old, one summer morning she got out one of the many coyote traps her Dad had.  She had seen him setting them, so she tried and was quite successful.  Not thinking anymore about it, she went in for lunch.  As the family was all sitting there eating, they suddenly heard a commotion out in the yard.  Running out, they found one of her Mother's chickens caught in the trap.  They had to sell it as its leg was broken, and, needless to say, Nene never touched her Dad's traps again!

My son called to wish me Happy Mother's Day as he was dashing from one plane to another at the Atlanta airport.  He was on his way to Maryland for two weeks of active duty, as he usually does in May.  He called me again this evening after he was all settled in his hotel and we had a nice chat.

After lunch, I drove Miss Kitty down to our hair-pin corner and loaded her up with wood, all of it good-sized kindling.  Then I took a nap and so enjoyed it.  It was such a beautiful day.  Blue sky, a little breeze, and a high of 58.

The ants are out - and in - enforce once again.  Time to spread corn meal around the doors and porch posts.  It is the best non-toxic way to get rid of them.  Ants cannot digest it, so when they eat it they die.  And they tend to take it back to their nests to share.

I was watching Downton Abby after dinner when Larry and Elsie drove up to visit.  They brought a beautiful hanging basket of yellow flowers for me for Mothers Day!  And a dozen eggs.  We had a great visit, as usual.  What a perfect end to the day.

Monday 5/12. It is 42 and clear this morning.  JB isn't here so my coffee isn't ready when I get up.  Have to make my own.  Life is rough.

Thought for the day: Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means a waste of time. John Lubbock

May 9, 2014 More Spring Showers

Western spring beauties growing in
front of our "welcome" rock.

Vacancy!  Wrens wanted!

Wednesday 5/7.  Today would have been my Dad's 93rd birthday.  It doesn't even compute that he has been gone for 26 years.  

We left for Down There at 9:00 am, the first stop being for my latte.  Then on to the store for Mother's Day cards.  How did that sneak up so quickly?!!  Had to write and address them at the post office.  That is the day that I miss my Mom the most, but I fill that empty space by sending cards to her two best friends, my Aunt Nene, JB's Mom, and our daughter-in-law.  So then it was on to dump the garbage and pick up the mail.  We stopped by Larry's & Elsie's to get the sweatshirt and vest I forgot and let their dogs have some time outside.  We were home before 1:00 pm.

After lunch I drove Miss Kitty up to the south ridge for a load of wood.  About half for the cradle and half for the wood shed.  The sun was so nice and warm, but clouds were moving across the sky and it was quite chilly when they passed in front of it.  Our high for the day was 60.

That time again to tilt the solar panels.  All the way up this time.

Thursday 5/8. It was 43 with a light overcast this morning and 100% chance of rain in the forecast for this evening.

I read the new Back Home magazine with breakfast.  They have a hilarious article entitled "Ranch Sitting."  Glad I didn't read it before I house sat.  Not sure I would want to take care of a place that had horses, goats, sheep or cows.  Dogs, cats and chickens are quite enough, thank you.

I used Miss Kitty to bring down another load of wood by the tall pine tree on the south ridge.  At least half of the wood went to the wood cradle, which is getting very full.  Will have to cut it on the next nice day.  JB spent time in the shop cleaning up and getting it organized.  He also went up to the south ridge to spray the tent caterpillars that have appeared on some bushes up there.  Seems awfully early for them, but then it seems early for everything this Spring. 

I hung the clothes outside to dry, even though it was jeans and they probably wouldn't be dry by the time I had to bring them in.  And I was right.  The overcast became heavier and the predicted rain arrived a little before 2:30 pm.  A fire in the wood stove sure takes the drab and dreary out of a rainy afternoon.  The rain always smells good, but some times, like today, it smells absolutely delightful.

I have decided that this year's budget just will not support building the large shed for Miss Kitty, MAX and the tractor.  So we will concentrate on the little projects, like stairs to the side door, stairs extending half the width of the porch, and railing for the deck.  We will use as many logs as we can for starting the frame of the shed from the trees we need to cut down.  There are many that need to be thinned and two standing dead that we know of.

JB has our new computer all ready to use, so now I just have to learn how to do that.  Something I keep putting off.

We watched the last two episodes of season three of Justified this evening, tomorrow we will finish Homeland, season two.  Don't think we will buy that one again, but definitely Justified.

Friday 5/9. It is 37, clear and windy this morning.  Have to remember to stack our two chairs on the porch at night since I moved one closer to the edge.  The wind had blown it off.

Thought for the day: One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of seeds. Dan Bennett 

May 7, 2014 Tall People & More Wild Flowers

Shooting stars on the forest floor.

A wild turkey in Elsie's blueberry bushes.

Tuesday 5/6. In just the few days I was gone, the arrowleaf arnica plants have sprouted up, almost covering the north ridge.  They seem to like the shady areas and already some of their yellow blossoms can be seen.  In other places, one cannot walk without stepping on spring beauties or shooting stars.  I love Spring!

Hung the laundry out and after lunch we filled the trailer with our first load of garbage.  Everything but the kitchen garbage.  Will take it down tomorrow morning.  When we were done, JB went inside to bake a loaf of dilly bread from Aunt Nene's recipe.  Yeast breads don't always rise as much for us with our gluten-free flour like they do with wheat flour, but it sure tasted good.

Our high for the day was 60, but with a cool breeze and lots of clouds moving across the sky.  We had a short sprinkle at about 3:30 pm, but not even enough to register in the rain gauge.  So JB had to water the garden this evening.  The yellow onions are already popping their green shoots up out of the dirt.

Elsie has an incredible green thumb, as evidenced by all the huge plants in her house, potted flowers outside, and her large vegetable garden.  They have lots of water and she puts it to good use.  This Spring they planted two pear trees, which are in addition to their apple and cherry trees, grape vine and a few others whose names I don't remember.

When I arrived at their house last Friday, I found that they had left two bags of chocolate (Lindt & Ghirardelli) for me, along with a small bottle of my favorite alcoholic drink, Buttershots.  I'd do the whole weekend just for those!  Let alone the pleasure of long, hot showers; blow-drying my hair; watching TV; the company of furry and feathered friends; etc., etc.

I soon discovered that the house that Larry and Elsie built is definitely made for tall people.  Elsie is about 5'10" and Larry is at least 6'.  I am 5'2".  Getting pots and pans down from her hanging rack was a challenge.  And in order to reach the lids sitting over them, I had to use a step ladder.  Then there are the towel racks in the corner by the kitchen sink.  And, of course, the couches and chairs in which I feel like a very tiny person.  It was an interesting situation.

The "60 Minutes" program on Sunday night had a fascinating segment about a study on people over 90 years old and what helps them live so long.  One fact seemed to be that 45 minutes a day of exercise is all that is needed.  Any longer doesn't seem to do any better.  And, of course, there is the daily glass or two of wine or any alcoholic beverage.

On my drive to town on Monday, I noticed that the lupine and sweet peas have begun blooming along the canyon road, but not yet quite as far up as Larry and Elsie's house.  The balsam root has lit up the hillsides with its yellow blooms and soon the lupine's purple will be there too.

Wednesday 5/7. The sky is clear this morning with a temperature of 40.  We hope to leave for Down There at 9:00 am.  Will stop by Larry and Elsie's on the way back to pick up the couple items I forgot and let the dogs out.

Thought for the day: I suppose the best kind of Spring morning is the best weather God has to offer. Dodie Smith

May 6, 2014 Dogs, Cats & Chickens

Bella sitting on the chair next to me.

Monday morning's rain coming in from
the west.

Friday 5/2.  I left for Larry & Elsie's at 1:00 pm as planned.  After I unloaded all my gear, I let the chickens out of their coup.  It was another beautiful day, so I just sat on the patio for a while.  Within minutes I had a cat on my lap, two dogs lying near my feet, and Bella, the chicken, sitting on the chair next to me.

I have never house-sat before, so it was a little disconcerting at first to be responsible for someone else's property.  Very different from just coming to feed the cats and chickens.  Their house is much larger than our little cabin, with a lot more "working" parts.  I kept thinking I was forgetting to do something.

The high temperature for the day was 84 down here in the canyon.  But it was a very pleasant 84 with a little breeze.  

The chickens go back into their coup between 6:30 and 7:00 pm to roost for the night.  I put Bella up in the corner next to her friend, Lucy, and just had to poke one feisty hen who was bothering them.

The Chicago Blackhawks were playing this evening, so JB made the pizza and drove Miss Kitty down for dinner.  He only watched the first period, but that seemed to be enough and he was anxious not to leave our dogs alone too long.

I never sleep well the first night in a different place, even with all the company I had - two cats and a dog on the bed and another dog on the floor nearby.  The cats like very much to cuddle and knead with their claws.  

Saturday 5/3.  Like our dogs, theirs woke me up at 5:00 am to go outside.  It looked like we were going to have another beautiful day, and the dogs did not stay out very long, so it was back to bed.  But there is no sleeping in at this house.  Their big dog, Buster, is quite the taskmaster and was adamant that I get up at 7:00 am.  He is quite an old dog, but was acting like a puppy.  He does that when it is time to eat.

By 8:30 am I was back in the kitchen.  I had fed the dogs, cats and chickens.  Let the chickens out.  Watered the garden.  Moved the sprinklers on the lawn, and adjusted the water for the blueberries.  And finally fixed my coffee.  Whew!  And the day had just begun. . .

I thought I would be writing a lot more this weekend, but I am just vegging with the animals.  It was a much cooler and windier day with a high of 66.  I took a couple short naps, which was very nice.  Read some of the magazines I brought with me, and did some sudoku.  

Bella is quite the gossip, always chatting to me when I am sitting outside.  I don't believe half the things she says, and I have to take the other half with a grain of salt as she tends to exaggerate.  But she does love to chatter and it is quite relaxing to listen to her.

While I was eating dinner, a humming bird flew by the door as if to say, "Where's mine?!!"  Elsie doesn't have any feeders for them, but she does have a lot of the flowers they like.  

I settled in for an evening of watching television, with one of the cats on my lap and their little dog on the couch next to me.  I had forgotten about commercials!  Oh, well.  With more than 200 channels to surf through, it was rather fun.

Sunday 5/4.  Once again, up at 7:00 am, but eating my breakfast a little earlier.  Had a great night's sleep and was moving a little faster this morning.  
Larry and Elsie have a lot of swallows at their house, nesting under the eaves.  They are quite different than the other birds with all their darting, gliding and swooping.  Fascinating to watch.  And very easy to watch from inside as the house has a lot of windows, floor to high-ceiling windows in the front which faces west.

I read a couple more magazines.  The current issues of Smithsonian and Time are quite fascinating.  Time has their "100 most influential people" and it is always very interesting to see who they pick.  I also finished the book, Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend, and loved it.  I was hoping it would not end in the same manner as The Bridges of Madison County, but then that was a true story.  Not much artistic license available there.  Slow Waltz was just as delectable, but with a completely different end.

While inside, I had the radio on, listening to "The Greatest Hits of All Time" station.  Reliving my teens and twenties.  Misty places and faces brought into focus by the music.  Fading names and feeling floating just beneath the surface.

I saw rain coming our way a little before 2:00 pm and wondered if the chickens would go back into their coup when it arrived.  Twenty minutes later it arrived and they did.  I dashed out to be sure they were all in, coaxing the last one in with a bit of corn and shutting the door behind it.  Even Bella went in.  The shower lasted less than a half hour but it was interesting how, down here in the canyon, the drops come from one direction and then another until they no longer come at all.  A thunder storm was predicted, but I did not hear any thunder.  About an hour later another rain cell went through, dropping even more rain.

I collected 5 eggs on Friday, seven yesterday and another seven today.  Much more than when I just come down to feed the chickens.  They must like having me around.

Their dogs are so much fun.  Buster usually stays on the porch, but the little one follows me all around and we go for short walks.  He is really a character when he gets his toys out and wants to play.  But he does get his nose out of joint if I pay too much attention to the cats and Buster.  In fact, last night he didn't even come in the bedroom to sleep.  He stayed in the living room and slept in his favorite chair.  Not sure what I did to deserve that. . .

After dinner, I settled in to watch "60 Minutes" and an evening of English programs on PBS.  Was in bed by 11:00 am, hoping that Buster would let us all sleep a bit longer.  Even the little one was curled up in his bed.

Monday 5/5.  No such luck with sleeping in.  It was a Seattle morning with a light but steady rain.  Looked like it had been raining most of the night, too.  It was very cool in the house, so I put a fire in the basement wood stove after all my chores, and brought my breakfast down there to eat.  It was obvious that the dogs thought if I was downstairs with food, it must be for them.  

RJ had called Friday morning to let us know he was up for the weekend.  He stopped by to visit on his way out at about 9:30 am.  He wants to be Up Here when Aunt Nene visits on June 17, so I will have to keep reminding him of the date.

JB needed some meds picked up today, so I planned on going down at about noon to get them.  I only let Bella out this morning, as I wanted to clean up Elsie's flower beds from all the digging by the other chickens.  I figured if I didn't, they would be down to bedrock by the end of the day.  There was a break in the rain, so I got outside with a rake and shovel.  Got my exercise for the day.  Then I was in for a nice, long, hot shower.  

It was very nice to drive just one short mile down to the pavement, instead of four long ones.  It was just a quick trip to pick up JB's meds, get the mail, and buy a Jack-in-the-Box burger for lunch.  

Back at their house, I cleaned up everything and packed my bags.  I decided to leave at about 2:00 pm, knowing Larry and Elsie expected to be back by 3:00 or 4:00.  I was surprised at how hard it was to say goodbye to the dogs and cats, even Bella.  I am not a bird person, but I am afraid that Bella and Lucy are changing that.  Holding them and petting them, and listening to their chatterings is actually quite nice.  And they didn't poop on me once!

It was nice to be home again, and our little cabin didn't really seem so small after all.  Dinga and Jesse didn't seem to be too put out that I smelled like so many other animals.  They were just glad to see me.  And so was JB.

Talking to Larry and Elsie on the radio this evening was very interesting.  They did have a good trip, but it seems that the dogs actually do not get fed until around 8:00 am.  And it is the little dog, not Buster, who is always pushing for breakfast.  Very interesting.  Elsie thinks it's funny that I am becoming a bird person.  She is a convert also.

Tuesday 5/6.  This morning was 37 and clear at 5:00 am when the dogs woke me up.  I thought I could stay up and post my blog, but by the time I got the fire going and the dogs came back in, I was ready to go back to bed.  

It was a great weekend and I told Larry and Elsie, "Now don't get me wrong, but could you please leave again soon?!!"

Thought for the day: They are so much to be pitied who have not been given a taste for nature early in life.  Jane Austen 

May 2, 2014 Phenomenal Spring Days

One of the views from our drive on Wednesday.

Wednesday 4/30.  After posting my blog, I went back to bed until 9:00 am.  Just one of those mornings.

It was already 57 when I hung the laundry outside and, while doing so, I decided that this was a day to simply be enjoyed.  So, first, JB enjoyed driving the tractor in order to level out the north horse-shoe pit.  He moved the frame out of the way and leveled the dirt he piled there last Fall.  Then put the frame back in and finished up.  Looks good.

After lunch we took Miss Kitty for a drive.  Loaded the huge bag of glass bottles we saved for my brother, RJ, from winter use into her bed and I drove down the short cut to his cabin.  Then we went down his road to the main canyon road and up to the saddle to explore some of the roads we had never been on.  It was a couple hours and about ten miles.  So much fun to be able to do that, especially on a day like this.  Our high was 64.  No coats needed.

While JB was sitting on the porch in the late afternoon, a humming bird flew up to each of the three poles looking for the feeders, twice.  I guess I better get them hung out there.

Yesterday Dinga turned six years old.  It was also my Mother's birthday.  She would have been 91.  Happy Birthday, Mom.  We sure miss you.  And she would have enjoyed such a phenomenal day as this was on the mountain.

Thursday 5/1.  May Day.  It was 52 and partly cloudy when Dinga woke us up at 7:00 am.  She was barking at some deer on the east slope.  We keep the blinds closed on the front door, but she could hear and/or smell them.

While I was sitting on the porch with my coffee, a humming bird flew up to me as if to say, "Hey Lady.  Get with it!"  All right, already.

JB left for Down There at 8:30 am.  The humming-bird feeders were hanging on the porch posts at 9:00 am, and the humming-bird wars have begun.  Had to be sure the syrup was cool enough.  You would think that we live Up Here just to feed the dogs and humming birds, and be sure all the other birds have water.  Hmmm.  I may have stumbled upon something here. . .  I am sure that Aunt Nene thinks it's her job in life to feed the squirrels, birds, and stray cats.

Out on the porch at 9:00 am, I actually had to sit in the shade as it was too warm in the sun.  It is supposed to be in the middle 80's Down There today and tomorrow, with cooler and wetter weather for the weekend.  

There is just something about sitting out on my porch. . . in the woods. . .on the mountain, especially when the morning sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the bees are buzzing.  My mind is thinking about all the chores I could be doing on such a great day, and my body is thinking just how comfortable this chair is.

No fire needed in the wood stove this morning.  There goes my coffee warmer.

Well, my mind won out.  I washed the dishes and vacuumed.  Then just took my time moving the kindling that was left on the porch to the wood shed.  Also moved the short but heavy stack of pitch wood from the north side.  Swept off the porch and moved the chairs.  Our summer porch is slowly re-emerging.  Then I started getting my things together for my weekend.

JB was back just after 2:30 pm after letting Larry and Elsie's dogs out, so they would have time to run some errands after work.  Then he met one of our neighbors on the road back up and had a nice chat.

It was another phenomenal day, with a high of 70.  Tomorrow I plan to start house-sitting after lunch.

Friday 5/2. When I got up to let the dogs out at 5:00 am, it was 57 with a heavy overcast.  Back up at 8:00 am, the clouds were completely gone and it was 59.  I think the grass has grown another three inches in the past couple days, and so have our pepper plants.

I will not be posting again until Tuesday, as there is no internet signal at Larry and Elsie's house.  

Thought for the day: It is spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so.  Mark Twain