October 17, 2016 A Mild Storm & A Skunk

Jesse in his favorite place -
our bed.  If I don't cover him
up on a cold day, he will
make a nest in the pillows
and blankets.

Laundry on Sunday,
thanks to the skunk!

Friday 10/14. Now has begun the time of bringing in firewood each day.  And of building a fire in the wood stove at least each morning and evening.  And now has ended the time of cold coffee.  The wood stove being our coffee warmer.

The sky became overcast and the rain arrived a little before 9:00 am.  There are two nasty storms in the forecast for today and Saturday with wind and torrential rain.  Sandy called and we had a nice long chat.  She said they just had a light rain.  Not the downpour they were warned of.  At least warmer temps are coming with the storms.

So it was a day for indoor chores, reading books and playing games that my son had put on my computer.  It will be his fault if I get nothing done this winter.  I did get out to take the old tarp off the top of the girls' house, making it quite bright in there.  The tarp was torn and flapping in the breeze.  This will allow any sun we have to warm up their hen house.

Our high for the day was 61 with off and on sprinkles.  Indeed warmer.

Saturday 10/15. It was 44 and overcast this morning.  The rain arrived a bit after 9:00 am and continued most of the day.  By the time for our morning walk, the rain was still rather light, so we went anyway.  Just after we returned from our walk, the rain increased and the clouds dropped, surrounding us in their fog.  And that is the way the rest of the day went.

So, another indoor day of books, computer games and a bit of cleaning.  We didn't get the wind that was forecast, although Elsie said it was quite windy in town.  Our high for the day was only 45.

Sunday 10\16. It was 41 and mostly overcast this morning.  The dogs got me up at 4:30 to go out and I was able to see the full moon begin its downward slide to the mountains.  Beautiful!

At about 8:45 am, I was sitting at the kitchen table, having just let the dogs out after their breakfast, when the nasty odor of skunk wafted in the window!  I ran outside to get the dogs back in, but it was too late for Jessie.  Now this was not a case of slightly skunked nor was he drooling from getting it full on, but he definitely needed a bath.  Wrestling 55 lbs. of dog into the tub who doesn't even want to go into the bathroom, is a job for at least two people.  Using the shower spray attachment to wet and rinse him is a job for at least three.  So both the bathroom and I got a good soaking during the process.  But I did get him clean.  Except for the top of his head, which is still a bit stinky.

Not a great way to start a day, especially since the lovely scent seemed to permeate the house.  I put two strong candles on the wood stove, rather than lighting them.  The main one is a lemon zest kitchen candle from Williams & Sonoma that I have had for years.  It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny.

I opened the windows and put another couple pieces of wood on the fire.  About the time the odor began to clear from the house, the clouds began to clear from the sky.  The patches of blue were such a welcome sight after the past few days.  Seattle days that I have had enough of for one lifetime.

Our morning walk was a bit late and it smelled like the skunk had gone up to the south ridge spraying all the way.  Oh well, at least it wasn't raining today.  But the patches of blue didn't last too long and we were overcast again by early afternoon.  Our high for the day was 47, but a dry 47.  JB said that the storm did not move as far inland as it might have which is why there wasn't any of the high winds and torrential rain.

Monday 10/18. It is 41 and mostly overcast this morning, but with some blue sky to the west.  Lots of new snow on the mountains.

Thought for the day: You fall down.  You get up.  You fall down.  You get up.  You fall down.  You get up.  You fall down.  You get up.  Life.

October 14, 2016 Hospice & A Muddy Ride

My mums (from last year)
that actually bloomed
while I was at Nene's.

Wednesday 10/12. I gave the girls oatmeal for breakfast for the first time this season.  The new girls gave it a "What the heck is that?!" look before trying it and gobbling it up.

For any of you who are reading this and have elderly family or friends, please pay attention!  In the medicare booklet, hospice sounds great.  However, what they don't mention is that the patient's bank account has to be practically empty before they can go into hospice or have home-care paid for. . .  Think about that.  This mainly thanks to our current person in the White House, or, as I refer to him, the imposter.

With the two nasty storms moving in, I figured that today may be the last nice and dry day for a while, so I got busy.  Took my Jeep down to where our son had cut the tree by the road.  Loaded the four four-foot trunk pieces into the back, along with some larger branches, and brought it all up to the wood cradle.  Broke and stacked the rest of the branches I had brought up from the tree he cut on the slope behind the house and stacked the pieces in the appropriate places.  Re-installed the slats in the front of the generator shed to protect it from the winter weather.  Pulled up all the tomato and other plants in the garden.  Tore them up and put them in the compost pile.  Whew!

Our high for the day was 47 and the sun shone in a clear sky.  Now Rose Camp is ready for winter, but I certainly am not. . .

This evening I finished another book, A Sudden Light by Garth Stein.  So intriguing that I just couldn't put it down.  It takes place in the Seattle area, which made it even better.

Thursday 10/13. It was 35 this morning with a light rain.  Rain fell most of the night and we were in the clouds.  I thought I would go Down There tomorrow, but after talking with JB at 9:00 am and then listening to the weather report, I decided I better go today.  So I threw on my clothes and a hat, and was on my way a little before 10:00 am, sliding sideways down the driveway.  But that is a given whenever it is this wet.  I was mainly concerned about getting the large bags of dog food and chicken feed.  Bought all that and more as I zipped down the aisles of Costco, Coastal and Fred Meyer.

Driving back up our road wasn't too bad, until I got to the beginning of our driveway, which is the steepest part.  I had my Jeep in four-low and hit the gas.  With the rear end weaving back and forth, I made up the the house even a bit easier than I thought it might be.  

Carrying everything in and putting it all away without JB's help takes a bit longer, but I finally got it done.  Am so glad I went down today, as with all the rain, and the wind due in tomorrow, I wasn't sure how the road might be.

JB, his brother and sister-in-law have worked out a schedule where they only have to have one care-taker in, instead of three.  JB watches his Mom during the day; a care-taker comes in for the evening; and his brother sleeps in the room with her at night.  His sister-in-law gets her dressed in the morning, and the care-taker puts on her pajamas in the evening.  This cuts the cost down from $750 per day to $250.

I sure miss my son.  He has such an incredible sense of humor that he keeps me in stitches.

Friday 10/14. It is 40 this morning with partly cloudy skies.  Rain continued to fall until around midnight.  The wind began to gust around 4:00 am, but now it is all very still.  I can see more snow on the mountains, but it is mainly along the top.

Thought for the day: Perhaps that is what life is about - the search for such a connection.  The search for magic.  The search for the inexplicable.  Not in order to explain it, or contain it.  Simply in order to feel it.  Because in that recognition of the sublime, we see for a moment the entire universe in the palm of our hand.  And in that moment, we touch the face of God.  Garth Stein, A Sudden Light

October 12, 2016 Time Well Spent

Yellow jacket nest dug up
by a critter (bear?).

Cutting down the leaning
tree by our road.

Friday a.m. snow on the mtns.  Was
twice as much & twice as low on
Monday morning.

Friday - Monday 10/7-10/10: I spent the weekend preparing for my son's arrival, gathering wood & cleaning house.  Each day was cooler than the last, and Sunday night we received 1/2" of rain.  Monday morning the mountains were blanketed with snow, including Mission Ridge.

Saturday morning on our walk, the dogs and I discovered that the yellow jacket nest had been dug up by a critter, probably a bear.  It had been quite a large nest that went deep into the ground.  

Late Saturday afternoon, Larry and Gridder drove up to work on MAX.  Looks like they got him all fixed.  We'll just have to jump the battery or buy a new one.

My son arrived just before noon on Sunday, having stopped to pick up lunch for us at Taco Time.  It is one of his favorite eateries and there aren't any in Alabama.  It was so incredibly great to see him and we just couldn't stop talking (even though I talk to him at least twice a week, it just isn't the same as in person).

Drove him down the short cut to see my brother and his cabin.  Then it was back to Rose Camp and a short hike.  He brought the Star Wars movie, "The Force Awakens", which I finally got to see!

He always wants to do something to help us when he visits, so Monday we spent cutting down trees.  He cut one down on our road that was leaning over, and two little standing-dead ones nearby.  Then he cut the dead one on the west slope behind our house.  Hurray!!  We had such a great time working together, but his arms were like jello by the time we were done.

Lots more talking and looking at photos Monday evening.  He worked on my computer each day (making it run so much better!), and downloaded all the pictures from his phone.  Then we watched Red 2 (that he hadn't seen yet) and and Age of Ultron on his computer (that I hadn't seen). 

Tuesday 10/11. It was 33 this morning with clear skies.  Our coldest morning yet this season.  I cooked a big breakfast for my son, and he was on his way by 9:00 am.  It was extremely difficult to say goodbye, and after he left, the whole situation hit me like a ton of bricks - his leaving, JB's being gone, JB's Mom being so ill.  After a good cry, I put on my big-girl panties and got on with it.  Did laundry and dishes.  Sawed off some of the larger branches on the downed tree behind our house and took them up to the cradle.  Took the dogs for a long walk.  Took a long nap.  Life is good.

Wednesday 10/12. It is 31 this morning and the sky is clear.  Will be able to see my son's plane flying over. . .

Thought for the day: Coffee: a warm, delicious alternative to hating everybody every morning forever.

October 10, 2016 Time With My Son

Monday 10/10. Lots of snow on the mountains this morning, possibly down to 5000 ft.  Enjoying time with my son, so I will post more on Wednesday, 10/12.

Thought for the day: Of all the seasons, Autumn offers the most to man and requires the least of him. Hal Borland

October 7, 2016 Keeping Busy

Fall colors in the canyon
to the south. . .

, , , and Up Here.

Wednesday 10/5. Spent much of the day gathering large kindling from the west slope and the south slope to stack on the porch.  Also to use so I don't have to dig into the wood shed.

One of the reasons I drove Down There on Tuesday was to get new tarps.  Coastal had their annual half-price sale on them this week.  I think we only had one good tarp left, so now we are flush.  We use them to cover the wood on the porch, to cover MAX and the tractor, and anything else that need protection against the elements but won't fit in the shop.

The sky remained overcast all day and our high was only 52.

Still reading in the evening.  Haven't watched any movies since JB left.

Thursday 10/6. It was 41 and clear this morning.  Fortunately I used most of the electricity I needed before the sky became overcast again around noon.

Still gathering kindling from the south and west slopes, but now I am also taking from the large pile along the drive to the south ridge.  That pile is from the summer of 2008, where I stacked all the branches from the trees I was trimming.  Lots of good wood in there.

I finished another book, Traps by Mackenzie Bezos.  Very good, but if you're going to read it, grab a kleenex (for "good" tears).

Took a nice long nap and started another book.

Our son arrived in Seattle at 9:00 pm this evening.  JB's son and granddaughter arrived at 11:00 pm.  Wish I was there to see everyone.  Our son will be driving over to see me Sunday morning and stay til Tuesday morning.  JB's Mom remains in good spirits, but is very weak.

Friday 10/7. It is 45 and overcast with valley fog encroaching on Rose Camp this morning.  We had quite a downpour during the night, but the weekend is supposed to be dry and clear.

Thought for the day: She was unstoppable.  Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them

October 5, 2016 Family is Gathering

The aspen along the main
canyon road, as seen from
Rose Camp.

My pet crocodile.

Monday 10/3. The clouds soon disappeared, so with all that power coming in it was time to vacuum.  I finished just as more clouds began to hide the sun again.  Since it is supposed to rain tomorrow, I gathered up another bag of pine needles.  I have been putting in a fire each morning and evening.

At least two of the girls are sleeping in the cozy nesting boxes.  Am sure they have discovered that it is much warmer in there than on the roosting ladder now that the nights are getting colder.  They gave us 98 eggs in September!  

When I was with Nene I mentioned that I was looking for a good hand egg beater - so she gave me hers!  It is a very sturdy older model and she said she hasn't used it in years.  I had been unable to find a good one, as the new ones are very flimsy, so I was thrilled.

I finished my book, Red Queen by Christopher Pike.  Excellent!

Our high for the day was 58.

JB's Mom was brought home today in a cabulance.  They have arranged round-the-clock care for her.  She is very weak but in good spirits.  I am so very glad that JB spent more time with her this summer and was able to be there for her 95th birthday.  And am so grateful that I had a nice visit with her last week.

Tuesday 10/4. It was 44 and overcast this morning, but the clouds again cleared early and the sun shone for my trip Down There.  There are so many grouse Up Here this year that I practically run over them driving down our road.

Got all my errands run and shopping done, and was home a little after 1:00 pm.  Unloading the Jeep and getting everything put away without JB's help isn't much fun, but I did get to read all the papers right away.  He always reads them first because I cut them up to send items to Sandy.

Our son called to say that he will be flying out on Thursday and will be able to stay until next Wednesday.  He will spend Friday with his Grandmother and then use JB's Jeep to drive to Wenatchee on Saturday and spend a couple days with me.  JB's other son may be flying in also.  This all is so very hard.  Even though you realize what is going on, you can never be prepared for a loved one leaving.

Wedesday 10/5. It is 40 and we are sitting in the fog this morning, physically and mentally. . .

Thought for the day: If you have lived well your smile lines are in the right place. Jennifer Garner

October 3, 2016 Great Fun With Nene!

Some of the aspen on our
main canyon road.

Tuesday - Friday, 9/27-9/30. I brought our warm, dry Wenatchee weather with me to Seattle, but left enough behind for JB.  Nene and I thoroughly enjoyed the indian summer and I even got out to rake leaves from her garden.  Of course, she paid me what she would have had to pay her lawn care people.  There's no arguing with her when it comes to money.  

She completely spoiled me with food and snacks, as usual.  We only ate two meals at her house.  We played skipbo when we were at home and I was going strong the first two days.  However, on Thursday Nene ramped up her game and ended the week two games ahead.

When I told her a couple weeks ago that I had made custard, Nene said how much she loved it when Grandma would make it for them when she was growing up.  So I took some eggs over with me and made custard on Wednesday.  We had some while it was still warm.  Yum!  Then we had custard and coffee for breakfast Thursday morning.

The drive over and back across the passes was beautiful, but the Fall colors were still rather muted.  I stopped to see JB's Mom on my way over and we had a nice visit.

I arrived home around 3:00 pm on Friday.  Whenever I return to Wenatchee and our mountain, it always seems like I am coming home to where I have always belonged.  Much more so than any other place I have ever lived.

Saturday 10/1. It was 42 and clear this morning.  Unfortunately, on Thursday JB's Mom became quite ill and was taken to the hospital.  The prognosis is not good.  So we made our Fall garbage run right after breakfast, and JB left for the west side around 2:00 pm.  At least I got to see him for a day. . .

After he left I got my winter clothes out and put my summer ones away.  Nene's best friend (and guardian angel) was cleaning out her closets and gave a large sack of sweaters and blouses to me.  She buys very nice clothes and we have much the same tastes, so I feel like I have a completely new wardrobe!

I must have brought our Wenatchee weather back with me as JB had a rainy drive, even before he hit the mountains.  He had to unload his car at his brother's between downpours.

Our high for the day was 57 and I enjoyed a toasty fire all evening.  No movie tonight.  I started a new book.

Sunday 10/2. This morning began with a temp of 39 and overcast skies.  I put a fire in at 4:00 am when the dogs went out.  Couldn't get back to sleep, so I got up at 5:30.  Wow, October!  How did that happen?

JB spent most of the day at the hospital with his Mom.  She will probably go home tomorrow, but the outlook is not good.  They will probably have round-the-clock nurses come in, or she may go to hospice. 

I got out and split the small pile of pieces of wood that were two or three times larger than they should be, but were too wet three weeks ago to split accurately.  Now they were nice and dry, so I got them all done and stacked on the porch.  By 2:00 pm, it was time for a nap.

It was another very cool day with a high of 56.  The sky had cleared by noon, but clouds began to re-appear by late afternoon.

Monday 10/3. It is 44 and mostly cloudy this morning.  I will probably go Down There for some more stocking-up-for-winter grocery shopping tomorrow.

Thought for the day: I don't just believe in miracles, I rely on them.