Jan 30, 2013 Warming Up Again



Main canyon road on the S-curve



Storm that's dropping up to 4 ft of snow
on the mountains


















On monday morning it was, once again, overcast and 20.  Looked like it was snowing in the mountains to the west.  Blue sky and sun to the south in the late afternoon, so we managed to pull in some power.

I was able to back JB's Jeep right into its parking place with barely any shoveling.  After three days.  Go figure.  Had to put some air in a couple of MAX's tires and discovered a broken cleat.  JB had to carefully remove it without damaging the rubber track.

Got almost all the photos sorted out and put away.  One small box left, but enough is enough for now.

Finally!!  A hockey season!!  Go Black Hawks!

Tuesday: Happy Birthday, Elsie!

Was cloudy and 25 with many of the clouds scurrying across the sky from the northwest.  They soon were gone and we had mostly blue sky for the day with a high of 36.

Drove down to Larry's and Elsie's to drop off her birthday present.  Let their dogs out and gave them a treat.  We gave her a pink T-shirt that says, "As a matter of fact I do shoot like a girl."  And has a target with a hit bulls eye.  Bought myself the matching ball cap.  Oh, Yeah!  It was a great ride but I spaced out and didn't put on any toe or hand warmers.  Hopefully that will never happen again. . .

Will finish the last of the back two rows of firewood in the shed today.  Still have the front two, taller rows to go plus all the wood on the porch.  This year I am going to stack the wood in rows from back to front instead of side to side.  It will mean restacking the wood we don't burn this winter, but will make for easier access to all the wood and the older wood won't get stuck in the back.

Thought for the day:  We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.  It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.  Ronald Reagan

Jan 28, 2013 Full Wolf Moon



Runaway firewood sled





Where it should have gone!



















Friday was cloudy with a high of 32.  No precipitation until we were about two minutes into our afternoon walk.  Then it started hailing.  Tiny little dots of hail, which turned to snow flakes by the time we got back to the house.  And then it stopped.

Had a nice long talk with RJ.  Helped JB put the chains he just bought on two of the tires on his Jeep.  Looks like the links are rather small to do any good.  Plus the snow is getting soft with all the warmer temperatures we have been experiencing.

Pizza and movie night.  Watched "Hunger Games."  WOW!  So well done.  Might have to read the books.  When the movie was over, it looked like street lights were on outside.  I love these bright, moon-shining-on-the-snow nights!

Saturday was cloudy, 20, with valley fog, and snow and colder temperatures in the forecast.  Was a full wolf moon and absolutely beautiful.  Am having a problem capturing it with the camera though.

The past few days we have had a very active pileated woodpecker in our yard.  Bits of bark from the fence posts litter the snow.  And as far as flying things go inside the house, we are back to only one or two wasps if any.

Keep forgetting to note that we have had deer tracks up on the south ridge for the past week.  JB and the dogs spooked a grouse on their morning walk and saw deer tracks on the north ridge.

Sunday dawned clear and 20 with valley fog, but it soon became overcast with a breeze.  The sun did manage to peek through a couple times though and the batteries seem to be doing fine.

There were deer tracks near the game cam, but no photos of them.  We got busy trying to move JB's Jeep back to its parking space and didn't take the card back down to the camera.  Will do that today.  Meanwhile we were only able to move the Jeep about one car-length.  Three more to go to get it back in its parking place.

Worked on organizing photos, printed not digital.  Have several small boxes and a few albums with pictures just put in randomly.  A few more days working on them ought to do it.

The path along which I pull the sled loaded with firewood is just slick enough so that when I get to the edge of the yard, I can give it a gentle nudge and it will slide all the way to the porch.  However, on Saturday, it somehow got on top of the snow and slid way down by MAX!  (See photos above.)

Am becoming a bit manic with sudoku lately.  Probably because I'm not in the mood to read a book yet.  Doing a lot of crossword puzzles too.

Sandy e-mailed us about the change in the credit card law so that the consumer now pays the 3% charge instead of the credit card company or retailer. . .  Unbelievable.

Thought for the day:  The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. . . The remarkable thing is: we have a choice every day of our lives regarding the attitude we embrace for the day.  We cannot change our past.  We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. . .   Charles Swindoll 

Jan 25, 2013 Snow & Tears



The moose wine-holder I gave to JB
for Christmas


Woke up Wednesday to overcast skies with 12 degrees - and there was a bird singing outside our window!!  It sounded like a robin, but I find that hard to believe and I wasn't able to see it.  It started snowing a little after 11:00 am and continued for most of the day but we only received about 3/4".

Finished reading all the newspapers, magazines and mail.  Vacuum-packed the meat JB brought for the freezer.  Just a lazy inside day.

The Wenatchee paper had an article about a sasquatch siting near the cemetary on January 9.  Seems a local tracker who has studied sasquatch sitings for 25 years heard about it on the radio.  He went to the site and made plaster casts of footprints that he described "as looking similar to those of a bear, but with wide spread toes."  Hmmm.  Maybe that's why the dogs have been barking so much lately. . .

Larry and Elsie got a nice video on their game cam of a bobcat.  It was walking up the slope through the snow away from the camera.  Always so much more "real" than a still shot.

Thursday was sunny again with a high of 22.  The fog kept trying to sneek up from the canyons, but was unsuccessfull in its attempts, thank goodness.

Had a nice long talk with Aunt Nene.  Losing Jack is so very hard for her after their marriage of 68 years.  But she is spunky and so determined to make a go of it on her own.  Meanwhile my tears are staining the notes I'm making for Jack's eulogy.  His memorial service will be February 16, so I will go over a few days before and stay a few days after.  Hopefully I can talk her into coming over to visit us this year.  She has wanted to sleep in RJ's cabin loft, and have coffee on our deck while enjoying the view.

I got a good start on one of my winter projects, that I keep putting off, which is organizing our geneaological information for JB's family.  Getting it out of boxes and into binders.

Am getting hooked on the TV series "The Vampire Diaries".  Our son says he prefers "True Blood", so I'll have to see if I can find the first season of that one on sale too.

Thought for the day:  There are angels whose job it is to be sure you do not get too warm, too glad or too comfortable and miss out on life. . .

Jan 23, 2012



The view from my bench on our north ridge
Tuesday morning
(the dark blob is in my camera lens)


So much for our warming trend.  Monday morning was clear and 12.  The cold is fine, it's the sun that counts, but I hate using the generator on sunny days.  So I saved the laundry for Tuesday or Wednesday as there is snow in the forecast.

The dogs and I went on a hike down the road about 1/2 mile.  Had to stay on the road as I did not wear my snow shoes and sunk in at least to my knees if I strayed off.  JB worked on his computer, and sorted out old papers.

Still writing, not reading. . .

Was cold again Tuesday morning.  Light overcast and 10, with a high of only 14.  JB went down there and was back before 3:00 pm.  I did the laundry and other chores.  Took the dogs on their morning walk and brought in the wood then too.  Took a few minutes to sit on my bench on the north ridge and contemplate the view and the Universe.

Had to call JB while he was Down There to give him the tire size on his Jeep so he could buy chains for it.  He asked if it was snowing Up Here as he was seeing a few flakes Down There.  I told him there are always more flakes Down There than Up Here. . .

Tuesday is JB's day to cook dinner and even though he had spent the day going to town, he made jambalaya!  He had bought sausage and fresh shrimp for it while grocery shopping, and it was yummy.

Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze has another interesting article in the Feb/Mar issue of "Home Power" magazine.  It's about acorns and all the ways she is learning to fix them.  I often wish I was more into making my own food from scratch.  I mean really "scratch" like she is doing.  Should have got an earlier start on this kind of life.  Just too lazy now.

This issue of "Home Power" also has an excellent article on a simple, solar power exhaust system for keeping a crawl space dry.  I think we will attempt to install one this summer.  Sounds easy and is inexpensive.

JB made raisin bread last week from a Bob's Red Mill mix.  Not as delicious as his Mom's, but very good.

Thought for the day:  Some things have to be believed to be seen.

Jan 21, 2013 A Family Loss



Dinga chewing on a chunk of ice


Friday morning the valley fog was lower than on Thursday and there was a definite rime line on the canyon sides.  It was still 32 when we got up.  JB left for Down There at 9:30 am and was back by 2:00 pm.  I did laundry, dishes, etc.  The high for the day was 40!  The dogs thought Spring was on the way and were outside most of the day.

It was pizza and movie night, so we watched "The Dark Knight Rises."  Long, like most Batman movies, but I loved the twists and especially the ending.

Saturday was sunny again with a high of 35.  But it was a very sad family day as Uncle Jack passed away from complications of the flu.  He was 87, and he and Aunt Nene had been married 68 years.  Not sure yet when the memorial service will be, but Nene has asked me to give the eulogy.  A great honor, but a weighty one.  I will go over to stay with her a few days before the service and then stay a few days afterwards.

JB and I worked on making MAX's parking place larger.  JB broke up the ice and hardened snow, then I shoveled it out.  Dinga was thrilled at all the ice chunks.  She loves chewing on them.

Larry and Elsie drove up in the evening with the first fresh eggs of the season.  We played "marbles" so the guys could have their egos stroked.  Elsie completely made up for her bad luck during the last game, but that night the dice hated me.  Was still a close game.

We have been much warmer Up Here than down at their place for the past few days.  They haven't even hit the mid 20's because of the fog and inversion layer.

Yesterday was nice again, with a few high clouds and a high of 28.  It has been warming up so much that the wasps are venturing out of their inside nest.  We had more than 20 in the loft during the day, and at least four downstairs.

I tried to start reading The Elephant Whisperer, but these days are for writing, not reading.  JB is going Down There on Tuesday to do grocery shopping.

The weekend seems like it was two weeks long.  When your private world changes dramatically, time slows down and your reality shifts.  In this case, our mortality was brought into focus and it was driven home, once again, that all we really have is this moment, regardless of our age or circumstances.  This moment, and only we can make the most of it.  When I lived Down There, I would go out after such an event and seeing life going on as if nothing had happened, I would scream at the Universe, "But don't you understand?!  There has been a change!"  And the Universe would whisper back to me, "Ah, but I do understand.  All is as it should be.  Change is the only constant, and you are Loved."  Now living Up Here, I look out at the snow covered mountains and canyons, and, still, all is as it was.  But it is soothing and I am calm.  And I feel loved, and know that angels surround is all, comforting and protecting.

Thought for the day:  If we discovered that we had only five minutes left to say all that we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to stammer that they loved them.  Christopher Morley

Jan 18, 2013 More Sun!

Valley fog to the southeast



Mt Baker to the northwest












Wednesday was another gloriously bright day with a high of 30.  Now when we go for our afternoon hike about 3:45, the sun is not just barely above the horizon, but each day a little higher and shining directly in our eyes as we go west on our south ridge.  A promise of longer, warmer days ahead.

JB worked a bit on MAX, trying to figure out what the odd noise was when we went to visit Larry and Elsie.  A chain had not come off, as he thought, but a metal stake had fallen on it and rattled around.  I sat on my bench on the north ridge for a while and watched the wild.

Thursday was not as warm, but still clear and sunny, at least Up Here.  We thought the high was 25 until JB went out to check the temperature at 9:30 pm, as he usually does before we go to bed, and it had jumped to 32!  There has been valley fog for a few days which is supposed last until Tuesday afternoon.  I managed to get inside and outside chores done, but HAD to finish The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  Absolutely fascinating!  Am going to have to google "noetic science."  Have heard everything mentioned in the book but am sure that by now there is so much more.

I let Jesse out at 7:00 am and called him when he had not returned by 8:15.  Heard a couple faint barks in the direction of the south ridge, but when he hadn't come back by 8:30, we got concerned.  The best way to get him back home is to get all bundled up to go look for him, so we did.  Sure enough, as soon as JB stepped out on the porch, he saw Jesse just coming over the ridge.  Works every time. . .

Nene had e-mailed on Tuesday that Uncle Jack had come down with the nasty flu that's going around and she was try to keep him hydrated.  She called last night to let me know that he was in the hospital.  Not looking good as his kidneys are starting to shut down. . .

JB is going Down There today for mail and a few errands.  I am expecting three packages, one of which will be large.  He won't have room for everything if he buys groceries, so he will do that shopping next Tuesday.

Thought for the day:  The only rights you have in this world are the ones you are willing to fight for.

Jan 16, 2013 Dust, Snow & Sun



Paths through the snow in
our yard




Our Arctic blast disappeared abruptly, leaving us with thinly overcast skies and a high of 23 on Monday.  A cold breeze made it seem colder though.

On our afternoon walk, two large golden eagles soared over us on the south ridge.  One of them swooped down into the trees and over the house.  Absolutely stunning!

When I took items off the shelves to photograph them for my family heirloom booklet, I had to dust them off.  Had to dust off the shelf before putting them back, then the other shelves were in obvious need of cleaning.  So I ended up dusting the whole great room, and it isn't even Spring yet!

We ate dinner a little early on Monday so we could get ready for our visit to Larry and Elsie.  Took our emergency backpack, as usual, along with three flashlights and a blanket.  MAX's lights don't work because the battery is dead (the motor has a pull start), so I held a flashlight to be our headlight.  We made it down the mountain in about 35 minutes.  A much easier drive than JB had expected.  Had a great visit and an interesting game of "marbles" (it was definitely NOT Elsie's night for dice).  Going back up the road seemed a lot bumpier, but we were home by 9:30 and were greeted by the dogs as if we had been gone all day.  An exhilerating winter ride that we must take more often.

Their chickens have begun laying eggs again now that the sun has been shining more often.  Only about two eggs per day, but the problem is that by the time Larry and Elsie get home from work, the eggs are frozen!  Elsie has to put them in the refrigerator to defrost.

Tuesday was proof that our cold snap had ended.  It began with 23 degrees and we had a high of 36.  Turned out to be a glorious, bright, blue-sky-and-sunshine day.  Melting snow dripped off all the eaves.  It was the day I had been hoping for in order to clean out the wood stove, which was about two weeks overdue.  No fire was needed after lunch, so we could let it cool off enough to get in and clean it just before dinner.

After lunch JB dug out the path to the door of the shop where snow and ice sliding off the roof had blocked it.  I brought in the fire wood, then tried some sledding on the paths and driveway.  Got going way too fast for a sled that is tricky to steer and ended up in deep snow on the side of the drive.  Better than a tree. . .  But what fun it was!

I never realized it until we moved Up Here, but the snow seems to melt more from the bottom than the top.  It just deflates like a leaky balloon.  Didn't melt too much yesterday, but at least I can see the top of our moose welcome sign now.

Over the weekend JB found a great recipe for gluten-free French bread, and made two 9" loaves.  Very good, and toasts up nicely.  The recipe is in Carol Fenster's cookbook, Gluten Free Quick & Easy.

Have finished book #21 of The Cat Who . . . series, and started re-reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  It's been a while, but I have read all of his books at least twice and thoroughly enjoyed them. 

Thought for the day:  To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books.  The Secret Teachings of All Ages  From The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown