December 31, 2014 The End of Another Great Year!

JB using Dinga's favorite toy.

The Columbia River from our north ridge.

Monday 12/29. We actually received 10" of snow, so now we have more than a foot on the ground.  There was no leisurely start to the day this morning, more like a leap into it!  Slogged through the snow that came almost up to my knees in places to the hen house to feed the girls.  Again, with all the snow covering their roof, they were still roosting.  Had to wake them up and roust them out.

JB got the snow blower going and cleared a path to the outhouse/henhouse area.  Was coming back when he lost a track off of one side.  We simply could not get it back on and didn't want to take much time on it.  He used Miss Kitty's plow to clear in front of the house a bit, then left to plow the road.

I used the snow shovel to clear around the girls' run, then shoveled a path to the wood shed.  Had to squeeze in the gate and clear most of it before I could get the sled with fire wood out.  Got that all hauled into the house, then wrapped a tarp around the snow blower and took most of the decorations off the hen house.

JB had to make two trips down our road and back to make it passable.  Took him about five hours total.

I hesitated right up until I clicked on "Publish" to include my "spiritual growth spurt" on Monday's blog, but it was simply too great a change in me to leave it just in my journal.  For years now I have known in my mind that "I am a spiritual being having a human experience", but now I know it within the deepest recesses of my heart and have discovered that knowledge within my soul too. And the acknowledgement of the same for every other living being on the planet. . .

It can be very difficult dealing with this human body.  Yesterday I broke a tooth and have an appointment for next Monday to get it pulled.  With no dental insurance and no extra money (thanks again, Wall Street), we have to use our Christmas gift money to pay for it.  But at least that money is there.

We did not clear the snow off the roof of the hen house, opting instead for warmth rather than light with the predicted single-digit temperatures.  And the temperature slowly fell all day until at sunset it was 24.  By the time we went to bed at 9:30 pm, it was 16.  Love those fleece sheets!

Tuesday 12/30. This morning was 7 with blue skies.  JB had planned to go Down There today, but we decided he should wait til Friday when the temperature wouldn't be so frigid.

We managed to get the track back on the snow blower (taking more time and thought), which he used to clear the road behind the house and make a path from the house to the road by the wood shed.  He used Miss Kitty to plow the road around the south ridge, and our afternoon walk was so much easier than the morning one, which we all went on.  The poor dogs were trying to plow through snow past their chests.  

I did some snow shoveling and brought the wood in.  With our big snow boots and layers of clothes, I feel like I am moving in slow motion.

It was a cold, crisp day that was a delight to be out in, and we did spend most of the day outside.  A bright winter sun on bright winter snow.

We plan to spend New Year's Eve with Larry and Elsie at their house.  I doubt we'll stay til midnight, but I know we'll have fun.

Wednesday 12/31. Another frigid morning with 7 degrees (0 on the porch) and a clear blue sky. New Year's Eve.  Lets hope it is a safe and sane one for everyone.

Thought for the day: A coincidence is an earthly reply to a cosmic fax you sent earlier.  Author Unknown

December 29, 2014 Snow & DaVinci & A Spiritual Growth Spurt

JB's "hairy feet" slippers,
from Nene of course!

Everyone is still in the
Christmas spirit.

Friday 12/26. JB and I can be so different in so many ways that I am surprised we will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary tomorrow.  I know he gets frustrated with my slow mornings.  I had always been an early riser, but not now.  Not Up Here.  I like to sip my coffee with my sudoku and/or crossword puzzles.  Read some of my current book.  Just ease into the day.  JB, on the other hand, likes to get going a bit sooner.  He usually has his day planned out and it often includes me.  So he usually just waits a little longer than he would like to and I usually get going a little sooner than I would like to.

Today he got the vehicles started and drove the tractor and then MAX up and around the south ridge.  Also moved my car a little and re-parked it.  I spent much of yesterday and today reading two of the books he gave me for Christmas that were on my list, Proof of Heaven and The Map of Heaven, both by Eben Alexander.  Should be mandatory reading for the whole planet!

One of the best gifts that Nene gave to me is a clothes-pin apron.  Woo Hoo!  It is just perfect and has a cute little dog on it.

This evening we watched The Cowboys with John Wayne, a movie that JB received in his stocking.

Saturday 12/27. Well, we made it - our 45th wedding anniversary.  We don't often give each other gifts although we do give cards, but this year was almost a non-event.  Just a nice, relaxing day together.

It began with a temp of 27, overcast skies, and snow in this weekend's forecast.  The snow arrived a little before 5:00 pm and by the time it stopped falling at about 6:30 pm, we had 2-1/4".

I am discovering that the See's candy and eggnog have conspired to enlarge my love handles.  Thank goodness the holidays are almost over.  Going to have to be very active this Spring and Summer. . .

Nene and Randy both called to wish us Happy Anniversary.  I had a very nice chat with both of them.

This evening we watched the first two episodes of season one of DaVinci's Demons, which was one of several TV series our son had given us.  Very well done!

Sunday 12/28.  It was 27 and clear this morning, but the clouds slowly drifted in, and by sunset we were overcast.  We are guessing at the outside temperature based on the fact that the gauge on the porch was usually an average of seven degrees colder that recorded by our weather station, before it got stuck at 33.  Our high for the day was 34.

Our landscape is all white again, the brown spots having been covered by last night's snowfall.  Because it was also covering the hen house roof and darkening the inside, the girls were still roosting when I came to give them their breakfast of oatmeal and bananas, and then corn at 8:30 am.

There were some very dark and ominous clouds just to our south this afternoon, but we only received a few small flakes.  We cleared the snow off the hen house roof, and I gave them fresh straw and pine shavings.  The girls love it when I do that and immediately get busy checking it all out and digging around in it.  It is supposed to be very cold for the next few days.

Snow was falling when JB let the dogs out just before we went to bed and it was obvious that it had been falling for a while.  A perfect night to try out our new fleece sheets for the first time.  They are so soft, and so warm that we had to take our comforter off!  Unfortunately this was on of those nights that when I woke up at 2:00 am I put in a fire and so wanted to crawl back into that cozy bed, but my mind just wouldn't stop.  The two books I read by Eben Alexander have opened the floodgates and caused/allowed a spiritual growth spurt which, in my case, is always followed by volumes of writing.  The words must be expressed as them come or they will be lost.  They must be expressed or I cannot sleep.  Put as simply as possible, I now Know without a doubt that "I am a spiritual being having a human experience" and not the other way around.

Monday 12/29. We awoke to 28 and what looks to be a foot of snow. JB will definitely be plowing the road the morning.  I just hope I can find the hen house in order to feed the girls. . .

Thought for the day: You are not a human being having a spiritual experience, but rather a spiritual being having a human experience.

December 26, 2014 Icy Christmas

Santa JB, courtesy of Aunt Nene!

Our snow-blown path to the
north ridge

Wednesday 12/24.  All the slush turned to ice on Monday and has stayed very slick.  No melting yet as the temperature hovers right around freezing.

We made our Christmas visit to Larry and Elsie on Monday, but even on the frozen road, Miss Kitty did great with her ice chains.

Tuesday was a nice lazy day spent mainly reading books, and JB baked scones.  A double batch so he could take some to Elsie on his way Down There on Wednesday.  

JB left about 9:00 am with three gas cans to fill, a few groceries to get for Christmas Eve snacking and some errands to run.  While he was gone I gave the deer their Christmas dinner of alfalfa pellets, as their dish was empty again.  Then baked cookies and just barely had all everything cleaned up by the time JB arrived back home at 2:30.

I grew up opening presents on Christmas Eve and stockings on Christmas morning, but since it is just the two of us Up Here I like to make it last as long as possible.  So Christmas Eve we had a dinner of summer sausage, ham, cheeses and chips, then watched The Lone Ranger.  I love Johnny Depp movies and this was no disappointment, despite the reviews.  Fantastic!!

Thursday 12/25.  Christmas!!  My favorite day of the year and, really, not just because of the presents (I love presents!), but because of the real meaning of the day.  A true celebration of love.

And a beautiful, sunny day it was, too.  The mountains were hiding in the morning and a few clouds floated over to the south, but the sun shone all day.

Friday 12/26. This morning is 28 with an icy blue sky.  Tomorrow is our 45th wedding anniversary.  My how the time flies. . .

Thank you all for the Christmas wishes!!

Thought for the day: The contented man is never poor; the discontented man never rich. George Eliot

December 24, 2014 Merry Christmas from Rose Camp

Merry Christmas from Rose Camp

December 22, 2014 Snow & Rain & Snow & Rain. . .

Friday' sun as seen from
 the south ridge.

Christmas decorations for the girls.

Friday 12/19. We received 1-1/2" of snow last night and the sun is breaking through the clouds this morning.  JB left for Down There about 9:30 to do his Christmas shopping, two loads of laundry and some other errands, which included mailing the last few Christmas cards that I had forgotten to take with me on Tuesday.  I really do need to make a check list of things to be sure to remember when going Down There.

Had to take the plow off Miss Kitty before he left, which is so much easier than putting it on.  Then he forgot to take the gas cans. . .

Great current issues of Countryside and BackWoods Home.  So many good articles.  And I always enjoy the end-of-the-year issues of Time and Entertainment Weekly, as I did with Life when I was growing up.

While JB was gone, I made the most of all the power flowing into our batteries.  After dishes, I vacuumed very thoroughly.  Then I actually dusted - my Christmas/New Year's cleaning.  With that all done, I finished decorating and put out the gifts.

On our morning walk, the trees wept with joy as the sun began to melt the heavy snow and rime on their branches.  I checked the alfalfa pan up on the east slope and it was completely empty.  So glad, as that obviously means the deer have found it.  Filled it back up and I have enough in the bag for one more fill.  The sun was also melting the snow on our roof, causing it to slide off in a thunderous manner most of the morning.

With the laundry and everything else, it was a long day for JB.  He arrived home just as the dogs and I were on our afternoon walk at 3:30 pm.

Saturday 12/20. It was 32 and snowing big, fluffy flakes when we got up.  We had received 4-1/2" by 9:30 am.  The flakes became smaller but continued to fall all day.

I had nice, long chats with Randy and Nene this morning while drinking my coffee.

After breakfast we put the plow back on Miss Kitty and JB plowed our drive up to and around the south ridge.  Then he used the snow blower to clear paths around the house.  Dinga swallows so much snow while trying to catch it all that she has to pee every 15 minutes for a couple hours afterwards.  While he was using Dinga's favorite toy, I decorated the girls' home.

JB came in for a rest and then plowed our road all the way down to the main canyon road.  We had another inch of snow by 3:30 pm and then it stopped for a while, and . . . wait for it. . .the fog moved in.

I fixed moose stew for dinner and just as it was almost time to dish up, the wind picked up and rain began to fall.  We had gusts up to 23 mph most of the night and received more than an inch of rain.

Sunday 12/21.  Last night was one of those nights that I woke up just after midnight with no inclination to go back to sleep.  An hour of cocoa, sudoku and just enjoying the Christmas ambiance did the trick, making my eyelids heavy.

It was 33 and overcast when JB awoke at 7:00 am.  Where he had used the snow blower yesterday, the paths were dark and slushy.  This cycle of snow then rain then more snow then more rain is really beginning to suck!  In talking with Nene yesterday, we agreed that she would keep the rain on her side of the mountains and we would keep the snow on ours.  I think I owe her some snow.

The wind blew in more rain mid morning that was often mixed with snow.  We must have been right at the lowest snow level.  It was windy all day, but we were on the south edge of the storm and the rain had moved off to the northeast by noon.  The sun was able to shine off and on as clouds blew past, and our high was in the high 30's (our weather machine is stuck on 33).

We swept off what was left of the snow on the hen-house roof, then rolled the tarp completely up.  Probably should have done that in October.  Now the girls will get all the available light as long as we keep the snow off at least half of the roof.  I hope this helps with the egg laying, because we have not received any eggs for about a week now.

I had to clear out both main drainage "ditches" of the slush and let those rivers flow.  One goes down the driveway and the other off the side of the west ridge.

Well, today is the shortest day of the year, and now we can begin our journey back to the light and the longest day of the year.

We have been using candles (mostly wax, but some battery) in the evening so we don't have to use any electricity til we want to watch TV around 7:00 pm, after our evening chat on the radio with Larry and Elsie.  We are on our fourth night of the fourth season of Rizzoli & Isles.  Such an entertaining series!

Tonight I added more candles and it was so beautiful with all the Christmas decorations.

Monday 12/22. It is a breezy 33 this morning with clear skies.  As I sit here in the loft, I am watching the dawn arrive on the snow-covered mountains.  Absolutely stunning!  No better way to start the morning.

Thought for the day: Be comforted in the fact that the ache in your heart and and confusion in your soul means that you are still alive, still human, and still open to the beauty of the world. Paul Harding

December 19, 2014 Snow, Fog & Headlines

Our tipi through a rimed & snowy bush

Rose Camp in the mists

Wednesday 12/17. It was 28 and snowing this morning.  Snow fell until noon and then the fog moved in.  Or maybe that was a cloud.  All looks the same.

We put the plow on Miss Kitty after breakfast.  Then JB got out Dinga's favorite toy - the snow blower, and cleared all around the house.  After lunch he plowed the road, which took a couple hours.  I kept the dogs in the house while he went down the road, and we all napped.  A snuggly winter nap.

Our game cam is on the fritz, so JB is going to try to figure out what is wrong and fix it.  Sometimes it just needs to warm up.

I think from now on I am going to add a little dirt to the rinse water when washing my hair.  Ever since our cistern water got murky, my hair has had a lot more body. . .

At the end of every year the Seattle PI asks readers to submit the headlines they would like to see the next year.  Here are my two picks for 2015:  1) Imposter Impeached! He and his wife indicted, convicted of planning to destroy America and sent to prison for life.  2) Chocolate Found to Cure Cancer!

Our high for today was 31 and we received 4" of snow.

Thursday 12/18. It was 28 and foggy this morning.  And the fog stayed around all day, of course.  Our high was 32.

JB's knee was bothering him today, so I did all his chores in addition to mine.  Took the dogs on their morning walk.  Started the generator in the morning for dishes, and again in the evening.  And actually got some Christmas decorations out.  I swore I was going to do that a couple days ago, but just never made it.  With Christmas day just a week away, I figured I better get with it.

JB stayed inside all day and just enjoyed himself.  Although he really doesn't like me to have to do all his chores, so he probably just stewed most of the day.

Am now rinsing the washed dishes in the sink with a Tbs. of bleach in the water, just to be sure there's not a problem with the cistern water.  Will put a cup of bleach in the cistern tomorrow, and then just let the water level get way down before we fill it back up again.

Friday 12/19. It is 33 this morning and partly cloudy with a breeze.  NO fog!  Woo Hoo!

Thought for the day: A day of worries is more exhausting than a day of work. John Lubbock

December 17, 2014 Snow & Another Latte

Handmade gifts from Suzann
and her daughter, Liz

Life can be rough for our dogs. . .

Monday 12/15.  Was mainly an indoor day, just doing our stuff.  Nice to see white on the ground again.  Still getting an egg every other day.

We put ice chains on Miss Kitty's front tires, which was much easier than putting them on the back ones.

Tuesday 12/16.  Snow was falling and the temp was 28 this morning.  I had decided to go Down There to do laundry and a few errands, so I left in Miss Kitty at about 9:00 am.  Took me an hour and a half to get to town.  Of course that included transferring everything into the Jeep.  About a mile down the paved road, the snow turned to rain.

Most of the laundry was the three new sets of sheets that JB's Mom gave us.  Am anxious to try them out.  Sent out the last of the packages, including Sandy's.  Even though I know she will open it as soon as she gets it, I wasn't sure we could get it there by Christmas if I didn't send it today. 

Got a peppermint mocha latte, and this will definitely, most likely be my last one for a while.  Now it is JB's turn to go Down There.

I let Larry and Elsie's dogs out for a romp and a pee on the way home, and noticed that the snow all around their house was covered in bird tracks.  Too large to be the flock of quail they have who come to share the chickens' corn, so must be turkeys.  Whatever it is, there are lots of them.

The trip down and back up the mountain was beautiful and easier than I thought it might be with ice under the snow.  We received about 1-1/2" for the day.

Watched the last three episodes of season five of Castle.  I loved the ending, and am so glad we have season six.

Wednesday 12/17.  It is 28 and snowing again this morning.  Looks like we might have 3-4 inches and it's still coming down.  We may have a white Christmas after all.

Thought for the day: We are so concerned about how things will turn out.  God seems more concerned about how we will turn out.  Philip Yancey, from his book The Question That Never Goes Away