That's a load of old pooh....

Totally enjoyed the three-day weekend mini-vacation and the short work week. I could do that every week, I'm afraid. I think I'm more productive in both spaces. We unexpectedly got a load of horse manure from our lovely friends, so John's weekend took a different turn. And he has continued to move it around during the week. The plan was to use a trailer that could just dump it out so the fellows wouldn't have to shovel it this time and they could dump it right into one of the garden beds. Unfortunately, the trailer was so big that it couldn't be maneuvered close to the garden and when it "dumped" the darn stuff didn't slide out. So they ended up shoveling. And because the trailer was so big, we ended up with twice the usual bounty. That's a lot of you-know-what! And it's in a big pile on the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. Not the landscaping feature one would plan.The robins are having a field day with it.

We ordered a new dishwasher yesterday. We have never been pleased with the Maytag that was in the house and missed the functionality of the Miele we left behind in Cali. So, week after next, we will no longer be tolerating unwashed dishes and silverware. Lovely. Funny how time flies and here we are nearly 3 years in this house, finally getting around to this.

On the home-ownership front, this house must have had a short warranty that is expiring quickly. I noted the crumbling gate pillars last week. Now the heat pump is behaving strangely and one of the gutters seems to have "split", and so we (John actually) hear a drip from the bedroom when it rains. And one of the little louvers on the dryer vent outside fell off! A large ladder is needed for a couple of these fixes. John and our friend Bob are talking about going in together and buying a large ladder; infrequently used but necessary. It's all in the details, eh?

So, the man-made stuff is vexing, but Mother Nature has been actively producing and readying for a Spring show. Loads of buds are appearing on the trees and bushes. The crocus are up and look so delightful. Daffodils and tulips are almost ready to bloom and they have multiplied since last year. John found that the garlic and shallots that overwintered in the garden are growing and will be ready to harvest before he plants the spring seeds. We had some hail last evening which is still on the ground this morning as it's 27 degrees. We are slowly moving away from wintry weather, though.

Today is a quilting day. I have a small project I'd like to complete and then I'll turn my attention to color selections for the gift quilt. John is off to Cali this week so the animals and I will carry on as we do. And then it will be March. Lion or lamb, I wonder...

Carpe Diem...

It's a long weekend and just what the doctor ordered. Feels like a mini-vacation. We attended the annual fundraiser for a school in the area last night that focuses on creative arts. They produce a mystery dinner theater and hold a silent and a live auction. We got two other couples to go this year and it was such fun. The theme was disco and it certainly brought back memories of the 70s. Wow, did I just say that? Anyway, I managed to get a couple of the silent auction items I bid on. One is a black and white photograph of dogwood flowers up close.

Today is a quilt show at the fairgrounds and I'll go see what inspires me today. It will be a good pace to be on a rainy Saturday. John has lots of soccer to watch today. Tomorrow promises to be pretty dry, so outside jobs can wait.

Finally the stairs have become too much for our Zoe girl. She had a little difficulty coming down them Monday morning and John ended up carrying her part way. Then Monday night she just couldn't convince herself to climb them at bedtime. So, she has spent the nights downstairs this week and although she would probably like to be nearer her pack, she settles down pretty quickly and has slept well. She is otherwise fairly robust and continues her usual routines.

There is probably more to say, but it is, after all, my mini-vacation and I should move along. Carpe diem and all that...

Up, Up, and Away

John went flying with our friend Bob 2 weekends ago. He caught some nice pictures of places we haven't been. This is top of Mt. St. Helens and you can see the dome that is forming and the steam rising from it. Then they flew as close to Mt. Rainier as they were allowed back over Olympia and the State Capitol Building and on up the Hood Canal to Port Townsend airfield where they stopped for lunch. On the way back, they circled the house. It was a good day. I stayed home to have a massage (already scheduled) and then work on taxes. What can I say....

As you can tell, the weather that weekend was fabulous. We're back to rain, but it's only the light variety. And the temperatures are in the mid-forties. Not bad. Not snow.

The gate is finally in place and working! Actually, it makes a big difference to my every-other-week "home alone" existence. At least I'm assured that no unannounced visitors will visit. Now we discovered that some of the stones on the entry pillars have fallen away and underneath is that same type of disintegrating concrete that was originally used to mount the gate mechanism. Well, right now it's not in a place that can be seen, so we'll play around with some "repairs" and if push comes to shove, the pillars will just have to come down. They look nice, but not essential now that the gate is properly mounted on posts. Home ownership....the hits just keep on coming.

Otherwise, it's been pretty much the usual routine of work-home-work-home-weekend! I'm composing a color palette for a quilt I'm starting. It's in that conceptual stage where perfection is still possible. The tulips and daffodils have poked their green stalks through the dirt, anticipating spring. We might have lost the crocuses to our wet winter this year. Some of the trees have buds already. And the light is starting and staying longer each day. I drive to and from work in daylight if not sunshine. That's a relief. Speaking of driving to work, that should happen pretty soon so watch this space for more to come...

Olympia WA and the state capitol building

 Mount Rainier fly-by

Sunshine visits the Pacific Northwest...

The weather has turned unusually warm. It's early February and it's over 50 degrees. The sun is brilliant and the colors look so clear and intense. Everyone is out and about. There was a line at the car wash yesterday. Cars lined the road next to a walking trail in Silverdale. These Northwesterners don't waste time. When it's nice out, even for one day, they are outdoors. We went to our monthly Farm Breakfast, not so much for the food anymore as to sit and chat with our friends. Good times. Today John will go flying with this same friend, Bob, who is a pilot. He will take many photos of parts undiscovered by us so far. I already had a massage scheduled for this morning, so I'll stay on the ground this time.

John was out of town last week, so the Z-dog and I went about our business as usual. He arrived back on Thursday. The people who are repairing our gate were supposed to complete that task last week but did not. John will pester them this week to finish it. It's been 4 months now, so it needs to be done. Friday we had an unsolicited visitor (compliments of an open gate) trying to sell us frozen meat. I should put a large "V" on our garage door for "Vegan Household".

We just confirmed the plans for our visit to Maui later this year. It's nice to have it on the books and I look forward to the visit. John will be visiting daughter Karen in March to watch her run the LA Marathon. I don't know how much actual watching he can do when they are moving, but he's going to support her as best he can. I will stay home with the hard-headed brown dog. We don't like to leave her any more than we have to in her old age. We will be going for a short visit to Tennessee in the Spring which means she'll have two stays at the kennel this year.

All is quiet on the front with regard to the Mouse Wars, nary a one all week. Perhaps John has become like the Farmer character in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books. The mice have been warned to stay away from his vehicle for fear of not returning. They have steered clear of the house all season since I put those high-frequency noise producing thingees everywhere. Roosevelt has had to make do with a limp ball-toy that he regards as his prey.

It must be the weather and an unseasonal urge for spring cleaning, but yesterday we successfully unloaded our old eye glasses for recycling at the local optometrist's office and took a variety of cell phones to Best Buy where they will recycle them for free. We'll tear down some boxes today and John will take them and the old couch cushions (recently replaced) to the local recycling facility this week. Small things, but feels good to get them completed. And on that note, adieu....