Blink! That's the week. Maybe since John arrived home just in time for the weekend to start last week, the whole week seemed to speed by just in time for him to leave again. Most of the snow has melted except in a few sheltered areas. The lawn/meadow/jungle clearing squishes from all the moisture. We have a clear day on tap for today which will be enjoyed thoroughly.
John took the hardheaded brown dog to the vet on Thursday for what usually ends up being a $300 outing. She had her thyroid level checked after being on medication and we will adjust the dose slightly upwards. Also had to get more of that low-protein kibble that she eats reluctantly. Still, she looks good and has lots of energy for the old gal that she is. We're grateful for that.
The mouse wars continue. After John went mano o'mouso with that wee critter on his engine block last weekend, he set out a number of traps in his engine compartment (3? 4? 5?) and so far the body count is up to three. There doesn't seem to be another solution to the problem. You can bet I'm not riding in his car any time soon as memories of having a mouse in my car as a teenager come swarming back. Still a little PTMD there (Post-Traumatic Mouse Disorder).
I acquired a new sewing machine this week! The one I had is older than my kids who are no longer kids. It has seen a lot of Halloween costumes, curtains, a couch cover, and various clothing over the years, but it wasn't very helpful at quilting. I've grown fond of machine quilting, but you need a machine that has a longer head at least. I have a quilt to make as a gift, so this spurred me out of my sewing machine inert state and the new one arrived this week. Funny thing, this machine doesn't do a zig-zag stitch. I guess I just assumed all machines did that. I rarely use one (which is probably why it isn't on all machines).
On a completely different note, I also bought a WII console and accessories from someone who was selling one at work. Now John and I can do yoga poses or compete in all kinds of activities. Does that thought make you smile? It does me. I also scored two rocking chairs from someone else at work. We'll pick them up tomorrow. You never know when one (or two) will come in handy.
I have been following a vegan diet since January 1st and like it a lot. The resident omnivore is not so inspired but he is going along with it with only a modicum of grumbling (and for those of you who know him, I say that in earnest). Fortunately he is only confronted with these animal-free meals for dinner when he's at home. For my part, I am enjoying finding foods and meals that satisfy the vegan lifestyle. And on that note, the weekend has begun. I need to get some things underway. Let's talk later...
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Glad that's over...
Well, the temperature came up above freezing and is melting the snow pretty rapidly. The roads are clear and lots of people are on them which indicates to me that cabin fever beset a lot of us. John arrived safely on Friday night. We were spared any power outages or trees falling. All in all, winter weather came and it went.
Rain is predicted for most of the next week. We had a sunny afternoon yesterday which helped to melt the snow. All that water is running off the roof into the drains and some has found its way into the stream. We have had an influx of birds over the past week who are taking advantage of the fast food in our feeders. Lovely towhees and chickadees and some whose names I don't know. The woodpecker that likes our front porch also paid a visit. John took his car out for a short trip yesterday. He removed the fabric softener sheets from under the hood before leaving (mouse deterrent) and all looked good. Upon return, he opened the hood to replace them and lo and behold there sat a mouse on top of the engine block. John picked the stunned creature up by the tail and tossed him into the snow. Something like a Finnish sauna experience.
Today will bring a little housework (it doesn't do itself you know). We'll watch some playoffs (Go Niners!) and I'll make some chili for our Sunday soup day. I have a new quilt I'm planning out and I'll look at that. And there is a Gaugin exhibit coming to the Seattle Art Museum which we'd like to see. I think a museum membership is in order. The day is underway...
Rain is predicted for most of the next week. We had a sunny afternoon yesterday which helped to melt the snow. All that water is running off the roof into the drains and some has found its way into the stream. We have had an influx of birds over the past week who are taking advantage of the fast food in our feeders. Lovely towhees and chickadees and some whose names I don't know. The woodpecker that likes our front porch also paid a visit. John took his car out for a short trip yesterday. He removed the fabric softener sheets from under the hood before leaving (mouse deterrent) and all looked good. Upon return, he opened the hood to replace them and lo and behold there sat a mouse on top of the engine block. John picked the stunned creature up by the tail and tossed him into the snow. Something like a Finnish sauna experience.
Today will bring a little housework (it doesn't do itself you know). We'll watch some playoffs (Go Niners!) and I'll make some chili for our Sunday soup day. I have a new quilt I'm planning out and I'll look at that. And there is a Gaugin exhibit coming to the Seattle Art Museum which we'd like to see. I think a museum membership is in order. The day is underway...
Friday, January 20, 2012
Sledding ???
When we moved here, it was with the expectation that we would have a little winter weather, but not so much that we would be living in snow for months. It seems that is exactly what we have. This will pass in a few days and we will go back to the temperate rain that is the Pacific Northwest. Not too bad, I say. We might have to buy a sled in anticipation of next time...
Monday, January 16, 2012
First Snow of the Season
La Nina has finally made her presence known. It started snowing yesterday about 2pm and continued for a couple hours; big, fluffy white flakes. The temperature dropped as well so the snow has stayed and we have about 2 inches here covering the trees and bushes as well as the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. It's lovely powdery stuff; the kind that is excellent for skiing. More is expected throughout the week. John is off to California this morning. We put chains on the tires last evening in preparation for our 5am departure, expecting that with the low temps, ice would be the issue. They stayed on for the journey this morning and then, once we got to the transport drop, we removed them. I'm very glad we did it then as they were not the easiest things to remove and it was better to have two people making rude noises at the things than just me. They will not go back on unless we are nearly buried and absolutely have to use the car. As it was, the major roads were clear and the snow was spotty. So, we have 2 inches at home, but 5 miles away, there isn't any. Still, a larger system is on tap for Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, so we'll hope to keep power on and manage as best we can. Zoe was a little hesitant when she first went out in it yesterday, but since then she has let her inner Husky out and enjoys the strange white stuff thoroughly. The photo is from the start of the snowfall.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
All Quiet....
Brrr...it's cold up here. The temperature outside is 28 degrees right now and expected to reach the dizzying height of 38. There's a heavy frost on the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing this morning and the dog's water and the bird bath are frozen solid. Yesterday we had snow for the first time this season. It didn't stick around except in some sheltered areas, but it is predicted to continue throughout much of next week.
Zoe seems to thrive in this weather and loves to wander around outside for long periods. We have to be diligent about that and watch her closely as the coyotes are in mating season and we are advised that they may view dogs as competition with disastrous results. That was the case with a dog not far from here last week. So, when she walks, we walk.
Some "progress" was made on the gate last week. The workmen were out and demolished the decrepit concrete base that held the gate motor. And that's it. The remnants of that remain there. I expect they are waiting to receive the base that will replace it, but for now, that's as far as we've come. Winter is pretty quiet around here. John has already received some seeds for the garden though, so already we are looking ahead...
Zoe seems to thrive in this weather and loves to wander around outside for long periods. We have to be diligent about that and watch her closely as the coyotes are in mating season and we are advised that they may view dogs as competition with disastrous results. That was the case with a dog not far from here last week. So, when she walks, we walk.
Some "progress" was made on the gate last week. The workmen were out and demolished the decrepit concrete base that held the gate motor. And that's it. The remnants of that remain there. I expect they are waiting to receive the base that will replace it, but for now, that's as far as we've come. Winter is pretty quiet around here. John has already received some seeds for the garden though, so already we are looking ahead...
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Nothin' much...
The first week of the new year has been and gone. John was away most of the week, arriving home on Friday evening. So, somehow the weekend is seeming shorter. We went to our monthly Farm Breakfast yesterday and enjoyed the lively conversation with friends. Then off to do some usual stuff. The weather is holding dry but cloudy just now and the temperatures are pretty mild for this time of year. What happened to La Nina? There will be more "usual stuff" today, but I'll throw a massage into the mix midday.
The animals and I carried on with the week while John was away. It was a pretty standard one: work, walks, and sleep. It seems to work. I have a very busy week at work coming up so it's nice that John is home and I don't have to worry about spending that extra hour as needed versus getting home to let our hard-headed brown dog outside. That's about it for the week. Sometimes it's like that.
The animals and I carried on with the week while John was away. It was a pretty standard one: work, walks, and sleep. It seems to work. I have a very busy week at work coming up so it's nice that John is home and I don't have to worry about spending that extra hour as needed versus getting home to let our hard-headed brown dog outside. That's about it for the week. Sometimes it's like that.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Auld Lang Syne
Translation: "Old Long Ago". The last day of 2011 brings reflection of another year gone that was filled with friends and family, meaningful work, and some time spent in other places. The comfort of the familiar mixed with the excitement of the new. Christmas holiday is over but the spirit of it will linger. This soon-to-be new year brings us new beginnings and new opportunities, but not without appreciation of the auld lang syne.
I spent (or will spend) the official "holiday" Mondays at work, not willing to pay for a day off when I will want that time later in this year. Many people do take those days off, so the place is quiet and the traffic is almost non-existent. A win-win. Since we didn't have any visitors visiting, spending the day at home seemed an unnecessary indulgence. John stayed up here for that second week and that has been nice. He returns to California on Tuesday.
Tonight we will celebrate the New Year at our favorite restaurant Four Swallows. We signed on for the 8:30 seating and hopefully I won't fall asleep before dessert is served. Except for an overnight trip on the train from Paris to Florence when we ate at 10:30 and family dinners in Italy which lasted until nearly midnight, my evening meal usually occurs much earlier (as does my bedtime). Then January 1 brings the traditional observance of the Rose Parade. I can't help it. I have been watching the parade since my grandparents got the first color television and we all gathered at their house to watch and eat lunch in the living room (an unheard of privilege in those days). Now I can watch it in hi-def, well before lunch time. Or I can record it and watch it later. But watch it I will.
The rain has returned. Once the calendar said "winter" was officially here, the weather obliged with typical Northwest rain. This morning it is 29 degrees and crunchy again and promises to be a mostly dry day. Tomorrow the rain starts up again. The sunrises have been gorgeous this week, though. The storms move through overnight and by morning the clouds open up just enough to let the sunrise show through and reflect off the formations. Some very pretty sights on my way to work.
I think I'll leave 2011 here. I'll be back next year...
I spent (or will spend) the official "holiday" Mondays at work, not willing to pay for a day off when I will want that time later in this year. Many people do take those days off, so the place is quiet and the traffic is almost non-existent. A win-win. Since we didn't have any visitors visiting, spending the day at home seemed an unnecessary indulgence. John stayed up here for that second week and that has been nice. He returns to California on Tuesday.
Tonight we will celebrate the New Year at our favorite restaurant Four Swallows. We signed on for the 8:30 seating and hopefully I won't fall asleep before dessert is served. Except for an overnight trip on the train from Paris to Florence when we ate at 10:30 and family dinners in Italy which lasted until nearly midnight, my evening meal usually occurs much earlier (as does my bedtime). Then January 1 brings the traditional observance of the Rose Parade. I can't help it. I have been watching the parade since my grandparents got the first color television and we all gathered at their house to watch and eat lunch in the living room (an unheard of privilege in those days). Now I can watch it in hi-def, well before lunch time. Or I can record it and watch it later. But watch it I will.
The rain has returned. Once the calendar said "winter" was officially here, the weather obliged with typical Northwest rain. This morning it is 29 degrees and crunchy again and promises to be a mostly dry day. Tomorrow the rain starts up again. The sunrises have been gorgeous this week, though. The storms move through overnight and by morning the clouds open up just enough to let the sunrise show through and reflect off the formations. Some very pretty sights on my way to work.
I think I'll leave 2011 here. I'll be back next year...
Sunday, December 25, 2011
These are a few of my favorite things...
Lovely week. The Solstice arrived and brings the return of the light. Hard to fathom that 6 months from now, sunset will be nearly 6 hours from its present time.
This Christmas has been somehow quieter than those past. John and I are on our own as the children-who-are-now-grownups balance their grown-up lives. That means that this year they are spending their small bit of holiday time elsewhere. We did much the same at their age and stage of life. They are missed but with us in thought nonetheless. So, without any temporary lodgers, we have had a pretty smooth week. This morning we were up at our usual 4:30-ish. Zoe spent lots of time smelling and barking out in the yard (perhaps at transient reindeer?). We enjoyed our coffee while opening gifts. We can now decant wine while slicing and dicing vegetables with a very sharp knife, enjoying homemade jams and pickles,watching squirrels eat from their own fast food station, or just pouring over wedding photos from the summer. I have a hat (from Ireland, no less) to wear on those frosty days and John will have warm hands and feet as he works in the garden. I have some books from my wish list and an audiotape for use with meditation. John can try new camera angles with his handy travel tripod while wearing new, warm track suit/pj bottoms. And we are the proud sponsor of a rescue dog at Best Friends in Utah. Santa was extremely generous to us this year.
The rest of the day will be spent enjoying time and the company of each other. We plan to get the good china out, prepare an extravagant Christmas meal together, and enjoy a nice wine (properly decanted, of course). Maybe we'll finish that jigsaw puzzle that has persisted since Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll finish my current book on my Kindle. Maybe. Merry Christmas to all...
This Christmas has been somehow quieter than those past. John and I are on our own as the children-who-are-now-grownups balance their grown-up lives. That means that this year they are spending their small bit of holiday time elsewhere. We did much the same at their age and stage of life. They are missed but with us in thought nonetheless. So, without any temporary lodgers, we have had a pretty smooth week. This morning we were up at our usual 4:30-ish. Zoe spent lots of time smelling and barking out in the yard (perhaps at transient reindeer?). We enjoyed our coffee while opening gifts. We can now decant wine while slicing and dicing vegetables with a very sharp knife, enjoying homemade jams and pickles,watching squirrels eat from their own fast food station, or just pouring over wedding photos from the summer. I have a hat (from Ireland, no less) to wear on those frosty days and John will have warm hands and feet as he works in the garden. I have some books from my wish list and an audiotape for use with meditation. John can try new camera angles with his handy travel tripod while wearing new, warm track suit/pj bottoms. And we are the proud sponsor of a rescue dog at Best Friends in Utah. Santa was extremely generous to us this year.
The rest of the day will be spent enjoying time and the company of each other. We plan to get the good china out, prepare an extravagant Christmas meal together, and enjoy a nice wine (properly decanted, of course). Maybe we'll finish that jigsaw puzzle that has persisted since Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll finish my current book on my Kindle. Maybe. Merry Christmas to all...
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fa La La La La....
We have successfully avoided all the crowds of shoppers this year. That's a gift to us. Presents are secured and we are enjoying a lovely holiday season. John was away most of last week, so the Z-dog and I carried on with our routine. I'm not too fond of the flashlight-lit walks we take in the dark, but I do appreciate the opportunity to take in the stars and breathe in the cool night air. On Wednesday, we were on our last walkabout of the evening before heading to bed and somewhere out there were Christmas carolers! The woods were singing! That was a treat.
The mice have been at John's car again. We took it to the repair shop and left it for Monday. There must be a way to deal with these tiny vandals, but we haven't found it yet. So far, my acoustic disruptor system has worked for the house and garage. There have not been any "events" since I put them in place.
No progress was made on the gate repair this past week and it looks like that will be the first project completed in 2012. It has simplified package delivery during this season of online shopping though, so I can't complain. We are looking at replacing the dishwasher next. The one that was in the house is allegedly a high-end product but we were spoiled with our Miele in California. This current dishwasher doesn't clean well and has a poor dish-placement design. So, we've put up with it for nearly three years and have decided that enough is enough.
We are enjoying unusually dry weather. I think we have had something like 0.6 inches (or less) of rainfall this month. It was quite cold last week, but the temperature has moderated some as well now. What a difference a year makes. We are actually going to have a Skype call with our friends this morning. Turns out last week I was misinformed. And then I'm off to get a much-needed massage. We're on a path to achieve some health-related goals this next year. Again, enough is enough. And on that note, the day has begun...
The mice have been at John's car again. We took it to the repair shop and left it for Monday. There must be a way to deal with these tiny vandals, but we haven't found it yet. So far, my acoustic disruptor system has worked for the house and garage. There have not been any "events" since I put them in place.
No progress was made on the gate repair this past week and it looks like that will be the first project completed in 2012. It has simplified package delivery during this season of online shopping though, so I can't complain. We are looking at replacing the dishwasher next. The one that was in the house is allegedly a high-end product but we were spoiled with our Miele in California. This current dishwasher doesn't clean well and has a poor dish-placement design. So, we've put up with it for nearly three years and have decided that enough is enough.
We are enjoying unusually dry weather. I think we have had something like 0.6 inches (or less) of rainfall this month. It was quite cold last week, but the temperature has moderated some as well now. What a difference a year makes. We are actually going to have a Skype call with our friends this morning. Turns out last week I was misinformed. And then I'm off to get a much-needed massage. We're on a path to achieve some health-related goals this next year. Again, enough is enough. And on that note, the day has begun...
Sunday, December 11, 2011
You Know the Drill....Read On...
It was nice to have John at home this past week. It always is. Tomorrow morning he will head for California for 4 days and the hard headed brown dog and I will manage on our own. At least it's predicted to be fairly dry for the week so that makes some things a little easier (like taking the 4:30am walk outside).
We didn't get the Christmas tree up last weekend and have now agreed that it won't go up at all this year. What a relief! Don't get me wrong. I love the tree. It's an annual ritual that lets me reflect on the past year(s) as I place the ornaments on the tree. It's like comfort food. But we're on our own for the holiday this year and it doesn't seem necessary somehow. And it takes several hours to get it up and then to take it down. So, there are festive decorations about the house, but no tree. We mailed off the last of the cards and the Christmas parcels yesterday. Hooray! Most of our holiday is spent vicariously with those who are dear but not near to us.
Progress is being made on repairing the gate. It is now mounted on one of the new posts with impressive hinges (ball bearing, no less). Hopefully, while the weather holds, they will be back this week to assemble the arm and opening mechanism so John can do the electrical wiring next weekend. They have to knock down the current base that is made of crumbling concrete and will replace it with a metal base. However, in the interim, the gate stands open which has allowed packages to be delivered right to our porch and that has been very nice.
We'll be working around the house today, doing some of the mundane things that keeping a house requires. We will talk with friends in England via Skype (what a fantastic invention that is!) and will make one trip out for the necessary pet food and the not-necessary-but-nice coffee. It's Soup Sunday, so I'll put something together to simmer in the crock pot and that will double for my suppers while John is away this week. Now though, I have a date with the treadmill in the garage...
We didn't get the Christmas tree up last weekend and have now agreed that it won't go up at all this year. What a relief! Don't get me wrong. I love the tree. It's an annual ritual that lets me reflect on the past year(s) as I place the ornaments on the tree. It's like comfort food. But we're on our own for the holiday this year and it doesn't seem necessary somehow. And it takes several hours to get it up and then to take it down. So, there are festive decorations about the house, but no tree. We mailed off the last of the cards and the Christmas parcels yesterday. Hooray! Most of our holiday is spent vicariously with those who are dear but not near to us.
Progress is being made on repairing the gate. It is now mounted on one of the new posts with impressive hinges (ball bearing, no less). Hopefully, while the weather holds, they will be back this week to assemble the arm and opening mechanism so John can do the electrical wiring next weekend. They have to knock down the current base that is made of crumbling concrete and will replace it with a metal base. However, in the interim, the gate stands open which has allowed packages to be delivered right to our porch and that has been very nice.
We'll be working around the house today, doing some of the mundane things that keeping a house requires. We will talk with friends in England via Skype (what a fantastic invention that is!) and will make one trip out for the necessary pet food and the not-necessary-but-nice coffee. It's Soup Sunday, so I'll put something together to simmer in the crock pot and that will double for my suppers while John is away this week. Now though, I have a date with the treadmill in the garage...
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Would you look at the calendar! It's December!
Wow. December. How'd we get here so quickly? We had a good visit with son Jake and girlfriend over Thanksgiving. November is typically the wettest month up here and it all seemed to come down during Thanksgiving week. But we took advantage of the one dry day on Friday to visit Port Townsend and if you have to be out on "Black Friday" that was a good place to be. Otherwise, we stayed close to home and enjoyed the visit. Thanksgiving dinner was a definite winner this year. The menu was largely the usual fare: roast turkey (brined), mashed potatoes from our garden, gravy, candied sweet potatoes that came out perfectly for once, homemade cranberry relish, homemade rolls, dressing made with fennel, prosciutto, pears, and toasted hazelnuts (a new "favorite"), and brussel sprouts sauteed with chestnuts, prosciutto, and shallots. Of course there were pies: pumpkin, pecan, and Banoffi. Something for everyone (with seconds!). Today the Autumn decor will disappear and the Christmas tree will go up. December is official.
The weather has turned dry for a projected, extended spell. Historically, in our few years of experience up here, December has been the coldest month. It is certainly the darkest. We are dark by 4:30pm and still dark at 7:30am. Once the Solstice comes around this month, the light will start to reappear and I look forward to that. With the cold weather comes more frosty mornings and John took the first tumble on the steps this year. He lived to tell about it, but it was a reminder that slippers do not have the appropriate traction needed in this season. We got some tread strips and will apply those to the steps this weekend.
Work on the new gate mechanism began this week. Some pretty substantial black posts, approximately 4 inch square by 10 feet, have been placed in preparation for mounting the actual gate. They will likely finish the job next week. John will take advantage of this dry weather to make some more progress on the shed's gutters. My wall hanging quilt is complete so I am without a current project. Time to take a look through the accumulated "things I want to do" and see what calls to me. Today we will go to the monthly Farm Breakfast and meet up with friends there for a hardy chat. Then we have some errands to run and household duties to attend. The aforementioned Christmas tree will make its appearance today or tomorrow, and Christmas cards will be readied for mailing. There's a nice rhythm to all of this and a familiarity to it that I enjoy. Guess that's a good thing...
The weather has turned dry for a projected, extended spell. Historically, in our few years of experience up here, December has been the coldest month. It is certainly the darkest. We are dark by 4:30pm and still dark at 7:30am. Once the Solstice comes around this month, the light will start to reappear and I look forward to that. With the cold weather comes more frosty mornings and John took the first tumble on the steps this year. He lived to tell about it, but it was a reminder that slippers do not have the appropriate traction needed in this season. We got some tread strips and will apply those to the steps this weekend.
Work on the new gate mechanism began this week. Some pretty substantial black posts, approximately 4 inch square by 10 feet, have been placed in preparation for mounting the actual gate. They will likely finish the job next week. John will take advantage of this dry weather to make some more progress on the shed's gutters. My wall hanging quilt is complete so I am without a current project. Time to take a look through the accumulated "things I want to do" and see what calls to me. Today we will go to the monthly Farm Breakfast and meet up with friends there for a hardy chat. Then we have some errands to run and household duties to attend. The aforementioned Christmas tree will make its appearance today or tomorrow, and Christmas cards will be readied for mailing. There's a nice rhythm to all of this and a familiarity to it that I enjoy. Guess that's a good thing...
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Tail of the Dragon
We went to the crafts fair yesterday as noted in my last post. For most of the time, we wandered and looked. I marvel at the creativity of people and their talent. Near the end, we stopped to look in a photographer's booth and found something we didn't know we needed (which is almost always the case when you're "gathering"). We ended up buying this stunning photograph for the wall.
It's called Dragontail Reflections. You can see more of the photographer's work on his Web site. The shot was taken at the Enchantment Lakes near Leavenworth here in Washington. There's a glacier there in the center and to the left is the Dragontail. He had some beautiful work and it was the premiere showing for this new piece. While we were in the booth "sealing the deal", about 5 more people came by and asked about this piece. Very nice...
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Just around the corner....
It's cold. Today it is predicted to stay in the 30s for the day. But then I look at Fairbanks, Alaska, where our beloved house/pet sitter just moved and it's -41 degrees. That's "minus" 41 degrees! So, we won't whine about a mere chill in the air. Late November is the wettest time of year up here which means, unfortunately, that next week over the Thanksgiving holiday, it will rain. That being said, most of that rain falls in light showers and needs only a hood on a jacket as you go about daily doings. And that concludes the whining portion of this blog post.
John traveled last week and arrived home on Thursday evening. The hard-headed brown dog and I carried on as usual in his absence, though the absence was noticeable. And Roosevelt found that sleeping on the bed when the house is chilly at night is not such a bad thing after all.
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, and visitors arriving on Tuesday, there are some preparations to prepare this weekend. There are menus to plan and food to buy to actualize them, as well as some general tidying up around here. But we don't live by chores alone, so I will drag John to a huge craft show (Actually, he has offered to accompany me) today or tomorrow. I have forewarned him that this is a "gatherer" event, not a "hunter" event, meaning that I will browse slowly through the hall, not "go in, buy something, and leave". And he will need to do whatever it is that hunters do while waiting on the gatherers to gather.
The fence-fixing folks promise to call sometime next week to arrange a date to do the necessary repairs on the gate. And, depending on the rain, John will continue to work on those pesky gutters for the shed. There's an issue with the sealant and temperature and that's about all I care to know.
Winter is just around the corner. The Olympics are wrapped in a shawl of clouds as snow has begun to cover them. The Cascades have accumulated more snow and the ski resorts are reporting 30 inches for their openings this weekend. There are some colorful leaves left on some trees and they might last out the month. Fortunately, we will still have the green of the conifers throughout the winter. It's a pretty good place to be...
John traveled last week and arrived home on Thursday evening. The hard-headed brown dog and I carried on as usual in his absence, though the absence was noticeable. And Roosevelt found that sleeping on the bed when the house is chilly at night is not such a bad thing after all.
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, and visitors arriving on Tuesday, there are some preparations to prepare this weekend. There are menus to plan and food to buy to actualize them, as well as some general tidying up around here. But we don't live by chores alone, so I will drag John to a huge craft show (Actually, he has offered to accompany me) today or tomorrow. I have forewarned him that this is a "gatherer" event, not a "hunter" event, meaning that I will browse slowly through the hall, not "go in, buy something, and leave". And he will need to do whatever it is that hunters do while waiting on the gatherers to gather.
The fence-fixing folks promise to call sometime next week to arrange a date to do the necessary repairs on the gate. And, depending on the rain, John will continue to work on those pesky gutters for the shed. There's an issue with the sealant and temperature and that's about all I care to know.
Winter is just around the corner. The Olympics are wrapped in a shawl of clouds as snow has begun to cover them. The Cascades have accumulated more snow and the ski resorts are reporting 30 inches for their openings this weekend. There are some colorful leaves left on some trees and they might last out the month. Fortunately, we will still have the green of the conifers throughout the winter. It's a pretty good place to be...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Crisp Outside, Cozy Inside
Ahh....a busy week has come and gone. We've got the estimate for the gate repair and have accepted the price. Hopefully, this won't be a regular repair and, done properly, it will last more than 3 years. I hope they can get it done quickly as our driveway has seen more traffic in the past two weeks than in the two plus years we have lived here. Granted, it's only been a few and most of them have been delivery trucks, but I have become unused to sudden and unexpected knocks on the door. Seclusion (solitude) seems to agree with me.
The weather has turned to more rain and chillier temperatures, more in keeping with Autumn and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Something about chilly weather seems more in sync with a turkey roasting and football on the television. And one of the reasons to live here was to have more seasonal weather. Speaking of that, today I will put the emergency equipment back into the car. Last year, that sudden snow that caused me to take 4 hours to travel home from work occurred on the 22nd of November. Better safe than sorry, eh? Hopefully, "Snowmageddon" won't happen again this year. Snow is nice, but then it should melt. In any event though, I am more prepared than I was last year. And on the home front, we didn't get an on-demand generator this year, so we'll hope for few and short power outages and manage with the candles and battery-powered lamps when needed.
Chores were the order of the day yesterday. That's the usual agenda for Saturdays. Today I will tackle the garage and try to get the treadmill set up for use. I should be able to move some "stuff" around to make that happen, but the shed is already "off-limits" I am told for any more storage out there. Seems it feels cramped to the resident handyman. I'm sure once we have installed some shelves, a loft, and a workbench, it will be quite spacious. Here's a picture of the shed in its present state.
And here is a picture of the gate (lying in the leaves at the left) just up from the little blue reflector. You can also see the stone post.
And another of the driveway across the road. The leaves have fallen in great quantities this year and the colors have been so vibrant. It's the cozy time of year...
The weather has turned to more rain and chillier temperatures, more in keeping with Autumn and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Something about chilly weather seems more in sync with a turkey roasting and football on the television. And one of the reasons to live here was to have more seasonal weather. Speaking of that, today I will put the emergency equipment back into the car. Last year, that sudden snow that caused me to take 4 hours to travel home from work occurred on the 22nd of November. Better safe than sorry, eh? Hopefully, "Snowmageddon" won't happen again this year. Snow is nice, but then it should melt. In any event though, I am more prepared than I was last year. And on the home front, we didn't get an on-demand generator this year, so we'll hope for few and short power outages and manage with the candles and battery-powered lamps when needed.
Chores were the order of the day yesterday. That's the usual agenda for Saturdays. Today I will tackle the garage and try to get the treadmill set up for use. I should be able to move some "stuff" around to make that happen, but the shed is already "off-limits" I am told for any more storage out there. Seems it feels cramped to the resident handyman. I'm sure once we have installed some shelves, a loft, and a workbench, it will be quite spacious. Here's a picture of the shed in its present state.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The "Home" Team
Well, the broken gate remains in a broken state but is out of the way, at least. That sympathetic repairman did arrive and he and his helper removed the gate from the bottom hinge and placed it to the side. We're waiting on an estimate to fix it which requires constructing a legitimate post on which to mount it with legitimate metalwork to support it. If we involve a stone mason (because we choose the option to reconstruct it within the stone pillar and have to rebuild the pillar), that will automatically raise the price about $5,500. So...we're going with Plan B where they will construct posts right behind the pillars, leaving them intact. Like I said, we're waiting for the estimate.
Meanwhile, we have had the gutters cleaned and the driveway regraded as we prepare for winter and rain. So far though, the weather has been pretty nice through October and here we are, in November, and it's still quite pleasant. Temperatures have fallen and we get to the high 40s during the daytime. Chilly, but fresh. The leaves won't stay on the trees much longer.
John has been home the past week and will remain for this week as well as payback for his two consecutive weeks of travel. Finally, he got to experience the "call of the wild" when he took Zoe out for her o'dark thirty duty call this morning. The coyotes were partying and yipping up a storm in the woods. And when some rustling started in the bushes at the edge of the clearing that passes for our lawn, he and the Z-dog retreated to the house. It's an eerie sound they make.
I have a massage scheduled for this morning and then I hope to spend the rest of the day focused on completing a quilted wall hanging. I have the applique done and it's on to adding the borders, building the layers,and then quilting it all together. I'll put some soup on to simmer so dinner will take care of itself later. John is working on putting the gutters on the shed and that will be his project du jour.
It's going to be a busy week at work for me. Having John here will be nice. It has been nice. As you can see from all the "maintenance" that was done, there's a fair amount of householding that is better accomplished when there is someone available to manage that. Harder to do when juggling work/home schedules and demands on my own and remotely. Go Team Grant!
Meanwhile, we have had the gutters cleaned and the driveway regraded as we prepare for winter and rain. So far though, the weather has been pretty nice through October and here we are, in November, and it's still quite pleasant. Temperatures have fallen and we get to the high 40s during the daytime. Chilly, but fresh. The leaves won't stay on the trees much longer.
John has been home the past week and will remain for this week as well as payback for his two consecutive weeks of travel. Finally, he got to experience the "call of the wild" when he took Zoe out for her o'dark thirty duty call this morning. The coyotes were partying and yipping up a storm in the woods. And when some rustling started in the bushes at the edge of the clearing that passes for our lawn, he and the Z-dog retreated to the house. It's an eerie sound they make.
I have a massage scheduled for this morning and then I hope to spend the rest of the day focused on completing a quilted wall hanging. I have the applique done and it's on to adding the borders, building the layers,and then quilting it all together. I'll put some soup on to simmer so dinner will take care of itself later. John is working on putting the gutters on the shed and that will be his project du jour.
It's going to be a busy week at work for me. Having John here will be nice. It has been nice. As you can see from all the "maintenance" that was done, there's a fair amount of householding that is better accomplished when there is someone available to manage that. Harder to do when juggling work/home schedules and demands on my own and remotely. Go Team Grant!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Stuck at Home...
So, I'm stuck in my house. Seriously. Seems the large iron gate that keeps others out of our driveway is keeping me in! Apparently the hinge at the top pulled out of it's anchoring pillar after I arrived home last night and the gate, once closed, can no longer open. I was tempted to just muscle it open and leave it, but considered its weight and size and the likelihood that it could somehow end up on top of me (Murphy's laws, you know) and used up what bit of common sense I had to back away and leave it be. So, I will work from home today and try to locate a sympathetic repair person to come out and fix it asap. Ahh, home-ownership. Meanwhile, John will arrive back in mid-afternoon and I have engaged a friend to pick him up from the drop-off location.
It's not entirely a bad thing to be "stuck at home". I like being here. Right now, the leaves have finally turned a blazing gold color and Autumn is definitely here. When I got up at 4am one morning this week, the temperature in the house was 62 degrees.Unfortunately, 4am has become more usual than not as Zoe needs to go outside at that time. Somehow, we have to find a way to re-train her lest we be getting up at 3am once the time changes! I suspect we will just go along and take her out, then return to bed for a few more hours.
I haven't seen or encountered any wild critters while John has been away this week. But a bear was sighted near one of the elementary schools locally. Where I had tornado drills as a youngster in school, they have bear precautions here. Parents are alerted to come and pick up their children. What happens to those kids with parents who both work, I wonder?
This weekend will bring some usual errands. The gutters for the shed need a day to get installed. It's been dry this week and, hopefully, we'll get a dry day this weekend. The shiny red tractor wants one more trip to cut the grass before more serious weather starts. Tonight we have plans to go to dinner with some friends and solve the problems of the world, no doubt. But for today, I'm stuck. And I don't mind that a bit....
It's not entirely a bad thing to be "stuck at home". I like being here. Right now, the leaves have finally turned a blazing gold color and Autumn is definitely here. When I got up at 4am one morning this week, the temperature in the house was 62 degrees.Unfortunately, 4am has become more usual than not as Zoe needs to go outside at that time. Somehow, we have to find a way to re-train her lest we be getting up at 3am once the time changes! I suspect we will just go along and take her out, then return to bed for a few more hours.
I haven't seen or encountered any wild critters while John has been away this week. But a bear was sighted near one of the elementary schools locally. Where I had tornado drills as a youngster in school, they have bear precautions here. Parents are alerted to come and pick up their children. What happens to those kids with parents who both work, I wonder?
This weekend will bring some usual errands. The gutters for the shed need a day to get installed. It's been dry this week and, hopefully, we'll get a dry day this weekend. The shiny red tractor wants one more trip to cut the grass before more serious weather starts. Tonight we have plans to go to dinner with some friends and solve the problems of the world, no doubt. But for today, I'm stuck. And I don't mind that a bit....
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Enjoying the Layover
John was in California last week. He returned Thursday evening and today he will travel back down for yet another week. So, life at the house has been (thankfully) quiet. He arrived back home to Autumn in the Northwest - in other words, rain. And now that he's off again, the week is promising sunshine.
We went to the annual Quilt Show yesterday. This year was a Civil War remembrance theme as well as all the usual show-quality quilts on display. Some real beauties. I especially enjoyed some that were embellished with hand-stitched embroidery. Since my little chickens are all finished (and the first one was sent across country yesterday), my next project is a wall-hanging with a Northwest theme.
So, another quiet week is in the making, but Thursday will roll around soon. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy some additional reading time, frequent walks with the Z-dog, and I'll leave the light on for our traveling man. All aboard...
We went to the annual Quilt Show yesterday. This year was a Civil War remembrance theme as well as all the usual show-quality quilts on display. Some real beauties. I especially enjoyed some that were embellished with hand-stitched embroidery. Since my little chickens are all finished (and the first one was sent across country yesterday), my next project is a wall-hanging with a Northwest theme.
So, another quiet week is in the making, but Thursday will roll around soon. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy some additional reading time, frequent walks with the Z-dog, and I'll leave the light on for our traveling man. All aboard...
Sunday, October 16, 2011
October Fly-By
Lovely, busy week. Lots of things to take my attention at work. John was home so the household was well tended. We went out to dinner in the 'burg Wednesday night. Our favorite restaurant there (Sogno di Vino) has "date night" on Wednesdays and Sundays with a special menu and special prices so it's a nice break in the week. The near calamity with John's car tags was averted when they arrived on Wednesday. He made the 2 mile trip to collect our farm share vegetables that afternoon and thwarted Murphy and his laws. Despite traveling to and from the airport and freewheeling about town for the nearly three months the tags have been out of date, it would be that 10 minute round trip down the road when some sheriff would be out keeping the peace on Miller Bay Road and pull him over for those all-but-flashing law-breaking tags. But the tags arrived and we're law-abiding citizens once again.
Autumn is simply brilliant up here. The temperatures have been in the high 50s - low 60s and it promises to be a dry week. The moon was full this week. Yesterday, the sun was shining and the air was cool and refreshing.Finally the trees have turned colors. We put away the furniture on the deck and the porch and attempted to clean the gutters in preparation for winter. We'll have to get a 30-foot ladder that feels secure or some daredevil with a cherry picker to clean those on the second floor. I could ignore them and pretend that they are in fine working order except for the small plants growing out of two places. It's fairly obvious that regular maintenance should be done regularly.
John planted several rows of garlic and shallots to quietly grow during the winter. We're harvesting the last of everything else in the garden. Every year we learn more about the needs of growing things up here. His next project will be to get some gutters up on the shed and rain-collecting barrels attached to them (before the rain starts in earnest). My day will involve a massage (therapeutic), retrieving some new prescription sunglasses that have arrived, and taking a final look for dog-related Christmas-themed items. Tonight, a friend and I are going to decorate a small Christmas tree for auction at a fundraiser and its theme is "Santa Paws". And I will continue to work on my menagerie of chickens that have taken over the sewing area upstairs. I have 22 of the delightful little creatures waiting now to be stuffed with lavender, stitched closed, and eyes attached. Then they will be sent near and far, tucked into boxes at Christmas.
The furnace just kicked in again. It was 64 degrees in the house when we came downstairs this morning. That's my threshold for supplemental warm air. Time for breakfast and then on with the day!
Autumn is simply brilliant up here. The temperatures have been in the high 50s - low 60s and it promises to be a dry week. The moon was full this week. Yesterday, the sun was shining and the air was cool and refreshing.Finally the trees have turned colors. We put away the furniture on the deck and the porch and attempted to clean the gutters in preparation for winter. We'll have to get a 30-foot ladder that feels secure or some daredevil with a cherry picker to clean those on the second floor. I could ignore them and pretend that they are in fine working order except for the small plants growing out of two places. It's fairly obvious that regular maintenance should be done regularly.
John planted several rows of garlic and shallots to quietly grow during the winter. We're harvesting the last of everything else in the garden. Every year we learn more about the needs of growing things up here. His next project will be to get some gutters up on the shed and rain-collecting barrels attached to them (before the rain starts in earnest). My day will involve a massage (therapeutic), retrieving some new prescription sunglasses that have arrived, and taking a final look for dog-related Christmas-themed items. Tonight, a friend and I are going to decorate a small Christmas tree for auction at a fundraiser and its theme is "Santa Paws". And I will continue to work on my menagerie of chickens that have taken over the sewing area upstairs. I have 22 of the delightful little creatures waiting now to be stuffed with lavender, stitched closed, and eyes attached. Then they will be sent near and far, tucked into boxes at Christmas.
The furnace just kicked in again. It was 64 degrees in the house when we came downstairs this morning. That's my threshold for supplemental warm air. Time for breakfast and then on with the day!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Liking this Autumn season...
A friend of ours came over yesterday with his tractor and front loading scoop and helped John distribute the very large pile of dirt at the end of the driveway. The dirt had been removed form the site where the shed stands now and there was a lot of it. Despite John's protests that he could manage it with his cart and shiny red lawn tractor, I went ahead and enlisted said friend with his bigger toys. By the end of the day, John admitted that, yes, he could have done it with his cart, but it would have been Christmas 2012 before it was done! So, that's finished and now we can call the driveway guy and get him over to re-rock the driveway before winter.
This same friend, who is a retired police officer, also noticed with his police officer eyes that the license plate tag on John's car is woefully out-of-date (since July). Did we miss a renewal notice somewhere? Turns out there's a hefty fine for that so it was renewed online at once and the car is grounded until the new tags arrive sometime this week. I've signed us up for email reminders going forward. The good news is that in this state, license plate tags are not very costly (less than $45). The fine is over $500 so the ROI is worthwhile for renewing.
While John was away this week (as is usually the case), another critter made my acquaintance. Curled up for a warm nap in the basket next to the front door where we kept Zoe's towels for those rainy days was a rat! I discovered it when I was wiping my feet and noticed something move in the basket. Did I mention that it was next to the front door?! I retrieved a long handled broom from the garage and gingerly tipped over the basket from a safe distance. He emerged sleepily from his cozy bed and wasn't in too much of a hurry until I began my fierce yelling and pounding the porch with the broom handle. On our next trip outside, Zoe immediately scented and tracked him to the propane tank where a game of dog and mouse ensued for a good 10 minutes until she gave up. My ultrasonic rodent deterrents have seemed to work in the garage and the house. Outdoors presents a different challenge.The basket is gone and we are on high alert status against furry creatures. It's an uneasy state of affairs.
Today we will move some more "stuff" from the garage to the lovely shed. It promises to be a nice Fall day. The week, however, will turn to rain for most days. It will likely be that light Northwestern rain that requires a light jacket and a hood if you prefer to keep hair dry. I'll make some roasted butternut squash and shallot soup for dinner. Autumn is my favorite time of year.
This same friend, who is a retired police officer, also noticed with his police officer eyes that the license plate tag on John's car is woefully out-of-date (since July). Did we miss a renewal notice somewhere? Turns out there's a hefty fine for that so it was renewed online at once and the car is grounded until the new tags arrive sometime this week. I've signed us up for email reminders going forward. The good news is that in this state, license plate tags are not very costly (less than $45). The fine is over $500 so the ROI is worthwhile for renewing.
While John was away this week (as is usually the case), another critter made my acquaintance. Curled up for a warm nap in the basket next to the front door where we kept Zoe's towels for those rainy days was a rat! I discovered it when I was wiping my feet and noticed something move in the basket. Did I mention that it was next to the front door?! I retrieved a long handled broom from the garage and gingerly tipped over the basket from a safe distance. He emerged sleepily from his cozy bed and wasn't in too much of a hurry until I began my fierce yelling and pounding the porch with the broom handle. On our next trip outside, Zoe immediately scented and tracked him to the propane tank where a game of dog and mouse ensued for a good 10 minutes until she gave up. My ultrasonic rodent deterrents have seemed to work in the garage and the house. Outdoors presents a different challenge.The basket is gone and we are on high alert status against furry creatures. It's an uneasy state of affairs.
Today we will move some more "stuff" from the garage to the lovely shed. It promises to be a nice Fall day. The week, however, will turn to rain for most days. It will likely be that light Northwestern rain that requires a light jacket and a hood if you prefer to keep hair dry. I'll make some roasted butternut squash and shallot soup for dinner. Autumn is my favorite time of year.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
And the Beat Goes On...
It feels like most of last week was spent at work. The evenings were quiet and relaxed. But the daily grind defined the week.
That ended pretty abruptly on Friday as we drove to the airport after work to retrieve Karen and Gareth. We enjoyed having time to spend with them both. The monthly Farm Breakfast was yesterday, so we took advantage of that and introduced them to that experience. And since Old Mill Days was happening up at Port Gamble, we went along to watch some of the lumberjack contests and see what other woodworking crafts they had in place. The evening concluded at the Four Swallows restaurant on Bainbridge Island which is our favorite special-occasion place. It was John's birthday, so a special occasion it was. It's Sunday morning now and John has pulled the airport duty for the return trips. I'm off to the grocery as soon as I finish typing, and laundry has been started. Lots to do before the daily grind starts again.
John is off to California tomorrow. The weather is promising rain on most days next week and temperatures in the high 50s. October 1 marked the day we used the heat in the house. I thought we might make it longer, but our warm weather offspring found it a little cool up here :-). I think we'll light the fireplace pilot light so we can just take the chill off that room in the evenings for a while and avoid the whole-house heating.
The shed was completed last week and some of the things that were stored in the garage have already made their way out there. John is planning to build a workbench and I am planning to have him build window boxes for the two windows. There are still the gutters to install as well. It will be a busy October for my handy handyman.
That ended pretty abruptly on Friday as we drove to the airport after work to retrieve Karen and Gareth. We enjoyed having time to spend with them both. The monthly Farm Breakfast was yesterday, so we took advantage of that and introduced them to that experience. And since Old Mill Days was happening up at Port Gamble, we went along to watch some of the lumberjack contests and see what other woodworking crafts they had in place. The evening concluded at the Four Swallows restaurant on Bainbridge Island which is our favorite special-occasion place. It was John's birthday, so a special occasion it was. It's Sunday morning now and John has pulled the airport duty for the return trips. I'm off to the grocery as soon as I finish typing, and laundry has been started. Lots to do before the daily grind starts again.
John is off to California tomorrow. The weather is promising rain on most days next week and temperatures in the high 50s. October 1 marked the day we used the heat in the house. I thought we might make it longer, but our warm weather offspring found it a little cool up here :-). I think we'll light the fireplace pilot light so we can just take the chill off that room in the evenings for a while and avoid the whole-house heating.
The shed was completed last week and some of the things that were stored in the garage have already made their way out there. John is planning to build a workbench and I am planning to have him build window boxes for the two windows. There are still the gutters to install as well. It will be a busy October for my handy handyman.
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