Happy Holidaze....

 

We traveled over the holiday to visit family in Washington both east and west.  The roads were good - we really do need snow out west!!

 

Time flew by and Christmas is already a distant blur - just like these lighted trucks from a beverage company that drove around a different neighborhood each night.  It wasn't just the lights we enjoyed but also the music they played and plenty of horn honking!

 



Of course, there was good food!  Tramp 1 successfully smoke a prime rib roast in a kettle grill.  While he made it work, he said he really missed his UDS - ugly drum smoker.  But some years there just isn't room to haul a 55 gallon barrel along with us! 

This is our 2013 Holiday poem - written by me - from my heart - and all true!!!

When I was a very small child,

Santa was so real to me,

A magical man who flew in a sleigh,

Leaving gifts under the Christmas tree.

 

Looking back as far as I possibly can,

I don’t even remember when,

Somehow I found out it wasn’t true,

My Santa had never been…

 

But I loved the magic of Christmas,

The sparkling lights and such,

It was never about the gifts,

Just the snow, the ritual and rush.

 

Now that I am older,

I dream of Christmas’s past,

My heart remembers loving times,

I hope will forever last.

 

Creating holiday spirit this year,

Was a challenge extraordinaire,

Climbing up into the attic I went,

To see what was waiting there.

 

To my surprise it wasn’t bad,

Things were neatly stowed away,

Then I smacked my head on a 2 X 8,

And so began my day…

 

Up and down the ladder I climbed,

Balancing every bag and box,

Until I forgot to duck my head,

Wow, a light bulb sure can pop!!

 

I hit my head on the light bulb,

Just as I was standing up,

There were shards of glass flying everywhere,

As to my knees I dropped.

 

Thank goodness I had on a hooded coat,

To protect against the cold,

It shielded my scalp from the splintered glass,

Maybe I’m getting too old???

 

So then and there I crawled down the ladder,

And haven’t been back up since,

I need to get up there to clean up the glass,

But the thought of it makes me wince.

 

So no Christmas tree sparkles here this year,

Only a few outdoor lights are strung,

Just for this once we will have to make do,

With memories of past Christmas fun.

 

We will drink our hot toddies,

And think of you, each and every one.

We wish you Happy Holidays.

And a New Year that can’t be outdone!!!.

 

Brrrrr...

The arctic blast that hit the US this past weekend did not skip us here.  It snowed all day Friday and on into the night.  It was a very dry and powdery snow due to the extreme cold.  Our nighttime temperatures dropped to somewhere around -25 over the weekend.  Sure do hope that the snow insulated plants enough so they will survive.  Our zone is not supposed to get quite this cold and we have planted our landscape according to our planting zone...

 

The snow buried the pond.  It had already frozen over at Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

The day after Thanksgiving Tramp 1 used the chainsaw to cut a hole in the ice which was about three inches thick.  Then he put the pond heater in and it helps keep at least a small part of the pond free from ice so the fish can get air.

 

 

 

The heater has kept the water running even with the sub zero temperatures.

 

 

An Oregon Junco enjoying a snack outside my kitchen window.  Leaving the dead plants in pots until spring gives the birds a chance to forage when the snow is deep.

 

 

 

 

Action at the bird feeder is slow until the day warms up a bit.

 

 



 

Making smoked cheese -

This is the time of year that we seem to make our smoked cheese.  You know, when it is super cold outside - and you have to make multiple trips in and out to check on the cheese.  Brrrr....

 

We decided to do a modification to our cheese smoking method.  Instead of balancing a cardboard box on top of our electric smoker to get cold smoke, we switched to using the top of our mini-Cajun bandit that we built with a Weber Smokey Joe and a tamale steamer.  It worked really well.

 

 

Since it is a cold smoke, cardboard serves as a sort of gasket.

Duct tape holds it all together.  Fancy!!

 

 

You can see the hole cut in the cardboard to allow the smoke to rise.

 

 

We did cheddar,  Colby jack and Monterrey jack cheese.

 

 

We served it on Thanksgiving and it was great.

The hickory smoked cheddar was a favorite with our guests.

 

 

And of course, we smoked the turkey on Thanksgiving!!

 

 



WakaWaka Solar Light

Before heading to hunting camp in September, I decided to check out solar lighting.  While we do have a battery in the camper (with a trickle solar charger) that gives us great light, I wanted something that didn't light up the entire forest! 

 

This is the WakaWaka Solar Lamp.  It has multiple levels of brightness and gave us plenty of good reading light and good lighting to cook by, too.

 

 

To charge it, I just set it in the window of the camper.

 

 

You can use a water or wine bottle as a stand.

 

It fits right over the top.  You can see the solar charging panel here.

 

This is a really handy thing to have.  Not a whole lot bigger than a deck of cards.  Compact and easy to take places, it is also great to use at home.  I like to use it in bed at night so the light doesn't bother Tramp 1 if I am up reading.  It was good to have when the power went out a few weeks ago.  No searching for matches or candles.  I keep the WakaWaka charging in the bedroom window, always ready if needed.

Ours was ordered through Amazon but you can also go direct to the WakaWaka website.  Right now they have a special promotion going on to provide aide to the Philippines.  Buy one and they will give one to those in need via the International Rescue Committee. 

These would make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers.  They also make a model that is a light and can charge a cell phone.  Check it out and shine a little light on the world!!!

Backseat Driver...

Now that the weather is cooler, you know who can do more ride alongs with me.  He is the best shopping companion ever - (other than the yellow fur that gets all over the car)...

The trip to town takes over 1/2 an hour and the scenery can be pretty boring - if you are a dog. 

(I always enjoy the drive!)

 

 

Sometimes he just can barely stay awake!

 

 

 

"Nope, you didn't catch me sleeping - I am wide awake!!"

 

 

He never complains about how many stops I make or how long I am in a store.  He doesn't try to look in the bags before we get home, either.  But sometimes, I wish he could drive....

 

 



Chucky visits the beach...

It has been 2 1/2 years since we last took our Chucky dog to the beach.  He was just six months old back then.  We thought we would not survive the trip!!  But this time it was much better - Chucky was calmer - and we stayed in a hotel instead of camping.  While we missed being in the campground some, our hotel in Astoria was wonderful.  We had a view from our deck of the Columbia River and the big bay it becomes when it meets the Pacific ocean. 

 

The ship traffic was heavy while we were there - we love watching the ships!

 

This was the view from our deck.

 

 

Time spent at the beach was great - for all of us!

 

 

Chucky has finally started getting in water.

 

Yes, a Labrador is supposed to like water.

 

But Chucky did not - until now!

 

 

 

He had such fun prancing in and out of the water.

 

But he never went in deeper than the bottom of his tummy.

 

And that was okay with us!!

 

 

The beach was littered with dead Jellyfish.

 

Chucky paid no attentions to them.

 

You can see they were quite large next to his paw print - and he has big paws!

 

 



The weather was obscenely beautiful - pushing 70 degrees.

 

We soaked up sun, surf and sounds to last us awhile.

 

Then we traveled the shores of the mighty Columbia River

 

close to 200 miles east before heading south

 

back to our home in the high desert.

 

 

 

 

 

 



High up at Elk Camp

Oh, the joy of modern technology.  We are high up at Elk camp in the Blue mountains of eastern Oregon.  And here we are, both typing away on our lap tops, linked up with Verizon.  Such a treat!  We have never done this before.  I used to pack the lap top up to the top of the highest point to see if we could get service with Sprint but we never could.  Verizon has much better coverage!!

This is our camp, under a huge Ponderosa pine tree.  The wind has been howling in that tree for the last two days and we had a day of rain before the wind started.  We have seen elk every day but you have to be very close to get the right shot with a bow in this wind.  Good thing we simply enjoy being here!

Yesterday we were out hiking to check a trail camera.  We sat down on a log to rest and saw these turkeys come across the meadow.  First time we have ever seen them here but we have always felt this was good habitat for them.

We usually stay in the cabin down by the meadow.  But this year we left it closed up and are camping a half mile away up on a rocky flat.  We want to leave the meadow and the cabin area for the elk.  When we do stay there, they know we are there and seem to avoid the area.

Another plus about staying where we are - we have the camper with hot and cold running water, heat and a refrigerator!  Yes, we do miss the ambiance of the cabin but we don't miss the mice and the pack rats that scurry about at night.  Those pack rats are loud and they are also very hard to trap.  We have traps set for them right now and I sure do hope we get a few of them.  They can be very destructive if they get inside the cabin.  So far, that has never happened.  But they are underneath and in the back shed.  When they get a big nest built, it can really get stinky...

Today we are cleaning house - we have company coming.  A friend in the area is driving up tonight to visit.  We will tell stories, swap lies and have some good laughs.  Isn't that what elk camp is about?!!

Is it Fall yet??

 

Oh, Mother Nature, how you toy with me... 

 

Between you and Father Time, I feel I barely have a

 

chance here! 

 

I promise you that it is not a pretty picture to see me out in my nightgown chasing

 

rabbits out of the garden in the wee hours of the morning.

 

That is, what bit of garden you have left for us... 

 

You beat us with hail, whipped us with wind, annihilated us with horn worms. 

 

And now you are yet again baking us with sun.

 

 90 degrees in mid September? 

 

Yes, it is a love hate relationship you and I have. 

 

You beat my bean plants down with hail

 

and now you give me the heat to bring them back. 

 

And I know full well that in a couple of weeks you will feel very chilly towards me again. 

 

 You will sneak in one night with your killing frost. 

 

Why can't we get along together?

 

How about you sharing a nice Indian summer in November?

 

Then in December you can rant and carry on until, say, March.

 

Would that work okay for you?

 

You know where to find me....

 

And by the way, you look very fetching today, Mother Nature...

 

 

 

 

(Don't tell Mother Nature  -  this is our first ever kohlrabi harvest. 

 It was hidden away from her in a hoop house)

 

 

 

Hail Storm Damage...

Last Friday evening we were hit with a surprise hail storm.  A big thunderhead cloud had built up to the west of us, but we have that happen a lot around here.  The weather can be very unstable in the high desert this time of year.  We usually have some amazing lightning storms.  But when this thing finally let go - WOW!!!

 

It was some big hail!

 

 

This was a beautiful healthy rhubarb plant.  We lost a whole lot of our garden.  I will be lamenting about it for days to come.....

 

 

 

Chucky thought it was great and ran around playing in the hail mounds.  He was in his outside kennel when it happened and didn't appear to be fazed by it at all. 

The last time we had a storm like this, we had a lot of damage to our home and shop.  Insurance paid to replace the roof on both the house and the shop.  We haven't called the insurance company yet this time - I am afraid to tell them it happened again!  Hopefully everything will be okay. 

 

When the storm hit, I grabbed the video camera and ran outside, undercover, of course.  Poor Tramp 1 had to race outside while being pelted and move the car and truck into the garage.  He had a truck totaled in the last storm - he ran really fast and got those rigs moved pronto!!

 

 

The other night Tramp 1 was talking to some neighbors who live around1/2 a mile west of us about the storm.  They did not get any hail - just rain.  Amazing!  (And they said they have run into several rattlesnakes on the road down from us this summer.  Always good to know about...)

We have similar weather in the forecast tonight - I am making sure everything outside is tucked away and battened down.  Tramp 1 covered his BBQ building with a tarp - it filled with hail and rain and he learned his lesson.  We are hoping for a nice quiet evening here!!!

We had such plans...

Here we are, finally a weekend at home together.  We had such plans - so many things we were going to accomplish.  But not this weekend.  Poor Tramp 1 is down - I mean really down.  He is a very tough guy and when he stays down, he is really sick.  He went to the doctor this morning first thing but came home with nothing.  After a couple of throat cultures, they determined that he has a virus and there is nothing to do but lay low and wait to get better.  Not easy when you feel like you have a knife in your throat and a vise on your head.  He is sleeping in the guest room - I sure hope I don't get whatever he has...

If he was well enough, he was going to be working on a special project.  He is building his BBQ shed and outdoor cooking area this summer.

 

This is after the first weekend of work.

 

 

It looked like this when I left in July.

 

 

This is how it looks now.  Believe me, it haunts him to look out at it and not be able to be working on it.  The doctor said he could do whatever he felt up to.  I think he should have told him he could do whatever his wife will let him do - and that would be nothing!!

 

Construction will have to wait.  We have survived without this BBQ shed for all these years and a few more days won't make any difference.  I just wish we could figure out where the virus he has came from.  Shared by a family member at the reunion?  Left in a hotel room by the last guest?  Passed through the air in the plane on our flight from Seattle?  Sprayed by a sneezing child in the Salt Lake City airport?  Riding on a beer glass at a restaurant?  Of course, we will never know...  And I sure hope Chucky doesn't catch it!!

Creating shade -

The summer sun can be relentless here in the high desert.  A bit of shade can cool things down and make time spent outdoors much more enjoyable.

These are shade sails that we have put up over our rotunda patio area in the side yard.  They are wonderful and not too difficult to put up.  Although Tramp 1 did have to climb a ladder up into a few juniper trees and make a quick trip up onto the roof a time or two.

We got the tan ones from Amazon and the brown one from Costco.  We still have five more brown ones to put up around the house.  The are made by Coolaroo and are very good quality.  We will take them down in the fall and store them away until next summer. 

Yes, we really did this...

After being home for just three days, it was time to leave again.  We flew to Seattle to join in on a family reunion.  Poor Tramp 1 got home from a week long business trip just hours before we had to fly out.  We must have been kind of crazy when we did this....

We like to have fun, no matter where we go.  So we took along this hand we have and closed it in the trunk lid on our rental car.  And then we kind of forgot it was there.  Several family members sure jumped when they walked by our car!  And yes, we took it out before we headed back to the airport for our flight home.  But going through security on our way to Seattle, Tramp 1's suitcase was pulled back through the screening tunnel for a second look!!

Today I was reunited with my dear Chucky dog after 22 days apart.  I think he is happy to have me home with our life getting back to routine a bit.  It is hot, so he is laying low - me, too!  And it is smoky since several more fires started late last week with the lightning storms.  Our area had over 1900 lightning strikes in 24 hours.  We also had a firefighter die here last week - simply heartbreaking.

We have a new plane on the tarmac here to fight fires this season.  It is a jet that we are seeing for the first time.  It is very comforting to know that so many resources are available and ready to go when needed.  More lightning is in the forecast later in the week.  If it does happen, hopefully rain will come with it.

Red Flag Weather --

Last night I arrived back home - just in time for several days of thunder and lightning storms.  Our region doesn't need more fires and I am hoping that the lightning strikes are minimal.

 

My drive back to Oregon was a long one due to a detour around this fire on Satus Pass in Washington.  I took some back roads to avoid the truck traffic on the main detour route.  The fire was burning heavily and is still just 60 percent contained with over 1300 people working on it.

 

On my way I stopped by the air tanker base in our area to see what planes were there.  I was very surprised to find six of them sitting on the tarmac.  We don't usually have that many in at one time.  On the late news last night they said they have them here to be ready due to the red flag weather situation.  I sure do hope that no fires start and these planes can stay parked!!

 

 

 

Number 42 is in from British Columbia, Canada.  The 45 and the 05 are from Missoula and the 60, 62 and 66 are from our local aviation company. 

 

 



July Update

No, this isn't Chucky - this is Phoenix the Schnauzer.  He is very tiny dog when compared with our Chucky.  But he is the dog I am with right now.  I am in Washington state with my dear Mom.  She has had some reactions to medications so I am staying with her for awhile.  And we also have this furry fellow staying with us while my brother is on vacation. 

Back in Oregon, smoke has filled our area with a 47,000 acre fire burning to the north and a smaller blaze going on to the south.  Tramp 1 is taking care of things at home - the garden and Chucky are keeping him very busy.  The first week I was gone he said everything was doing great and looking really good.  The second week report had him saying he is doing the best he can...  Isn't that just a bit concerning??!  The heat just hasn't let up - great for the garden but not for people or Chucky.  I wonder if he misses me - Chucky, not Tramp 1 - I know Tramp 1 misses me!  Being a pack animal like he is, Chucky probably thinks I died and his life goes on - ball, food, ball!!

Yesterday a fire started here in Washington and the highway I will take home has been closed.  It is very hot and wind is expected which will not help those battling the blaze.  I sure do hope they are able to get it under control quickly and safely.

I find myself thinking of fall and cooler weather.  It has been over 100 here the past six days and I am wilting!  I am sure a few cooler days would put the bounce back in my steps.  Bring it on, please!!!

Dog Days....

Like so many out west, we are having a heat wave here.  It is 102 as I write this.  That is just too hot, not good for anything.  My plants are wilting even with daily watering.  Heck, I am wilting, too!  Tramp 1 is beat from lack of sleep.  But Chucky is handling it well...

 

He grabs a nap outside before it gets too hot.  Of course, this is only after he has made sure there isn't a lizard or a bunny anywhere inside the fence line!

 

 

Truly a face that only his crazy owners could love!  He needs a bath!!

 

Don't worry about Chucky in the heat - he spends part of his day in the shop with two ceiling fans cooling him..  He also comes in the house for an afternoon siesta in front of a fan that is pulling the nice cold air from the floor register when the air conditioner cycles on.  He has it pretty darned good!

 

How do you stay cool in the heat?