Category: Post Visit

This past week has been non-eventful, mostly. I did prune grape vines on Thursday from 1 to 4:00. Friday I went to lunch at CWU. This is part of the Ruth Harrington series. Ruth is somewhat restricted in movement after a fall last year. She is only going to a few of these lunches and, more importantly, she – nor anyone – is recruiting new participants. Six folks came to this one. A retired secretary came and brought her mother. I’m and outlier too. That means only three at this lunch – several were not expected, are still officially CWU employees.
I’ve begun calling this the “aging out” phenomenon. The local Audubon chapter is composed of the group that started it 20+ years ago. Several of those have died or no longer attended because of age/health reasons. I’m not a dues paying member and only go if there is speaker with a topic that interests me.
A significant organization of many years ago – The National Grange – has nearly disappeared. When Nancy and I arrived on the Naneum Fan, there was a functioning Grange about 5 miles away. We were invited for an ice cream & strawberry thing and got to watch someone’s grandson tie a horse halter from a rope. Shortly after, the group quit functioning and the building has not been used for 25 years. Farther away, a retiring couple moved to Cle Elum and resuscitated the Grange at Teanaway. By road, this one is 30 miles away. The woman played an instrument and managed to establish a regular set of play dates and other events. I went once after Nancy died – to a bake sale, then quit. The local paper had an obituary of the man, who died late last year. About 3 years ago, some folks got one of the other Grange buildings cleaned up and began functioning. I talked with a person involved, back then, but didn’t get involved. It, too, is 30 miles away.

Well, with nothing interesting happening, I found this:
Latest news about an amazing bird, a Laysan albatross
(Phoebastria immutabilis)

November 2025: Wisdom has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! She is the world’s oldest known wild bird, and still breeding. Wisdom is a Laysan albatross, first banded in 1956 at Midway Atoll by the US Geological Survey giving her the approximate age of 75. Because she laid an egg at that time, it is assumed she had to have been at least 5 years of age. Like other Layson albatross, she returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate, and if able, lay one egg. Last year, the world’s oldest known wild bird laid an egg for the first time in four years. It is estimated she has laid between 50-60 eggs and successfully fledged as many as 30 chicks in her lifetime. Wisdom has had several mates and her present one has also arrived on the island, so we wait to see if another egg is in the ‘hatching’. It is estimated she has flown over 3 million miles during her time at sea. This is a guess. Some have been tracked flying for weeks or even months without landing.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

There’s not much happening at this time. I put out sunflower seeds that are consumed by small birds, quail, and a couple of small Douglas squirrels. I built a feeder that prevents the large Eurasian Collared Doves from getting to most of the seeds.Seeds that get dropped to the ground are not enough to keep the doves around.
Junkos seem to prefer to feed on the ground, although I do see them on my feeder that is 5 feet above the ground. The quail are a little large for the 2×4″ fencing at the feeder, but some still go through. I’ve another spot where they can feed. Those have to be set up in a way deer can’t get to the seeds.
The squirrel’s natural food is/are the Ponderosa Pine seeds. A squirrel will cut a cone from the tree, come down, pick it up, and go to a favorite spot to tear it apart. The seeds are covered (inside next to a central axis) by a bract or scale. Some cones do not have seeds. The squirrel will begin to rip the bracts off, be disappointed, and drop the offending cone. Then, back up the tree to try again. A fruitful cone will be almost totally dismantled.

I’m planning for vine-pruning-time by making lunches and suppers so that I can quickly feed myself. Early, when cold, we prune in the afternoons, so it is 4:30 when I get home. When the temperature is more comfortable in the morning, I get home about 1:30. At the start, I want something to eat in the truck when I leave at noon. Later, I can heat a supper in the microwave that will be ready sooner than if I have to start from scratch. I’ve got a veggie-chicken casserole to cut and freeze today.

Thursday, I went to a presentation about small mammal investigations along the I-90 corridor. We learned about shrews. These studies are part of the nature and road folks working to lessen the impact of a major road corridor through the habitats of many animals. A second Critter Crossing and more under-the-road passages are being constructed 38 miles northwest of Ellensburg.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

Across Naneum Road-neighbors arranged for two contractors to visit the old homestead to get estimates for removal of the ceilings treated with textured (popcorn) paint containing asbestos. Such coverings were popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. They have a distinctive look, easy application, sound dampening, and conceal imperfections. What’s not to like?

Asbestos used in buildings causes health issues if breathed during remodeling, damage, or fire. During the 1940s – 1950s period, the mineral was used in house siding, pipe insulation, and floor coverings.
With Dale and Cathy helping out relatives 100 miles away, I met the two technicians on different days. I had the first come over to my place, take two scrapings, and send them for analysis. After a cost of $232.85, I have an official report that my ceilings are asbestos free.
I do have “sparkles” or glitter and have no idea what that shiny stuff is.

Tuesday evening, I went to a CWU geography-sponsored presentation about management of the LT Murray Wildlife Area. I’ve ridden a horse or hiked over a lot of the land and helped plant sagebrush (plugs) on a burned area.

Wednesday, I took cat Tzar to the vet at Quincy for a 3-year rabies vaccination. Essentially, WA State animals, except for bats, do not have rabies and the State intends to keep it that way. In 2024, 255 bats from 13 counties (there are 39) were tested with 15 positives. In my county, Kittitas, none were collected. The veterinary office confirmed this lack, although that county, Grant, did have a few tested. My appointment was at 10:40 and expected to be short, so I took the makings of sandwiches and went to the winery folks for lunch and a glass of sparkly wine.

I went to COSTCO of Friday and met Suzy and Bob for lunch. I always have the $1.50 hot dog and Coke. I only needed a ¼ tank of gas, so I didn’t save much, but I did fill up. I had the idea that I would go next week with an emptier tank, but they wanted to shop on Friday. Oh well. And I forgot to take my cash-rewards check (good through the end of the year). Next time!

After a relatively warm January, February is being relatively cool. Some weather models predict heavy snow later this week. Emphasis on the “expected”. A ski resort 50 miles west of here got 2″ yesterday and 3″ by 1:30 pm today. If two to three inches per day comes the ski season will be a success and the valley irrigators will be happy in July and August.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

Draw a line from North Dakota down to Atlanta, then over to the Ocean and up to Newfoundland. Folks in that area of the USA and adjacent Canada will remember the winter of 2025-2026. 1914 and 1950 were similar.
The chart here shows the below normal temperatures. The green area shows the temperature commonly experienced at the airport (KCLE). As 2025 ended the readings were in the blue, and then it warmed (the pastel-salmon color). It dropped into the cold zone by mid-month. Tuesday of this coming week might get up to 40°F, but that will be temporary. The rest of the month will be slightly better than now, but not much.

Here on the Naneum Fan there has been almost no snow and temperatures varying only a little in the 30 to 40 range. Still, I think March will be welcomed by everyone.

The most exciting local news was when a big rig on I-90 went off the road into a pond. There were two tanks being towed with about 75,000 pounds of Palm Oil. The newspaper report didn’t answer the obvious questions.

My Ford truck got a routine service. By the end of this week I’ll have 50,000 miles. I bought it used and only add about 9,000 miles per year. I need to check on the purchase date reading.

On Friday, I had about 10 unknown phone calls. Mostly there is a town name and sometimes not. On two, after my phone message there was background noise and voices. They did not address me, it was more like a room of people in the background.
Today, Sunday, I was searching on the web and went to a site that started warning me of viruses on my machine. There were flashing warnings popped up saying click here for a scan and removal. One said I had 7 viruses and another said 3. I had to get into “Settings” and the security listings to delete the offenders. This has happened before. Norton is the usual name being (falsely) used. Today there was also a Windows one. Anyway, they keep coming so no work can be done.
I’d like to be able to send a signal back to those sites that would destroy their computer. 🙂

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

While I have gotten rid of many things during the last few years, Wednesday was notable. Heavy wood furniture, and some not so heavy, got taken to Grand Coulee. Phyllis’s sister moved into a house there (100 miles NE) and needed stuff – stuff that I had. Included were one large and two low dressers, a curved-glass cabinet, a sideboard (buffet ?), a secretary desk with hutch, a roll-top desk, a rocking chair, a 2 ft high stuffed toy horse.
Mostly I had emptied the furniture except for a few things. However, there are some clothes, many desk items, papers of various sorts, magazines, receipts, stamps, and so on. Maybe half of these things will get thrown out. I will set up a couple of tables from old doors to have a place to put the phone, calendar, stamps, and similar things.
I also got a haircut last Monday.
The weather this week was cool and foggy. This amounted to not much compared to the snow and cold east of the Rocky Mountains. The fog has been keeping the temperature at near freezing at night to about 40 in the afternoon. With many relatives and friends having one to two feet of snow and single digit temperature (some minus), I hesitate to complain.
That’s it.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

… in no particular order – – so I’ll start with trash
When I use Google Earth to get an overhead view of my property there are a few unidentified objects. Some of these are trash, some not. A couple have been removed since the photo of 4/17/21. That photo is sharp and clear. This is when parts were being added to the house -outside.
If you want you can look here: 47.09573, -120.4745

I was checking the County’s ownership (Plat map) for neighbors and discovered that my place is now relatively clean. The places in the photo below are west of me, but 2.5 miles by road. Between me and them, there are lots of trees to break the wind. West of Rustic Acres there is not a healthy full-sized tree for 10 miles.

The last time I was over there was about 25 years ago. It’s time for a drive-by.
The local grocery stores have discounted the Christmas stuff and replaced candy and merchandise with Valentine’s Day things. At Freddy’s I bought two 18″ high white Christmas Bears for $2.49 each, discounted from, $24.98. A check of the web shows such things for $20 to $30.
At the grocery store the heart-shaped boxes of Lindt chocolates were on sale (-$2.50) for $19.99. The box on the right claims 12 “assorted pieces”. That’s $1.67 each. The darker box claims a weight of 6.7 ounces. That’s $2.98 per ounce or $47.74 per pound. Then, of course, you get the fancy heart-shaped box. Wow! I buy “Fun-Size” Snickers via Amazon for $7.68 per pound.

On Thursday Phyllis and Cameron came with lunch and to pick up metal roofing pieces. They drove through some fog, but here it was bright and sunny. Most of the week, including today (Saturday) has been thick fog. I can see about 100 yards at the moment. Friday I went to town and stopped 4 miles south of me to take the photo below.

The red star is over where the Yakima River turns south near the western edge of Ellensburg. The green star is where Interstate #82 goes over Manastash Ridge, a 50 mile long ridge of the Yakima Fold Belt. [The web has photos and maps.] That nick in the ridge is 15 miles south of where I live. It is a failed stream channel, left dry when the folding caused a rise faster than the (then) stream could erode a channel.
We are looking south, so east is on the left and the land rises in that direction, trapping the air in the long-narrow valley. This, then, is a fog trapping setup. We did not realize we were buying a place that is normally above the fog. I’ve never checked, but we are out of the fog about 90% of the time it forms. This month has brought the other 10%.
Sun is expected to return on Tuesday. That’s nice. I plan on going to bottle White Heron Syrah on Wednesday.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

The new year brings a full moon that is also a supermoon – closer, larger, and brighter than average.

My birthday and Perihelion nearly overlap. The point in Earth’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun will take place on January 3, when Earth will be about 91.4 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) from the Sun. My birthday is a day later.
The term “perihelion” comes from the Greek words “peri,” meaning near, and “helios,” meaning sun. When away from, “ap” replaces “peri” and we have aphelion, about July 6th. 94.5 milliom miles.
I should have been named Perihelion.

Back a couple of weeks ago (on ?p=13933) I had a photo of a shed under construction but without a roof. I have enough surplus metal roofing with a red/maroon color. I don’t have the sort of screws to hold it in place. I ordered a package. Below is a photo of what I ordered and what arrived.

I would return them and ask for a replacement but I have the feeling I would get a similar box that says RED with white tops. On the side of the box it says “white” in a font 1/3rd the size on the front. Also if I understood the return info, they were going to charge a postage fee of $7.99. I have a can of spray paint and will set them in an old piece of (screen-like) metal hardware cloth and change the white to red. I can tell the difference even though the company that sold them isn’t able to.

Local news:
— Winco is building a massive distribution center next to the south I-90 interchange. Their nearest retail store is in Union Gap 40 miles south. They have 6 or so stores on the west side so I suppose this new location is meant to serve those – and future stores.
– Windy EBRG hasn’t had wind for a week. Forecasts say another 10 days before there is a strong enough breeze to turn blades on the PNW’s many towers. That can’t be good for the bottom line of the companies. Also, the region sends electricity to California. If CA needs it, we will have to use the dams to provide that. In the last four months the region has had lots of rain so the hydropower is available. Luck is not a plan.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

During the early morning of Saturday there was an inch of snow and a bunch of wind. The result was that things I didn’t expect to be snowed on where covered. The rectangle is a rug with one corner flipped up. I frequently find it out by the fence seen in the distance. The snow must have held it down.
Front, back, and sides of the house and sheds all got a similar treatment. The snow was light and fluffy and so was easily broomed off. I got that done before it warmed up and then the small amount remaining melted and evaporated.

I drove over to the Winery folks (Phyllis & Cameron) for lunch on Friday. I hadn’t seen them since they returned from France. I did the first few miles in four-wheel drive because of slush. About half-way to Kittitas I stopped and shifted out of 4X. The truck is the old fashioned type with rear wheel drive, a 4X High, and a 4X Low. The shifts can be done from inside the cab. Really old technology required one to turn “hubs” on the front wheels. These have mostly been replaced by auto-hubs. I sometimes use the 4X Low when pulling a log or several from the wood lot up to the shed.

The low temp 6AM Sunday morning is expected to be about 20°F. Nothing lower is forecast for the next two weeks.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John

On the Naneum Fan, the December solstice (winter solstice) arrived at 7:03 am on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Nothing happened. The time is simply the moment the sun’s rays are directly overhead at their most southern hemisphere point. Locally, the cold and fog seem more important.
From the 17th to the 24th, daylight is 8 hours, 34 minutes and a few seconds. The couple of days before and after are about the same. About January 9th the increasing daylight will become noticeable.

Meanwhile, the next ten days looks like this: Meanwhile, the next ten days looks like this:
There was 4 inches of snow on the Fan and a little less in EBRG. It is mostly gone there but has only sagged here. The forecast for the next week is “Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow”. Nothing changes through the first week of 2026.
It is interesting that we haven’t had a significant cold period so far this winter. Our air continues to come from over the Pacific Ocean, stalling the cold air over the ice and snow of Canada. Calgary is near 0° and Edmonton is at about -10°F.

With the somewhat cooperation of the weather, I have been building a woodshed. Materials are all being repurposed from dismantled projects. One of those was a 3-sided loafing shed for a young horse. He didn’t think much of it, so it went under used for many years. Then it became the home of an electric splitter and storage space for firewood.
The recently constructed frame will get a roof of maroon-colored metal – also repurposed. It needs to be cut to a shorter length and I need the special screws to hold it in place. The rubber gaskets that prevent leakage do not last through years of sun and winter cold.

I’ve been wonder how to re-use my headless Santa. About 50 years ago, in Troy, we had two fireplaces. On a piece of plywood, I created a front cover that had Santa backing out of the chimney and we had a decorated tree close by. Later a local shop crafted a set of C-shaped pipes and I attached a squirrel-cage type fan that pumped cold air from the basement to the upstairs fireplace and out into the room. With that, the Santa became superfluous. Thus, it has been hanging around for 40 years. Oh well, maybe I’ll have an insight.
It is hanging on 2x4s that indicate its size – about 30 inches wide.

Keeping Track
On the Naneum Fan
John H.

I had three things happening this week: a) a routine teeth cleaning, b) and open-house meet/eat/greet at my lawyer’s place, and c) an afternoon of activities at Sara & Mike’s place with multiple family and kids. (Mike’s family we first met in 1975. He is a grandson.)
Weather was the story in Washington this week. I had some wind – not much, and none of the flooding.

The mountain rains caused flooding in the Puget Sound Lowland. There’s a clue. Such storms occur about every 3 to 5 years. Urban growth means more hard surfaces, faster run-off, and higher peak water. Snoqualmie Falls was in the news, again. It has a drop of 268 feet, about 100 feet higher than the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara.

Winds to my north came down-slope off the Cascades, were funneled by a narrow valley and slammed into Washington’s false Bavarian Village of Leavenworth. The town was isolated for a couple of days until access from the east was achieved. US Hwy 2 through Stevens Pass remains closed until Monday or longer.
That wind continued east across the ridges. 13 miles north of me is Mission Peak, 6,730 feet elevation (4,500 ft higher than me). The weather station there recorded a 112 mph gust. From Wed at 10pm until Thursday at 10am the average wind speed was near 60 mph. I had an average of about 25 with a few gusts approaching 40.
Just up the road from me about 100 yards an old tree broke off. Thursday morning a crew with chainsaws and a chipper cleaned it up in less than half an hour. Fortunately, the electricity lines are on the opposite side of the road. I suspect one of the locals pulled the trunk off to the side before the highway department learned of it. Had a chainsaw been used I likely would have heard that.
The National Weather Service thinks I will get rain Monday and our standard wind that evening. Stronger winds and snow in the mountains north and northwest of me. As yet there is not serious cold in our forecast, unlike much of North America from Winnipeg to Nashville. Even today, Ellensburg is warmer than Atlanta.

Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John