Sunday, Jan 13
We are staying home today. Finishing the blog late afternoon and left out writing about yesterday’s dinner, so I’ll tell you now. Last night we had a wonderful Crockpot Pot Roast that John started before 9:00 a.m. and we ate it (oh! So tender) 12 hours later. He put in tomatoes, a small white onion (his) for flavor, and carrots later in the afternoon. We had a broiled piece of sourdough roll with butter and Parmesan cheese and slices of Gravenstein apples we got from Bob & Suzy West in Yakima.
This morning I was doing several morning chores on the computer and found the link (below under the picture) to the quarterly program for the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center (AAC) – our “Senior Center” open to folks over 50, and younger for people in need of exercise, or wheelchair bound. $40 a year is the best deal in the country for such centers, and we have the best! Normally, the paper copy hangs on our refrigerator for reference, but this will be handy for my access on the computer.
Several of our music group made it into the Program for Jan – Apr, 2019. This was from our playing patriotic music at the Veterans’ Day Recognition program.
A few members of the Fiddlers & Friends are in the lower photos on the program page.
Click on the link below, and Go to page 6 to reach the AAC program for January through April.
Quarterly Activities & Events-AAC
Monday, Jan 14
This cactus is one of three that Nancy Thompson Small has in Christmas, FL. We were school buddies from long ago. Her father owned the business next door to my home on Piedmont Rd. in Atlanta, GA. The office was Thompson & Street, Contractors, housed in a big old house where we had families living, previously. We enjoyed them. Their front yard became a parking lot, and the house was on an incline above ours. Memories.
I notified our music group about adding “That’s Amore” to the end of our playlist for Jan/Feb, and I sent out the request for a fast return of planned attendance. For once, I have responses before the last minute. Planning for armless chair count is getting more difficult with more players in the group. Some places we are quite limited on space.
I was not feeling well enough this morning to go to the Silver Sneaker’s exercise class, so stayed home and had lunch before we drove to town to the foot doctor. That’s on a 3-month schedule, only on Mondays, because that’s the only day of the week the staff of Cascade Foot & Ankle drives up from Yakima.
Tuesday, Jan 15
We drove to Yakima again this week to have my Subaru serviced for oil & lube, the first activity in a long day.
We left home at 9:15 for Stewart Subaru, and actually got there through the fog and frozen frost (providing pretty road scenes) by a little after 10. They took us in early and it was a good thing, because north of Brickmill Rd on our way in, a special I (for information) light came on the dash display in yellow in my 2014 Forester, saying “Hill Start Assist Light is on.” We were stopping at a stop sign on a flat surface, so had no clue what it was trying to tell us. John was driving my car. We left it running so they could see what the notice said. It turned out to be a “failed brake light switch” that manages several things on an automobile. Luckily, our warranty covered the replacement part, diagnosis, and technical support. Such work can cost over $100. Our oil change, lube, multi-point inspection, and tech services are covered on our contract every 6-7,000 miles. The only added cost we have had to pay is for replacing inside air filters, but none were needed this round.
We went on to Costco for shopping for only a few items, having been there last Tuesday. We had lunch and then came home by way of a stop at the rest stop on Manastash Hill, for a view of the beautiful hoar frost on the vegetation. We prefer calling it silver frost. You’ll see some of my photos and a video below. 
On the way into the rest area, I took the top photo through John’s window, and the bottom photo once he parked and I walked around for close-ups and also to capture the video below. 
A couple for memories 
with this as my favorite; don’t miss clicking on the video next.
Silver Frost – Manastash Hill Rest Area
This overlook provides viewing across Kittitas Valley and the Stuart Mountain range beyond, more than 50 miles. We went down the hill to Ellensburg for 3 stops. The stop with a present for us, was at Bi-Mart to check our membership card number. We didn’t win a big prize, but the last number of our membership is “1” and that gave us a bottle of apple/mango (100% fresh juice) non-alcoholic sparkling beverage for free, normally $2. Interestingly, while looking at the receipt I noticed I had gotten two more pair of socks in a different color from what I previously bought 3 days ago, and was charged full price for them. They were marked down to 50% off, and the sign was still there today, so I grabbed two colors I did not have. I was charged full price for them, and looked back at my old receipt to find the problem. I’ll take both socks (tomorrow) and a pair bought Jan 12 to show them to get my $2.99 refund. I should have been charged $1.50/pair.
It was a tiring day, but I’m finally home and sitting down with heat on my back and resting. I took some more of the cough syrup, Tussin DM Max, and we’ll see if it releases more phlegm. It’s still doing a good job, but I’m ready for it to be over and finished cleaning it out. John’s (sympathetic) cough has returned too, but his is not the same as mine. His is just a minor irritation at the top/back of his mouth cavity (aka, in Latin cavum oris. Who knew?
Now, John’s out to feed the horses, taking all the dog and cats along with him. They keep good track of him but stay away from the horses. He’ll probably go get the mail and paper, if it is there, and close the gate, to barely be back before dark.
Wednesday, Jan 16
I still need to finish the photos & AAC New Years Chinese videos and send to Google photos – needs an early morning send up before I leave at 12:45. It’s supposed to snow here 2 to 4”. We got at least 4”.
Today is music and lunch at the food bank. I arrived early in town to pick up a package of Oxygen Home Unit filters and cannulas donated by a friend in Thorp for a friend’s wife I was going to see today. I got a parking space in front of two of the staff cars, right at the front door. Took all my stuff in, checked in, and then went to retrieve the music stands and the chairs to set up. I had help from one of the staff there, because it was early enough that people weren’t yet checking in for lunch.
We started early so got in 40 minutes of music to an appreciative audience. We had several singers, two guitars, banjo, harmonica, and my fiddle, plus a client with drumsticks on a box. We are quite the group. Then afterwards we had lunch. I always take my own salad, but today, I had a cup of nice washed red grapes and a small piece of carrot cake, along with a cup of fruit punch. I passed on the pasta, bread, dark green salad, and packages of slivered almonds and cranberries. However, I delivered some of our candied Carpathian walnuts to two ladies (one is our banjo player), and the other had brought John a box full of almonds, still in their outer shells. The box was a Priority Mail box 6” on a side. She plans to bring more next Wednesday. John will probably shell them, and make Candied Roasted Almonds. That lady (Karen) was the winner at the AAC Christmas party of my gift for exchange, and you have previously seen her photo with the gift. She often comes to the FISH Food Bank to hear our music and eat lunch with us. She had told me several weeks ago how much she loved the candied walnuts and told Evelyn she wished she had some of hers left to share with her. So John had to make some more. He thinks there are about 3 pounds left from the 2017 crop in the freezer. The 2018 crop are in boxes, still. Shelling and freezing these is on the “to do” list.
He has been able to get outside some, and there is always something to do. He has taken some of the old Cottonwood pieces (fireplace size) up to the county road, piled it along the fence, and put a “Free Firewood” sign on a post. He has done this before – about 4 cart loads totaling about 16 cubic feet. Some local convenience stores sell small packages (<1 cu. ft.) for $5.99. Who buys that, and why is a mystery. Anyway, both times he has done this, the small pile is gone in about 3 days. He's got another batch to take.
Tonight we are alerted to possibly be receiving 2-4” of snow. I have to go play music tomorrow afternoon.
I left the Food Bank and went to the AAC for my SAIL class. I participated, including taking the test which will be retaken later to compare progress, on walking, standing from a sitting chair, doing a number of bicep curls with weights, and then filling in some paperwork, and responding to a survey on activities, and your habits related to balance and about things to prevent falling. We noticed there is a push in the medical community to raise awareness and counsel us old folks, so we don’t hurt ourselves.
From SAIL class, I went to the pharmacy and picked up my Entresto prescription, and turned in a new refill needed next week. Short stop by Bi-Mart to receive my over payment for socks yesterday. I was right; it was their mistake. I gave them two pennies and walked out with my $3.25.
Once home, I called Kittitas County public health for Tim Roth, about bacterial iron in our well. He was not in (sick), but they’re expecting him tomorrow. So, I’ll call in the morning and ask him the question about whether that is something we should worry about for our health. Our drinking water comes through a special filtering system under the sink. The gal that answered (I didn’t get her name), told me about coming by for a kit, to set up the test vial (from our faucet) for a lab in Yakima, and then we take it back to the health department before 11:00 daily for it to be sent by courier to the lab. It has a $25.00 charge. When we get the results, Holly in their office will review and tell us options we have. We know it is in the water system, so that’s not the question. The question is, is it a $6,000 problem – because that is what Culligan wants for an installed solution.
Thursday, Jan 17
We awoke to 4” of snow. John has shoveled pathways and the road should be plowed by the time I leave today for town. Birds in front and back are happily eating. Our wonderful neighbor, Allen, came down and plowed our 300’ driveway. What a gift! He backs in (twice) and drags the snow out. He was off to a neighbor’s place before we got out to thank him, so I did that on the internet. John has cleaned up the few spots the big tractor can’t get to.
Called my friend this morning, the nurse at the Kittitas County Health Department to ask about the bacterial iron in our well water. It is not detrimental to our health, and certainly not worth $6,000 to have Culligan set up a removal system to keep our toilet bowl from marking. John has been reading articles from several States about the problem.
Going in to Pacifica today. I plan to join the group only to play, not talk or sing which might start my coughing. Others in the group will handle the announcing and intros.
We had a large turnout of players: Nancy, Renee, Charlie, Evie, Amy, Kevin, Manord, Marilyn & Maury, Charlotte, Dean, Tim, and Minerva. Our audience was pleased to have us there and made many appreciative comments at the end.
Friday, Jan 18
I made an appointment for John’s Crosstrek 2016 for his regular oil change and lube, with a check over. That will happen next Tuesday. Brunch was a large pancake with blueberries and pecans, topped by strawberries, with sausage on the side.
I stayed home today to work on projects (getting license tabs, and paying bills), setting up Amazon purchase for a friend using our Prime card for free shipping, computer issues and resting to rid myself of this cough. The Tussin DM max still seems to be doing the job of getting the mucus from my lungs. John fed the horses, shoveled some snow off the roof over part of the patio to keep splashing onto the windows from happening.
I finished finally getting 3 videos and all pictures onto the Google Photos site today from the Jan 4th Chinese New Year’s Party. Here is the link.
Chinese New Year’s Party at the AAC, 1/4/19
Renewed Crosstrek license tabs. Emptied dishwasher.
Supper was a stew/soup with beef cooked for over 8 hours, carrots, lentils, onions, veggies, mushrooms, and Italian spices. I had Cheez-its on mine and he had Frito corn scoops on his. For dessert we had a piece of pecan pie.
Saturday, Jan 19
We plan to go to Briarwood, to drop me and all my stuff off, and then John will check out the CWU Surplus Sale and go get some groceries, while I’m playing music with 9 others from our crew. Then he’ll come back for a bowl of ham & bean soup, with salads and sides, cookies, fudge, lemon bars, and German-made Hazelnut Coconut Cream candies from the ladies to thank us for coming to play. I have no pictures of the food spread today, but it was substantial and colorful. We didn’t need any supper, but had to try the pie (see below) baked in the morning.
I have gotten a load of dishes finally started after several sink-fulls of soaking. Now working again on the blog and adding some touches to the music.
I just tried to do something with some music that went awry today, and found a problem with the key on a song we have been doing wrong for 3 weeks. I spent too much time tonight trying to figure it out so now I’m back, leaving it until after I finish my part of the blog.
We have a choice of two desserts tonight, one from yesterday (pecan pie) and a blueberry-apple pie John made this morning. I think we’ll have a sliver of each, and call it a night. And we will freeze the part of today’s left over after two pieces. 
John’s Blueberry- Apple creation:
Soft apples cut to the size of the blueberries, sugar and cinnamon glaze on top.
On our way to and back from town, and out in front of our neighbor’s house, we saw Bald Eagles in the trees. I did not have a camera along, so I’m ending with a photo collage from a friend south of town, Keith Kleinfelder of photos in his side yard.
Photos by Keith Kleinfelder, south off Canyon Road.
Sunday, Jan 20
We awoke to a touch of snow overnight and now it’s coming down again. That’s about all, mostly it is just gray and slightly above freezing. Ground fog is around, but not here at home. We have no place to go today or tomorrow, so that’s a nice reprieve.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan
Silver Queen is 13.5 miles from the peak of Mount Rainier. A National Park road goes along the left of the river to about as far as it shows, then crosses and splits, going to 2 access points. The green hump in the middle with snow covering the top is called Goat Island Mountain. John has worked on trails within this area, including one coming up from the western base of the Ski Area. It reaches two small lakes, and is called Crystal Lakes Trail.
Doug is on the board, upper left. The squirrels are cute, small, noisy, and a pain. They store black walnuts in our insulation in the shed, and compete with John for his Carpathian walnuts, which we enjoy so much and don’t wish to share with him. Once they cleaned walnuts under the hood of one of our vehicles.
Photo of Ellensburg CWU campus highlighted by Barge Hall; captured by EvieMae Scheutz from near her Auntie Gaye’s home on Craig’s Hill.
These were taken by Celia Slatta (AKA Missy Piecuch to us as our student a while ago at CWU) 
Fireworks (composite of several exposures), 2019 by EvieMae Scheutz (not at her original resolution).
FISH Food bank-Nancy and Evelyn taken by Kevin
Good report by phone, received from my Wenatchee doctor on thyroid tests I had done 12/31.
Note the hot coals between the fresh Cottonwood logs.
One of the dogs is above, left. Other animals were involved but the chickens kept a greater distance.
White Heron’s cat in Linda’s Lap and also later in Nancy’s.
We took care of things at home and left a little after noon to be at Cle Elum for a chest x-ray for John before 1:00 p.m. followed by a visit with Dr. Wood. We took a form to give to the lab regarding our getting a CD with the two x-rays from Nov 20 and Dec 24.
Miles’ dad Stefan in S. Cle Elum PO w/ gift and art work
Here’s Miles opening his gift Christmas eve, and my original picture of the gift when I got it in September this year.
These are selected views from our trip home to Ellensburg. Probably would have been more colorful on a sunny day. If the mountains don’t get more snow there will be news reports about the irrigation season’s lack of water. Snow “water equivalent” gets measured in many places, then converted to a basin-wide report. Seems it is either too much, or too little – never just right.
Annie (Brittany) shares bed with Czar (new to being in the house).
This lovely home belongs to our cousin Susan Wilkins Sykes & John in Tampa, FL. It was built in 1910 and restored by them. This came on the front of their Christmas card.
Tony, Nancy, Louaine; Ken, Stacy, Bob, Nancy, John, Tony, Louaine
It’s replacing the one we broke recently, and it was freely given through the Buy Nothing FB site. What’s so very neat, is that she’s the one who gave me the two Thomas the Train items in September to give to my little friend Miles, you have seen and heard about above. Now, I can thank her for both! And, share his pictures near a steam engine and train, and the video of his singing from last week’s blog.
Final wish for the New 2019 Year to start this week:
Top left is on the special recognition board this December at the AAC honoring the Volunteer of the month. In that photo David (a Veteran himself) is the MC interviewing Ed at the Veterans’ Day program 2018. David Douglas (married to Katrina the Director of the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center [our senior center], has been our Santa Claus at Christmas parties for as many years as I can remember. In this photo above on the bottom, Sandra Zech, Vice Chair representing the Adult Activity Center Senior Advisory Commission, nominates the two of them as providing a wonderful experience for all the members of the center, and Connie Bright, looks on from the right to add another commission member to the thanks, and Pat Carney was talking from the audience (another commissioner) but with a broken leg. 
On the left, are Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus in 2017 with Nancy and Connie, and right this year, 2018 because Katrina was needed to work in the kitchen, she did not don her Mrs. Santa Claus identity.
Top photo is the Rock Island Dam on the Columbia River. Bottom photo shows the basalt cliffs and Talus slopes.
Top photo shows incredible angles of columnar basalt. The lower photo has a high-density orchard, basalt cliffs, and one of the patches of fog/clouds hanging around the Valley.
Tongue Depressor trees – with entrance/exit caution sign I love.
Here’s a few lunch bunch musicians + Nancy & Mrs. Peggy Claus
Nancy before SAIL and with Carolyn after SAIL exercise class. I’m wearing a sweater given to me by my friend, Anne Engels.
Order above coming up from Rader Rd on Naneum, viewing the sunset, is top down 2-1-3 in the collage.
Once home, I saw our view from the patio toward Mt. Rainier.
John and Annie visiting with Dale about our neighborhood and the neighbors.
Here I delivered a gift bag with the butter dish and some of John’s Candied Carpathian Walnuts to Cheryle, who was wearing a blouse like her mom’s favorite work blouse she found at a thrift store that matched it, after her mom’s disintegrated with age. That was the story she told me that cinched the transfer. She was thrilled it was exactly what she wanted. I’m happy it has a good home. In return thanks, she gave me 2 packages of Peanut Brittle, a wonderful memory from my distant past. We had a nice visit, and I met her two cats and daughter.
Jen Lipton’s son, Miles, rode the Shay #7 Steam Train through the Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the Town of Felton, California
{picture from web}
The photo is of a small child feeding a reindeer. The people of Siberia know cold.
One of our geographer colleagues lives 25 miles west of us, closer to the higher slopes and forests of the Cascade Mountains. Winter has settled on the mountains and snow is accumulating.
I may be the only person west of the Atlantic Ocean that had not seen this action.
Nancy and Carolyn after SAIL exercise class.
Molly Friesen, 12 years, died after fighting congestive heart failure for 9 months. This picture by their Christmas tree is lovely; Molly is regally gorgeous. She was a sister to Tobie, and I drove them to the Spokane Airport to meet Paul. They were little puppies so they were allowed to ride on the plane in front of his seat (in a carry-on container); to a new home in Wisconsin. 
I needed to wrap a gift for exchange. I had a Christmas coffee cup in a little gift box and John had made a bunch of Candied Carpathian walnuts from those he grew last year. I added 8 ounces in a Ziploc bag into the package. My gift ended up going to a friend, so that was nice. Here she is unwrapping and checking to see what she got. 
Karen, opening my gift and Santa admiring Believe in Santa mug. 
Raspberry & Dark chocolate Chips on white “thins” & the snowflake towel.
Top three: Jacquie, Nancy, Carolyn-winner Jacquie w/antlers gift
This has been a yearly tradition for some years now; I’m sure he is happy I lost some weight. 
Menu: Potato salad, veggie plate/dip, deviled eggs, sausage & cheeses, crackers, cherry whipped cream salad, mandarin orange Jell-O, Crockpot (1) Smokies in BBQ sauce, (2) Swedish meatballs. Huge Dessert table. Thanks to leaders, Lee & Jo Ellen, but all the donators, Betty, Connie, Marilyn. Beverages included hot Apple Cider, Raspberry & something iced, and water. 
Nancy & Haley in a musical Christmas vest she will grow into. Photo on my camera by Amy Davison.
I worked on the blog and other things this afternoon, sending videos from Friday to YouTube.
Ken & Eva Frink’s house in Ellensburg. Photo cropped from one posted on Facebook. I mentioned seeing them in a recent blog, at the end of an overcast day, but not yet dark.
His wife also posted this video below of his cardiologist giving a good medical heart story explanation.
Left w/o flash, Nancy & Bob (singer) with FISH Lunch Bunch
Viewing east with Whiskey Dick mountain on the right, blue & white Tarp-It tarps over haystacks, fields in front, barns, with lovely winter clouds looking down on Earth in the Kittitas Valley.
Nancy, Sharon (all the way from Seattle), Amy (Haley’s mom)
Cory took this (I sneaked in between), & I took this of Haley. Left is Amy, elf Haley, Nancy, elf Kayla, and Haley again on the floor.
I cropped the photo just to this. The photo on the table is from 2017 and was different from this year’s elf sweater & hat. This photo was taken by Christine Reynolds who has given her permission to use here.
Press release of the 3 sisters—Greta, Solana, & Willow
John had taken the left photo at the Veterans’ Day at the AAC, and the other I used from the web to describe to the activities director at Rehab to search for it (folded up) and where to look in the West dining room. 
Nancy’s Hug by Kim, taken by Christy, another favorite.
These two pictures are the ends of the rainbow that stretched a long distance across the Kittitas Valley.
I also called Medical Records and had them FAX these Thyroid lab from both dates to her in advance of my visit. Luckily, that’s something I can do without going through a medical professional.
to give to our little friend, Haley, for a possible prize, in getting her school some money for supplies. Another woman donated one box top, and I ended up with 32 with an unexpired date (required).
Their school also hands out “eagle bucks” for good behavior, being respectful, etc. They put their names on them then in a bucket. At the end of the month they draw names force winner. Haley won in Sept. She chose a popsicle at lunch as a reward. Today she and a little boy won. This time she picked a Christmas book with Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Haley ————– This year’s canister with her last year’s pix.
Weather is the only problem with driving toward the Cascades. It has currently stopped raining in Ellensburg, and the fog is not as thick as yesterday, but it is overcast. We may have a little sun in the afternoon, if the NOAA forecast is correct:.
