Saturday, Jan 5 We arrived at White Heron at 11:00 a.m. for our first Raclette. Phyllis and Cameron Fries put on the event for the families of the volunteer wine grape pruners from last spring’s work. We got behind on our departure because of phone calls and so Nancy didn’t get completely prepared for the cold outside weather. John only suffered from cold feet. We were outside around a wood and vine-cutting fire (“the real deal”) with a NW wind blowing cold air down the hill toward the Columbia River.
Upon arrival we all got a taste of Cameron’s newest wine – Arvine, a Swiss vine that makes a white wine with a slightly salty taste.
http://www.swisswine.ch/asp/english/cepages/cepDetails.asp?ID=11
He only has 20 cases but it will soon be made in greater quantities and labeled with the new Ancient Lakes of the Columbia Valley designation.
http://northwestpalate.com/2011/12/ancient-lakes/
The picture the above link is from the viewpoint for our Raclette. After sampling the new wine we switched to Roussanne, of which he has more:
http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/roussanne.htm
I wore enough hats, scarves, gloves, and sweaters, but did not have enough pants on (needed long-johns, or two pairs of pants and maybe some Jeans on top to cut the wind). Then our feet. Both John’s and my feet got cold. We had on high topped work boots with wool socks, but that was not enough. Needed some insulated snow boots. I made it three hours, and then retreated to the house for warming my feet and having a cup of hot tea. However, it was a wonderful meal with fun, food, and fellowship. I have a few photos I will put on our web page at this link:
http://www.ellensburg.com/nancyh/WhiteHeronCellars2013Raclette.html We actually got snowed on the last hour. There were several of these for those without hats:
http://www.costumeshop.us.com/images_products/umbrella-hat-1-sz-1908sma.jpg
On our trip home (1 hr 20 min), the Interstate had a bit of snow and lots of fast traffic. It seems some combination of those or inattentive driving brought grief to someone. Within a couple of miles of our turnoff at Kittitas to come home, we passed a recently flipped car (on its roof, in the median). I had already been a nervous passenger, but John got us through all right – or, as he says, maybe it was the all-wheel drive of the Subaru. Two WA-State Patrol cars were there, and several people were leaning down (butts in air) looking in the car. We haven’t yet heard the results. We arrived home right before dark (at 4:30). We were grateful we didn’t have to make the drive later. We stopped off at our neighbors to pick up John’s Chocolate birthday cake she baked for him. We both had a piece of it for dinner, because we were full from our warm scraped cheese and baked potatoes lunch.
Sunday, Jan 6 The wild turkeys were back around both sides of the house this morning. First, they were out back (West), and then they walked around to the front area near the house, where John had set up a garbage can on top of a barrel to put seeds on for our little birds. All 5 turkeys were there, with 3 on the ground picking up seeds apparently knocked off by the little birds, and two turkeys managed to jump up on the base (a raised flower bed) and were eating there. Three of the feral cats walked by and were surprised at the size of the “birds.” Rather funny, but John went and shooed them off up the driveway for fear one of the turkeys might sink a talon into a cat, and we cannot catch these cats if they need to go to a vet. OK, took all the pictures off the camera, and I have a few good shots from the food and wine affair and of the turkeys and kitties this morning out front. Worked a lot on kitchen & FaceBook clean-up as well this morning, and we had a late great lunch. I cooked the bacon and John used it to make us some nice grilled cheese/bacon sandwiches on English Muffin bread. Now I’m starting back on the Hay paper. We had a late dinner of baked chicken thighs, cheddar cheese slices, and butter beans (or little limas).
Monday, Jan 7 It’s almost 9:00 and I got through the night with rest and my eye is better. I was up at 3:00 a.m. and it had started snowing. Still is, but slowing down. We have over 5 inches. Happy I don’t have to go anywhere today. An hour later and the sun’s out and snow ceasing. Cat just crawled in my lap. Need to resume Hay paper work. Nice call from John’s sister in OH. Now the sun is shining and the snow stopped. Great rest of the day. John pushed snow off of the cars and shoveled that away, and cleaning off pathways, fed horses and little birds, and exercised dogs. I spent most of the time working on the hay paper. Still much to do, but a lot was completed, especially on photos. We had a nice talk with my Aunt Marise for her birthday (it’s tomorrow). Good talk with cuz Susan and with Marise. Also I got to thank Susan for sending me (it arrived late today), a spare Kindle Fire [there’s a story there, but it doesn’t need to be told here]. I’m really excited. I do have to get back to Family Reunion write up for our annual newsletter. Before that, my co-author got back to me and I spent the rest of the night working on the hay paper photos.
Tuesday, Jan 8 What another crazy day! We worked this morning on stuff to get ready for our farrier to be here at 10:00 a.m. so we could finish up things and make it to town. However, the farrier never came so I called at 11:11 to see what had happened. He was sorry, and was to call us tonight to reschedule; something about writing down the date wrong. We had a nice big lunch because I had to take a large dose of antibiotics before my teeth cleaning, and didn’t wish to on an empty stomach. Then off to town, for my appt and for John to run errands. He stopped at the Adult Activity Center to pick up 3 pairs of finger-less gloves (for me) with high parts up the arm, knitted by a lady in town. They are great for playing the violin, banjo, or any stringed instrument. I took a white pair tonight and gave to the harp player in our group. The lady knitted me some socks (light blue). I love them. She donates her time to make knitted things to leave on the table at the Senior Center for people to take and use. John came back and picked me up and we dropped off at the Post Office for me to mail my return package back to Blair to get a correct size. Then off to the grocery and back home in time to turn around and go back to town to play music tonight. Near where trees slow the wind, snow and then ice accumulates on the roads, softens, breaks up, and re-freezes. Tonight in the dark it seemed worse than ever.
Late home, almost 9 and no dinner. Now I maybe will just have dessert and go to bed. That’s what I did, but stayed up very late working on our hay paper, till almost midnight.
Wednesday, Jan 9 Up relatively early to work again on the paper. Got off some comments to my co-author (who is busy teaching today) before leaving for the Food Bank. I was almost late because of my car being ‘steering wheel locked’ where John moved it to an uneven area. The area around is still slick with ice. I was changing cars, when John got mine started. So I moved back, carrying all my stuff over the ice again. Made it in time to start just as all the folks were getting their trays of food and being seated. We played for 1/2 hour and then got some food. Today was pasta with a very spicy sausage, garlic bread, mixed salad, with tomatoes on the side, and coconut cream pie (CCP) for dessert. I had a nice visit with our fan club and let one of the employees (young guy) play a bit on my violin. He knows how to play, learned as a kid (as I did). It was fun and I wish he could join our group. I told him to bring his violin next Wed and play with us. Doubt he will, but it was cool just the same. Came on home and went back to work on our paper. After I finish the text reading and occasionally rewriting, I will email it and then get to work reducing our beautiful color photos to grayscale for inclusion in the printed paper. Afternoon and late tonight we finished up the paper graphics. It’s late, my eye is bothersome, and I’m calling it a night. I mailed off the rest of my text comments, and later sent all 8 grayscale photos to my co-author. As soon as he fits everything in, the manuscript goes for review to a colleague with good editing skills. By next week it should arrive to the editor of the journal.
Thursday, Jan 10 It’s late tonight and I’m trying to remember all that happened today. Okay–started by sleeping in late because of late night’s work. Fairly early I was still on my first cup of coffee, I had at least a half hour telephone job reference for a student who left in 2005. That was “out of the blue” and interrupted my proofing more comments on our paper. Then another call and I had to find John (outside) to alert him our rescheduled farrier visit would happen 15 minutes earlier than planned. We were late getting ready to run me to town for music. John went along to buy a 24” fluorescent tube for the one that started blinking in our washroom. The new tube shows no sign of life whatever and will have to be exchanged (another day). We had to turn around and go back to town after eating an early dinner, so we could get a place on the front row to hear a lecture on “Cascadia hazards inferred from mud, sand, tree rings, and brush strokes,” by Brian Atwater, a USGS geologist.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1707/
We know this story and have the book but Brian is the “main dude” on this and known by all who know anything about big earthquakes and tsunamis. In the following picture note the level on his jacket of muddy sea water:
http://sxcwc.ece.pdx.edu/ext/images/stories/sx-cw/atwater2.jpg
We knew the place would be packed, and I wanted to record a video, so needed a prime place down front. Crowd was 161 in a room only with 120 seats. It was well worth the effort, and even though we had heard the story before, it was great hearing it from the actual person who had the insight about these large Washington coast earthquakes. Japanese historical papers record the exact year, day, and hour when the big wave hit their coast – the evening of January 26, 1700. The western WA coast has “ghost trees” — standing trees that died when land subsidence during an earthquake flooded them with saltwater. Parts of the exposed trees have been worn away but deeply buried roots still had bark and the last layer of growth from the year before they died. Brian used the 1964 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake and the tsunami in Turnagain Bay . . .
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazardimages/event/show/2
as a point of reference, although the 1700 quake was much larger. John and I had traveled there in 1987 and it was neat to have experienced a trip through the area. As well, he mentioned the Chile earthquake of 1970 and the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake (Dec. 2004) and resulting tsunami on Aceh, Indonesia and nearby coasts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami
All in all, a great day.
Friday, Jan 11 Home today and the next 3. Wow. Ain’t that great? Maybe I will be able to catch up on many things looming on the list of TO-DOs. John fixed a cheddar cheese, onion omelet with bacon and a piece of “Texas toast” of his homemade bread for midday brunch. I need to get on the Wilkins Reunion web description. Meanwhile the turkeys just arrived out back and I took some pictures with a little sun showing their colors. We’ve decided there is only one Tom with his 4 gals. Now we just ate the last two pieces of chocolate crock pot candy, so will have to make more. Luckily, yesterday on John’s trip for the light tube, he found all the candy ingredients on sale for much less than we paid around Christmas time. He bought chocolate almond bark and bars from Ghirardelli with 60% cacao for ½ the price shown here:
We will make a new load using our Carpathian walnuts and maybe add a few cashews, or not. Remains to be seen. During his baking supplies acquisition yesterday, he bought rye flour (a single package of):
http://www.bobsredmill.com/light-rye-flour.html
for mixing into regular bread and, for English Muffin bread, cornmeal for a texture coating and the non-sticking help. Sun is still out and the temperature has risen to 30, but low enough that we are leaving the heat on in the “cat house.” Tonight the temp is expected to drop to 9 degrees and then one notch lower Saturday night. After that it warms up a degree each night – assuming it does what the NWS tells it to!
Saturday, Jan 12 At daybreak the temp was 11 degrees and only managed to get up to about 23. John did what had to be done outside but mostly wasted the day away – except he did remove a deceased light fixture from the bathroom wall and replaced it with one of these . . .
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0085VZY20/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi
There is a second one to do in the partial loo. The fixtures were purchased from Costco some months ago – just waiting for that cold or rainy day. That was today. Perhaps it isn’t worth mentioning but, of course, the shape and hardware for the installation do not match the outlet box in the wall. The house was built in 1982 and the shape is round with anchor holes N & S, while the new light is looking for an upright rectangle with beveled corners and anchor holes NW & SE. There seem to be squarish things like that but not rectangular. Maybe they were like 8-track tapes – their time has passed. Anyway, all this provoked some anguish on the part of the installer (and a few references to god’s wrath) until a work-around sufficed. So, a nice addition. Tomorrow (Sunday) is also going to be cold so the second of these will get installed – likely with the same issue.
Many turkey sightings today. Spent most of the day, not on my hay paper, or on the reunion page, but on the link to go with this blog on the Raclette held a week ago. I hope you enjoy it. The link is above where it is first mentioned, on Jan 5.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan