NOTICE — the delay in publishing this was because of the server failing over the weekend
Sunday, Sept 6
For Sept 5 CPAP. Reported figures. 7 hrs 16 min with AHI=2.07 Events: 3 CSR, 15 H. No major mask leaks (max=21 L/min); no oximeter.
Before leaving today, we finished and published the blog.
We left for town by going north first to leave some yellow squash and tomatoes with a neighbor a mile up the Naneum. From there on to another friend’s who was off at church, but we left squash and tomatoes on her porch, and picked up a bag of towels she was thinning. Our towels have been with us as long as we’ve been married and are getting threadbare.
We went by Safeway for sale prices on canned tuna, DiGiorno self-rising crust pizzas, and canned food for the old dog, Dan. John also picked up some nice red grapes. Safeway usually has the best price/value on mushrooms, so one of those packages came home with us.
Then we went by Rite Aid for some lancets to take back to our neighbor to have to poke her finger to test her glucose. I managed to get them for a special price on their rewards club I joined, and although it meant another card to carry, I can just type in my phone number and proceed. Yippee. From there across the street to Super 1 Grocery, where we bought a few necessities on sale there, and another something for the same neighbor.
On to Bi-Mart for a special price on blackberry and strawberry preserves, and while there, I got one of my eye needs, a GenTeal gel for severe dry eyes. They have the best price in town. In a bigger urban area these many stops might require travel that would negate any savings. In EBRG, all these stores or more or less in a line with our major provider, Super 1, at the south end of town. Rite Aid is across the street and Bi-Mart a block away. Safeway and Grocery Outlet are directly north and on the way home.
More of the leftover chili from John’s work last night, with our own onions and tomatoes, mushrooms, ground beef, two kinds of beans. Along with that, we had sliced early girl tomatoes fresh from our garden with some large tasty red grapes.
Monday, Sept 7 Happy Labor Day
For Sept 6 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 33 min with AHI=0.29 Events: 2 H. No major mask leaks (max=9 L/min); no oximeter.
I went for a haircut to my neighbor’s around the rural block, carrying a bucket of tomatoes, came home, and had to return to another neighbor’s with more tomatoes that John just picked.
Need to make toll-house cookies for the Geography Emeriti meeting tomorrow. I’ll do that after cleaning up the dishes and loading into the dishwasher. I have pretty much wasted the whole day.
John made us a dinner my mom taught me years ago to fix in a Dutch oven (roaster) on top of a stove burner. Chicken, onions, rice, but he added mushrooms, tomatoes, and a can of clam chowder. The last was a can we have had for awhile and not used because of the high salt content. In the rice dish, that will get divided into about 8 portions so the “salt-hit” is not so significant.
Tuesday, Sept 8
For Sept 7 CPAP. Reported figures. 5 hrs 22min with AHI=0.37 Events: 2 H,1 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=10 L/min); no oximeter.
We had an early start to arrive at 9:00 until 11:00 for our monthly Emeriti Geographers Faculty meeting at the “Stone” (Hearthstone Cottages), where two of our members live with their wives. We reserve the Activity Room on the second Tuesday of every month. Today, I carried the chocolate chip cookies I made last night.
We had a visit from Urban Eberhart, son of one of our Emeritus Profs. Urban is the Manager of the Kittitas Reclamation Irrigation District. He explained the plans for restoring fish in our streams by providing water to dry places in the existing network. John gave a presentation on his bout with Giardia, and then later on a Geography topic about demographics; one part was of the aging (and costly) population in Washington State, and a second part about the changes taking place in the European countries, especially the United Kingdom compared to Germany.
Left clockwise: Jo Hammond, Ken Hammond, Bruce Seivertson, Michelle Sievertson, Urban Eberhart, Diane Huckabay, Jim Huckabay, Lillian Brooks, Jim Brooks in his happy 85 tee shirt, which he will replace this year with one in October for his 90th, George Macinko, John Hultquist, and where I was sitting. Plate of cookies there, which were sent with Urban for his parents, Dee (retired Geog prof) & his wife, Barbara.
Bruce & Michelle were visiting from Eureka, CA, where he has retired, but Michelle is still teaching Geography at Humboldt University. He taught Geography at CWU for 3 years, back in the 1990s.
I skipped Jazzercise today. Instead, I worked on music corrections this afternoon, Jobs list serve announcements, etc. Never did the dishes I was supposed to do, or cut John’s hair.
I drove back to Hearthstone to play religious music with The Connections. Picked up a dozen donuts (nice) for $3.00 off regular price. Played and enjoyed being there for the second time today.
My trip home was lovely but frustrating. I viewed a spectacular sunset but I did not have my camera, and I couldn’t get home in time to get it and go back a mile or more down the road to get a good photo. My cell phone doesn’t take photos.
I asked on two local Facebook sites, if anyone had a photo taken that night they were willing to share. I lucked out and received four, which I combined into a collage to give a view of part of what I saw, but the best panorama I will keep in my memory.
The top left photo was taken from University Way in Ellensburg, by Marlana Monroe, the second was taken from East Wenatchee [50 mi. N.], by Amanda Heilman, the third was taken from east of Ellensburg, by Rachael Morrow, the far right one was taken from Othello [65 mi. E.], by Linda Uptain. They were kind enough to share their awesome captures with me. Sunday morning I received another, but I could not easily add it to the bottom of the collage with other four, so I have placed it separately, below the others. The sunset with Mt. Rainier’s silhouette was taken by Terry & Bruce Oergel, from No. 81 Road, east of Ellensburg. You now will realize how meaningful that sunset was and to have images from different locations makes it even better. Thanks to all the photographers involved.
Wednesday, Sept 9
For Sept 8 CPAP. Reported figures. 4 hrs 46 min with AHI=0.00 Events: NONE. No major mask leaks (max=7 L/min); no oximeter.
I managed to get to the Food Bank Soup Kitchen early and pick a couple loaves of bread and some rolls & biscuits for my neighbor’s parents. We are given access to the bread room and encouraged to take (because those rapidly deteriorate), but we are not offered other foods available, such as eggs, milk, meat, or the canned and boxed goods. There is quite a variety of food for the needy. One of our players already had set up our chairs, so my work was less taxing, and I could visit with some of the patrons. Three of our musicians started early and then our 4th arrived. We played for a half hour, doing mostly cowboy songs, and a few other old ones. The audience was quite responsive today. That always makes it fun.
After playing for over a 1/2 hour, we ate. Today’s menu was Chicken Alfredo, butternut squash, mixed green salad, and for dessert, a Boston crème type cake with chocolate. I had made some serious changes to a few of our songs for tomorrow’s group, and after our meal, Evelyn and I went through them to be sure I had them correct.
From there to exercise at SAIL. I got there a little early, so went into the computer room and checked my email to find a note from my friend Glenn Engels, at Niagara Falls today, for a ride on the Maiden of the Mist (the 5 hr tour). The USA is on the left and Canada on the right – looking south or up-river.
I finished my exercise class and then went on to his mom’s house to take care of watering her plants, cleaning her cat’s litter box, and picking up the mail.
John took a quick nap while I worked on some music corrections to give tomorrow, based on our work today. He’s fixing dinner now– cheeseburgers.
His recent bout with no or little eating, he claims, reminds him of:
Tried to amend my carnivorous habits
Made it nearly seventy days
Losin’ weight without speed, eatin’ sunflower seeds
Drinkin’ lots of carrot juice and soakin’ up rays
But at night I’d have these wonderful dreams
Some kind of sensuous treat
Not zucchini, fettuccine or Bulgar wheat
But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat
Cheeseburger in paradise
Heaven on earth with an onion slice
Not too particular, not too precise
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise
[Jimmy Buffett, 1978]
Finished majority of changed music, but we must test it further tomorrow. Sadly, we found more changes needed. I will work on those for Saturday’s group.
Thursday, Sept 10
For Sept 9 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 6 min with AHI=0.16 Events: 1 H. No major mask leaks (max=3 L/min); no oximeter.
I went to Mt. View Meadows Place. Nine players today. The most interesting thing that happened was I invited my neighbor to bring his mom to the event to meet a fellow I had met there several months ago and learned he grew up with her on the southwest side of our valley (Manastash). She enjoyed our music, and then visited with him for a nice long time afterwards, as they reminisced about their past.
I realized my laptop battery is alerting me it needs replaced. I had a bunch of trouble tonight making my computer do what I needed. I finally shut it down to load all its updates and went to bed early (10:35 pm).
Friday, Sept 11
For Sept 10 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 24 min with AHI=0.78 Events: 5 H. No major mask leaks (max=21 L/min); no oximeter. Up to take care of animals and back without CPAP for 3 hrs sleep, much needed.
I took out the battery and John went to work on finding a replacement battery for my Toshiba Portege R835-ST6N02 laptop. The warning message says it needs replaced or my computer might shut down suddenly. It’s back in now that we have ordered one, and I’m running all the time on hydro-power from Columbia River dams. The replacement batter is supposed to arrive on Friday, the 18th.
I have been working on stuff all morning, including cleaning out my car to allow people in the back seat for our drive to Trinidad, WA and the White Heron Cellars winery and Mariposa Vineyard’s Chef’s Extravaganza celebration in honor of Grant County’s Farmer’s Consumer Awareness Day weekend.
We left at 3:30, from home, in order to pick up an EBRG couple and leave there at 4:00. We want to arrive before the start time to get a good parking spot and set up our table, take pictures, and visit a little with the folks we know there.
I started my evening with my camera in the tasting room, visiting with Lynne Snyder who is married to Tom Snyder, who is on the wine grapevine pruning team that John joins each spring for 5 weeks, and Tom (& Lynne) also serves on the Quincy Beautification Committee, as volunteers to provide lovely flowers along the drive through Quincy from spring to fall. We enjoy viewing them each year on our trips to White Heron. I should have stopped for a photo, but have asked Lynne what the flower beds consist of, and who is on the volunteer committee.
Here’s her response: Thank you for the kind words about the Beautification.
The people involved are Chet Pedersen -the boss, John Bennett, Judy Bryant, Joyce Weaver, Mary Kikuchi (retired), Zip Zimbelman, Shirley Zimbelman, Eva Smith, Uncle Jessey’s Crew of volunteers, Tom Snyder, and Lynne Snyder.
The flowers common to all/most the areas include: cannas-tall red ones, phlox middle row purple, day lilies yellow, fall crocus pink, Geraniums (red) in other areas but not Tom’s, and then miscellaneous others. Each area has different flowers, whatever the volunteer likes to add. I hope to have a photo to share in a future blog.
Here is Lynne in the Tasting Room, which closed at 6:00 p.m. for the start of the Chef’s Extravaganza, pictured to the right of the wine bar is the lamp, and it’s seen in the collage with a white heron on the ceramic base. I bought it from a geographer friend moving from Ellensburg and gifted to Cameron and Phyllis Fries, at White Heron Cellars winery and Mariposa Vineyard, our friends since 1998.
Lynne Snyder and, note on the far right, the white lamp. Then on the right of the collage is a close-up of the lamp, and now you know the reason I originally went to the tasting room with my camera, before the party.
I met a young couple there when they arrived early for the evening’s activities. I took them from the Tasting Room of the Winery, on a little tour through the winery (tanks, barrels, full & empty cases, and so on). Not a lot going on just yet; most grapes are still hanging on the vines. The local produce for the evening was there, though, near the back. At that point I introduced myself as Nancy, and learned they were Kristin and Casey. Throughout the evening we spoke on a couple of occasions, and below, you’ll see an interesting video with them.
My next visit was with the chef of the evening, Tim Putnam, for 20 years the chef in his own catering business, housed in Cashmere, as Smokeblossom. He showed me around all the food preparation and described what we would be served.
Tim near his cooking preparation area.
Below is the SMOKEBLOSSOM menu served at White Heron for Chef’s Extravaganza, the kick-off for Farmer’s Consumer Awareness Day Weekend, the 2nd weekend of September every year. John and I have attended for many years. I’m not sure when the first one was held, but it is my birthday celebration (late, for 9/1 each year).
on 9.11.2015 (from his Facebook site)
Tearin up the Heron
Pre Func Funk
Naan Sense
50 mile Ricotta, HOODOO & heirloom toms
hit w/ port bombed balsamic syrupConfit Clobbered Papas
Fried Russets, shredded duck & Pecorino Romano
(’nuff said)Burned Offerings
Herded Through the Grapevine
Vine smooched sliders w/ sweet onions, Emmentaler
charred roma-bacon mayo & local greensBelly Batons
Sweet comino pork belly, IPA (India Pale Ale) braised pintos
& tomatillo pico w/ queso frescoRainbow Maize
Cedar planked trout, Quincy sweet corn chop w/ Pepita-Poblano pestoFinale
Limoncello Longshots
Lemon liqueur infused crème anglaise teamed
w/ Cameron’s berry (blue) foraging prowessGinger Gold Betty
Monty Bickford’s apples, browned butter,
pulverized pound cake streusel & frozen Calvados custard
From there I returned to our table with friends from Ellensburg. One couple with we have known since arriving in 1988. Ken Hammond began his chairmanship of Geography, the year I arrived. He was chair until 1997. They were on one side of our table, and I was on the other with our more recent friends from Ellensburg, Joanie Taylor & Ken Matney. After visiting awhile, we did a picture shoot over the Mariposa Vineyard, down to the Columbia River & West Bar.
~ ~ ~ ~ Nancy & John ~ ~ Ken & Joanie ~ ~ John, Jo, & Ken
I did not take my normal photos of the food served, but here is the wine bar:
Above, Lynne Snyder, Phyllis Fries, and Cameron Fries.
With dinner, we had a couple of bottles of Mariposa Red (a Bordeaux blended red wine that can contain only those varieties that are authorized for use in the red wines of that region of France. The six varieties allowed are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmener). White Heron’s blend in their “meritage” Mariposa Red consists of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec (Cot). [In Bordeaux and Cahors the variety has traditionally gone by its local name, Cot, but because of the success of Malbec in Argentina and the US, it is increasingly known by the internationally recognized name.]
Before the food was ready we enjoyed a special wine, Arvine, a varietal from a Swiss white wine grape (Petite Arvine) from the Valais region. It is fragrant and fruity (as are all of Cameron’s wines), but with low acidity, and as we noted around the table, no bitterness. The name is derived from Latin, indicating the vine comes from the Savoyard Arve Valley in Valais. It was appreciated by those at the table who are primarily red wine connoisseurs. Arvine and Roussanne are still favorites of mine. We and the Fries named our dogs, after the white Swiss grape, Roussanne.
The last entre — Limón cello Longshot with blueberries from Cameron is seen below. See above on the menu for the description of the offering on that plate.
While eating the last entre of the evening, I got up and videotaped my newly met couple dancing, and their interesting story follows.
(follow link below for the action)
Lights, camera, action!
I asked them what their last name was so I could send them a copy of the video. She said Ashley and he said Cranston. I paused, and said, Casey Cranston. That’s a very familiar name ~ ~ did you happen to recently join the NW Geography Jobs list serve? He said, “Yes, within the last 2 weeks.” I laughed and said, I’m Nancy Hultquist, the moderator, you’ve been emailing. So we shook hands and commented about what a small world it is. He is a recent CWU graduate in environmental studies with a geography specialization and a GIS certification. Interesting, because that’s where I taught many geography courses, and all the GIS courses offered from 1988 until I retired for medical reasons in 2010. I have kept up the jobs announcements list serve I started in the early 1990s on email (via Bitnet). Now it is run through Google Groups.
We didn’t leave until late, and arrived home just before 10:00. The dogs were all fine in our absence, but the feral cats expect supper at dusk. We called but they did not show. They didn’t go hungry as they have a cat house with 24 hr dry food available.
Saturday, Sept 12
For Sept 11 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 51 min with AHI=0.29 Events: 2 H, 2 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=8 L/min); no oximeter. Added another 1.5 hr sleep to my night, without the mask.
I worked on a serious rewrite of the chords for Shenandoah, after some suggestions from Manord, one of our group. I took his suggestions, made some changes of my own, and then looked on line ~ ~ finding the version by the Statler Brothers, and revising more. We will have only 5 of us there today, so we can practice it together.
I leave at 1:00 today for Briarwood, and will make a short visit to check on the cat and pick up the mail at Rosewood.
Nice ending to a new “free” story. You have heard about my use of the Buy Nothing Ellensburg (BNE) Facebook site, but here’s a new switch to another free site, The Free Box, Ellensburg. Last night I was messaging with a gal I knew through the BNE, and she was catching me up on her recent move. She mentioned needing a twin mattress for a bunk bed for two of her little boys. I put a request on the free site late afternoon, and a friend of a friend responded he had a nice clean one he gave her, and she was able to pick up last night. Nice ending.
Sunday, Sept 13
For Sept 12 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 38 min with AHI=0.30 Events: 2 H. No major mask leaks (max=5 L/min); no oximeter.
Early morning view of New York City, from my cousin, Sandy Brannen Tatum, who just had a birthday too, and is visiting NYC and going to Radio City Music Hall for a tour today. Here’s her view of Central Park from the 37th floor of where they are staying.
Spent the day working on the blog, and John fished out the remaining piece of flue in the old chimney, and capped the top above the roof – because we might get showers this week. I wasn’t ready with the blog so he went and cut a piece of aluminum sheet to cover the broken window (behind the driver’s head) of the 1980s pickup. After a couple of years of duct tape and cardboard (not doing the job), the hole is now closed. Meanwhile, I’m putting the final touches and coordinating the photos with the text.
Problems ensued when we tried to post the text and photos on WordPress. Our server at ccsow.com is down. As you now can tell, it was fixed this morning (Monday), but we had to go to two appointments in town, so weren’t able to finalize and publish until 1:33 p.m., 9/14/15.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan