June: full of flowers and food

Sunday, Jun 2
Recap: the party last night was a lot of fun. We arrived early, carried stuff in, and showed off our new car. Everyone who sees it loves it and wants one. Food (hamburgers and hotdogs were supposed to start at 4:00), but not everyone was there until closer to five. That put the awards off until everyone ate. We added 2 Pecan Pies to the dessert table but there was so much food only one was eaten so we brought the other home. The Geography Department’s awards were announced during the gathering. One of the awards (actually 2 this year) is named the Hultquist Distinguished Service Award – sponsored and named after me! Here is the description of this fantastic award. I got last year’s winner to join the photo (click for big size). Last year, he was off fighting fires as a Hot Shot, sky jumper. What a happy group – don’t you agree?

Jessica, Nancy, Taylor, and Jeff -- 3 who got an award from Nancy.
Beautiful day for a party

Jessica Giblin, Nancy, Taylor Steele, and Jeff Bortner

Today, the wind has been screaming for the past many hours. My day started with finding that a person in Romania at 5:47 a.m. hacked my cedaridge@gmail acct and sent crap (bad links) to everyone in my address list (lots, since 2005). I found out that I have many replies that capture every email sent, even if I reply to someone’s list with people on it I don’t know, their names are put into my address book. I have changed my password, and am cleaning up my files before sending a note to everyone in my address book (many bounced and I don’t want them to bounce again). I have decided to let it ride and just clean up the file. Most everyone has responded or ignored it. Several friends early on reported it to me because it was so unlike email links I send, having no explanation or introduction.
John worked on irrigation issues this morning. Mountains wear away making sand. Water carries sand and makes unhelpful deposits. We are close to the steep hills of Naneum Canyon and the water – much appreciated in a land averaging 8 inches of precipitation each year — carries much sand. Here’s a look (from 2011) at what happens when rain on snow with warm temperature gets the water rolling off of the hillsides.  Here is a picture -essay of the area before the fires of last year. The State lands start about 2 miles north of us and extend for many miles. A few years ago the State, Feds, and private land owners managed (after several years of meetings) a series of swaps to aggregate a very haphazard ownership pattern. So this is the area that is the source for our water and the sand that comes along for the ride. This settles in the ditches where there is a lessening of the grade and the worst place is at the lower end of our property as the water goes onto the neighbor’s place. Yesterday John shut water off in that ditch by sending it to our east side with part of that going to neighbor Louaine’s small pasture with the apple tree. The 35 mph winds were topped a half hour ago by 39 mph ones. It has slowed down a bit, but only to 36 mph. Finally before bedtime, was slowed to 15, and no gusts.

Monday, Jun 3
Early up from bed and back for another couple of hours to be ready for a phone call about a “gig” this weekend. We have a graduation party to attend Saturday, and a surprise birthday party for an 80 year old, who likes fiddle music. I only have myself to “offer as a fiddler” –and will be joined by a mutual friend on the clarinet (playing the first violin part), and another friend on guitar. Rest of the day was full of things to keep us both busy. I had to take care of making appointments for my echocardiogram tomorrow, and a follow-up appointment next week, back in Yakima, on Tuesday. Must go for a fasting blood draw in the morning before I go for the echocardiogram. Bummer. Then I had to worry with a bunch of stuff on email, and paying bills, so I walked for my exercise up the drive to put a letter in the mailbox — a donation to a Brittany Specialty show. Last year I contributed and WON the $250 gas-card prize. This year the prize is larger and worth more money – although of a different sort. It is a 6-gun wooden cabinet with room for 6 cases of wine and wineglasses, plus a piece of art (a flying pheasant) on canvass on two side doors. They are $700 on the web, with $100 delivery charge. Whoever wins it has it delivered to their house. After the 100 yard trip out to the mailbox I trekked around the gardens and pasture edges. Near our mailbox is native buckwheat. Search the web with the term “Eriogonum compositum” with images selected. A lot are bright yellow (Sulphur), but ours are more the white and pink colors shown in this site.
Here is my best photo for the effort.

Two large white and purple Iris during 1st week of June 2013
Bloom Time on Naneum Fan

Our Iris are new this year, obtained from my friend a mile away who cuts my hair, and shared a number of different ones with us; planted here last year. So far, only two colors have bloomed. I think we have some yellow and other colors, or variegated ones. The wind makes taking pictures of flowers and garden plants frustrating. That’s why we used a web link for the buckwheat. Well, that and the Strawberries are still all green leaves, with a few white blossoms.

Tuesday, Jun 4
Well, today was an interesting day that started too early, on a fasting blood draw prep, so I couldn’t have breakfast (nothing but water) before leaving for town. Before I left I had early morning phone calls and emails to deal with, and had to get my shower. Got there, checked in for both places I had to go in the hospital. Went off to the first (the lab). I didn’t have to wait too long, and they drew several vials of blood for many tests wanted by my cardiologist. Because I was 45 minutes away from my next appointment (for the Echocardiogram), I went to the hospital cafeteria for breakfast. At just before 10:00 a.m., it ended up being brunch. I only had two choices for breakfast specials that had been prepared and kept warm — Eggs Benedict and a stack of 3 large pancakes with two large pieces of bacon. I decided on the Eggs Benedict, and to re-heat it they had a microwave. While there I saw a gal who had been the “cleaning” and set up person for Outpatient services, whom I got to know back in 2009 and again in 2010, when I had to go for 8-9 weeks for daily IV for the bacteria in my blood. I walked by her on my way to the microwave and stopped to introduce myself, and thank her for all her special attention when I was there so much. She was thrilled to be told she was appreciated, and thanked me. Then on back to the Radiology dept. Earlier they had told me they would give me an images CD that I would have to deal with. They used to, but no longer, send to medical folks outside their system. My cardiologist is in Yakima, 35 miles from them, but he is having an assistant go over the tests with me and so they need to evaluate it before seeing me. The Doc is going on vacation and duty time in the hospital cardiac unit – so he needs it now! Where’s the digital records technology when you need it? My blood pressure was increasing with the response I was getting. So, when I got to my echocardiogram technician, Bill, I explained and the need to get the images delivered, ASAP.
He was cool and said, no worries, I will make you a CD to carry to your appt next week, but this afternoon I will send it to them electronically. That’s what I originally asked for from the appointment maker, at the hospital, who said it wasn’t possible. So I wrote my doctor’s nurse an email, for her to be on the lookout for my explanation directions of getting the image videos from my web site, today, as well as the note that the results of the Echocardiogram from the technician, so that Dr. Kim can evaluate it. She called back and told me they had lost their IT man, and couldn’t receive the information from Bill. Plan B. She was going to a supervisor’s meeting to see who could obtain my sends (it was a straightforward 9 minute download), to get on a computer my doctor could view. Short story, it happened.
Scoop on blood pressure, at the start today, my BP was 132/72. I asked Bill to take it at the end before I left the room. He did, (don’t know if he recorded it on the records, hope so, because it was 115/70 ! ) I wanted Dr. Kim to know that. I wish we had taken my BP at the end of my appt with Dr. Kim last time.

Wednesday, Jun 5
Morning catch-up sleep and chores. Leaving for Food Bank Soup Kitchen music, then SAIL class, and a haircut on my way home. Morning spent with getting photos from June 1 Geography Awards to the people who would appreciate it (the students, and a few faculty members). I took 3 videos and a bunch of pictures. Now I have a zipped file for anyone who might be interested, and it can just be downloaded from our website, because it’s too large to email. That’s a pretty nice feature. (It was the same way I delivered the radiograph imagery to my cardiologist. Today, I drove home directly from SAIL class, because it was too hot to leave my violin and food-bank-acquired bread in the car while I got a haircut. My hairdresser only lives a mile away, so it was fine to come back home, dump the stuff, and head on over there. This afternoon I have been sitting in an a/c house (temps outside are 87°), working on my computer. Tonight, we are going to go to town for another Nick Zentner Geology of WA lecture. Tonight it is on the Wenatchee Area and the Ice Age Floods influence there.

Thursday, Jun 6
This morning was rushed with getting music ready to give two people for our Sunday trio performance. John went along with me to Royal Vista, dropped me off, went across town for the Thursday special 12 hr sale (groceries), and by Bi-Mart for duct tape, blue jeans and a couple of other odd things. We had a fairly good attendance today, but didn’t expect to play for a party (with food) saying good bye to the Activity Director (for 19 years). Julie (a friend working at Royal Vista) saw John outside and told him he was invited for food inside after we ended playing at 3:00. It was good. 3 cakes (I had a piece of carrot cake), after having crackers, cheese, salami, strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, and nuts. Quite a spread and nice because we had skipped lunch. Supper was smaller by necessity, and followed our trip to town again for another geology lecture, this on the formation of Lake Chelan. It was quite good. Winds started at 5:00 p.m. gusting at 31 mph, blew all night, and into the morning.

Friday, Jun 7
Another windy day of several this week. Today I almost was blown off the road driving home. We were having 43 mph winds at the time. They were higher today than yesterday, with figures such as 30, 32, 36, 37, then 3 hours of 43, 44, 43, and back to the high 30s, still blowing, at 9:00 p.m. I started by going to the potluck at the Adult Activity Center for the main dish of Gyro sandwiches (but made with ground beef). Many good salads, fruits, and side things. I ran around town for shopping errands between the end of that and my exercise class. In addition, I went by the Chase bank to pay our first month’s payment on our loan on the new car. Next month it will automatically come out of our checking account, and I won’t have to worry. I was late getting home, and had a bunch of chores waiting. Finally, John encouraged me to assemble brownies to take tomorrow. He got some of our walnuts and roasted them. I cut a few up and added to the dough, and then we left some to put on top of the chocolate frosting. I think I will use that, but may change my mind and use a butter cream one. Nope, I think the half walnuts will look better on the chocolate frosting. These are special, our own homegrown Carpathian walnuts.

Saturday, Jun 8
I will not be going to graduation ceremonies as I did starting in 1989, and never missed a year until I was in the ICU in 2009. I haven’t been back since retiring. Later today, however, I will go (with my brownies and John) to a party in a city park following the ceremony. A family is throwing a party for two sons. The older one was my student; his younger brother is graduated from Geography this year, and I met him 2 years ago at that year’s potluck party like the one mentioned above. The family has invited us, ‘cause we’re special.

A yellow smiley face with two thumbs up.

Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

I, M, R, D, C, F, G, F, A

Invitations, music, rain, doctors, cars, food, geology, food, awards

Sunday, May 26
The new week started with a little rain. John’s back in after morning yard chores. I’ve been working on things on the computer and in the kitchen. He’s back out in the garden planning to be in for lunch (rest of the last apple from the Honeycrisp purchase awhile back, with the remaining chili). After that, I will be off this computer and dealing with things in the room, needing sorted. {Never got there.} Email from Joel Andress’ son about the planned celebration of life in Quebec this coming Sept 14. I was invited, but don’t expect to make the trip. I would rather see people while they are alive and remember good times together. Party music started up again across the creek. Broke for an hour, perhaps to eat the Luau dinner planned. Installed a program to convert CDA files (from on a CD) to MP3 / WMA. It’s called ConverterLite. Puts track(s) into a folder on my MUSIC site on the hard drive. I moved two bluegrass songs from the Falderal String Band and Mariah Carey to jump drives to move to my car audio system. This is really neat. Party and loud music continues. I may get rocked to sleep with music. Actually it stopped right on the hour of 11:00 p.m. Either the band was only paid for that long, or the police enforced a curfew on the noise.

Monday, May 27
Happy Memorial Day –We did not start, as planned, by putting out flags at the end of the driveway today, because it was raining and still is. I’m very happy I was not scheduled to play music or go to anything at the park, outside, not under a tarp. I have, however, succeeded in spending several hours (really) off the computer going through boxes of stuff. Still haven’t gotten to things on the table yet, because I was making room to put more boxes for recycling items.
I finally wore myself out and sat back down in my recliner for awhile to check email. No one except John seeing the results would imagine the work that has been accomplished, and truly MANY more hours will be required to make a dent. It’s 4:00 and still raining. John’s buckets from the rooftop drip line are almost all full. Back on the computer to figure the route for tomorrow. Now to print out all the stuff from the backroom computer that is connected to our only printer. Now waiting for my bathroom heater to warm it. It’s 55 here outside and the back of the house is cold; no thermometer back there; just as well.

Tuesday, May 28
Started out very early to be in Yakima by 8:55 a.m. for an appointment with my cardiologist, who will be gone the months of June and July, so had to squeeze it in. He’s not really gone most of that time. The doctors take turns in the hospital and appointments are not made for them during that time. Usually another doctor or an assistant can be scheduled and they can be in touch with all concerned. There is a code word for that but we’ve forgotten what it is. Anyway, my next appointment is with a physician’s assistant named Scott. I met with him before (after an experience with one with poor bedside manner) and get to request who I want. Okay, then – back to our doings in Yakima: While there we’ll make 4 other stops for various reasons. Got some more paperwork in the mail today on the new blue Subaru. It is called Marine Blue Pearl. Took it and left it today for its protection to be applied to the paint job and to the upholstery. Pick it up tomorrow about 4:00. Will see my salesman about meeting him for a run through the audio system. NO.. I just realized, I cannot do that. We have to be back for the Yakima Canyon Geology lecture in EBRG no later than 6:30. So, I will put it off until Thursday morning, on a day when I don’t have to be back in EBRG until 1:30 for music.
We left at 7:50 a.m., arrived just 59 minutes later, filled out the required paperwork, had vitals taken, and the doctor got to me about 9:19, and stayed with us until almost 11:00, including an ECG. Interestingly, my doctor wanted an ‘electrocardiogram’ done and we have always heard it as an ‘EKG’ but he called for and ‘ECG’ – it’s cardio with a ‘c’, not a ‘k’ unless you use German. One of his med-school instructors insisted on the ‘C’ – we wonder if that person did not have a fondness for Germans? John and I were both hungry, but first had to drop off my car at the Subaru dealer several miles back down the road toward home, so did that and picked up a loaner car (a 2013 red Outback). That was a good thing, because I drove it the rest of the day, and compared to mine, I do not like the feel, the reach for various buttons, and the options different (and fewer) from the Forester. The salesman thinks some of these subtle changes will also make it into the newer Outbacks but they are not yet available. The Wall Street Journal claims the new Forester is selling as fast as they can make them and send them here. They are made in Ōta city, Gunma Japan, not the plant in Lafayette, IN. From there back to Big 5 (Sporting goods, with our 10% discount card, and John bought a new pair of leather work boots, sticker price of $80 {wink, wink}, but got for $34, which we’d seen in the weekly ad received by email. They seemed to have only one pair in each size. John wonders if a retail outlet ought to have more of some sizes and fewer of small and large extremes. We were hungry from only toast early for breakfast, so stopped a block down the street at a Burger King and got a chicken sandwich halved, fries, drink, and a cheeseburger. It was supposed to be a double cheese burger, but the cost matched what we were served so I let it go. From there to HAPO Credit Union to pay off our loan on the white 2009 Subaru –loan was at 4.5%. Chase Bank (via Subaru) made a 1.9% loan on the Forester so we paid the old one off and enough of the new one so as to not have to buy GAP coverage. Next we went to Costco where we had to follow through on our new upgrade to an executive membership that we paid for and started at the counter a week ago, when in there. We did that paperwork, presented our cards and information, and had our pictures taken plus filled in a new application (free for members) for an American Express card. Benefits from that include a percent cash refund on gasoline and on all purchases at Costco. Also, a cash refund at some restaurants (not the type where we normally eat). Previously, we could use our Costco business card to charge items, grocery and gasoline, but we never got any payback rebates. On through the store getting more dog and cat food, and a few other things. Except for needing dry cat food we could have skipped Costco – well, the sign on the way out suggests having a “very berry” sundae, and we did (it’s frozen yogurt chocked full of big strawberries in a sauce). Returned through EBRG, to stop at Super 1 Pharmacy for my new high test vitamin D pills I have to take for 20 weeks. It’s a weekly pill of 50,000 units!! After that, I go to 3000/day of OTC vitamin D. I wonder what causes Vitamin D to decrease in my body. Apparently, I’m not alone. My pharmacist says they fill a lot of such prescriptions. While there we had planned to get ice cream on sale, some of my Almond Breeze milk, and Red Baron all meat (4) pizzas on sale. The rear storage of the red Outback was packed for the trip home and we had already filled the cooler we took to Costco. We didn’t hit our driveway until 4:00 p.m.
Once home, John went out and worked in his garden (the new one) for several hours, and also ran/exercised the dogs (twice), the first shortened because of running into deer in several places. He’s fed the feral cats, and I fed the inside/outside one. Trying to catch up on emails and chores, but haven’t yet succeeded.

Wednesday, May 29
Another crazy day with Food Bank and SAIL (22 people in that class today!). Once home, I took care of a few things with vehicle registrations, paying the utility bill (we still have to turn in our meter reading each month–within a month or so, they plan to install a meter that will not have to be read and reported by us each month). I took a photo of John making wood-chip walkways in the new garden – this one between future corn patches. Chips came free of charge a few years ago. Click the photo for the large image.

John spreads wood chips between plots in the garden
Making wood-chip paths

Tonight is Nick Zentner’s talk. It was on the Yakima Canyon. Very fine presentation, as usual. We have been catching up on a few emails (and me on the jobs list), since arriving home. Now it’s time for a late dessert and going to bed.

Thursday, May 30 Today early morning, we drive to the Subaru dealer to pick up my new car from the garage where it got a special treatment on its upholstery and finish. I took along a few things to check out with the salesman about my new audio system. One thing was the USB jump drive, with MP3 files on it. (All went fine, and I have extended my listening abilities for on the road without a connection to a working radio station.) I no longer have to miss my 6 CD system on the old Subaru.
5th Thursday of month — means Mt. View Meadows today for fiddlers & friends. Today was particularly fun. Besides the residents of Mt. View, we were joined by 10-12 preschool students (who sat or reclined on the wood floor in front of us). They had been there drawing pictures to give to the residents. They introduced themselves to us and told us their ages (ranging from 4 to 6). We showed off to them and involved them in the presentation throughout. At Evelyn’s great suggestion, we each explained the instrument we play and explained something about it, and played a couple of notes. I learned something today too. What I had been calling a Tambourine, is actually a Timbrel, played by our oldest member (82), who used to play the Accordion. Then we played a few waltzes and some of the kids kept time to the music and enjoyed rocking back and forth. They were very cute and quite well behaved. They were there for an hour with us, and toward the end, a couple of boys sacked out on the floor. At the end when they had to leave, we asked for a favorite song, one little boy, Malachi, wished for Turkey in the Straw. As a group we don’t really play that, so a couple of us played a few notes of it. We asked if they knew She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain, but they really didn’t. Some sang along with us on simple things as, “I’ll Fly Away”, Oh Susanna, and I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. Their teacher had been singing along with us all the time on most songs. Evelyn suggested, You are my Sunshine, and one little girl on the end of the row who had been smiling throughout, was elated. She sang almost every word of the song, as did many residents and helpers in the room.
Here’s the funny for the day, which is causing us to make another trip to Yakima, tomorrow afternoon. Got a call late afternoon that they found the dog food and cat food in the loaner car, we got Tuesday, and forgot to take out!! So, tomorrow we need to drive back the 55 miles to the Subaru dealer to retrieve our animal food, and fill my car with gas while there, because the prices are 14 cents cheaper per gallon than here.

Friday, May 31
Scholarship luncheon and trip to Yakima, plus by the Leather Shop for a sheepskin cover fitting for my seatbelt, which doesn’t hit me right. Here’s what happened. Trip to town excellent, even finding a parking space in the shade of a tree not too far from the entrance to the new Student Union Recreation Center (SURC). Our scholarship luncheon was in the special boardroom with a huge mahogany table and leather chairs. John came along so we did not have to drive two cars to town – he usually only lunches with us at Christmas when he brings Pecan Pies. Today we had green salads, Focaccia bread with different toppings, and for dessert, some walnut-covered biscotti. We had nice conversations around the table. Only 8 people there today; usually a dozen. We always learn about all sorts of things going on around the campus. It’s still my finger on the pulse, which I used to thrive on from 1988 since I have been a member of this group, meeting for lunch every month, except over the summer. I was always the only faculty member in the group, so I had connections across campus with staff in many different situations, departments, and colleges.
From there we went to the local hospital for my blood draw (INR check for my Coumadin dosage). It was in an acceptable range (2.3) so I do not have to go back again for a month. On to Yakima to the Subaru dealer to retrieve our dog and cat food. From there to Costco, where we filled the new car with 14.9 gallons of gasoline, at $3.69/gallon. It is still $3.83 here in EBRG. Our temporary card couldn’t be recognized. So, we won’t get our 4% off until next time once we get the actual card. The bar code they gave us worked on Tuesday, but not today, for in the store, but never works out at the pumps. Oh well, we have been buying Costco gas for many years with no rebate. This will make up for it in the long run. Into the store where John bought Costco/Kirkland/San Jose beer. Funny how they make the producer put Kirkland (a Seattle suburb) on their stuff. I bought a set of 3 jump drives each 16 gigs, so I can put music on for playing over the audio system (through a USB port), for tripping. Very cool.
On back to the leather shop (our neighbors half mile away), to see about the seat belt sheepskin cover. We all decided that might not be the way to go, but instead to look for adjusters on line. I have found one that I believe will work well. It’s called a Heininger 1027 CommuteMate Seat Belt Strap Adjuster and comes two to a package. Now I just have to find the best price with added shipping or maybe a local source. I found one (new) on EBay for $7.99 with shipping included. I will search farther. Or, have John search, starting with what I have found. He usually is a better on-line searcher than I. He’s busy now making pecan pies for tomorrow. He has followed through and sees how it’s made and says he can create something that will work for nothing.
Those pies got done late, and we spent until after midnight on line with Rebekah who was chasing tornadoes in Oklahoma, and trying to find a place to spend the night after the “evacuation” of people from Oklahoma City with flooded streets (from the tornadoes nearby).

Saturday, June 1
Awakened early (7:00 a.m.) by a call from John’s sister to talk about cameras. She thought we got up early to take care of the animals. Not really, especially after such a long night. Sure, we were up at 5:00 but went back to bed for more rest. Today is the end of year Geography and REM potluck party and John made the Pecan Pies (his mom’s recipe) to take along. It’s not until 4:00 p.m. about 5 miles from our house, out in the country. This afternoon Rebekah sent a map showing where she and all the other chasers were at the time The Weather Channel (TWC) crew got tumbled by the tornado. She wrote: “Hmmm…according to my slightly stale spotter network icon, I was right next to Mike Bettes when they got slammed! In actual fact we never saw TWC and were . . . to the southeast…
She then adds a graphic showing the surge of chasers to the south just after TWC cars got hit. All “trying to get out of the way” of the tornado.
We should all have such exciting times.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

A long title goes here

Suggested title: Covered bridges, failed bridges, tornadoes, bear in kitchen, covered wagon trail history

Sunday, May 19
I forgot to add the neat journey yesterday morning when we phoned Michelle and Bruce Seivertson. They were leaving the motel in Cottage Grove, OR and taking themselves on a covered bridge tour. They really wished to visit a railroad covered bridge, which all in the breakfast room were raving about. There is no brochure available so they tried directions from people at the motel. It wasn’t working. When they returned our call, we followed them along their route on Google Earth and found the first one east of town, but it was not the RR covered one. We found the one they wanted, SW of town so they drove back to find it. We were calling out road intersections. They made it there, but couldn’t access it so they drove around through a residential area on the east side. What’s strange is that while it is a renovated covered railroad bridge, it has been reconstructed in a different spot away from the original rail lines. We all find that rather strange. At one time it looked like this.

A wooden covered bridge at Cottage Grove, OR prior to damage from a flood
The Railroad bridge at Cottage Grove

You have to go here to see what they did and why.
Slept in until 9:00 a.m., still tired from the past two days. Been trying to play catch-up on emails and jobs list and just finished cutting John’s hair. Has been needing done for weeks. We used my new chair, and it was nice with the rotation so I didn’t have to climb around him. Also used my new clipper guards on the blade. Our neighbor came over with both an old and a new irrigation (small) pump. The idea was to remove the connections or fittings from the old one and attach those to the new one. He needing a pipe wrench bigger than our largest, so he will have to go to town and buy new fittings to go with his new pump. Bummer!
We took time for leftovers for lunch: salmon, cheesy asparagus, red fresh pepper, and Cheetos. Colorful. While eating we talked about planning for me to drive to Oregon in June to visit my email friend from New Jersey, who will be back to Oregon to receiving her Masters in Geography. I think we will be able to pull this off, but have to keep working on it to mesh our schedules. I also have a friend from Florida who will be in the Portland area during May and June.
We went across the valley to get some tomato plants from our friend where we were at dinner the other night. They have more than they need and are 2 ft tall, maybe the ones we got are a little shorter, but hardened and already have blossoms. We got two varieties: Early Girl and Early Pick, plus a small pot of hens and chicks.
Cold is always an issue here with our elevation but while most tree fruit has already been lost, the tomatoes were not yet in the garden. Late spring cold and early fall frosts are too common. We always have trouble with ripening tomatoes and end the season with lots of green ones. So, that explains getting the larger started/hardened ones. A couple of years ago a warm fall allowed us to harvest tomatoes and yellow squash to mid-October. So, with trying to grow things – Hope is the Plan. Therefore, we bought 4 more at a local store – all different varieties. Also, we got a pot with 3 plants of yellow squash. You’re thinking “Why not start your own?” Well, all was in place to do so but the bag has hidden itself and refuses to be found. So, little pots and little seeds, if found, will go into storage for next year. Now, two types of corn and 2 types of winter squash are waiting their turn to go into the soil.

Monday, May 20
I think I started out on the phone with our car insurance company and need to print off my insurance card before I drive the new car on the road again. The company we deal with in Moscow, ID sent me a .pdf file via computer email. Nice. Faster and cheaper than a stamped envelope. John moved horses around to the back yard behind the fence to eat grass. They were happy. Never did go to town today. I stayed inside working on emails and calling about various bills and reports and insurance claims. Had some interesting notes from a friend (Sonja) in South Lake Tahoe, who returned home after two days away to find the front door broken on the stained glass window by a bear, entering to eat chocolate chips from a kitchen cabinet. Animals in the house were not hurt. A couple of years ago a bear broke into her SUV and got food from under the passenger-side front seat. That story was superseded by the occurrence of deadly tornadoes in the mid-South, where we know people. And there is Bekah! She being an ex-student, friend, and storm chaser. A team of 3 guys and she started last week in Northern Texas and Oklahoma chasing. They were south of the bad one today in Moore, but not too far last week from Granbury, Texas.
John put the two tomato plants in the garden and watered the potatoes. Sadly, the winds have been so high they snapped newly emerged asparagus spears. He put some ammonium sulfate in water today to use tomorrow on the blueberries. In addition, he put the Hen and Chicks two different places. The ones outside the fenced garden, he had to place in a private jail – aka a ‘chicken wire’ protector from the deer.

Tuesday, May 21
Everything took longer than planned today. Early morning long distance call. Then I tried to answer emails built up from yesterday’s absence, but I didn’t succeed with much before having to leave. I did get my insurance coverage printed out to put in the new car. Then we left for town for my lab work blood draws a week in advance of my appointment with my Cardiologist in Yakima, and while there, I had an INR check. From there we went for a bite of lunch and then on to the Rehab center where I was for 7 weeks in 2010; today we visited the wife of an Emeritus Geog. Prof., who was in for physical therapy following a complete knee replacement. On to Fred Meyer where I went to the JP Morgan Chase bank where my loan on my new Subaru is being financed. I wanted to set up an automatic pay monthly from my regular bank’s checking account. The interest rate is rather appealing (1.9 %), with no prepayment penalty. Finally, we were able to get home (later than planned). After John picked up the mail, I followed through on a note from my health insurance for dental that I’m changing effective June 1. I had sent in the forms supposedly required, but they wanted a different form from the previous insurance company verifying on letterhead the specific date my policy would end. It kind of put me in a shaky position. I was unwilling to cancel it until the other went into effect, but the one I was changing to wouldn’t initiate the new policy until they have written evidence of the termination. Well, I think I have all the information now after talking for an hour to two different companies; one in Wisconsin and the other here in Washington. Oh my, it’s late again, and we need to get to bed.

Wednesday, May 22
Another crazy day and night. Spent the morning on working on the dental insurance again and got it sent off (email), received a reply they had received it, but no action was taken, yet. Then off to the Food Bank to play music. Terrible Pasta today. It was supposed to be chicken Alfredo, but all I got was pasta and a little cheese. Shouted “Where’s the chicken?” Do you remember?

. . . but no one paid a bit of attention.  Maybe they weren’t around a TV in the ‘80s.

They had lots of green veggies I cannot eat, but decided to try the asparagus, red pepper, celery.  I am spoiled on our fresh nice asparagus and this was stringy, tough, and small.  Guess one should not look a gift horse in the mouth, but we had played and sung for 1/2 hour for our “lunch.”  There was an apple/plum cobbler like thing with oatmeal.  It had a couple of spices I could recognize and at least one I couldn’t, so I asked (they create most of parts of the meal there except for the pasta, donated by a local restaurant).  I think I know cinnamon, ginger, and another, but I did not know the taste of Cardamom.  I really did not like the spice, and it permeated the “cake” between the plums and apples.  I just ate the fruit and left the rest.  I sat in my new car at the Adult Activity Center yesterday before going in and figured how to change the date and clock.  Also, how to move the screens, so now I can see from the beginning of EACH trip (car turn on until turn off), the time in minutes, miles, and average miles/gallon for just that trip.  Today’s trip to Hearthstone is mostly downhill all the way, with flat sections.  For that segment I was getting 36.7 mpg !! Wow… huh?  Luckily, I went into the Adult Activity Center for SAIL exercise class and found some cherry pie (turned out to be rhubarb in a cherry sauce) that they put out for us.  I picked up two pieces to bring home for our dessert tonight.  On my way home, I stopped at my hairdresser’s house (she’s a mile around the block from us) and gave her money for some Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and treatment for thinning hair.  As a former beauty shop owner, she still gets a 50% discount on materials (which she passed along to me).  I learned about it from a friend (another Nancy) who knew a friend in NM who used it after her Chemo, and it worked.

We were LATE eating dinner, not getting home from the lecture tonight until almost 9:00 p.m.  John fixed some clam chowder (canned) and added red peppers, pasta shells, and warmed some ginger chicken nuggets.  I threw mine in the chowder and it was very good.

Our trip to town was for another of Nick Zentner’s geology lectures, this tonight was on the local petrified forests found in layers of basalt across our region of central WA.  Locally, most folks are aware of the Gingko Petrified Forest (near Vantage), but there are at least two other layers that have familiar names:  Saddle Mountains and Umtanum.  It was a very interesting presentation.  Next week’s talk is on the Yakima Canyon’s geology.  Tonight was very interesting about the petrified forest layers and their location in between the pillow basalts mixed in with the occurrence of layers 15.5 million years old, 15.7, and younger.

Thursday, May 23
Our State’s transportation agency is making a hire and I had a morning wake-up call for a giving a student job reference for a job in Yakima.  {Email Friday a.m. announced SHE GOT THE JOB!! whoopee.}  Lots of rain, but sunny in the afternoon.  Never got above 58°.   Finished paperwork to mail for the WA Health Care Authority’s dental insurance.  Then there’s the continuing story of the Tahoe Cinnamon Black Bear.  The bear returned to Sonja’s in South Lake Tahoe, CA and she and her barking dog chased it off.  Seems locals have been seeing this bear for 3 years.  Maybe the Game Dept. should move it.  Cinnamon bears are beautiful.  When I was in the ICU in the hospital in Ellensburg (June 11, 2009) John was hiking a couple of miles NE of home and came face to face with one.  Asked “How close?” he said what part of face to face are you having trouble with?  He has pictures. Yikes, tonight right before 7:00 p.m. on the west side of the state the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River, near Mt. Vernon, WA collapsed, taking a couple of cars and 3 people into the river along with the broken structure.  No fatalities, except for a guy in the traffic jam that ensued, who got out to look and was hit and killed by a semi.  The name of the River and many other things in the area is pronounced ‘ska-jit’ – think of the ‘ca’ of the word cat with an ‘S’ in front.  Then, note the ‘j’ sound, rather than the ‘g’ sound. Think that’s odd – try the home of the WA State Fair – Puyallup. Said I would post the Sinlahekin butterfly story when it was on Caitlin LaBar’s blog.  Now it is, so click here.

Friday, May 24
Rained this morning, but has cleared up, got overcast, then sunny, and temps went to 53°, eventually at 5:00 p.m. getting to 62°. I stayed home to tackle all the stuff needing tackled, and have been busy with more pressing things. One is with an REM graduate student who needs some support to get through her thesis project after a bunch of snafus here. She is very qualified and a sharp cookie. I recommended her once for a $1,000 GTU (Gamma Theta Upsilon) scholarship, and she won it at the national level. I will support her and contact other people who can help describe her situation. It’s going to take some time (so what’s new)?
John fixed us a wonderful bowl of chili for lunch. I tried to get off here at 2:00 p.m. to hit the other chores off-line. Staying on-line just creates more needs for feedback. (I wrote that 4.5 hrs ago). Also did research this morning on The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center for my friend from NJ who is coming out in mid-June to Oregon and wants to walk on the Oregon Trail. Talked to my Subaru salesman this morning too. He will show me how to download music from my laptop to my car (and supposedly from a CD of music) to a jump drive which I can plug into the USB port on my car and play through the audio system. I’m pretty excited about that. (Next Tuesday when I’m down to see my Cardiologist, we will do it then.) Also, will check with Costco about a new executive membership we signed up for, but they didn’t give us the code with packet to get a free American express card, which gives us 3% or something back on the gasoline we purchase there or at any U.S. gas station. 2% on restaurant purchases, and 1% on all Costco purchases, plus provides at the end of February each year a one-time $55 coupon for cash or products from Costco for $250 of purchases. We spend >10 times that each year.
John just made a pecan/walnut pie and used the excess dough to make a cinnamon/sugar crust in a pan for “snacking.” I have been in charge of checking the oven to see when it’s ready. Just took both out. Now I have been on the phone and computer about our Costco Membership. What a PITA. I’ll be able to straighten it out next Tuesday when we go back for my doctor’s appt. Tonight, we are getting music from across the creek and through the woods, coming through the patio doors (not opened). I think it would be eardrum-breaking to be at the party (to which we weren’t invited). The music is not really bad from afar (1/4 mile). Ten more minutes and we can set the thermostat and go to bed. We need to re-program the thing but it seems never to get done. John dug the booklet out with instructions and it is now laying on my weekly pill box, having just been unearthed again a day ago.

Saturday, May 25
Sunny for a nice change and not too windy. John’s been out with his garden chores, and I managed to get some bills and letters in the mail to a few places. Walked them up the driveway and beat the postman to the mailbox. I realize they will not make it to people any earlier than by Tuesday for the Ellensburg one, maybe. Later for the Portland one, and maybe another day to California. I took a break to check in on John’s progress with the new garden. He took me on a tour. Started with his cutting “stakes” to put in to hold the “logs” from moving in his stair-stepped plots. We admired the potato plants he started from potatoes we forgot in the house and they sprouted. Looked at his strawberries, squash, and tomato plants (the two large ones mentioned earlier in this blog on last Sunday), and places for four more small plants he picked up 4/$5.00 from Bi-Mart. Some corn (Early Sunglow) is planted but not up, and others will be planted over the next day or so. I didn’t have my camera along for any pix. Our neighbor (whose apple tree we photographed and John watered this year), gave him a 75 gallon water tank, large heavy-duty plastic. He has it set up in his garden, downhill from the irrigation ditch so he fills it to give an at-hand water source for use while planting. Now back to tackle a few in-house chores. We have eaten dinner and I was busy all day on things and never got to the 3′ high stacks on the table. But, I did talk to a friend, who recently lost her husband, a wonderful friend from the 1980s, I met when I arrived in Geography to teach, in 1988. She made the trip across the country, to Oregon, from Vermont where they had retired to and lived for 23 years. It was good to hear she was safely there with her 16 yr. old cat and their belongings in an apartment closer to hers and his family. More stuff happened, but I will spare you the details. You will not see this until Sunday, the day before Memorial Day. Hope your long weekend was/is enjoyable. We are staying home.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Of birds, cats, cars, & music

Saturday, May 11. After we posted the blog, we took off for town to pick up some colas (2 liter) for John at Safeway, for only $.89 each (significantly better than any other price in town). While there, we decided to buy a roast beef, cheese, and tomato sandwich for the road. It was only a regular 6″ size meant for one person. I decided it was enough for us, but then when we checked out, the cashier said, “Next time you buy a sandwich you get one free.” I said we’ll I hope we don’t wait as long as from the last ones. She said, you don’t have to buy a $5.49 one, but can get a breakfast sandwich for $1.99, and they are quite good. Therefore, I decided to get one tonight to go with our other 1/2 sandwich. It was egg, cheese, and ham heated on some type of square bread John says is Italian–I looked it up; it’s focaccia (related to being cooked on a stone and like pizza dough), but was cut rectangularly not in circles. I had her cut it in half. By the time I got back to the car, John had eaten his 1/2 of the other one, so I did too. The breakfast sandwich was hot in an aluminum foil cover. By the time I finished, John was driving down the canyon, but was able to eat his half. That made a nice supper. Got down there and visited a bit and then played a bit and came home, getting here after 10:15. The ferals were happy to be fed, and the one John calls “Johnny” (Cash-ew), came up, and rubbed against him. He is the only one who lets us get close. Wonder what time will do. He comes and talks to John while he’s working in the garden, but only lets him touch him when at the feeding station in the hay loft.

Sunday, May 12 Happy Mother’s Day.
We went down the canyon again this morning and didn’t get home till after 5:00 pm. We visited a little and then drove on a few more miles to Yakima and to Costco for gas and a few items. Playing catch up with a few phone calls to my aunt back east who entertained me last summer for the Wilkins reunion. Called a few moms in EBRG, and just got off the phone with a mom of two of my best students ever. They had gone on a 4 day butterfly photo and collecting trip at the Sinlahekin Wilderness, staying in the bunkhouse (where I used to stay to visit them while they were interning there). I will try to write up some of the story for the blog and add photos of their trip, which no doubt will be on Caitlin’s blog (we’ll give a link to that). There are 300 bats in the attic of the bunkhouse. Her daughter thinks she got a few good photos. (The work has not yet been posted, because she has a full-time job, but here is the link you can check.
The temperatures have gone down considerably so that’s very nice, but the wind is still blowing. Oh, — John fixed the nicest Mother’s Day dinner. It was colorful and tasty.

3 photos showing Supper: Asparagus, chicken & peppers, & served
Supper: Asparagus, chicken & peppers, & served

John’s first asparagus harvest but the rest sourced from the grocery store — chicken, peppers, mushrooms, pecans.

Monday, May 13 Interesting link to a story about an ice “tsunami” blowing into and over houses on a lake in Michigan and Canada. I emailed to a lot of friends the You Tube video that John found through his internet blog reading, but that one is now gone. It’s been removed from there because apparently Darla Johnson sold the rights to ABC, (so you can see part of hers in the above link). It is nowhere near as amusing stemming from her amazing lack of understanding of nature. I had no way of capturing it, unless I had taken a video of the video, but I didn’t think to do that. OKAY — I found another site where someone managed to capture it. The first on the link above is the original Darla capture from her vertically-held cell phone. The second is the link from ABC above, called Sam Champion explains what’s happening.
Everything was okay at my Dr.’s visit. My blood pressure was good at 110/60 and pulse 60. It took longer than anticipated, good meal after, bought for a $20 discount at a Cle Elum restaurant for each of our last birthdays. We are fixing chocolate turtle brownies for dessert with ice cream and heading to bed—have to leave the house in the morning about 8:30.
The picture below made my day. A former student (Tanya) who gave us Rascal (orchard born Mackerel tabby, our inside/outside cat) took two of our orange feral kitties last summer. Of course, we had them all tamed and handled. She just sent this photo today. Amazing how much our Johnny Cash-ew (their older brother) resembles Soda; though he only has a white spot on his face between his eyes and his chin. No white feet. Well, the same tail. Johnny also comes and talks to him (and me) when we are in the yard. John is out in his gardens much more than I am out, so he has more conversations.

2 photos of kittens when eyes just opened (right) and on owners couch now a year later (left)
Barn kittens, then & now

Photo on the left is from May 13, 2013 (now); . . . April 30, 2012 was when eyes opened.

Tuesday, May 14 John and I left early at 8:30 for a monster biscuit (Canadian bacon, sausage, egg on a huge good biscuit) at Carl’s Jr., on our way to the Copper Kettle for the 2nd Tuesday morning meeting of the Emeriti Geography faculty. I took along copies of an obituary for Joel Andress (dead of a brain tumor), with a color photo, because he was a Geog Prof here for many years, from 1966, I think. I’m notifying some of those folks the family doesn’t have contact with.
Today, I did a load of dishes (have been keeping up with that), but two loads of clothes. I HAD to; I was out of underwear :- ). Now I’m working on my jobs list and getting handouts ready and distributed to the Emeriti for attending the potluck and awards ceremony for the end-of-the-year Geography party, June 1. I got my dental insurance change paperwork done and mailed from Cle Elum yesterday, but have stacks of things to go through still. I must order license tabs for two vehicles, and the list goes on.
I picked up my tube of cream Nystatin for my rash (Dr. Schmitt decided it was a yeast infection), and the damned thing cost $20. My Coumadin for 90 days was only $13. Jeez.
The rash is not what’s on my foot. He took a sample cut from my toenail which has to be cultured to determine what fungus it is. He says there is a drug that takes 3 months, but is not 100% effective. Have to wait 6 weeks for results from the culture. Kind of surprised me the length of time required. It is only on the toenails of one foot. Meanwhile, he will approve a referral for a trip to a podiatrist to see if I qualify for foot care on my insurance, or if I just have to find a local practitioner (seems to be a bigger deal in the UK than it is here).

Wednesday, May 15 Our friends the Seivertsons, now from Eureka, CA are scheduled to arrive today/tonight. We are heading to town for a lecture on Ellensburg Blue Agates. It was a great lecture. They were filming it, so I hope it gets put on the web as his 3 years ago did when downtown at Raw Space. Then, we will notify you of the URL.
I missed going to town today for playing music at the Food Bank, because my banjo playing-singing friend was sick. Therefore, I just stayed and worked on many different chores needing done. Our friends from CA made it to town and to our mutual friends’ house.

Thursday, May 16 At 1:20 I must leave for Dry Creek, taking John’s car because mine is short on gasoline, and I want to save it to drive to Yakima Friday. Several phone calls this morning and we will be going to dinner tonight at the friends’ house where they are staying, to visit with our CA friends. John is making a cherry pie and pecan pie to take with us. It was a long evening but loads of fun. We had pork loin roast our friends got from Costco, with raspberry sauce made by Jo Hammond (it was at their house and where our friends were spending the nights), potato salad, veggie salad (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots), garlic bread, and a several bean salad. And wine with crackers and two fancy cheeses. We had ice cream with John’s pies for dessert.

Friday, May 17 Have to be in Yakima for an 11:15 appointment at the Subaru dealer. So tired after a late night, and sleeping in some this morning. Yesterday and this morning we spent a lot of time cleaning out things from the ’04, and some on cleaning the floor mats from much gravel. I had a six-CD player, which SADLY no Subaru any longer has. Even John’s 2009 has only the one. We didn’t get home until 7:00 p.m., after leaving just after 10:00 a.m. (I was so tired I slept in till almost 9:00 a.m.). Now we are the owners of a new blue Subaru (2014 Forester). The 2004 was an L. L. Bean model with 58,000 miles, 6 cylinders, and wanting premium gas. We have hardly driven it since getting the 2009 4 cylinder one. That one now has 60,000 on it. The sales team (led by Mat, whom we met last year and “talked trucks,” but they only sell used ones and had no full sized 8’-ft. beds) are a gregarious bunch and insisted they were giving me a really good deal on my 10 year old trade-in, plus knocked off money on the one we liked best. We wouldn’t have ordered all the accessory packages (such as TomTom Navigation, the backup-TV camera, and the fancy transmission) but they seem to have traded something they had to a Spokane dealer and got this one in return—and wanted to sell it. That’s the “story.” Outbacks are longer and heavier and more fancy with 1 mpg less fuel rating. So the new-blue one, while quite fancy, is actually lower priced than the similar driven Outback. Also has some other cool features and gadgets the Outback didn’t have. The 2014 (really!) Forester has been streamlined and it takes a careful look to tell one from the other. It’s no longer boxy, but is lighter than the Outback for better gas mileage. Yes, I’m excited. However, very tired.

A photo of a 2014 blue Subaru Forester from the company's brochure
Photo from the Subaru brochure

Some day we will replace with our car’s photo, rather than one driving down the road.
We talked and bought the car and then went to Costco for a polish dog and large piece of pizza (We had never had lunch) at about 4 P. M. Then home by way of Ellensburg to pick up Almond Breeze milk for me and Pepsi for John (really a good price in cans), so he bought 1/2 diet Pepsi (he mixes them).
He took the Brittanys for a run, and then is packing in the stuff we bought at Costco (more frozen chicken (ginger & teriyaki) on sale. We had checked it out earlier on our last trip to Costco, and liked the teriyaki. The ginger is actually 4 ounces larger and made by a different company, but we figure it will be fine. John got himself 8 solar lights (walkway path type).

Saturday, May 18 Mt St Helens in 1980 — we remember this eruption day; then living in Troy, Idaho. Today we have winds again to 37 mph gusts. This morning we saw a bunch of Evening Grosbeaks (our first this season and here). I think this photo shows 4 pair and two red wing blackbirds.

Grosbeaks and blackbirds eating sunflower seeds
Evening Grosbeaks show at the feeder

I am going to go into town for music at Briarwood Commons Retirement Center, where they feed us after we play and sing. Only 4 of us are going today, 3 instruments: fiddle, guitar, & tambourine and an extra singer, who also hands out and picks up the books of lyrics for the audience participation. Today we used 2 books and they all enjoyed singing along. The food was particularly good today; we had a homemade Enchilada soup from a dry mix prepared by a lady in the town of Thorp, near the old Thorp (grain) mill, and former owner of the store there that burned a few years ago. She produces them for commercial distribution, and they can be bought locally at Super One and Fred Meyer groceries. The lady who made it added tomato sauce and generous pieces of chicken. I wonder if the beans came with it; they were like chick peas or white beans. She served it with grated cheddar cheese on top. It was scrumptious. We had several types of sandwiches: turkey, roast beef, and ham, with tomato slices in them, a nice oriental chicken salad, a green salad, and several desserts (brownies, two kinds of cookies and a spice cake frosted with what looked like maple frosting). From there I went to Fred Meyer with my friend for her to get a few things, and while there I checked out their sale on dining room stool type chairs. I was looking for a nice sturdy one that I can use on uneven ground to play music outside (as at the Yakima Canyon last week). I found a nice heavy duty, stable one, which has a seat back and rotates. (That will be especially good for my neck for me to be able to turn my head to look to the right or the left at people in the horseshoe-shaped group, and not bend my neck, which usually hurts after an hour’s session. The chair was on sale through today — a free dining chair with the purchase of one at regular price. They only had one of what I wanted, and it was a damaged demonstrator. I talked the floor manager down to a little less than half the cost, and tried for more and a vinyl patch kit to be thrown in; he didn’t go for that extra request, but gave me 10% off the 1/2 price of the original chair. I’ll just use duct tape or a vinyl patch to fix it. It has a slice about 2 inches long along one side of the seat pad. I think it will be perfect. It’s not light but I need it to be a little heavier for the outdoor usage. We had taken my mom’s old fifties kitchen stool to many outdoor events, but it is really not sturdy, unless on a flat hard surface. John stayed home today and worked with putting up a temporary fence so the horses could go behind the house to “mow” down the grass there and wrapping around the old shed, and the 3-cornered building where I park my Subaru. With some strategic brush removal and the horses help with the grass there is slightly less danger of fire reaching the buildings along the ground – if fire should come. Please not – last year’s close call was scary enough to last me a lifetime!
Happy Sunday.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Bluegrass under the Big Pines

Sunday, May 5 Happy Cinco de Mayo. We didn’t get last week’s blog out until today, and you have heard about most of the day already. John did take me out for a jaunt through the pasture where we took some photos of stuff I haven’t seen in almost a year. We also took a photo of our neighbor’s apple tree in full bloom. John sees that it gets water. We came back and checked out some of our tulips, irrigation ditch, and a bridge John built across it, which is better for me (and one of the horses prefers it) to use than trying to jump across the ditch. Today begins the annual Bluegrass Jam session in the Yakima Canyon at the Big Pines campground. The photo is of the correct area but not the actual river bend where the camp is – there it is a bit wider. I was too tired to try to attend today.
Monday, May 6 Luckily, we both had a good night’s sleep to regain our stamina (at least me). We started the morning with a grand tour of the grounds around the gardens, orchard, and house. I just took my photos off my camera and will no doubt include a couple in this week’s blog, to follow on John’s 4 from last week of various blossoms. Then dealing again with medical appointments and insurance issues, a never-ending chore. Later this afternoon, when it cools down, we are going to town for my INR blood draw, and to grab some food, and head on down the canyon for the bluegrass jam.
I got the photos from this morning (and yesterday afternoon) off the camera, but haven’t yet looked at them all. They were mostly vegetation, native and bought, -service berry (or sarvis berry), elderberry, blue spruce, white spruce, black pine, Ponderosa, apple, pear, cherry, plum trees, garden things (onions, strawberries, asparagus [plus the FIRST harvest],

Harvesting a stalk of Jersey Supreme Asparagus
Jersey Supreme Asparagus
heading for the table

blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and the new plum trees. Carpathian walnut trees, lilac, and crabapple.

Red, yellow, and purple and sunlight on lens, also some Raspberries
Reflections on Tulips and Raspberries
White blossoms of Crab apple with Larch (Tamarack) in back at top
White blossoms of Crab Apple
Larch (Tamarack) in back

I took pictures of the pallets John bought for .50 each. They are double the size of any I’ve ever seen. One has five good long pieces of 2 x 4 in good condition which itself is worth at least $15.00 for the wood. Two have solid plywood tops. I don’t know how he managed to get the longest one into the truck.
We had a coupon for $5.00 for 2 full KFC dinners, so we carried those along down the canyon to the bluegrass jam for dinner, taking our drinks with us. It’s hot today — 86 at 3:00 p.m., hotter later. The campground is along the river with big beautiful Ponderosa pines for shade and usually a breeze. It cools down fast. Nice trip down, there, and back but not until after 10:00 – and had to pull over for a come-from-behind emergency medical unit, but it turned off 2 miles down Naneum from our neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 7 INR results back, in correct range, 2.1, so everyone is happy. Horse farrier came to trim 3 older horses this morning, and did it under the full shade of John’s White Spruce trees along the driveway. The temps were reaching 81, but I didn’t measure it in the shade of the trees. I went out twice and talked to them, and it wasn’t too bad; of course, I was not doing anything but standing. I spent most of my time this morning, and still have one medical insurance item left to do. Been catching up on all jobs-list e-mail updates from the recent week before when I had very little time.
Tonight we are going back to the canyon for more music. Last night, I chose to play “You Are My Sunshine.” Someone asked who wrote it and I didn’t know. Everyone thought a different person, and all I did was say, no I’m sure it wasn’t Gene Autry (although he sang it), and not Stephen Foster. Well, the internet has the story and John printed out about 5 pages cut and pasted from several sites.
Oh WOW…this is really good news about my latest time (seems like a lot…2 hrs) working with the health care system to transfer our dental insurance coverage to the CWU retiree’s plan and get out from under the individual account I have had since last June 1, 2012. Their coverage, while something, was nowhere near as good as the retiree plan from CWU. Our medical is already there, so the paperwork could be filled out ON LINE in a pdf document that accepted information, and then I printed. Had to go back to John’s computer where the printer is set up because it didn’t allow me to save edits. John is exercising the dogs, and we will grab something to eat as we drive through town to the Canyon, and eat down there under the Big Pines. Okay, we got out at 6:15 and drove by Burger King for our dinner. Two burgers and a chicken sandwich split. We got a cup of ice and took our own drink along. Got there in time to eat before playing music. I didn’t know as many of the songs tonight as last, and the wind was worse tonight than last night. We left about 9:25 and it takes us 45 minutes to get home. Rocks and dust came off the hill and on to the road just seconds before us on the way home. Orange dust swirled about as we went through but nothing was falling then. (Learned later others were encountering similar events.) I am running on an empty energy tank and am ready to crash.
Wednesday, May 8 Today is the normal day to do several things in town, but I didn’t write any notes at all for this day. Went to the food bank soup kitchen and played music, had a great chicken pasta and an awesome fruit salad, which I can eat — no dark green stuff. On to the AAC for SAIL class, and back home to get ready to leave for the Canyon bluegrass again. Tonight we stayed even later than last night, not getting home until 11:15.
Thursday, May 9 Today was about the same except I went to the Rehab center for music. We had dinner at home. Then we drove to the canyon.
Friday, May 10 Worked on a number of things during the heat of the day. John tries to do most stuff — watering our own trees, and garden — before the real heat but the last two days has had neighborhood irrigation water duties to tend to. One of the days he came in so wet from sweat I had to help pull his tee shirt off. We went back to potluck in the canyon taking two Razzelberry pies Marie Callendar (raspberries & blackberries baked together with a touch of apple. Nice evening with great potluck items– Dutch Oven Chicken and another pot of beans with sausage, two Cole slaws, grilled cheese burgers, spicy (VERY) meatballs & pineapple, nice fruits salad, and several desserts. Home late to find 6 horses loose in the front yard. Luckily, they had not left the premises. John put up a gate and my horse was the first we saw, closest to the road. I got out and talked to her, and looked down and saw our 3 Tobiano horses in the driveway. John walked down to them pushing them into the corral area, and he came back to retrieve Ebony. I had stayed with her as she walked down the driveway in the lights of the car. He came back and put her in, and then I drove on farther, shining the lights to the back of the house where the last two horses were, near the gate they left from. John had forgotten to close it late afternoon when setting hoses. Normally he doesn’t open that gate. The horses found it, though, and there was enough grass around to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
Saturday, May 11 the day before Mother’s Day, our scheduled day to get the blog posted. We were both so tired from a late last night (didn’t go to sleep until after 1:00 a.m.), that we slept in late. I slept in longer than John, after getting up and turning out the yard light and hall light. He spent a lot of time last night on another research project for the jam session regarding a song played and sung last night, “Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight.” He found a bunch of interesting stuff about it, and we will take it down to the group. It’s a song written by Red River Dave McEnery shortly after Amelia Earhart’s disappearance. It was copyrighted in 1939, and was first performed by David McEnery on a pioneer television broadcast from the 1939 New York World’s Fair. That was the issue of John’s research to find out all about the “first television viewing of a song over the air waves.”
The other thing he researched and wrote about this week and we took down Thursday night, was about Leather Britches – the song. It seems long garden beans were threaded and hung for future use and the motion of threading reminded someone of hand-sewing leather into pants, or britches. The sewing movements are similar to a fiddler’s hands and wrist motions as the bow is moved to “cross over” the strings (or strangs — if a southern mountain speaker). A song with many such movements acquired the name Leather Britches. Another term is shucky beans, but you knew that. Right?
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

No snow this week

Sunday, Apr 21 Off to bluegrass jam today. Only a few folks there. We had two fiddles, 2 guitars, a mandolin, bass fiddle, and guitar & Mando switching person. We went around the circle a bunch of times. I used all 3 of the songs I took along (and had copies for): Blowin’ In The Wind, I’ll Fly Away, and I Want A Girl, and then we played two of my picks, You Are My Sunshine, and Red River Valley. Oh, darn, I meant to take the extra Blowin’ in the Winds with me to our music group this week, and I spaced.
Monday, Apr 22 John started off by going to town to craft a custom-made computer with our gurus at CCSOE (Complete Computer Services of Ellensburg). Last time (2005) he started by buying a complete system from Hewlett Packard (HP) but it was junk so he sent it all back. Then after much review and multiple parts purchased from all over the country he cobbled together a full system with 2 monitors and other goodies. That was very time consuming, although very interesting. The system still runs but it is showing its age, as is the operating system, Windows XP, and all the other software he has been using. But technology has marched on and he doesn’t want to go the “do it yourself” route again so, this time, he went to the folks that host our e-mail and web pages and set us up with this blog usage space (in the midst of Nancy’s “lights out” time) in December of 2009. The new system will be more computer (faster but using less electricity) in a smaller case but with bigger screens (not CRTs this time). It is much more than “just” a computer. There is something called a solid state drive (SSD) that will make it sort-of “instant on” plus other speediness. The tech at CCSOE asked if John wanted that and his answer was “No, I don’t need it.” The fellow, young enough to be our grandkid, said, “But it’s a cool feature!” So that got ordered. Now John is hunting for a statue or stuffed toy for on top of the yet to arrive “cool” computer, tentatively named Penguin – ‘cuz it’s Cool!
John’s completing the new garden space and fencing it while the computer parts come to EBRG and are assembled. Strawberries arrived and need to be planted. Maybe more on both topics next week.
Tuesday, Apr 23 Much time this morning on unexpected projects. Now to get to the hay paper work & timing. Worked hard on it but also on several more demanding unplanned projects, and did not finish the hay paper. Did leave at 5:15 for town for a free dinner for community volunteers. We got there after many but found a place at a table with most of our group and their spouses. Another several were at an adjacent table. Food included pasta with two types of sauce, white or red (had meat), salad, veggies, garlic bread, and the best spread of desserts you have ever seen. Many were left and one of the ladies twisted John’s arm until he agreed to take some home. We brought 4 pieces — cherry and carrot cake, and 2 cream puffs. We started with dessert because the line was so long at the main buffet. There was a short program of thanks after dinner to the many volunteers in the community there being honored. We were encouraged to take a donated gift home with us from a table near the exit and to take something from our table (flower seeds, plants, and a few other things). From the last table I picked up a pocket level, with a measuring tape in it, for John, and I took a mystery bag. It was full of goodies. Four pens (always can use them), a coffee mug from Dry Creek, one small pill dispenser for a week, some Baby Ruth candy pieces in the mug, and for the refrigerator a large magnet with emergency numbers. Oh, and a package of Guatemalan coffee, which I will share with the department because we don’t brew the stuff.
Wednesday, Apr 24 Worked on paper and sent it off before leaving for lunch/music at the Food Bank, and by the computer folks to pick up John’s hat he left there Monday, then to exercise and home. Got a couple of loaves of bread today, and lunch was okay. Once home, we delivered strawberry plants, and a box of onions, to our neighbor who gave us some Yukon potatoes from their root cellar. They need to be used very soon.
The very neatest thing that happened today, was I walked by the patio window and saw a special combination of birds and managed to get this photograph. I’m so excited. Click for full size.

A pair of (California) Valley Quail, one Dove, a pair of Red-Winged Blackbirds, and a Gold Finch on the fence waiting for more seeds.
Waiting for more?
Lunch was Black Oil Sunflower seeds.

Here we see a pair of (California) Valley Quail, one Dove, a pair of Red-Winged Blackbirds, and a Gold Finch on the fence waiting.

Brittany Annie under the bird feeding station with several birds eating black oil sunflower seeds.
Annie inspects the feeding station

The platform is newly installed away from the shrubs near the patio. Rascal (cat) was using the newly leafed-out bushes to stalk the birds. Annie is interested also – House Finches seem not to care.
Thursday, Apr 25 Will be playing with the Fiddlers & Friends at Hearthstone today. Thankfully, there were more people there than Saturday when we only had two. Charlie was back from his heart pacemaker implant operation and able to play his guitar. Just seeing him was wonderful. Same ole, same ole, for this day.
Friday, Apr 26. An early call woke me and I misunderstood John’s intro so I talked incoherently for a minute before getting straightened out. Then later we received an out-of-state call from a friend that her CWU-retired husband had died. I need to contact our mutual (university) friends. The illness was known to be terminal but the timing was surprisingly soon. In between calls I was working on the hay paper, and did finally send off the final copy to my co-author. I had a scholarship lunch to attend at CWU and then an exercise class, followed by a bunch of things in town. Trip to the CWU Library, to the telephone company twice, and the last time was to go back to town to the phone company to pick up a new modem for our computer. It has been failing recently, so they gave us a replacement. Just now (8 P.M.) we made roasted walnut chocolate frosted chocolate flat cake for me to take to the fundraiser for the Grange at the fairgrounds, where I have to work as a cashier for 4 hours. At least I get to sit down, and don’t have to work in the kitchen. It is in conjunction with the barn quilt displays and an evening “Barn Dance.” Now finishing the blog because I won’t have time tomorrow, and it needs to get out to you faithful readers. I’m sure there was other good news this week that I have omitted. Such as – It didn’t snow!
Saturday, Apr 27 Day for volunteering, for me, so off I go. And it has warmed up this week. Stuff is blooming. John plans to take a photo of our Tulips, Forsythia, and Rainier Cherry blossoms in the same shot, and put in as a lead to next week’s blog.

Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Old and new arrivals

Sunday, Apr 14 Heard last night the Brittany puppies in CA (Kip, our puppy, Cork’s brother, is sire, and Ginny, belonging to Jeri & Kurt Conklin, is having puppies tonight. At 8:00 p.m. a little o/w female was first born. Owner of the sire is Sonja Willitts. We await news of more. Seven seemed to show to some viewers in an X-ray this week. (Only 6 were there, and sadly, one didn’t make it after a couple of days). Five remaining ones are fine and growing. Last night also, I found, with John’s help, the rest of the tax data needed for some stock dividends, to put in our return. This is a good thing! Oops, need to go back and print the right side of two of the pages; cannot read the 1099-INT totals. Got the 1099-DIV fine, however. Will need to wait for John to come back and access the account from his computer, where the information is accessible (from the web), and the printer to print out for our tax files. He’s out working on fencing his new baby Ponderosa pines. Lunch eaten and all forms reprinted to size. Actually, we had missed two pages last night. Do not know how, but we have them now. It took me another long while to add the data to Turbo Tax, but John reminded me when I was complaining, that he used to have to do all those calculations by hand (for stock/mutual fund capital gain or loss). Okay, so I am happy again.
Monday, Apr 15 I had a crazy night’s sleep, dreaming about the nuttiest things, awoke early and couldn’t get back to sleep, so just got up to use John’s computer to finish the correction on the tax form. I had to get his signature and help making a postcard to include for the IRS to send back when they receive the form.
I began early working on our “hay” paper, but left at 11:00 for the Kittitas, WA USPS, figuring my wait there would be a whole lot less than in EBRG. I was correct; no wait. Drove on to town to get some things at the grocery and Bi-mart. Now we can make Crockpot chocolate candy because I bought some dry roasted peanuts (1/2 normal price), and the last ingredient we need(ed) for the candy. Eventually, I came home finally, had a small lunch, watched John nap in the chair after his, and continued working on my paper, combining it with slides from the PowerPoint used in Olympia, and cutting out and adding text from the article submitted. We have to lower it from the 19 minutes for presenting in October to 15 minutes here as well as incorporating additional information learned since. I will be presenting it because my co-author, John Bowen, will be busy chairing the conference and listening to some of his students’ papers.
John just awoke and went out to work in the sun (changing weather here, that’s for sure). He did take some photos of the snow, and the little birds in the Nanking cherry trees with the snow covering the cherry blossoms!

A dozen Goldfinches on snow covered branches of a Nanking Cherry tree.
Goldfinches on the snowy branches of Nanking Cherry.

[*Click on photo to see a large version.*]
Once home, all the snow gone, I looked out and saw what I think is a female Red Wing Blackbird. Got a photo and will check to see if I’m right. (I was). They are entirely different from the males.
Tuesday, Apr 16 Finally, a good night’s sleep. Guess I was truly exhausted. Today was filled with catching up on projects, and then I played music tonight at a nursing home on the NE edge of town closest to our home. Only 21 miles r.t. John’s got nice sun and not too much wind to work outside in today to make room for his plants on their way here from Indiana Berry Co., due this Friday. Temperatures at 11:30 are up to 49, but the wind has also moved up to 20mph. Lunch and back to work. Went to play music after computer chores all day. Was home for dinner after and we had leftover spaghetti and meat sauce that we didn’t eat all of last night. I have been working more on the PowerPoint for the hay paper, but now am going to fix dessert and hit the hay (ha ha). For now, I’m very tired of describing the hay forage industry geography.
Wednesday, Apr 17 Today, the usual, play music at the Food Bank Soup Kitchen, exercise, and then I’m getting a haircut at my neighbor’s. I don’t know how long it has been since the last but it’s getting straggly. It was almost 8 weeks ago, and necessary, even though my hair seems to be thinning again on top. Might be from all the meds I’m taking. I do take a multi-vitamin daily. I left this morning before 11:30 a.m. going directly to the food bank’s Soup Kitchen where Evelyn (our banjo player), I, Mary Ann (along with Bob, a server, after he finished helping) sang with us. Okay on to St. Vincent’s looking for a pair of SMALL aluminum tongs, which we’ve had and LOST over the past couple of months. You may wonder, how did they do that? I wish we knew. Then on to Exercise class at the adult activity center, where I picked up a couple pieces of cake to go with our ice cream tonight for dessert.
Once home was a time-out to deal with medical insurance over a 15 min. device check required every 3 months for Nancy’s Implanted Defibrillator Device. Jeez. It’s going to cost $44, because Medicare and Group Health won’t pay anything if I have not yet met my deductible for 2013. I think it is $250 for GH and less than that for Medicare. Nevertheless, the point remains, I should have made that appointment earlier by 2 weeks to have it in 2012 where I had built up a COB (cost of benefits) balance. (That’s an account built up through the year that can be tapped for savings). Message to self: remember for next year to arrange so that I don’t go in right after the first of the year (it was 1-15-13), and force it to end in December this year. Of course, as John says, it really doesn’t matter. We have to pay for the first few medical charges at the first of the year, regardless. I was just trying to figure what I could move to the end of the year (such as that), which benefits from being able to use COB monies, which do not carry over. They are lost in the system, if unused. John has added the next little bit to explain the procedure. A technician reads the record with a wand (non-invasive procedure) scan of the ICD in my body that keeps track of everything my heart has been doing. Under the drawing is an explanation of what the read-out is used for and what else can be done, if needed. I have to drive to Yakima for the service, because it cannot be done here. We usually combine it with a trip to Costco.
Later I received a tour of the place to see all John’s recent yard work. First, the garden from prior years, now with Blackberries, Strawberries, and Asparagus – some annual things will be planted later. His newly planted onions (3 special ones – we get yellow cooking onions for 6¢/pound so don’t plant any) are looking good. He cut back the thorny blackberries so we can walk the path through the middle of the garden. He has culled a bunch of the strawberry runners and has rows again. His asparagus from seeds is coming up, and his asparagus from roots is looking really good. He also removed two poles at the “back” of the garden and extended it a little more. We next went over to the newest garden, downslope from the work last year on the round pen (still under construction). One of the last landscaping projects after the snow fell was to move the excess dirt (with rocks) down into the depression. Now he is fencing that, removing rocks and making the soil ready. He plans to receive some strawberry plants this Friday, and wants to get them in there. As well, he will plant some corn, and winter squash there. Remains to be seen if anything else goes in. Last year he was talking putting tomatoes there because of its having a higher amount of sunlight there than in the older one. He finished giving me the tour of all the stuff he’s been doing over the past couple weeks. He’s been busy sorting rocks and moving them and dirt. He dug a trench (no rocks but just next to the new garden space) to put the rocks in so he doesn’t have to haul them away, and he can use the dirt from the trench for the garden. Rocks, sand, and “dirt” on an alluvial fan is a never-ending puzzle. I came on back in the house to tackle my several projects. Later we had a late dinner that was quite tasty. I had not eaten a lot for lunch because it was pasta with tough steak, lots of dark green salad so I just got a little of the non-dark green stuff, hoping to avoid high Vitamin K content.
Thursday, Apr 18 Busy day. Morning filled with chores. Left for Kittitas to have taco lunch with members of the Kittitas Valley Trail Riders — 4 of whom left the fairgrounds in EBRG and rode the John Wayne Trail to the Old Milwaukee Railroad Station at Kittitas, WA and hitching posts there that we helped build. Eight others joined the group for a nice visit, until they turned around and rode back west into the wind. From there, we went back to town, where John let me off at Dry Creek to play music until 3:00 and he went on to do several things. Nicest for me was he filled my car with gas. Then he went to Bi*Mart for some supplies for the yard, and on across town to get his new two sets of glasses. Once home, he gave me an instructive demonstration. I had seen his normal glasses (progressive lenses, auto darkening). His extra free pair (a special just this month), he had made into computer reading glasses. They really are cool. Thankfully, I don’t need any glasses – my lens implants do all I need.
Outside, it’s clouding over and might rain again. I brought home more than half of my Taco Salad from lunch. It was HUGE. It will be my dinner. John got some ground beef with the idea of making a meat loaf, but I’ll bet he waits until tomorrow for that and just has a hamburger tonight, with one of the fancy cheese rolls I brought home yesterday.
Friday, Apr 19 Today, I went to town mainly for a Pro-Time test (INR) blood draw, but it turned into an exciting day. First, to exercise class, and sadly someone had something go wrong, perhaps an anxiety attack, but we’ll never know. However, when she beckoned our teacher over, I realized it was distracting and possibly embarrassing to have everyone staring at her, and they had called the EMTs, who arrived rapidly. I moved to the leader’s chair, picked up the place in the class where she left off, and gave the class of 19, instructions. I am not certified to do that, but I figured there were 3 people there qualified and they were all busy with the person needing help. I went through 4 different exercises before one of the others arrived to take over from me. Shortly, our instructor came back and they carried the person out of the room, in her chair, to the entrance hallway, where they must have gathered more information and taken some vitals. We finished the class, and they were still there with her. I made my way to the hospital, for my blood draw and INR reading. When I got there, no one was in the lab. I waited around and a person ahead of me was taken in, but then I waited longer for the gal to come back to help me. I realized they were short handed and she had to leave to take blood from someone in ER. I know where the doors lead, having been in there regularly for 5 years. Turns out it was the person from our class. I told the story about drinking lots of fluids for the past hour of exercise, but not having any for the past 45 minutes while waiting for her return from ER. I told her about what happened and that we would never know because of privacy, but I was concerned. She asked where I had been. I said at the Adult Activity Center and the EMTs came to check her out. I assumed she would end up in ER. She told me she had and that she was doing fine. I made it home, finally. Brought some cookies home for our dessert with ice cream tonight. We both had an advanced one this afternoon. Late in the day after 5:00, I received my INR report, which was down a little, so I threatened to have a glass of wine with dinner (meatloaf), but we didn’t. Darn. John received his UPS package delivery of strawberry plants, all the way from Indiana, via a distribution center near O’Hare Airport, on to Spokane, EBRG, and here – arriving late afternoon just as predicted (and tracked the whole way).
Saturday, Apr 20 Spent a little time this morning cleaning kitchen counter build-up, and going through this blog. I am going to play music at Briarwood this afternoon, where they feed us afterwards. Today they had a green pea soup with ham and carrots, wonderful chicken salad sandwiches, other things, and desserts, plus an orange/mango/sprite drink. We only had two instruments there, and 2 extra singers. Occasionally, one of the singers accompanied with her tambourine. Fellowship and food was good.
John was down in the field with the dogs when I got home. We are adding a photo John took of the vineyard work. (He started early March with the pruning that you have heard about in earlier blogs.)

Photo shows a grape vine cane as it is being cut in March 2013.
Pruning a grape vine. A just cut cane falls.

The cane has been cut and is dropping to the ground. A short piece (spur) is left with just 2 or 3 buds from which will come new growth and a cluster of grapes.

Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Where did spring go?

Good grief! 
A wet and windy week, finishing with snow Saturday A. M.

Sunday, Apr 7  Yesterday afternoon, John finished planting the five Ponderosa pine trees and rerouted ditch water (irrigation) for our neighbors’ pastures (south of ours).  He set orange plastic tarps at strategic locations to change the direction of flow.  Today we are staying home to work on projects, me in the house, and John in the yard.  Well, I guess we have to get back to work on the research proposals.  That’s happened but still in progress, because he had to create a template for the evaluations, as we are sending our evaluations electronically.  I suppose we could write into the printed evaluation forms, but then we’d have to photograph each page of 3 because our scanner is not working.  He’s going to help me enter my data into the template for my share of the research proposals.  Several hours later the evaluations have been sent to Toronto via digital delivery.  We old farts recognize how amazing that is.  But how about this: did you realize that Toronto is not only a lot east of us but also a bit south.  Then dinner —  salmon, fried onions & potatoes, and peaches.

Monday, Apr 8  Will be a sleep-in-a-little-longer day, because John doesn’t have to leave early to prune.  That’s over until next year.  I continued working on taxes, bills, and stacks of things.  He is working on his garden, including trimming the wicked blackberry bushes, the ones with incredibly destructive thorns, called Illini Hardy, described and pictured on the site from where ours came, Indiana Berry Company.  Move down the page to find the description.  We also have some thornless Blackberries but they are not especially hardy and were killed back to the ground a few years ago.  They re-grew and provided a nice crop last summer and look good, so far, this spring.

Tuesday, Apr 9  Going to be a very long day.  We leave before 9:00 for a meeting in town with the Emeriti Geography profs, and then on to Yakima for lunch and a Costco run, after which, John’s Subaru gets a work-over, oil change & lube and washed.  On home, only for me to turn around and go back to play music at Hearthstone.  Well, it’s night, and we made it.  I may be in bed within an hour (earlier than usual).

Wednesday, Apr 10  I play music at the Soup Kitchen/Food Bank, and go to exercise.  Heard back from a friend whose hubby ended up in ER and then to a Yakima hospital, anemic.  He’s doing better now.  Let’s end the day on a nice note–our daffodils are blooming.

Daffodils near the sunny southeast corner of the house.
Daffodils near the sunny southeast corner of the house.
These are always the first flowers because of the protected location.

Thursday, Apr 11 In the afternoon I played music at the Rehab center. John went for the horse club meeting (evening), to hear a talk on a first aid kit for horses, while I loaded more tax receipts and the dishwasher. Now I am in charge of watching for the ferals to eat their dinner. Need to keep our cat in with the doggie window closed, and open later. So far only Tre’, the extra third orange feral (not fixed), has eaten. Our neighbors quit feeding all but one of their barn cats, (how they know only one is eating is beyond us), and we have seen more of this orange one chowing down on our offerings.
Friday, Apr 12 I awoke at 3:00 a.m. and had trouble getting back to sleep, so I slept in this morning after getting up early. I stayed home all day working on computer tax things. Our scanner is broken, so I spent a bunch of time taking close up macro photos of our mileage log for John’s Subaru. Now I have to do my own car’s log. The term “log” is of nautical origin, and apparently began as a chunk of a tree, that is, a log. Then the information was recorded and that recording became the log.
The failed scanner situation necessitates the photos and the information is necessary to get the volunteer (charitable) mileage and the medical mileage to put into the tax form for itemized deductions. It is worth the effort for the tax write-off allowed (only because my time is now only worth pennies per hour). Some advice: get rich and hire someone to do these things. Now I have to enter the figures in my Excel spreadsheet to get the totals to put into Turbo Tax. I did submit my tax extension notice (form 4868) yesterday and sent it certified mail to the IRS in Fresno. I did all sorts of things, including loading TurboTax on John’s computer (from where I print the final copies of the forms), and then backed up my last year’s on that computer from where I had been working on it on my laptop. The new version is now installed on my laptop, also.
For lunch, John fixed a grilled cheese sandwich with Rosemary/Olive bread, venison sausage (gift from a neighbor) sliced thinly, and cheddar cheese. We had a Honeycrisp apple sliced to go along with it and Low Salt potato chips. Late afternoon, after taking care of diverting the irrigation water for our neighbors to the south, he put a pork roast in the oven for dinner. Was able to take the photos from the camera and print them from John’s computer directly to the printer. [Printing works, just not the scanner. We have several months supply of ink so until that runs out the purchase of a new unit with a scanner seems a bad idea – unless the same inks are required. Something else to look into.] Now I have to enter those data and a few more months’ worth into Excel before I can summarize and put into TurboTax, but I’m catching up.
All the ferals said hello to John today as he worked in the yard. One thing he did before it sprinkled was to spray Glyphosate (generic “Round-up”) on some places. He thinks it was on for at least 3 hours before the sprinkles, but the temperatures never got above 53. Best for spraying is sunny and higher than 60 degrees. Our meal this evening was a pork loin roast, succotash, and baked potato. I mentioned succotash to someone here recently, and they didn’t know what I was talking about. John and I were both raised with the variety made with mixed little green lima beans and corn. There are many more varieties, as explained in the site linked to.
We made “turtle” brownies from a box mix (sale item; otherwise expensive; otherwise create your own) including walnuts with package of caramel.  Below the picture on the left is what ours looked like, but I think next time we will add chocolate chips and pecans to the top, more like the one on the right (but adding nuts).  Our pan was a bit too big so the result was thin – note to self and others, in future fit recipe to pan.

Turtle Brownies from a web photo.
Turtle Brownies from a web photo.
A close-up photo of the surface of brownies with choc-chips and caramel (from web).
Surface of brownies with choc-chips (from web).

We had a piece with the last of butter pecan ice cream and mutilated (broken down) blueberries from the freezer of our old refrigerator in our unheated outside shed. It cannot control proper freezing over very cold temperatures (needs to be in a non-freezing location). Going to bed later tonight than originally planned.
Saturday, Apr 13 Much noisy wind all night, with highest gusts to 45, but in the high 30s all night and this morning still at 36 mph. More interestingly was awaking to snow on the ground; in the Cascade Pass, requirements are chains for big rigs. It’s a mess of snow still on the Pass (and snowing hard); I’m happy I’m not returning from the Association of American Geographers (AAG) meetings in L.A., as several of my colleagues are. They always fly out of Seattle, and I never do in the winter or spring of the year. We will not travel the pass at all for any reason. One year I was in Denver, for the “spring” meetings, and the airport was snow-closed. I stayed on the airport floor or in a chair for 3 days trying to return to classes from that AAG meeting. Bad memories! John is still in the house, not wishing to get out and work in this cold wind chill; mid-afternoon and the wind is 20 mph and temp is 49 degrees. He’s going to work on getting this text and photos into WordPress and I need to get back to various paper-work and kitchen clean-up.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Seems like Spring!

Monday, Apr 1 I stayed home and took care of many things. The main item of paper-work was music related. Got in my entry for the fiddler’s workshop in July, (has to be postmarked no sooner than the first Monday in April). I boiled two eggs, added tuna, other stuff, and made a salad for lunch. I also had a couple of slices of Honeycrisp apple. John cut one up to take with him (pruning) but left some for me. All of these things made a nice lunch. I have been working on receipts, dishes, and email. I did not go exercise today, because it was one of those days with only one thing to do in town. I have to go in twice tomorrow.
Taking the dogs along with me, I walked the mail to put in the box for pick-up. Three of them stayed with me, but Meghan (whose hearing is impaired, did her own wandering) was gone for an hour. John got home and planted onions most of the afternoon, besides exercising the dogs and feeding the outside animals in the wind that got up to 37 mph today. That’s enough to get things on the ground moving around, parts of trees come down, and stir up the horses. They would rather the wind not blow. Still, no serious damage occurred around us.
Tuesday, Apr 2 John off at 7:30 a.m. I went to town early, stopping for a special deal on biscuits with sausage, Canadian bacon, egg, and cheese on my way to get to an appt at the AAC, then home to work on taxes, until John got back and we went for our annual eye exams in the afternoon (back to back ones) with the same doctor. Medicare and Group Health will cover the cost of the exam (once every two years, and $150 for the glasses). I have plastic implants so do not use glasses. John last got new ones (fancy transition and progressive) in 2007 that are now very scratched and not-quite doing the job. The new lenses were $405 !! Jeez, we think that was after a $150 payment by insurance. [More of this story, below.]
Wednesday, Apr 3 At Noon, I played music at the Food Bank, and then went on to exercise. After vine pruning, a Pea Soup lunch was planned if I went, but it was impossible for me to accompany John because I cannot cancel our weekly appearance, especially the night before (as there are only 2 of us on instruments). Tonight I am sending out a message inviting people to a potluck for our music group at one of the player’s homes. If we get at least 8 there, John will roast a pork loin. He says it will take 3 days to thaw and a day to cook. Thus far, I have not heard from anyone able to come. We may have to postpone until later in the month.
Thursday, Apr 4 John was off to WH at 7:35 a.m.; in addition, I stayed up to work on taxes. Got a phone call from the winegrower at 8:25 telling me to turn John around, because it was raining over there. It is 24 miles NE of us but there is a big ridge (5,000+ ft. high) between us. Our elevation is 2,240 feet while the vines are at about 1,000. I tried unsuccessfully and the phone didn’t ring. Seems there is either a phone problem or a ‘John problem’ – I probably can’t fix either one! I called Cameron back and told him, and so when John got there the two of them worked in a light mist. I went to play music at Royal Vista and came directly home.
Friday, Apr 5 It was rainy again, but I called the winemaker and they had blue skies over there. John left. This is John’s last day of pruning, and he was going to bring home several buckets of grape pomace,

Two small piles -- grape waste (pomace) and sand -- for garden.
Grape pomace and sand from White Heron

as well as stop for another box of Honeycrisp apples for our neighbor. I had been up since 5:00 a.m. and, because I couldn’t sleep, loaded dishes, and stayed up to work on taxes. I had planned to go to town to the potluck (first of month, AAC, for pulled pork sandwiches, exercise, and a grocery visit for meds), but John had to go in the afternoon when he got home to pick up 5 baby Ponderosa pine trees from the Kittitas County Conservation District. He gets something every year and has since we moved here in 1989. He has planted a mixed-forest around our house, here in the shrub-steppe. He also needed to go by the optician’s office because I heard Wednesday that the place we’d just been the day before for our eye exam, has a special on for the month of April. Buy a new pair of glasses with frames, and get a pair free (limited lens offerings on the second pair). On the previous visit John started by telling the optician that he intended to keep the frames he had, so she never got to explain the special offering. When he went back, she apologized but he explained it was his first statement that got her off-track. Anyway, now the cost goes up some but he chose a second pair that will be optimized for computer monitor work. Others to choose from were anti-glare for night driving and “special-dark” for being in bright sun. These did not include progressive lenses . . .
. . . and the dark tint doesn’t go away completely in low light. The whole deal is a bit odd insofar as there is nothing to try out before purchasing. Then again much of life is that way. So, on to . . . Early morning, I was on the phone talking to my neighbor, and saw one of the “Eurasian” doves on the fence near our patio. This was the first “up close” look at them for me, although they have been around the area for a couple of years. The one left before I got the camera – but later, I did. Supposedly, they travel in pairs.
Saturday, Apr 6 Started with both of us reviewing proposals for the Canadian Silverhill Institute of Environmental Research and Conservation
John has 7; I have 6, and we will switch when done before evaluating for the final send.
For brunch, John fixed an omelet w/ ham, bell peppers, and onions, (using Almond milk). I’ve been using that for over a year, after going off my large amount of whole (not non-fat) chocolate milk twice a day for pill taking. I was drinking two full glasses/day. I apparently developed a milk protein allergy. I’ve been fine since switching, and have increased my cheese and ice cream intake without incident. The problem was affecting my voice projection. Now I can sing again and yell for the dogs.
Was telling someone in my exercise class about the almond milk, and they wanted to know how one “milked” almonds, so I looked it up on line and found you can make your own. (I have no desire to go to the trouble; will just wait till it goes on sale at the grocers, which happens usually once/month.) I also found I could request coupons for some money off from the Blue Diamond (in CA) company — products are labeled as Almond Breeze. It might have preservatives and other stuff in it, but homemade only lasts 3-5 days in the frig. I want it to last over a month (one can buy shelf life for longer use, or in the refrigerator section, a mixture that lasts for 3 weeks). See this link for the almond milk-making story.
After brunch, John was getting ready to put aside the review until dark, and preparing to go plant his 5 Ponderosa trees in buckets so he can care for them inside our fence. The deer will destroy young trees, so he has to build a fence to surround each one until they are grown to stiff-trunk size. Meanwhile, he has to get water to them. Put these words – deer antlers rubbing trees – into an image search and get a look at all the problems.
I was back sitting in my recliner, looked out, and saw a pair of the Eurasian doves on the fence. I grabbed my camera and only got one picture, but here it is to compare with the previous week’s photo of a pair of mourning doves.

Two photos with 2 doves each -- Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared
Mourning Doves (left) and Eurasian Collared

We provide a link below to the description about the ‘invasive’ species — Eurasian Collared Dove. We do not know if Mourning doves are affected by the intruders. We do know they produce an annoying “call.” A friend who manages the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area and who grew up across the street from our house, says it is a “noxious” dove that has really increased in numbers and distribution. . . Here is a link with more info and photo.
Another, I found, is at this link.
This has a nice description of the bird, its obnoxious call, and “scream,” along with some more about the nature of the beast, although little is really known about how it affects the rest of the bird population of the region.
Meanwhile, here are Nancy’s photos of the two species in our backyard: Mourning doves last week and Eurasian Collared doves today.

I need to get back to the taxes, but before I do, I shall tell the Rascal stories for the week. Recently, he has started chasing off Woody (she was his friend the past two years), but now he has taken to sitting by the corner of the house near our Lavender bush to tackle the 3 ferals on their trip to their feeding place in the hay mow. It’s gotten worse over the past couple of weeks, and we figured something was up, because he quit eating his own food in the house, so he must be stealing theirs. He never has liked canned food with any fish in it (mackerel, white, or tuna). So we were buying that more cheaply at the Grocery Outlet for the ferals. They also have full time access (as he does) to hard food. John chased him with clumps of dirt as he was chasing Woody recently, and then again later, when he went after one of the orange cats. John ran him back into the house, and we closed the doggie door window to keep him in, while the others ate. That worked fairly well, but then we closed the door on him in the bedroom, to prevent having to close the window for the dogs exit and entrance (which he also uses). We’ve been doing that regularly this week, and his desire for canned food in the house has returned. Story two–has been the continued bringing us offerings of mice and voles into the house. No snakes yet this year. John has been finding things on the floor during the night or early morning and disposing of them. This morning, while John was exercising the dogs and feeding the horses, I walked down the hall and Rascal was ahead of me carrying a large vole he’d just brought in. I yelled at him, telling him to take it out. OUT OUT — and he ran by me, back to the doggie door, and left. Phew. I didn’t have to deal with it. Story three–he has several beds in the house where he sleeps. (1) in the guest bedroom window on the ledge by the large Jade Plant, which will have to be removed when we clear out the room (a week’s work) to use for guests (that time is nowhere in sight); (2) beside the computer in the back bedroom; (3) on our bed; (4) occasionally in the window that is part of the doggie door; (5) a chair in the living room, but it is blocked off now because of being full of boxes, (6) in the middle of the loveseat in the den, right where it’s difficult for two dogs to occupy their favorite spot. Occasionally, he’ll let us move him to one side or the other, so one dog can join him. Finally, I found (7) a couple of days ago. There is a plastic storage container on its side on the guest bed, to be used for towels or sweaters, but is empty now. It had two sweaters in it and and I saw him in there sleeping. He’s taken over our house. He continues living up to his name, “Rascal.” You might remember he came from an orchard (friend’s) across the valley.
Now at the end of the week, it feels like Spring.
Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PS:
Hey, this is a cool thing that happened by BBC in 2008. Maybe you’ve heard about it. I hadn’t.
First is the explanation of how they filmed the phenomena of flying penguins,

The original is here:

An ‘early’ Easter this year . . .

. . . even though we’re late getting this posted to say so!

Saturday, Mar 23 I went this afternoon to the Celebration of Life for Marty Kaatz, my friend and colleague who died last Nov, and John stayed home to plant his five new plum trees. The Celebration of Life was surprisingly interesting. Many family members and older colleagues spoke. A large number of friends, community members and university folks were present. The place was full. They had some tables and chairs and then set up a bunch of chairs in rows in front of the food, behind the tables and chairs to the front of the room near the speakers. Speakers included their son, his wife, a granddaughter, several Emeriti Geography profs who taught with him, a retired historian who served with him on the Brooks Friends of the Library committee, a close friend for over 40 years who with her husband joined Marty and Carla on hiking, skiing, and other trips and dinners over the years. By the time I arrived at CWU in 1988, he was retired, but he stayed involved with the department, faculty, students, and community until the end. He and I shared materials, research efforts, students, and he even sat in on my introductory GIS (Geographic Information Systems) class. I taught him how to use PowerPoint, and he gave wonderful visuals with his research. Today, the food included fruit/veggies (the largest strawberries I have EVER seen (larger than a golf ball and they were tasty too. Cheeses on a plate, bread, crackers, and a bunch of cookies and a very large Italian cake. It was nutty with excellent thick cream cheese frosting.
Lots of people there I knew, some faces recognized (but without a name), and it was a nice reunion/celebration of wonderful memories of a great fellow. Luckily, I got to sit down for the first hour and also while I ate and visited toward the end of the afternoon.
When I got home, we called John’s cousin, in PA, who was 95 today! She had a big party and lots of the family came in from around the state and nearby states. They had pizza, salad, coffee, cake and ice cream. We talked to her for 25 min. getting a review of the party, all the cards, food, gifts, people there (~30, so was like a family reunion). She has already reserved the room (in her apt complex) for next year’s party and invited us. We then called her daughter, Pat, and for 20 min. talked to her and John’s sister, Peggy, who was staying there until tomorrow, when she returns to Ohio. Pat said her hubby Ken had bought a Powerball lottery ticket for tonight’s drawing, and if they won they would pay for someone to look after our animals so we could come out! Sounds like a plan (but they didn’t win). Now John’s out exercising the dogs, feeding the horses, and will come back and feed the cats. He threw together a nice dinner, hamburger, sliced Jarlsberg cheese, cut Honeycrisp apples, and baked beans which I had on top of my hamburger. Been spending time on a recommendation nomination for a graduate student for the award John and I fund each year. It’s in the CWU Geography department and is called the Hultquist Distinguished Service Award, for Graduate students in the Resource Management program, or the undergraduates in the Geography department. Here’s a link to the explanation.
Sunday, March 24 Checked for Jim Carvo’s obituary, and made a new pdf file without all the advertisements. Worked on various projects.
Monday, Mar 25 Stayed home to work on taxes, but have been slowed with other pressing emails needs. John did not go to White Heron pruning today. Cameron, the winemaker went to Seattle. We went to town to deliver my car to have its seatbelt fixed (more below). We’ll retrieve it in the late afternoon tomorrow. Finally, finished sending hay articles and the nomination recommendation. A friend called about his need for an immediate operation (tomorrow) in Bellevue on a detached retina, result of 2% failure (rate) in a previous operation. (He’s doing all right now, several days later.)
Tuesday, Mar 26 John off at 7:30 a.m. I must get work done on taxes. First, I checked email, and while doing that, got a call that my car is already fixed (seat belt replacement). They also found that a drain tube near the Moon/Sun roof had shrunk and come undone and that’s why water was filling the area and (during winter) froze the belt’s environment. Phew. Happy to have it fixed and will get it this afternoon when John gets home. The mechanics went down the street and bought longer plastic tubing to install. I installed PDFlite software today (free) and it allows me to take music from my SongWriter software and make a .pdf file from it. That becomes an easy way of sharing with our Fiddlers and Friends group.
Received a sad note from the wife of another retired colleague (Joel), that his cancerous tumor returned, and they will be moving back West soon, where most of their families are. Finished the day by sending out a bunch (10) of Jobs list announcements.
Wednesday, Mar 27 Off to Food Bank Soup Kitchen. Worked all a.m. on last minute work with My Wild Irish Rose and I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen. Three of us entertained and had pineapple juice, pasta, veggies (none left for me), salad, & Starbuck’s donated desserts. From there I rushed to the AAC for exercise. Visited and filled out some forms, got some past-prime apples for the horses or the deer. On home to take care of more email and receipt filing (taxes) and similar chores.
Thursday, Mar 28 John off to prune at 7:35 a.m. and I stayed up to work on chores. Now need to get some lunch and get out to go to town for Hearthstone music, meds, and another stop. It turned into a busy chaotic day, just a lot of odd stuff needing done.
Friday, Mar 29 John off at 7:30 a.m. Nancy to AAC at 11:30 for lunch, program, and exercise. Go to grocery for eggs (big sale) and meds. Someone sent me this link to an article about things not to eat.
Think we are in trouble for several of these, as I had a piece of English Muffin bread toast before leaving for lunch before my exercise class at the Senior Center (still hard for me to call it the Adult Activity Center). They announced it would be ham, mashed potatoes, and trimmings. Wow–see below for what all it included. It was free to members. Included an Easter parade, so we were encouraged to wear fancy hats. The only one I have is a brown felt one with a pheasant tail feather. Not very spring like, but got people’s attention!! Ha ha. I wore a bright yellow western shirt with light tan pants, and a nice tan vest. I didn’t win a prize (3 people got prizes and were voted on by the audience). Some were really lovely and quite clever.
Okay, here is the menu, so I have already told John I do not need to eat dinner. Ham, the best scalloped potatoes ever, green salad (with walnuts, tomatoes, several kinds of lettuce and spinach, but enough I could get only the light green stuff, and some garbanzo beans, red beans, green beans, and onions. Then for dessert, two cold pies: butterscotch and chocolate with hard bits of chocolate. It was really scrumptious. We were talking at our table of how many free dinners they have provided for us all year. Maybe they are feeling guilty at the increase to $25 from $20 the past two years. It’s still a heck of a deal. You have to be 50 to join, but there are tons of activities, including the exercise class I’m in and don’t have to pay a physical therapist for (was costing me $25 for 45 minutes of the same things I’m doing at SAIL exercise, free).
On my way home, I went to St. Vincent’s looking for a small pair of tongs to take the hot bread out of our toaster and for other small uses. I had a nice set that have disappeared on the counter ??? someplace. I got them free at a yard sale last year. John also wanted me to look for a (light wt) blue denim jacket. I looked for both, but ended up buying an insulated carrier with a long strap, for a 16.9 ounce (that was the best fit) drink for John to carry along on his trips away from home. My 24 ounce ones won’t fit it in and I already have a carrier. He seems happy with it. It only cost $1.49.
Saturday, Mar 30 Chores today with Nancy inside, John outside–except Nancy went out to tell John about talking to the wife of our friend who got through his eye surgery well (retinal). And, John demonstrated his plans for mixing (from White Heron vineyard) the spent skins, pulp, seeds or pips, and stems of the grape (pomace) into mulch for his blueberry plants. He is expecting the pomace to help keep the soil acidic but his cheap pH meter doesn’t confirm that assumption. So he has something else to investigate. Here’s an interesting link about pomace and other winery waste. Therein it says “pomace is packed with phenols and other antimicrobial compounds which inhibit bacterial decomposition” – and this seems to be contrary to the conversion of raw sulfur to a useful soil acid. Something else to investigate. He also brought buckets of sand (deposited from the Ice Age Floods) for a top dressing of his onion patch. He’s got 3 specialty varieties he is going to try – two are red (one flattish), and the third is big. We’ll see. He says onions need to expand rapidly (‘bulb’, a verb) and a sandy top layer allows them to do this. Later in the year we’ll have some photos of things actually growing. Now the Plum trees look like dead sticks and the onions (tiny sets) look even worse. Also, we’ll show our pomace/sand entries for the mulch. John came in, and got a short rest, a drink, and with my new clipper blade covers (what’s the word, oh, guards). I gave him a much needed haircut. Now he is fixing a mini-pork roast for dinner.
Sunday, Mar 31 We made a chocolate cake to take to an Easter lunch at

Pecans and Buttercream Frosting on a chocolate cake 10" X 14"
Buttercream Frosted Chocolate Easter Cake

Swedberg’s, and picked-up neighbor Louaine on the way. Dinner consisted of roasted pork loin, asparagus, peas, scalloped potatoes, carrots/pickles, blueberry muffins, cake and ice cream. Easter brings up the odd topic of bunnies bringing colorful eggs but how they do this has never been discovered. But never mind that mystery. Have you ever wondered about those beautiful Pysansky (Ukrainian decorated eggs)? The egg is decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. It is now famous around the world as a colorful Easter egg. The video clip below shows how to make these beautiful Eastern European eggs. Check this out:

It is about 3 minutes long.

Hope your week was great.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan