Keeping track

Sunday, Mar 11

We published the blog today at 4 minutes to 2:00 p.m.
Finishing the first load of dishes, with at least one more full load to do, and still have to do a load of clothes, but might not have enough hot water until tomorrow for either.

I’m starting this week, with a follow-up photo from last week’s blog. The boxes we delivered to a “carrier” last Wednesday you heard about made it to Idaho and this is the resulting thank you picture of the twins with their twin Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. Made my day! Monday, Mar 12

John went to White Heron to prune. I fed the cats, and put in my meds for the week.

While in town, I picked up my Coumadin at Safeway and corrected their discounted price to the correct GoodRx price, $15.85, not their calculation of $19.75. I found only 3 navel oranges at Super 1, because the picking was not good.

I went to SAIL exercise and tried to take it easy, on being back after a layoff of several weeks. I still got very tired.

Tuesday, Mar 13

We experienced a beautiful sunrise this morning. John called my attention to it, but I did not get my camera in time to capture it; however, two of my acquaintances who have shared photos with me previously, did, and gave me permission to reprint here. The top photo by Cindi Crawford Ackerman is the closest to the view and colors we saw from our house (through the trees). The bottom one by Mikka Jameson is interestingly awesome.

I went by bank with our signed check, the returned escrow from our paid off house mortgage in February. I deposited it, but could not set up online, to have the taxes paid automatically to the County Treasurer’s office April 30 and Oct 31, because my cell phone doesn’t text to get the required security code to do through their computer system at the bank. The phone number stored for calling the code is our home phone number and no one was home. So tomorrow, I’ll call in from home for instructions while logged into my online banking account on my computer (task accomplished now!).

I climbed two hard flights of stairs to the Gym, to get my Klaire Probiotic I take one of each night. That was all the exercise I needed today.

I went to Bi-Mart to check numbers, but didn’t win anything. I went for some more navel oranges at Super 1 at the good price, on the ending day of the week’s sale. They had taken my complaint yesterday and filled with a few better choices. Also I got some Iceberg lettuce for our salads at a reduced price. Nice, because that’s the only lettuce my need for low Vitamin K content greens allows.

I canceled going to Jazzercise earlier in the day, because my stamina has not yet recovered to that level.

Stoneridge Resort in Blanchard, ID has our maintenance (for timeshares) on auto pay, but we are billed anyway and it doesn’t say on the billing that they will take care of it and mail me the receipt. I called and talked with Karen Conley, and she assured me she would be doing it.

I put into our truck’s backseat the package for Barbara & Paul to take next Monday when we visit the Yakima Heart Center, and go on to deliver metal roofing to them, in Zillah, at Paradisos del Sol winery, vineyards, and farm. John will load the panels in the truck this Sunday. It will be about an hour’s worth of his time. Add some time to that to charge the truck’s battery.

Wednesday, Mar 14

John took off for pruning. I made my salad to take to food bank for music first, followed by lunch. From there I went to the senior center for my SAIL exercise class.

I conferred with Brandy at our bank, and we succeeded in going through setting up the auto-pay payment for our property taxes on the Naneum, this year, and subsequently every 6 months, on April 30 and Oct 31. I may have to adjust the amount every year. As mentioned earlier, it was necessary for us to take over the payments because our mortgage is now paid off on our property, and we have to start paying our own property taxes rather than our mortgager paying them for us from the escrow part of our monthly payment.

Tonight, we went to the Bridge of the Gods lecture, the last one in this series of new lectures by Nick Zentner, on Washington’s Geology.
Talking at the triple chalk boards

Last 15 min of visuals – my camera malfunctioned & lost 1st part
Camera ate the rest

That first 15 minutes of the visuals was excellent, probably the best of the evening, so I await the edited YouTube version that will be coming through in a month. The first one in the series, arrived this Friday, and I will add it at the very end of Friday’s doings. It is titled, “Exotic Terranes of the PNW.”

Thursday, Mar 15

John went pruning. I slept in. Called in chairs needed for our group today, continued drinking water, and will eat, in prep for going by the lab at the hospital for my standing order blood draw and also will take the orders for the labs for Monday’s appointment with the new Dr. A. Kim, cardiologist.

I did make it to Pacifica, dressed in green, with a green hat, a yellow/green bead bracelet, and shamrock and green necklaces.

We had a great performance and an appreciative audience.

Friday, Mar 16

Today, John took off again for pruning. I went with my found Nikon camera, to the AAC for an event starting at 11:30 a.m.

The event is named, “End of the Rainbow.” I dressed in green again, and wore the yellow-green bracelet little miss Haley made for me last year.

I called and found out the contents of today’s lunch, and it was all ingredients I can eat, so I did not have to take a salad for lunch. We also played two games. It was a fun party, and I did my best to document it with photographs. I will make a collage below, but most of the rest I took will be found on the Facebook site for the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center. I send them to the AmeriCorps gals and they put them out there. Irish Beef Stew, Soda Bread, Lime Jell-O; Nancy with End of the Rainbow & Pot of Gold, wall decoration for pictures.

Leprechaun game: I was looking at the eyes (for a wink) from the designated leprechaun (while all of our eyes were closed), and when we opened them, we had to make eye contact with all participants who had not yet frozen when they received a wink. Behind me are two participants in a frozen condition. I’m making eye contact with the lady in front of me, but not receiving a wink, so I turned to check out another person. The right photo is a gold coin toss game, Betty is on the left of Frank who is tossing a coin toward the bowls around the paper leprechaun.

The most exciting news of the day was notice of the publishing of the video of Nick Zentner’s first 2018 downtown geology lecture, which occurred February 21, when I was sick with pneumonia, diagnosed the day before, and I was unable to attend. John went.

Here is the link from Nick that arrived this afternoon while I was away from my computer. At all 4 presentations, 3 students from Wildcat Filming (at the university) have operated a different camera and then someone has edited the footage into this final to put on YouTube. This one is 1 hour, 9 minutes. Nick always starts with a chalk board introduction, followed by excellent visuals with a fast-moving discussion. Every minute spent with him is an enjoyable education, in person, or on You Tube. I know you have heard us sing praises of Nick for years, so you should already have your hand ready to click for the video’s start!

Exotic Terranes of the Pacific Northwest

Saturday, Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day

Thanks to John for fixing an early morning breakfast (sausage, eggs, toast, & orange slices) to prepare me until our 3:00 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day meal at Briarwood after playing Celtic music.

Also this morning, I tried to renew my educational Wall Street Journal subscription on the day it ran out. I was supposed to go to this link: subscribe.wsj.com/professor , on March 17, 2018 for my $49.00 price – as Giselle of customer service told me earlier in the week. The effort failed, so I called Customer Service. I was happy to complete this call this morning because the person renewed me then, directly. I expect to get our delivery Monday morning. I need to call back next year on St. Patrick’s day to renew again for a year at the same price (this includes both the digital and print version of the Wall St. Journal at a tremendous savings over the regular price.

Greeted this morning with photos of the Chicago River dyed green for the day.From 11:00 to 1:00 at the Hal Holmes Center (Ellensburg, WA) during their annual St. Patrick’s Day presentation, our little Haley was asked to dance by Barb Riley, with her students (Fiddlers of the Wind), playing the Irish Washerwoman. So cool. She has been practicing for this with our group for some time, and was able to lead the kids. This is awesome. I have recorded it and put on YouTube to share with those of you not on Facebook.

You need to watch the Facebook link below mine, if at all possible, and then if not, view the copy I made from my laptop, where the visuals and sound are not as good. Here is the non-Facebook link on YouTube:

Fiddlers on the Wind ~ St. Patrick’s Day 2018 ~ Hal Holmes Center
If you have Facebook, check this version for the original captured by Amy Davison, Haley’s mom. This took place at Hal Holmes Center downtown for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration 3/17/18 from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Then they came over to Briarwood for another performance with our group from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Facebook members ONLY for St. Pat’s Day Irish Washerwoman
I wrote this note on Facebook about Amy’s video. Full names are included here for those who were being tagged on my send to Facebook (who were there). I’m so happy you posted these, Amy Hall Davison. Haley was a great little leader, and thanks to Barb Riley for bringing and leading her students (Fiddlers on the Wind) to play Irish Washerwoman, and for inviting Haley to dance. She did excellently leading the kiddos, and I think had a little advanced practice from dancing with our group since she was 3 yrs old. Thank goodness for her audience presence. Along with the group playing drum and guitar are Tim Henebry and Roberta Clark, also members of the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends, who came over to Briarwood Commons afterwards and entertained with Celtic music again, with a huge crowd of residents participating in a lot of songs with Leta Poppino Kiesel there singing Celtic music we played. Lee prepared with the help of other residents there, a wonderful food fest in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Kudos to Barb Riley for being there at Hal Holmes to conduct her group, left-handed, because of her recent right- shoulder surgery.

Here is our story from Briarwood. They feed us afterwards, always a special treat, but particularly on holidays! First we played music for an hour.

Laura Landon was there with her two sons (Trip plays violin with us), and she recorded our songs on my video camera. I will select a few and post here, starting with our version of Irish Washerwoman with Haley dancing, and mom Amy, playing it on a Penny Whistle, on a much smaller dance floor than above.

Irish Washerwoman (with Haley dancing)

Danny Boy

Cockles and Mussels (Haley singing)

Whistling Gypsy Rover (Nancy & Amy start with whistling)

We performed 20 more songs, but I only picked these above to share. If you want more, write me an email.

Finally, here are a few photos taken before and after the meal.Haley being silly after sharing a gold coin with Bill, a resident. On the right after eating, are my friends Jackie Herum, Sharon Rosell, and Haley. Jackie and Sharon attended the Hal Holmes event too. This week Jackie sent me (& John) my first ever received St. Patrick’s Day card.

Here are the treats the Briarwood bunch provided us. Thanks! Dessert table and large buffet table at Briarwood, 3-17-18.

Sunday, Mar 18

John spent a lot of time outside working on yard and garden, and loading the metal roofing into the truck to take with us to Zillah tomorrow.

The folks in Texas that provide onion sets shipped a week early because they were expecting rain this coming week and would have had wet fields. Turns out that storm system is landing farther east, clipping eastern Mississippi, and developing in Alabama and Georgia. Montgomery AL up to Nashville TN are expecting serious weather. Nevertheless, we got 350+ baby onions waiting for John to get the onion-area shaped up.

Monday about lunch time I get a device check (implanted defibrillator) followed by a first visit with my new cardiologist.
Then we have to visit Costco, and then on to Paradisos del Sol Winery, video LINK to trade our old roofing for Paul & Barb’s new wine. Both are seen in the short You Tube video.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Meteorologists, the weather folks, work under the assumption that spring begins March 1st. Mother Nature doesn’t always get the memo.

. . . …Snow in Tahoe … S. Lake Tahoe, Sonja Willitts’ place, 3/3/18, 3 feet in 3 days.

This Sunday morning {11 March}, on the Naneum Fan, the blue sky, morning sun, and little birds at the Sunflower seeds are companions as I work to get Nancy’s prose into WordPress.

Sunday, Mar 4

Late yesterday afternoon, we published the blog about 4:40 p.m. I was so tired, I lay me down for a 20-minute power nap, with an alarm set for 45 min, but I slept through it and John’s trip to feed the horses. I think I slept for over an hour. Guess I really needed the rest.

I have been working on finishing the music sheets (PDFs) to send to the group but am only part way through now, and found a missing one I have to contact my cohort with the software for Finale SongWriter 2012 music on her computer to get her to send me her copy tomorrow morning, I hope, of the .mus file created. We normally share those so we can share and she can edit the music score. [update: She had one of the two I requested, but only the PDF document for the other (Whistling Gypsy Rover) so I’ll just go with the PDF from last year and worry later about finding the SongWriter version apparently in my old system (for 2010) on the old Toshiba laptop. I thought I moved over all the old ones to the new Dell computer.] We have to print from the SongWriter or create a PDF from there to share with the group so they can print on their own computer all the songs for the next month (or two).

I sent all the PDFs to the group, the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends, and most of them can print the additions, to add to last year’s play list for March & April.

Even with my nap yesterday late afternoon, I slept in this morning. John has been out to take care of the animals and I have fed two of the outside cats.

I continue working on Elaine Harvey’s Ph.D. letter of recommendation to UI, but I’m still a long way to go before I can submit it. [update, 3/10, finished the last draft and sent electronically to be there Monday a.m. for the Admissions Office to add to her file].

Monday, Mar 5

I worked on getting the master setup to print back to back six songs for 3 add-on pages to audience copies. Need to make a new cover for the audience copies and then find them and get John’s help taking out two staples from each copy. I will then have to remove the ending pages that are being replaced, and the cover, which also needs replaced.

We left for town at 12:30 to get our toenails trimmed at 1:15 p.m. It’s normally covered by Medicare every 3 months, but we will likely have to pay for this first one, because we haven’t reached our deductible yet this year.

We went by Super 1 for Pate’ cat canned food. It was an awesome price at 44¢/can. Normally 47¢ at Costco, but only with 4 flavor choices in a box of 32. This sale included ‘bits’ as well, but the only place in town selling them the cheapest is at Pet$ense for 49¢. Our 4 cats go through a can per day. They have hard kibbles 24/7 in a feeding house.

We went by Safeway for stuff – getting Powerade Zero at a great price 79¢/32 oz when buying 5. Why they do stuff like this is beyond comprehension. Along that line of thought: I collected my refund for a pricing mistake last week. A sale (~1/3 off) of Pillsbury brownie mix did not make it into their register. The receipt never shows the cost, but rather someplace on the tape there will be an amount subtracted. I’m usually home for an hour before I figure out what they have done. Crazy! So, I got my refunds, and I received an extra $1 for my time & trouble.

Tuesday, Mar 6

John stayed home from wine grape vine pruning to hold Myst for David to trim her feet at 10:00 a.m.

I left for a haircut around our rural block to Celia’s at 12:00. I was very ready for the cut.

Then back to get John and drive to Yakima for my 2014 Subaru maintenance and 30,000-mile work over appointment at 2:15. We got there in good time and checked in. I had taken my laptop because we were expecting a long wait. They did not disappoint us… taking 2 hrs, 20 min. 30,000 is one of Subaru’s mileage points (also 60K & 90K) where they do numerous things not part of the standard oil/lube package. Our dealer’s charge seems to be less than many other large city areas, from what John has seen on the web. Anyway, this is a good income stream for the dealer, and it seems to keep our cars running as they should.

Modern cars are complicated machines with many moving parts.
See this article for an example: Lineartronic Continuously Variable TransmissionThis is a “steel” belt that moves, and acts like the “chain” on a bicycle. It needs to work perfectly. If it fails, it is like sudden cardiac death for your car. Okay, the belt can be replaced and the damage repaired more easily than your heart.

Back to my communication issues at the Subaru service window: I started with giving them my cell phone, and asking them to notify Greg, the service manager to check out my Bluetooth set up because it has been experiencing alternately unintelligible messages to others when I call from my car, using the Bluetooth connections. I have started parking and turning off the car and dialing on my cell phone without going through the Bluetooth. That makes it a pain for not being able to call hands free from the car when I’m on my way home, and only have to push HOME on the screen. Because the problem is intermittent, I don’t think they were able to do anything about it, but I have tested it once on my way home and it worked all right. I will continue the testing next week, when my trips to town resume.

While there, we went to Costco, and filled my tank, only needing 5.5 gals, but the price is right at $2.69/gal. and the lowest in Ellensburg is $2.87/gal. Then inside for a few stops.

We got our cash refund, from using our Visa card on the premium membership, where we get 2% rewards for all purchases from Costco, 4% on gasoline there, and 1% on all other purchases anywhere. We receive a nice total with every February statement. This year’s (for last) was $286.35. Costco is a membership place, so this isn’t quite the good deal that it seems, with the membership rate being over $100. Their pharmacy prices in some cases are significantly less (more than ½ the price of any pharmacy in Ellensburg).

Checked on my Good RX coupons (for what they have in my file) for prescriptions. They only had Atorvastatin, and I forgot to ask if they had my refill instructions in on anything else. I’ll have to call on that.

I went by the optical dept. to have an adjustment of my sunglasses. Seemed crooked, and they also fixed a place of the metal frame exposed that would cut my finger when removing my glasses. All fixed now.

We detoured through EBRG on the way home, for the principal reason of going by 14th St. & Water to pick up two boxes of baby clothes and toys, which are going later this week to Idaho with a friend of a friend to receive in Moscow, ID. Because we had to pass by Super 1 Grocery, we stopped in to see and buy some of the sale priced cat food.

Wow – I got my add-ons for the audience copies (three back to back pages to add to the end and one list at the beginning, and now need to get John’s assistance un-stapling, so he can re-staple the rearranged 24 copies.
Saves me a trip and money to Xerox. Costs us our time and some paper & ink. John had to replace my Magenta this morning.

I put Jennifer Webber’s phone in my cell phone. She lives on Fox Rd, across the county road from friends, the Orcutts. It’s 11.1 miles from us via Rader, Fairview, Brick Mill, Venture, Lyons, to Fox Rd. She is donating a Raggedy Ann and a Raggedy Andy doll for the packages going to Moscow, Idaho. Destination: Laura (Applegate) and Robert Heinse for their newborn twins! Here are the recipients: Laura Applegate Heinse with Reija and Otto, born 2-15-18.

Laura was a CWU student, lived, and worked in EBRG. We’ve kept in touch since she moved to Idaho, and got a job in the Palouse Conservation District office.

Wednesday, Mar 7

I did not have to call Jennifer to pick up the rag dolls. She will put them out at her gate by the road and I will pick up there this morning. I set up the meeting with Stephen (friend of Laura, whose wife is about to have their first baby) tonight to pass over the boxes and the dolls. I glanced at the stuff (clothes & toys) – the mothers will have to sort it all out.

Wash dishes. I started running the add-ons for the audience copies and ran out of black ink. I will wait for John to get home to change and not risk screwing up the only replacement cartridge we have left. Note: time to order inks.These two dolls were given to me north of Kittitas, WA to send to the twins. An interesting side note. These dolls are washable in a (preferred front loading) washing machine!

Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and has a triangle nose. Johnny Gruelle received US Patent D47789 for his Raggedy Ann doll on September 7, 1915. The character was created in 1915 as a doll and was introduced to the public in the 1918 book, Raggedy Ann Stories.

Washed dishes, and put Stephen’s phone into mine. Now I need to charge my phone and get a snack.

John replaced my black ink cartridge in the printer and I finished assembling all the audience copies. So, he was ready a little after 4:00 to staple them all together; two staples in the upper left corner. Now I’m set to go.

Thankfully, I was well enough to attend Nick’s geology talk tonight. We arrived before the doors were to open at 6:30, and got a front row seat, just 2 away from the center of the room.Burlingame Canyon – 40 Floods; right pic by Bruce Bjornstad

Tonight’s presentation was titled: “Dating the Ice Age Floods”

(1) Nick’s Introduction via Chalk Boards of the topic for the evening
Introduction via Chalk Boards

(2) Nick Zentner 3-7-18 VISUALS, “Dating the Ice Age Floods”
Introduction via Visuals

Recall, the video version will be replaced by a later triumvirate videoing team capture and editing into a professional recording of the evening, which will be uploaded to YouTube, for all 4 nights of this year’s Hal Holmes Downtown Lecture series. When they are completed, I’ll include the links in this blog.

Once done, I turned on my phone and caught the message from Stephen that he made it town and was several blocks and around the corner from where I was. So, we went and met him parked in front of the Courthouse, and transferred the baby goods and toys to his car.

We got home late, but John had already fed the animals and we had eaten chicken sandwiches while waiting for Nick to begin.

Thursday, Mar 8

John took off for his pruning activities this morning. It is snowing and changed to rain for my day out. They had okay pruning weather over at the big bend of the Columbia River.

I fixed breakfast and fed the cats. I still was working on finishing the music copies to put in my own book and one to give to two of the players. It got done in time and I loaded everything in the car to take off early for my blood draw before going to the Meadows Place.

We had a good turn-out at the Meadows of players and audience. This was our first time for some of this music, and for some of the players, a very first time for all of it.

Haley was there in her Leprechaun outfit and danced hard to Irish Washerwoman, delighting all the residents. Friday, Mar 9

Wind blowing severely started in the early morning, reaching 38 mph gusts. Sun is shining and John has fed and left for White Heron. I’m staying put today, missing my SAIL exercise class. One more rest day, and I’ll resume those activities Monday.

I have my agenda cut out. I must finish the letter of recommendation for my former student to enter a Ph.D. program. I have other projects that must be completed that have been ignored while I was sick.

I received the results of my lab draw yesterday (INR=1.8) and have to increase my dosage of Coumadin tonight to raise the low reading. I also will have wine with dinner to raise it. It will be checked again next Thursday by blood draw.

Through the kitchen window John saw the Merriam turkeys in the front yard. I grabbed my camera and went for pictures (first at the window). They kept coming. It was amazing. I think we ended up with 17 or 18. And a couple of videos, you see below this collage of images.

Merriam Turkeys Coming – Mar 9, 2018

Merriam Turkeys Going – Mar 9, 2018

Saturday, Mar 10

We both slept in until about 7:30.

Early this morning my friend Maude Buszek (‘Nancy J’, friend since the 6th grade) sent via Facebook this picture of an albino doe she took this morning on a walk in Michigan. An albino doe, photographed by my long-time friend, Maude Buszek, Michigan. About an hour north of Detroit.

Sadly, I’m missing the wedding in Vancouver, WA of Rebekah LaBar and Vincent Lo. I’ll have to be there in spirit. Check down in this blog later today to 1:00 p.m.

Only people with Facebook can follow this video of Pan Handler Rag practice for March 17th in Nampa, ID with Bobbie Pearce (piano), her daughter Katrina Nicolayeff (left-handed fiddler) and others.

Facebook Entry ONLY

But check this link BELOW out: (if you don’t have Facebook access)

Panhandle Rag by Bobbie Pearce (piano), daughter Katrina Nicolayeff (left-handed fiddler), and others, in practice for Mar 17th Junior Jammers’ performance.

Panhandle Rag by my former teacher & daughter

The link they posted on Facebook (FB) is not reachable by many of our friends (including John) without a FB account, so I played it in my lap and videoed from my computer laptop. It is not as good on sound, but you get the idea. I gave you the Facebook link in case you want to experience it on FB, and there you can set the sound to be on when it starts. You’ll see on my capture, I have a few seconds without, until I could reach for the mouse and turn the sound on. I don’t know why it reset to mute, after I viewed it once.

I found this other version or Panhandler Rag by fiddler Dave Reiner and Andy Reiner backing him on an Octave Mandolin. I have never known of an octave mandolin. This was filmed at Mark O’Connor Camp.

Pan Handler Rag by the Reiners – Mark O’Connor’s Camp
Before I leave this subject, check out this link, for the history of Mark O’Connor’s Fiddling Camp:

Story of the Formation of Mark O’Connor’s Fiddle Camp

I sent off my draft LOR to Elaine Harvey, and she has okayed it, so I will now find the link and upload the document digitally to the Admissions Office at the University of Idaho.

John fixed us brunch today, and is out working again while the sun shines. We had (baked) eggs with ham, mushrooms, and cheese, half each of a navel orange, and a piece of toasted Hazelnut with sesame seeds bread.

1:00 p.m., now the bewitching hour has arrived, and I’m sad to be missing an international wedding I planned to attend today in Vancouver, WA to participate in the ceremony to join Rebekah LaBar and Vincent Lo, in from Sydney, Australia for the week. My pneumonia got in the way and I had to cancel my trip. I have been enjoying a wonderful photographic lead in to the day all week. It continued this morning and I await the wedding photos.

Here are a couple of engagement pictures in Vancouver, WA at Orchards Community Park, taken by Clarissa Noel, Photographer, earlier in the week.I’m going to take a break and submit on line digitally, my Letter of Recommendation so that is off of my list of to-dos. I’m tired of the stress. I’m the only one who can do this.
~~ IT IS DONE ~~ acknowledgment copied and sent to Elaine.

Now – for last minute photos of the wedding. Thanks to Caitlin for publishing these tonight after the festivities. We will see the professional ones later on, on the photographer’s website.During the wedding, Robin, John, Caitlin, Rebekah, Vincent; right, after, coming in to the reception (Vincent, Rebekah, with Mom, Robin)

Sunday, Mar 11

Publishing this midday, after enjoying the rest of yesterday’s omelet with trimmings.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Nancy’s introduction to this week’s blog (written Mar 3, a.m.). I’m sorry, but while I have good information included herein about recovering from my bout with pneumonia, I do not have the energy to make this report more than a skeleton. You’ll have to enjoy John’s column creation this week, please. I will fill in a few spots through the week, to get this draft to him for publishing, with apologies I do not feel up to tackling the report. Actually, while putting it together, I found an addition to end with, while he was out feeding, watering the horses, and picking up branches blown down in our recent high winds.

Sunday, Feb 25

For the rattling, chattering, wheezing noises to cease when I breathed, I needed help. No one knew anything I could easily do. This morning, I developed a new treatment that seems to help me release mucus from my nose and from lower down. Here’s my description.

Make a cup of hot liquid pretty hot. Hold my nose over the steaming cup and breathe through my nose (mouth closed) and inhale and blow out into the cup, to release the heat. Keep doing that until it cools, taking a drink when it is no longer too hot to imbibe. Cough and blow nose. Mucus will be released into a piece of toilet paper (or Kleenex), but I have only been using TP, folded over. Continue until heat is gone and reheat well, after adding more water. Cough more as possible. Do the breathing over the hot liquid to moisten the nostrils. Blow nose. Cough, when possible; continue trying. Something will come out. I did this for probably 20 minutes. I continued and have gotten a lot expelled.
After more minutes, I coughed again and was able to get more up; repeated blowing nose.

I continued through the week, doing it, especially when congested.
(I should have done this at 2:40 a.m. this morning, when I awoke all congested, but I just went with coughing then and released enough to be able to get back to sleep.

We awoke to no snow, but flakes were beginning to fall. Within an hour the quantity changed and we likely have over an inch. We have nothing like will plague the eastern U. S. the rest of this week. John checked road cameras, and there is not currently snow east of us, where he is driving today to go to a lecture at 2:00 p.m. on “Digging Deeper: Ancient Peoples of the Columbia Basin”, by local historian, Mick Qualls, presented at the Quincy Valley Historical Museum in Quincy, WA.
See the photos and info here: Historical Info
John met Tom and Lynne Snyder there, and sat with them in a pew of a Pioneer church, moved to beside the Historical Society’s 1904 Reiman-Simmons House. Both buildings have been restored at considerable expense. Tom is one of the pruners John volunteers with regularly at White Heron Cellars and vineyard. Lynne comes to the Raclette and has done several favors (knitting/repairs) and actually knitted some gaiters for me to wear at the Raclette.

Last evening we published the blog about 6:30 p.m.

I need to make progress on several things today.
Work toward writing a letter of recommendation for a former graduate student (Resource Management program) from the early 2000s. She has decided to go on for her Ph.D. in Natural Resources. I served on her thesis committee and had her in three classes.
Yesterday, I receive all her current and past information. I still have to hear from the school and find out exactly what they want me to cover, but meanwhile, she has sent me all my requests for information about her, that being what classes she took which years, a copy of her transcript, Master’s thesis, letter of intent for program application, and her resume.

I need to contact the music group about their upcoming playing Thursday at the Rehab, in my absence. I have to call in the count for chairs.

Monday, Feb 26

We awoke to 29°F, a bit warmer than yesterday morning, John did morning feedings and left at the normal time.
I have been working on the new playlist compilation to share with the group. They will need to pull 19 songs from last year’s packet and change 5 entries for this year. I will make PDFs to mail of the new additions, some of them brand new to the group.

Tuesday, Feb 27

John, off for pruning.
Snowing this morning.

I am very happy our trip to the doctor in Cle Elum was last week.

Early morning I-90 (5:20 a.m.), near Cle Elum, this happened, and blocked the westbound lanes for much of the day:Glad no one was killed or injured.

I drove in for my blood draw update on the dosage of Coumadin, because of the effect the antibiotic has on it.

Wednesday, Feb 28

John left at 7:40 for WHC after doing the morning feeding.

I stayed home again, and spent the morning on and off the phone, computer, and on Collared Dove control. I’m continuing to fight the phlegm by expelling it.

Bill Howard sent a picture for us and a word doc for me (Earth Science sites). Last week’s send from Michigan came in an unreadable format and I chose not to send it to my list of almost 80 people who appreciate receiving it. I sent a copy to only a couple of regular readers on my list. Bill likes it so much, that he [well versed regarding computers] spent the time to reformat the information, so I could distribute, and I had already notified the team producing it, that the format was incorrect. (Formatting was corrected this week on the new send for 3 March, arriving 3/2.)

I got an email from a gal I recently met at the senior center about her and her husband. They’ve only been here for 3 years, moving from New Richmond, Ohio, not that far from Cincinnati, where John and I met in 1965. I met her through the Line Dancing class, and when I took videos 2 weeks ago of the class, I had collected emails for those there that day.

I worked more on researching information for the letter of recommendation, by going through the information I had for my involvement, starting in 2004.

Got nearly dark at 2:00 and now has started snow flurries.

John left for Nick Zentner’s lecture tonight, “Ghost Volcanoes of the Cascades.” For these few near the N-S center of our State, many are in the mid-20 Million year time frame. Goat Rocks Volcano is gone. Mt. Rainier is still hot and only 500,000 years old.
Goat Rocks is the source area (vents) of the Andesite flow making the columns in the picture below.
Unfortunately, when the flow was named this was not known, and so they named it after a different vent, namely one called the Tieton (pronounced, Thai-a-ton), closer to the river of that name.This photo, near Oak Creek canyon, is part of the evidence of the ghost volcano. They are a specific type of rock, Andesite, that has been traced back to the Goat Rocks. The yellow flowers are Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), something we have here on the Naneum Fan. Our rocks are Basalt from flows DNI [Nick’s phrase is Damn Near Idaho].

While John was gone, I constructed a note of consultation with the nurse of my cardiologist who retired. I have an appointment coming up with the new cardiologist on March 19th.

John got home at 8:42 p.m., not soon enough for Annie. She started whining at 8:00.

I’m going to fix a salad so I can take my antibiotic with food.

Thursday, Mar 1

John left for the Mariposa Vineyard, normal time, after feeding the animals.

I stayed up and finished printing and sorting music by name and copies to take with the 2 books, and audience copies.

I took my next to the last antibiotic tablet, after eating a bowl of bran to be my food required with it. It started raining so I dressed with a rain hat. Got all my stuff to the car in the rain, and it started raining on me harder on the way in to deliver the bag of music to the Rehab, where the group is playing today.

After mission accomplished, I went to Super 1 for the sale on canned Friskies cat food, at a much-lower price of 44¢/can. I bought a lot. It was still raining when I got in there, but stopped for my return, and the sun came out. Crazy weather.

From there to Safeway, for lettuce. Safeway has very “busy” ads, convoluted pricing gimmicks, crowded aisles, and undecipherable register receipts. Still, once in awhile they have a great price on something. And usually on the 2-liter colas they sell using the name Refresh.

My last antibiotic pill is tonight.

Now, I need to finish the PDF docs on the March music to send to the players.

Friday, Mar 2 The recent east coast storm, now heading across the Atlantic Ocean.

We awoke to snow (accumulation about an inch) and John stayed home from pruning. The WA-DOT cameras showed a nasty looking scene where I-90 goes over Ryegrass Summit at 2,550 feet elevation. Much fog, also. A stay-off the roads day. There were accidents on I-82, south of EBRG, but not at Ryegrass.
Our snow pales by comparison with New Jersey’s at Elise’s house.Her car had ~15” and her mailbox w/ garbage can for scale above

John went with me for my errands: to pick up my music bag at the Rehab, for my follow-up blood draw, which took a long time because of a lot of sick people needing phlebotomist help in ER. We left for shopping at Super 1 and Safeway and on home.

Once home, I began working on the playlist to get finalized for next week. It’s a slow, tedious process.

John made an Angel Hair pasta soup, with smoked Chicken/Turkey and vegetables. He cheated by starting with a package mix from Farmhouse Foods, a brand sold at our local BiMart, and on-sale the day the doctor said “Eat soup.” Picture here. Last week he started with their White Cheddar and Shells mix. They are good starters, but need additions to make a meal.

Saturday, Mar 3

Had a good night’s sleep, awaking to a sunny day.
This morning in the valley (just 5 miles south of us), they are experiencing freezing fog, mist, and low visibility (1.25 miles), at the airport. Weird. 29° there and 34° here at 8:30 a.m.
I need to feed the cats. Did, and found a headless mouse had been deposited for us at the front door.
John just finished the morning feeding and got rid of the mouse. Now he’s off to feed the horses. I hoped to have this draft ready for him, when he returned, but found this entry instead on Facebook, so I thought I would end with a positive note about Brittanys.The smart dog with the glasses is owned and trained by Kris and Anthony Thompson, of Seattle. Ranger is now a Versatile Dog (AKC award) with this certificate from the American Brittany Club. CH Timberline’s Lone Ranger NA (Novice Agility). The certificate has me listed as one of the breeders. I was involved only because I co-owned a parent of his (with Teddi Montes Botham) and had to sign the litter papers. I actually met Kris and her husband, Anthony, in Ellensburg a year or so ago, when Karen Douglas Barrows introduced us at a Hunt Test held about 7 miles from our home. I met them and their dogs and joined their Facebook site (where this just appeared).
~
Hope your week was fine.
~
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, Feb 18

Reflections to last week, late in coming. Both refer to last week’s blog activities, which was already published. First, is from Thursday night; second is from yesterday (Saturday).

(1) This movie below is rather long and not of the best quality videography, but if you are interested in birds and Celtic locations, you will enjoy this. I went with John to the local chapter of our Audubon group for a photo presentation. Last time you heard about their travels it was to the Cornwall coast for a bird-watching hike several years ago. They do a couple weeks at a time.

Jan Demorest & Steve Young ~~ Wales Bird Walk

Jump to Saturday for:

(2) This below was taken by Gene, a friend of Evie, the violinist sitting behind me, as we played Roll on Columbia, Roll on. It was written in 1941 by Woody Guthrie. In the video below, the second song is The Frozen Logger, by James Stevens, 1951. It is a funny song. I have on the red blouse you saw explained in last week’s blog, and my Ellensburg Rodeo hat, because it was the weekend of the Spirit of the West. Go back and check that out last week. Meanwhile, here is the link to the video of the two songs.
2 songs by KFF&F

You can find Woody singing Roll On Columbia here, with lyrics printed below it.
Woody

You can find Johnny Cash singing The Frozen Logger, here:
Johnny

Normally, I’m singing but much less so today, because I knew it would make me start coughing, which I did not wish to do. I started my coughing journey Wednesday night that week.

Monday, Feb 19 Presidents’ Day

Memories of the rollover of the logging truck, several years ago, at the spot where our driveway enters the county road.

We awoke to a cold morning, 24°.

John stayed home today, because grapevine pruning was cancelled with Cameron in Seattle at Pike’s Place Market. Tomorrow they decided not to resume because of the cold weather. Wednesday is a pruning day. On Thursday John cannot go because of a dental appointment.

Last night we published the blog (without the videos we received later this week). I had to upload mine of Thursday overnight for several hours, while I slept, and it took awhile to remember.

Foot doctor and our SAIL exercise class were both canceled today because of the holiday. I needed the time to try to recover and hoped to reach my doctor for some help, but did not succeed. I have felt bad all day, and realize I need to get to bed earlier than last night, and hope I don’t have the same occurrence as the middle of this morning (4:00 a.m.), with my inability to breathe.

Tuesday, Feb 20

This was to be our third class of Line Dancing today, Feb 20.
I don’t feel up to attending.
Instead, John drove me to Cle Elum to get a doctor’s opinion. Diagnosis: Pneumonia

Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium tablets 500mg/125mg prescribed every 12 hrs for 10 days.
This is a combination penicillin-type antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu).

He had me breathe in and out of my mouth and listened. He also had me say 99 every time he moved the stethoscope, and then say the letter E (drawn out). Here’s what I found on line about that interesting technique. “E” to “A” changes in the lungs (egophony). Your doctor may have you say (drawn out) the letter “E” while he listens to your chest.  Pneumonia may cause the “E” to sound like the letter “A” when heard through a stethoscope. He did that examination before I had the X-rays, then said, “You’ve got pneumonia.” To see exactly where and how serious, I then went for x-rays.The pictures showed, on my left side, a flattening of the upper diaphragm. Hope you can see the thin orange line over on the right side of this drawing. Instead of being a nice upward curve, the “goup” was below the lung and that curve was replaced by a flat surface. Thus, we need to kill the itsy bitsy bacteria and get that stuff out of there.

Normal recovery time from pneumonia is one to three weeks, although I should begin to feel better after several days of antibiotics. (I did after 4 days.) He wants me to report back if I’m having any symptoms, and scheduled another X-Ray for a month away.

This is Pneumococcal pneumonia (bacterial, spread easily by coughing). So, I’m contagious and wearing a mask when I go to the doctor or to the hospital for a blood draw. Further, the medication plays with the blood thinner, so that needs checked every few days and the “rat poison” adjusted accordingly.

Wednesday, Feb 21

John left at 7:40 for WHC after doing the morning feeding of the livestock.

I cannot go out with my contagious condition, so I will stay home today and rest, missing music at the food bank and exercise at the senior center.

I had a relatively good night’s sleep, by sitting with my head up in my recliner. I cannot lie down horizontally and still breathe.

Been canceling things this morning, very sad, most especially attending a wedding with the bride being my former student and coming in from Sydney, Australia for their wedding in Vancouver, WA and on from there to Taiwan to celebrate with the groom’s family. John and I were fortunate to have met him 2 years ago at Christmas here in Ellensburg, at her parent’s house.

I had my breakfast and took my 3rd antibiotic pill. I do not feel any better yet on congestion and related symptoms.

John went to a geology lecture on Exotic Terranes by Nick Zentner. It is being videotaped by a team of 3 and they’ll edit it for YouTube. I’m sorry to have missed my favorite teacher at CWU. John said it was well done (as usual).
John says: Open this LINK . . . and note the green along the WA / Idaho border. That is the only original part of North America within Washington State. The image should slowly add parts, then pause with names on the right. Then it should start over. Nick’s presentation only covered a few parts of this complex story.

John came home in time to fix our dinner and I was able to take my antibiotic with something in my stomach about 10:00 p.m. Maybe I won’t have a stomach ache tonight, as last. I’m about ready to call it a night. I need some sleep.

Thursday, Feb 22

I had a bad night.  I was awake for over 2 hrs trying to get to sleep because of the noises (rattling in my throat/wheezing in my breathing). I have had to sleep sitting up, and not lying down, but that wasn’t working last night either.  I slept 2 hours, woke to potty, and then went back and got almost 3 hrs more sleep. Good thing I finally made it to sleep, because I was ready to go to the hospital and ask to be put on a respirator.

John left for town for a dental cleaning and exam at 9:30. Luckily, this visit is covered by our insurance, 100%. He’s going to do some errands for me going by the pharmacy for meds, by the senior center for me, and by Hearthstone to deliver the music for the group and audience.

One of John’s stops was by the senior center to pick up my camera that disappeared 6 months ago. It was my Nikon CoolPix 40mm zoom. A nice man brought it to the AAC because he (or someone ?) noticed photos of events there included ones taken at the senior center. I haven’t found out the details yet on who returned it, or where it was found, except it was in the location of the Mercer Creek Church. Last picture taken on it was 7-15-2017 last year !! Battery was still full. Recently, the closest I have been to that church is behind it, while playing music at the food bank. I have NEVER taken that camera in there, so I don’t have a clue.

This afternoon, I called my doctor and asked about the noises I was hearing when breathing this afternoon and about the problem last night. He had a few suggestions: hot liquids, soup, and saltwater bath for my nose (but it was actually below my throat). And also, he reminded me I wouldn’t likely feel better until 4 days (maybe) into the antibiotic. We’ll see. He’d told me hot steamy showers are good, but I’m in no mood for that.

Last night I was surprised and saddened to see that Bill Waltner died. He was the hospitalist when I was so sick in 2009 and went to the ER here in town.  He was so wonderful to me, ran the right tests, talked to a specialist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, and found out 4 days later I had bacteria in my blood (from a culture he had analyzed).  He gave me his cell phone number and told me to call him anytime. Then he followed me through that year, and the next, and was so happy to see me survive my surgery.  He always spoke to me when he saw me, anywhere in town.  I’m glad I got to thank him before he died.  It didn’t say so in the obituary, but he died of a brain tumor.  John learned that from a woman at the dental office when he was in this morning.  Bill was only 66, the same age I was when he diagnosed what I had.

Friday, Feb 23

For the first night in awhile, I had a fairly decent night’s sleep without a lot of breathing problems, with noise. I must be on the upgrade!

I did decide to take my overnight Oximetry, and the results are:
Oximetry for Feb 22: SpO2 lowest 84, with overall avg., 91.9%. Avg. low SpO2, 88.6%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 50. Slept 8 hrs 10 min. The O2 isn’t great but it’s not that bad either, considering. In the doctor’s office Tuesday it was 94%.

John left @ 7:40 for pruning at White Heron.
Cold (13°) before the sun hit near the outside thermometer.
The slope where the vines face south, and the Columbia River. With a sunny sky it warms quickly, and did.
With cereal in my tummy, I took my antibiotic at 9:46 a.m. and will get ready to go for a blood draw and to pick up the music bag. It took longer than I had planned. I had a phone call from Kit Hultquist (John’s brother’s wife in CA) at 10:30, and left right after visiting with her. She sounded as if she was coping well with all their kids and grandkids nearby to keep her busy. I had called on the weekend and left a message that we hoped she was doing all right.

Saturday, Feb 24

Had a good night’s sleep. Snowed last night about 2 ½.”

Up to 40° with sunshine, after morning light snow, no new accumulation.

John’s taken care of the animals, and also fixed us a nice brunch. I helped with cooking the sausage links while he was taking care of things outside.

Now the wind is blowing hard and the sun is bright. We’ll publish this soon. John will be amazed I have no photos I took to include.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Feb 12

We’ll begin this week with a beautiful photo of our valley, taken by a friend of mine, and submitted to our local Facebook site: Community Connect Kittitas County.

This photograph was awarded the winner by vote! If you visit the site, you will see it as the cover picture. Pretty awesome.by Lise McGowan: Sunflowers and irrigation in Kittitas County.

We awoke to a cold morning, 25°F. at 7:00 a.m.
John stayed home today, because grapevine pruning was cancelled with Cameron still in Seattle at Pike’s Place Market. Tomorrow they will resume.

Last night we published the blog.

The following link is interesting about the uses DNR can make of drones in places or instances of gathering data not easily attainable.
DNR use of Drones

Morning news from Jeri Conklin in California about “our” Brittanys:
“After a very long weekend of running dogs, Camelot Brittanys congratulates Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ SH (Daisy) on finishing her SH title;” (Next is Daisy’s mom),” FC KWK Windswept Guinevere of Camelot JH on earning two more SH legs, that last one is always the hardest”; and next is a family member), “Copley’s Warrior Princess of Camelot JH on earning her FIRST SH leg with an amazing run as evidenced by her 10+ score in Retrieving. The gunner missed her Chukar and the second gunner winged it, but it kept flying and she followed it till it crashed, over 300+ yards away! She then brought it to hand, solid as ever! I knew she would bring it back, who knew it was going to be over a distance of 3 football fields plus! Needless to say, she will always have that great story to her name, one I will remember as I handled her through it. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey along the way.”

I spent a lot of time today looking at alternatives for finding a place to stay to attend a wedding in Vancouver, WA on March 10. I have it set up with friends in Winlock. Now pray for no snow on White Pass on March 9th. All I have to do is stay healthy to make the drive alone. We cannot leave the animals for overnight and 2 days, so John will not be going.

I participated in SAIL today.

John went to town after I got back home. His main reason for going was to pick up a fixed flat tire for his Gorilla Cart used to take hay to the horses. It was a punctured tube, and they did not charge him for fixing it. Our Hawthorne trees around the property have wicked thorns. We don’t actually know what it was that caused it, but John has been slowly getting rid of the ones nearest the buildings where he usually uses the cart. Might be better not to disturb them. Maybe they are angry!

Ham, succotash, cornbread, pears for supper, crafted by John.

Tuesday, Feb 13

After feeding the horses, John left at 7:40 a.m. for WHC.

This was my friend Glenn’s birthday, and his friend took him for a breakfast, at a new restaurant, The Wild Huckleberry Cafe’. He got a short stack (2) pancakes, and then sent me pictures, which astonished me, and I will put a before and after in a collage for you to be amazed too. He said the waitress told him most people cannot complete the meal. I think just one of that size might be too much. I think I’ll pass on going there for breakfast. Before ~ . ~ . ~ ~ . ~ . ~ ~ . ~ . ~ ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ After

My activity of the day started at 2:00 at the Senior Center.

THIS was our second class of Line Dancing today, Feb 13. These videos are for the participants. I have a most of the emails for group members, and will share with them. Those of you reading this who were not in the class, you may just pick a few. Don’t miss (3) & (5).

First – (1) Dancing, Nicole Jones & Katharine Turnage leading;
taken by Elaine Bleggi (I was dancing on the back row).

Link (1)

(2) taken by Elaine Bleggi

Link (2)

I alternated dancing to learn the steps and videotaping the rest of the hour. It was nice to have a break from the exercise and get a record of us. It’s difficult to see the steps through the crowd to watch the instructor. We need to have the steps demoed on the screen before as a lesson, I think. I’m not sure of the best way to do that except in advance of class, or to find it on the web and use that. (Someone will have to spend extra time on that creation and we only have 1 week left after Presidents’ Day.) If I were to take a video as these during the class, focusing on the teacher and lesson at the beginning, it would be too late to show before class, because we are moving to other steps each week, with only a slight review of the previous weeks.

(3) Macarena dance (Elise, in NJ, you were right!!)
This one and those to follow, I videoed.

Link (3)

(4) Katharine Turnage demos the grapevine (35 seconds)

Link (4)

(5) Grapevine with music Elvira (1 minute 16 secs)

Link (5)

(6) 43 seconds trying to follow a guy on the recorder

Link (6)

(7) A minute 27 seconds following a guy on a recorder

Link (7)

(8) Two mins 17 secs with Nicole leading from another recording

Link (8)

(9) Cupid Shuffle, shown by Nicole Jones (only 32 secs after class)

Link (9)

Wednesday, Feb 14 Happy Valentine’s Day

John left at 7:30 a.m. for WHC after doing the morning feeding of the livestock.

Food bank for music and vittles following; on to the Senior Center at 1:30 for a Spirit of the West woman roper visiting the AAC.

I planned to video some of her performance. It was held the same time as our SAIL exercise class, which is cancelled for today.

Once there, I asked her permission and she gave it to me, but did not want me to make them public on You Tube. I told her that I only make “unlisted” ones, which is true, and a person has to be given the link (by me); they are not public or listed by her name.

However, this blog does get picked up on the web, so I will not put any of her links herein. I’ll just indicate what I have, and if any one of our regular readers wants to have me send you the links, I know you have my email address and you can request. I will not list them here, specifically, but just a teaser description for each.

She gave me her email, and I promised her I would send the links to her. She is here for our yearly Ellensburg event, this weekend, Spirit of the West.

Here is what we experienced this afternoon: (It was one fantastic performance; great entertainment). My descriptions of the videos follow:

(1) Who is singing this song? Western quiz to start her routine.
(2) A short introduction by the 2018 Queen of the Spirit of the West.
(3) A clever introduction by Karen to the Cowgirl Show
(4) Rope tricks, comedy, & jumping rope (audience counting)
(5) Watch 15 secs of a Cowgirl Roper Magician
(6) 1 min 22 secs, Displaying One Whipping Good Time
(7) 39 secs Whips Display of Awesome Ambidexterity
(8) A life growth lesson culminating in a paper torch
(9) Ukulele trickster with Ellensburg flavor; watch the Finale!
(10) Bell choir & audience chorus; Name that tune in 4 notes!
(11) Final Five minutes of Fun

Let me know if you want me to email you personally the UNLISTED private links.

As it was Valentine’s Day, I dressed accordingly and requested Katrina to take my photo with the two AmeriCorps staff members who have been so supportive in all activities there this year.Nicole Jones, Nancy, and Jessi Broderius with a Happy Valentine’s Day wish. My hair was rather windblown from the Ellensburg winds today, but I have on my colors, and am wearing a heart-shaped pendant John made at his dad’s when visiting long ago. Dad and brother Dick made things from Agate and other stones, either collected (Dick) or perhaps purchased. The chain was a simple purchase as was the mounting hardware.

This year instead of chocolates or sparkling wine, John brought me a box of huge Honeycrisp Apples and then photographed the box with 9 apples weighing 10 lbs. These he bought from Double Diamond packers in Quincy.

Quincy’s gasoline this week is cheaper than Ellensburg’s by 11¢/gal. That’s a perk considering how much mileage he is putting on going over 4-5 days a week for wine grapevine pruning.

Thursday, Feb 15

John left at 7:45 a.m. for WHC after doing the morning feeding of the livestock including one cat. I took care of the rest.

I managed to sleep some but now all my chest muscles are aching from yesterday’s (particularly the evening) coughing. No other signs so I will go today to play, and continue constant use of Fisherman’s Friend® original strong menthol cough drops. I should buy stock in the company. {John says: Not! It is a private company in Fleetwood, England (north of Liverpool) along the Irish Sea.}

We played at Pacifica today in a constrained space. They are in the midst of a major renovation, and doing it all around the residents. We had a good time and the audience was quite appreciative as usual.

Friday, Feb 16

John left early for pruning at White Heron.
The wind blew terribly here for hours, culminating after he returned, reaching 46 mph gusts at the airport. I am sure they were higher out here.

After coughing all last night and still, I did not go to town today. I have been working on getting better to go tomorrow to play music at Briarwood – they feed us. Currently, I have no signs of a cold and no fever.

Saturday, Feb 17

Started with a lot of snow coming down and now at 9:00 we have ~3” (looks like to me), John has fed two cats, 4 horses, and we are enjoying fruit and bran.

We had a telephone call from a couple in Moses Lake, WA who had a Brittany out of our lines awhile ago; now looking for a pup.

I have to get out in the weather and go to Briarwood for music and food. I have printed some music to take which I got from Katie Eberhart in Bend, OR. She plays as we do, at places around her town with her accordion group. She will join us at Hearthstone next week, while visiting her parents here in the valley. She joined us the last time she was here the end of November.

Nice Facebook message from Jeri Conklin in CA. Ginny, the mother of our Daisy finished her SH title today. Here’s her comment, with picture below:
“Pending AKC confirmation, congratulations to FC KWK Windswept Guinevere Of Camelot JH, now Senior Hunter! … Her daughter Daisy earned her senior hunter title last weekend! What a journey with this girl. Now to MH.”  Jeri Conklin with FC KWK Windswept Guinevere Of Camelot JH (Daisy’s mom) pending SH after her name w/ AKC confirmation.

Afternoon music: . . . celebrating with friends, we all had a trip there, experiencing wild weather. Started with snow, then rain, then sun, rain again on leaving, and north & east of town we had a double rainbow twice today in our valley.Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends-Maury, Dobro; Kevin, Banjo; Manord, 12-str Guitar; Gerald, 6-str Guitar; Charlie, 12-str Guitar; Evie, Violin; Nancy, Violin; Dean, Harmonica & singer; Rita, Singer.

We ended the day at Briarwood Commons Apartments, being treated to a wonderful meal after our playing music for an hour. We go there every 3rd Saturday of the month. Next month will be especially fun on St. Patrick’s Day. They always decorate their activity room, and plan the main course as something appropriate for the month (Valentine’s Day), or a holiday. We always look forward to going there because they love us and are so involved with singing along with us, in addition to pot-lucking and fixing a meal. Today’s consisted of vegetable soup, Jell-O fruit salad, spicy breaded wings, and a bunch of desserts: homemade cream cheese pie with cherry pie-filling sauce, brownies, various cookies, and apple/cherry punch, water, or coffee.

This weekend coincided with the Ellensburg’s Spirit of the West, so that’s why I dressed in my western blouse and Ellensburg Rodeo hat. The red blouse has cloth fringe and silver metal pieces on the front that look as if it came from a western saddle. I should have just taken a photo of the shirt, but here is my collage of silver trim and accents for saddles, which it is based on.Sunday, Feb 18

I slept in and John managed the morning feedings of critters.

I have been working on the blog and just completed the weekly chore of sorting a week’s meds into the daily “pill boxes” for morning and night.

The weather outside changed again, and just started snowing lightly. That did not last long. A little sun. Now a cloud. The weather diviners think our temps are about to plummet.
We would just as soon keep the clouds, because the clear skies are going to give us low temperatures tonight, to 15°; even worse tomorrow night, to 11°. Not nice, but better than minus digits in other parts of the country!

John fixed us a brunch (sausage, eggs, fresh orange slices, peaches, and rosemary olive toast). We had a pound of sour cream that was approaching its ‘use-by’ date so he made a mixture of rice, black & green beans, ham, sausage, onions, and mushrooms. Altogether, it came to about 6 pounds. Now in the freezer in 1 pound bags.

The little birds are hungry today. The Quail have been few. Often they come at dusk. Time to carry out more sunflower seeds.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan