Sunday February 17 2008

Walk with the Dogs After Frosty Last Plowed

Sorry - for those of you who look at the blog - that I have missed a couple days of my journaling. Seems like we've stayed busy enough that I haven't had time or maybe motivation to write.

Gina and Bob get up early each morning and he usually goes to the airport to plow snow from the runway. Also he and Jim are flying with some air quality people and they are testing the air over and around the oilfields for ozone and other stuff. That's my simple description. I slept in a little since not sleeping a lot the night before, but am getting a lot of reading and resting and thinking done.

I worked more on the digital photos, and haven't gotten through all of them with basic editing yet. When I do, will choose a few to post. The laptop seems to be working too slow as well, and that has been frustrating.

We went out to Ruth's at the framing shop. Gina had a painting to be framed and I took Ruth some gold leafing supplies that I needed to get out of my cupboards, and picked up a frame of mine for an almost finished painting. Then we went to see Pat who is in the nursing wing at the retirement center and had a nice visit with her. Later Gina worked in the silver shop on a special project she is doing and I made an easy apple pie. Called Joe and he said everything is going fine. Showered and got my hair washed, that felt good even though I was almost to tired to do it.

Saturday February 16 2008

Not quite as high as the suv, but close.

Doing well today here at Gina's. They have made me feel very comfortable and at home. The house is really charming and homey. Worried a lot in the night, and read until I fell asleep. Called Joe and things are o.k. at home. Also talked to Charm. We visited this morning, went to the store and this afternoon Gina has gone to move cattle and vaccinate at Bob's son's ranch. She will be back about 4 p.m. I'm babysitting the dogs and kitty - they are all very quiet at the moment - and catching up the blog. Looked at the email. I'm on Gina's laptop, but brought mine and am going to get it set up. I'm sure it will work fine by just plugging it in. And Gina has wireless here, so we'll see how that works. - will learn something new. I just wanted to get the blog done before I got involved in trying to get mine set up because several of you are asking what's been going on.

I have a lot of photos on the card I haven't been able to download onto the "big" computer, and will be able to do that with the laptop. I'll show some new pictures. I even brought the external hard drive along, and can spend some time writing on the book.

This morning it was snowing when I woke up, then the wind started to blow and drift the snow. Now its clear and sunny, not too cold.

In a while I'm going to get meatloaf dinner ready and that will give me something to do. I've made a list of things I want to accomplish in town while I'm here, things that need to be arranged or settled and have been on my mind. The oil in the car needs to be changed.

Thursday there is a Mixed Media art group meeting at the senior center that I said I would go to. Yesterday's blog pretty much was most of what has happened. I'll write the news as it happens.

Remember Gina is the one who adopted Nube. For a while she was out on their ranch in the pasture, but she is here in their corral right now. I can look out the window and watch her. There is another horse with her so she has company. I don't know how she likes being a city horse, but she is looking good.

I brought along a few errand type of things to do here in town, since I haven't been into town for three months, except just to go to Jackson. I also brought my pastels and may be able to work some with those and get some artwork done.

About 10:30 the wind did come up enough to be moving the snow, and by night is still blowing, so probably a good thing I am not home. I may not be able to go back at all until spring.

Here are a few things I thought I'd mention:

PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT send me any packages. Joe will have a hard time hauling them in on the snowmachine and I will not get them.

Even regular mail I may not get for quite a while.

It will be best to email me rather than phone for now. I will try to respond better than I have been in the last few months.Thanks a lot.

~J~ will you send me your email address again, I can't find it right now and have been meaning to write or phone and have been procrastinating, sorry, I'm bad about that.

Friday February 15 2008

This is from one wind storm. The Road was Plowed the day before.

Funny how fast things can change in your life sometimes.

I mentioned that Bill the snow plow driver had called last night and asked if we wanted him to come in and open up our road so we could get our vehicles out. I didn't say yes until I talked to Joe, and then early this morning tried to call the cell phone number that Bill left to ask him to come and plow us out but couldn't really contact him.

Pretty soon about mid-morning we saw the big plow coming in Richie Road and continuing on into our place. It took a while for him to get to the house - as you could tell with the spotting scope he was having trouble punching through some of the drifts.

Bill is an artist with that machine, knowing where each part of it is within inches. Never touched the gate or power pole. He did a wonderful job.This is a gigantic machine with three different plows or blades on it and it was really pushing a huge amount of snow. It took a while but he got clear in to the garage door through the yard with it and cleared out the yard and the road, made three passes to get the lane pushed back. We visited with Bill and stood and then watched the process. The supervisor Butch had told Bill to come in and get our road open. We are VERY thankful to them for helping us that way. He had also talked to Frosty and Frosty said to come on in here. It looked like Frosty snowmachined up to the feedground to feed the elk. His road up there looks terrible through the spotting scope too and he will have a job opening it again.

Well..... Joe and I had been talking since yesterday about whether I should leave home and stay somewhere else for a while, where - is the question. He is sure the road is finished and won't be able to be cleared if the wind blows any more, and that is sure going happen especially during March. He is feeling very responsible, concerned and worried right now. He wants me to snowmachine like we always have, but I kept trying to tell him that is a really stupid idea, especially if I got stuck even though its not a long distance - not sure how my stamina would be walking home through the snow. I couldn't get the machine unstuck, I couldn't get it started with the pull start, I might not even be able to get through the snow and over the berms they have plowed along the road.

Dear friend Gina had read yesterday's blog and immediately offered this morning for me to come and stay with her, and after a little thought I called and took her up on that offer. She said yes, to come ahead to her house. I don't know what the plan is going to be for now except I should be out and with neither of us concerned about any complications at this point.

So after some lunch I began to get things in the house ready to be gone, prepared Joe a meatloaf dinner, and got enough packed to be gone about a month or so. Even to Vegas if it works out that way. It is going to be a hard time for both of us. Joe is staying there with the dogs. He took his truck out to the mailbox like every other year and snowmachined back in. He got stuck out there and had to get the machine out and I think he realized after all that I shouldn't do that plan.

It was a gorgeous day today. Warm and sunny. After you get out of our valley the pavement was dry all the way to town. I was loaded up and ready to leave about 4 p.m. and drove into Pinedale. It was a gorgeous drive and when I got to the highway between Boulder and Pinedale looking west was the most beautiful hazy blue and white view of the hills above the New Fork. I wish I had stopped for a few photos of it. To the east the Wind Rivers were piled with new snow and beginning to show the evening colors of sunset.

Gina had gone to bridge in Big Piney and hadn't even had a chance to tell Bob that I was coming. He was just getting home when I had pulled into their yard. I asked him if he'd talked to Gina and he said no. I said I'd come to live with them, and he was rather astounded, but quite good natured about it. Later Gina and I went down and got some take out from the Chinese restaurant for dinner.

So I'll be here for a little while. Like I said, will have to make a plan. Monday I have to go to Jackson for the CT scans. The oncology nurse had been calling this afternoon saying that Drs. Jones and Mulvihill in Salt Lake still wanted to see me. Why they waited all week since two weeks ago until late Friday afternoon to tell me this I don't know. But I said that I wouldn't go to Salt Lake now until spring, and she said she would try to see if the Huntsman doctor, Dr. Ward, who I was already scheduled to see me in Jackson a week from Monday could do the followup as planned. I know hardly any of them realize what it has been like just to get to Jackson weekly and probably didn't understand the intensity of my replies on the phone. I was pretty mad. Anyway in the beginning they told me my treatment would take four months, and if that is so I have one more month to go. It might change after we see what the scans say. I would like to finish treatment at Jackson where they are connected with the Huntsman, but now may have to think about going to stay with the kids in Vegas. So lots to think about and decide what to do? It was hard to leave home, and to leave Joe alone too. I told him as long as the road was o.k. I could come back during the day and help him.

I took some photos of the plow working on our road and of my car sitting next to the berm - which is as high as the car. When I get my laptop going (soon) I will download those pictures and put a few on the blog.

Thursday February 14 2008

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

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Just a short report. Everything is fine here.

Are we snowed/blowed in right now.!! We had a terrible wind last night and it seemed like a hurricane blew until morning. Snow plastered the studio windows. But one good thing is how great it will scour off the dirty windows outside when it blows that way. Glad this house is sturdy. At least none of the siding came off this time.

Its hard to know how much snow fell, but you couldn't see from the back door to the shop for the snow blowing horizontally. Every once in a while when I got up I would try to check pinedaleonline weather to see how hard the wind was blowing, but Pinedale kept reporting calm or 6 mph. People I talked to in town today said that it didn't blow there. It was coming from the north, which direction catches the storm doors and tries to tear them off the house, so I couldn't let the dogs go out. Joe finally got them out for a few minutes and I hoped that would hold them until morning.

The county snow plow driver has offered to come in again and clear our road out. He said Mayo's road was really packed in hard too when they worked there today. (I wondered if Phyllis got to her teaching job in Farson today.) So I will call him back in the morning and tell him to come, then Frosty can do it again after that. Now Joe is being concerned about me getting out for my appointments, worried that this kind of weather will keep up. And we have more snow than we have for years. He thinks its so bad we need to give up trying to keep the road open and start snowmachining again. And I don't think that's a good idea. If it gets difficult I might try to go stay with someone in town for a while. Today was really nice here, but roads were closed all over the area. The plows are having a hard time getting them open. Check http://www.pinedaleonline.com/ to read that story.

Joe was supposed to go for a haircut today, but we called and cancelled that this morning. He will have to get another appointment. I painted a little while today. Trying to get that same old commission finished. It wouldn't take long if I'd stick to it. Other than that, no news that I know of. My cold is slowly getting better. Had a few phone calls so got to visit.

Cute note from Charm - she went to town today - and hauled her groceries in 10 miles on the snowmachine sled:.... No mail today. Roads were closed between here and Rock Springs. Terrible winds along the I-80 corridor between Rock Springs and Salt Lake. The produce truck couldn't get to P-dale, so, yes, they had no bananas at Ridley's.

Wednesday February 13 2008

The Shining Mountains

Portrait of Joanne

24x18 Oil

by Lynn Thomas

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The Gift (from Charlie)
By Lynn Thomas
Boulder WY
February ll, l999

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I wish I’d known ya, Charlie
Somehow it seems like I do
I wish I could stand by your easel
And watch you drawing so true

The Injuns and horses which flowed from your brush
Those scenes of the past in my heart
The West that you knew would vanish
You captured for us in your art

The stories you wove with your colors
Keep alive what’s left of the West
Thanks for sharing the past with the future
You were there and you rode with the best

Wild adventures you showed us in paint
Of tangles with grizzlies and wolves
Those broncs and the wrecks that they caused
We still hear the sound of their hooves

Free roaming wildlife and hunters
The pictures of jerk lines and mules
The cowboys and cattle and rustlers
Who settled disputes with no rules

Scenes of chuckwagons and campfires
Make me feel like I’ve been there awhile
To watch your hands carve a sculpture
As you tell a tall tale with a smile

We see your sunsets and moonrises
Like echoes of rainbows viewed from afar
The breezes still carry your camp smoke
When we sleep out under the stars

Your pen tells us tall tales to treasure
Of buffalo hunts on the plains
Coyotes and northers and sundogs
Glaciers and soft summer rains

I look over your shoulder, dear Charlie
At the genius that time has revealed
We’re thankful you showed us those stories
Time otherwise would have concealed

There’s a bunch of us gratefully travel
Those rocky trails which you blazed
To round up the images you left behind
In places your good ponies grazed

As you ride Monte through Cowboy Heaven
In a place which you helped create
We hope you know we’re beholden
That you went ahead to open the gate

Charlie, we follow your spirit
As artists we are the ones
Who travel your path and are proud
To be called your daughters and sons

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(This is a poem about Charles M. Russell, cowboy artist, who has been an inspiration to me. You may have seen it before, But I haven't put it on the blog yet, so am using it today.)

Tuesday February 12 2008

Cattle on the Road to Boulder

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANA

Up by 9 a.m. Had a good rest and Oh, the cold is so much better this morning. I'm just so glad I got that cough syrup because when they asked the doctor at chemo yesterday about what to take, or did I need a prescription or another chest x-ray, he said no just to stay really hydrated - the syrup just settled the whole thing right down - sore throat much improved, getting lots up off the chest if that's not too much to share.

Frosty was back here again early this morning plowing two big snowcatchers over in Norms field on the other side of the fence, and cleared out the lane again, so I didn't get any pictures of what the drift waves looked like. I'd say they were 18" high. It was the pattern and formation that was awesome.

Two new books came in yesterday's mail. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and Teton Tales by Paul Petzoldt. He founded the National Outdoor Leadership School here in our region and was in the mountains all during the time I was running the lodge. We saw lots of their kids during those times. I read an excerpt of one of the chapters and really liked his story. It was very well written, so will enjoy this book too. Anyway The Diving Bell is by Jean-dominique Bauby, a Frenchman who had a stroke in his 40's and could only blink his left eyelid. They worked out an alphabet code and he wrote this small book with his speech therapist. I thought it might be an inspiration. They have made a movie of his story. I'm already half way through the book and like it pretty well.

Have done the two days's blog, got some laundry done and folded and straightened the kitchen. Joe's been busy with his "housework" because he knows I don't have such a good day after chemo. He's emptied the dishwasher and vacuumed so I'm thankful for everything he does to help. However, am happy to report I have had essentially no symptoms from the treatment this time and am feeling better every day. I still wish I hadn't had that setback with the collapsed lung, but now that its in the past it doesn't seem so bad.

The day is glorious, at noon its about 34 degrees and very bright and sunny out. Joe has a living room window cracked for a little fresh air - as well as the wood stove gets it too warm in here when the temperature comes up. The snow is visibly settling down pretty quickly in this warm weather. The dogs are happy to be staying outside right now. Yesterday the rivers and streams were much more open again, and that was surprising. It's pretty early for that. But the snow is deeper again at Bondurant and through the canyon, over the fences in many places this time.

In the mail yesterday two sweatshirts arrived that my cousin Maryanne gifted to me, one black berber fleece pullover, which I'm wearing this morning, and a purple heavyweight with a wolf on the front. They are both perfect and thank you Maryanne. Also arrived were the three sweat pants from Eddie Bauer so I should be set for warm soft cozies to dress in.

We were surprised and sad to hear a woman from Daniel died last Thursday when she left her stranded vehicle and attempted to walk to her residence a short distance away during the severe winter snowstorm. Apparently her car got stuck and she was walking two tenths of a mile to her house. She was found the next day only 50 feet from the building.

Monday February 11 2008

Winter Fire

14x17 Watercolor/Pastel

By Lynn Thomas

Today I met Deanne again at Stanley Junction and she drove us to Jackson. She also had an eye doctor appointment, and brought along George and Darliss. They all live down Big Piney way. He had an appointment with the doctor at Chemo. My cold seemed worse and my throat was so sore, but through the day seemed to gradually improve.

The drive out of here had very poor visibility again. But the road was good and I could see the edges so just drove slow and did fine. Joe told me the fish and game guys were coming up to the feedground again today, so to watch out for them on the road. About at the curve on Wheeler Hill I crested the hill and there was one of the F&G trucks run off the road into the ditch and boy was he stuck. Another truck was getting ready to pull him out. I slowed way down and the second truck moved over so I could get past. I wasn't sure that truck would be able to pull the stuck one out. Snow was about halfway up the door. There was another young man at the top of the next hill so someone coming wouldn't plow into them unseen. But a few miles further on I passed Frosty coming with his big tractor and plow and I knew he could get them out. By the time I got to the pavement – out of our little valley – it lightened up a whole lot and soon was seeing patches of blue sky and some sunlight on the distant hills. It was going to be a good day. Road was snowpacked all the way to Boulder. Then the wind started blowing, and it was really moving the drifts across the road. I went on through town and all the way past the Cora turnoff the wind was just howling. When I got a few more miles to Stanley Junction the flag was hanging limp. Deanne arrived in a few minutes and we had no more wind. Roads were about the same as other days we have gone – nearly dry to the Rim then snowpacked and ice, but "good".

The chemo treatment went very well, and would sound just about like most of the other days, so I won't do a lot of detail on that. About the best information I got on this day was my nurse Carol, who was asking me all those weekly questions about how I'm doing – at "how's your energy level" - and I again complained about not having much ambition, wanting to fall asleep in the chair, that I wanted to feel inspiration to paint, etc., she said "Well chemo makes you tired". And that was the first time it really had been put into words.

So I guess that's just the way that is going to be unless I can make a bigger effort at some self discipline to get more done. I feel like I just go to chemo, and then spend the rest of the week getting over it before I go again. If you do anything creative, or have a hobby you know you have to have the energy, inspiration and ambition to do it, otherwise it's the easiest thing to just put it off day after day.

Because my drip cocktail was slow in arriving, the others went on down to the Virginian for lunch, and I ordered a patty melt for lunch there at the hospital and ate while the IV was going. I didn't do any of the things on my list this time – getting records or visiting the accounting department, but I can do that next time. On next Monday I am scheduled to have the CT scans at about 11 a.m. and Charm is going to drive me then. I'm so glad I can do this here and not have to go to Salt Lake for the scans and dr. visits. Thank you Thank you. I've been dreading that trip ever since I got out of the hospital. Although they handed me "the drink" when I left the hospital at Salt Lake with all the orders to come back Feb. 22, they gave me two more bottles today and the instructions to drink them on the drive up.

The drip was finished up just about the time Deanne and the others got back from lunch. George had to stay overnight for another treatment tomorrow, and the rest of us went to Staples where I got needed white copy paper, the Dollar Store next door, and then to Kmart where we shopped. I got two kinds of cough medicine and a few other drug store items, and had time to go check out the sweat pants. I found a cardinal color pair of sweats, a gray sweatshirt cardigan, and a nice layer look gray pullover sweater, all at 60% clearance over the already cheap prices. Deanne bought us Dove chocolate bars and we were all happy campers.

On to the Hoback Market, where we got our groceries and gassed up Deanne's car. I like that little market. Since it's small, it's so much easier than walking around Albertsons' huge aisles or even Falers, no wait in line and can still get everything on the list. They have nice fresh produce. Deanne talked me into getting a fresh pineapple and told me how to prepare it. I think I've only bought one or two of them in my life.

The day was still beautiful back through the canyon and with only the smallest evidence of wind, driving was good. I took a Benadryl for my cold and was a little drowsy. We got back to Stanley's, unloaded my booty, and went our separate ways.

Soon I ran into wind moving the snow again, but not a bother until I arrived at our gate. Frosty had cleared the road really great the day before, but here there were pretty high "waves" of snow all the way in our lane. A short stretch of bare ground and then a drift, one after another. I've never seen anything quite like this configuration before this, as it usually fills in and big drifts are further apart, but then the plowing is a first for us. I thought I could get stuck, but the suv just plowed right through them, it was actually kind of fun. Dogs ran out to meet me. BTW I saw the huge hole the stuck F&G left. I hope I never get in that predicament.

We unloaded all the shopping bags and Joe got the vehicles put away. First thing I took some of the cough syrup, which I have been out of for some time at home, and began to feel better quickly. Wish I'd taken it as soon as I bought it earlier in the afternoon but didn't think of it. Got groceries put away, warmed up leftovers and cleaned up the kitchen. I was very tired and soon was in bed. Charm called to see how the day went and I visited with her in bed for a while.