Thursday, May 21, 2009

Thursday May 21 2009

Lander Cutoff, south of the ranch
near Blutcher Creek and Sweetwater Gap

Antelope with Rainbow


Our first night back at the ranch. Joe unloaded the car, handed it all to me and I started putting it away. Whatever we're missing we will get at the other house and bring it out, or buy another one. A list has been started. After taking the Corelle set of dishes to the new house and leaving Joe's mom and dad's china here, there are no cereal/soup bowls - will need some of those for sure. The dogs don't have small eating dishes for the leftovers, just their dry food dishes. Joe took his only flashlight in to Pinedale and there is no flashlight here, we needed a few new ones anyway. The list will go on.

Of course we didn't bring any TV. Yet. He's already saying he's going to bring his back here. Asked if I could hook it up o.k. And if not, we'll ask for help. It can only go one way, ..... RIGHT? Was glad to see the computer start right up when I plugged the power strip in - I had left all the plugs in place in it. It took off like it had just been turned off yesterday. Guess "it" probably doesn't know if it was yesterday or six months ago, like a little blip in the power.

That is an interesting thought, because driving by the mailbox - saw cows and it took me a minute to figure out what the black blobs in the sagebrush were. But at the gate, I felt like the computer, it seemed like I'd just last driven through it yesterday. Joe came early in the day with the dogs, and they came running down the lane to greet me. They seem very glad to be home. Raven is missing her bed, which I left in Pinedale.

At the moment I'm cleaning the top oven on the stove while blogging. How's that for multi-tasking? And will do the bottom one after the top one's done. Couldn't really believe that I'd left them that dirty, but there was the mess lurking when I opened the oven doors. A lot of things around the house seem to have a kind of streaky sticky film, but not much dust or cobwebs. Finishes look like moisture gathered and ran down vertical surfaces. I've started a list of what has to be done, and will just go at it a room at a time or so.

One of the living room windows has cracked badly, looking just like pits in your windshield turn into a crack all the way across the glass. There was a very small ding in that pane caused by taking the screen out. It's a side window on the very large living room picture window - wouldn't you know. I've called the glass company and the man will come in the morning to give us an estimate on repairing it.

Have looked a number of times but not seen the cats. I thought there was some canned cat food left here but must have given it all to Twila when I took the other cats to her. I've been curious whether little Smokey would come to me if I enticed her with some salmon or chicken. So that's on the list.

The grass in the yard is green and growing and what plants are here seem to be coming back fine. The willow I planted as a tiny twig has sprouted up about shoulder high! Joe said he watered the trees when he was here the other day.

Well, talking about the water system, it seems mainly o.k. but a lot of dirt bits coming out of the faucets. That should clear up soon. The kitchen faucet may need to be replaced. It has a very bad leak, perhaps some water got left in there too, (like the toilet standpipe which had broken) although I don't know how - the water was all drained. It's been dripping into the cabinet underneath. Joe's been working on it but the cold water there is turned off. I have to use the utility room sink.

Sounded like Joe slept good last night; each time I went by he was snoring away. I did too, (sleep good, not snore of course) and instead of watching TV would read a book to drowse off and every time on waking would read. I slept pretty good and feel rested. Certainly it helps to be active all day long before getting to bed.

So ..... lots to be done in the coming days. Didn't plan to bring my TV and hope it helps me to not be distracted from accomplishing some artwork. Just about everything (but the hated colored pencils) was taken to the Pinedale house. So in the near future all that will need to be brought back. Or most of it.

Lunch was fun with Charm yesterday. So good to see her again. We went to the Chinese restaurant and had egg drop soup - the large bowl is SOOOO gigantic, we could eat but about half of it. I brought mine home, and think both Joe and I can have a small bowl for lunch.

The post office situation is all fixed. I still have to arrange the double duty utilities, especially the phone which I didn't get all they promised when the Pinedale phone began service. Should have done that long ago - I procrastinate. I know I know. It's on the list. Must tell the garbage company we won't be there for a while, etc. etc.

I see Nanny has joined my followers list. Welcome Nanny!! Hope to see you soon. Well, I'm not sure but perhaps joining the follower's list notifies you with an email when I update with a blog post. And perhaps at their photo you can go to their blog. We'll have to figure all that out.

So better get busy, lots to do. Looks like a warm sunny day out, but I can here that wind blowing.

Al Franken, said, "When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both."

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wednesday May 20 2009

This is a pencil sketch I did to help us be authentic
with reference for one of the murals a group of us
artists did for the Green River Valley Museum on the
subject, The Green River Drift.
It was taken from an old Carl Runguis photo of a
cowboy camp taken by him in the early 1900s when
he used to come to this area. I don't usually use other
people's references but this time I did.
.
Little Varmit





Judy M in CO has joined my blog followers - Welcome dear friend Judy and thanks for joining the followers. BTW Judi and I both had a stranger from Bali give a comment on our blogs, and I have no idea how an unknown person would even find this, as it is semi-private - friends, family, friends of friends. Seemed odd and I hope not some kind of intrusion.

This post is actually being written yesterday, and I scheduled it to be published today. Last night we went to dinner at the Brew Pub. There were more people there at one time than I've ever seen. It was SO LOUD in there, Joe was really having trouble with his hearing aids. There was some biker dude eating there with a couple, looked like he though he was God's gift. Throwing pickles and tomato slices across the table and cleaning his ears with the knife. But the food was good. Then Joe wanted to go to the little Sugar Shack and get a milk shake so we did that. "The Boys" shared a baby ice cream cone. Also saw some guys in mountain man "leathers", maybe some kind of event is going on I haven't heard about. I can't decide if I like cowboys or mountain men the best.

Tuesday evening the sky got cloudy and dark again, and there was a sprinkle of rain while we were downtown. Temperature really dropped. It had been up in the 70s again early in the day.

This morning hopefully I'll get everything necessary organized for the stay at the ranch. I have clothes and shoes packed in a tote, which is too heavy for me to lift! , files we'll need packed in a box, and another tote with medicine, first aid and my personal "stuff". At the last minute I will have to take the remaining fresh food out of the fridge to go (not much of that). And we need to remember to turn a few things off - washer faucets, the water to the ice maker - made aware to me by Judi who said a friend of hers had $100,000 damage to their house when the line to the ice maker broke.

Charm and I plan to have lunch about noon today. Then I'll do a thorough grocery shopping for food to take out. There is NO food there. Hopefully the place won't need too much cleaning right away. Joe said he opened the windows and aired it out. He's got the water and the furnace on.

So..... Hope to be blogging again soon.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Tuesday May 19 2009


Here is the tree the kids got me for Mother's Day.
In the daylight and at night with the lights on.
It has a serene feeling.



Things were going on today. Joe went to the ranch to irrigate or I don't know what. The dogs are gone with him, so there's always something missing when they aren't around. Didn't sleep good at all last night, at least was awake 6 or 8 times maybe more, actually felt like 10. I slept o.k. in between those times. Today is the day I have to get things packed to go out to the ranch for a while. Here it is 3:30 and haven't started any packing yet. But have done up 3 loads of laundry, might get one more together before we leave. Mopped the floors. Got a shower and my hair washed - not that you're interested but this is where the time is going.

Judi came over after her lunch at R. Pointe. She brought me a dish of ice cream. She is so sweet and thoughtful. Good thing she was sustaining me because I had only yogurt and 1/2 my juice by then. Here she is finally back home after being gone 6 months and the next day I have to go 50 miles away. We both talked as fast as we could to get caught up, but it will take several more get togethers to do that. Anyway we promised to do some outings together.

At 2 my visiting teachers came and were here about an hour - Bonnie and Christy. I really enjoyed talking with them. Then a peanut butter sandwich and my morning tea for lunch in the middle of the afternoon. I think I'll ask Joe if he wants to go out to dinner, because there's not much here to eat but maybe bacon and eggs or campbells vegetable soup! I've been trying to get all the stuff in the fridge here eaten and cleaned out.

Meantime Lois called and is getting a few more plants for me to put into the yard - blue flax - and I told her I'd be over to pick them up this afternoon. Maybe I'd better see if I can do it in the morning.

Not sure how long we'll be out there, maybe all summer and into the fall, or maybe some weeks more or less. I fretted over leaving here where I'd gotten quite comfortable but Joe deserves some time to be where he wants to also. So it's his turn now. I thought long and hard, and finally got more calm and accepting about the move, especially when it came to me that I didn't need to make a marathon out of it. Thinking of it was stressing me out. And both daughters have told him that neither one of us should be out there now.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog for a while, at least until I get the other computer turned back on and hooked up. So there may be a few days without any blogging. Now I'd better go get busy putting stuff to take into a few bins. I want to get together a little art supplies - whether I use it or not is another thing altogether. But I figure I'll be coming back to town for groceries or other events, and can come to the house and more gradually take other things out to the ranch later.

.
Anyway if you want to call me after tomorrow, use the Boulder number 307-537-5678.


.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
.
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Monday May 18 2009

Doe a Deer, A Female Deer.

This is my Grandfather and Grandmother
on their wedding day.
My Dad's Parents
.
Bonnie and Me on Mother's Day


WELCOME HOME NANCY AND KEN!
(She, Bonnie and I are going to on an outing to Boar's Tusk!)


.

Well, we finally got a very nice, warm day, nice breeze. About the middle of the afternoon the temperature was 77. I don't know what it might have gotten to. Today I went out and slowly and gradually got all the trees and little plants Lois gave me planted in the yard. There are still some tulip bulbs to put in. I was surprised how damp this soil stays, so maybe the plants will be able to survive in that dampness. Can't say that I did much else. A little tidying up the house.

I guess we are going to the ranch about Wednesday. I've been dreading having to pack stuff up. I told Joe he has to help this time, that I can't do it all. Am thinking it will be best to do it by bits and pieces, taking just what is most necessary at first. And then see what's left there (I forget) and take whatever else might be needed in subsequent trips. Maybe pack a suitcase for a week until I see what I left there.

Have to make the calls get everything turned back on. Everything there was put "on vacation" but the billing will have to be changed back. I think for now I'm just going to leave the utilities in Pinedale the way they are. Might be back ... anyway will sooner or later. Have to tell the PO too. Might not be giving them enough time, we will see. I'm not familiar enough with how that works. I'll have to do a big grocery shopping too and take that out. There isn't any food except spices there.

On today’s date in 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Time to be exact, Mount St. Helens erupted, its north face collapsing in a massive rock avalanche. Pressurized gasses from the volcano flattened 150 miles of forest, and killed every living thing within a ten-mile radius -- including 57 unfortunate people caught in the devastating blast. A mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward, and day was turned to night as grey ash fell over eastern Washington state. The energy released by the eruption was estimated at 10 megatons, thousands of times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped at Hiroshima. It was an awe-inspiring spectacle.

My friend Nancy M. who lives in Washington, sent me two bottles of different sized ash and I still have them. I was at the ranch then and ash fell from the sky for several days.


Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Sunday May 17 2009

Wind Rivers from Willow Lake Road

Windmill near Soda Lake

This car is sitting at a house a few streets over.


The day was actually quite beautiful and warm, still with wind. Joe spent the day with the dogs at the ranch. Not sure what he was doing, thought he was irrigating but he said he didn't do that. He has some other little projects he's been working on. He didn't get home until after 3 this afternoon. Not sure what he did for his lunch as he didn't ask me to fix him one.

Church was good. I enjoyed all the meetings. After that I had lunch and typed up some notes I've had that the builder told me about the house. Got bills paid, but I'm sure more are waiting in the post office.

Sandra called me and we had a long talk. I always enjoy visiting with her. Dave was gone and not back yet with the news below. Then Joan also called this afternoon. She said it was 98 in Sylmar, and they had been working in their yard. Thanks for calling, you guys. Kind of makes my day. Sally has joined my followers list. TA DAAA! So welcome to Sally. (And BTW Sally said it was 118 yesterday on her blog. Waaaayyy to hot for me!) Charm got home last night from visiting her folks over in South Dakota. Glad she's back safely.

Dave and Sandra have a cabin down near South Pass, Dave was spending the weekend there and said he felt this 3.4 earthquake shaking everything this morning.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009gtar.php






Optical Illusion (That's a Hint)




Saturday, May 16, 2009

Saturday May 16 2009

Pinto Llama

Llama Portrait

Brown Llama
.
Antelope Groud Squirrel
aka gopher or varmit

Deer


Beverly was on her way home by 6 a.m. this morning. First she had stripped the bed and started the washer. It was hard to see her go, and I'll miss her. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP DEAR BEVERLY. Hope they all can come back again soon. (She called and was almost home - made it in about ten hours.)

This must be our nicest spring day so far. Mainly because the wind isn't blowing a gale..... yet. It's warmer too. Joe went to coffee. Only Sparky would go with him. So Raven and I went for a walk up the street after breakfast. We saw some deer in the nearby field, and then a man came along walking his little dog. As we got down to the end of the street where it meets a driveway to an older house, there were two llamas to check out. They seemed friendly, but knowing how they spit, I didn't try to pet them. Raven decided she was unsure of them, never having seen one that close before, but was very well behaved. In fact, no chasing the deer; no following the cute little dog, and no going into the llama pasture. Good girl!

Joe's been under the house again. I have no idea what happened, but now it seems one of the wires on the pump has a short in it and he's trying to fix that. Anyway the water is intermittently off and it's been doing that for several days. I'm going to write on my book again today. And make up the bed in a while.

Lois called and said she had some of the flowers and plants she offered for our yard potted up, and they brought them over about 11:30. I'll go out in a while and begin to put them in the ground. There are potentillas, and small aspens with lots of root on them.

Notice that I stuck a new "gadget" on my blog - "Followers". If you want to join it, I guess you'll need to figure it out, because I'm not sure how to do it myself yet. If we all don't like it, then I'll take it back off. Anyway, ..... "Welcome Gina and Wally!"



"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them." (Kahlil Gibran)

Friday May 15 2009

Spirit Lift

Spirit Lift

Ski Lodge

Cabin for rent at ski area

This Old Red Bike is always parked on the deck.
WHITE PINE SKI AREA
A historic area begun years ago with a rope tow.
Very nice place for a small community.
If that wilderness bill passes, it will be history!



Hmmm..... writing this on Saturday morning, already can't remember what went on yesterday. Beverly did a lot more cleaning, and especially polished up our bathrooms. They apparently needed it. Believe me, I'm very grateful for all she did while she was here. Between she and Debbie the place is clean and most of the things on the list" are accomplished. It feels now like I can go ahead and do more to finish the little chores now without feeling so overwhelmed by there being so much to do.

I walked the dogs around the open area in back for a while. Then I opened "The Book" and edited over 100 pages which occupied me for several hours while Beverly was working. Hopefully I can continue to do this a little each day and get more new text written on it. Joe invited us to dinner at Lakeside Lodge last night so that was a nice thing.

Later we got in our pjs and watch the DVD "Taking Chance" with Kevin Bacon. It's a good story, and well done. Then made popcorn and watched another movie on TV.


Story: