Month: July 2018

 25 July …

  

Life is so unpredictable lately. 

 

It was an interesting week …

Fires to the north of us.  Fires to the east of us.  Fires to the south of us.  We’re clearing for fire safety and still okay in spite of all the smoke.

Late Sunday evening, just  before midnight, we had a hail storm … hail the size of dimes and nickels which hit us full-on, but dissipated before it reached I-5.  It woke me by hitting the slanted front windows so hard I was expecting to see cracks.

Earlier Sunday evening we had lightning.  One strike hit not more than four miles to the north across Old Stage (the paved road) and started a tree fire.  The heavy rain had controlled that one before the fire crew got there.

And on and on and …

~~~

Thinking of clearing for safety … We’re in sort of a dilemma right now.  There is a big stand of trees to the west between the house and the road which had been left to grow because they protected the house from road dust and noise.  But they have become a safety hazard as we go longer and longer without a burn.

Current thought is to drop most of the trees and have them milled into rough fence boards and then replace the trees with a six-foot fence.  That would help with the dust and keep the noise down, but might increase the snow drop onto the road.

Oh well …

~~~

 

 

I told you about getting a pedicure in order to get my toenails cut …

well … they got sparkled as well.

 

~~~

Gardening, like much else, has gone by the wayside this year.  I had stayed out of the way but that turned out to be a mistake.  Next year Kamille and I will plan and care for the garden together.

The two Mrs. Dibelkas are learning to trust and work with each other.

~~~

I have been to the movies more in the last four months than I had been in the previous ten years.  George preferred to get the DVDs and watch from his comfy chair so we did the Netflix thing.  Saw several really good movies that way.

Then last Thursday Mark came in the house early afternoon and asked if I’d like to go see the new Jurassic Park movie.  We did a really quick meal and then Mark, Kamille, Tyler and I went to the movie.  I had not seen the three movies between this one and the original.  However, it didn’t make a difference.

Not a bad movie, but obviously setting up for the next one …

                 human clones ???

And I have a date with a friend to go see the sequel to “Mamma Mia”.

~~~

One day last week, Siku (Mark’s dog) proudly displayed a squirrel he had caught.  He seems to be allergic to grains (not unheard of in dogs I learn) and so his diet was restricted.  Now he is hunting on his own and so his protein count will be nearing normal.  Just as long as he doesn’t try to bring them into the house.

~~~

About the chickens …

Here’s a picture of Kazoo (whose voice is still cracking)…

and one of Picasso (named that because, like a lot of the artist’s drawings, she is just a little weird).

I’d be willing to bet you’ve never seen one like her before.  Her beak was bent when she hatched and she seems to be handling her “disability” well.  She may turn out to be the dominate hen due to the training in getting her share of food.

~~~

With Picasso in mind … 

 

To be lucky is to be open, adaptive, flexible, receptive to the new, relaxed and awake, so you can see the opportunities when they arrive and then act on them without hesitation, doubt, or fear.

 

So … ‘til next week …

18 July …

 

Just minutes after I posted the blog last week, the pager went off and Mark was out the door again.

There was that big fire up in Hornbrook (called the Klamathon) and several not quite so big ones including last night’s Lott which they hit with every aircraft available.

So far, we are still safe.

~~~

On Sunday, June 17^th, it was announced that son Mark has been chosen by the congregation to be the next pastor at St Barnabas Church here in Mt Shasta.  It still has to go through the Bishop’s office but …

Busting buttons here.

~~~

Weather has been really hot (for here) the last few days … in the 90s with humidity high (for here).  Sweat time, even for ladies.  It has been over 100º  both in Redding and Medford.  There were occasional, short rain bursts which raised the humidity but did little to cool things or help control the fires.

I worked the “Tailgate” food thing yesterday from 1100 to 1230 in the heat but managed by keeping water available and pouring it over my head occasionally.

Yesterday’s giveaways were heavy on greens and vegetables … corn, broccoli, kale, and zucchini.  Only extras were toys for the kids and vegan cookies.

Next Wednesday I do the food bank thing at the church.

~~~

My reading lately has been heavy with Agatha Christie.  I didn’t read her when I was younger, but was a fan of the Masterpiece offerings so I decided that better late etc.

So far, in three days, I’ve read two of hers … “The ABC Murders” and “A Murder is Announced” … Poirot and Marple.  Fun reading, if a bit dated.  After all, they were written in the 20s through the 40s.

But what prompted this paragraph was a section from the latter book … page 195 of the edition I’m reading.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It – it just came over me.  What I’ve lost.  She – she was the only link with the past, you see.  The only one who – who remembered.  Now that she’s gone I’m quite alone.”

“I know what you mean,” said Miss Marple.  “One is alone when the last one who remembers is gone. I have nephews and nieces and kind friends – but there’s no one who knew me as a young girl – no one who belongs to the old days.  I’ve been alone for quite a long time now.”

~~~

Other reading lately was “George Washington’s Secret Six … the Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager.  It had been suggested to me by a cousin (Doug) who recently joined the Sons of the American Revolution.

It is an interesting read. Seems the next to the last of the six has been identified as a Quaker businessman located in Manhattan.  The lone remaining unidentified member is a woman known only as “355”.

There is another book on the same subject by Alexander Rose called “Washington’s Spies: the Story of America’s First Spy Ring” which was made into a series for television called “TURN (with the N reversed)”.  I plan to read it and may watch the show as well.  Mark recommended it.

~~~

Today I go for a pedicure.  I had been told I needed to go to a podiatrist to have my toenails trimmed (I no longer bend like I used to) and MediCare would cover it.  Well … 

The closest podiatrist is in Medford, charges outrageously, and I still ended up owing $22 plus the cost of the gas to go to Medford.  So this time I am going to a “beauty” shop in Weed, saving the cost of the gas and over $100 dollars to MediCare.

My feet will look great for the radio club meeting this evening.

~~~

Things are still coming into bloom.

Chicory …

Shasta Daisies …

and the Smoke Tree.

Beauty all around.

~~~

Finally, the thought for the week … 

 

A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are.

 

So …‘til next week …

 

 

11 July …

 

Well … the 4^th is over for this year.

What a ride.

I was downtown by 0700 and did the radio net control for the run/walk.  We had a bit of wind but not enough to clear the smoke.  The wind was from the south and brought us smoke from the Yolo and Sacramento fires.  When I got to town you were barely able to see the Mountain.   Smoke did clear a bit later.

There were close to 5,000 participants for the run/walk this year … the Largest Small Town Event in America.  There were folks from New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, and DC as well as from Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah.  Run/walk participant ages ranged from 6 to 92 (actually from 3 months if you count the baby-carriers).

I met and talked with someone who graduated from Hemet Union High School … just 40 years after I did.  Go Bulldogs!

After the run/walk I helped track winners in the raffle (the big prize is a new Subaru) and then had a burger (for free) at the Masons’ booth.

Kamille had been on the night watch and held down a station during both the run/walk and the raffle.  I joined her to watch the parade. 

Mark and both of his sons were in the parade.

(Sorry for the blur).  They were in 4230, the Hammond Ranch Fire Department water tender.

The rest of the day was recoup time.

Join us some 4th.

~~~

Thursday was clean up time.  I hadn’t been home to do dishes in three days so you can guess what the sink looked like.

~~~

We’re under a constant red flag warning and Mark got called out Thursday afternoon for the Klamathon fire north of us which was declared a disaster on Friday.

I-5 was closed between Yreka and Ashland until 0600 Friday morning when the CHP began caravanning the big rigs through.

Friday morning another fire broke out down river, down in the Scott’s Bar area, but the locals weren’t called for that one.  Mark got home about 1500 friday … sooty and bone tired.

Saturday morning the Klamathon had doubled in size, Hornbrook was ashes and Hilt, Henley, IronGate, and the Colestine (across the Oregon border) were in deep danger.

By sunday acreage was over 35,000 but the containment was up to 25%.

Tuesday morning the acreage was at 36,500 acres and moving north northwest into Oregon … 35 to 40% contained.

Yesterday there were fires in Montague and Klamath Falls.  We’re still okay, but wary.

~~~

Saturday was the annual Hammond Landowners Association (yes, I know the punctuation is questionable). It has been at least ten years since we attended … George and I that is.

This year the family went … all six of us. 

I almost didn’t go.  I thought there wouldn’t be many people there whom I knew or who remembered me.  Wrong!

As it turned out I had to leave early.  There were too many people who remembered George.  Emotions got out of hand.

Good side was the family got to meet folks (they stayed … I had driven myself so I could leave early if I needed to), I made a step out into “society”, and the food was good.

~~~

Paul left yesterday to spend three weeks with his Maryland grandparents.   The house seems too quiet.

~~~

Another picture of the catalpa … a better one.  I got to watch a hummer feed on the nectar a couple of days ago.

~~~

Weather is getting HOT.  We’re due for hot weather advisories beginning tomorrow.  I read on FaceBook that someone tried the “Turkish” way of sleeping in hot weather … i.e. under a wet towel.  It reminded me of my mother telling about her childhood in Bakersfield when her mother covered the children with a damp sheet.

If it gets too hot at night, maybe I’ll try it.

~~~

In closing …

What a beautiful thing to be able to stand tall and say “I fell apart, but I survived.”

So … ‘til next week …

 

 

3 July …

 

So far for the Mt Shasta 4th  I’ve done net control for two night watches … and slept a lot. 

Doing the watches with a net control turned out to be a winner.  Both nights got really windy and had there not been a net control (me) the rovers would have been sorely pressed to keep any record.  I was kept busy noting booth numbers and wind damage as well as notifying the proper persons as the rovers tried their best to report as well as chase down tarps and awnings from the vendor booths.

I managed to survive both nights with the help of coffee, a book, and knitting … when I wasn’t on the radio.

This morning I slept until after eleven.

Tomorrow I have to be on station behind the event stage by 0700.

~~~

The catalpa has come into bloom.I enjoy it every year.  The pyramid shape of the blossoms is intriguing, and the bloom reminds me of a book from my childhood which was about a family of kittens which lived in a catalpa tree.  I don’t remember the name of the book.  Does anyone else remember it?

~~~

Weather has been a combination of fairly warm days and chilly, almost cold, nights.  I remember one year it snowed on the 4^th. 

~~~

Paul will be leaving next Sunday for a three week stay with his grandparents in Maryland.  I have gotten used to having a six-year-old around so I will miss him.

He tells me that his Grandma gives him cold cereal or pancakes for breakfast every morning and they have a swimming pool.

He will have a lot to tell when he gets home. 

He gets back the 28^th and Mikayla will arrive soon after for a week’s stay.

~~~

Photoshop is working again, so here are a couple of pictures from last week.             

I thought you would appreciate a picture of the work space around my computer …

…  and a shot of the rose in bloom on the courtyard fence.

~~~ 

Current reading is a collection of short stories by Issac Azimov based on a two centimeter tall demon named “Azazel” (which is also the title of the collection).  It is not Azimov’s usual Sci-fi.  Instead it is very funny fantasy.  I recommend it if a chuckle would do you good.

I had just finished another collection of short stories by a Brit which all seemed to focus on broken relationships of one kind or another.  As you can guess, I’m having a better time with Azazel.

~~~

I haven’t been doing any gardening this summer … the result of a combination of things.

The new family has their own ideas about how Cold Comfort should look and what should grow in the garden, and I’m in an approach-avoidance situation.  I would like it to stay the same while at the same time realizing it will never be the same, so why interfere with plans.

We are consulting and compromising on a lot of things, and the yard and the garden will be what they will be.

Even so, I mourn.

 ~~~

 Yes, obstacles may stand in your way, but so what? You’ll find your way beyond every difficulty.

 

So … ‘til next week when I will be back on the regular schedule …