itty bits of snow ...

It really is hard to believe that snow season is here. The first snow showed up yesterday morning, and of course by noon or so - poof, it was gone! We had more on the ground this morning, so I had to take some pictures.  This is my gravel driveway with the snow carefully placed on the fallen pine needles. Must have been some hard work on Mother Nature's part.

Here is a little pine, oh about 12" tall, that has some snow stuck in the needles.

A few days ago the side yard looked like this, and it still looks like this (in piles) but with itty bits of snow, which is now gone, so it looks completely like this. I hope this sentence makes sense, I had to read it twice to understand it, but I'm not messing with it any more ... LOL

I have a whole bunch of pictures with snow, but it's funny how we all have to take "firsts" every year ... at least I do! Maybe we can get back to a normal winter in this area as last year we had maybe 14" total. Our normal is anywhere from 4-6 feet! I hope your winter is also normal, or at least as normal as possible.

Have a good day.

The skunk saga ...

Yesterday was the BIG stinky day! I really, really wanted to show you some pictures but the incident had me running around getting bucket, rifle and keeping the dog in the house.

About a week ago I borrowed a trap for the furry little critter .. I placed it by an opening that leads under the house. I had hoped to catch the little 'kitty' and have a friend of a friend come and take it away. I left the trap there for 2 nights with eggs in it. I caught my cat! Nosy Cat. OK, no skunk ...

I moved the trap over by the chicken pen. Set it up with another egg, and waited. Two or three nights went by, no skunk, also no more Cat. I finally just moved the trap over a bit next to the outside wall of the wood shed figuring that the 'kitty' had moved on since it couldn't get into the pen.

Yesterday morning I went out to let the girls out for the day, threw some feed down for them, gave them fresh water and went back to the house. I turned in the doorway to call the dog to come back in - she was "pointing", sort of, towards the wood shed. I took a good look, and the 'kitty' moved! I just about came out of my skin realizing how close - 5 to 6 feet - I had come to the trap ...

I called my friend so he could call the guy that (has no sense of smell) would come and get it live. He sells the scent to the companies that make perfume - makes me look at perfume in a whole new light - ick!!! Any way, this is elk season out here and of course the guy was out in the woods hunting. Hmmm, now what? My friend came down to see if I had taken care of the little problem - no I hadn't, I was still on my first cup of coffee for the day and needed my whits about me. I got my rifle for him and he took care of it, WONDERFUL friend. After the 'kitty' had stopped moving, we dumped it in a bucket and away it went.

Now, when you shoot a skunk, it sprays! My property STUNK to high heaven. I had it embedded in my nose - Oh ick!!! This morning there is still a lingering aroma, but it will fade as days go by. Not fast enough for me, but it will fade.

The trap has to be rinsed down with bleach so it doesn't smell like skunk, evidently even skunks don't like the scent of other skunks. I still have the trap and am waiting to get close to it to see if the smell has left.

I was just a wonderful day yesterday, cough, cough, gag!!!

Hope your day was better. Dang, I wish I had pictures to show...

Oh ... the animals have their day!

We have had some terrific weather the last 3-4 days, and it is suppose to last for another 3-4 days. Temps in the 80's ... makes for a bad hunting season.

About 3 weeks ago SueAnn needed to go out around 2 in the morning ... what else is new? Well, I saw a shadow over by the chicken pen, but I really thought it was just my eyes after being dragged out there at that hour. But nooooo! There is a neighborhood black with white stripe type animal trying to make a dinner date with my chickens. Well .... do I need to say more? At 2 in the morning I'm trying to remember what takes the smell down about 300 degrees, but bleary brained me, just stood there staring straight ahead. I woke up when the dog wiped her cute, stinky face on my jammies! I grabbed the feminine internal cleanser and doused her good. It did help a lot, but didn't quite get it all. I woke up the next day with a headache, and knew exactly why!

Just laugh, go ahead ... last evening the cat wanted in, he lets me know by hanging up on the screen and yowling. I opened the door, and OH NO NOT AGAIN!!!! Joey evidently got too close and reeked with black and white striped type animal scent!! Have you ever tried giving a cat a bath? I did once about 40 years ago - never to try again. Until last evening! At least I was awake even if my eyes were a bit teary. Grabbed said cat, headed for the bathroom, closed the door, dumped some female stuff on him and realized I didn't have a scruffy towel handy, oh my beautiful bath towel ... Joey didn't mind the wiping down, but he felt like he needed some loving and kept jumping up in my lap - I again had a headache! Ummm, like we did that for about 5 minutes and I finally just let him jump up - - and stay, for about 10 minutes.

My whole back yard looks like this picture!  All my cute little ladies look like I tried to fleece them, but they are doing it all by themselves!  I have 5 ladies, and am getting 1 maybe 2 eggs a day.  The biggest girl is the worst 'shedder'!  I'm just going with the flow for now.  I don't care too much about the chickens, but I certainly DON'T want a repeat of my 2 legged critters.  Maybe I will just have to camp on the back steps with my .22 to prevent that ... if I don't gag first ...

I sure hope you all have had a better time lately.

The time just flies

I'm still crafting for the fair in Boston, and when I take a breath, I'm outside cleaning things up to get ready for winter. I started packing the crafts as I finished them, but I think I'll have to take some of them out again to show you pictures - I did promise after all!

This past week it was cold and rainy, but now the temperatures are heading back up to the 70' and 80's. I have a cold with this roller coaster ride - and that roller coaster has been running for over a year now. There wasn't much of a winter last year, and then almost no summer, and as today is the first day of Fall, I sure hope the coaster stops and lets us get off. I've heard from The Farmers Almanac that we are to have a 'normal' winter - and that means 4-5 feet of snow, maybe more. Last year we had 11-14 inches all total, so I can hardly wait. I'm also anxious to see how well my new weatherization will do.

I'm going to be buying the lumber and stuff to get a new chicken coop built. If we have 4-5 feet of snow the old tattered tarp covered dog kennel will not hold up too well. I also have a night visitor that is hell bent on getting in to my chickens. I think it's a possum, but am not totally sure. It is trying to dig under the pavers that are in there. I have chicken wire under all the pavers, except maybe where the gate is, and that's where the varmint is trying to get in. If I put a trap out there, I'm not sure what to do with him ... I also think I'd be afraid to get near it. I'm not too critter wise, but I do have a friend that will take care of it!!

I'm going to forgo hunting season this year. Usually I look forward to the camping part of it, but this year it has loomed on the horizon as a pain in the butt! Maybe because I'm not feeling that good with this cold, who knows. My friend will take my truck camper out this year as his wife and daughter won't be going either. He will also be able to tow the quad trailer loaded with extra water, generator, maybe the air compressor, and extra fuel. It will be tight quarters after his 24' 5th wheel, but all he'll do in it is sleep and maybe some cooking.

When I fed the cats this morning I noticed that there was 1/2 cup food left, so I'd better get going to town to replenish that! The cats won't like it if they have no dinner!

Hugs to all

too long since posting ...

I've been here every day reading all the blogs, but I've also been busy crafting for a craft fair in Boston. I don't have any pictures to show yet, but as soon as I get a chance I'll post a bunch.

The weather here is starting to get a bit crazy again. It was 43 (8C) when I got up, which has a brrr factor built in, but it it going up to 93 (35C) this afternoon. Tomorrow will be 95! Then by next weekend it will be back down in the 70's. Global warming or global cooling, go figure.


This was Labor Day 2009. We are getting ready for one more camping trip in about 8 days; wonder what the weather will be then?? Doesn't matter, we are going.

After this trip, there will be work around the property to be done before the snow flies again - and who knows when that might be. We usually don't have sticking snow until right before or right after Thanksgiving, but it is cold in October.


I will also see how all the new weatherization will work. I know it will be wonderful, but I don't know HOW wonderful. I'm looking forward to it. That large white box inside the porch will be full of wood for the stove, and I'm sure it will last longer than in years past.

Well, I need to get back to the crafting. I promise pictures soon!

Hugs to everyone!!

Someone turned on the heat!

Earlier when I looked at the thermometer it said 90 deg. It is a bit above my comfort zone and evidently Joey doesn't doesn't think much of it either!





Now I think this is where I'd like to be right now. Not sure about the cats but I know the dog would love it.



This picture was taken in Crescent City in May 2007 from our motel deck, when the tall ships were there. They had a mock battle which is hard to see, but I'm sure you get the idea. It was a marvelous weekend, nice, warm (like 70 or so) with slight breezes blowing ... aaahhh, I wish. I could sooo enjoy stepping out for a walk on the beach with the dog ... too bad they don't allow dogs at that motel - poor SueAnn.

Have a nice day and don't forget to turn down the heat.
Hugs

As normal as it gets and other tidbits

Well, I have still been putting stuff away, one little piece at a time. I mean that literally. I find a stray something, and I will walk it to where the other 'somethings' are and put it away. Wow, I have a lot of 'somethings'!!! It is mostly craft stuff that has been scattered about, and now I can really see the Crafters Motto, "If one is good, three is better" in action!! WOW! Even my nice large craft studio is getting cramped. And the super large craft table is covered with stuff!

I did craft a pair of earrings during this clean up time. My friend J asked me for two sets, and these, if you can see them, are what came out of that request. There are three little white beads on the end of all four legs, end of the tail and at the top as eyes. I guess I need a real good contrasting background to have them show up better ... either that or a closer up picture. They are about 1 1/4 inches long, not counting the hook


I also wandered around the front yard taking random pics of the flowers ... these two pictures are of wildflowers just growing where they want ... I don't care if they are weeds, they look pretty!




The next two are of 'real' flowers that I know names of - what a concept for this girl ... LOL My beautiful Purple Iris (don't look at the weeds!)


I don't know the actual name of this rose, but I know it grows wild where it is planted. I don't do much to it but throw a bit of water on it once in a while ...


Right after I took the flower pictures, the camera told me to put new batteries in or I wouldn't get any more pictures ... so, into the house I went, looking for AA batteries and found ONE. The camera takes TWO. I put the camera on the kitchen counter while I searched for another battery, and all of a sudden there was a huge thump, everyone jumped, even me. OK, one of the cats did SOMETHING NOT GOOD ... Yup, after looking around the kitchen, I found my camera in the pet water bowl ... Ooooh, not good...!!!! Maggie had evidently slowly pushed it off the counter, and it happened to be right above where the water bowl sat on the floor. Talk about upset! I pulled it out and drained it over the sink - I didn't know cameras could hold so much water. I was just heartbroken - there was no way I could replace my dear old Kodak ... I dried the outside and as best I could, stuck rag corners and edges into the openings ... all the time wondering what the H*LL I was going to do now ...

I checked the Kodak website to see what they had to say - ummm, nothing about wet cameras ... so I googled wet cameras and fortunately found a couple of sites that told little except to thoroughly dry the camera - DUH!!!! - and use a hair dryer on air only. It took me 4 days to do all this - and the camera now WORKS!!! I'm now very careful where I place the camera, and never again will it be on the kitchen counter.

I guess since it's been a while since I last posted, I had a lot to say!!! I keep trying to not let so much time pass, but I guess the only way to do that is to put reminders up ...

We, friends and I, are now getting ready for another camping trip to the lake, so hopefully I will have a bit to say about that when we get back ... I can only hope ... LOL.

You all have a great summer, now that it's here in force!!
Hugs

Windows and roof

I promised you some pictures of the the windows and roof. I will take some more pictures from the inside once everything is back in place - - there are still a few things out of place.

All the windows are vinyl clad, dual pane with argon gas. There is also a bit of a tint - I like that a whole lot!


This is from the inside just so you can tell the mess I've been dealing with. The window on the right is the one shown from the outside above. Yes, I do need to finish painting the living room. and the dining room, and the hallway, and ... and ...


This is the dining/computer area. In the picture above you can see the carport - the window on the far right here also goes out to the carport. I do need curtains since I can't mount mini blinds or roller shades. These windows take up the whole opening from outside to inside! What a concept... WOW this area looks a lot messier in the photo than it does is person ... maybe because I can't see all of it when I'm in there ... maybe I just need to clean it up A LOT!


This last picture is of the roof, as best I can ... short of climbing up there. The old roof was a rusty and patched metal roof. The old roof was covered with 2" of hard insulation and covered with a rubber membrane. The roof on the porch was not redone because it isn't a living area. If I had known that, I would have put a table and some chairs with a lamp out there. Oh well, I'm super happy with the upgrades that I received.


I still count my blessings over this "gift", and will for a long, long time.

Hugs to every one!

It's a nut house here

I hardly know what day it is ... or date ... or time of day!

I don't know if you've figured out that I'm a senior on a limited income (under $1000), but, yes I am. With all the years I have worked and paid taxes I figured there must be a bit of help out there for me to get my house a little easier to live in. I applied for the SNAP program (food stamps) and was approved. I applied to the PUC for help with base phone charges and was approved. I applied for winter heating help and was approved. I applied for weatherization and was put on a waiting list.

The waiting list ended for me at the end of April. Due to my income and age, I was approved for help. I was now on a waiting list to have an inspector come out to see what help my house needed to make it comfortable in the winter without costing me an arm and leg. To make it short; an inspection took place in the middle of May and then the pace sped up. Fast!

My friends and I had plans to go camping over Memorial Day weekend, but first - - Tuesday before our trip, the contractor and crew came out and laid a vapor barrier under the house and hung insulation under there too! Wednesday they came back and overlaid my roof. In the mean time, I'm getting the camper ready for the trip. We left Thursday morning, had a wonderful time. Relaxed for four days. On our return (I had to have help) we moved all the furniture away from the walls so another crew could - - - - install WINDOWS!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I had old single pane aluminum windows that were bent and skewed. My new windows are Vinyl clad, dual pane with Argon gas between them!!! They are also tinted. It has really made a difference in the noise level too.

I am so grateful for these programs that have helped me be more comfortable in my home. If you or someone you know need help, please contact me and I will give the names of the agencies that helped me.

It has been a week now since the windows were installed and my house still looks like someone picked up my house and shook it. I had a few cat stains (UGH!) that I wanted to clean before moving the furniture back into place. I used the vinegar & water and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide & Dawn dish soap to clean it up. It has worked, but the carpet is still wet and I don't want to put furniture back on a damp carpet. I sort of feel like I'm moving - stuff all over the place....

I will take pictures after I finish putting things back. You will love it.
Good things do happen to people!

Hugs to all

a Hail and Snow Day (wtf?) ...

Sitting quietly working on the checkbook, all of a sudden there is a racket beyond compare from outside! This is an old trailer house with tiny roof vents and a metal roof, can you imagine? The dog just wasn't happy about this at all ...


I glance out a window and I do a double take, yup, um ... hail ? ?




Not very big hail, but a LOT of hail, coming down in bucketfulls. I grab my camera, take a few pictures, go in to download them ... I was watching the chickens run, hiking their bloomers up and hauling butt for the coop ... I only saw 3 of them, but it was funny!!! I didn't realize they could get a super long stride ...


Here is a shot of the Chicken House - all that white is HAIL!!!


It got real quiet - Lo and behold - SNOW! Am I right, this is May 10, 2010, isn't it ? ? ?
The snow is falling pretty fast, meaning it is a wet snow ... heavy. I still can't believe it is snowing ... This has been the craziest winter and spring I have seen since moving here in 2001.

Hugs to you all and stay warm!