Lake Oroville Water Level

Last October Lake Oroville looked like this. 

This is what Lake Oroville looked like in mid-September 2016. The water level looks "more or less" normal for this time of the year. We still need rain.

23

Last night I finished the 23rd blanket of the year. It has three shades of green separated by rows of chocolaty brown, so, I named it "Andy’s Mint" just for fun. It is really pretty and is big enough for a teenager. I've started the next blanket that is made up of "odds and ends" as I have a lot of leftover yarn from all my projects this year. The scrap blankets always end up pretty...so watch the space to see my next creation. PS: My foot hurts so I guess that means it's on the mend. 

Day 3

I have positive news on the bunion surgery front. I saw the doctor today. He removed the old bandage and gave me a new one. He manipulated my foot and showed me that I have more mobility in my toe than I've had in a long time. He also explained that the foot will look pretty much like normal after I heal. All of this is great news. While I took a picture of the foot, I think it's a bit too ugly to publish. Just know that the news is good. I still need keep my foot elevated and to limit my walking for the next two weeks. The mending is beginning but it will take time. 

The Day After

The bunion surgery went well as I'm not in a lot of pain. I've been resting as that's what you do when you can't walk very far. I seem to be able to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen or the dining room or the living room then back to the bedroom again. No, I'm not doing hot laps around the house. I'm using a cane and I'm poking my way on 3 legs. It's slow and pedantic...each step is measured and I'm making sure that I'm not stepping down on the sole of my left foot...I'm walking on the left side of my left foot or on my heel. It's works. The goal is to stay off my feet as much as possible until my post-op appointment on Monday afternoon. I'm also icing down my foot for 20 minutes an hour to keep the swelling down. I think that is working as I don't feel any tightness. Come Monday afternoon I'll have a different set of directions. The stitches will come out in 2 weeks.

Bunion

That's my left foot...with a bunion. In fact that is the second bunion that left foot has had (I've had a bunion removed from my right foot too). Anyway...look at it now as it's going to be surgically removed tomorrow. The bone will get "cleaned" of all rough edges and the like, and a new joint will be installed. I'll be recovering for a few weeks, so don't expect a lot of blogging between now and when I can walk again. The doc says I should be able to walk short distances 20 minutes after the procedure. Since I've had the procedure twice before, I'm not too worried about the process. I just hope I'll recover quickly as my OLLI class starts on October 11. 

Autumn Leaves

Amid the negative messages "out there" I recommend some time reflecting on something positive. The red leafed deciduous trees in a backdrop of evergreen conifers. Beauty to behold.

End of Season Part 2

The coneflower is completely dried.

This young fella was resting in the side yard today. Notice that his antlers are not covered in velvet? Another indicator that summer is passing us by here in the high country.

See the red patches on the hills...that is the mountain maple. 

The aspens are still green, but there is a tinge of yellow in their leaves

Fall is in the air, and you really feel it in the mornings.  

 

End of the Season

The snowbirds are leaving for home. There is a dusting of snow in the mountains. The mornings are getting cooler and the daytime temps are not getting much above 60 degrees. Everyday there are fewer RVs at the campground. The aspen trees are turning yellow.   It's sad to see the summer go. 

And the flowers have become seeds for next year when the snowbirds return. 

 

Sunset

Fires can bring about some spectacular sunsets. Tonight we had a one of those. 

 

Fire Updates

The fire in the Caribou is still burning. From what I can gather, the authorities have decided to let this fire burn itself out because it was started by lightening and it's not threatening anyone.     

 

That's not the case for the Berry Fire in the Grand Tetons. It was contained, but today was windy and the humidity was extremely low, and the fire started to escalate. The road between the Tetons and Yellowstone is closed once again. 

As you can see, there is a string of cars leaving the park. It's DRY in this part of the West.

 

Fire Across the River

It's not a volcano...it's a fire on Caribou Mountain in the 

Caribou National Forest (that's in Idaho)

I've not seen any action by it...it's just going to burn out. Along the way, it's polluting our bluebird blue skies.

So sad.

Deer in Yard

The does are safe...but I fear for the bucks. I tell them to stay in my yard where they will survive another year. 

22

I just finished the twenty-second blanket of the year. It's a brand new pattern for me...in fact I created the pattern. 

I call it "Shell and Stripe." I like it a lot, so I think I'll make another one using the pattern with some other colors. The blanket will give a good cuddle for a teenage girl or boy.

Classic Car

Another one in my series of Classic Cars. Can you guess this car before the clues end? I'll give you a hint...this one is easy.

It has Firestone tires...

...and a pretty set of NASCAR Clips...

...this is on the hood....

...the nose decoration....

...you should know this car by now...

...It's a classic A-Body 

And there she is...46 years old and still looking pretty good...

She is a sweet ride.

Morning Light

 

Instead of walking this morning I took a drive along the Snake River and looked at the beauty that surrounded me. It was a wonderful experience. 

The clear water raced down the canyon

The mountain maple lit up the canyon walls

At Sheep Gulch there were no rafts trying to catch the white water.

While the buck-n-rail fence

Provided a platform for a cheeky crow

And the river sparkled it's way ever toward the west. 

Nature's Cathedral. 

 

 

Mountain Maple

One more sign that fall is in the air...the mountain maple are turning red. 

There are a few patches on the mountains. The trees are not really noticeable when they are green, but they change color at the beginning of autumn and light up the forest. 

We've not had a freeze yet, but it's coming. 

Remember the asters? They predicted fall would come in 8 weeks. 

 

Yellow

A huge sunflower is in bloom right now while   

The trees are starting to turn yellow. Fall is definitely in the air!  

Look at the fingers in the picture...they give you an idea how large this sunflower is.

Mammatus Clouds

Tonight we saw a rare cloud formation. I've read about "Mammatus Clouds" but this is the first time I've seen them. Wikipedia describes this cloud  as having a "cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud."

This type of cloud is the harbinger of a storm. So far it has not come, but we need the rain!