For years we have been taught to dial 911 in an emergency. However, on 9-11 in 2001, 911 took another and completely different, darker meaning. It was one of those days when our country "lost her innocence" in yet another way. Be vigilant. Be careful. I hope and pray we never have another attack as horrendous as 9-11-2001.
I'd like to say may we live in peace, but alas I don't think that's possible.
My beloved uncle would be 112 today. He passed away on Super Bowl Sunday in 1995. I still miss him. Unlike my parents who were both very ill when they passed away, my uncle was healthy. Or we thought he was. He fell asleep on Saturday night and never woke up. I'm happy he did not suffer. So on this day, Happy Birthday dear uncle. You are always loved and remembered.
There is an error in my last post. I was re-reading my blog this morning, and the post of July 9 says the asters started blooming on July 7. SO the asters were RIGHT. The cooler weather and the first tinges of yellow in trees started ON time. Trust the asters.
You might remember, on July 4, I saw the first asters in bloom. According to the old wives tale in this neck of the woods...when the asters bloom, there will be about 8 more weeks of summer. Therefore, this year, the "asters predicted" that summer would end around September 4. Today is September 7, and there's a hint of yellow in the berry plants and aspens. The "old wife" was just about on target.
There are other indications that the season is changing. The morning light is different. It's not as bright and it peeks over the mountain a little later every morning. Then there is the rain. Lord knows we need the rain, and now it's falling on a more regular basis. We are hearing thunder boomers in the afternoon followed by rain. The earth is dry and the rain is soaked up quickly.
Autumn officially begins around the 22nd of September. Up in the mountains of Wyoming, it's here on the 7th. The Farmer's Almanac says it's going to be a wet and cold winter. The weather-guessers say it's going to be a cold, white winter, up here too. It is the winter we need.
Today, the LoToJa Classic was run. LoToJa is the nickname for a relatively famous bicycle race in this part of the world. The race starts in Logan, UT (the Lo) and go to Jackson, WY (the Ja) for a total of 202 mountain miles. The race starts and ends the first Saturday after Labor Day. Can you imagine riding a bicycle for over 200 miles in one day? Now consider the fact that you are riding your bike at elevations between 2000 and 8000 feet, with a few higher mountain passes in between. The LoToJa is a mighty hard race and not meant for the meek and mild.
Folks train for the race all year. I should say skinny folks train for the race all year. Well padded folks, like me, probably are not allowed to join in the endeavor. I'm exaggerating, but you only see folks on the LoToJa who are thin and wiry. There are individual riders, group riders and relay riders; ages range from 18 to over 65. Men and women, young and old, compete to win this classic race.
By the time we see the riders, there are in "strings" or "groups" of 8 or 10 bikers quickly pedaling along the side of Highway 89. They have already bicycled over 150 miles by the time they get to our location. They travel with a contingent of helpers including chase and water cars. The road is busy with bikes and if a "normal" non-biking person wants to use the road, they have to remember the bikes have the right of way. Locals along the route know not to use Highway 89 when the LoToJa is in progress.
The last 50 miles of the race has to be the hardest as it follows the Snake River Road. That road is not only scenic, it is a narrow 2 or 3 lane road that winds along the Snake River, and, it's uphill, most of the way. Once the bikers get to Hoback Junction, they take the round-about toward Jackson with less than 20 miles left. It must feel great to get that far.
The results of the LoToJa have not been published yet but I know the race is over. Last year the winner did the 200+ miles in less than 9 hours. That person was averaging over 22 miles per hour. Alas, not everyone finishes the race but the majority do. The race has been run for over 40 years. It's part of the culture in the valley. We look forward to "avoiding" the LoToJa so the bikers can make their fastest time to Jackson.
I spent part of the weekend at Yellowstone National Park...one of the more magical places in the world. Native Americans called the place the "Land of Many Smokes" and they were right. There are many smokes from geysers, fumeroles, mud pots, warm/hot basins and springs, and so much more. Nowadays, while I like to look at the "smokes" I truly enjoy the wildlife. Yellowstone is America's Serengeti. During this visit, I felt like I was on a wildlife safari as the animals were amazing.
First and foremost are the bison. The herd in Yellowstone is large and very healthy. There were hundreds of these huge critters roaming in both the Hayden and Lamar Valleys. Then there are the bear. Grizzly and Black bears call Yellowstone their home. We did not see any black bears but we saw some Grizzly. The Grizzly bears are HUGE and while they look like they are your best friend, you have to remember they are the apex predator in the Park with claws as long as your fingers.
We were also lucky enough to see wolves. Wolves were introduced back into the Park in 1995 and for the last 30 years they have thrived. They can now be found in every area of the Park, as well as in Grand Teton Park down the road a piece. The wolves we saw were gorging on a downed bison and were only visible thru a scope...but they were there. Alas, no picture.
Lastly we saw mountain goat. Mountain goat are more illusive than all the other animals put together. We saw a herd, via scope, on a mountain, jumping around as though they were on flat land. I had no idea how any one saw them in the first place because without the scope, they looked like teeny-tiny white dots on the tall, steep hillside. Again, no picture.
I've been visiting Yellowstone for over 50 years. I never get tired of the Park. Not only are there "smokes" and the critters, there are pristine lakes, as well as some wonderful places to sit back and "watch the rocks grow." The nighttime skies are dark, sprinkled with twinkling stars and a brilliant moon. The daytime skies are clear and bluebird blue with puffy clouds. The mountains soar to 11,000 or more feet, while the average elevation of the park is 7800 feet. Yellowstone is large and lovely, yet parts are wild and untamed. If you have a chance, visit this world wonder and enjoy all she has to offer.
Out here in the country, AI has a completely different meaning than it does everywhere else. Here, AI has everything to do with cows and calves. In the rest of the world, AI means artificial intelligence. Right now, I'm a bit ticked with the artificial intelligence as it's putting words in my mouth that I don't want there. BUT there is hope. For now, MY intelligence is still intact. I've learned how to turn AI off...at least on Apple devices.
Find the settings app (that's the app that looks like a bunch of gears). On the search line on the left side of your screen, type in "Apple Intelligence and Siri". A page will appear to the right and at the top of the page there's a button (or lever) that will turn Apple Intelligence off. Click the button from green to gray and AI is OFF. Remember, we're all in this together.
The "usual" doll I crochet is a basic person with legs, body, arms, head and hair. While Dolly has those basic forms, she has a shapely body. First step was figure out how to make a shapely body, then make clothes to fit.
Part 1: The other DrC has been home about a week. During that time he has left a trail of green tubing throughout the house. I'm glad it's green because I can see it and therefore NOT trip over it. I always know where he is because I can follow his trail. The green tubing brings him much needed oxygen. We saw our doctor on Monday and she said it was time to wean him from the oxygen; so yesterday he spent 4 hours without his green tether and his oxygen levels stayed between 88 and 94. When they started to measure 88, it was time for him to reconnect his tether. This is good news
Item 2: My deer in the forest are being coy or shy or something. Ever since we had the forest cleared of downed wood and dead trees, the deer have not been showing up. About a week ago, 2 deer showed up--a mama and her 2 year old boy. She grooms him and he lets her...it's fun to watch and something I've not seen before. I've not seen the little fawns BUT, this morning there were 3 adult deer in the backyard and one of the fawns...maybe that means they are no longer "miffed" at me for cleaning their home, and will come back.
Thing 3: I'm still painting rocks. I find rock painting a lot of fun even if I'm not good at it. I look at Pinterest for ideas but they all require artistic skills. I even searched "rock painting for kids" websites and find I fall short in that category too. Nevertheless, I persist and I am having fun. I see what other folks are doing and I try---I really try---but alas I just cannot make a cat that looks like a cat. I can do hearts, silly fish, lady bugs and that 3rd grade mountain scene--you know the one with 2 mountains, a sun and some trees. (Second row, rock #4 from the left.) Sometimes the rock tells me what to paint and that's a big help. I have planters filled with painted rocks and they are kind of pretty. I know...it's crazy but too bad.
Last oddment: I'm still crocheting. This summer I've made a few critters, and a baby blanket, but recently I've been working on hot mats. They are useful and pretty and keep me out of trouble too. If you would like one, let me know and I'll get busy. Notice, I don't make that offer for the rocks. I'm still making dollies.
I called this blogpost "odds and ends" and that's what it is. All the while, I'm nursing my fellow to health.
Thirteen years ago, our house was covered with clear plastic tubing connected to an oxygen generator, just like it is now. There are differences. Back then the oxygen was for me...this time it's for the other DrC. Last time, the tubing was clear; this time it's green making it easier to see and less of a tripping hazard. Last time the O2 generator was a beast of a machine, very noisy and impossible to move; this time the generator is almost quiet and about half the size of R2D2 and has tiny wheels making it a bit easier to move. It is still a stationary unit that resides in my office as it is not meant to follow you around the house like a good puppy (aka a portable unit). That's why we have green tubing snaking the house. I have a perfect green trail thru the house telling me where he is at all times. You might be wondering why? The reason is the same....the other DrC has pneumonia. There is a difference too...I had very bad pneumonia, where his was caught early before it got a firm foothold in his lungs. This is a good thing!
He spent one night in local our hospital where they filled him with the latest IV anti-pneumonia drugs and then sent him home. That one day did the trick. When I had the malady, I had a 3 day hospital stay and a few months on O2. He will spend about 2-3 weeks on oxygen. The moral of the story: Pneumonia is no joke so catch it early before it gets worse.
Sadly, I have had to cancel some company, but there's no way I can play nurse and entertain. I hope we can make it up to our guests in the near future.
Pneumonia is not a walk in the park. Maybe the other DrC has a milder case than I had because we have taken pneumonia shots. Maybe his is milder because we had seen the disease before and we knew what to do. Whatever the case, don't linger with pneumonia. One of the nurses at the hospital said she had it when she was 35 and since she was a nurse she thought it was a normal cold...until it was much worse than a normal cold...turns out by "waiting" she ended up damaging her young heart. Pneumonia is real. If you have abnormal coughing or feel shortness of breath see your doctor. See your doctor NOW. Pneumonia is a dangerous disease. The other DrC will be perking along close to normal in a couple of weeks...until then I'm his nurse. Wish me luck. I told him if he becomes needy or demanding I will run away. (Hahaha) He told he would be a good patient.
Every two or three years we have the forest cleared out. A company comes in and cuts down the old, sick trees that need to come down; takes out the fallen trees and clears the deadwood. It's a necessary fire prevention routine. Since our last house survived a wildfire, we are super cautious.
While it's an important thing to do...it scares the deer and they scamper away. We've not seen a deer in the backyard in two weeks. Today the deer returned. YAY. We had a 2 year old male and his mama lounging in the backyard enjoying the quiet. I've not seen the fawns yet, but if mama is there...the babies will not be far behind. The foresters are out of their forest and the deer finally felt safe enough to return. I'm a happy camper.
It's almost the first of August and I have to ask how did it get here so fast? It seems like we just arrived in the mountains but that was May 8. My Auntie Ruthie who lived to be 102 said the years seemed shorter the older she got. She was right. I'm not 102, but I "feel" her wisdom. To that end, it was time to shake things up. So I did...I had my fingernails painted blue. For me, that's a major walk on the wild side.
We had screen put under the flooring of the porch, so bugs could not get inside. We had individual screens made for each opening, and we bought a special outdoor ceiling fan able to survive a cold and snowy Wyoming winter. All the trades-men chipped in with their specific knowledge and the porch became a reality. And, what a porch it is. It is the best feature of the house and the place where I spend a lot of each day. The porch is the gateway to solitude in the forest that sings the songs of the "quakies" (as aspens are called up here). The birds and deer inhabit our little hunk of land, and I get to see them from the porch. The porch acts as a "blind" where I can see them and they cannot see me. The animals can hear us, but can't see us, as we are hidden behind the screens. The porch is a little bit of heaven and I love it.
On July 4, this year, a piece of the Middle Teton tower collapsed. There was no local news coverage about that collapse, but my friends in Tennessee asked if the Tetons were still standing. I had NO idea what they were talking about. Naturally, I went online and found out some information. Sure enough, part of the Middle Teton tower had collapsed and created some minor landslides. One article said the shape of the Tetons was changed forever.
Yesterday, we went to the Tetons in an effort to see what really happened. As you know, news and reality are not always the same thing.
On the other hand, Mt. Moran looked as glorious as ever. One of my favorite places in the world is somewhere where I can see Mt. Moran.
We are both native Californians and we've heard that "sound" before. The first time I heard it (and I remembered it) was in 1957 in the Bay Area. The sound came first then the house started to rock and roll. The house got a few more cracks in the plaster but there was no other damage. Other houses did not have the same experience. That time I remember my parents telling us kids that it was only an earthquake and all was OK. I still hear the vestiges of my parents saying that when I hear the "sound," more than half a century later.
Unlike 1957, I went to earthquakes.gov and found the epicenter was less than 3 km from my house. No wonder I heard the "sound." About 20 minutes later there was an aftershock, not nearly as long nor as close, as there was no sound...just a thud as the earth moved. This morning, all the aspens are still quaking, as though nothing has happened.
We live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Yellowstone is an active volcanic region. Yellowstone Lake is a huge caldera. Earthquakes in the GYE are common as there are several very small quakes on any given day. The small quakes are rarely felt. The quake we had last night measured 2.8. While definitely not a "big quake" it was noticeable. If you are not used to earthquakes, you might ask if it is dangerous living in the GYE? When the big quake strikes, it will be dangerous to live here, but until then, I'm not very worried at all. There will be lots of warning signs before the big one happens. We'll skedaddle when that happens. In the meantime, I love living in the Rocky Mountains during the summer time, listening to the song of the aspens.
Seeing the asters in bloom can be either encouraging or discouraging. For me, it's means we have at least 8 more weeks of glorious summer weather. Summer weather where it's not too hot and not too cold; where the flowers are blooming; where the skies are bluebird blue; where there's very low humidity; and lots of time in the sun in the long summer days. For some it means that this glorious season will soon end. I'd rather think on the positive side than the negative side. Eight more weeks of glorious weather in the Rocky Mountains. Does it get better than that?
My answer to that question is NO. At my home in the desert, the temps are scorchingly hot at 110 and higher...the best time of year there, in the desert. is NOT the summer. On the other hand, when it's pleasant in the desert, it's mighty cold in the mountains. If we want to live in great weather year round, we need to migrate from south to north, which we do.
Whatever you think, this is the best time to be in the mountains. The wildflowers are blooming. There is a new crop of fawns bounding and jumping in the forest. Our resident herd of deer grace our backyard with beauty and delight. The aspen forest is lush and green and sings a sweet summer song. Does it get any better than that? I'm looking at the remnants of a robin's nest that successfully held 3 tiny baby robins earlier in this summer--already they are fledged and on their own. It's the cycle of the seasons. The asters are at the end of the growing cycle and we still have 8 more wonderful weeks of summer.
Today we went to the funeral for the 21 year old daughter of our dear friends. It was beyond sad. We loved her. We miss her. The town was there for her family and friends; and we were there for her family and friends too. Good bye sweet girl.
Mama was in the background watching her two little trouble makers as they jumped and played and sniffed out grasses and flowers. If she saw them get out of line, she gently raised her left front foot and put it down again. I did not hear a noise. I barely saw the motion, but the little ones knew they had gone too far. They jumped back in line and went back to doing things that fawns are supposed to do.
It's fascinating watching the dynamic of mama and fawn. The twins stick together and stay within ten or so feet from their mama, but not any more. She lets them know how big their territory is and they are not allowed to stray far from it. If only that worked with little humans. I wonder how many more fawns are hiding in the understory. Last year we had 5--this year there are 3, and I hope there's more to come.
