July 31, 2024

The fires are still going. What was nice we had rain Monday night in the area. That helped a little and cooler temperatures. and less smoke. A lady at Church shared this list in case anyone needs to evacuate from their homes.

It is heating back up here and down in the valley big time. Today  80's and into the low 90's tomorrow. We will be mid 90's F. Friday, but down there 108 plus. They take the temps up at the airport where it is always a bit cooler than the lower valley. Friday will be the hottest but they will have 106 Sat. not that much cooler.

Stella the summer mule was throwing her bowl around this morning. I guess she thought I hadn't given her an adequate enough amount of oats. She went over and pushed Clara away from hers and spilled what little was left in Clara's bowl. Then went back to hers and was making all kinds of noises on how unhappy she was. She is a real talker. That's smoke all around us not haze.

I did manage to get a huge of pork shoulder roast Dave found on sale canned up on Monday. Ended up 5 quarts of meat and one of broth. We did it in 2 crock pots. Turned out nice and tender. The fat was reserved and bagged up for Bear dog to be doled out to him a little at a time as a treat. Don't want to give him to much and upset his stomach with to much richness. After being cooked up and stuffed in jars it doesn't seem like as much. I was glad to get that done before hotter temps came back in.

Full Blown Summer

 The heat of summer is here. We pretty well had a cool June. Th window AC is in our bedroom and then we open up at night and have fans in the windows at night. One blowing in and one on the other side of the house blowing out. The nights aren't to warm yet and that helps. One just has to get used to it. :)

All kinds of Birthdays in July. I think I got them all.

We've been on level one evac for a week. But it looks like the fire is going more to the west, northwest. Called the Cougar Creek fire. We were getting ash fall on Wed. but none now. This is looking south west from our barn on Tuesday the 16th.

The field to the south of us on Wed. the 17th.

Helo with water bucket going over. The planes were going around to the west and the trees were always in the way.

The garden is doing so so, looks like we will have mainly potato's and pumpkins, lol. The to cool June kind of did it under. The onions also look good. To many nights at or below freezing.

Onions that went to seed for next year.

Pumpkin patch, hopefully we get some good pumpkins before the cold weather hits. Should be around the middle of September but one never knows.

I have slowly been writing my next book. Seems very slowly.

The turkeys like their new extended yard. There are 4 of them, 2 are the neighbors.

We have never had a light feathered one like the one on the left before.

Everyone take care and God Bless.

July 2024

The first week of July is under our belts. We have been getting little chores finished that add up.

The garden has been in for 3 weeks, late because of the cold weather and now it is turning hot. 

Not a whole lot has been going on besides, playing catch up on needed work around here.

Still some needed fence work and post replacements to be done.

We have been making jams and preserves from the fruit we froze last year.

Some of our new crop of chickens. Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. The old California Whites are now old age.

Clara and Stella are here.

Still sewing as time permits. Bucket hats and Tulip hats. The Tulip hats are the easiest.

Cold Front

 The last three mornings we have had temps in the high 30's. Yesterday was the coldest at 36 F. This morning 38, 39. Temps will be around 53 today.

The rest of the week will be warming up and 80 F by next Saturday during the day.

We have had a colder June but that was around 2007 with below freezing.

Some of the garden is in. Later then other years but it's going in. Planted more this last Saturday with the help of a great grandson K :). More beans, the cucumbers and other squash.

He had to wear a flannel of mine with the sleeves rolled up and a winter beany. Out with g, grandpa fixing fences.

Cool Front Here

This week we have been back to the high 30's F. at night. With high 40's and low 50's during the day. Supposed to be 55 F. today with rain coming in.

The apple trees are blossoming out. I hope it's not to cold for them to be pollinated. The lilacs now have small leaves. Might have flowers on the bushes in another couple of weeks. Tulips are up.

We found that the well house piping sprung a leak on the out going side last night when all of sudden we had no water last evening. Just above the shutoff. :(. At least it can be shut off.

Dh has a dentist appointment this morning so he left early to get the parts he needs.

We're still trying to get the camper ready for son in laws mom to live in for a week and may have to fill the water tanks up at her place. Her old manufactured home is being torn down and the new one won't be here until next week. She doesn't want to leave her place unattended because there are to many sticky fingers around her. Lots of her things are in a couple of sheds right now and on a deck.

Dh will head up there to Orofino ID. about 1 or 2 this afternoon to move her big things onto her deck. Fridge, washer, etc. etc. and take the camper up tomorrow. I've been putting things in that I think she might need. Paper plates, silverware, towels and so on.

D will be up there on Wed. as well when the demo guys come. We're hoping they can finish it in one day. Also supposed to rain Wed. :( that we didn't need. We pray that doesn't put things off because the new place comes the beginning of next week.

Also D will be heading to Burbank, WA. Wed. night so he can take a son to the hospital on Thursday morning for surgery. Then bring him home. It's a three hour drive one way.

A few of the pics of the bowl cozy's I have been making.

Last Day of April

Yes, I did it again, went a weeks without posting. During the time we had company and it was great. They also had lots to do with helping his mom get ready to be moved. They hoped it helped her with packing and etc.

One of our grandsons came up with his uncle and got some of the things we were giving away. He lives in the Spokane, Washington area. He needed a work desk and chairs and this worked out great for him 

We woke to an inch of snow this morning and 30 deg. F. Not to bad, we have gotten more snow then this in April before and into May. We don't dare plant as yet, the ground is to cold even for root crops.

Usually but not always the last 2 weeks of May is usually best for getting the root crops in the ground.

Yesterday

This next pictures are the 2ed week of April and then it melted away in a weeks time. It was a very wet heavy snow.

We got our new chicks 3 weeks ago. New layers along with Red Broilers and turkeys, 20 of the broilers and 2 turkeys are the neighbors. He doesn't have a place for chicks as yet. A bit hard to see with the red heat lamps to keep them warm. No the tarp isn't hitting the heat lamps.

I made a new quilt and still need to make a back for it.

Purse with matching wallet. There are 2 pockets inside and a pocket on each side of the outside. Zipper close on top of purse.

Wallets

Now unto May.

Happy Easter

 Wishing everyone a happy Easter. He is Risen.

Seems we are having an early spring. Tons of robins and finches flying around. We saw pelicans in the Salmon river again yesterday when we were in the L/C valley. Wish I had taken my camera but I will put one up from last yr, looks about the same lol.

Chuck Crawford  passed away and we got a call from his sister yesterday. He passed 1 yr. and 31 days after my mother. They were together for around 21 yrs.

Weather wise we have had just about everything, some times all in one day. Sun, fog, hail, snow, rain and so on. On this Wed. past it hailed off and on all day with high winds. Thursday was hail, rain, snow and then sun in the evening.

It is supposed to be nice today with sun and a high of 48 deg. F. No rain/snow again until this coming Wed.

Dh has been getting the chick area's of the barn ready, new chicks coming. 24 Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. Along with Red broilers. We haven't raised the broilers before. We are including the ones for the neighbor as he doesn't have a place for his. Also hope we can still get 4 turkey chicks, 2 for us and 2 for them. Been harder this year to get turkey's. The turkeys might be into the farm store today, but first come first serve unless you order 2 dozen. All we want is 4. And couldn't order the Cornish Xrocks as normal.

Take care all.