PASSINGS

Can you believe it’s mid-July already? Wasn’t it just the Fourth? Now it’s time to get ready for Halloween. (I’m not kidding!)

It just does no good to grieve the passing of what we once valued, whether it’s a loved one, a loved retailer, a season, or just a change in life’s routine. I guess every passing constitutes a change in life’s routine. In the end, life isn’t about what we want. Sometimes we must just accept and move on, and that's the way we grow our characters. 

I speak at this time about JoAnn Fabrics, the passing of which is the end of an era. My store was located next to Albertsons, so I could just pop in before I shopped for groceries. Honestly, I miss it. 

Also passing at this time are the "Big Four" paper pattern companies -- Simplicity, McCall, Butterick, and Vogue, and they say this is related to the demise of JoAnn. My mother made most of my clothes as I grew up, and I loved watching for new styles and new patterns. It's hard to realize it was so long ago and that things could change so much. As an adult, I lost interest in sewing for myself, but I do love craft patterns -- dolls, doll clothes, stuffed animals, etc.

As if on cue with the passing of JoAnn, Hobby Lobby opened a store here in the former Penney’s location. It seems huge – a well-lit, inviting store with lots of junky bric-a-brac as well as housewares, hobby supplies, and home dec. On my first and only visit so far, all of the employees were outgoing and friendly. A saxophone rendition of the old hymn, “Trust and Obey,” played in the background.

I found just one aisle of yarn, all of it Hobby Lobby’s own brand, “Yarn Bee,” made in Turkey of American fibers. How does that work? I bought one skein to make a doll sweater. I’m on a fabric diet, so I didn’t enter the fabric department, but it doesn’t come near to replacing the volume of JoAnn’s stock, even at our small store. My shopping companion was happy to have found some acrylic paint in a color she wanted.

I predict that I won’t visit Hobby Lobby much. It just isn’t located on my regular route and – well, its offerings are way more diverse than JoAnn’s. The fabric / yarn inspiration isn’t there, and I don’t need the junk. But the community needs this shopping option, and I wish Hobby Lobby well. KW

MORE EXCESSIVE HEAT

 

Spring wheat ripens in the heat

Activities out of our town base beckon, but Mike and I hastened to the farm on Saturday (July 12) with our main goal to water the raised beds. Mike attached another long hose to the cistern, which makes it easier and quicker to water the orchard with its trees and meadow plants.

Strawberry plants with their nannies

The raised bed plants were indeed glad to see me. “Arrgh! Water us,” they screamed. The tomatoes fared better than the summer squash. And even though we plant drought-tolerant perennials in our orchard meadow, I have found that most all plants do better with some water. I get no help from nature. It doesn’t rain.

Bess went through something that had us worried. We think she got stung in her mouth. She drooled, resisted eating and drinking, and was somewhat lethargic, though she did want her regular walks and to play fetch. She’s better now, but with our next farm stay, we will set up the wasp traps.

The hummingbirds were pleased to have the feeders refilled. One sat on the feeder cap this morning, waiting for me to rehang the feeder.

Good morning, Kathy

Saturday, I picked two or three cups of cherries from the Lapins tree. These were sweeter than those picked last week and a deep maroon in color. We probably did pick a little too soon, but sometimes we just have to strike a balance between ripeness and the interest of the birds. A quail flew out of the tree as I approached, and I noticed a number of pecked cherries and dropped pits.

Mike reported that he saw a herd of about 20 elk on his bike ride this morning. That’s a rare sight. And he saw some wild turkeys and deer. We see a lot of deer this year. And I saw a snake on the cistern. It was right there – and then it was gone. From my description, Mike said it was likely a bull snake.

The high was 94 at the farm yesterday afternoon. It was still 80 at 10:00 p.m. and 72 at 6:00 this morning. And now we’re back in town where it’s 100 and will likely gain a few more degrees before the afternoon is over. KW

A summer morning

ANOTHER COLD JULY 4TH

The north side of the house and grounds

Son Yancey and his three (mostly) adult children arrived the evening of the Fourth, chauffeured to the farm from the Spokane airport by son Murray. Son Clinton joined us Saturday. It was a houseful for us, and we loved every minute.

After some unseasonably hot days – two of them “excessively” so – we were plunged into unseasonably low temps on the 4^th and 5^th. Oh well. It was at least conducive to baking, and bake I did – cookies, pecan bars, lemon bars, and lasagna. Rain was also in the forecast, but it didn’t happen here. And then it was excessively hot again for a few days.

As it happened, the cherries on the Lapins tree were ripe enough to pick, so I enlisted the help of our visitors. Mike suggested I instruct them to pick only the ripest cherries, but I chose to simply cull out the undesirables. I have eight quart bags of pitted cherries in the freezer now. The Lapins sweet cherries aren’t as flavorful as Bings, nor do they take the place of pie cherries, but we enjoy them. I suspect the birds are now pecking the tree clean.

On Sunday, Clint organized a 4-hour tubing float trip for Yancey and family on the Clearwater River between Greer and Orofino. It was granddaughter Emmy’s 17^th birthday, so I baked a cake and Mike made ice cream.

Monday morning, Yancey and family left as soon as they were up and around, again chauffeured by Murray to the Spokane airport by way of Waffles & More in Lewiston, a favorite of Emmy’s. They invited Mike and me, but we can’t just leave. We had chores – pitting cherries, watering plants, packing for town – and a bike ride for Mike.

The hummer population increased to at least eight. Visitors always enjoy watching them squabble over the feeders.

My raised beds seem to be thriving. I’m guardedly cautious in my hope for good tomatoes and summer squash. Gardening is a gamble as far as I’m concerned, and I wonder if the fluctuation in temperature is really conducive to a good harvest. I water twice on a hot day. If the cistern runs dry, I’ll just have to use well water. After all, we paid for it long ago.

Black raspberry bushes 

Some weeks back, Nick called our attention to black raspberry bushes on the perimeter of the north field, but we probably  won't pick them. Country berry bushes can be deceptive. They seem to be “right there,” while in fact, they are inaccessible. Once you’re over the bank and in the weeds, you can’t see what’s under foot, and often it’s nothing much. Falling in order to grab a few berries is unacceptable, however much we’d like to have the berries.

The house is so quiet after visitors leave. It was wonderful to have them with us, but we all have things to do. KW

From the western edge of the north field

A MORNING HIKE

 

“Grab the camera,” said Mike. “We’re going on a hike.” Yes, he’s a little insistent about it because he knows I hike better in the morning than in the heat of the afternoon sun.

For the most part, these photos were taken last week (June 25), and I’m sorry I didn’t post them sooner. These things happen.

So, we headed off around the pond and down the gulley that the old family called “Stove Creek.”

“Look at the big deer,” I said. “That’s an elk,” Mike corrected, as the cow looked back at us from the other side of Stove Creek. She seemed to be alone and was as curious about us as we were about her. We don’t see many elk. Maybe we just aren’t watching at the right time.

On around the perimeter of the field we went. I love these views of the old farm yard before it disappears behind the hills again. 

My grandfather, Jack Dobson, taken by his son Earle

I can just imagine the changing views as the farmer works the fields, especially in the old days when the machinery didn’t move so fast. Was he happy? Did he enjoy the work, or did he wish he could go faster and finish sooner? Did they look forward to the noon break and the big dinner prepared by the wife? And I can also imagine watching from the house as the field work was slowly accomplished. KW 

Mike walking along the canyon rim

 

BOUNDLESS ENERGY

I do not now, nor have I ever, had boundless energy. This describes the Warnocks through Mike’s mother’s line. Daughter Hallie has it and so does grandson Silas.

Kathy & Mike with Silas

Hallie and family arrived on Friday (June 20), including her husband Nick, 3-year-old Silas, and Primo their dog. We stayed at the town house Friday and Saturday so that she could attend her 25^th class reunion in Lewiston. She explained that her class didn’t meet in 2020 due to the pandemic, so they pushed the celebration to 2025. Grandma and Grandpa were willing babysitters while she and Nick attended reunion events.

On Sunday, we all went to the farm. First on Mike’s list was repair of the fridge. The part had been delivered, but the fix wasn’t instantaneous. Eventually I discovered an ice clog where the water line enters the icemaker. Mike also installed a new valve at the cistern where I get my irrigation water, and then I watered.

Hallie and Nick brought Silas’ little pedal bike, and he rode all over the parking lot behind the town house. On Saturday, he rode on the bike path with Grandpa and Uncle Clint. But I was surprised that he is also adept at off-roading and enjoyed “down-hilling” at the farm. As you can see in the attached video, he pushed his bike uphill to the tree line in the grove, and then coasted to where the drive meets the lane. Somehow he wasn't wearing his helmet when this video was shot, but I assure you, he has and customarily wears a helmet.

Son Murray joined us at the farm on Sunday, and he reported seeing five Mallard ducklings on the pond, but the rest of us weren’t so lucky. In fact, we didn’t see them during the rest of our visit.

Parting on Tuesday was such sweet sorrow, especially since I know that Silas will likely be a grown-up 4-year-old the next time I see him. But – I have art work on both fridges now to remind me that he was here. KW

[Video courtesy of Uncle Murray Warnock.]

WORKING AWAY

Mike and I went to the farm on Sunday (Father’s Day) and began a vigorous regimen of belated spring housecleaning and grounds maintenance in preparation for summer visitors. Mike mowed and trimmed the yard and washed windows, and then rewarded himself with a bike ride. I puttered along with my chores. Neither one of us whistles while we work.

Our first visitors arrived Monday afternoon. Son Murray brought a friend who was visiting from Philadelphia. They had been driving and hiking – seeing the sights of scenic central Idaho. They stayed for supper – Warnock turkey burgers and pecan bars – and then they left in hopes of seeing more sights before dark.

Tuesday, we suffered setbacks. I discovered that the ice maker wasn’t filling with water. Hence, it had not made ice for a while. Mike diagnosed it as pump failure. I researched the part and Mike ordered it. It will be here by the weekend. Meanwhile, we have ice trays on hand, and we made ice the old-fashioned way. Mike has issues with our medical insurance and spent over an hour talking with reps while he washed windows. Then the electricity was off for two hours. In a sense, it didn’t affect my cleaning work too much. I just couldn’t run the vacuum. Of course, we had no internet. I like having the internet.

Also on Tuesday, the farmer sprayed the fields. How I wished Silas could have seen that spraying monster traveling up and down over the fields. Silas loves monster trucks.

The beds are ready now for Hallie, Nick, and Silas. Hallie plans to attend her 25^th class reunion in town, and then we’ll spend a few days at the farm.

The tomato plants I bought at Walmart have made wonderful progress. I can practically watch them grow. The zucchini and yellow crookneck have finally germinated, and the strawberry plants are flourishing and sending out runners.

The deer ate the leaves off several bottom branches of the cherry tree, so I swathed them as best I could – perhaps too little, too late. The tree is so loaded with cherries this year that its odd topknot is bent under the weight. 

I didn’t take time to look for the Mallard family. Thanks to Bess, we found a rattler in the grass at the bottom of the lane. And mid-morning on Wednesday, I heard coyotes near the pond. We seldom hear them during daylight.

I hung the hummingbird feeders on Sunday, and gradually they began to visit. Their numbers are few, but even so, they will fight with one another. I put out fresh nectar as we left on Wednesday, hoping to keep up the momentum.

Later. KW

MILO WARNOCK WRONGFUL DEATH – ANOTHER ARTICLE

The Idaho Statesman published another in-depth article today (Saturday, June 14) regarding our son Milo’s murder at the Idaho State Correctional Center (prison). The link is here, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to open it. The Statesman wants readers to be subscribers. [Or, you might have better luck with this link copied from Google.]

This article picks up at the sentencing of James Johnson on April 4 and includes details of his criminal history. It also provides details of the murder event not previously published and updates the ongoing case.

While the description of the murder event is graphic, it’s not nearly as graphic as the reality of the situation. I get through it by knowing that Milo was unconscious. They say he lived an hour after he was found, but I doubt that. I’m grateful that he isn’t living in a vegetative state.

In the months prior to his passing, Milo and I had undertaken a study of reality and spirituality. I am helped immensely by the ideas we discussed, and since I accept the continuity of life, I trust that he is also helped. KW