COOL AGAIN

We knew it would be cooler this week, and yesterday it wasn’t much over 70 here at the farm. Is this the cool air from Alaska? Tuesday we watched a storm skirt around us in the 4:00 p.m. timeframe bringing us wind but no precipitation. The worst of it was that the electricity was off for 50 minutes.

Last Saturday, the farmer sprayed the fields with herbicide to kill the weeds and volunteer wheat. In this picture, you can see the operator walking in the field, probably checking for mud. It was hot over the weekend, and the mudhole at the clothesline is mostly gone. However, marshy spots remain here and there on the property.

Speaking of weather, yesterday Mike attached his weather station to his he-shed. In the past, we’ve had it on the barn roof and then at the pond, but it didn’t work well either place in the long run. So far, Mike is pleased with this location. He spent hours calibrating the rain gauge, which we finally realized would never be really accurate.

As we walked late in the afternoon, we saw another young rattler on the upper slope of the lane just beyond the yard. It scurried out of our way and we let it go. We also caught sight of a gopher snake slithering through the yard.

Wild roses are in bloom now

The other night, two young whitetail bucks were staring at us from the edge of the field beyond the raised beds. For one enchanted moment, we just stood staring at each other. Then a buck from outside our view (which means there were really three) ran through, which broke the spell. One buck and then the other ran. Mike said they were up to no good, and I’m afraid I have to agree. If we hadn’t been here, they would have munched our yard.

Last week I covered the little apples on the honey crisp tree with mesh bags, and as I communed with the tree, I discovered two more. That makes seventeen or so. I hope they develop all right. I don’t see much fruit on the Lapins sweet cherry tree. I think we had a cold snap at the wrong time. I will miss the fruit, but at least we don’t have to swath the tree.

We haven’t had sign of mice or gophers for a long time – knock on wood. You just know they aren’t gone but waiting for the chance to pounce when we’ve been a little careless. KW

HEAT ADVISORY

A bull snake finds shade under Mike's grill

Mike and I came back to town on Sunday, June 26. He has another project going at the farm and needed some supplies, and we can always use groceries, especially fresh produce. And it was son Murray’s birthday, so we invited him to dinner. Mike grilled a salmon that Ken gave us and also made ice cream. My part was minimal.

The bull snake scales the foundation

But – yesterday was 96 here in the valley and today is 101. The weather service actually issued a heat advisory for today. I don’t know why because we’re not strangers to triple-digit heat even though this is the first one of the summer. In fact, Nevertheless, Mike exercised Bess this morning when it was cool, and we both did yard work early. Our yoga group met at the park, which was most pleasant. But this afternoon we mostly stayed inside.

Bull snake rests head on the wheel

Mike called me outside yesterday afternoon so that I could see this bull snake enjoying the shade of his grill. We do see snakes, even rattlers, in this neighborhood. The photos here were taken with my phone. KW

STILL A BIT CHILLY

The M/W Homestead, aka the Old Dobson Place

It was fortuitous – fortuitous, I say – that I did not remove the electric blanket from the bed. It was 57 this morning, and it felt cold. In fact, the last several days have been cooler, but the forecast promises warmer days.

Speculation abounds as to whether or not we’ll have triple-digit days this summer. People always talk about the weather. It used to be a safe topic of conversation. Not sure any more.

At 2:30 a.m., I was awakened by coyotes yodeling nearby. At 4:30, a flicker ratta-tat-tatted on the house. At 6:30, the crop duster began work in this region. Who says country life is quiet? Well, it is much of the time.

Taken from the north end of the ridge

Mike took a spill on his bicycle the other day, and yesterday morning he decided a dip in the Jacuzzi would be just the thing to quiet his aches. I guess I failed to tell him that it wasn’t working. (We don’t use it often.) Fixing and cleaning it became an immediate priority. I felt like we had done a day’s work by 8:00 a.m., but at least we were successful.

Taken from the canyon rim behind farmhouse

Later in the morning, we rode the 4-wheeler to the end of the ridge. We rode out on the road and returned across the fields, but when we came to the dip onto Plank’s old place, it appeared to be a mud hole, so we decided not to chance it and backtracked to the road.

Well, I must get started with the day’s weeding. KW

SUMMER ENCHANTMENT

[Two posts today, this one and the next below.]

Common sunflowers

Ah, summer! Sunlight, warm days that begin early and practically last beyond bedtime, lighter clothing, outdoor work, and food off the grill. Now we fear that it will turn hot, but while it’s still moderate, let’s enjoy it. (I say this, but today it’s 65 with a cool breeze and I’m thinking my plan to take the electric blanket off the bed may be premature.)

Wonderful toadstools as big as dinner plates have appeared in the grove where the imaginary elves live.

I planted the raised beds last Friday morning (June 17), and already the zinnias, lettuce, and spinach are coming up. I planted the zinnias in the hope that the garden might look good even if not productive. The Early Girl tomato plant looks happy, but I’m not so sure about the zucchini. Last year the strawberries were ugly and didn’t produce much fruit, but this year they look great. It remains to be seen if the fruiting trees bear much this year.

Mike and I are determined to beautify the “orchard” and the bank behind the house with invasive perennials. We’ve transplanted valerian from the drought-tolerant garden in town and hope it will do well here, too. We’ve already transplanted Russian sage and lavender, and will bring yarrow and silver sage (wormwood). Common sunflowers bloom, and we encourage the hollyhocks. I only regret that we didn’t start years ago, but that can’t be helped. This is now.

I made a mistake last week and accidentally left the fencing around the honey crisp apple tree open. Several branches were stripped of their leaves. Fortunately, they are low branches that I was thinking of pruning anyway. It’s just a reminder that we have to protect everything or we’ll have nothing. KW

TOWN GARDEN IN BLOOM

The photos here are of our drought-tolerant garden beds at the town house. We are pleased with the overall appearance this year. It's always a work in progress. Mike devotes a lot of time to weeding.

Lavender, basket-o-gold, and yarrow

Mike has a plant-identification app on his phone. He actually paid good money for it, but it works well -- as long as we have service -- and we have enjoyed it. 

Snow-in-summer, cactus, and lavender

Never transplant a cactus to your garden

Catmint, valerian, and yarrow

We are presently in the process of transplanting some of our invasive perennials from town to the bank behind the house on the farm. Perennials are expensive to buy, but many of them are invasive once you have them, and we don't mind. KW

GARDEN PLANTED / RATTLER SIGHTING

“I’m thinking we should go back to town after lunch,” said Mike on Friday (June 17). “I need things that I have there, and it’s going to rain anyway.” After a quick mental adjustment (I’m used to it), I agreed. I have things to do both places.

Thursday afternoon, Mike decided the soil in the raised beds was dry enough to till. It went well. The soil clumps broke apart readily. He offered to help me plant on Friday morning, but I assured him I could do it. I even prefer to plant alone because gardening is a matter of quiet puttering and cogitation. Mike seemed relieved and left to cycle the rolling hills of Russell Ridge before the predicted wind picked up.

As we walked with Bess Thursday afternoon, we noticed big hoof tracks in the lane. Mike thinks they belong to an elk. He found more tracks this morning, and I wonder if it’s messing with my lilac bushes. Something is – or has been.

A baby rattler lurks under the rhubarb plant

After planting the raised beds, I watered the rhubarb plants, where I found a baby rattler hiding under a leaf. The snake and I were both startled. I ran to the house to get Mike. Together we examined the situation, but while the baby snake crawled further under the bush to hide, it didn’t leave, as rattlers are wont to do. It had reason to stay as it had evidently killed a mouse. I have a picture, but I decided not to post it. This was our first snake sighting of 2022.

I’ll let you know how my garden grows – IF it grows. KW

WATERLOGGED

Note the machinery tracks in the muddy north field

“It’s going to rain again on the weekend!” exclaimed Mike, a tone of incredulity in his voice. He has never seen it so wet at this time of year, he says. I really can’t say. I remember occasional spring flooding in my young years, but I don’t remember a time that my dad couldn’t plant. 

A deer trail through the grove to the field

Here at Gilbert, we huddled in warm clothes last night as the newscaster told us about hot temps across the country. Not in the Pacific Northwest and its Inland Empire, though. Rain is predicted this weekend – also wind – and then the rain will abate but a system from Alaska will come through – or something. Looks like the next ten days will be fairly cool, gradually building to the mid-70s here at elevation. It has to be warmer to dry out the fields.

Mike mowed first thing when we arrived here at the farm yesterday (Wednesday, June 15). He was careful to avoid the boggy spots, but still, I can see muddy tracks where the water was hiding under the grass. The puddle under the clothesline is worse, now extending into the yard. He couldn’t mow behind the house either.

A toadstool in the grove

And, of course, the fields are worse than they were. The farmers can’t plant and can’t spray the weeds and volunteer wheat that grow freely in this moisture. The ground is too wet for the machinery.

Common sunflowers in bloom

The situation isn’t good for the gardeners either. I have garden seeds, and I brought tomato and zucchini plants with me, but I read that I shouldn’t plant them in wet soil – bad for the plants and the soil. Don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll probably just plant later to make the raised beds pretty – if that’s possible.

Meanwhile, the rhubarb and the strawberries look better than they have in years. The moisture encourages the growth of the established greenery, and if it turns hot and dries the vegetation – but let’s not think about that right now.

I often start a sewing project that then becomes a “buffalo” and goes unfinished for months (or years), but I recently made these chair cushions in a weekend. I had sticker shock when I saw the price of the outdoor fabrics at JoAnn’s – expensive even on sale, so we found this regular upholstery fabric at $9/yd. and then applied the half price coupon. I used the padding from the old cushions. KW

AN OVERNIGHTER TO SALEM

Mike’s cousin’s wife passed away a couple of weeks ago, and her family planned a celebration of life for Saturday, June 11, in Salem, OR. She had been a gracious hostess when we visited, and Mike wanted to pay his respects and visit with members of his extended family. We just wanted to attend the event, so we decided to make it an overnight trip.

Basically, we traveled light. We decided to err on the side of being underdressed rather than overdressed, and that proved to be right. It was a casual event.

So, on Friday I made Chex Mix and Golden Graham bars – and I packed those in the crate with other needful things. The crate made it to the car, but the banana bread and cookies I planned to pack in the morning – well, those were left behind along with my tote bag of light reading to which I gave much thought. It’s getting harder and harder to cope with the details. Oh well – we had our phones. What more did we need? And yes, Bess went, too.

We started out at 5:50 a.m. on Saturday. The trip is much like that to Seattle, beginning on winding country roads which eventually lead to the interstate and finally onto the urban freeway with vehicles whizzing along. I see it as cultural shock.

The celebration was well-organized and a great tribute to a generous lady. A granddaughter opened the event with a short but heartfelt tribute. A potluck meal was provided by the children and grandchildren. Otherwise, It was an opportunity to mingle and visit. Today, many people bypass the funeral service, but my mother believed that it’s necessary to gather after someone passes. You have to get through that first time without the departed, she said, and I’m sure this lovely event accomplished that for this dear lady’s family.

Sunday found us on the road again but not quite so early – about 7:30. Our only stop (except for gas) was at Multnomah Falls where there were plenty of tourists on such a chilly, rainy day. We drove in intermittent rain and were home by 2:30. Then it began to rain in earnest, and the weather service issued a storm alert and a flood watch. KW 

TOO WET TO PLANT

“Never leave home without a sweater,” was my mother’s advice for summer outings. “The weather can change and the evenings are cool.” It’s so true in this part of the country. Unfortunately, I often fail to heed that advice. “I won’t need my hoodie,” I said to myself as we left the town house for the farm. “It’s going to be nice now.” Well, the sun is warm, but the air is still cool, and it can be colder in the house than outside. And wouldn’t you know it? – it rained a bit Thursday morning and there’s more rain in the forecast.

What’s up with the hummingbirds anyway? I noticed a distinct lack of interest in my nectar last week. “Okay for you,” I said as we made ready to leave for town. “I’m taking the feeders down. I’m not leaving the nectar here to spoil.” And I was true to my word. I didn’t replenish the feeders this visit either. As I work in the yard, the odd hummer will buzz by, but they haven’t called at the windows to ask for nectar. I think they’re being brats. Don’t they know I like to watch them? Oh well. I have other uses for the sugar. I actually put the feeders away.

I transplanted a young lavender from town to the bank behind the house. I’ve also transplanted some valerian – pretty but super invasive, but we’ve come to appreciate invasive plants, both here and in town. The raised beds are still too wet to plant, and I think I’ll just buy some plants rather than planting from seed.

A farm neighbor came to visit the other day, and discussion turned to the fields. Nothing has been planted in this region, he said. He reported that Farmer Kyle had thought he might plant canola in the fall, but all the farmers had the same idea – plant canola in the fall – and seed is now in short supply. Meanwhile, farmers still have the expense of spraying and maintaining the fields.

Mike cycled into Nezperce Wednesday afternoon, and while he was gone, Bess and I walked the perimeter of the north field. The photos on this post show that water still runs through the fields. KW

WORKING HARD

North field in foreground with Teakean Butte in background

Well, Memorial Day slipped away, and suddenly we’re moving right along in the month of June. Mike and I drove to the farm in the big old pick-up on Wednesday (June 1) hauling an old used top-loader washing machine that we hope is going to replace my leaky old front-loader.

First up, Mike installed the “Baby Badger” disposal in what seemed like no time at all, especially compared to our struggles with “Papa Badger.” While he held it in place, I was able to turn the collar to tighten it. Papa’s collar wouldn’t turn, which meant we had to turn the whole unit. It runs quietly and doesn’t smoke or leak. Yay!

Then Mike mowed and trimmed the yard. We had agreed to tango with the washing machines on Thursday, but when the yardwork was done, there was Mike disconnecting our old machine. With the help of a borrowed dolly, we were able to move this heavy machine to the kitchen porch. We decided to wait until the next day to move the top-loader, but Mike spent about an hour cleaning it.

So, Thursday morning found us again wrestling with the washing machines. We pulled the top-loader onto the kitchen porch and ran it through a short cycle just to be sure it really works. You’d think we couldn’t afford a better machine, but I guess that’s not the point. We finally got it into place and hooked up. It remains to be seen if this is a good fix.

A passing storm to the south

Thursday afternoon, Mike cycled into Nezperce, and while he was there, he bought the lemon I forgot. While he was gone, I weeded the raised beds, which was work and not inspirational. The next step is to apply compost and till it, but we didn’t have time for that before it rained. In the evening, we watched to the southwest as a thunderstorm moved in.

Friday was a “red-letter day.” A tech from First Step Internet arrived to connect us. For years, we have had sketchy but expensive satellite service which limited not only our speed but our data. We are now connected to towers on Teakean Butte, which provide good steady service. No more worries about usage or frustration over slow loads. Oh happiness!

But – here’s another wet weekend, so we drove back to town, stopping at the transfer station in Orofino where we paid a $5 fee to leave our old front-loader. They run a thrift store there to keep usable discarded items out of the garbage. And there in the corner was a high chair with my name on it. (Well, okay – Silas’ name.) I could hear the angels singing as the high chair was bathed in light from above despite its filth. “How much for the high chair,” Mike asked. “Two bucks,” said the attendant. He paid the lady and we took the chair. KW