A WELCOME BREAK FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT

Mid-day, July 29

 

Evening, July 29 -- smoke is worse

Afternoon, July 30 -- after the rainstorm

Our return to the farm was briefly delayed when a dental issue arose for me, but fortunately, my dentist was able to work me in on Monday morning (July 29). We loaded the Jeep and stopped off at the dentist on our way out of town. Unfortunately, that night a tooth chipped, and this time the appointment is a week out, which means we will stay in town three extra days. (This will be my fourth trip into the dentist office for maintenance and repair since my last semi-annual cleaning.)

Cottonwood Butte in distance -- July 31

I often think that if we truly lived at the farm, we would manage differently. People do live here, you know, and they travel to town more readily than we do. Some of them even have jobs in town. We tend to feel that once we’re here, we should simply make-do, and it doesn’t hurt us a bit.

Anyway, a stretch of the river road was still closed on Monday due to the Gwen Fire, which meant that the whole road just as well be closed as far as we were concerned. We drove back by way of our alternate route. When we arrived at Gilbert, it was plenty smoky, and by evening, it was even worse. However, from Monday night into Tuesday, we had a good soaking rain here, which seemed to dispel the smoke. However, we understand it didn’t rain much in the Valley where air quality and heat alerts are still in effect. Another fire burns west of Lewiston now.

Teakean Butte, July 31

A high-pressure system is moving in, says the forecast, and we really will have another spell of excessive heat – triple digits in the Valley.

I’m joining a group of P.E.O. sisters for dessert tomorrow afternoon. The date was set more than two months ago, but as it happens, tomorrow (August 1) is “National Girlfriends Day.” Fun! KW

SUMMERWEEN

Friday, July 27 -- Cottonwood Butte obscured by smoke

I had never heard of “Summerween” until I saw the term on a quilting website, but I like it! It fits my mood and the eerie look of this smoky world.

It was still June when I said to myself, “I need a little magic, right this very minute,” so I decided to bypass my summer home dec display and set out some Halloween magic in advance of the season. I thought I was so clever and imaginative. I was thinking outside the box and doing something just for myself. No one else would even think of having Halloween in summer.

So – imagine my surprise when I walked into my local JoAnn store and discovered three aisles of Halloween home dec. Again, this was June! So, I could see that instead of being unique, I’m really abreast of current trends, which is almost as good. (And if they’re setting out Halloween, can Christmas be far behind? No!)

Well, you won’t find me complaining. If you’re a crafter, you need the lead time. In past years, this stuff didn’t appear until it was too late. I was always a year behind. I’m still behind, but never mind. I love the extended holiday season more than I love the season itself.

Anyway, as we drove back to town Saturday morning, we observed harvest activities. The fields are at readiness. The shadows grow longer, and the sun is dimmed by smoke. It’s Summerween.

Mike and I agreed that when we return to the farm, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that our place has been harvested.

[Note the flying witch and moon in my display. I recently bought this retired Department 56 piece from an Etsy seller. These so-called collector items have become so expensive to buy new that I now seek used pieces. I enjoy the hunt.] KW

BRRRRRRR!

 

Who would have thought that in a matter of a day or two the temp would drop 20 degrees? The high was 93 one day and 73 the next. This morning’s low actually dipped into the 40s. Is summer over? I would guess it will be warm again, but the excessive heat spells are probably over. It certainly feels like fall right now.

I wonder what the garden will think about this change. Perhaps it’s relieved.

Mike dug a sweatshirt out of the bottom of the clothes hamper this morning, and if it’s chilly this evening, I might need to switch to my winter sleepwear. We slept under a blanket last night for the first time in weeks.

Yesterday, I took advantage of the cooler day to bake cookies and chocolate zucchini bread.

We need to go to town to check on things and get supplies, but I read in today’s paper that Hwy 12 is closed until further notice from the Spaulding bridge to Peck (24 miles) due to the “Gwen and River Fires” burning near Juliaetta on the north side of the Clearwater. We can take an alternate route, but I wonder about tourists traveling Hwy 12 who don’t know the territory, especially motor homes and camper units. Hopefully adequate alerts are provided to travelers.

In fact, after cycling the ridge this morning, Mike reported he had never seen so much traffic on Old Hwy 7, and we realized that people would have to come this way to get to Lewiston. And he also said that they are now harvesting on the ridge just south of here – the other side of the cemetery. Our farmer is probably harvesting someplace – just not here yet.

The National Weather Service also provides an air quality alert for the Valley until July 27 at 10:00 p.m. I guess at that time the air will magically clear. The paper says the Valley air quality is rated as “hazardous, stay inside.”

COUGAR STORY

Bess gave a low growl from her perch on the front porch early yesterday morning, so I stepped to the window to check. I was startled to see a cougar standing at the barn, staring back at Bess. I called to Mike to come quick, but as he was coming, Bess leaped off the porch and took chase. I screamed for her, but she doesn’t hear and probably wouldn’t have heeded anyway. The cougar disappeared around the back side of the pond and Bess nonchalantly turned back as if that oversized cat had been dispatched due solely to her efforts. The cougar was gone by the time Mike arrived at the window, so he had to take my word for it.

Mike reported this incident to our neighbor, but turns out he already knew the cougars are “in here.” Apparently his family even hunts them. Who knew? KW

STICKY STUFF

 

I make a pint of nectar for the hummingbirds every day, and carrying the feeders from the porches to the kitchen and back inevitably results in some droplets of sugar water spilled onto the floor. It’s hard to clean up sugar water.

But it’s even worse when we service the wasp traps that we hang next to the hummingbird feeders. The purpose of the traps is to attract the wasps and yellowjackets away from the feeders, and it works fairly well. It’s almost as much fun to watch the wasps as it is the hummers.

We fill the traps with a concoction of sugar, vinegar, and apple juice, and I think it’s stickier than the sugar water. The routine is to bring the traps into the house first thing in the morning. Some wasps will have drowned in the potion, but a few are still alive. Rather than risk getting stung, Mike puts the traps in the freezer for a few minutes to quiet the live wasps before flushing the contents. Wasps don’t like to be cold. But as he carries the traps to and from the bathroom, some of that gooey concoction will land on the floor – and other places.

Mike picked a few serviceberries this morning. He wished he had thought to do it last week, but it was so hot! No matter. I made juice for jelly and put it in the freezer to be added to the haw or elderberry juice later in the season. Serviceberry jelly is not as strong as elderberry. Some people prefer it. The black hawthorn berries are quite mild but lemon juice gives it some interest.

Yesterday I went out to take pictures, looking for some different views. The photos here are a few of my favorites.

THE HOTTEST DAY YET

Harvest will likely happen soon

Sunday (July 21) was an excessively hot 102. I don’t recall ever seeing it that hot here at the farm. It was still hot at 9:30 p.m. – 88 outside and 85 in our bedroom. Too hot for comfortable rest.

Boy, would my dad be impressed! When he was staying here at the farmhouse, he would call Mother in the evening, and they would discuss the temp at the farm compared to town (the valley). My dad enjoyed weather-watching.

Suffice it to say that we had a cooler morning and welcomed the opportunity to air the house, but by noon it was heating up again to a more seasonable 93.

And it’s still smoky. I can’t see Cottonwood Butte to the south and while I can see Teakean Butte to the north, it’s somewhat obscured. Regional fires are still burning but progress has been made.

We heard that it was quite cool in Seattle yesterday (Sunday) and even cooler this morning, so we hope for more tolerable temps. As I say every year about this time, fall is in the air.

And how have we coped here where we have no air conditioning? Well, the ceiling fans create a nice breeze. And of course, we don’t turn on the oven. I cooked huns and “baked” banana bread in Crockpots placed on the sunporch. “No-bake” cookies are the order of the day. And Mike made ice cream.

We know a rooster pheasant roams the property – probably an escapee from the hunting club in the canyon. We hear him more than we see him, but this morning I looked out the bathroom window to see him in the grove. Well, he moved on, but then Mike and I watched a pair of huns with a brood of twelve little ones as they breakfasted in the front yard. I suspect they live in the cattails at the pond. We also see doves, but the quail seem to have moved out toward the canyon. I can still hear them in the distance. KW

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH – ER, FARM

 

People seem startled when I refer to our place  as “the farm.” They seem reluctant to use the word, like it has a bad connotation. But it IS a farm. Actually, my dad encountered the same attitude. People seem to prefer the word “ranch.” However, my dad explained to me that our place is a farm, not a ranch. A ranch involves livestock. We have none.

Remember that song from Oklahoma:

“Oh, the farmer and the cowman should be friends.”

I’m just sayin’ that the farmer and the rancher aren’t the same and neither are the farm and the ranch.

Anyway, we’re back, having arrived during the noon hour. It’s stuffy in the house, but it was already 91 and too hot to open the windows. Late afternoon, it was 93, and 84 in the house. A nice breeze blows at 5-10 mph, and Mike remarked that it was pleasant on the porch. KW 

HOT – HOTTER – HOTTEST

Smoke and Heat, July 16

The prediction was for a record-breaking spell of 100+ temps in the valley. However, they say that yesterday’s official high was only 99. Well, let me tell you, it was 100+ at our house.

The forecast for hot temps continues. And now we have smoke, too, from various wildfires. The world looks strange when you see it through smoke. Let me just say here that given the great weather destruction we see other places, we live a good life here, despite the heat – and the smoke.

We came to town on Saturday, the 13^th. After ten days on the farm, it was time to check the town house and restock our food, especially dairy and produce. We expected to be here a week, including a 3-day staycation for Bess and me, while Mike and his motorcycle buddy made a 3-day trip to Canada. However, the trip was postponed due to the excessive heat. A saner mind prevailed – not sure it was Mike’s.

So, we’ll return to the farm sooner than we expected, and that’s good. I worry about my little friends the hummingbirds, and we hope the garden survived.

Maybe you’re wondering how I’m coming along with my Tunisian crochet. Since you know me, you’re probably thinking that I didn’t keep up with my goal to crochet one row a day. You probably think I gave it up and put it back in the shed where it will languish for another 25 years. As a matter of fact, I’ve done well. Often when I crochet one row, I’ll do a second row or even more. I’m at Row 151. Only 36 to go. Then there’s the edging and the embroidery. I find that I can set the bulk of the afghan off to one side as I crochet.

And I finished this little doll outfit. The purse was difficult to make. I kept telling myself that Lexie didn’t want a purse anyway – truly, she doesn’t – but since it was part of the kit, I made myself do it. And I did decide I don't need the potholders. I'm moving on. KW

EIGHT DAYS OF HEAT

Here's a comparison of how the fields changed between July 3 and July 12. The before photos are on the left with the corresponding after photos on the right. (Yes, I know they aren't quite the same. Close enough!)

 

HEAT ADVISORY RENEWED

Winter wheat in foreground; note that spring wheat in background is ripening.

The heat advisory expired on the 10^th, but I wasn’t surprised that a new advisory was issued for the valley from noon today (July 12) through Sunday (the 14^th) at 10:00 p.m.

From road across June's field

Yesterday was cherry-picking day. We might have left them a day or two longer, but we’re going back to town, and we just had to pick them. Mike had stipulated that this should happen “first thing.” He wasn’t kidding. Once he was up and dressed, he was out at the tree picking away. I was First Assistant on ladder support duty. We picked 3+ gallons of cherries in varying stages of ripeness. I saved the best ones to eat and washed the rest to be pitted for the freezer.

Last year, Hallie was here during cherry season, and she was less than impressed with my vintage method of cherry pitting as taught me by my mother – a hairpin in a cork (cheap and effective). Hallie assured me a contraption could be had which would pit the cherries. We found several on Amazon, but we needed it right then. Even a 2-day turn-around was too long. We had to finish the job with the cork and hairpin, which didn’t bother me as much as it did Hallie. Our fingers turned black with the cherry juice.

Well, a week or two later, son Murray came with a gift for me – a 6-hole OXO cherry pitter. It was too late for last year, but this year I eagerly took it from the box and set it up. Even Mike was intrigued and voluntarily helped with the pitting process.

Believe me, operating this contraption is not for the weak. It requires quite a bit of force, and some of the fruit is lost to the pit. I can see why my mother insisted on using the cork-and-hairpin. But Mike and I agreed that we put plenty of cherries in the freezer – 5 quarts. And besides, my fingers didn’t turn black.

Mike left before 7:00 a.m. this morning for his bike ride. While he was gone, Bess and I walked around the pond, and I saw the ducklings for the first time. Now there are only two.

The high for the day was 93, both yesterday and today. It was cooler overnight and the morning low today (the 12^th) was 64. KW

MILO WARNOCK WRONGFUL DEATH / UPDATE

Here is the link to a guest editorial relating to Idaho prison conditions written by Hallie and published in the Idaho Statesman of July 10: https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article289861739.html

 

EXCESSIVE HEAT DIARY – DAY 5 (JULY 10)

 

Morning low – 70 (6:00 a.m.) – 74 inside

Temps: 81 at 9:00 / 92 at 11:30 / 98 at 3:00 (high for the day)

Breeze – 6 mph (lovely and cool in the morning)

Attic fan on – 10:40 a.m.

The excessive heat alert expires at 10:00 this evening. However, temps will continue in the triple digits in the valley, so I don’t quite understand the importance of that heat alert.

We had our yoga session in the yard first thing this morning, but that made us late for our morning walk. We were feeling the heat when we arrived back at the house just before 9:00.

It was too hot to do much outside today. We went out for brief periods to accomplish specific tasks.

We received word that Milo’s defense attorney has been suspended from practice for two years due to his behavior on another case. We don’t know if our complaint is still under investigation. KW

EXCESSIVE HEAT DIARY – DAY 4 (TUESDAY, JULY 9)

I missed posting this yesterday because the electricity went off at 4:50 p.m. Mike set up the generator to run the refrigerator, the TV, and a box fan. We had already planned that he would grill our supper, so he also warmed our side dishes. After supper we watched TV for a while but eventually gave it up. Mike turned the generator off, and we went to bed. At 10:45, I was awakened by a vehicle coming up the lane, and I knew it was Clearwater Power checking the line. And since we’re the last place on the route, I figured the electricity would be on within half an hour. It came on at 11:09. The temp was 80.

THIS INFO IS FOR TUESDAY, JULY 9

Morning low – 68 (It was still 75 at midnight.)

Temps: 85 at 10:00 / 93 at 12:30 p.m. / 98 at 3:30

Breeze – Often still; a hot late afternoon breeze at 7 mph  

Attic fan on – 10:40 a.m.

We were up at 5:30 and back from our morning walk before 7:00.

This is our hottest day yet. We’re now struggling to keep the house cool. It’s 81 downstairs and 82 upstairs. We’ll see if it cools off tonight.

The paper says that this West Coast heat wave will peak tomorrow (the 10^th), but triple-digit temps will continue at least throughout the week.

The report from the U-I extension agent is that the winter wheat will probably do all right, but it remains to be seen if the spring wheat will be damaged. I hope the photos show how much the wheat fields change from day to day.

I thought tick season was over, but Mike found two on his person yesterday and one today. But the grackles are gone, and the robins with them. It’s much quieter.

I checked the cherry tree yesterday, and the cherries still weren’t quite ripe enough.

We saw a small whitetail doe on our morning walk. Mid-morning a doe and a small buck ambled through the yard. Mike and I watched but Bess was oblivious as the doe crept behind her.

Yesterday I picked two young zucchini for our supper vegetable. More are setting on. I read that if your zucchini plant doesn’t produce, it’s because of a lack of pollinators. KW

EXCESSIVE HEAT DIARY – DAY 3 (JULY 8)

Morning low – 64

We closed the house at 7:00 a.m. (70 both outside and in)

Temps: 80 at 10:00 a.m. / 89 noon / 93 at 3:00 p.m.

Breeze – 5-10 mph

Attic fan on – 11:00 a.m.

Mike and I “enjoyed” our yoga session in the front yard this morning. The breeze was so pleasant, but when the sun comes over the rise, it’s hot!

I think tick season is over. They apparently can’t take the heat. And we haven’t seen the grackles or the robins. The rodents we will always have.

Today’s story is about the young buck who surreptitiously moved behind the grove when he saw me in the yard. He actually moved through the trees to the north end of the grove where he stood eating the grass. That’s fine. He can have all the grass he wants as long as he leaves the hollyhocks alone.

The buck was well-camouflaged in the brush and trees, but I took pictures anyway. This one is best. He actually turned and looked at me. Honestly, he’s brazen. He feels right at home in my territory.

Oh – and as we walked around the pond late yesterday afternoon, we saw two grouse in the pine trees. And Mike saw three ducklings swimming on the pond the other day. KW