SNAKE TALES

Taken July 14

Bess’ doghouse is inside the woodshed. At bedtime, she goes into her house, and Mike closes (but doesn’t lock) the woodshed door. She can easily come out, but she doesn’t. In the morning, Mike opens the woodshed and Bess comes out of her house and greets the day. 

Friday morning, as Mike went to get Bess up, discovered a rattlesnake just inside the woodshed door. Bess, who had evidently been sleeping, was now wide awake and barking. I knew what that bark meant and rushed out with the camera. Mike held the snake in tongs while I found a suitable bucket. After breakfast, Mike released the snake into the canyon. I know that our neighbors would much prefer that we kill the snakes, but Mike refuses. The snake didn’t seem very long, but Mike thought it had at least 12 rattles. This was our fifth rattler sighting of the season.

At bedtime, Mike said Bess gave the doorway of the shed a cautious but thorough sniffing before entering her house. Apparently those snake have quite an aroma about them. And yes, Bess has had her annual rattlesnake anti-venom inoculation.  

Mike just called me down to the maple tree to observe a four-foot bull snake poking its head into rodent holes.

July 19

After several excessively hot days, it has cooled down. It’s only 77 this afternoon and might not get to 70 tomorrow. Rain would be most welcome. In fact, Mike said that those big elderberry blossom heads are drying up without developing berries. Like I said, you can’t count on fruit even if it looks good. Things happen.

July 19

The other day, I picked another quart of cherries, and they were dark, sweet, and juicy. I must make a note in my 5-year planner to pick mid-July. A few cherries had been nibbled by the birds, but there were still plenty for all of us.

Mike and I left the farm on Monday (July 14) and returned Thursday (July 17). The change in the spring wheat was amazing in just those three days. It’s ripening rapidly now. KW 

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