THE WEATHER STATION

For a long time I’ve wanted a weather station on the farm that would give wind and rain data in addition to temperature and humidity. Just before the end of the year I saw a Lacrosse Technology unit on sale in Cabela’s at a deep discount so I ordered it. We’ve had a Lacrosse for years in town that gives temperature (indoors & outdoors), humidity and minimums and maximums and it has been a really good unit. Of course, I didn’t get to install this new unit until the first part of June. I had all kinds of problems – rain gauge didn’t work at all, wind speed appeared inaccurate, manual was terrible and even incorrect and the unit was complex and not user-friendly at all. After talking and corresponding with Lacrosse several times I eventually returned it to Cabela’s and exchanged it for a more expensive model. It just arrived and I got it installed today – no easy feat.

This model is much less sophisticated than the other one even though it cost more. It runs on batteries only whereas the other one could run with an adapter and would also upload data to a computer. I didn’t need something that fancy. Just tell me how hard the wind is blowing. This one will do that. Of course, it’s in beauforts. Don’t tell me you don’t know what a beaufort is. Well, in case you’re that ignorant you can get the details at http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm (as I did). Actually the Beaufort scale makes pretty good sense. It also gives the wind speed as well as gusts in mph.

Naturally, the toughest part of the installation is mounting the wind gauge. It needs to be high, unobstructed and within 32 feet of the thermo/hydro sensor because it must be connected with a wire. The rain gauge on this one transmits a signal whereas it had to be hard wired on the other one. We finally concluded that our only option for the wind gauge was the apex of the roof on the north end of the house. This house has about the most inaccessible roof as any place I’ve seen. Finally got it done with sweat, blood and ropes. Fortunately it was a fairly calm day – no more than 1 beaufort. I can tell you, I did hit the Easy button when the project was finished. M/W

WORN OUT GRANDPA

Mike and I had appointments in town this morning and returned to the farm after lunch. “Will you be going on a bike ride this afternoon?” I asked casually as we approached the lane.

“NO!” was the emphatic answer. “I’m planning some serious hammock time!” Mike hardly ever says that. I think he barely slept while Jack was here -- everyday was filled with some exciting adventure.

Unfortunately, the photo I took of Mike enjoying his rest in the hammock wouldn't upload to the blog -- I'm thinking because I cropped it several times. I took it at a distance so I wouldn't disturb him and then tried to doctor it. It evidently didn't work. So, you'll just have to use your imagination this time -- Mike stretched out on the hammock, book resting on his shoulder, Nellie under the hammock at his feet, Duke to his right.

The hollyhocks are in bloom on the south side of the house. They started coming up in the yard about the third year we were working on the house. We didn’t know what they were at first but they bloomed and were pretty and we just let them do their thing. Gradually the plants moved back toward the house. Now they re-bloom every year. They aren’t trouble-free. They’re subject to a rust as well as some insect damage. They also die back and make a bit of a mess, but we still enjoy. I think we treasure them because they just sort of appeared at a time when the landscape was bleak here.

The hollyhock, of course, is an old flower. A friend told me that in the days of the outhouse, people planted hollyhocks around the outhouse to camouflage it. Then, when you wanted to use the outhouse, you would ask, “May I see your hollyhocks?”

I have wondered how the hollyhocks came to appear here so suddenly. Were the seeds in the ground and disturbed in the remodel process? Or, did the birds deliver a few seeds to our yard? KW

GEOJACKSON IN ACTION

I had been saving some remote geocaches located in the Umatilla National Forest for a long time. In preparation for Jackson’s visit a couple of weeks ago I spent quite a bit of time placing strategic waypoints on a map along with the geocaches to help and find the caches and not get lost. There is a labyrinth of forest roads in the Blue Mountains where the caches are located.

Saturday morning bright and early we embarked with the 4 wheeler loaded on the trailer. A short distance west of Anatone we parked the truck and hopped on the 4 wheeler. I had built a seat and grab handles for Jackson and we both had our crash helmets (not that we’d be likely to need them except for wind protection).

Our first cache was Big Butte Lookout and although we could get close we tried 3 or 4 roads before hitting the right one. The coords were off which we knew from previous comments but it wasn’t too long before Jack snagged it.

Next was Rattlesnake Overlook. We found the site easily enough but finding the cache was another matter. After almost an hour of searching we gave up and started to leave. On the way out we reread the hints and thought we’d try some more. After another 15 minutes of fruitless searching (all on a cliff of sorts) we gave up again when suddenly Jack found it. It was in a hole under a rock where I had previously looked but missed it because it was so dark in the little cave and so bright out.

By the time our day ended 10 geocaches were logged and over 60 miles were on the 4 wheeler. We also saw lots of wildlife including one big bull elk up close and personal. We didn’t get back to the house until after 7:00 pm. It was one fantastic day of geocaching and adventure.

M/W

TODAY'S PHOTO JOURNAL OF ACTIVITIES

Jack and Grandpa Mike discuss upcoming 4-wheeler trip which will include geo-caching.

Jack rides the "tote-goat."

Jack was allowed to ride the 4-wheeler in the yard.








Below are photos of Jack's first experience shooting clay pidgeons with a shotgun. He broke his first target, then had some misses until Grandpa's instructions came together for him and he broke three in a row. The session ended on a high note -- a good hit!

WELCOME TO FUGI-LAND

Here are some photos taken today with our new Fugi FinePix Z20. What d’ya think?

Jack rides 4-wheeler in yard.

Duke relaxes in yard while Jack reads in hammock.

On right, Nellie looks uncomfortable because she is. She doesn't like it when Mike mows the lawn.

Here's a photo looking over the grain as it gradually turns to amber in the summer heat. (Little Canyon in distance.)

BACKPACKING WITH JACKSON

The long awaited time had come. Grandson, Jackson, arrived Monday afternoon and we set out on our backpacking trip early Tuesday morning. I woke Jack at 5 am and we were on the road within the hour for Pittsburgh Landing. I had made a bed in the back of the truck so Jack could get some more shuteye and he and Nellie snoozed among the gear.

The County was applying dust abatement chemical to the road in to the landing so we had a twenty minute wait coupled with a very slow journey following a pilot truck. It probably cost us at least a half hour.

By the time we found the trailhead it was about 9:10 am and already getting hot for the six mile hike to Kirkwood ranch. Jack had a slight accident on our first creek crossing at Corral creek and twisted his ankle a little but fortunately, nothing serious. As we trudged up and down the hills I could tell Jack was really feeling the heat but there was never a complaint. Nellie too was getting overheated so we had to take a timeout while I took her about 200 yards down to the river. We were wearing shorts, big mistake, and the cheat grass would cover our socks and get in our boots.

We made it into Kirkwood a little after 1:00 pm, had some delicious left-over pizza and then hit the river for a long refreshing swim and relief from the heat. I got camp set up and we were in and out of the river several times during the afternoon. We toured the museum at the ranch and logged the geocache at Hanna Cabin.

We had a delicious supper of alfredo pasta with vegetables and salmon. It was really tasty. Kathy had made us a batch of peanut butter golden graham treats which hit the spot too.

As we were really tired we turned in before 9:00 pm. It was so hot we slept on top of our sleeping bags in our underwear. It didn’t get cool enough to crawl into the bags until one or two o’clock.

In order to beat the heat we were on the trail by 6:20 the next morning. Jack was on a Hell’s Canyon high and was dogging my heels all the way. Next year I may not be able to keep up with him.

We made very good time but had one very unfortunate incident. Nellie is a seasoned pack dog but this was her first trip in “bird” country. We were having trouble keeping her on the trail (with her 10 pound pack) because of all the chukars. She would get a scent and leave the trail and when she went on point the only alternative was for me to also leave the trail to flush the birds. I took a picture of one of these nice points with pack about ¼ mile before we reached our starting point. Not until we were back at the truck did I discover the camera was missing. Apparently instead of slipping it into my pack pocket I just slipped it under a strap and it fell to the ground. We hiked back to the point site in an area with two feet high cheat grass and searched for 30 or 40 minutes with no luck. I hated losing the pictures more than the loss of the camera.

We had a great time logging 6 geocaches on the way home. And, of course, after supper we went camera shopping. We got what should be a nice one but now we must learn to use it. M/W

A FEW MESSAGES

August 3, 1926 (Tuesday)
At Yellowstone Lake Camp. A bear came into camp last night and ate off tables, etc. We had lots of fun. [?!!!!] This a.m. a mother and cubs came into camp and we got pictures. Weather fine. Love, Momma

[The pictures mentioned must not have turned out. Just wait, though!]

August 3, 1926 (Tuesday)
Jackson Lake Camp
Dear Girls:
I’m going to start right off by asking one of you to phone to Aunt Ida and ask her to buy that green hat for me. We’re camped near Jackson Lake and have a splendid view of all or nealy all of the Tetons. Words can’t express their wild, rugged beauty. The boys went out fishing in a row boat. They didn’t get any fish but although Dad went with them he has gone out shore fishing now. We’re having a sagebrush fire tonight. We’ll start back around the Grand Loop in the Park tomorrow. Bernice and I are going out boating if the lake is not too bad and all goes well. Shirley

From Ina’s diary letter – last entry
August 4, 1926 (Wednesday)
At Jackson Lake Camp, called Leek, we plan to go back through the southeast gate to Yellowstone Camp and on to Lake Camp still on Yellowstone Lake, tonight. It is now near noon. Bernice is just telling how well she feels and is so glad of it.

With love to all. Hope you are getting along all right. This is such a wonderful trip! Tell Ernest we remembered him yesterday. [Note that Ina says, "This is such a wonderful trip!" It makes it all the funnier later.]

[The photo above is of Bernice and Shirley at the Lake Camp Curio Store. And Milo -- you were interested to know if Bernice's birthday was November 3. No, it wasn't -- but my dad's oldest sister, Pearl, was born November 3, 1892. Coincidently, she passed away November 4, 1952, when she was just 60.]