DAY 3 – KW’S EXCELLENT HOLIDAY STAYCATION

Today is Sunday, I reminded myself as I arose at 6:00. Glancing out the window at the neighbor’s roof, I noticed that it didn’t freeze. In fact, it was 41. The street was wet, but it didn’t rain enough to register on the gauge.

Today I devoted to machine embroidery. I’m making a small nativity of freestanding lace for a friend in the Philippines. Her tree is already up. It will take about four weeks for my gift to reach her, so it really IS time to finish this project and mail it. And next week is the P.E.O. holiday silent auction for which I plan to make some organza snowflakes and leaves. Hard to believe the time is upon us.

I messaged with Mike and also with our children, and son Clint rode his bike over for a visit. The route from his house brings him down to the river and back up to our house. I didn’t envy him the ride back home and offered to take him, but he said he wanted the exercise.

Limbs missing in middle of tree

I was disappointed to discover that the resident mule deer have munched Mike’s prize cypress trees. In six months, this is the first time they have bothered them, but it only takes once. I just don’t know if they can make it now. I found a bottle of deer repellent in the garage and sprayed it around – too little too late, I fear. Only time will tell.

I worked on a lot of “list” items today but didn’t finish anything. In fact, I add more to the list every day. That’s a bit discouraging, but I’m afraid if I didn’t have a list, I might not get anything done. KW

DAY 2 -- KW’S EXCELLENT HOLIDAY STAYCATION

Saturday, I was awake at 3:00 a.m. and finally got up at 4:30, reminding myself that just a few days ago it would have been 5:30 and that’s almost 6:00. My email brought lots of holiday ideas – not that I need them – and I ordered a Christmas truck tree ornament. I also shopped for a box in which to store my vintage Christmas card collection, but the inner voice said to check Walmart first.

Back in the day, on an autumn Saturday like this, my mother might say, “Kathy, let’s go to Lewiston.” And just like that, we would go. And so, I decided to observe this day by taking my obsessive self to Walmart. I found a box for the cards (88 cents, by the way) and just enjoyed poking around the store for an hour or so. Mike and I often shop together, but he doesn’t like to poke around. “What do you want on this aisle,” he’ll ask.

I didn’t have many items in my cart, so I used self-check rather than wait in line. But hark! Do my ears deceive me, or is the Salvation Army ringing the bell? Yes, as if on cue, it IS the bell ringer. I can almost smell roasting turkey and gingerbread cookies.

Arriving back home, I found today’s staycation gift in the mailbox, a cookie scoop to replace my old one which broke. Okay, so that’s not really a gift, but I’m happy because it wasn’t fun getting along without it. And the point is that something comes in the mail – something to look forward to.

Mike called me this morning and again after he arrived at the Mile High Warnock’s. He had a little car trouble near Fort Collins, he said, and will leave the GTI with a dealer for service. Good that he’s where he can do that.

My list of staycation projects is ambitious, and I know from experience that I must get a move on or none of it will happen. Today I cleaned the counter in the kitchen and put my cutting mat on it. I also set up my Bernina 630 in the living room so that I can embroider while doing other things. And yes, I made a start on that. But – I can’t check anything off the list yet.

I had a fire in the little stove this morning but not this evening. I won’t do that again. The house needs evening warmth. KW

KW’S EXCELLENT HOLIDAY STAYCATION -- DAY 1

Mike left at 6:45 Friday morning for another excellent adventure -- bird hunting in Colorado and Nebraska with son Yancey. The GTI was packed and ready to go. I thought I had talked him into taking the Jeep, but no – in the end he left in the GTI. He will talk about gas mileage blah blah blah, but he wanted to drive the GTI. Unfortunately, we spent the last 20 minutes trying to turn off the rear dome light, reading both the manual and online forums. It seems to me that you just have to play with the switches until you find the right combination, and apparently that's what he did because he messaged later that he had figured it out. Now, if only he can remember what he did because undoubtedly there will be a next time.

As I made a sandwich for Mike’s lunch, Bess sighed heavily on her pillow, not knowing that she was going, too. You should have seen her jump up and run when Mike called, “Come on, Bess.” She didn't need a second invitation.

And then they were off. We did discuss the possibility of my going with him, but I didn’t want to. Christmas is coming, and I felt that travel would just be a distraction to what I want to accomplish. My imaginary Grandma Ina and I are busy this time of year.

Hopeful dolls: Katie, Shirley Anne, and Marrilee

I was wistful, though, “ere he drove out of sight,” so the first thing I did was to shop for my main staycation gift – Microsoft Word for my laptop -- because my previous version had expired. It isn’t that I think Word is so great, but it’s better than Libre. I had it purchased and installed in a flash. I am so happy!

And then, with all the excitement, the early start to the day, and some strenuous stretches at yoga, I admit that I sorta fell in a heap, as Chris puts it, but at least I’m well organized on paper. Let the celebrating begin! KW

THE SAGA OF BLAZE: UPDATE

The Clearwater County Sheriff called Mike this morning to report on his contact with Blaze the Horse on our farm property. He said that he could get up to him with a bag of oats, but when he tried to put the halter on him, he wouldn't have it.

The sheriff estimates that Blaze is about 20. His teeth and his feet aren't in great shape because of neglect. We know he's been eating far too many sweets -- apples, plums, pears, etc., and we also know what that does to the digestion.

This isn't the end of the saga yet because when Blaze had had his fill of oats, he took off. The sheriff hopes he can place Blaze with a horse rescue operation. KW

. . . AND THE SAGA CONTINUES

The time change is always a challenge, and these days we complain about it. I fell asleep on the sofa Saturday evening and put myself to bed as Mike went around the house changing the clocks. As I snuggled into bed, I glanced at the time and was shocked to see that my clock read 8:45. Then I was wide awake for another hour.

Sunday (Nov. 3) we went to the farm, and it felt like we both worked hard. It was cold in the house but warmer than the weekend before, and in the afternoon the temp was 50. We were encouraged to see that the forecast for the next two weeks is warmer than last week. We decided not to drain the pipes at this time. (We are a bit paranoid about the plumbing, you know.)

Mike lit a fire in the fireplace and then headed down the road to light the slash pile where the road curves into the lane. Meanwhile, I began by baking a small batch of cookies (flourless peanut butter) in order to put more heat into the house.

Then the excitement began. The fire crept up the bank under the dead trees. Mike had a 15-gallon tank of water on the back of the 4-wheeler, but it fell off, and I wasn't much help in the lifting of it. That thing was heavy, and I couldn't get a grip. Once the tank was replaced, and Mike was once again reaching the smoldering fire, my next assignment was to stomp out the little flames here and there near the main fire, but Neighbor Pete happened by and advised me to let it burn itself out, assuring me that this would happen. We were surprised that the entire slash pile burned up, including several larger rotten logs.

Well, I have to tell you that Blaze the Horse is still moving about the farm. Mike and Bess went hunting in the afternoon, and there he was. Mike was grinning when he told me. I think he and Blaze have become friends -- sort of. The worst of it is the mess in the yard, but we do want what's best for Blaze, and it's not to be roaming around without care. Mike touched base with the sheriff Monday morning, and we haven't heard from him yet. So, the saga of Blaze the Horse continues.

While Mike and Bess were hunting, I made a batch of serviceberry jelly. Unfortunately, I forgot the lemon juice, but the jelly did set and all five jars sealed.

I'm not one who readily moves from one task to the next, but I had to keep moving, and with the long shadows growing longer, I headed out to feed the gopher holes while I still had daylight. I've researched the elimination of these critters, and you just have to stay on it. On our next trip, I will have a fresh batch of poison with me. I know -- it sounds terrible, but you should see what they're doing to our yard.

My next task was to put away the spooky decorations. Putting away is harder than getting it out. It's like a puzzle that fits into the boxes in just one way. But I got it done -- mostly.

As suppertime approached, I was tired. I really didn't want to fix supper, but I had to. In the end, we had seasoned chukar with mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, a green salad, and rolls with fresh jelly. I made one of my favorite "go to" recipes for dessert -- fruit cocktail cake.

I  was really tired in the evening. After all, my inner clock knew it was an hour later than the clock said. Unfortunately my sleep was disturbed by a chirping smoke alarm in the vintage sewing room. We didn't have any 9 volt batteries, so we'll have to take care of it on the next trip. I'm sure it's still chirping away. KW

The old maple tree at dusk

HALLOWEEN PASSES QUIETLY -- AND THE END OF THE TAIL (TALE)

Arriving at the farm last Sunday (Oct. 27), we couldn't help but notice that Blaze the Horse was still visiting our yard. Mike even found that he had been in the barn, perhaps to get out of the weather. Clearly, Blaze had more than one point of access from the canyon. So, Mike called Farmer Kyle, who came over Monday morning just as we were getting ready to leave.

We didn't hear from Kyle again until Wednesday morning when he called Mike to suggest that we report the horse to the state brand inspector, which Mike did, requesting any help in removing the horse. The brand inspector's office evidently called the Clearwater County Sheriff, and in turn he called Mike. He said he likes horses and would take care of it tomorrow. Who knew it could be so easy? In the past, it has not been.

*****

Can you believe Halloween is over? I had plans. I was going to finish my Halloween afghan and set out more decorations. No use to think of that now. When Halloween is over, it's over. Out with the ghosts and goblins and ghouls. Back to the shed with the witches, bats, and Halloween fabrics. Now it's time to celebrate autumn with gratitude. Bring out the pumpkins, turkeys, and Pilgrims.

I'm most disappointed that I still haven't finished the Halloween afghan. I'm tired of storing it as an unfinished project. I'd like to put it away on a shelf like a regular blanket. This ripple pattern is simple enough but slow-going in single crochet -- or maybe it's just that my crochet hook isn't speedy. I also feel guilty if I just sit and crochet during the day. At any rate, I can't linger long over it because Christmas is coming. And we must keep in mind that Thanksgiving is late this year -- November 28 -- so we have no window between Thanksgiving Day and the first of December. Ina has realized this, too. She must get organized. KW