1374?

 

That is a screenshot from the Purple Air app yesterday. Check out the gob-smacking number "1374" on the air quality index.

To put it in perspective, the standard index tops out at 500, and any number above this (such as 700 or 800) indicates catastrophic pollution. 

The town of Nespelum (below) on the Colville Reservation in northeastern Washington, is roughly 90 miles from Twisp. 

 

This is one of the poorest areas of the state, and now that little town (above) is surrounded by a 65,000 acre fire. As often happens, the people who can least afford it lose everything. 

 

We woke up to a red and orange sunrise, but our air quality is still OK here in Seattle. It's going to be hot (for us) today close to 90 degrees. 

That's about all the news. Oh yes, some person dumped a big pile of junk in front of our hedge the other night. Our neighbor and I have reported illegal dumping to the city, but that can take days until they get around to cleaning it up. In the meantime, I hope people don't think the people who live here house did such a disgusting thing. 

Meaningful forgetfulness

 

 

Now that is one happy dawg face after a dip in the Methow River and a picnic with her long lost family.

 

Our animals, bless them, don't need yoga or mindfulness practice to relax. They are always in the present moment and for Nica, that sad 3 week separation ended the moment her family came home and life went on just as before. 

Humans minds are usually planning for the future or ruminating about the past. Yes, we can "practice" mindfulness, but sitting on a cushion trying to empty your mind has the opposite effect for some of us. "Try not to imagine a pink elephant" and all that. 

There was an article in  the NYT this week about the resurgence of granny crafts like quilting. Anne Kirketerp, a Danish psychologist, wrote a book called “Craft Psychology,” and she calls this phenomenon "meaningful self-forgetfulness." She says: 

“When we create something that requires full attention, the part of our brain called ‘default mode network’ is diminished,” Dr. Kirketerp said. “The constant inner noise or negative ruminating thoughts are absent.”

Hand embroidery is my go-to craft at the moment, because it doesn't require set up like painting or sewing. And I can pick it up for just a few minutes at a time. I guess people will get granny embroidered tea towels for Christmas.

What glorious summer days we're having in Seattle. I'm enjoying every moment of this fine weather. (Twisp is hot and smoky at the moment.)

Our yard is filled with birds chirping from morning to night. The quiet nesting period is over, and this is called the post-breeding surge, when the population doubles or triples with family groups foraging for food. The chickadees and bushtits love that olive tree. I spray it with the hose, then sit and watch them take showers in the drops. Who needs a meditation cushion?

 

Vindow Viper

 

That old joke/story kept coming to mind yesterday. We've never had the outdoor windows professionally cleaned. 

Yes, one more thing I've always done myself, in recent years, with a Windex hose attachment so I don't have to drag around a ladder. That leaves much to be desired, especially the top of the kitchen greenhouse window, which stays filthy no matter how much you squirt it. 

Nice and clean! 

I don't usually fall for front door solicitations from companies who are "working in the neighborhood" and can give me a "deal," but I liked the guy for some reason, and this time it worked out. His Revive Pro Company also cleans house exteriors and puts up Christmas lights, among other things. Maybe we will use them again. 

They use a brush and cleaning solution that dries (almost) streak and spot free-- cheaper and quicker than a hand squeegee job. They were done in under an hour.

Nothing scary about that. 

 

To my blog family

 

Petrichor

 

"Petrichor" is that fresh, earthy scent when rain falls on dry ground. Seattle might finally get wet this morning. 

We've only had a trace of rain (0.06 to be exact) so far this month. I water the flower beds by hand almost daily, which is a chore. The grass went brown and dormant weeks ago. Very few people irrigate lawns in this neighborhood, mostly because of the expense. 

Seattle Public Utilities charges homeowners on both ends for water: what comes in through the street meter and then out the sewer (which of course is not metered.) That means you pay the sewer charge for drinking water dumped on the ground. What a racket. 

We see more of those plastic lawns now in West Seattle, especially with the new construction. I get it, but just give me brown in the summer. In the winter, the grass turns green as Ireland again.

I'm happy to report the family is safely back on the Carlton farm.

They were met by one ecstatic dog and two indifferent cats. The house-sitters took good care of their place, although Amanda said the poultry flock looks slightly diminished. A mystery, but eagles in the area sometimes help themselves to a nice chicken dinner. 

A peaceful morning on the farm. All is well.  

 

Morning summer light

  

There's nothing more beautiful than early morning light-- especially shining on these blooming trumpet lilies. 

In the Northwest, we wake up to crisp, cool air. And yes, sometimes that heavy marine layer of grey clouds, but there's no doubt, Seattle has some of the best summer weather in the country.

Yesterday at the Coliseum in Rome, a different light-- the intense brilliance of Italian sky on a blistering hot morning. 

The families are on their way home now, with a lifetime of memories for the kids to someday share with their kids.  

But frankly, this makes me thankful having seen some of these places back in the 1970's, when we just strolled into St. Peter's Basilica with a baby in a backpack (Amanda.) 

A Cardinal patted her on the head, and we caught a glimpse of il Papa walking by. Talk about unforgettable.