A river runs past it

 

And what's this?  Well, finally the big reveal on that project I've been hinting about, in the works for several intense weeks now. I just didn't want to jinx it. 

This is our new vacation home in Twisp on the Methow River. A river runs right past it, and hopefully never through it!  Our lot, just under a half acre, has 100 feet of private riverbank. Yes, the river is close and magnificent, especially during the spring run off. It is simply mesmerizing. 

Having a retreat from Seattle, where life becomes more and more intense, has been a long-standing dream of mine. John not so much, but when the perfect property came on the market, God bless him, he told me just go for it. Now or never. And so I did. Time will tell how this great expensive experiment works out. You never know until you try.

Best of all, we're just a few blocks from Amanda, Tom and the girls and we can walk to everything in town. So our saga of second home ownership is just getting started. 

I woke up at dawn, sat by the window with my cup of coffee, and met some of the neighbors. 

In case you need more proof, here's John assembling furniture from a box. Something he is very good at.

He is happier than he looks. In fact, we are both pretty excited. I keep thinking I'm about to wake up from a dream.  More later on this new adventure when we get the Internet up and running at the house.  

Small miracles

 

 

I was laying in bed wide awake around midnight. The upstairs of the house had reached an incredible 95 degrees when we went to bed. The air was absolutely still and suffocating. Then suddenly I felt it, the tiniest hint of cool air stirred the curtains. My imagination?

No, our "natural air conditioning" from the coast switched on and this immense high pressure system is slowly giving way to a more normal weather pattern.  At 5:30 am, it was 84 degrees inside and 64 degrees outside.

We are headed to Twisp today where it is still quite hot, but that's OK.  We have a big surprise. Pictures soon.

Washington coast

 

Amanda, Tom and the kids went on a 7-day backpack with another family at Olympic National Park. The kids are great hikers. Everyone carries their weight, and they went about 25 miles.

Some pictures of the adventure below. It looks so cool and beautiful compared to here. Seattle might hit an unbelievable, absolutely unheard of high of 110 today before cooler air finally comes in from this very coast.  Bring it on.

 

Great memories in the making.

Scenic trails along the rugged coast.

Amanda (looking relaxed) and Nova.

Perfect weather means spectacular sunsets.

Imagine carrying in a week's worth of food for 3 growing kids and 4 adults?

Rugged, steep trails.

Beach fun.

Hiking along wilderness rivers.

 

Last but not least, back in civilization. After a night in a motel bed and a shower, a restaurant breakfast for two clean girls.

Yes, hot

 

Something we never do: eat dinner outside on the deck.  It's usually too chilly, too breezy, too noisy on the street, etc.  Cold noodle salad with shrimp. White wine on ice cubes. 

Our weather made the national news for good reason.  It has simply never been this hot before in the Northwest. Well, in the era of modern record keeping. Many locals have never experienced a heat wave like this in their entire lives, and it's overwhelming.

Thank goodness for our basement bedroom where it stays quite tolerable.  When I came upstairs at 4:30 am it was 86 degrees inside. About 75 outside. I opened every window and door to try and cool things down for the day.

Another record high today close to 100, then even hotter tomorrow before this weird weather pattern finally starts to break down and marine air moves in from the coast. Our natural air conditioning is broken for now.

Strange times. My friend Betsy (a Northwest native) says it feels "apocalyptic." 

Ta-da

 

 

A long, long wait for new furniture these days.  We ordered this reclining love seat from Lazy Boy over 2 months ago, and it was finally delivered yesterday.  

No problem getting in the basement...or getting the old one out. John tipped the hefty delivery fellows, and they hauled it up and out to the curb.  Usually, when we put things out there with a free sign they're gone within the hour. This might be the exception. It is still serviceable, but rather worn and a heavy sucker to haul off.

The new one looks beautiful, although last night when we plunked down to watch TV it sure felt different. Well, after sitting in the same recliner for over 30 years, a new seat is going to feel that way at first. It just needs some breaking in. Our you-know-whats had pretty much molded to the old one.

The other news is weather. We're approaching Las Vegas temperatures over the weekend, one forecaster said a jaw-dropping 109 degrees.  Only about 33% of people in Seattle have air-conditioning. In recorded history, it has never been that hot in Seattle. Sitting here on this pleasant 64 degree morning, it's hard to imagine such a thing is bearing down on us.

  

More than enough?

 

Some years I'm just overwhelmed by the July garden peak. This is one of them. A combination of perfect growing conditions and pandemic hard work. Soon the Oriental lilies, crocosima and dahlias come along. Then in mid August, both garden and me start to relax as it winds down for another season. Why would you want to be anywhere else right now?

One reason might be this extreme heat wave bearing down. Seattle is usually the best place to escape the heat. In modern history, the city has hit 100 degrees only 4 times.  It looks like we might break that 3 days in a row over the weekend.  These are the days of "unprecedented weather."  At least, everywhere I seem to be.

We've been very busy since I got back. We have a big new project in the works (yes, that is a teaser) but I don't want to jinx anything by talking about it too soon.

Enjoy this gift of another perfect summer day.

More Than Enough

by Marge Piercy

The first lily of June opens its red mouth.

All over the sand road where we walk

multiflora rose climbs trees cascading

white or pink blossoms, simple, intense

the scene drifting like colored mist.

The arrowhead is spreading its creamy

clumps of flower and the blackberries

are blooming in the thickets. Season of

joy for the bee. The green will never

again be so green, so purely and lushly

new, grass lifting its wheaty seedheads

into the wind. Rich fresh wine

of June, we stagger into you smeared

with pollen, overcome as the turtle

laying her eggs in roadside sand.

 

Jungle home

 

 

My garden missed me.  People often ask how many hours a week I work outside. In the spring and fall I put in some big days, but all summer it's more of a constant puttering. Dead heading, pruning, weeding and so on.  Anyway, it sure shows when I take a few days off. John did a good job keeping things watered, but I have catching up to do.

The flowers are just beautiful. When I have time I'll take some pictures. Some plants grew a couple of feet this week. I can't remember ever having such perfect weather for growing-- soaking rainstorms in the usually dry month of June, followed by record hot weather. Perfect recipe for a big jungle.  

The hottest it has ever been in Seattle was 103 degrees in July of 2009.  The weather forecast says it could be an eye-popping 101 on Sunday. Everyone is getting slightly hysterical at the mere thought.

Both the Las Vegas and Seattle airports were absolutely jammed. Long lines for everything, from sodas to security, shoulder to shoulder, social distancing is past history. I said to John that the air travel experience has returned to normal, only it's worse.  

On the bright side, I had an upgraded window seat near the front which came with a package of crackers and a complimentary glass of wine.  A 737-Max to be exact. A very lovely plane when it's on good behavior. So for 2 hours I sat and watched the landscape below gradually turn from desert brown to northwest green.

 

Fried brain

 

As the heat wave drags on I'm becoming increasingly dull. I wake up early as usual (typically my brain's best time of day) without the slightest spark of creative energy. So I go sit outisde on the 90 degree patio with coffee for a few minutes and watch the scorching sun rise again.

This is a fact. Scientific studies show that hot temps slow down your ability to process information and perform simple tasks. "Bad" proteins and ions can build up in the brain, causing an inflammatory response that affects normal functioning. So there. A medical excuse for not blogging. 

Despite the heat wave this has been a wonderful visit and praise the Lord for superb air conditioning. Marji's new HVAC system is set at 78 and comes on every few minutes around the clock. That sounds warm but we have been quite comfortable, albeit, stuck inside.

Places like Phoenix and Las Vegas have become "urban heat islands," which is scary as world temperatures keep getting hotter. What will become of humans? Extreme heat affects both the body and the mind. 

Speaking of Phoenix, I read an awful article in the NYT this morning about the many people who must work outside or are homeless, trying to survive. I certainly have no right complaining about staying inside a lovely cool house.

Back to Seattle tomorrow morning. 

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Desert Solstice

 

The desert, when the sun comes up. 

I couldn't tell where Heaven stopped and the Earth began.

Ton Hanks

Intense light at 7 am, and the brightest it will be for another 12 months at this hour. Today is the Summer Solstice.  It's hard to believe (and accept) we start the long, slow process of declining daylight hours until December rolls around.  But as usual I'm getting ahead of myself-- one day at a time.

It was 93 (the day's low temperature) when I went for a walk. Less than a mile, no big deal, but I forgot the canteen and was feeling it when I got back to the house.  A few more blocks and I might have been in trouble. Dumb northerners. 

We are pretty much under house arrest from the heat. An odd feeling, because from inside it looks like a perfectly nice day. But stepping outside is walking into an oven and common sense (hopefully) drives you right back into the air conditioning. Over 112 again today. 

Happy Father's Day!  Here's the family patriarch, enjoying his Cheerios and banana this morning.

A tale of two headlines

 

The main news here is the weather.

You know it's pretty darn hot when it makes headlines in Las Vegas. Last August, they had a single day over 110 degrees, now we're in the middle of a seven day stretch. Unheard of for June. And those temperatures are at the airport in the shade. In other areas, like here in north Las Vegas, it's even a few degrees hotter. Needless to say, everyone in this suburban neighborhood is laying low.

I was amused reading the Seattle Times yesterday morning, warning people about the "excessive heat" on the way for next week. That might be a high of 90 degrees.  In fairness, Seattle is the least air conditioned city in the country.

In the early morning, we try to get out for short walk before retreating inside. That's dad, working his way around the cul de sac in the cool 90 degree air.

Then we settle down in our conditioned cocoon. I'm enjoying a quiet visit, but might go to Hobby Lobby this afternoon for excitement. When I watered the pots patio last night I got sloppy with the hose, and made myself a free steam bath with the baking hot concrete.

 

Amazing roses

Perfect long-stemmed red roses from the backyard? Really. This rose is always pretty, but this year just spectacular. Some of the stems are 3 feet tall. 

 

Wish I could take more credit for growing prize roses. I just did my usual routine: a light prune in the fall, a hard prune in February, and a hefty dose of slow-release fertilizer. Sometimes good things just happen. And the flowers love a wet early spring-- it rained almost constantly in March.

This morning I depart Seattle in a cool 55 degrees and descend into the mid-day furnace of Las Vegas.  The temperature on my sister's patio was closing in on 120 yesterday. Surely some sort of record. The local desert rats hunker down. The tourists start dropping like flies around the swimming pools.

Never too late

For that first taste of sushi. Here's our game dad, age 96, giving that California roll a try. My sister looks like she's having a great time! Dad, not so sure? 

When dad was growing up, the old Pennsylvanian Dutch diet was heavy on bread and potatoes, and rice was an exotic food people ate in China. I bet you enjoyed the next course more, it looks like a wonderful restaurant. I can't wait to see you both tomorrow.

Summer pineapple

 

 

The Pineapple Express is an atmospheric river weather system we occasionally get in the winter.  It brings heavy warm rain (and sometimes wind) up from the tropics, pointed at the Northwest like a fire hose.  

 

In a hundred years of weather keeping, a strong Pineapple Express has never happened here in the summer. June is usually quite dry, so the soft, soothing rain was a real gift yesterday, gently and deeply watering everything. 

 

But the tropical deluge also made for a uncharacteristically wet and strangely humid day by Seattle standards. The garden was growing like a jungle right before my eyes. 

 

What a world of extremes. Talking to my sister in Las Vegas yesterday, where their brutal southwest drought goes on and Lake Mead is at the lowest level in history. She said they are even hauling water up into the mountains in tank trucks, trying save the wild sheep.   

And oh-so-hot. As luck would have it, I fly to Las Vegas on Wednesday. But I''m looking forward to spending 5 nights with Dad, hanging out in a nice air-conditioned house. A high of about 110 degrees everyday, with maybe a record-setting 116 for the weekend.  

 

The bathtub ring around Lake Mead...

 

Our islands in the mist...

The last week of school

 

That's Nova and her best friend showing off their 6th grade final projects. Way to go, girls! 

And here, showing off their Christmas cookies in December 2011. Which seems like just the other day... 

Have a good weekend.

Days of wine and roses

 

I can see these roses across the street from the kitchen window. Very nice. Our neighbor planted them on the outside of her fence along the sidewalk, which was generous. At peak bloom in June, they give pleasure to people walking by, and I watch them stopping, smelling and taking pictures.

Ours is more of a selfish garden, I guess. Ha. You have to be invited in. It's so much work I like showing it off, although not to the extent of signing up for a garden tour where people snoop around and ask a million questions. But we used to throw big happy garden parties once, and I miss those.

Years ago, I tried to grow plants on the sidewalk side of the fence, but things got pulled out or shredded by kids. And of course, peed on by dogs. Back in the day, most kids walked to school, horsing around along the way.  Now they are all dropped off by their parents, or walk with their noses in their devices.

 

Year after year, our "Brother Cadfael" rose is the star.  It's a David Austin variety John picked out, a real winner named after the crime-solving monk in Ellis Peter's historical mysteries. The books are set in the 12th century and Brother Cadfael solves grisly murders. It was a TV series from 1994-1998 starring Derek Jacobi, and has a wonderful soundtrack. I think you can stream it on Amazon Prime. Netflix doesn't carry the DVD.

A bit on the chilly side, but pleasant weather in Seattle overall with another round of welcome rain this weekend. 

Feast or famine

But strange to be suddenly busy after months of blank calendar pages on the fridge. June feels like a treadmill gradually picking up speed, a good thing if you're still in shape. Can I even keep up when the world finally picks up again? 

My dear early rising blog followers know I post in the morning and seldom miss a weekday. Falling down on the job lately but everything is fine.

Not much news either, but that is Maya, checking out chicks for sale at the Twisp feed store last weekend. Their home coop laying hens have slowed down, so Amanda bought several new chicks to raise.  

 

Is Hey-Hey thinking "Is that my baby, or is it my dinner?" 

 

The chicken experts say to sneak the little ones in the coop at night, while the big ladies are asleep. Then hope for the best. Each day is a new day for the chicken brain. Something to be said for that.

 

Old kitty

 

June is Adopt a Cat Month. How about this one? I see this old kitty sometimes on my walk, always sitting in the same warm place. She's thin and flea bitten, but happy to be petted. It's rare seeing loose cats these days.

It reminds me of our old Siamese cat "Puss," a starved stray who adopted us in about 1979. I actually threw a boiled chicken soup carcass out the door, which she devoured, every scrap. From that point on, she was ours. Her life had been so horrible, I guess she was grateful for any attention. For example, with three pets in the house, we had an awful flea problem at one point. "Puss" absolutely loved a warm running bath in the tub. The fleas floated down the drain by the dozens! Ugh.

Pretty disgusting in retrospect. Eventually a company called "Flea Busters" came in and sprayed this supposedly non-toxic white power all over the rugs and furniture.  I wasn't so fussy about the house in those days, or maybe just too busy to fret much.

It was easy to get a free kitten then, now it's impossible, at least in Seattle. Only older cats are available at places like Paws, and the adoption process is long and expensive. I'd like a nice friendly cat, but an inside pet would be hard with our lifestyle, especially in the summer when the windows and doors are open.

None of that today, the furnace is kicking in again this morning. It poured rain on and off all night, great for the yard, but it sure doesn't feel anything like June.

Whew

 

Maya horsing around yesterday at the Twisp Works Campus.  John took her for a walk because she was "bored."

We are safely home after a whirlwind 3 days. And frankly a wonderful change from last summer's (sad by comparison) visit only outdoors, without a single hug, kiss or snuggle. 

Bernard Horsey (1948-2012) was a beloved local metal artist, and this sphere was one of his many gifts to the town. So many talented artists in the Methow Valley.  CLICK HERE for his bio.