Newsflash

 

Vacation homes are a ton of work. Duh! Good thing I like puttering around the house-- at least this house. I've been busy the last two days changing bedding and cleaning out the pantry and freezer in preparation for fall and winter when we don't come as often.

We haul all our garbage (and recycling) back to Seattle, and John stuffs it in the measly little can. It can be a drag, especially in the summer. Guests who volunteer to take a bag home with them get bonus points. 

We eat lots of salad and produce, so Amanda's 12 healthy chickens are a big help and devour vegetable scraps, especially corn and greens. I found out they should not have onions, but they like stale bread, like that bagel that was in the freezer too long. (Sorry crows) 

In a few minutes, everything disappears, and this diet is one reason their eggs taste so amazing.

  

It hasn't been all work and no play. Most mornings before it gets hot, I walk or bike a 1.5 loop around town. The trail goes along the river by the city park, then down Glover Street and past Twisp Works on the way home. 

 

Does anything say fall like flocks of starlings? That picnic shelter is the very place Amanda and Tom were married in October 2009. Walking by I always think about that happy day, when Mom and Dad were both still with us.

My friend Karen is coming over this afternoon for a last visit, then I'm back to the big city tomorrow. 

September heat

 

What's not to like about September? Cool nights and warm sunny days. Well, hot actually, with the final heat wave of the summer and temps close to 100 in central Washington the next few days.

The young deer have turned this patch of grass on the north side of the house into a cool, soft bed. When I startle them, they jump up and stare at me for trespassing in their bedroom.

It does look inviting on a hot day. We fertilized and irrigated the yard more heavily than usual this summer (evidenced by my Twisp water bill) so the grass looks better than it has for while. I don't know if it's worth it, but keeping up a bit of lawn is considered respectable in town, although it comes with a cost in this arid climate.

It's hard to get the entire family together at one time, everyone is so busy, but last night tempted them over with enchiladas. Lots of enchiladas. We had a good time. 

 

Summer wrap up

 

This is probably the last sit-by-the-river-in-shorts visit until next June. It's still quite hot during the day, but with a wild 24 hour 50 degree temperature swing, and chilly enough for a jacket in the morning. Not fall yet, but the mornings are dark and cool.

The deer and turkeys have been the only visitors in front of the house. It's been peaceful so far at least, considering this is a holiday weekend. 

The river is down to a trickle, and probably not as appealing on a hot day, even for the most fervid river swimmers. I never go in that "hole" myself-- slippery, slimy rocks to twist an ankle on, a rusted culvert and debris on the bottom. Like fishing lures. Ugh.

 

 

I was at the Twisp Saturday Market today, which drew a big crowd. The Methow Valley Senior Center Thrift Store sponsors huge themed sales at regular intervals throughout the year: Spring, Summer, Western, Christmas, Winter, etc. Everyone in the community turns out for these events. There are incredible bargains to be found on high quality used clothing, gear and decor. What fun. Yes I bought some stuff, who can resist. 

That's about all the news, except for Nana bragging. Among other things, Nova is a talented artist. She did this free hand sketch and painting in a few minutes.

 

 

 

 

Little bitty things

 

 

The big flowers like roses, lilies and dahlias are wrapping up their show for the season, so beauty comes in smaller packages now. 

 

The chopped up star jasmine vine produced a hopeful little flower by the deck; ditto the spindly clematis I bought for half price at Safeway. That one needs to go in the ground before winter, the question is where?

 

Regarding the post yesterday, with a nudge from my sister, I filed an online report/complaint with the King County Sheriff Traffic Division about our dangerous intersection. We get discouraged in Seattle with rude, reckless driving and what seems like lack of enforcement, but that's no excuse for giving up:

  

“If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”
― Anita Roddick 

Have a good holiday weekend. I'm heading across the Great Divide(s) this morning with a bunch of other people in a much bigger rush than me...

  

 

 

 

 

Really?

 

Our house is on a busy street corner with 4-way stop signs and crosswalks. We hear the traffic roaring past all the time, and yesterday afternoon at rush hour I watched car after car speed through that intersection without even slowing down. 

At least some cars made a rolling stop, but not a single driver came to a complete and legal stop. To make it even worse, parents blast through that intersection on electric bikes with kids on the back, and there's no way a driver could see them in time. Imagine the nightmare of a car/bicycle or car/pedestrian accident in Seattle?

OK, enough of that depressing stuff. Speaking of traffic, I hope to beat some of it with an early start to Twisp tomorrow morning. Just squeezing in one last summery visit before things get busy for us in September. 

 

    

 

 

 

Another golden morning

 

Click the below for a short art history lesson. Not a bad way to start the day.

"Woman Before the Rising Sun," Caspar David Friedrich, c. 1818