As I stepped out of the car tonight when I returned home from Bible Study, I couldn't help but notice the incredible expanse of stars. I don't recall how long it's been since we've had a clear enough night to see all the stars. It was overcast again this morning and we actually had a brief but intense rain shower while I was talking with Sister Sherry. It gradually cleared off in the late afternoon and we actually saw some sunshine. It's most likely going to be cold tonight...
It was good to have an opportunity to have a nice long telephone chat with Sherry today. With all of the rain lately, her telephone has been out as often as not. When you would get through, it crackled so loud, you couldn't hear anything anyway. The Touchet River has finally crested, so we can quit worrying about her getting flooded. I'm certainly glad her local REA invested in internet technology. When we can't get through on the telephone, we can at least email and know that we everything is okay.
I stopped at Safeway while I was in town and got some more freezer bags for the meat I bought yesterday. While I was there, I bought a coffee cake to take with me to tomorrow's coffee klatch. Seems like we either have no goodies to enjoy with our coffee or several people bring something. We'll see how it goes in the morning.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Finally - A Trip to Spokane
The weather and the roads have been so awful this winter, we have stayed pretty close to home. I've been muttering for some time that I needed to restock my meat supply. I have gotten so tired of hearing Forry's chair snap and crackle and pop every time he gets up and down - and it's even worse looking at it. It makes so much noise, it startles the quail outside when he moves. It's in VERY bad shape. Then there's our shaggy hair...
Yesterday we looked at each other in the midst of our grumbling and decided to go to Spokane. I gave Becky a call at GreatClips to see if she was working today. She said she was, but that she had to leave early, so we made that our first stop. I am impressed by their system. I "checked in" on line when we hit town, therefore she knew we were on our way. They keep track of everything they do and use. For example they knew that they used a number 4 clipper guard on Forry's beard last time. And their prices are extremely reasonable - especially when I compare them to what I've paid Sarah over the years!
Our next stop was at the LZBoy store. Forry went around sitting in various recliners. He found a blue one he liked; we had it sprayed with their Fabric Shield protector; the guys loosely wrapped the two parts in plastic; and loaded them into the back of Toad II. Over the years I've discovered the way to deal with Forry, is not to give him too much time to think. Once he found the chair that fit and felt good and a color he liked, I quickly told the salesman we'd take it. If I don't, he'd start dithering about it. He'd want to go check and see if other stores had anything different. Then he'd wonder if he should get a different kind of chair. In the past, I've gone shopping with him - and with his dear mother - where we've found something they liked and wanted, then have driven around to every possible other store and finally at the end of a long day, ending up back at the first store to buy it.
Finally, we went to Costco. It's been a good three months since we've been there, so needless to say, it was an expensive trip! Tuesday seemed to be a good day to shop at the north Division store. It wasn't terribly crowded, we had no problem finding a parking spot and the lines at the registers were short.
Perhaps the best part of the whole day was going to Gordy's Szechuan for a late lunch/early dinner. They had an interesting special of beef tenderloin with rosemary stir-fry that we shared. It was so good! Of course, we also shared their signature dish of ice cream with the chocolate orange rind sauce.
It had showered off and on all day, but it poured on the way home. It was raining extremely hard with nasty wind gusts. You'd have thought we were over on the coast! There were black, black clouds overhead. I was glad Forry was driving. We finally drove out of the storm on the other side of Ritzville. It must have rained here at home sometime during the day as well, because the lid on the wheat bucket was full of water again.
Yesterday we looked at each other in the midst of our grumbling and decided to go to Spokane. I gave Becky a call at GreatClips to see if she was working today. She said she was, but that she had to leave early, so we made that our first stop. I am impressed by their system. I "checked in" on line when we hit town, therefore she knew we were on our way. They keep track of everything they do and use. For example they knew that they used a number 4 clipper guard on Forry's beard last time. And their prices are extremely reasonable - especially when I compare them to what I've paid Sarah over the years!
Our next stop was at the LZBoy store. Forry went around sitting in various recliners. He found a blue one he liked; we had it sprayed with their Fabric Shield protector; the guys loosely wrapped the two parts in plastic; and loaded them into the back of Toad II. Over the years I've discovered the way to deal with Forry, is not to give him too much time to think. Once he found the chair that fit and felt good and a color he liked, I quickly told the salesman we'd take it. If I don't, he'd start dithering about it. He'd want to go check and see if other stores had anything different. Then he'd wonder if he should get a different kind of chair. In the past, I've gone shopping with him - and with his dear mother - where we've found something they liked and wanted, then have driven around to every possible other store and finally at the end of a long day, ending up back at the first store to buy it.
Finally, we went to Costco. It's been a good three months since we've been there, so needless to say, it was an expensive trip! Tuesday seemed to be a good day to shop at the north Division store. It wasn't terribly crowded, we had no problem finding a parking spot and the lines at the registers were short.
Perhaps the best part of the whole day was going to Gordy's Szechuan for a late lunch/early dinner. They had an interesting special of beef tenderloin with rosemary stir-fry that we shared. It was so good! Of course, we also shared their signature dish of ice cream with the chocolate orange rind sauce.
It had showered off and on all day, but it poured on the way home. It was raining extremely hard with nasty wind gusts. You'd have thought we were over on the coast! There were black, black clouds overhead. I was glad Forry was driving. We finally drove out of the storm on the other side of Ritzville. It must have rained here at home sometime during the day as well, because the lid on the wheat bucket was full of water again.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Cloudy Monday
After the beautiful sunny day we had yesterday, it was disappointing to wake up to overcast skies today. Guess we'd better get used to it, the forecast is as gloomy as the weather.
There's a pair of ravens who must be building a good-sized nest over in the mobile home upper portion of the park. They've been flying by steadily the past couple of days with sticks in their beaks.
I took apart the gas stovetop this afternoon to give it a good cleaning. It's always a pain to clean. You can't just wipe it down. You have to take the grids off first. It seems like everything falls under them and sticks. I collected all of the pot holders and towels and threw them into the washing machine. I got the counter with the Keurig coffeemaker and the electric griddle cleaned as well. Not that any of them needed cleaning...
I noticed this afternoon that when the quail came into feed, it was almost all males. I wonder if maybe the females are all sitting on nests? It would be neat to see little chicks one of these days.
There's a pair of ravens who must be building a good-sized nest over in the mobile home upper portion of the park. They've been flying by steadily the past couple of days with sticks in their beaks.
I took apart the gas stovetop this afternoon to give it a good cleaning. It's always a pain to clean. You can't just wipe it down. You have to take the grids off first. It seems like everything falls under them and sticks. I collected all of the pot holders and towels and threw them into the washing machine. I got the counter with the Keurig coffeemaker and the electric griddle cleaned as well. Not that any of them needed cleaning...
I noticed this afternoon that when the quail came into feed, it was almost all males. I wonder if maybe the females are all sitting on nests? It would be neat to see little chicks one of these days.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
A Busy Sunday
It's been another busy Sunday - and a sunny one! What a blessing to wake up to sunshine. There was still a very small pile of snow over by the edge of the road near the storage area where the maintenance crew had piled it. But there wasn't a trace of it when we came back home.
We saw a few fishing boats in the water when we headed for church and there were several rigs and empty trailers parked in the Public Fishing Areas. So we know there were boats out on the water we had not spotted as we drove by. The water still must be extremely cold, so the fish are probably pretty good. Unfortunately, I am not fond of eating the critters (too many fish meals as a kids, I suppose).
Sister Roxy and Rich had stopped by Brother Pat and Cindy's in Moses Lake on their way back to Olympia after attending a Memorial Service for one of Rich's friends yesterday in the Tri-Cities. We joined them all for lunch on our way home from church. Niece Becky and David and their family were there as well. Cindy made an interesting - and very good - soup called Lasagna Soup. She descriped it as a "sloppy lasagna."
It was nice enough to sit outside for a bit, but not quite warm enough to eat out there. Great-niece Kiera just did not want to come inside. She's going to have a fun time this summer - and Becky and David are going to have fun keeping up with her!
Cindy has been busily painting the inside rooms in their house. She's planning to use some stencils, especially in their bedroom. It's going to be quite elegant. I can hardly wait to see it when she's finished. My dear brother is NOT allowed to help! (I don't think he's meticulous enough...)
I took three empty five gallon buckets back over to Pat and brought a full bucket of wheat back. I guess we'll keep feeding the quail. While we were at Pat's, we saw the first cock pheasant I have seen in several years strutting across the yard. He's obviously been sharing in the quail's feed as he looked very plump and healthy.
We saw a few fishing boats in the water when we headed for church and there were several rigs and empty trailers parked in the Public Fishing Areas. So we know there were boats out on the water we had not spotted as we drove by. The water still must be extremely cold, so the fish are probably pretty good. Unfortunately, I am not fond of eating the critters (too many fish meals as a kids, I suppose).
Sister Roxy and Rich had stopped by Brother Pat and Cindy's in Moses Lake on their way back to Olympia after attending a Memorial Service for one of Rich's friends yesterday in the Tri-Cities. We joined them all for lunch on our way home from church. Niece Becky and David and their family were there as well. Cindy made an interesting - and very good - soup called Lasagna Soup. She descriped it as a "sloppy lasagna."
It was nice enough to sit outside for a bit, but not quite warm enough to eat out there. Great-niece Kiera just did not want to come inside. She's going to have a fun time this summer - and Becky and David are going to have fun keeping up with her!
Cindy has been busily painting the inside rooms in their house. She's planning to use some stencils, especially in their bedroom. It's going to be quite elegant. I can hardly wait to see it when she's finished. My dear brother is NOT allowed to help! (I don't think he's meticulous enough...)
I took three empty five gallon buckets back over to Pat and brought a full bucket of wheat back. I guess we'll keep feeding the quail. While we were at Pat's, we saw the first cock pheasant I have seen in several years strutting across the yard. He's obviously been sharing in the quail's feed as he looked very plump and healthy.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
More Basketball
Saturdays are always interesting TV days. Forry likes to watch the nature shows, so we are often watching manatees, dolphins, turtles and other sea creatures. However today was more of a sports watching day. The Mariners game in Arizona against the Giants was on at one o'clock. We watched that until it was time for the Gonzaga/Northwestern game. The Zags started out real well, but it turned into a cliffhanger towards the end. They are into the Sweet Sixteen for next weekend. AND the Mariners won their game as well!
We started out with a cloudy day, but we ended up with sunshine by late afternoon. It's been windy all day. Not very pleasant at all. The only time I went outside was to feed the quail the last of my wheat. I think I've gone through five five-gallon buckets of wheat thanks to Brother Pat.
We started out with a cloudy day, but we ended up with sunshine by late afternoon. It's been windy all day. Not very pleasant at all. The only time I went outside was to feed the quail the last of my wheat. I think I've gone through five five-gallon buckets of wheat thanks to Brother Pat.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Finished, Again!
It had been a few weeks since I had dropped the envelope with all the tax stuff off at the accountants. Earlier this week Cle had called with a couple of questions, so I knew he had gotten started on it. Then he called and said that there were only three months of the ranch files on the thumb drive I had put into the package. Surprised, I checked my computer and discovered the files were gone on my laptop QuickBooks as well! I have no idea what happened!!
So, the past few days I have been busily recreating those lost months so that I can give them to Cle on Sunday. It's very annoying to have to redo my work. And even more annoying not to know what happened! I finished up this afternoon. I must have double checked the thumb drive half a dozen times to make sure all of the months were there.
Once again today we were back to cloudy overcast skies. Yesterday's sunshine is just a memory. We went out late this afternoon and walked around the loop. There are three little piles of snow down where the rigs are stored. They are just ghosts of what they were earlier.
So, the past few days I have been busily recreating those lost months so that I can give them to Cle on Sunday. It's very annoying to have to redo my work. And even more annoying not to know what happened! I finished up this afternoon. I must have double checked the thumb drive half a dozen times to make sure all of the months were there.
Once again today we were back to cloudy overcast skies. Yesterday's sunshine is just a memory. We went out late this afternoon and walked around the loop. There are three little piles of snow down where the rigs are stored. They are just ghosts of what they were earlier.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Even the Guys...
After taking a hiatus during the winter because Mike's Cafe doesn't open for breakfast in the wintertime, the fellows in the park met for coffee this morning at Jerry's house. Sharon left them cookies, then she came over to the Clubhouse for our usual Thursday morning coffee klatch. I walked over this morning as it was a beautiful day. The sun was out and it was beautifully warm.
It's funny how sunshine changes moods. Everyone was feeling very chipper this morning. There was much talk about possible summer travels and plans.
When I got back after coffee, I started on the laundry. I had sort of neglected it this week while we were dealing with our visitors. It was so nice today, I began to think about where I was going to store all the heavier winter clothes we have accumulated this winter. This is the first week I have not worn long underwear. I had bought some very lightweight Merino wool long-sleeved shirts that have been my lifesavers during the frigid weather. Forry's been wearing heavy wool long sleeve shirts that are suddenly "too hot."
I know this lovely sunny day is not going to be repeated the rest of the week, but I've certainly enjoyed it anyway.
It's funny how sunshine changes moods. Everyone was feeling very chipper this morning. There was much talk about possible summer travels and plans.
When I got back after coffee, I started on the laundry. I had sort of neglected it this week while we were dealing with our visitors. It was so nice today, I began to think about where I was going to store all the heavier winter clothes we have accumulated this winter. This is the first week I have not worn long underwear. I had bought some very lightweight Merino wool long-sleeved shirts that have been my lifesavers during the frigid weather. Forry's been wearing heavy wool long sleeve shirts that are suddenly "too hot."
I know this lovely sunny day is not going to be repeated the rest of the week, but I've certainly enjoyed it anyway.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
No More Ice
It has been interesting watching the lake this winter. We watched it gradually freeze over, watching the open areas slowly close up. It's been the reverse this spring. We watched puddles of water form on the surface of the ice. We watched as open water appeared at the edge of the lake. We saw the ice get more and more mushy looking. We saw "channels" of water open up across the ice. Soon, we could see open water on the other side. Monday when I went to town, there was lots of open water, but also "islands" of greenish looking rough ice. Today it was entirely open water - all the ice is gone!
What surprised us were the seagulls. We have not seen any all winter. Not a single one! But, the minute open water appeared so did the seagulls - flocks and flocks of them! Where have they been all winter? How did they know the ice was leaving? How did they know to arrive the first day there was open water?
Today was sort of a repeat of yesterday. We had a few hours of partly sunny sky with increasingly heavy cloud cover until we finally had rain showers. It wasn't nearly as warm however.
We went over to Menno this evening for the Lenten Soup Supper. It's done in conjunction with the Ritzville Ministerial Association during Lent. Wednesday evening soup and bread meals are hosted at rotating churches. There were about a hundred people there, probably two thirds of them from other churches. Menno members had brought crock pots of various soups - there must have been a dozen different kinds. After the soup meal, there was a short service in the sanctuary.
What surprised us were the seagulls. We have not seen any all winter. Not a single one! But, the minute open water appeared so did the seagulls - flocks and flocks of them! Where have they been all winter? How did they know the ice was leaving? How did they know to arrive the first day there was open water?
Today was sort of a repeat of yesterday. We had a few hours of partly sunny sky with increasingly heavy cloud cover until we finally had rain showers. It wasn't nearly as warm however.
We went over to Menno this evening for the Lenten Soup Supper. It's done in conjunction with the Ritzville Ministerial Association during Lent. Wednesday evening soup and bread meals are hosted at rotating churches. There were about a hundred people there, probably two thirds of them from other churches. Menno members had brought crock pots of various soups - there must have been a dozen different kinds. After the soup meal, there was a short service in the sanctuary.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Another Rainy Day
I had hope this morning when I first got up, but the sun very quickly disappeared behind the clouds. The clouds kept getting thicker and thicker until it once again started to rain - and rain some more. I went out to put out wheat for the quail and put the last of the bird feed into the feeder. The quarter inch lids on the tops of the five gallon buckets were once again completely full of water.
We weren't up very early this morning. It was a busy weekend and we were both tired. I had bought some smoked pork chops yesterday. They were fully cooked, so all I had to do was warm them in the skillet with a little butter. I fixed a box of stuffing and put some green beans in the microwave. It made for a pretty good dinner.
We watched the Mariners game this afternoon in Peoria. They were saying it got to 93 degrees there! James Paxton pitched today. We have watched him several times in Arizona and we're delighted to see him in fine form today.
We weren't up very early this morning. It was a busy weekend and we were both tired. I had bought some smoked pork chops yesterday. They were fully cooked, so all I had to do was warm them in the skillet with a little butter. I fixed a box of stuffing and put some green beans in the microwave. It made for a pretty good dinner.
We watched the Mariners game this afternoon in Peoria. They were saying it got to 93 degrees there! James Paxton pitched today. We have watched him several times in Arizona and we're delighted to see him in fine form today.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Happiness is "Yes!"
I was up early again this morning. We (the Board of Deacons) had a meeting with the Hersheys at the parsonage over at Menno at 9:30. We were all feeling good about their visit over the past four days. I have tried to talk to as many folks as possible over the past couple of days and have had nothing but positive feedback. So, long story short, the Hersheys have agreed to come be our Interim Pastor team. They will here the first week in May.
Needless to say, it was a great relief for all of us that their answer was "yes!" We are very much looking forward to getting better acquainted with them. We have not had a "team" as pastors before. It will be an interesting experience for all of us. Having two ordained pastors in our small congregation is going to be pure luxury. We will continue to be searching for a permanent pastor.
On my way back home, I stopped at Safeway in Moses Lake for groceries. As usual, the store was packed. I had to wait for a car to leave the parking lot before I could find a spot. I'm not sure when the last time I went grocery shopping without Forry. But, he had sent his list along. I picked up a canister of peanuts, some goldfish crackers, a box of chocolate chip cookies and several bags of licorice. That should keep him happy for a while.
It's been a rainy day today. It drizzled on the way out to Menno - and while I was gassing the car. It rained hard in Moses Lake and then was back to intermittent showers at Sun Desert. The forecast is for the same kind of weather for the next few days.
Needless to say, it was a great relief for all of us that their answer was "yes!" We are very much looking forward to getting better acquainted with them. We have not had a "team" as pastors before. It will be an interesting experience for all of us. Having two ordained pastors in our small congregation is going to be pure luxury. We will continue to be searching for a permanent pastor.
On my way back home, I stopped at Safeway in Moses Lake for groceries. As usual, the store was packed. I had to wait for a car to leave the parking lot before I could find a spot. I'm not sure when the last time I went grocery shopping without Forry. But, he had sent his list along. I picked up a canister of peanuts, some goldfish crackers, a box of chocolate chip cookies and several bags of licorice. That should keep him happy for a while.
It's been a rainy day today. It drizzled on the way out to Menno - and while I was gassing the car. It rained hard in Moses Lake and then was back to intermittent showers at Sun Desert. The forecast is for the same kind of weather for the next few days.
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