8/31 Anderson

We are on the tail end of summer for sure - temps are hanging around 95 for a high and 65 for a low.  A little warmer than last week and I suspect we will be seeing lots of mid 80s in the coming weeks - I am ready for that!!  We are not getting much of breeze so that is why the temps are climbing.  The sky's are clear - the haze of smoke we had last week is gone and I think the fires South and East of us have been contained. 

Had lots of yardwork this week end and also had to do some mechanical work on the tractor.  One of the spindles for the blade on the left side went bad - bearing went out.  It was making some pretty strange noise yesterday so today I dropped the deck and replaced the spindle.  I had purchased this spindle a year or so ago as a space, good thing to have a extra around and we have another one on order.  This is the first time I dropped the deck - pretty straight forward.  In the past I have worked under the desk with it jacked up - kind of tight and hard to see.  The learning curve was pretty low and glad I did it - next time it will be a snap.

We now have cows on the pasture again - - good thing.  We have 4  - 2 black Angus heifers and their calves.   They are well behaved and should do fine?  I am glad the pasture is back in use - we have had several inquiries about its use and we did have a commitment for this season but did not know the status of the new cows.  They have been here a week or so and they have already cleaned up the irrigation canal and fence line.  I have been cutting those areas to help the water flow - now the cows are doing it for me. 

Last night we had dinner out with a old colleague from Lockheed Martin (LM).  He has a plum tree farm in Red Bluff and is finishing up this years harvest.  We had a very nice dinner and he came over for desert (blackberry pie and ice cream),  His has less than a hundred acres and his brother has about the same.  His nephew takes care of the trees throughout the year.  Kirk still works at LM and lives in Sunnyvale.  He is 73 years old and doing great - not sure when he might retire?  He seems very happy working and being close to his family. 

Around 3:30 this morning Tessie woke us up with loud barking.  We got up to check what she was barking at - a large raccoon was walking across the back patio.  She was really having a fit - I scared the raccoon off then took Tessie outside to settle her down.  She was sniffing all over the place - then I heard some noise coming from behind two chests that are stored against the wall.   The patio door open - put her inside then immediately shut it  to check what the noise was?  There tucked behind the chest were 3 babies raccoons - looked like the three stooges peaking over the top.  After some coaxing they departed then I had to bring Tessie out again so she could see that the area was clear??!!  Just another restless night out here in the wild  - wild  - west.

On Monday we get to celebrate our 25the Silver wedding anniversary.  That will be fun - - we have a nice 4 day week end then 3 days of work for Kathy then we are back up here next Thursday.  That will be out third week end up here in a row - we don't get that many but enjoy the ones we do get.  We both stay busy and the time seems to fly very fast!! 

Not much else for news - hope you all have a great holiday week end and good work week.

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie ( the  cat)

8/24 Anderson

We are definitely heading into the fall season!!   The temperatures are dropping at night and during the day.  The temp now is 74 with a slight breeze from the South - perfect!!  We have the back doors open and the breeze is really keeping us cool for the day.  It did get up to 91 yesterday but don't think it will make that today.  The hills and mountains have lots of clouds and lots of smoke.  We have two or three fires burning in the area - just 3 for the 50 or so that are burning in the Western states.  This high fire period was certainly predicted - no rain, lots of fuel from years without any fires and now mother nature is taking charge once again.  Seems like we hear about 2-5 fires in the area each day and I suspect that will continue for some time to come - at least until the rains start in October.

Fire near Yosemite - Picture taken in downtown Groveland on Aug 22nd.
 

Lassen Peak hidden in a shroud of smoke

 

Kathy had a very hard week last week and sure is enjoying the week end to unwind a little.  They are in the middle of budgets - close out 13 and bring in 14.   Being a government lab - they are dealing with the pesk
y sequestration issue once again.  They did have some luck with the voluntary terminations but they will probably offer up another one next year again to take the strain off the budget cuts that are forthcoming.  They continue to have problems with their overall staffing - when one of their researchers runs out of money or is finished with their project they are put into a pool and carried until funding or projects becomes available.  That system has worked in the past but now with all the project and budget cuts they can't afford to carry those folks.  Hard management decisions needed to tackle the issue head on!!?? 

Worked on the yard yesterday and a little today.  Everything is looking pretty good - we still don't have any cows or horses on the pasture.  The grass is getting pretty high and we have lots of folks poking around to see if the pasture is available.  I did sign a contract with a neighbor who has had cows on the pasture (moved them because they wanted to roam into the adjacent pasture) and does help with our irrigation.  I am committed to him for this year - just now sure what his plans are for the rest of the year?   I already mowed half of it which has grown back and will mow the rest of it in a month or so.  This is the 1st year we have not had animals on the pasture and I am amazed with the difference, that grass and some weeds sure get tall and thick.  The mowing will definitely be a challenge for me and my little mower?

Kathy and I are looking forward to the next couple of weeks.  She is taking some extra days off and we will have at least 3 weeks in which we will be here in Anderson for long week ends.  Next week end we have a special celebration - party time for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It is also 25 years for us to be in California.  That will be fun - hard to believe it has been 25 years, how time does pass so quickly.

Yesterday, Kathy and I took on a big project - we cleaned and polished the wooden floors.  The last time we did that was 2.5 years ago when we moved in.  This time we used some home remedy ( vinegar, lemon, olive oil and water)  and the floors look very good.  It as a lot of work but definitely worth the effort.  It looks so nice - makes everything seem new and fresh, suspect we will change to frequency to at least quarterly.  We used several different tools - steaming mop and lots of rags and elbow grease.  We both ended up with blisters on our knees - talked about using knee pads but nixed that idea, should be essential next time.  At any rate the job is done and we are very pleased with the results.

Not much else for news from these parts - - hope you all have a enjoyable week end and great week,

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie ( the cat)

8/10 Anderson

The last 2 weeks have been very nice - temps are topping out in the mid 80s - about 10 degrees below the average for this time of the year.  The mornings are cool, days are pleasant and the nights are perfect for sleeping.  These are the temps that we usually get in the Spring and Fall, guess mother nature is changing things around a little.  The long range forecast call for 100 on Tuesday here in Anderson and mid 90s for the Tracy area.  Today it is 80 and a nice breeze out of the Northwest - very nice - about the same yesterday maybe a little cooler.  I am ready for Fall  - bring in on.

Last week we were notified that there is a mountain lion in our neighborhood.  The lion has killed several cats and even attacked the neighbors horses.  I think the critter is hanging out in our pasture and the adjoining pasture.  Over the last month while picking blackberries I have noticed several areas the grass has been flattened out.  We don't have any cows or horses on the pasture at this time so it has to be another big animal. 2 weeks ago I picked up a big scat pile next to our driveway.  I thought at the time it might be a coyote but it was too big for that animal - never really equated it with a mountain lion.  Kathy was escorting Tessie by leash late at night on our last visit and noticed a pair of glowing eyes peering at her from the pasture about 2 feet off the ground.  She ran for the door!  Tessie has had several barking episodes at night - hard to know what she is barking at, could be  cow, cat, rabbit, coyote or lion or a 2 legged animal for that matter?  Kathy borrowed a big spotlight - glows at 500 - 1000 watts or more.  We have only seen a rabbit thus far no sign of a lion this week end thus far?!!   I suspect one of these spotlights will be in our future?



Pasture full of Queen Anne's Lace

Speaking of berry picking - yes I was at it again.  This is the end of berry picking season - got 2.5 gallons this week end.  I used the new method of harvesting - pick the cluster then bring them back and sort at my own leisure.  The berries were not that good this week end - many of  them have dried out in the sun and those that are ready fall off when I pull the cluster out of the vines.  I am happy with this years harvest - I see blackberry pies in out future.  We still have 1 pie in the freezer from last year's batch - we will eat that one during out labor day week end. 

Kathy is very busy at work - the old year is closing down and the new year in quickly approaching.  She is still working with her new people so her workload is essentially doubled.  The training will continue through the new budget year then things should slow down a little for her.  She is having a hard time with her schedule - lots of hours of work, lots of time walking and not much time for her artwork.  She is making up for that this week end - she is in her studio and working diligently.  her artwork certainly keeps her occupied with not real thoughts of work - that is a good thing.  She is very lucky to be able to get away from the office stuff - the nice 3 day week ends work well for her.  This is the perfect work/life balance that works for her!!

The last two weeks have been filled with lots of trips to the dentist.  I finally got the implant completed.  Last Monday, I started to get a striking pain in my lower left jaw - thought is was a abscess?  I have had them before and this one was triggered by cold - a nice cold drink of iced tea gave me a jolt of pain which cleared as soon as the cold was removed.   I went to my dentist on Wednesday to check it out - she could not pinpoint the problem so she sent me to the periodontist on Thursday and yes a root canal was completed which corrected the condition.  I have accumulated considerable investment over the years and looks like my mouth will continue to invest more in the future.  I probably should have gone the way of dentures (Kathy says, "NO,NO!!!")  many years ago but have been fighting to keep original choppers - am paying he price.  I think the decision was a good one? (Kathy says, "yes!")

Happy Anniversary, John and Pat -- 57 years!!!  Congratulations!!!

Not much else for new from these parts.  Hope you all have a great week end and wonderful week.

More later

Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie ( the cat)