Archive for ‘March, 2014’

I bow to the inevitable

Right.

Was there ever any question???

I am unclear if there will be a clear definition of which chair is whose, but there are 2 chairs so all should be well.

I’ve actually had the red chair for a year and a half. Red chair has been quietly living in the garage.

Summer 2012, the green chair developed a crack in the back. I thought it would worsen over Winter and as the chairs are only available during Summer, bought the red chair in anticipation of the green chair’s demise.

Surprise!

The green chair lived on and the crack did not expand.

Enter Auggie…

…and now a need for 2 chairs.

Hurrah for a bit of proactive chair procurement!

Falafel, etc.

Years ago…when I was young..ish…I lived in Los Angeles, California.

There was Falafel!

If you don’t know falafel, it is basically a savory chickpea fritter ball, i.e. chickpeas, garlic, parsley and other spices ground together to a paste and then deep fried. In the middle east it is a popular street food. Also in West Los Angeles where I partook in the early 1990’s.

In Northwest Montana…not so much falafel. I tried some “health food store” add water mixes. Blech. Left it behind.

Recently, a trusted food blogger showed falafel and paved the way to this recipe: Tori Avey’s Falafel recipe

I jumped in the Jeep and went to town for garbanzo beans.

My falafel plate:

My own Pita, Tori’s falafel on hummus with tahini sauce (Tahini sauce) and Israeli Salad( Israeli Salad )

That salad. Tori calls it Israeli salad as her husband is from Israel … it is a mix that common in the Middle East and Mediterranean.

So simple but so flavorful.

Greek Feta.

REAL GREEK Feta. At my local Costco.

The “Israeli Salad” with feta and kalamata olives = one fantastic lunch.

Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food = healthy and delicious!

Etc., indeed.

On the home front, it got to 50F this afternoon with bits of sunshine.

Auggie loves THE CHAIR.

Bear has adjusted to being on dry ground, just north of Beardog Point…Beardog Point being a bit snowy/icy.

Falafel, etc.: a good day.

Let the dry land appear

I thought “let the dry land appear” was in the Noah/flood part, but actually, it is in the creation part: Genesis 1:9

Anyway…the waters have receded a bit and dry land is appearing!

Still messy, but unexpectedly better!

This week had its challenges…I’ve been dealing with a bit of “tennis elbow” and either a minor bug or just the ramifications of the elbow stuff so not feeling 100% and struggling with getting work done in consequence.

The mess…none of us getting normal exercise.

Just one of those times…nothing really of import in the whole scheme of things.

So today…

FRIDAY!!!

And the waters being a bit better and the elbow being a bit better and it being Friday…

I moved the chair and thought to take a photo of “end of the week”…

I moved the chair to dry land.

Auggie thought to investigate…

Bear investigated Auggie…

I guess all is ok.

Happy Friday!

Remember I said it would get messy ?

Monday morning the snow was beautiful and the temperature was 13F after an arctic weekend. By Monday afternoon the temperature was 27F. By Tuesday morning, the temperature was 34 and it has not been below freezing since. And it has rained several times.

Gah!

The garage is high and dry and I partly took this photo to help with some plans I’m considering to reroute the walkway and perhaps make it like a deck so that it is out of the water during meltdown.

Summers Lake.

The River Summers.

Bear crossed at the deepest part and he was looking carefully. I think maybe the reflection of ice and ground was confusing.

Auggie had been avoiding the water all day but finally decided to follow Bear. I took the photo but then got my boots on and retrieved him. He was up to his “knees” in ice water and also stopped seeming a bit confused. He didn’t complain when I picked him up. I took him inside, dried and rubbed his soaking wet feet and he didn’t ask to go out again.

Ice WATER!!

But, as messy as my driveway and walk look, it is nothing compared to some properties down the road. Bear and I took a jaunt to the dump and most of my neighbors on the lower part of the road have huge ponds. Several were working with tractors to get some draining going.

It is a mess!

Snow, cont’d.

When we last left our story, it had been snowing heavily most of the day (Sunday) and into the evening and the temperature was 8F.

This morning, the temperature was 13F…

…and we had about a foot of new snow on top of a settled foot of snow.

Auggie is sitting at the edge of where I’d shoveled at the time.

The un-shoveled snow is a bit above chest-height on Auggie.

We got snow!

Beautiful, but it was a bit of work. I went up on the roof yesterday afternoon and cleared vents.

This morning, I looked at the load on the front porch and raked a good bit off.

It is to be 40F by the weekend and the meltdown is likely to be VERY messy.

My neighbor to the rescue yet again. And really to the rescue.

The snow around that tree was piling up. When things start melting, it would contribute to the driveway lake and maybe to the garage floor. Neighbor, Mike, moved most of that snow out to an area that will drain to the woods.

It is going to be messy, but less so from this thoughtfulness.

This evening as I write this, it is still 27F at 6:30 p.m.! There is warm air above and rain, turning to freezing rain, is falling.

Messy.

I hope all stay safe this coming week. Avalanche danger is high and I know this snow calls to people looking to play in it.

Bear and I are staying home on our flattish land. And speaking of Bear. This is the most snow we’ve had since he’s lived in Montana and he has been enjoying it. He’s running and playing and having a great time on good, strong legs.

I am happy.

Getting ready

Bear and I take a last off leash (with lights!) walk at 7-7:30 p.m. most evenings. This evening it was just past 7:30.

Still snowing heavily.

Still 8 F -ish.

The snow in the woods was nearly to the top of my boots, i.e. 3 inches below my knees.

Bear made his rounds and then headed briskly for the house.

After letting him in, I made a quick trip to the garage…

There are still 19 official days of Winter.