YIKES … kind of redish sunrise but then…

And ultimately the day turned sunny!

We all got outside – YEA!!

I am not cooking a big, traditional dinner today … maybe on Saturday :)

So, today was a day to enjoy the sunshine and relax and be incredibly thankful for:

Emmett and Oscar and me all in good health,

Work and fun stuff and a wonderful home and property to enjoy all,

Holy Cow!! I am beyond thankful for all :)

While it was sunny and not too cold (33F), I replenished firewood close at hand … it is supposed to get very cold and more snow Fri-Sat-Sun ???

Meanwhile, though … sun (this is 11:30 a.m. and at 48 North, the sun is making a low pass vs Summer’s high overhead arc). Still … SUN!

Throw WUBBA!!

It was a lovely time outside.

Inside.

Turkey dinner will be had on Saturday.

Today is an Italian Garlic Pepper (black pepper) beef stew and some prep for Saturday: cranberry sauce, brioche for a leek bread pudding …

As in past years I have devolved into a lazy-relaxed long weekend with the “traditional” dinner being when convenient and otherwise enjoying time without work constraints.

***to note … if you follow my Instagram … early November after a very warm October, we got 8 inches of very wet and heavy snow. That resulted in a significant amount of damage to trees in my woods … mostly the young Western Larch. It means a hefty and expensive cleanup this Spring … no use doing much now as the trees were very stressed and more are likely to break/come down between now and late Spring.

So … I am in “frugal mode” so as to be able to pay for the cleanup (heavy equipment, hauling away, etc., etc.) That translates into no RV trip … probably. I will see how things go. I have some local folks scheduled to give me advice on cleanup.

RATS.

BUT!! When I think about Florida post Ian and other disasters. All in all, I have it easy. My home is intact and my work is good, my health and pets health is good. Tally ho!!!

The motorhome and Jeep maintenance issues continue!

The motorhome has new tires – YEA!

The Jeep had its Lube-Oil-Filter (LOF) and then a follow up maintenance thing.

The motorhome is in the shop for its LOF, generator oil change and general all-around service.

The shops are all about 22 miles one way from my home … nearly an hour round trip … and gas. Although a neighbor would help me, it is a HUGE ask particularly as I had multiple appointments at various shops.

So. Motorhome takes Jeep for Jeep appts and or to provide a way home from dropping the motorhome.

Lots of to and fro and back and forth!

Good exercise for the vehicles AND for me … I definitely felt the up and down of the hooking up, unhooking procedure. But that is good!

Meanwhile…

We have had a record warm October which is due to end tonight through the weekend.

It has been several weeks of upper 60F-low 70F daytime and 40F overnight. Kind of perfect. We enjoyed!

Lots of walks, lots of outside play.

We’ll see what next week looks like. I hope to have the motorhome home with all systems good. The Jeep is good. Weather … it will likely bluster and then stabilize.

I still hope to take a short miles trip for maybe a week or 2 or ??? but all up in the air at this writing.

One day at a time!

Wild Thing is back in her spot and NOT on the road.

BUT!!!

The good news is that I found tires for her, and she should have her new “shoes” on Thursday – YEA!

I thought tires would be the challenging thing, but turns out the LOF and general engine service is proving more difficult to arrange.

I had a tentative appointment for all some weeks ago, but it was cancelled by service company … too many “Fleet” vehicles backlogged, and RVs are “not necessary”. All exacerbated by lack of personnel. I won’t even go there as it is beyond my comprehension.

Again, BUT!!! Tires were the most crucial impediment to hitting the road. I knew when I finished my last trip in 2015 that I was at the legal age limit for my tires, but knowing I would be off the road for some time due to Bear not being able to get in the RV … I did nothing. And then Emmett and then COVID and now scrambling. When I had issues getting any appointment, I decided to split the issues and try for tires.

Success.

I have a few more thoughts for the other service, but we’ll get the tires, get our work week in and regroup.

Meanwhile, the front porch plants are winding down…

Pretty!

This “side” had a run in with some critter(s) overnight, but have mostly recovered.

This side was not disturbed!

The mint (upper right) is doing well considering it started the season as sprigs after a challenging over-Wintering inside! I am not going to over-Winter anything this year. As soon as a hard frost is forecast, I will harvest what herbs I can and let Nature take her course.

As of this writing, we have two days of upper 70’s F forecast and then a cool front. The nights are wonderfully cool.

We are enjoying as much time outside as we can.

Maybe “not from the road” as I’d hoped, but making progress towards that :) !!

I am so happy that the weather and calendar have turned the corner to Autumn!

This is my favorite time of year: lovely temperatures, lovely light and hopefully some rain this week … it is scary dry in my woods!

But …

Wild Thing!!

She is in the prep area.

I am cleaning up, checking all systems and hopefully a road trip is in our near future.

A slight “fly in the ointment” … I opened the water heater compartment, preparing to get it ready for loading water and found several disturbing things. Rust was the least of it …

I didn’t take a photo (I DID take video :) ) … a mouse nest sans mousies thankfully and a lot of mouse poop.

The mouse leavings are removed and cleaned up. The rust elimination process is in progress.

One thing at a time.

If there are no setbacks as to road worthiness and livability and/or work projects … I hope to take off next Sat-Sun-Monday. Weather is also on the list.

Destination is not very distant … 270 ish miles to Anaconda, Montana vicinity. It will be a combination “Wild Thing” shakedown and look at that area plus thinking about RV downsizing and house moving and … what do I think after nearly 7 years without venturing out and about?

I have zero expectations.

I will see what I can see and think on all things.

So Happy!! Excited to change things up a bit.

*** Right. So, neither Emmett nor Oscar have been rving … :)

September 15 and it feels like Fall.

It is still smoky, and the beginning of this week was the worst smoke of the summer and the heaviest I’ve seen in 29 summers in Northwest Montana!

All of us have been mostly inside. The smoke was heavy enough to make Emmett sneeze, me cough and wheeze and Oscar did not go outside at all.

Yesterday afternoon, it started clearing a bit and today was very much better – HURRAH!

It made me feel like recording a bit of the morning:

Short and serene … enjoy!

Summer is winding down (mostly) … almost Autumn and here is a video from early June.

My excuses:

1. video editing learning curve has been steep
2. experimenting with different kind of shots
3. my slow internet until I bought the new router
4. life :)

I have all sorts of ideas for videos and things to learn but it takes a LOT of time. AND since much of it happens on the computer and my “day job” is on the computer, it is sometimes challenging to think about spending MORE time on the computer.

The ending is a bit abrupt … still much to learn!

I hope that a year from now, I can look at this and where I am then and say: “Ok, I learned some things!”