Posts from the ‘Auggie’ category

O Christmas Tree: the finale

If these last days were Christmas Eve, you can count on it…Rudolph would have been leading the sleigh…at least in Northwest Montana.

It has been drippy, soggy and foggy.

Not much fun outside for any of us!

But to “O Christmas Tree”…

Yesterday (Monday) morning, I woke to some commotion in the living room.

I went out to find 5 snowflake ornaments on the floor under the tree…

Ok. Not entirely unexpected. The commotion was from Auggie jumping to get the higher snowflakes

Still. Not unexpected.

I admonished.

I picked up the fallen snowflakes…and noticed…a LOT of needles on the floor. Brown, dry needles.

I knew when I put the tree up that it was a bit drier than I originally thought. Bottom line, I took it down.

Sad, but true…the “Auggie tree top/Christmas Tree” went 2 days.

There are a number of candidates for a replacement. We’ll see. I had my “real tree” fun and I have my silk tree and other things in the house.

It is still over two weeks until Christmas so anything goes. If I feel like doing the “real tree” for real, I’ll do it. If not, I will not.

Fog, sloppy mess, O Christmas Tree…Onward!

Snippets from the weekend

My mom and I made Meyer Lemon-Huckleberry Marmalade Saturday late morning…progress photos on Instagram.

We think it has been 50 years since we jammed together! I was not a fan of the process 50 years ago, when I was 9. It involved picking fruit in hot and humid Northwest Ohio and then the canning process was also hot and humid.

The nice thing about citrus marmalades is that citrus is in season in Winter. Just after leaving Montana (Oct 24), I received notice from Lemon Ladies Orchard that Meyer Lemons were ready for shipping. I ordered some to be delivered to my folks. I had frozen huckleberries along so we were set!

Jams, jellies and marmalades take some experience and maybe a good bit of luck, I think. The variation in the amount of sugar in fruit and juice … it can be tricky getting consistent consistency. Between us, we adjusted things and ultimately got both consistency and flavor that we are both very happy with. It was iffy for awhile so a lot of fun when all came together as we hoped.

I enjoyed the results on Sunday morning.

Bear and I walked. I did a little work. We all watched some sports together. We ate wonderful food.

It was a nice, quiet weekend of good things.

I’m writing this Monday morning as I wait for it to warm up. It is 8F this morning – the coldest night so far on this trip. The rv plumbing stayed warm. Bear, Auggie and I were not toasty, but warm enough. The sun is rising in a clear sky so things should warm quickly.

I haven’t decided on the route yet, but this morning after going back and forth about 6 times yesterday, am leaning toward heading west over Wolf Creek Pass to Cortez, then through Moab brushing Arches National Park and North through Utah. It would be nice to return a different and also slightly warmer route.

Later, from the road, but meanwhile a few more snippets from the weekend:

Thursday and Friday

Weather-wise, Thursday was not as hot as advertised and overnight the wind blew, some rain fell and Friday dawned gray and cool.

But by midday, it was sunny, clear and a perfect Fall-like 65F!

Back to Thursday…

Neighbor, Mike…kind of sort of visible beyond the glare…came over with chainsaw and dispatched the little tree that Auggie was using to get to the garage roof.

I had a talk with the tree beforehand. I was so sorry to cut its life short.

Mike also brought his splitter and split the remainder of the dry wood which I did NOT procrastinate about stacking…

…mainly because Wild Thing’s part came in and she was ready to come home and it was a much easier thing to get the split wood onto the stack BEFORE parking WT in her spot.

I am SO happy she is home. I think she is happy also. We had a hug and I had a bit of wine with her also…it is “our thing”.

As neighbor Mike left, he wondered if Auggie would be upset about the tree…and Auggie KNOWS where Mike lives!!!

Not to fear, Mike. Auggie is LOVING his new “jungle gym”.

Hide and play…it is new and fun.

A brief wonderment about the garage roof…

Thursday and Friday.

Friday!!!

First day of Fall

Although we often have beautiful warm days in late September and early October, it is not that often that we have hot days this late, but it feels hot. I was in town late morning for a hair appointment and the salon had doors and windows open and everyone, including me, was overdressed and too warm.

But, it is sunny and beautiful and we will enjoy it…

…outside as much as possible.

This is part of a new trick that Auggie taught me. He gets on the garage roof via a little tree, looks around until he’s ready to come down and then meows for me to come and get him with the ladder.

I am apparently easily trained.

I do need as much exercise as I can get…

I think I will get some cutting that darn tree down!

Rescue complete and all inside for supper.

First day of Fall.

Burst tomato, zucchini, goat cheese galette…extraordinaire!

The galette!

Burst tomatoes, zucchini, and a goat cheese/parmesan mix with a brioche crust.

Super-duper good!!!

Meanwhile, Auggie-boy is a bit put out with me.

I am a bit put out with him.

He is crossing the road. He is and has been visiting both my across the road neighbors and my next door (Plowing and Wood cutting and 8 years wonderful neighbors…neighbors that love birds!) neighbors.

I thought, given his attachment to Bear and I that he would be more of a home boy.

It is worrying on many counts and I’ve been keeping him in a bit more which is maybe not helping the gadabout tendency.

This afternoon, I tried some distraction with long put away toys. Auggie did not buy that at all!

Still thinking on this.