How Much Can A Woodchuck Chuck Wood?

Yesterday's gathering of old fallen down oak tree limbs has been cut into smaller pieces for the wood stove, either for this year or next. It took about 3 hours this morning for this chore. The wood pile is still looking good and only 1 or 2 more months left of burning. Usually by May the season for burning is over, with many days in between that are too warm for a fire all day. March is the month that gathering more wood for next winter begins. Saw some trees down in the back 40 with the huge Ponderosa Pine that is down from last January's 80 mile an hour winds.
The girls came up to visit and helped stack the wood on arrival. It is always appreciated when help arrives to lessen the amount of work. They left around 5 p.m. before dinner. Promising next time to come for a brunch.
Exhausted and hungry stumbled into the house for some nourishment, shower and shave. Felt better knowing it will be bed time soon.

Sunny day with very cold temperatures are here at Fairview. Will be gathering more fallen down branches from the oak trees. Must clean them up before the next storm otherwise way too much to do at one time. This next storm is coming from Hawaii and is full of warmer water. Expecting to probably catch up to average rainfall by the end of the storm. Fairview is only a little over 3" below average.
The Daphne shrubs are in full bloom and smells so heavenly. Have been very successful in propagating new plants and have increased the daphne shrubs considerably.

Remembering the song Rainy Day Woman today since it so happens to be another dark cloudy, rainy day here at Fairview. Woke up several times in the night hearing rattling of doors and torrential rain falling. Fairview is now only a little over 4" below average rainfall. Becoming closer and closer to eliminating the drought, especially with more rain predicted for the next week.
Daffodils have started to bloom behind the basalt wall. It is more enjoyable to see them there; since, their trumpets are visible compared to the other side of the driveway where the trumpets are facing downhill.
Beginning to dance and flitter around all of these beauties like some drunken half-crazed nectar sucking butterfly. It is such a glorious sight to behold. If it would only last forever and ever. Spring is the favorite time of year at Fairview.

Well, well, well it has been an exciting time. Not too much party hearty last night. No rain for a couple days now. New daffodils are blooming and more little pretties are coming up. The gift from the Smith's (75 King Alfred Daffodils) are coming up behind the already established Dutch Master Daffodils. Not sure what variety of daffy is blooming at the base of the Bay tree. After pruning the damage off of the Purple Leaf Plum what remains is sort of an oriental looking tree. The snow always does some damage to the landscape here at Fairview.

Laissez Faire Bon Temps Rouler

Grey Skies

Apparently it is the lull before the storm today. Much wind in the night. Woke up several times to that howling and rattling of the doors in the bedroom. Didn't help much watching a short foreign horror film about a monster in the closet before going to sleep.

Rainy Day

Woke up to the sound of pitter- patter and yes it was that much needed rain Fairview has so long been waiting for. Fires started in the stove and fireplace making the China Lillies warm up to release their sweet fragrance. Vases overflowing with beautiful small ivory colored petals with tiny pale yellow trumpets clustered on sturdy green herbaceous stems decorate every corner of the house.
Rain and wind has kept outside activity to a minimum. Only wood gathering and the occasional glancing at the holding tank to see if water is needed. Been on the computer most of the day searching this and that, mostly that.

Up, Down, Back, Forward, Sideways?

Today is just like where to go now? Up, down, back, forward, or sideways. Been on the computer much lately. Yesterday picked all the China Lillies that had been crushed to the ground by the snow. Inside the house is so fragrant with a sweet sent. It almost has the look of a funeral parlor. Remembering the ancestors that have gone. Dreaming of summer in the sun skinny dipping at the river. Remembering the altar that depicted the frustration that has been felt before. Possibly needing to travel and leave it all behind.
This next week looks like a time for cabin fever to set in. Much rain that is truly needed. Fairview is down 7" below average. May catch up this week.
Picked up fallen branches of oak and stacked them for later pickup. More to gather after the snow melts off of them. Some trees are down in the back 40 and some are missing their tops. Spring looks like a very busy time.
More daffodils are blooming. At Fairview daffodils usually bloom at their fullest in March and when that happens it snows and crushes them down to the ground. They rise up again when the snow melts and then again they are crushed down again by another snowing. This continues about 3 to 4 times for the month. Fairview receives more snow in the month of March than any other month.

Remembering

Now that the snow has melted the daffodils are visible again and blooming.

Dreaming

Been dreaming of the Yuba River today. It is probably running like a torrent after the amount of rain and snow that has fallen over the last week. Can't wait to go skinny dipping into it this summer. This image is one of the favorite swimming holes.

A Bright Sunshiny Day

Yeah the sun is shinning brightly today melting the snow away. Took off this morning for a smog inspection and what a relief to have passed. Spent way took much on the truck this month and glad no more is needed.

Of course it snowed all day. Didn't really stick until the evening hours.

Waiting For The Next Storm

Woke up this morning to only cloudy skies. No snow, no rain. Trying to make a pathway through the snow covered road. Has not been easy leaving or returning to Fairview. Two and 1/2 feet of snow on the road. Rain has fallen much of the day melting the white stuff.

Is It Armageddon or only 40 days of darkness?

Again the snow is falling here at Fairview. This is becoming a bit insane. In the seventies it would snow big time here, leaving many feet of snow all at once, usually around 3'. These storms usually come every ten years. This time it just keeps dumping smaller amounts for days. So far Fairview has receive over 3' of snow for the season. Today's storm has much wind with it, blowing things all around. Oh, well that is what happens at the snow line. (3200')
Two hours later, listening to Hawaiian music on the local public radio station, always seems a bit odd here amongst the pine and cedar trees, especially when it is snowing. Makes it easy to day dream of Hawaii.
Another two hours later, still listening to Hawaiian music, however; the precipitation is a mix of rain and snow. Maybe the day dreaming is working. Keep pushing the snow up the hill to the ski resorts. The wind is dying down, but is expected to pick up later tonight. Just love the sound of the howling wind and the rattling of doors that are made. Wake up to what sounds like a train coming through the bedroom.
The rest of the afternoon turned out to be just rain. Thank goodness. The snow is melting quickly making pools of water. Rain is needed much here to eliminate the drought. Snow really doesn't have much water in it. Fairview usually has 40" of average rainfall per season. Some years it has been 100" and above.
Rain is predicted to last until Tuesday and on and off there after for at least a week.

You Guessed It Another Snow Day

Yep, it snowed again last night and as of 7:30 a.m. is still snowing. The electricity went off in the night, but came on again. Was not wanting to make cowboy coffee.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY. May love surround all and peace rule the planet.

And Another Really Snowy Day

Another day to wake up to about 1' of snow on the deck railing and still snowing. Supposedly it is going to snow all day until 4 p.m. Interrupted during this post because everything crashed down with no electricity. Called the usual electric company to let them know of the outage or they might forget like in the past. Neighbors called to ask for a telephone call when the electric comes back on since they are using their generators. Can hold out for a while without the electricity. The radio works with batteries. Everything is closed. No driving without chains or 4 wheel drive with snow tires.
Decided the generator needed to be working, can't stand not having a shower before bed. Worked on it most of the early afternoon. Remembered it had not been filled and adjusted since summer. Fixed the drain screw, filled with coolant, added distilled water to battery, filled the oil reservoir, connected the spark plugs and hooked up the jumper cables to the truck. Almost a go however; needed to push the rest button. Button discovered that. Whamo and it was running. Then the electricity returned.
At 4 p.m. the snow started again. The next storm is supposedly going to dump even more white stuff. At least the generator works.

A White Valentines?

Woke up and got out of bed to this magical wonderland. The snow started yesterday afternoon and stayed all night. Not sure if any snow fell during the night. Walking on it is a little crunchy like ice. The orchard when filled with snow is an awesome sight to see. Ventured out around 11:00 a.m. to mail a valentine package. Not bad except on the road leading to Fairview, where 4 wheel drive is certainly needed. The most snow accumulates right at the turn to come into the entrance of Fairview.
More snow and lots of it are expected for tomorrow and on Saturday Valentines Day.

Another Snow Day

Woke up again to snow. This time around 6" fell during the night. It started to snow last night around 8 p.m. Looking like it will continue on and off for around a week.
At noon the snow melted with the help of some rain showers that put holes of water into the snow.
That poor daffodil lying there freezing in the snow. Will it ever open?
The only time the deer are appealing is in the snow looking for food. This time of year the deer are probably looking for swollen acorns.
At 4 p.m. the snow came down in blizzard-like furry. Chicken feather sized flakes stuck to the railings, trees, parking lot and anything uncovered. Rain is much more preferred than snow. Oh sure people say how beautiful it is and it is needed. Living in it is miserable and somewhat dangerous. It is because of the snow falling so heavily on Fairview it was decided to do a timber harvest a year and half ago. No more pine trees filling up with snow and snapping into three pieces with some of the debris falling on the house breaking a rafter and demolishing the deck.
At 5 p.m. the public sponsored radio station announced within 20 minuted there were many car collisions caused by the white out conditions from the snow. They were everywhere. Road closures. People called in to say it took them an hour to go 4 miles. Apparently snow is falling down to 1500' with accumulations of anywhere from 3"to 6". Right now it appears it will be more like 6" to 1'.

Trying to determine everything that is going on in life. Panic attacks, hyper-tension, breathing heavy, sighing, mood swings. what the heck?
Decided to plant the daffodils that the Smith family brought up yesterday. 75 of King Alfred, the favorite variety. Planted in three different areas behind the China Lillies and another variety of daffodil. The other variety of daffodil has a much smaller trumpet. Many of the King Alfred bulbs had already sprouted, so it was a good thing they were buried right away. Had some rock phosphate to add to the planting holes. Should be spectaclar next month when all of the King Alfreds' will be blooming. Planted many King Alfred and Dutch Master bulbs over the years for Dad since, his favorite color was yellow.
Stocked the wood boxes in the house for tonight's storm that is predicted to bring much needed rain and snow down to 1500'. This storm should last until Thursday. Friday will bring more rain. The rain is okay. The snow is not so much liked.

Snow Day

Woke up this morning to about 4" of snow. It is certainly beautiful to behold and much a hassle to live with. The poor purple leaf plum is so loaded down with snow it snapped it's main branch. The orchard fence looks like a white lace curtain.
By late afternoon the snow had melted off of the purple leaf plum exposing the broken branches. It is sad this had happened to such a beautiful tree. Every year the tree is in full blossom and then it snows heavily on it's branches.

The purple leaf plum, candy tuft and the two daffodils that popped up yesterday are slipping out of their dormancy and it is looking like spring around Fairview. The miner's lettuce is appearing along with more dandelions. Needing to spray the peach trees for peach leaf curl with an organic herbicide.

Spring is Here Almost

Woke up to much sunshine today with temperature at 34*F. The King Alfred Daffodils are slipping there skins. What a treat this is to witness. This are the favorite flower. There trumpets blare out just like Gabriel's horn. These two buds surpassed the one that was slipping ahead of them. Nature is so awesome.

It rained all night long. It's about time. Fires are burning in the wood stove and fireplace.

What a wash out!!! Hardly any rain today, only sprinkles. Much disappointing weather. One minute hotter than hell, then next predicted down pours and finally nothing at all. Fairview need some water.

The wood pile increased from yesterday's cutting. Today has been extremely cloudy. Put the water on for the well tank and took the garbage down to the mailboxes, then filled up 7 gallons of water from my generous neighbors.
Many of the China Lillies are blooming on the roadside along with the Daphne making it smell almost like a funeral parlor.

Spent most of the morning chain sawing dead oak branches along with cedar and pine. During the December snow storms many oak branches fell from the trees, starting the season for collecting wood for next winter. It has been another glorious day with the temperature at 10:00 a.m. at 72*F. I am not sure the groundhog was correct yesterday. Phil must be on something here at Fairview. Though winter is expected to return on Thursday and Friday with rain and lower temperature. Maybe snow in the mountains?
By 2:00 p.m. the temperature was 78* F. as the high for today. Finished cutting the pine branches around the house. Will probably finish the job of cutting the cedar tomorrow and that will be it for around the dwelling.

How Beautiful ? I see my Shadow

This is probably another all time favorite bulb. Just love the yellow petals with the almost orange trumpets. Not really a tall one though close to what they call TeTe. Not sure at this point.
Hauled wood this morning getting ready for the rain that is supposedly coming the end of the week. Probably will go back into winter.
Happy Groundhogs Day.

Another night of really bad indigestion. Woke up three times to take Tums. Hardly able to function. JoJo is acting very strangely. Limping around running in circles. Wondering if she had a stroke? After an aspirin and a nap she seems to be better. She has slept most of the day and when awake and moving around not favoring the front foot as much. Wonder what happened?