What weird weather we're having #5

Sally, I'm glad that spider didn't get you. I don't like the creatures, but i'm always amazed by their work. That "path" looks like a nice country rd to me. I think that your community sounds great.

Tricia, it is depressing to hear the way that things have "gone downhill" for your neighborhood, and for many really. It's always such an interesting thing for me when I go to visit my sister and her family. Up until about 5 years ago, they even all left their keys in the car. Some bad apple city folks got wind of the trend, came over to steal guite a few cars in the night and take them to Portland to pawn off. Now folks don't leave their keys there anymore. But, if you need eggs or flour or whatever, you can still go over to your neighbors house and borrow what you need and leave a note that you were there and will bring back new tomorrow. Every now and then my sister will tell me to go over to the neighbors' house to see if they have something. That's just what they do out there since the nearest store is almost 20 mi. away. There's no such thing as a "quick trip" to the store:-p People are always driving their friends vehicle while theirs isn't working (no Hertz there) However, if someone was caught breaking into a house, they had best be prepared to stand a shotgun trial right then and there, the police will be called later. Different times and places, that's for sure

This message was edited Dec 8, 2008 1:34 AM

It looks as though we all need to make the most of this weeks weather.

10 day outlook. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/97401?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

Actually, it looks as though most all of us here will have a couple of days, starting in about a week, where we'll be lucky if we unthaw. Winter tires on yet?

The forecast for Portland is looking pretty nice for the next 4 days. And maybe after that, some snow for Mt Hood!
rc I like the story about your sister's community. It is so interesting to hear how people live, and how it can be so different from one community to another.
Going to try to find my Christmas lights today - they are packed in a box somewhere!

I agree, the weather this week looks really good. Next week---not so much :-p It took me a while to get used to it where my sister lives. Even though I'm only there a few times a year, after just a couple of visits there, townsfolks began to remember that I was "kim's sister" and not just a traveler passing through. The folks at the coffee shop have never forgoten my order, and if they know that I'm in town, it will usually be being made as I get there (they see me walking down the street before I reach the door). However, I also get more strange comments on the issue of my earrings (8 in an ear) than I ever have here.

If they find Eight earrings strange they should come to Olympia!!!! Lizzy who works for my husband, has to qualify for the Largest Earrings I have seen...makes my whole head hurt sometimes just looking at them..............then she has quite the Tat collection to go along with them....we do love her she is a sweetheart. I will have to see if I can get a good picture one of these days...

Haha....they wouldn't like Olympia, and partly for that reason. It's definitely give and take there though. Their being close-nit doesn't allow for crime, but it also doesn't allow for "the largest earring that Tricia has seen."

........and I have to say, having lived in the L.A. area I have seen some pretty good earring collections!!!!! Afraid I am only up to two per side so far....

I lived in the Cole Valley/Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco - mucho body decoration. Lots of rock band members hanging out. Tats, earrings, black mesh, big boots, chains. We had a few architects in our office that fit that description - very creative types. And this was Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, one of the biggest & most conservative firms in the world. Actually, Craig as in Craig's List lived a few door away from me - but he is very straight looking and a super nice guy. I like it when there are all kinds of people and opinions. Keeps life interesting!
I am going to the Song Dog kennels on Thursday to meet a few dogs and if we click I will bring one home on Friday. I am so excited!

I wish you luck finding your 'best bud'.

Hope you find just that special one!!

I saw the forecast and as soon as the sun came out, I popped outside to put up mom's lights. Lights are up, teddy bears in place on the lawn and timers are set. DH came out and helped, he knows I don't feel well. I hate winter colds!!

I'm way behind, just one hole in each ear and I have trouble keeping those open. Too afraid of infections to try it again LOL. I can only wear certain earrings etc. or it causes problems. Just not worth the chance. My son has a tat of an iguana that curls up his whole arm (his protest when he found out he had MS) and it is really a work of art.

My brother lives in Mariposa CA, it's another one of those little towns. When he had a heart attack, my SIL had to go to Merced with him and when she got home all the animals had been seen to and everything was in order. Casserole waiting in the fridge. She didn't even know who had done it. Everytime I went to see them they were waiting on the porch when I got there, someone had seen me coming and called them. I couldn't surprise them if I wanted. Even they are starting to lock up more than they used to.

That other path is the one to the compost area we have, so it's kept up for vehicles. This one we close to vehicles in the winter, too muddy.

I would love to live in a town like that again....

Beautiful picture......I would like to go for a walk there.

It's wonderful to walk back there in the spring, there are wild flowers everywhere! Just past that spot is a turn into a little meadow surrounded by trees where I like to go sit in the morning, we have a salt lick that the deer come to visit.
If I keep going it passes through a strip that belongs to the county then you come to some fences where there are horse pastures, another favorite spot of mine. Those of us who walk back there always go with pruners to cut back the brush, especially blackberries.

That path just beckons. What a nice spot.
I'm so sorry that your son has MS - how long ago was he diagnosed? I hope he is feeling well.

I second Portland's sentiments Sally. That's unfortunate for your son, but I think a fun way to manage the initial impact of that diagnosis. I can only wear gold earrings, the rest get infected. So, I have two identical sets of 11 earrings(each set) total that I switch out regularly. The sets are identical because it's hard to find 24kgold earrings that are reasonable in cost and all match. So, when I found a size, type, and price that worked, I just doubled it so that I didn't have to worry about finding others that matched and that I could afford, while I had the other set out to clean.

Portland, your firm sounds as if it was a very interesting place to work. I wish there could be a sort of best of both worlds. The diversity and interests of the city, but the friendliness and togetherness of the small communities.



This message was edited Dec 9, 2008 12:01 AM

He was actually diagnosed the day I moved here 10 yrs ago. They didn't tell me because they didn't want to spoil my move and they were afraid I wouldn't move (probably right, he was in the hospital). He went through a rough time for a while, through all the steps of accepting it, even divorced his wife (she did it, I couldn't blame her) but then they got married again later. If he watches it, takes his meds including hand fulls of vitamins, doesn't get overly tired, etc. he does really well. He only a a couple of serious episodes (woke up blind one day, that was SCARY) in all that time. Some minor ones more often, but he manages really well now. His work is completely understanding, they put a cot in the office for him when he first went back to work, that helps a lot. He was an EMT and had to do a major career change, now he makes up computer programs for payroll and such, for the oil company where he works. They also send him to teach the systems. He hated it at first, but loves it now. They have 4 horses, 5 dogs, 4 cats, 1 goat and a pot belly pig. I think I have the #'s right, close anyway. He says they all keep him sane. And I couldn't believe he took up cross stitching, he had sat at my knee for years watching me, saw a lighthouse kit and that was that. He takes it when he travels for work, just like I did. Says it's relaxing, doesn't take a lot of physical work when he can't.

wow. He has a story that would be so incouraging for others that are newly diagnosed to hear. I'm glad that he and his wife got back together. How long did he stay blind during that episode and what caused it? It's great that he's found such an accomodating place to work for. That doesn't happen all that often. Then to top it all off, he has a farm to look after. I don't believe that i've ever seen a guy cross-stitching on a plane. that would be good.

The blindness lasted about a week, sight started coming back after about 5 days. You never know where MS is going to hit. My DIL takes care of a lot of the animals, she trains dogs on her off days. Feel bad for her when he's traveling, she has to do it all, she says she likes it so it's o.k. His whole attitude on life has changed, keeps telling the guys at work to live better, you just never know what will happen. Big, strong man like him put to his knees by his illness. Hard to take, I'm proud of the way he's handled it. If he wants to cross stitch, I dare anybody to say anything about it.LOL

He sounds like a great guy. I would love to a guy doing cross stitch while traveling, this coming from a gal who runs a chainsaw as part of her job :-p

Whatever turns you on, right? I wanted to take shop in high school, Dad said girls don't do that, take business classes. Couldn't argue with dad, took typing, etc. Ended up building satellites, go figure. My cross stitch was a big hit when I traveled, the guys always wanted to see how it ended up. I remember doing a train picture for one of their little boys, that was fun. Always if I worked on things in airports, someone would come to see what I was doing. Couldn't speak the language, but they all understood needlework. Sign language bridges all nationalities. LOL My son just laughs at people who think he's doing sissy stuff and he's big enough to get away with it.

Got server people coming in the morning, I can't believe I got to use the internet all evening. It's been kicking me off regular.

Good night, have a good day tomorrow.

Well, I wouldn't say that it turns me on, but it does help pay the bills! lol

I think that it's great that you were able to show your parents that you didn't have to be stuck in a kitchen if you didn't want to be. I wanted to take shop class as well, but mom said no. Instead I ended up with a second chemistry class. Now I fully understaned why 2 stroke engines can't operate on straight gas. Big deal.

I think if I ever take to traveling regularly I'm going to take up cross stitch. I actually love it when i see someone blatantly defying stereotypes that need to be broken! I always find them to be such interesting people. I supervise teenagers on trail work crews, then I go work on Forest Fires when they need more fire fighters than what they have. Anyhow, the first six years that I was there, I was the only female supervisor. We have a "saw room" that all of the kids could see and occasionally go in there and the saws range from tiny to huge. They knew that the idividual saw that each of us runs is assigned to us for a reason. I know that the kids, both boys and girls, always expected me to come out with one of the little saws. You wouldn't believe the looks on their faces, especially the 18 yr. old guys, that I would get when I would bring out the largest saw in the room. Now there are 3 other female supervisors, and only one of them doesn't run one of "the big saws." In case anyone is wondering why we have to use the saw, it is because we have to remove all of the trees that fall down across the trails over the winter.

This message was edited Dec 9, 2008 12:44 PM

I need to learn to run our table saw, can see how, just haven't tried it. I could have helped with the deck, but then I paint better, so everyone has their niche.

I'm waiting on my server tech. My computer was giving me fits yesterday, but of course now it works fine and it worked fine last night. Maybe they managed to fix it from the office after all.

It's crunchy outside, 29 deg on my deck. Roofs are all white, so it's probably right.

Comcast just called, the problem wasn't just me, they've fixed it. Could have slept in, Darn.

Sorry that you didn't get to sleep in. But, at least you didn't have to pay for it! My thermometer showed that it was 25 last night. But, It actually warmed up pretty quickly here.

Still having mouse troubles, I think it's time for a new one. But at least I can get on the internet.

Mom and I went to Brownsville for our ladies Christmas Lunch today. Have you ever eaten at Bramble House? Really good food, a little pricey, but excellant. Had a ball watching lambs on the way home, I didn't drive so I got to watch too. We car pool when we go there.

It's been cold here all day. I still need to get ready for the big freeze this weekend. Need to cover a few things and bring some in.

What do you cover plants with? Will a tarp do? I've never had to do this before!
The Christmas lunch sounds fun. Nice way to celebrate the holidays.

Sally, I have never eaten at the bramble house, but I used to live in Corvallis and had heard of it when I lived there. All good things that i heard about it.

Portland, the only stuff that you should need to cover would be things that aren't hardy (I'm sure that you know that) or if some of your annuals are still going strong and you want them to continue to, but don't want to bring them inside. If your not sure how hardy something is, plug the name in here and we'll tell you. Or a picture, either should work. This isn't really a below average cold that we're expecting, just the coldest that it has been this season so far. If you're thinking that you're going to try to keep something wrapped for longer than a week or two, or heavy duty, clear or gray plastic is best. But, if it's just for shorter period of time, anything with do. A tarp, plastic, blanket, plasic bags, it all works. If you need to protect something from more than just a few degrees more than what it is hardy for, then try securely wrapping it in foam or a blanket first, then cover that with plastic or a tarp.

I even use old flannel sheets, I only do it when it's going to be below freezing and usually just overnight. I gave up leaving the cymbidiums outside, just leave them out to get a cold snap, then they spend the rest of the winter snug in the bathtub, under a skylight.

Here's a pic from last year. It's bigger now.

Wow, I'm surprised those take freezing at all! I don't deal with house plants that much but I do have an orchid that someone gave me as a gift. I brought it in in sept. Can I leave them out until it freezes?

This message was edited Dec 10, 2008 10:55 AM

Bramble House is an old house that has been converted to a small restaurant. Very cozy, only 5 or 6 tables, we filled the place with our group of 22. The woman who owns it is very sweet and a wonderful cook. It's only open Fri-Sun usually, but she will open for a large group. Our lunch consisted of salad (greens, apples, cranberries, walnuts,two cheeses we could find and vinaigrette) homemade vegetable soup, chicken salad sandwich, made with raisin bread (I would never have thought to try the bread, but it was excellent) and a dessert called a sleigh ride. It was developed by one of our group who is a friend of the owner (and also waited tables for our lunch) It starts with a thin brownie square, topped with ice cream, then whipped cream (with crushed candy cane mixed in) then chocolate syrup drizzled over the whole thing. Yummy and I don't usually care for sweets. We have one vegetarian and one with nut allergies and she accommodated them both. The whole thing was $12. Dinners are little more, but not you're regular fare. She has lots of old fashioned things for decorations, some for sale, so everyone had a chance to browse. Just a fun place to go for something a little special. Half the fun was trying to figure out what was in the dishes.

Most orchids no. Cymbidiums are a little different, I have a friend who raises them to sell, she leaves hers out but she has a cover over them and a way to heat if it gets too cold (which she doesn't use except for prolonged freezing). Plus they need the cold snap to make them bloom. Most of the others have to come in about the time you did yours. My more delicate ones didn't even make it out this year because of the work on the house. They probably won't bloom to well. If you tell me what kind your orchid is, I can tell you what it needs.

Button up!!

http://www.komonews.com/weather/blog/35869309.html?blog=y

Portland, hope you get down to Grants Pass and back before the nastiness hits on Saturday.

katie - Thanks for the weather warning. I am leaving tomorrow and staying over in Grants Pass. I will return (hopefully with my new pal) to Portland on Friday late. I am going to stop in Oakridge to visit my sister. We were just together on Thanksgiving but our mother is driving us nuts so it's good to get together and share our misery!
So Sally, how many plants are in your bathtub? Do humans get to use it in the winter?
I am worried about the camellias getting frozen. What do you all think?

Right now there are seven, soon to be eight. No, we're shower people and we do have another bathtub, but that one doesn't have the skylight. Makes is easy to water, though most of them don't need much in winter. I've only had to cover my Camellia a couple of times in the last 10 years, it's under a tree and surrounded by rhodies, so it's protected pretty well. If it gets too bad I'll throw a sheet over it, of course if it's blooming....there toast.

Hope that forecast isn't as bad as it sounds. One time I hope the weatherman is wrong. Just to be on the safe side I think I'll make sure we stock up for a few days. Mom has to have an endoscopy tomorrow, so I'll be at the hospital most of the day. But Friday I'll get into town and get a few things.

Gorgeous moon tonight.

Rats - my camellias are blooming so I think I will cover them on Friday night.
There is nothing better after working outside on a cold day than a hot bath with lavender suds in an old claw foot tub. That's my idea of heaven.
Beautiful moon photo!

i only have time for a few sentences at the moment. So, the important stuff..... definitely cover those poor camellia blooms, Portland!! If there's plenty of stuff overhead, they'll likely be fine uncovered. But, if there's nothing or just bare trees above them, I would cover. If it weren't hitting so suddenly, camellias are usually fine. blooming in the winter is there thing. But going from unseasonable warm to the projected stuff, would likely be enough to zap the blooms. Fortunately mine are still hibernating, I think...... I had better go and check on them tomorrow!!

LOL I had the same thought. I haven't looked at them lately.

I didn't think about the warm to cold thing, it certainly makes sense. My are just so well protected that I don't worry much. But I know after a long hard freeze, I lost blooms. Didn't figure in the unusual change.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2008 8:36 PM

ok - I went to the pet supply store and got a crate, a comfy bed thing that fits in the crate, collar, leash, food & water dishes, a few toys:))). Kim at the kennels said they will give me a lot of food so I can transition to what I want to feed. I am ready!!!

I meant to tell you guys in Oakridge that my dad was regaling me with a story about taking a trip from Lowell to LaPine on Highway 58 in the winter of [I think it was1948]. They ran a logging mill at Pengra and it was so cold, they couldn't work, so they decided to take some eggs (or something like that) to LaPine for something to do.

My dad, who is 90, tells the story one way and my uncle, who is 78, tells it another. I think they only got as far as Lookout Point and then the trees crashing around them onto the road made them stop. They had to wait for help with another group of drivers to cut up a log (with a hand saw) so they could get back to Lowell.

One thing they both remember is watching the trees down the mountain on the other side of the train tracks snap and slide down the hill, lodging themselves under the tracks.

I'd like to find out more about the history of that area, since my dad and uncle grew up there and lived there until the mid-50's. Do you guys know of any good online history resources?

Portland...I hope that new pal is the one! Especially since you bought out the pet store LOL Where's the blankie and alarm clock? Oh and the Dog Whisperer's book.

Oh, the weather has changed again since the other day. Yikes! Kval news tonight said the possibility of snow down on the valleyfloor, which is I think around 600' elevation, Saturday evening all through early monday morning. The lows then were sort of normal, mid 20's I guess. Mon and Tues night the low is projected to be 15 deg. Wow, that will put me at about, oh I hate to say it, but 10 deg. On Monday I'm going to be house/pet sitting another 1000' feet higher than my current elevation. Their dog might just have to come live with me at my house for while. I'm not real kean on chains if it's not an absolute necessity.

Gardener , your forecast actually wasn't looking much colder. A little more snow. But, apparently the snow is supposed to keep you from getting a lot colder than the rest of us.

Katie59, I forgot to answer a question that you posed maybe a month or two ago. You just reminded me. Pengra does still exist in a round about sort of way.
It's not an official town of any sort, but there are plenty of houses there. The folks who have lived in the area a while still know it as Pengra, the newer folks don't really know that it used to be a separate community from Lowell and Unity. About 20 years ago a Pengra rd. was rerouted to accomodate more traffic... that new rd is now Pengra rd. The original rd is actually called (and signed that way) "old Pengra Rd." And several miles of it is open year around, people live there.
But, during the summer a person can travel the original "Pengra Pass" rd., which as you know, had quite a reputation for being on hell of a pass (i'm just repeating what people say about it). The community of Pengra was of course right on Old Pengra Rd. I think that the old mill can be found really easily.
As for trees cracking and falling all around on Hiway 58, that still happens every now and then (well trees fall every winter) that really wet, heavy snow falls and then freezes, rock solid, on the trees. The snow builds so heavily on the tree tops that hundreds will come down over a 30 mi. stretch of the highway. And yep, lookout point is always where that starts. It seems like it happens about once every 5 years that so many trees come down that the highway is closed for a couple of days. The only reason why it opens that quickly is because there are so many people around this area that have chainsaws and actually get out and help saw out the trees. It's almost a necessity because there's usually a vehicle or two that is between a few of them.
It's hard to find those sort of "old timer" stories on line. If it were Eugene, that's different. But, the best place to start would be to call the lane county Historical society. They usually know what books are where. There are several books around written by the old timers around here, but they are usually only sold in local places. I have quite a few myself. But, I'm not at home right now to get the names for you. I have actually bought some of these books from the restaurants in Oakridge, some of the others at the pharmacy there, and occasionally the museum has them for sale. I have found it easier to find the history of the lowell, pengra, unity areas in Oakridge, than it is in Eugene.