Hangin' Out~

Quite time on the Homestead!  The quietest it's been in weeks!  Beautiful weather, time to gather up & sort through the items that remain.  Enough items we'll be taking another U-Haul & towing the Bronco on a car hauler.  Butch has been so impressed with the comfort level of the interior of the new U-Haul truck, he said driving one will be more enjoyable than the Bronco's rough 4-wheel ride.

Fall in the Woods~

Speaking of my Bronco...  It was nice enough to let me know with some groaning sounds - that the power steering pump was going out - it's in the shop.  Better here - than on the road somewhere!

Nika in Kitt's old spot behind the swing~

Nika & I have even had time for my morning tea up on the swing!  Such amazing days we've been having!  Farah too, has come up to ask me more than once, why we're not going out.  She's been enjoying more time in the pasture.

Farah relaxing~

No blankets for the gold girl!  I keep looking at her sleek coat, summer hair shedding out & gradually starting to lighten.  I'm hoping I can convince her to grow a thick one :-)  I've packed her heavy blanket, rain sheet & mid-weight traveling blanket - but by now I'd usually have a light weight sheet on her.

Rings~

The barrel rings that make the large wind spinner - Butch made me years ago - came from my Great Aunt's farm in Iowa.  I don't know if we'll be climbing up to retrieve them.  I'd need a huge tree to hang them from.  There are two nice ones - so we'll see.

Creek with water~

The creek is finally starting so show some water.  Not running yet - that used to happen in mid-September.  With the days of upcoming rain in the forecast - I may get to see it flowing yet before we leave!

Black Cottonwood~

The largest of the Black Cottonwoods is starting to turn yellow - they are so beautiful & smell So good this time of year.  Each time I walk the woods now, is special to me.  I find the Cedars I've planted, all growing well enough - my planting - some well over 5ft. tall.  The new owners haven't asked any questions about the woods, but I've left my notebooks & certificates for them, in the Cottage.

Three Fingers~

The view of Three Fingers from up behind the barn - always stunning - will be one I will miss...  There are many, many things we'll miss - but it's time.  Even when we thought they might not - things did fall into place & we're very grateful for the friends who helped that happen!  Our timing has worked out & I'm enjoying each of our final days on the Homestead~

Workin' in the Woods~

Woods from the backyard~

It had been So very long since we'd spent any time working up here...  The last few years I've been spending a lot of time in the saddle & it's not fair to my hard-working husband to have a honey do list loom every weekend.

At Frog Hollow~

After the drought this last Summer, then months of the wettest Winter on record, the creek had gone out of its bed in several places.  Butch went up & started working on that.  He got a fire going, so I decided to work in Tall Trees Grove, another area close to the yard where we'd had so many limbs come down & the lower branches on the Cedars had dried & dropped down.

Kitt in Tall Trees Grove - 1999

 I was happily cutting, hauling & pruning - when suddenly as I was cutting through a smaller cedar branch - my heavy - long handled loppers backfired & slammed back to hit me right between the eyes.  After the pain cleared, I was thinking; "Great!  A nice big bruise!"  For the few seconds until the blood started flowing...  Now, I have a nice 2" gash on my forehead :-( Let that be a lesson to me.  We'd just been discussing the use of protective gear when doing work with the BCH.  (Should have listened to you Chris!) 

Creek at our NW corner~

Not to be deterred, I went back out!  Between the two of us, we managed to clear out that section!  My goal is to have the worst of it cleared before the ferns start growing again.  When I think of all the wheelbarrows full of ground cedar bark we used to cover the trails - I wish I'd know then what I do now...  This state is tough on anything outside.  All that bark has now decomposed into the ground & you'd never know it was ever there.  Even small statuary made of concrete has disintegrated.

Weathered Signage~

The signage too, all hand done - is showing the effects of the 16+ years since it was installed.  As we sat out at the fire - late in the afternoon, we were picturing the McMansion that will probably, someday be built where our modest little home is now.  Until then - I still love every minute I'm working up there & hope the woods will remain intact - forever.  Letting nature take its course, the Cedars growing huge & the creek flowing free.

Simply Stupid~

A week ago Monday I came down with the start of a cold.  I'd worn myself down driving 2,800 + in nine-days.  Then, volunteered at the Tractor Supply Grand-opening in Monroe for the BCH - exposing myself to the public.  I tripled up on my Del-Immune & by the end of the week, thought I had it kicked.  Not...  Woke this Monday with so much congestion in my lungs that I called my GP & went in!  He was shocked & they entered me as a new patient - I hadn't been in since 2012.  Thankfully my lungs were clear - he told me to stop at the pharmacy for sudafed (yes I had to sign) & Ibuprofen. 

Well on our way~

I did all that!  Waking today - to sunshine coming in the windows & with the congestion mostly gone - I decided that of course I could ride!  It had been over a week & that is way too long!  Saddling up took more effort than I expected - Farah is finally starting to shed, but we got it done!

Farah's worried look~

Not wanting to overdo - I thought that our short loop would be plenty.  I dressed in warm pants & a thermal shirt.  First, I was cold, chilled but OK.  Farah wanted to do some trotting & by the time we'd reached the power lines, I was hot!  Way too hot & sweating under the thermal pants.  I wasn't feeling very good either...  Farah could tell & had a worried look...

Looking south~

Oh well, I'm stubborn & could see no good reason that we couldn't continue on - go up to the apex of the loop & start back.  As we broke to the open, our friend the Red-Tail Hawk, flew away from the woods & perched on one of the towers.  As I tried to get the photo, I about fell off Farah - feeling very dizzy.  I was so thrilled that he sat long enough for me to get his picture!

Red-Tail Hawk

 Then the cold chills hit.  I'd gone from sweating to freezing in minutes.  Still stupidly stubborn, we continued on to the top of our loop, where I dismounted.  I decided the only thing to do - would be walk & try to warm up.  I walked & Farah followed, putting her nose in the middle of my back to herd me along.  The walking did help, but I knew I'd have to remount to make any time getting back home.

Washington Red Cedar draped in moss~

By the time we were back at the new Beaver Pond, I was felt like I was paying double for my bullheadedness.  I had to remount to get through where the bulldozer had torn things up - Farah was sinking in 6".  The vertigo was terrible, every step she took I felt like I was going to fall off...  Soon though - we were back at the top of last hill & it was a relief to be able to walk again.

Pilchuck covered with fresh snow~

The extra time I'm taking with Farah to work on our calmness really helped today.  She only got excited twice & when I backed her & asked for her head to go down - she responded & again walked like a lady.

Once home, I could hardly unsaddle.  By the time Butch arrived - it didn't take him long to realize what I'd done :-(   Especially since I spent the evening violently ill...  Today - I'm going to take it easy!  Easy I say!