Decked

Ah, the verities of Fall. Much like the weather, I am feeling changeable and unpredictable. Just a general lethargy coupled with a need to prepare for winter. All I want to do is play endless games of solitaire, let my mind wander about, possibly read a book. This is my second fall here in the mountains. I still laugh when I think...what the heck does a SF Bay Area girl know about winterizing her house. Seriously, this word didn't even enter my lexicon until I moved here. Actually, it is a pretty mild operation involving draining and covering the evaporative cooler, disconnecting some water lines, rolling up the hoses for storage. Still, this year there is the added responsibility of getting the deck painted and sealed before the onset of winter which would no doubt do a fair bit of destruction if left in it's current state. Hence, I have added another new word to my expanding vocabulary and increasing abilities.


Behold the Pressure Washer. Three different hose connections. Five different nozzles. Woohoo.This is what I did on Saturday morning. Noise and water and paint chips flying all over the yard. Strangely, once this little beauty was up and running and in my hands I had an overwhelming desire to pressure wash the whole darn place. I stopped after a bit but I did spray down the screens and windows and flush out some muck that was accumulating around said windows. Happily I can report that the windows withstood the assault. There was going to be painting today, however, we are expecting a cold snap this evening that would just ruin any attempt so that will wait until later this week. Hard to imagine this little weather tic right now. It is a balmy 72 degrees in the sun and quite lovely in the yard.

Here's a look a my scrubby looking deck. Needless to say, the after painting picture should look oodles more attractive.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of a wildflower I have been waiting to see bloom for months. Pretty.
Here's to a newly painted deck, vibrant colors that catch the eye, digging out the mittens, hats, scarves, enjoying those last bits of warm sun.

Storm Watch Wednesday

Three weeks ago, while sitting on the deck, I felt whatever internal clock I carry shift to the new season. Just a feeling...fall is coming. It has been sitting in there making adjustments ever since. Today, it looks like a real storm is blowing in with rain, possibly snow. Whee. Though I was just getting into my summer groove of hiking and gardening so it's not all whopee. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I am anxious to see the aspens turn their amazing copper gold and hike in areas where they are prominent. Still I will anxiously watch the lawn and the rose bush go dormant and hope that at least one day each weekend remains hikable weather wise for a few more weeks.

Last weekend, instead of hiking, SP and I went ice skating. Oddly enough we are both at about the same level in that area too. We both have skating in our past and can do crossovers and turns and such. That makes it fun. We opted for the skating because one) we both like it and two) we had SP's daughter that day and we made the mistake of taking her hiking with us one Saturday to Skunk Harbor for lunch and a swim and when she got the eyeful of the uphill climb back to the car she had a major meltdown and swears to this day she will never hike with us again. She is 10. What can you do. She likes the skating though so this may be an every other week option for us to get the bodies moving and have some fun.

MM harbors Olympic dreams


We are planning a hike for this weekend, weather permitting. We've made it a bit of a tradition to return to Skunk Harbor every few weeks. We use the uphill climb to assess our improvement. Two weeks ago we hauled up that hill, only a few stops, and it was so good to realize that all this walking about is having an effect on the legs and the lungs. We were very proud!! We even talked about trying Marlette Lake again before the end of the season. Now I know we are crazy.

We recently did a 5.5 mile hike from DLBliss State Park to Emerald Bay. Emerald Bay being one of the premiere sites to see in Lake Tahoe. It was hecka crowded with tourists and such and I don't think we have ever encountered so many people on the trail before. We vowed we would return but only after tourist season has subsided. There were to many bees around us as we tried to eat lunch. I am not fond of the bee. It was irritating and uncomfortable. We were also accosted by a rather rambunctious chipmunk. Now, chipmunks are really cute and one can visualize having one for a pet even. This chipmunk had no fear of humans and was particularly keen on my trail mix. He scampered over the tabletop, up onto my backpack and proceeded to look me in the eye just before leaping onto my shoulder in order to get closer to the trail mix I was holding. It was funny and yet, hello, wild animal possibly carrying unknown viruses, etc....a bit disconcerting. He actually jumped on me as I was saying to him "Don't even think about it".

View of Emerald Bay from the trail head at the parking lot.

You can read about Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm here.

Meanwhile, I am greedily laying in a supply of books for the fall/winter seasons. I just received Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums about growing up different in the South. I have always enjoyed his written interviews for Vanity Fair. Also, a first novel from Aryn Kyle (great name) called The God of Animals. I've read the first chapters of both and believe I will be delighted with both. I'm currently working my way through The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. I hope to actually read Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian. I keep saying I am reading it but really it's just been on the pile with good intentions for all this time.

Wordless Wednesday

New Bloom

Weekend Update

While I lounge about doing quite a bit of nothing this long holiday weekend here's the latest garden goings on.

I grew these little lovelies from seed. I am very proud. I had several in my salad this evening

When this greenery sprouted in the corner of my yard I thought it was a weed. Yet, something told me to let it be and see what developed. This week it sprouted plumes. It seems to have migrated from my neighbors yard as you can see from the next photo. Any ideas what this is?
It has been thriving since I choose to ignore it, whatever it is.

The white roses in the side yard are blooming once more, thanks to MMmom's help reconfiguring it, trimming it, and tying it. It has flourished all summer.

Zeke has graduated from his harness. He is now allowed unleashed yet supervised visits to the back yard. He enjoys the deck as much as I do.
Enjoy the long holiday weekend! I can't believe it is September already.