Wednesday, May 14, 2008

This afternoon I drove to where a fellow flickrite told me where there were owls--used to be three babies but I only saw two adults. It's off of Electric Avenue where the road crews are connecting Myra Rd with Highway 12, near Mill Creek. She told me to be careful of a man who lives in an old trailer nearby.

First I made the rounds: stopped at Triple A for maps and booklets, and at Home Depot for some stuff. Then I drove over and parked just east of the trailer she told me about. I was there around 3:30 pm and left around 4:30 pm. I took my monopod and camera to the gap in the fence and walked along the creek. I saw one adult owl sitting there, partially hidden by twigs. I took a few pictures, then walked on past and looked in the trees again and saw one sitting in a tree on the far side of the grove, towards the dump. I tried a few pictures from there too. I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed them except for her having mentioned them. They kept their eyes on me.

I kept looking for anything that looked like a nest, but didn't see anything. It must be well hidden.

After I headed back to the road, I got a better shot of the one close to the dump. Then I walked into the dump around the pile o'tires and back towards the grove, past an old Honda motorcycle , and got a better shot at the owl in the tree on that side. It looked at me and looked to each side while I took pictures. I was there long enough it started to go to sleep. I was very quiet and respectful for their privacy and didn't shout or throw things at them to get them to move. It was just an honor to be able to see them and to catch some photos of them.

As I was leaving a man sitting in an old pickup truck (the truck probably doesn't run) shouted something at me. So I walked a bit closer so I could hear him, but still had a good distance (plus some junk) between us. He asked if I had a gun. I held up my camera attached to the monopod and said no--it was a camera. I told him it someone handed me a gun I wouldn't know how to shoot it. He asked why I was there and I told him I was there to see the owls. He asked how I found out about them and I said a friend had told me where to find them. He said he wanted to speak to my friend. He asked if I had seen any and I told him I'd seen two.

The man asked me if I was going to post the picture in the newspaper and I told him no. I told him I would post them on a photo website but wouldn't say where they were except in Walla Walla. He said people would know where to find them and I let him know they wouldn't. There are owls all over the Walla Walla area including some in Pioneer Park. A friend recently told me about one in Umapine too, and a friend who lives off of Old Milton Hwy on the west side of Highway 11 has some behind her house. I just need to call and ask her what's up with the owls. She's gone lots because she's involved in lots of volunteer activities, plus she travels to Spokane to take care of her elderly mother. I've heard owls in a grove on Powerline Rd too.It's just that this is the first opportunity I've had to get pictures of them, for which I'm grateful.

The pickup man said that one of the three babies landed on a transformer and got fried recently. I expressed my regret and left. Hope I didn't get my friend in trouble with him. But I suspect he's a squatter who would probably be in trouble with the law if it came down to that. Which I hope it doesn't.

I have a lot more photos I haven't fixed yet of the owls, but it's time to hit the sack.

Subbing at the Pantry Shelf

Monday, March 24 I did the registration at the Pantry Shelf. We had 20 families and that perfectly filled the 3 hours we were there. I got to see Molly Storey and her son, Ned. The Story’s attend Central Christian Church which is the church I went to as a child. My parents and the Storey’s were in a square dancing group together. I worked with their son for a while in San Jose—actually in Scott’s Valley when he was a contract worker there. This time he reminded me he is a big city loving person and mentioned restaurants. He’s given up the city life for and working in the Tri-Cities now so as to be closer to his parents. Molly is in her 80s, and is pretty much housebound now, taking care of her husband, Neil. Molly has always been very active and is the treasurer for the pantry shelf. Her mind is still quite clear and her smile still lovely. Molly came in to turn in envelopes for the workers letting us know what we had donated. She said she wanted to save money on stamps (now 41 cents, soon to go up again). After she left I told the clients that she’s the treasurer for the Pantry Shelf. I think it took a while for them to connect the elderly woman with work there. Don’t know that too many of them realize how many volunteers it takes to keep the place going.

One of the regulars was there--Monte. He's around 60, quite large, and walks with two crutches. His back is really bad. He's fun because he turns what people say into puns. One of his favorite things is when he's asked his date of birth. He says he doesn't remember because he was just born. He plays with that one quite a bit. We joked back and forth and had people around us smiling, which was nice to see.

One of the clients and Monte's caretaker was a big help with translations and keeping me straight. Wish I could remember her name. Let's call her Sandra. Somewhere in the middle of the four hours with the clients two of them left and I made the mistake of giving their numbers to someone who came in later. Which meant people who had been there before them got those numbers. Thank heavens Sandra helped me straight that out. Around 2:15 pm a woman came in who had to be out of there by 2:45pm to pick her kids. We were up to number 35 or so and the people behind the counter were helping client 16. She said they were out of food. I tried to work with her but when she said her last name was changed now that she was married and she wanted to add all his children, along with her three, I told her there was no way she could be out of there in time to pick up her kids. Besides, it would be unfair to all those people who got there earlier and had to get home sometime too.

There is no heat in there now that construction is going on in the church. Several large holes in the ceilings and walls for the ductwork (not hooked up yet) make for lots of cold air in there. It was so cold I was wearing a long sleeved knit shirt, a sweater, and a jacket, and my mittens with the fingers cut off. The tips of the fingers on my left hand started getting numb and white after a few hours there, so I told the client if I fainted it was because of my cold hands, so she could explain to whomever. Eventually I could feel them again, but it took a while.

When I was doing registration one of the younger women close to me was talking with a friend about a tattoo she had done on herself which cost $125. I turned to her and said “I suggest you don’t talk about how much you spent on a tattoo when you are at the Pantry Shelf and turned back to the client I was helping. She told her friend it was a gift to her. And I’m thinking—you couldn’t use the money for food?!?!? I know a lot of the people who come have no way to earn an income—they have disabilities (mental or physical) – or are occupied with taking care of someone and have no time to work. And there are some who ARE working but not making enough to support themselves. But, there are so many of the younger people there who don’t have a clue as to what taking responsibility for themselves means. Especially the women who keep plopping out kids while changing boyfriends. Although I realize birth control sometimes fails. But, it’s frustrating.

Hair Cut and friends in the hospital

Thursday afternoon I finally got my hair cut. When I walked in Pat said she wasn't sure she'd see me today! I had delayed this one three weeks! For the next one we're waiting 7 weeks with time for a perm if needed. I haven't had a perm since the fall, but in summer I'll probably break down and get another one to keep my sweat head from being flat against my head. Pat was the one to suggest signing up for a perm just to make sure she had the time to do it in case I wanted it. I told her I'll call her about a week ahead and tell her if I want a perm or not.

Turns out Gerry Mettler (and his wife) from the photo club who just had the triple bypass, go to Pat's church. Pat cuts Lora's hair too and said Lora's hair grows a lot faster than mine.

It was drizzling out today but around 45F so warmer. My daffodils are blooming! On the way home I filled up my gas tank at one of the cheapest gas stations in town and it was $3.44/gallon, so for just under 12 gallons I paid $40 dollars! As I passed by two other gas stations (Chevron) their gas was $3.55/gallon!

Ellie Walker had commented her electric bill was around $300 last month. I came home and saw mine was just short of $30 so I suggested she might consider getting the insulation in her ceiling replaced. She lives in a older manufactured home so I'm sure any insulation she has is pretty useless. I e-mailed an older couple who are friends of mine who live in the court where she lives, asking them if they'd share information about their electricity so my friend could compare. They let me know they are spending under $100/month and they have an all electric home. Ellie kept talking around the issue so don't know if she'll do it. If she spends the money on the insulation she'll save the money on the bills.

Thursday night was photoclub meeting with competition. Again, there weren't very many prints in the competition. Two of Lori Montgomery's which had been matted couldn't be put in either the small or large print categories, which has happened to mine in the past. The print has to be 96 sq in or smaller and the mat can't be any larger than 96 sq in. That's why I've been cutting my foamcore board to the exact size of the print -- just to avoid those complications. Too frustrating figuring out the logistics otherwise.

My print of the red hibiscus got 22 points for 1st place in large color prints. Echoes of the Past--the interior of the old house through two doorways got 21 points for 2nd. The picture of the old house with clouds added was the only one of my prints that didn't place. I only entered 8 (3 large color, 4 small color, 1 small monochrome) this time compared to 12 last time. I was talking during some of the announcements so didn't catch what point count some of the small pictures got. The Pelican drying out got 20 points. I entered it in small print in B&W/sepia. Barney had a print of inside the old house with the stairs and floor which turned out really good. Someone said they could see that hanging in a kitchen which made me realize, I hadn't been thinking --where would people hang this picture? I need to be thinking of that too. The print of the winter scene with a creek and ice and snow peaked interest. Lori M asked where I had taken it, and I let her know she was with me, a year ago January, when we went to Joseph area to take pictures of eagles. That's another one I had to really work on to make look natural! ~8>))))

One of my flickr buddies, Troy Baker and his wife came to the meeting. I ended up sitting next to him and eventually introduced him to Larry Goodhew, who also lives in Milton-Freewater. Troy works for the water district (don't remember all the details) and it turns out he knows Dale Cosper too (the guy who shouted at me for trespassing)! He said Dale can be quite gruff at first, but is a good guy. For Troy's photos go to http://flickr.com/photos/12351740@N02/

I had printed out the three good pictures I took of Barney Krom posing in the window of the old house as 4x6's and gave them to Barney. He really like the Grand Pose with him looking to the right! I entered the most normal one of him in the small print competition and it got good enough points to be sent on for another competition! Wild!

I received the Wacom pen and pad I had ordered to take the place of the mouse in touching up my photos. Haven't had a chance to try it out. You can see it here http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/

Thursday it rained off and on here, and Friday morning, around midnight, the wind really picked up. It stayed windy (gusts up to 27 mph per wunderground.com), but didn't sound quite as bad as it had, though it was 43 F so it was chilly outside.

Friday I called St. Mary Hospital to see if Gerry Mettler was in ICU but he wasn't. I had offered to take him flowers from the photo club and they don't allow flowers in ICU. I printed out two pages of photos I'd taken of the old house south of the Dalles to take to Gerry, since he's the one who told us where to find it.

In the afternoon I went to Jacky & Fiedlers and picked out a bouquet they said they'd have ready in around 15 minutes. I wandered around looking at the neat stuff there. I found a stuffed mastedon that I decided would be perfect for Gerry. Doris Jacky, my cousin, was there so we chatted for a while. She said her daughter, Linda, (retired school teacher) who had cancer of the uterus and had been treated last year was nearing her final treatments when she started having terrible abdomen pains. Turns out scar tissue was going crazy inside of her and causing problems, so she's at St Mary too. I took the flowers and mastedon to the area behind Christ Lutheran and took a couple of pictures to send to Lori Montgomery so she could pass them on to the club so they could see what they got Gerry. He was sound asleep when I arrived in his room so I just put the stuff on his table and left.

When I got home there was a message from Janet saying Sandra had her surgery and was doing fine. I didn't even know she was going to HAVE surgery! I called and found out Sandra has been having female problems all winter so had surgery Thursday morning surgery to fix that. Once inside the doctors found she had endometriosis going crazy--tissue adhering to the abdomen walls and all over the place. She also had fibroids and they found a grapefruit sized one on an ovary, so they did a hysterectomy. Sandra is recovering quite well.

I have another friend, Robertta Hunt, in the hospital who had knee surgery Thursday morning.

I could have visited 4 people and didn't even know it!

I drove up to Palouse Falls this afternoon (1-1/2 hours each way) to see it there were any spring flowers out. There weren't, but lots of water was going over the falls and, from the right angles there was a rainbow, which I tried to catch by adjusting my circular polarizing lens. It is a pretty boring drive going up from Walla Walla so I drove back through Starbuck and Waitsburg. More stuff to look at that way.

The rain is supposed to be a definite for Sunday. Maybe that's when I can try to learn how to use the Waucom pen.

Pantry Shelf and Taxes

Monday I went to the Presbyterian Church to help with registering clients at the Pantry Shelf from 2:45 to 6 pm. We had 5 clients at first, then 2 more, then no one after 4 pm. The Pantry Shelf had been closed for about three weeks because the church is doing renovation and the area where the PS is located was having new ducting put in along the ceiling. In fact, when we were there today, the ducting isn't connected. After the seven people were gone we chatted in the distribution room. Then I went into the hall where the registration table was set up and read a book until my feet kept cramping because they were cold. So I went back in a chatted for a while with the others. Two left because we weren't busy. Finally at 5:30 pm I suggested we close down since there hadn't been anyone there since 4 pm. The other three said if anyone came they could handle the registration so I went home and warmed my feet up.

Tuesday morning I went to Staples and made copies of my tax papers. At 10 am I got to my appointment with Ann Webb who has helped me with my complicated (to me) paperwork since I moved back to Walla Walla. She started the tax office here before H&R bought her out, so she's had lots of experience. AND she is very thorough. After an hour with her I left so she could read 3 pages of instructions that were sent with some of my investment papers. Better her than me!!

I worked on photos (what's new?) and fixed four to send in for the Electronic Imaging Division (EID) photos (ones that are displayed on the screen). I'm still working on prints. I look at them after they're printed and decide I need to do something else to them, so don't know how many I'll be able to get past my internal inspector.

Jacky and Fiedler called--they couldn't find me on the city maps even though I've been here for 7 years, so I told them how to get here. In a short while I received a beautiful vase and flower bouquet from Will and Marjorie for Easter. I set up some foam core board in the laundry area and took pictures of it and some marshmellow Easter peeps. Might be able to use both for greeting cards! I used my separate flash reflecting on white foam core to light a little of the base from the side and bottom since most of the light was coming from a light directly overhead. Turned out pretty well!

The peeps didn't need a flash. My reward after taking the peeps pictures, was eating one of the rows. Yum! They're good even when they haven't dried out. But they are better after a few months when they're chewy. I noticed the placement of some of the eyes and noses on were a bit creative. The picture of the 4 peeps with the one green one is all about George who was born different. His big dream has always been to be a leprachaun, since he was born with a hat on one ear. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Qwest classes

I've signed up for several classes in the older folks group, Qwest, at the community college. I asked my sister, Lora if she wanted to take the history of Walla Walla class with me but she's not interested. I asked my other sister, Janet if she wanted to but don't know that she will. The first day of the class she has a doctor's appointment in Spokane to run tests to check out her heart and circulation. I asked Janet about another class in spirituality and aging, but her comment was "I wonder if Bill Bruce and his wife will be there." They are quite liberal and outspoken members of our family. I mentioned another class about local wildflowers to Janet and all she said was Bob doesn't notice the individual flowers--just that they are wild flowers. Not that I care what Bob noticed--I was asking Janet. I'm puzzled that my sisters aren't interested in learning. But I'm going anyway! That's part of what retirement is about, right?

I'm also signed up for a one day Juniper Dunes Field trip with Dr Bob Carson, a two month session of Pilates (twice a week), and the annual extended weekend trip with Dr. Bob Carson to Lake Chelan and Holden Village. I'll be bunking with Sandi again on the Lake Chelan trip.

Adventures at Tollgate and Harris Park

Wednesday March 12, 2008

Sandi Burt and I drove up to Tollgate to check out the snow. She runs around with Native Plant people and Audubon Society people so knows a lot about plants and birds. Last Thursday Ellie and Gary had visited their elderly friend, Stan, near Tollgate and had taken pictures of snow/ice flowing from the roof of his cabin. I had to see it for myself and get pictures.

Stan is 91 years old (birthday is June 9?) and still mentally alert though very hard of hearing. He broke his hip last summer which has slowed him down considerably! So sad. Sandi and I had a nice visit with him and I gave him copies of pictures Ellie had taken of his cabin and ice and snow when she was up visiting which he appreciated. I gave him 2 small loaves of Amish friendship bread. I asked if I could take pictures of his ice flow, which he kindly allowed. We found out the cabin and property will be left to his 70 year old daughter (he has 3 children). He showed us pictures of her and her husband, son, and two grandsons and of her sky diving. Her skin is so smooth, she doesn't look 70 years old! Gary knows Stan from when they both worked on the dams on the Snake River.

Then we drove up to (and beyond) Langdon Lake. The signs up there were all hidden by snow so after we'd gone downhill quite a while I asked Sandi if we'd passed the lake. She said, yes, a long time ago!! So I turned around and we parked on a wide spot of the road and walked around the houses by the lake. Had to be careful walking since the snow is quite deep there. When we stayed where motor vehicles had been it was safe, but I ended up with one foot down around a foot one time. That wasn't too bad. Sandi was telling me on another trip to snow elsewhere with cross country skis she was caught with one leg up to her hip in the snow. Quite an awkward situation! =o]

On the way back home we drove back to the beginning of Harris Park looking for buttercups, but didn't see any right there. On the way out she saw some high up on the steep slope on the north side of the road. I drove further down the road and she spotted some Dutchman's breeches which I've never seen in real life--just in pictures. So we stopped. Again, they were on a steep slope so I climbed up trying to get them from the top, crossing a downed barbed wire fence. Then I saw a pickup pull up behind my car and heard a mans' voice shouting, can't you read?!?!? I said what? He pointed out the "no trespassing" sign just to the right of where I had climbed up with my camera. I apologized and said I was concentrating on trying to get a good angle to take a picture of those really cool flowers. We found out his name is Dale Cosper.

(Sunday evening Gary told us Dale’s wife, Kate, had worked at the community college—taught English and Italian. Sunday I googled Dale’s name and came up with a lot—he had an interview with a local newspaper and told lots of his history and history of others he knows. Also found when he retired from Whitman.)

Sandi and I calmed him down and learned a lot about him in the process. He grew up in Montana, son of a communist father. Lived in France for a while, became a French professor at Whitman college in the early 70s and bought the property there, near Harris Park. He has over 20 horses and some mares who will be giving birth in April and May. He isn't teaching any more, but wouldn't mind teaching one class which he and the college are in discussion about. He showed us the skeleton of a deer in the meadow which had been killed a while back by a lion. He said they usually don't bother the horses, but follow the creeks knowing the deer will eventually be coming to them to drink.

I managed to get a decent picture of the Dutchman's breeches, but want to go up when the sun is higher so there is more light.



March 16, 2008 around 3 pm.

The sun kept coming and going and the rain wasn’t serious, so I went back up the South Fork of the Walla Walla River and found quite a few Dutchman’s breeches on the hill side which were closer than Dale Cosper’s place. I kept track and, going via Powerline Road it’s only 20 miles minus .2 There were a whole bunch of white and pink ones near a sign saying ‘5 miles’. It’s just east of the official looking concrete buildings which have something to do with Milton Freewater’s water system.