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Calm

Yesterday a tremendous rain storm with thunder and lightning cleaned smoke out of the air. After dark there was no glow on the hillsides and mountains we can see from our home. The only light was from the stars and a glow from the fire camp at the school a mile and a half away. 1500 people have created a small city there. After days of a power outage it was finally truly dark last night.

We face the north end of the burn where fire fighters and the rain have it well under control. Other places are still actively burning. ‘They’ say we will have power by this weekend. Communications are improving. Well that is true for this part of the valley. They say others will have to wait longer.

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It’s a good morning

What Lurks in the Dark

There was a fresh skiff of snow the day before Christmas and no one else was here on our hill to mar the smooth surface. None of the part timers came for the holiday and the few others that live here were off visiting somewhere else. As we drove down our road, we noticed some fresh tracks. They were from a big animal – a cougar. Later Ken found them in our parking area and it appeared that the animal had stopped and looked at our front door. Out for a walk the next day I found clear tracks on our walking trail and at the part time neighbors’ place and more on the road. It looks like two animals traveling together – maybe a mom and mostly grown cub. You may remember a post I made last January when a cougar was captured just downhill from our house. Sure, we know they are out there but to see evidence of them being so close to the house does cause the hair on the back of our necks to raise. Luna seems to be very aware of them and frequently barks in the dark and needless to say, no one is going outside alone after dark, especially the puppy.

Puppy!

We were not able to bring home the little brown puppy. The vet reported that she might have an abnormality in one of her vertebrae and since we plan to have an active busy dog, she suggested we get another one. So Ken went back and picked out a little black lab puppy from the same litter.

We brought her home one week ago and she is rearranging our lives constantly! Her name is Night Sky Star Shine – Sky for short – and she is nine weeks old today. At first Luna was unhappy about this new addition to the family. Sky bit her ears, jumped on her, took all the toys and declared the big dog bed to be hers. She also soaked up all the attention! Two or three days into this, Luna decided she was going to have to learn to live with her and began playing with Sky. Sky adores Luna and tries to follow her everywhere. That’s good for when we go on walks. Sky is also independent and will go off in her own direction if we don’t pay close attention. She is starting the process of house training and yesterday actually went to the door to say ‘it’s time’. Of course, we are diligent to take her outside every time she wakes from a nap and a couple times at night when she wakes up. And she gets special treats for relieving herself outside. So far, so good. We have been introducing her to lots of people and other dogs and she seems to enjoy just about everyone that she meets. I’ve been taking her for walks at different locations and she always enjoys them. She is ruled by her nose and can find some of the most disgusting things. How do I get her to stop that?

Luna says – whacha up to pup?
This is the way home kid.
Sky makes Luna look mature!
Fast!
Wait for me!
Quite the pair
At Patterson Lake, Luna shows Sky about swimming and retrieving.
Sky is not sure.
Her first water retrieve
Like this.
That’s far enough.
And then she sleeps.

Winthrop Vintage Cars and RV’s

I’m a bit behind with photos these days. Seems like I’ve been working non-stop since we returned from Canada and then when I do have a few moments for fun, I come home with more photos! Maybe someone should stop me…..

Last weekend was the vintage car/rv/bicycle event in Winthrop. The RV’s were in the Pine Near RV Park and part of the main street was shut down for the cars. I never did get to see the bicycles. We had lunch in town with friends and saw some of the specially cared-for vehicles. Like a packrat or magpie I seem to be attracted to bright and shiny objects. Don’t ask me any info about the models or years – I really don’t anything about these things. They are just pretty shiny things.

 

This one doesn’t quite belong in the set.
My favorite of the vintage rv’s. Very luxurious inside.
Watching the people watching the cars from the balcony at Carlos’ restaurant.
There’s something I’ve never seen before. And notice how she’s practicing her parade wave!
My favorite hood ornament

Road Trip

Ken and I are recently back from a road trip that took us to NE Washington and SE British Columbia. As you might imagine, I made lots of images on this trip. We started at our favorite camping spot – Lost Lake in the Okanogan Highlands. We left home in the midst of a dramatic thunder and lightning storm and were a little nervous about fires, with good reason.

Once a person crosses the Okanogan and heads east into the next mountain range, they are approaching the edge of the Rockies and the habitats – the plants and animals – begin to change from what we observe here on the east flanks of the North Cascades. It’s fun to go a short distance and be in such a different place.

Lost Lake is also like a place that time has forgotten. The campground is an old CCC facility, built in the 40’s. There is no electronic communication. Boats on the lake go slow without high-powered engines. It is one of the few places in Washington where not-so-common Common Loons nest. They will be featured in another post. People walk and ride bikes; they say ‘hi’ and are happy to see you. Well, that’s been our experience. The campground host said that during the previous weekend that was not the case. Good thing we missed that! The Okanogan Highlands Alliance has worked to preserve the wetland at the far end of the lake from development and encroachment of cattle grazing. They have also been creating some interpretive trails near the wetland and in the upland section.

From Lost Lake we headed towards the far northeast corner of Washington – planning to stay near a border crossing so we could get an early start on our trip to BC. We aimed for Sullivan Lake but it was busy and the weather was pretty exciting with strong winds and thunder and lightning. A short drive further north took us to the Millpond campground. It was smaller and quieter and suited us for the night.

 

Lightning-caused fire near Riverside, above Omak
Lost Lake
We had some rain
And a campfire every night
Homemade pico de gallo with chips for an appetizer
camp coffee
Lily pads
Catching fish
One of several brook trout out of Lost Lake
Old CCC building
Rainy afternoon drive on a road we’d never driven before
Rocky Mountain juniper?
Badger hole?
It went to a tremendous viewpoint above Bonaparte Lake and Creek
Looking down the creek at the next rainy downpour
Don’t you think we ought to go now?
All the makings for spring rolls
Nasturtium spring rolls
Getting the trout ready to cook in the campfire
One of my favorite things to do
Reflection
The real thing
Lost Lake
Lost Lake
Lost Lake
The Okanogan Highlands Alliance has installed some new interpretive signs on their trails
There are a few old docks for the private cabins that line one side of the lake
No ATV’s! That’s a good thing.
Which part is real?
Lost Lake is perfect for people-powered boats
Late season flowers with pollinators
This scary guy was in the truck
Shorebirds on Maryann Creek near Chesaw
Oh yeah, I can’t get enough of this
Common Loon
Crystal Falls, the smallest state park, located east of Colville
Sullivan Creek. It feeds into the Millpond
Fly fishing
In this creek he caught, and released, a brown trout
Millpond at sunset
And a view of it from a trail that goes above the pond
The mouth of Sullivan Creek