Landed in Oregon XXIV

Good morning!

December 13, 2007

Snot nose. It is really hard to look around earnestly when one has a head cold. So far, going better than expected. Starting to get into the cabin fever stage -- impatiently awaiting clear nostrils.

Every morning I cut a little grass for Annie. This morning I found some fine dandelions. Then I noticed the greenery of a few carrots. I pulled a few. I kept one for Sharon and myself. Mighty sweet.

Reflecting on winter. Think like mid November to mid February. In the writings of the English nobility, this is the Grease Season. Definitely a meat season. Venison and beef and sheep and nice fat geese. All coupled with parties. Not much mention of running around outside. The hunting season was earlier.

But over in Russia the peasants spoke of going to bed and staying there. A way to keep warm, reduce the need for fuel and for food. Three months in bed.

A recent book mentions the poor in France who lived in caves. Much the same as the Russians above. Reports mention up to a dozen persons in one bed.

What do you do when it gets cold, snowy, and the prospects of food-on-foot sparse? Time to go to the hoard. Probably not much variety. Did story telling begin in a bed? At this time the English nobility (think Queen Elizabeth the First) bathed maybe once a month. The Russians and French less. I wonder how far away one could smell human habitations. These English were the same that said the Irish were savages.

I do notice days getting shorter. I do not welcome the arrival of winter. I have never understood people who like to ski. I tried ice skating but my feet got cold. The bonfire was nice. Maybe it is because my family burned wood and I was the wood cutter?
Nowadays one can watch TV. Not much variety. Two months to go!

December 16, 2007

Temperature starts at 31. When we went to bed it was 29.

This is my first day without some kind of medication. My nostrils are clear!

Saw a coyote in the upper pasture this morning. Walked up the road to get a closer look. It was gone.

It cleared early afternoon. The boys wanted to go outside. They go to the door, look out and then look at me. They don’t meow. They are waiting for me to catch their idea. Cappy spent about half an hour up a madrone. Manny raced down to the gazebo. Then both crossed the creek. Manny up a tree. Cappy across the creek on a fallen tree. Cappy under the coast redwood. Manny under the redwood. Cappy races out and collides forcefully with my leg. Up a tree. Further up the tree. Out on a limb. I cannot look and come in. Half an hour later Cappy comes in. Manny hunts mice on Strawberry Hill. He comes in half an hour later.

The rain started late afternoon. Snow warning for above 2500 feet starting at midnight. This is our first winter storm. Generally by Thanksgiving the Ashland Ski Resort has skiable snow. Not so this year. They are asking for donations.

Forecast is for wet snow on the 24th and 25th. I am gathering dry wood for the Yuletide bonfire.

Have a good week.

Poppy