Cold outside but warm inside

Trading food

In exchange for the last egg in the refrigerator and the last of the Tahitian Vanilla ice cream, we left 2 containers of very good split pea soup (labeled) and a bagel in the freezer.

We also left a 4lb box of laundry detergent. It should last a while, especially if the water doesn't come back on. Neither of us wanted to carry in a supersize box.

Snow but no water

We all 4 slogged in. I didn't time it, but it seemed forever. Jalapeno and Willy got the best deal, they walked in our tracks.

And when we got here, there was at first no water, then we had water and now we have none. My guess is that we drained the pressure tank but then the pump didn't kick on. It was about 9 degrees last nite, 31 at the car when we arrived at 3pm, which could explain it. Let's hope nothing serious is wrong. I will check the breaker to the pump in the am.

Meanwhile, the snow is beautiful. Still lots on the trees from the Tues night storm. And lots of icicles. And as Lou said, we have heat, light, power, the stove (with soup cooking) and wine. So we are just fine. (And the soft snow outside the kitchen melts easily)

Chop-chop-chop-chop WOOD

We had such a great time! We did a ton of work, as matter of fact, we cut 6 rounds of wood into pieces large and small. A professional would've cut those in an hour! and it took 4 of us only 3 hours! John Kratcher is feeling a little litigious due to his wood chopping injury. Hope you got insurance to cover his cracked toe nail! :)

Throughout the day we ate home made apple butter --from Tam Valley apple trees-- and tons of sour dough pancake-os. We even went for an easy breezy 5 Kilometer run!. Everyone won at settlers, except Kractcher. Perhaps we should let him win tomorrow.

Almost Time

At 5pm we will be cabin bound.  We invited Los Tuckers and John Kracher.

We promised fallen trees, competitive settlers of catan tournaments, delicious food, cold beer, warm fire, expensive dog hair, and a dirty andrew.

cannot wait.

Water Shuttle

This fine piece will make at least NASA jealous.  The watter tank is warm, cozy, and ready for the winter!

Sierra National (rain) Forest

Welcome Christopher Olson, and welcome clouds! The cabin is surrounded by clouds making it about 50 feet of visibility.

Proyecto de Ciencia

Getting the pancake mix ready for tomorrow's breakfast, we found this:

Good thing there were two starts. The other one looks good. We'll see how sourdough pancakes turn out tomorrow. We will make some extra to bring to grandma and grandpa tomorrow afternoon.

Coffee like in the pampas

Juan Valdez brought the cabin a new coffee filter from Colombia. To use it follow these instructions:

1. Put the ground coffee inside the filter:

2. Place filter over the cup:

not over the dog:

3. Pour water:

4. Drink

Things we plan on buying and bring to cabin next weekend

A shopping list, if you will (and we will!)

rice

soap

dried fruit

canned foods

frozen treats from trader joe's

beer

wine

dog foog

dog food container

regular coke/drinks that aren't diet

soda water

large waters

powdered gatorade

tea

Fall in the Mountains

Just a family out for a walk (Jennifer turned around out of suspicion when she didn't hear our foot steps anymore).

Checkin' out the crick. Lots of water, still plenty of fish... and graffiti on the granite :(

Wine and water inventory

6 Charles Shaw chardonnay
1 Charles Shaw Merlot
2 Edna Valley chardonnay
1 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
1 German Spatlase (sweet)
1 split Clairborne & Churchill port
1 cambria Pinot Noir
1 Pinot Grigio
1 Curvee Cabernet
1 Manzanita Creek Chardonnay
1 Elixir Cellars Cabernet
1 Husch Gewurtztraminer
1 Berringer Cellars White Zin
1 Castoro Cellers Cabernet

2 gallons tap water
4 gallons unopened bottled water
1 case small bottles of water

So I hope I can get through the winter without having to lug in wine. Altho I may be desperate before I drink the vintage white zin.

Semi-winterized

The log cabin is now drained with antifreeze in the sink and toilet. The outside hose is drained and under the porch. And the cabin heater is turned on low. Since it is a warm, sunny day, I don't expect it to come on very soon. I also put the fire grate over by the rock and covered the woodpile. But if the log cabin gets cleaned out and there is any spare tarp, it could use more of a cover.

Yet to be done before winter:
- Change the filter in the pumphouse. There is a new one under the stairs.
- Plug in the heater and heat tape in the pumphouse.
- Take the screens off the sliding doors.

And look around and see if there is anything else outside to go inside. I left some chairs on the porch for Jennifer and Ron's visit.

If anyone is here and reconnects the outside hose, please be sure to disconnect it. That is a special, expensive faucet that drains itself but can freeze if a hose is connected.

When I leave I will open the 2 drains in the bedroom closet and leave the faucets open. So don't panic if you walk in and the water is off.

Log cabin visitor(s)

I will spare you the photo, but there has been more than mice in the log cabin. I found a chipmunk who had drowned in the toilet when I went in to drain it. Fortunately, it hadn't been there too long so it wasn't gross, and I got it out easily.

Gooseberries!!

First we drove into the woods and cut branches from the gooseberry bushes and took them to the cabin.

Then we stripped the berries from the branches.

After a careful rinsing, the berries were cooked down to a very soft pulp. And mashed a bit to get the juice out.


This is the pulp to be taken home to be squeezed through a cloth and made into syrup or jelly. Gooseberry jam with all the stickers is not particularly desirable.

The pulp ready to be squeezed in a good, handy dishtowel.

And now the juice is in the refrigerator waiting to be boiled down to jelly or syrup (with lots of sugar added -- a cup to a cup in fact).

Happy Birthday

Happy 98 to Mother and still looking good. We were a couple of days early, but still a good celebration.

A visitor. Sleeping on Lou's pillow, no less

Still lots of syrup, less ice cream, no more bacon

The sourdough start is working away and supplies remain about the same except for the bacon and Java Jolt ice cream. Who keeps buying the rum raisin? It's always the last to go.

Dinkey Lakes hike in the sun and the clouds and the sprinkles

At the first Dinkey Lakes we basked in the sunshine and admired the wildflowers in bloom.

By the time we reached Island Lake it was very dark to the east and thunder was getting louder and more frequent, the sun overhead was blocked by clouds and it was cold and windy. No lightening in sight but maybe time to eat lunch down at one of the lower lakes.
Looking west from Island Lake the blue sky was still visible so there was still hope...
Fifteen minutes later down at Upper Dinkey Lake the raindrops are visible on the lake. Intermittent sprinkles followed us all the way to the trailhead. The two young boys in the family we met about 20 minutes from the trailhead as they were hiking up didn't look too happy. We thought they might get more unhappy as their day progressed. The clouds and thunder were continuing to intensify up the trail where they were headed.

The Reward

Cooked over a perfect bed of coals.

The Challenge!

Paul was busy collecting and stacking wood by the fire pit. He will take on all challengers trying to create a tidier and more neatly stacked woodpile.

August in the Meadow

Although it's August 5 the flowers, green grass and stream still flowing through the meadow make it look more like early summer. The softer light and breeze in the air make it seem more like fall. An interesting combination.

I Scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

And there is plenty left in the freezer, including Haagen Dazs Cherry Garcia and Vanilla, and Fresno State Tahitian Vanilla, Rum Raisin, Cookies and Cream and Java Jolt. But there is not much Java Jolt, as it was a real favorite.

Everyone eat up next trip -- and the trips after. We are stocked for a while.

Sequoias and Courtright Lake

Today's activity was a drive out to Courtright with a stop to walk through the McKinley big trees. We drove to the far side of Courtright across the dam and then hiked on the jeep road and then the trail up the east side of the lake.




Same 5 friends but with the 3 sisters from the other side and Dogtooth Peak on the far right.

Dinkey Lakes!!

Warm, clear weather and good friends. A perfect combination for a hike to Dinkey Lakes. We made it all the way to the top where we had lunch and enjoyed the view.


There was a lot of water in the streams so we had to rock-hop, or in one case walk a log to get across. There were also mosquitoes but we did ok with lots of bug spray. The bugs weren't was bad as I had feared. And the road is no worse than I remembered.

Fruit, chocolate, ice cream and a good hike

Six of us are here relaxing after a hike down the hill, through Rodman's, the campground and back up through the mill and to the cabin. So we are reqarding ourselves with some of the chocolate Marilyn brought from Switzerland, some Fresno State ice cream and good grapes also from Fresno State. But we also have lots of other good food too.

We got started early today because we had been told the power would be turned off at 9am until 3pm (which means also no water) but when we got to Dennis's about 2pm we found out they didn't turn it off. So Cal Edison called him last evening to tell him, but didn't call us. The plan was for power off also at Shaver so Dennis thinks they had too many complaints. They will supposedly do it some time when it doesn't inconvenience so many people.

Tomorrow we are headed to Dinkey Lakes. Mosquitoes and all.

Left in the Freezer

1 lb butter

6 OJ

2 dozen tortillas

mushroom turnovers

1 package tortellini

2 large tenderlion

2 pork chops

1 lb bacon

6 mini baguette

2 lb espresso

Portobello mushroom raviolis

1 frozen lemonade

½ gallon milk

4 crushed garlic cubes

There is also a pound of bacon in the refrigerator that is good until early August.

Updating the Blog with lots of technology

At one time we didn't have a phone, we still don't have TV, but with DSL and a one-to-one laptop to person ratio, plus an iPad, a Kindle, numerous "smart phones" (but no satellite connection), we were totally connected.

Thank You!

The Emmerts, the Emmerts of Stewart, the Emmerts of Robinson, the Stewarts, and the Robinsons

Thank you so much for such a wonderful weekend! Thank you for the delicious dinners, the refreshing beer, the wonderful company, and also thank you for sharing the cabin and making room for all of us.

It was a great long weekend.

Love,
All of us

Grandpa's 30 year old giant sequoias

Grilled Rack of Lamb with Chimichurri Sauce

WHEREAS, lamb is the meat of a delicious and adorable animal; and

WHEREAS, garlic-rubbed meats are tastier than those not so rubbed; and

WHEREAS, lamb so embrocated and grilled is consumed with the vigor and relish possessed by those individuals strong of mind and empty of stomach; and

WHEREAS, a missive detailing the steps properly taken will facilitate repetition of the below-photographed feast;

BE IT SO DETAILED:

Grilled Rack of Lamb with Chimichurri Sauce

4 small racks of lamb (about 8 ribs per rack), trimmed of most fat and patted dry

Chimichurri Sauce:
1 c. Italian parsley, rinsed and patted dry
5 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. red wine vinegar or other acid (e.g., lime juice)
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (we used a few jalapeno slices instead)
1 tsp. salt
additional olive oil, salt, and pepper for seasoning

Combine the parsley, garlic, olive oil, acid, salt, and red pepper flakes in a food processor or blender; pulse to combine and then blend. The mixture should have the consistency of a loose paste. Save half of the sauce for serving at the table.

1. Get a hot fire going in the pit and put the grate on. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Rub the racks of lamb with a small amount of oil, salt and pepper, then rub each rack with half of the Chimichurri.
3. Quickly sear the racks of lamb on the grill, about 2-4 minutes per side, until a crust forms. Remove the racks from the fire and put in an oven-safe pan. Brush the racks with a little more Chimichurri.
4. Put the pan in the oven and roast until a meat thermometer reads 120 degrees for medium-rare, 125 degrees for medium.
5. Take the pan from the oven, cover the meat, and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.
6. Go to freaking town on that delicious sheep.