Dinkey Rediscovered

Mountain dirt rediscovered by Hailey and Clayton (2yrs 5 months) who spent the weekend along with their parents Jesse and Ashley Mote & Grandmother Sharon Mote. Busy weekend and lots of fun to see granite rocks, sticks, pine cones, ant lions, campfires and marshmallows through new eyes. Of course not like the good old days with tents, but the bed sure was comfortable, and clean.

Where have all the squirrels and chipmunks gone? We haven't seen any in a day and a half. None by the fire circle, none on the east side on the rock under the pine tree. Strange. I hope they aren't like canaries in the coal mine.

We arrived yesterday, Lou, mother, willy and I. Everything is fine except we found the sliding door by the computer open. Nothing seems disturbed and we thought all was well. When Mother got ready for bed in the purportedly, clean sheets, she found there had been other critters there. The question is whether they were nesting in the pillow when Andrew slept on top of the bed last month, or whether they came later. Readers are spared photos but the damage is now on it's way to the dump and all is well. Happy July 4th. And happy anniversary to Andrew and Becky. The top of your wedding cake is still in the freezer. We were tempted but restrained ourselves.

What a Difference a Year Makes

 The biggest snowbank on our road into the cabin, that spot about 100 yards past the gate where the snow lies deep, most years. Last year we barely busted through the big snowbank at the end of June. Not a problem on May 10, 2012.
This next picture is looking from the road up towards the pump house there were a few drifts of snow, and the biggest snowbank was over towards the meadow, otherwise known as the "wedding snowbank" because it's the spot where we loaded tubs with snow last July 2 to use to cool the drinks. Last year on July 2 the snowbank was just about the same size as it is today, May 11, 2012.

 Some critter had a nice winter. We seemed to have shared our house insulation with someone from the forest. Andrew patched over the hole, I believe it's hole number 5 in the same upper SE corner of the cabin.
Then he scrubbed the floors. What a guy!

We left a little work for another time, and a little nesting material for another happy nester.  As for the work, this is the summer to reseal the deck and railings.













And to figure out a better way to heat the pump house other than to plug both the heat tape and the barn heater into the same extension cord.  Fortunately it's always cool and damp in there.

More Shaver Pictures

Looking out from the old boat dock by 'Johnnys".

The old earthen dam and mill site.

Working on the new membrane covering for the dam.

Leavin Out

Late every fall the families who lived at the mill packed up all their belongings and moved down to The Valley for the winter months. We called it moving, many of our neighbors who came from the Ozarks called it Leavin' Out. Either way we packed up and left, and that's what Ann & Jane did last Monday. Jane's last carload of the season included 2 Christmas trees, a wedding dress and suit, 2 sets of snowshoes and the last of the recycling. Not the usual haul but a good reminder of a special July event.

There's another type of leavin' out happening over at Shaver. When this picture was taken there

was still about 20 ft. of water remaining at the foot of the dam. The new white membrane surface is visible on the top half of the dam and by the end of Feb 2012 it will cover the entire dam and the lake will start to be refilled. The old earthen dam is visible upstream from the remaining water and the old lumber mill site is just to the left of the old dam.

Bottled water and FLOUR desperately needed

There is about enough flour for one round of pancakes and that is it.  The next people up need to take flour. If driving in, take at least 2 5-lb bags.  Likewise with bottled water. There isn't any and altho we are more optimistic about not losing water this year, it is best to be prepared with a few large jugs.

No need to take beer, wine or scotch. There is more than ample for the winter.