Monday, Monday: GPS, DISH, and Loading Up the Logs

We have had an ongoing problem that has involved our satellite dish for a few weeks. Fortunately it only effected local channels on one TV. When the first very nice technician came the power had just gone off. He did what he could, but it was fruitless if his adjusting did anything, because we couldn't turn the T.V. on. It took until today for another technician to be scheduled.
Early this morning I got a call from a polite sounding man about the repair trip.
"Your house does not show up on my GPS tracker. Are you sure that is your house address?"
I explained about rural addresses. He then inquired, "How far is it from Post Falls, Idaho to Kettle Falls, Washington?"
I explained about two and a half hours, then he filled me in that he was flown in from California to do work in my area. He was given a GPS tracker and hoped he could find the way. I asked if he had a map, but he assured me that he had GPS.
I suggested he call if he got lost. I also tried to explain that I really didn't live in the Kettle Falls, but across Lake Roosevelt, in a different county, and up a state highway, and through some county roads that weren't very well marked.
About two and a half hours went by and I got another call from the technician. He was concerned because the GPS showed that the wildlife refuge road was closed. I once again gave him directions to get him closer. I gathered up the animals and watched the driveway for him to arrive. He called three more times. He had missed our road and ended up taking a beautiful scenic drive south on Lake Roosevelt. I sent my own GPS tracker JEJ after him and after a few more bumps in the road, his van arrived escorted by my husband's pick-up. Now we only live one street off the county road, but to a guy from a city in California that was subjected to rural northeastern Washington, it was a struggle.

His repair took ten minutes. I knew it would be simple. I said, "I hope you have other jobs up this way after making this long drive."
He did have lots of orders. Fortunately they were at apartments in the town of Kettle Falls. He left with a bright smile on his face and said he loved the lake, our view, and the area. What a positive guy!We thought after that whole ordeal our Monday would calm down. Not a chance. Next came the call from the guy who fell our trees last week. "We are on our way with the logging truck" . Would a logging truck even fit through our gate or through the driveway? We moved vehicles, once again gathered up animals just in time to hear the roar of the logging truck. He made it through the gate, got himself turned around, and I finally got to see just how they loaded big logs on a truck. I had to grab my camera and catch some photo images.
What a day. It was only 1:00! What else could happen? This is quite a bit of excitement for us country folks on a Monday in August. Usually the highlight of our day is when the mail lady comes or a different dog is barking down the road. Yikes!

Changing The Landscape, Part Two: Changes in the Wedding Garden

a new garden room without the weeds

When I first bought my place in 1996 I had no idea how to plan gardens and knew I had a lot to learn before I proceeded. I took a class, read numerous books, studied gardens, and talked to many seasoned gardeners. I found out what grew well in my climate zone and in sandy soil.
Here is how the yard in the front of the house looked that spring. I killed off the weeds and laid down bark. The tree to the left was all that was planted by the former owners. When JEJ and I were married in August of 1997 we knew we didn't need the usual wedding gifts as we were combining two households of "stuff". We asked people to contribute gifts for a wedding garden. It was a lovely collection of trees, flowers, pots, and roses that we received. We planted the garden that fall and by spring of 1998 the first bulbs bloomed and other trees and shrubs began to take off. It was a joy to watch that little garden grow more beautiful each year.By 2004 the wedding garden was a focal point in the yard. The Mountain Ash had grown quickly. Shrubs were filling out. The irises from EM were lovely every spring and JEJ added a new path around the garden. This picture was taken this last spring. Ground cover had gotten a bit out of control. Grass decided to take up residence around many of the plants. Some plants weren't doing as well because more shade had developed. There wasn't as much color in the summer. Neither one of us were ready to tackle this project .


Last week as we were changing the landscape by have trees removed, I tackled our sad wedding garden. I removed weeds, the old chair used to hold a big pot, pine needles, dying plants, and grass. I trimmed back shrubs and tree branches. There was still much that was good about it... it just needed a summer makeover.
Rather than finding new plants that would grow under the tree we decided we liked the space under the Mountain Ash as another place to rest in the garden.
Rather than redoing the weed barrier, I just put down a rug. We moved in some chairs and a table JEJ built and now just need to transplant some lavender and hostas when the weather is a bit cooler to finish it off. I love little garden rooms that call you for morning coffee or a rest after dinner.

Until I went through all the pictures, it was hard for me to believe the wedding garden was almost eleven years old. Many of the original plants are still there and some new ones will be added. I look forward to enjoying time actually sitting among my wedding gifts now while they mature for another eleven years.