Category: Pam (Page 1 of 2)

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Labor Day Weekend

September 8, 2014 / admin / 2 Comments

As I noted in my last post, Labor Day weekend was going to be a busy one. I left directly from work in Glenwood Springs and drove to The Lot on Friday evening to open the RV and get ready for Saturday.

The burn pit was open so Saturday was a busy day; I managed to get 4 loads of slash and junk wood loaded and hauled away. Three of those loads involved using the ATV to get the aluminum trailer near the wood piles. That was interesting…I had to cut a few aspen to make another wilderness road in the saddle. And, as we move closer to the top of the lot, the terrain gets a little steeper. Still I was able to move the trailer in and out OK. Pam had arrived Saturday afternoon and helped with the final load of the day.

Jerry loading another load of burn pit wood

We did not get all the slash cleared out; there was just not enough time to get everything over to the burn pit. Next weekend I should be able to get out two more loads, which should eliminate the rest of the slash we have piled up. I’ll also bring home a few larger chunks of pine to be used as firewood. The pine is part of two large old-growth trees that had fallen down on the lot. (They smell great when cut into.) By the end of Saturday the house site area was looking much more attractive – and accessible.

Sunday was a day for other chores. We used the ATV and 2-wheel cart to find and bring more rocks to line the circle in the driveway. Pam has been planting daisy plants [she is transplanting from flowerbeds in De Beque] around the edge of the circle, along with transplanting a few small pine trees from the cleared area. With the addition of three 2-wheel carts full of mulch, taken from under a few of the large pine on the lot, the circle is looking quite nice!

Pam and circle drive both looking pretty good

I mentioned we have two old-growth pine logs trees that had fallen on the lot. The stump ends of both will be converted into rustic benches. I used the ATV’s winch and moved one stump end up the lot to a place where there is a good view over South Park. One of the tasks for the next trip is to make this into a seating bench. I’ll need to put another chunk of pine under the cut end to level it out and then use the chain saw to cut a flat spot to sit. Hopefully I’ll have a couple photos of this after the work is done.

We will use the other log in a similar fashion but have not yet picked a spot for it. Most likely it will be on the path that leads up to Pavilion Point, as we have to stop to catch our breath to get there and a bench to sit on would be handy.

I loaded some firewood into the truck to bring home. The wood is small stuff that we had originally thought we might use as dog enclosure posts. That didn’t work out so now I have a bunch of small diameter trees to cut up and use as firewood. It all burns!

We also built a rudimentary fire pit using local rocks along the back side of the gravel driveway. In the two years we have owned the lot we’ve never enjoyed a campfire. (Last year outdoor burn bans were in effect almost the entire summer.) Pam (+ dogs) left for home Sunday afternoon before we could try it out, but I did light a fire Sunday night and it was very nice to be able to sit in front of the fire, watch the stars appear, and just enjoy the ambiance of the evening.

Campfire adds ambience

The “mouse wars” continue. Pam found a live mouse that had a foot caught in a trap, so she donned her latex gloves, took the trap outside and up the lot, and let the mouse go. She did not have the heart to kill it so the mouse may end up living a long life as a field mouse. I just hope it doesn’t find its way back to The Box.

I did trap two other mice, but the traps remained empty Sunday night into Monday. I would like to think that with the latest hole patched and several mice removed maybe the war is over, but I’ll see on my next trip.

So Saturday and Sunday were quite busy but also productive. We wish we had a few more days, though, just to enjoy being in the mountains. As mentioned, Pam drove back Sunday afternoon, but I stayed over as I planned to take an ATV trip on Monday before I headed home.

No other projects are planned for the rest of the year. One more weekend to finish clearing the slash and pick up a few more bits and pieces of firewood, and another weekend trip to bring The Box home for the winter will close out our activities for 2014. We might make a day run or two in late September or October as there are standing dead trees that could be cut for firewood if we feel so inclined, or to view the fall colors (some leaves are already turning gold and red) or just to get out of town. It’s too early in the year to quit going up to Sanderling completely.

We are satisfied in knowing we completed all the projects we had planned for the year, and are particularly pleased with our clean-up efforts that were made possible by having put in the driveway extension. Last year was an “acquire” year; we bought the F-150, the RV trailer, and a new chain saw. This year we spent more time actually working on the lot and completing projects.

Next year we move into more of a “lot development” scenario as we hope to put in a well, septic, and small off-grid electrical system to power the RV (it would be nice to use the microwave) and expand it when we put in a structure. All it takes is money, and we may not get all of these things done, but you have to have a goal and a plan to get there. We may look into the availability of a loan to pay for some of these projects as the cost breaks down like this: well: $9k, septic: $9k, solar: $4k. Total: $22k. Lot clean up will continue, but we have most of the “line-of-sight” areas now cleaned up so this task will not have a high priority next year. (We will be cleaning the lot for years to come.) Some work we can do, some we will have to farm out, but it is time we moved into another stage of the development cycle.

On Monday I took off on an ATV trip. My plan was to complete a loop from Breckenridge to the old mining town of Montezuma. I had passed the turnoff to Montezuma on my Swan River ATV loop and had wanted to explore this side trail when I had the opportunity.

I’ll not go into a lot of detail about this 29 mile excursion other than to say that much of it is above 11,500 feet elevation. Stretches were rocky and steep; I used 4-wheel drive, low range on more than a few occasions, including some downhill stretches. The loop is very scenic, goes past several old mining sites (and 1 town site, Saints John) and offers even more side trips that I didn’t have time to explore but hope to get to in the future. As it was I took almost 6 hours to make the loop. Below are a few photos taken along the way.

Restored church in Montezuma

Deer Creek

Flowers blooming in protected spots

Stone wall of old cabin above timberline the high country

Grasses turing fall red

I saw four skittish mountain goats but no other large wildlife. The goats looked to be in their full winter coats. The hillsides above timberline are beginning to change into fall colors of reds and browns. Some flowers are still blooming – as you can see in a few photos – but the columbine are done and others plants have gone to seed. There is fresh snow on a few of the highest mountain tops and the high country is getting ready for winter. My days of being able to ride my ATV in the high country are starting to dwindle but I do hope to get out a time or two yet when the fall colors are at their peak.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

It’s been great to have the dog run to put the dogs in while working on the property –that has worked out super. Bru, of course, would rather spend her time in the RV, but Blondie and Jo utilize pretty much the entire dog run.

I still hope to enjoy one campfire and see the aspen grove in full color before the season concludes.

Happy Trails.

Transitions

November 17, 2013 / admin / 1 Comment

No big events to report on this time. We have been raking leaves and doing fall cleanup yard work. Pam completed another phase of her house update by finishing a major painting project, the living room floor. Other than adding another rug and a few other bits and pieces of furniture, that project is nearly ended. We will be looking at flooring material, probably bamboo, for part of the living room but will wait until we see a good sale before going ahead. Still looking for a side board but the ones we have seen at second-hand stores are too long; we have a 50 inch space and most units we have seen are 60 – 64 inches in length. The search continues.

No snow on the ground as the bit we did get a couple weeks ago has melted off. In short, we are doing typical fall activities and having normal weather. I did get one last lawn-mowing done last weekend then cleaned up the mower ad put it away.

I fired up the Ford 8N tractor and used it to take a small load of grass and weeds to the local ‘organic material’ dump site provided by the town. This is the same spot where I dump leaves, branches, and cut grass as needed. Gives me an excuse to exercise the tractor from time to time.

We had driven up to the lot on Halloween day – both of us took time off – and cleared a path where we plan to extend the driveway. This involved cutting a few more trees and making a decision on where the drive will go. I prefer a little farther up on the hillside and Pam prefers it be a little lower down. We will get with the contractor and use him as the tie-breaking vote. Extending the drive is a priority for next year.

Gas prices have dropped to around $3.20 a gallon (unleaded regular) which helps us a bit. Normally we go through 30 – 33 gallons a week, less at this time of the year due to fewer trips to the lot and fewer ATV outings. Price reduction saves us nearly $100.00 per month.

Mary Hayes sent along this photo of the two party girls drinking/eating at the Irish pub in Grand Junction last weekend:

Mary and Pam at the Irish pub. Photo by Mary Hayes.

Mary arrived back in Florida, after a lay-over in Denver, without incident. We certainly enjoyed her visit.

I have some recent video of Ebony’s kittens playing on the waterbed. The kittens are about 8 weeks old now.

The kittens will be with us for several weeks yet as they need to start getting their shots and spay /neuter operations before being returned to the shelter and put up for adoption.

Not much else to say in this post. Pam is preparing the grocery list, I have more leaves to clean up, the bath tub drain needs to be cleaned , weather stripping needs to be added along the main door – blah, blah, blah…the every-day details of life continue.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

Yesterday, with a small fire burning in the fire pit, the smell of raked leaves was mixed with wood smoke and the entire scene was set against a deeply overcast sky. I was struck by how typically Fall it all was.

Happy trails.

Birthday Girl

November 11, 2013 / admin / 2 Comments

Pam recently celebrated a “decade” birthday. At our age, birthdays have become non-events for the most part; they come and go without fanfare. This time things would be a little different.

Pam has a long-time friend, Mary Hayes, who now lives in Florida. The friendship goes back to kindergarten and was cemented when Pam and Mary spent months together touring Europe and England when they were in their late teens. (Doesn’t seem so long ago!)

Mary had called me a few weeks ago to arrange a surprise visit as a birthday present for Pam. We worked out the details. On the big day, I picked Mary up at the local air port and brought her home. Pam, who had taken some time off work as a “stay-cation’ and was involved in a household painting project when Mary arrived, was truly surprised.

Mary was here for about 2 1/2 days, having arrived on Thursday and departing Sunday morning. Pam and Mary had ample opportunity to talk and just enjoy being together for a few days.

We did take a trip over Grand Mesa to show Mary some of the local terrain (and to reintroduce this former Wisconsin girl to snow). On the way down from Grand Mesa, we drove by “for sale” houses just to get an idea of the price of Colorado real estate in the Cedaredge area. We ended the trip with a visit to Augusta’s Tea Room in Grand Junction. This was Mary’s idea and it was a pleasant way to spend some time and enjoy a few seasonal food items such as pumpkin cupcakes and apple scones.

Pam and Mary spent Saturday night at a Grand Junction hotel; Pam would drop Mary off at the airport Sunday morning. (Mary’s early flight departed at 7:30 AM.) The two girlfriends went out to dinner at an Irish pub. Pam reports the food was good , she tried a Harp beer, and the atmosphere was excellent with dinner served at the bar.

I believe both ladies enjoyed the visit and time spent together. Pam will remember this birthday for a long time to come.

Here are a few photos taken during Mary’s visit:

Mary and Pam share couch time with London, Jo, and Bru

Pam and Mary on the Grand Mesa Visitor Center building’s deck

Posing to show the snow on Grand Mesa

Mary at the Grand Mesa Visitor Center

Tea time at Agusta's Tea Room in Grand Junction

Tea time at Augusta’s Tea Room in Grand Junction

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

Thanks to Mary and Jer for making this birthday one to remember. I was truly surprised and touched. Hopefully Mary’s Florida blood was able to withstand the Colorado cold temps (especially on Grand Mesa @ 10,000+ feet) without too much lasting damage. Onward into the upcoming decade…

Happy trails.

Alpine Loop

September 22, 2013 / admin / 2 Comments

There is a lot to blog about this time. On September 14th I made a one-day solo trip over to the lot and did more work. The next week I was on vacation from work for three days and took an extended ATV trip in the Ouray (pronounced you-Ray) area on two of those days. Finally, Pam and I went over to Sanderling to stage more wood for removal. Last Wednesday new kittens arrived, Pam’s 24th foster litter. Mom cat’s name is Ebony and her kittens are all black just like her.

That’s a lot of ground to cover.

Trips to the lot are now falling into a pattern of getting loads of brush and slash over to the burn pit and getting some firewood home. My solo trip was no exception, except Pam requested I bring home some rocks to be used in our berms. So, after a long day’s work, I finished by picking up 10 rocks to bring home. Pam was delighted. I was tired.

I had driven over on a Friday night. Saturday morning was overcast and cloudy so I went up to Pavilion Point and made this video. (Running time is 2:31.)

Not much else to report from that trip. Our last trip, this past Friday afternoon – Saturday, was more of the same. (I did find the key to unlock the 2-wheel cart.) We returned via Boreas Pass – Pam had not been on the pass this year – and we stopped to take this photo of aspen along the road turning color:

Boreas Pass, September 2013

Jumping back a few days… I had traveled to Ouray (pronounced you-Ray) Colorado for a two-day (Sept 18 and 19) ATV outing. I wanted to ride the Alpine Loop which consists of Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. I had ATV’d part of Engineer Pass last year but had not completed the loop. Both pass trails start from Highway 550 south of Ouray and end in Lake City, Colorado.

The first day was overcast and had late afternoon rain, not the best travel conditions but not bad enough to prevent the trip. Thursday was much better, partly cloudy and dry. I enjoyed my trips on both days.

Rather than including a gallery of still photos I am including this long (12:36) video that covers parts of both Engineer and Cinnamon passes.

It was a good outing and I enjoyed both day’s travel. There are many more ATV trips in the Ouray – Silverton area that I hope to get to next year.

One or two more photos not including in the video:

Aspen turning color, Engineer Pass, Sept. 18

Jerry with old mine hoist, Mineral Point area, Sept. 19

Ebony’s kittens:

Ebony and her kittens

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

P.S.

We are not in the flood zone that has made national news. Here in the western part of the state we have had a lot of rain, and flash-flooding at one point closed I-70 a few miles from home, but nothing like they had on the eastern part of the state. Thanks to all who called or e-mailed to check on us!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

I am ready for the wood cutting summer to be over. Too many “pulls” on my time and energy – full-time job (I’d prefer to work part-time again), all these pregnant cats with kittens, and four-hour-each-way drives to the Sanderling property. Jer can’t really be safely left on the lot solo with the chain saw. There is no one in shouting distance if he injures himself, and cell phone coverage is spotty up there. Staging wood and slash one weekend when I (and the dogs) accompany Jer, then the next weekend he takes the solo trip with the truck and trailer to haul slash to the pit and wood home – that routine seems to be working.

One kitten from the previous litter died this weekend at the vet (the fuzzy white Siamese-mix), and one that was adopted from that same litter is sick but hanging in there (the long-haired orange one). A bacterial infection – it could have been picked up from Izzy, from the animal shelter, who knows – is the cause of the distress. Such sadness when the little ones cross the rainbow bridge so soon.

Ebony’s newborn kittens are Mink, Mole, Sable and Seal. I think there are three boys and one girl. Ebony knows exactly what to do, this is her second litter this year.

We did fit in the Mountain Laurie/Boreas Pass visit, as you can see by the photo from the Boreas Pass Road. Some years Mom’s presence is felt at the location where her ashes are scattered, some years not so much. A beautiful day on Boreas, but the spirit of Mountain Laurie seemed to visit me at Sanderling in the form of a hummingbird earlier this summer. If you believe in such things…

Happy Trails.

4th of July Weekend – Long Post – Bonus Video

July 10, 2013 / admin / 3 Comments

Well.

There is much to cover in this post which details our long 4th of July weekend at the lot. Going through my notes and photos the topics break down into 3 main areas: work on the lot (of course!), a visit from our friends Tom and Patti Hamilton, and my ATV trip (Georgia Pass) on July 7. That is a lot of ground to cover so this is going to be a very long post!

Both of us had taken Friday, July 5th, off to make a long weekend out of the 4th of July holiday. The initial plan for the 4 days looked like this:

Jerry to take the truck and trailer to lot early morning on July 4, open the RV, start working on various tasks. Pam to drive up the morning of July 5th bringing the dogs, more food, and other sundry items. Our guests, Patti and Tom Hamilton, arrive around 12:00 noon on the 5th for spaghetti lunch and visit. Afternoon spent visiting. Pam to return home the next afternoon, the 6th, after she and I work on various projects. Sunday the 7th I get to ride my ATV on local trails.

Things don’t always work according to plan. I screwed up and forgot my RV keys so when I arrived on the lot on July 4th I had no way to get into the RV. I called Pam and she suggested she come up that night (the 4th) instead of the next morning. With that arrangement made, I turned to doing other chores.

High on my list was tracing the wiring from the RV’s solar panels. I discovered why they are not charging the batteries: The output of the panels is feeding into the refrigerator! This makes no sense to me as the refrig is 120 volt (house current) or LP (propane) powered, not powered by the voltage put out by the panels. I did not have my electrical tools along this trip but will re-route the solar panel charger output directly to the batteries on our next visit. The panels do appear to be working OK. Perhaps the people who installed the panels thought the refrig would run on 12 volts? There are a few of them that will, but ours is not one of them.

Pam had wanted to move our dog run out of the back yard and up to the lot. Pam thought the dogs would prefer to be in the run instead of being on zip lines strung between two trees while we were working on the lot. Since we put in the privacy fence in De Beque, which separates the front and back yards, the dog run had seen little use. You should have seen us getting the run out of the back yard and over the fence! This involved muscle power and a bit of assistance from one of our neighbors. We managed to get the run loaded on our utility trailer, along with 5 cut-in-half railroad ties, for the trip to the lot. Here is a shot of the loaded trailer:

Dog run, railroad ties, and ATV ready for 4th of July weekend.

A long drive on the interstate and over two mountain passes later, I unloaded the dog run at the Sanderling lot, scouted a place in the aspen grove to set it, and towed (dragged?) it with the ATV into the general area. The final placement involved dragging the run – by hand – to its final destination. Pam later made final adjustments (digging one side into the ground a bit) and added a few logs to the perimiter to discourage digging. We even put up the shade cover on top. Blondie, Bru, and Jo were not wild about this arrangement but were OK as long as they could see Pam working in the grove.

Dogs relax in covered dog run.

I unloaded the trailer, placed the cut railroad ties in place, then hooked the now-empty trailer to the ATV and took it into the aspen grove. I proceeded to load the trailer with wood destined for the burn pit. During the process I salvaged a few more small trees to cut into firewood on the theory that if it was good enough for firewood it might as well be used as such, thus cutting down on the amount of wood that needed to be hauled away.

Shortly after finishing this day-full of tasks, Pam arrived with the keys, dogs, and a couple of freshly-baked pies. We opened up the RV, had dinner, and made plans for the next morning.

The next day, Friday, was a busy day. The big morning project was to get the gate built. I unpacked the portable generator and grabbed the tools I had brought along for this purpose. Rather than bore everyone with the details I’ll just include this photo of the finished project:

Gate is finished. White stuff on ground is small hail from a recent storm.

Note the wheels mounted to the bottom of both gates. These will provide support for the gates when they are closed, taking some of the weight off the posts. Given the relatively shallow holes the posts are cemented into, every bit of support will help!

Our friends of 25 + years, Tom and Patti Hamilton, had moved to Colorado last year (from the State of Washington) and Pam had invited them to see the RV and lot on this day, July 5th. After a delay, caused by a wrong turn, Patti and Tom arrived OK. We settled in for a spaghetti lunch (and pie for desert) and a few hours of conversation. (And, of course, a walk through the aspen grove and up to Pam’s Pavilion Point!)

Patti and Tom Hamilton relaxing in the RV.

Patti and Tom live on the edge of Colorado’s Black Forest and were within about 2 miles of the massive fire that devastated the area just a few weeks ago. We had time to catch up on this event, our kids, work, a few social issues, and general conversation. Before we knew it several hours had passed. Patti and Tom headed home late in the day. We had enjoyed their visit and promised to visit them later this year.

Shortly after Patti and Tom started their drive home, clouds began to roll in and deliver some much-needed moisture to the Sanderling area. The rain pretty much ended the day’s activities, but Pam and I enjoyed just sitting together and looking out the window at the storm. Later the storm broke long enough for us to get out for a walk and to take a few “stormy sunset” photos. After that it was time for a good night’s sleep.

“Stormy Sunset”

Saturday we awoke to a rain-fresh morning. Agenda items for the day included more lot clean-up and firewood collection. I took the first load of scrap wood to the burn pit, unloaded it, headed back for a 2nd load and took that over to the pit. On the way back I received a call from Cindy, our neighbor (who feeds animals at the De Beque house while we’re gone), informing us the a pregnant mom cat Pam had trapped out of our garage (Isadora, nickname Izzy) was having her kittens. (Izzy had a total of 5 kittens.)

Izzy’s 5 kittens show a range of colors and markings.

Pam had planned to return home this day anyway because of the impending birth of kittens (it was why she drove the second vehicle in the first place), but we wanted to finish several chores before she left. One of these chores including loading the utility trailer with logs to be cut into firewood for Kathy Hall. (You might remember from previous posts that Kathy operates a cat rescue operation and uses wood to heat her rescue building in the winter.) Most of this wood had been collected earlier, but I did cut some standing dead aspen to make a full load. Other chores included finding a place for the spare set of RV keys to be left on the lot, removing the sun cover from the dog run, and getting stuff ready to go back with Pam.

Pam is ready to load firewood.

Then it was washing up, loading and sorting, and getting the dogs ready for the trip home. It had been a very busy few days that saw us getting much work done on the lot and having a very nice chat with Patti and Tom, our first mountain visitors.

After Pam left I took 2 trips over to the hand pump to replenish our fresh water supply. As on the previous day, late afternoon rain developed which put a halt to any other outside work, but it was pleasant to have a late dinner and listen to the rain drumming on the roof of the RV. We have no TV or radio in the RV, but I did have my Walkman and listened to music while the rain was falling. Later, after the rain let up, I went for a walk, then called it a day.

That about wraps up the first two topics; work on the lot and the visit with Patti and Tom. The next day, Sunday the 7th, was my day to ride the ATV.

My book of ATV trails showed a major trail going over Georgia Pass. This pass is one valley east of Boreas Pass and is another route into Breckenridge. It was never a railroad line, just a wagon road that served mines in the Breckenridge area, and is now a forest service road. Several side trips take off from the main road, making this a good area to spend some time on an ATV. The added benefit is this area is close to the lot, maybe 20 – 25 miles away, quite handy.

It was a great ride. I saw a couple bull moose and some mountain goats. I rode through areas that had been mined in the past but have since begun to revert back to a more natural state. I rode through heavily wooded areas (the aroma of warm pine was in the air) and past marshy meadow areas that must have held huge beaver ponds at some time past. I spent some hours above timberline enjoying hugh vistas of mountain tops. One disappointment: The maps I had were not up-to-date and a loop trail I had planned to take was now closed to motor vehicle travel, forcing me to take dead-end side trails instead. On the other hand, one of these trails led me to the the mountain goats, so I guess things worked out overall.

Here is a gallery of photos from this Georgia Pass trip.

Top of Georgia Pass. Mt Guyot is in the background.

Road passes through an old mining district.

Two bull moose spotted in a marshy meadow.

Summit views from Mt. Wise.

And, possibly the highlight of the day, these mountain goats:

Mountain goats #1.

Mountain goats #2.

Mountain goats #3,

I carried the camcorder with me this time. Here is a compilation of video clips I took during the course of my ride: (Running time is 8 minutes and 13 seconds.)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s two cents worth:

I did suggest we leave a duplicate set of keys on the Sanderling lot back in June, but Jer felt this would not be necessary. Sigh. It’s not entirely satisfying to be right when you’re the one who has to make the four hour drive [on three hours notice] to deliver the keys, however. Still, it’s not every guy who would tote a dog pen that far and over such obstacles (interstate and mountain passes) for dogs he’s not entirely crazy about anyway. I guess I’ll cut him some slack about forgetting the keys.

Izzy’s litter is foster litter #23 (since 2004)

Miscellaneous musings

March 3, 2013 / admin / 2 Comments

This is one of those weeks that has no particular event to report or theme that holds it together. We do have a couple of items to cover, though, so will get into a list of miscellaneous happenings that have occured since my last post.

Tractor update:

I changed the transmission and gear oil in the tractor. What a mess! The transmission, rear axle, and hydraulic lift share a common source of oil. I knew the stuff in there had been contaminated over the years and needed to be changed. When I drained it – draining required removing 4 different drain plugs – the stuff that came out didn’t look much like gear oil. It was yellowish in color and had an unpleasant odor. (Some people think any gear oil has an unpleasant odor. They would be wrong.) 🙂 When moisture gets into oil it reacts with the oil’s phosphor and turns the oil a shade of yellow. Microbes start degrading the oil, giving it a particular odor.

Old oil – looks bad, smells worse

The oil capacity is rated at about 5 gallons; only 2 gallons drained out. This seems to be another example of little or no maintenance done over the years on this poor old 8N.

While the oil was draining I pulled the PTO (power take off) shaft out of the back of the tractor and replaced it’s oil seal. The old seal had been leaking as evidenced by the buildup of greasy dirt around the end of the shaft. Since the oil needed to be drained to accomplish this repair it was an opportune time to get this work done. One more task done, one that (I hope) will result in fewer oil leaks on my parking pad.

I put new gaskets on the drain plugs and reinstalled them, then put in the new gear oil. After starting the tractor I worked the lift a few times, up and down, and all seems to be OK. I suspect I will replace the oil again in a few months after I work the tractor for a while. Any old stuff left in the nooks and crannies will get mixed up with the fresh oil and should be drained out in the next change. The oil costs about $50.00 plus a few bucks for the gaskets, not a huge investment to make sure the hydraulic lift and gears get the lubrication they need. Getting the gear oil changed is another task to be marked off the list of needed repairs and maintenance.

Fresh oil comes in 2-gallon jugs

Next task: Reinstall the air cleaner system. The tractor has been sucking in unfiltered air for some years, I suspect! The air cleaner, which is known as an oil-bath filter, was sitting in Mom’s garage when I brought the tractor to Colorado so I have the parts, but there is a junction at the hood that appears to be damaged and will need work.

Sanderling driveway update: No movement. The contractor wrote that 2 more storms and a strong wind had come through this past week and dumped even more snow on the lot. He will keep us posted.

The cats were jealous that I posted dog photos in my last post and wanted equal time. Here is a recent cat photo:

London (left) and Antonio

I had my motorcycle out for the first ride of the season before the last snow fall. Not much of a ride – 26 miles – but it was nice to get up on 2 wheels again. I checked my log and found I had ridden 8,420 miles last year. This included a long trip to Ohio, not in the works for this year, but I do hope to make it to California. A CA rally is tentatively scheduled for mid-July.

We had the rear struts replaced on the Subaru. $614.00. Not fun, but has to be done as we expect to be pulling the trailer to and from the Sanderling lot more this year than we did last year. Next up is purchasing a new set of tires. We are still running on the factory original rubber after more than 85,000 miles, and it is about time for a new set.

Days are getting longer and most of the recent snow has melted. Forecast is to hit 50 degrees this weekend, close to our normal of 48, and we are ready for it.

Pam bought a roller caddy to help haul her briefcase + purse + lunch bag + misc. to and from work. Because she works at home 2 days a week, Pam brings home a lot of material. Rather than trying to carry all of this stuff in her hands, sister Becky suggested Pam investigate wheels. Pam decided to try this L. L. Bean roller caddy.

Pam’s caddy rolls nicely

Caddy has many storage pockets.

We’ll see if this arrangement prevents Pam from taking another header into the ice, as she did on Valentines Day…or will she just skewer herself with the roller caddy next time?

I must be getting old. I will soon apply to start getting funds from my Wisconsin Employee Trust Fund retirement account. It won’t be a lot – $600.00 per month before taxes – but it will come in every month for as long as I live. Just got the application packet in the mail…oh my. Much reading to do before I submit the paperwork. Pam, as my “designated survivor,” would continue to get these funds should I “go” first. Plan is to put these funds in a (457) Roth IRA available to me as part of my current benefits package. Roth plans require after-tax contributions but no taxes are paid on the funds, or their earnings, when you start withdrawing them (mandatory requirement) at the age of 70 and a half. We hope the account will earn big (tax-free) bucks in the next 10 years, but we have to get everything set up and that will take a couple months. (The Wisconsin Employee Trust Fund folks sent me the large envelope with “RET” stamped on the front, gives me some hope I may actually “RET.”)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Boreas Pass 2012

September 10, 2012 / admin / 1 Comment

Pam and I went to Boreas Pass this past Saturday, September 8th. We make this trip at least once a year. Lorraine’s ashes (Pam’s mother) were dispersed at the top of Boreas Pass per Lorraine’s wishes more than 20 years ago.

It was a gorgeous day. Bright, temperate, and just a light breeze blowing made this one of the best days we have had at the top of the pass. The fall colors are beginning to show more strongly with about 20 – 30 percent of the aspen turning color, and Boreas Pass is a good place to go leaf-peeping.

Boreas Pass Road, Fall 2012

There were not a lot of changes at the restored section house and cabin at the top of the pass. Normally we see more flowers blooming, but this visit is later in the year than usual for us and not much was in bloom. The night time temps are probably below freezing already.

Boreas Pass Roadhouse, Fall 2012

After stopping a while, walking the dogs, and taking in the scenery while Pam “spoke” to her mom, we headed down the Como side of the pass en route to visiting the lot at 179 Sanderling Court.

We close on the lot this coming Friday. We wanted to see if the aspen on the lot had begun to turn colors – just a slight tinge so far – and do some more walking around. Pam had never been to the higher parts of the lot and I wanted to show her a potential building site she had not seen before.

We both agreed this alternate building spot on the east (left) side of the lot is better than the initial place I had identified. The first spot is on the west (right) side of the lot in the aspen. It is a little flatter but with more limited views. A drive would have had to be cut through the aspen grove, not a real appealing plan to Pam as she would like to keep the grove intact. The alternate spot is higher up the slope on the eastern part of the lot, has very good views, and is in a “saddle” area with both pine and aspen present. The area is fairly flat; some excavation would have to be done to site a building, but not a great deal.

Then there is “Pam’s Pavilion Point,” an outcropping of rock a couple of minutes walk from the saddle. Excellent views, accessible without having to hike to the back of the lot, and big enough to use as the base for a small gazebo, Pavilion Point is a definite reason to pick this area for a cabin.

Pavilion Point

The saddle area is down by the larger pine tree in the right-center of the photo. Kicker is the drive way, which would have to go up a fairly steep incline before it got to the top of a mostly level ridge. From the top it would be an easy build back to the saddle area. I am going to meet with the driveway contractor whom we have contacted earlier and see what options we have in driveway construction. If this detail can be worked out, and our rough plan indicates it is do-able, the saddle area would be the spot where we would put our cabin.

We finished our day trip by driving into Fairplay and finding the bank building where the closing will take place, then home. It was just about a 12-hour on-the-road day, and we were tired when we got home, but it was a good trip. We are looking forward to the closing this Friday so we can finally say “It’s ours!”

Pam on Pavilion Point

I did not take many photos this trip so do not have a gallery link. I did add a couple new photos to the Boreas Pass collection, first published after our visit last year. Later I will start a Sanderling Court gallery and will be adding to it as we start working the lot.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Kittens, Land Hunt, Tractor, and stuff….

June 16, 2012 / admin / 2 Comments

Time to bring the blog up to date. I have a few different topics to catch up with, so let’s begin. (As usual, clicking on a photo will bring up a larger image.)

Kittens

The shelter Pam does the foster care for called the other day to let us know they had room in the “cat house” for the 6 kittens we have been fostering. Pam dropped them off at the shelter this past Wednesday. This was a good bunch, and I hope they get adopted quickly.

3 kittens from the last foster.

Pam had let the kittens out of the master bath into our adjoining bedroom. At night we put them back in the bathroom. The kittens sure enjoyed the additional space, and particularly enjoyed the water bed!

Kitten faces sure are cute.

We will miss this batch. They were very healthy, personable, and generally a lot of fun. In a couple weeks we will take the mother cat, Precious, in to get her spay operation, then we will put her up for adoption as well.

Land Hunt

The search continues. We looked at 4 or 5 properties the last trip over. Some were interesting, some less so. A couple lots had decent views but you had to look over a neighbor’s house to see them. This is not really what we are after.

One place had an old cabin on it. I found this place moderately interesting, but it had one unusual feature:

Grave on Longbow property

That’s right…a grave. We don’t know if human or animal. Colorado is trying to pass a law that says burials on private land must be registered with the state, then recorded on the land deed. That might be interesting!

The cabin looks like this:

Longbow Way cabin

The main problem with this place is the incredible amount of garbage lying around, including what looked like bits of a broken car windshield. There is a lean-to at the left of the cabin that is a complete tear-down, and another building that could serve as a garage with some work. Views were OK, nothing dramatic. Cabin is not habitable, and it is a better than even chance that it would have to be torn down as well. We decided it would take too much work for us to seriously consider this place, but if the price drops, it may be a possibility.

Tractor

Arriving home with the 8N

I have not taken any close-up photos yet of the tractor, (gee, what a disappointment!) though I have done some work on it. If anything, this poor old beast is in worse shape than I originally thought. For example, it has floorboards, and the right one is just hanging down from one bolt as the rear bracket is broken. I took a close look, and found that someone had tried to weld the bracket, but had only succeeded in welding the bracket to one of the bolts that holds it in place. It took me about a half-hour with a grinder, Vice-Grips, and a socket just to remove the broken bracket. This tractor is going to take a long time to fix up.

I took the front tire that always goes flat in to be fixed, and two different shops refused to work on it due to rust around the tire valve. A new rim is on the list of parts to buy or get. Most parts are available from restoration shops, but that is an expensive way to go. The front rim, without a tire and tube, lists for around $122.00. Oh well. Pam says I am an expensive date.

Gossip

Our neighbor lady is breaking up with her boyfriend. Not amicably, either. We like her better than him, (it is her house and property) but are trying to stay out of this as much as possible. The only reason I mention it here is that it affects our privacy fence. We put enough up to get to the corner of a shed that he had put in her back yard. Well, yesterday he pulled the shed out of the yard! Now our back privacy fence covers only half the property line and we will need to add another 2 sections to fully “privatize” our back yard. And here I thought we were done with the construction phase.

Miscellaneous

Pam will be working a little more from home the next few weeks, as construction on a building across the alley from her office is going to enter the pile driving stage. Her office is below grade, so stands to take the brunt of dust, dirt, noise, and vibration this process will generate. Much, but not all, of Pam’s job involves checking college catalogs on-line, which she can do from home as well as from work. She has the blessing from her department head to take work home and avoid the construction hassle, at least this part of it. She will have to go in for some tasks, but hopes in-office time will only be 2 days a week.

Like most places, we are setting record warm temperatures. No fires (yet) in our part of the state, but the fire danger is extreme. No rain in the forecast for at least the next 10 days. It is highly unlikely we will escape the summer without fires in the area.

Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and this will be the first one where Pam’s father and my dad are both gone, leaving us “fatherless” for the first time. This really brings the transitions of the generations home to us.

I need to mention Becky’s Blog. Becky is Pam’s sister, and Becky has her own blog that we enjoy following. Keep it up, Becky! (http://www.becali-brownmandm.blogspot.com/)

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s father passed away

February 19, 2012 / admin / 1 Comment

Pam’s father, Myron O. Paroubek, passed away this past Friday, February 17th. He was 92 years old.

Readers of this blog will know that Myron had been in failing health for the last 3 years, suffering from Alzheimer’s and other ailments. The immediate cause of death was pneumonia. Myron, a WWII Navy veteran, had been in a VA care center for a few months, but took a turn for the worse a few days ago.

Lorraine, Pam’s mother, had passed away a bit over 20 years ago. Pam has 2 brothers, Larry and Craig, and a sister, Becky. All 3 live in the Midwest.

Myron had requested that he be cremated. A ceremony to inter his ashes will be held Memorial Day week in Merrill, Wisconsin, which is Myron’s home town.

I was not particularly close to my father-in law, who lived a good number of years in Florida after he and Lorraine were divorced. Relations between Myron and his children were strained to a degree, partially because of the physical distances involved, and part as fallout from the divorce. However, things improved when Myron relocated back to the Midwest. Larry, Becky, and Craig were at the hospital during Myron’s last hours.

Myron, who was a Navy machinist during the closing days of WWII, was stationed in Japan after VJ day, and witnessed the signing of the armistice. He had some interesting stories about his time in Japan, the people he saw, and dealing with the aftermath of the war. He worked for most of his after-service life at Trane Company as a machinist and tool-and-die maker. (Trane Company makes air conditioning systems, some of them huge, and they are sold around the world.)

We have a couple photos of Myron with our dogs Blondie and Bru:

Myron and Blondie

Myron and Bru

Myron Oscar Paroubek: 5/3/1919 – 2/17/2012.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Boreas Pass and Mountain Laurie

September 17, 2011 / admin / 3 Comments

First of all, Boreas Pass was a 1880’s narrow-gauge railroad route between South Park and Breckenridge, Colorado. Pam and Jerry first visited in the late ’70s, and found the route by looking up old railroad histories. The route made a pleasant day trip.

Road to Boreas Pass

What turned Boreas Pass into something other than a pleasant day trip was a visit by Pam’s parents, Lorraine and Myron, in 1980. Pam and I took Lorraine and Myron to visit Boreas Pass.

Pam, Jerry, Lorraine, and Myron at Boreas Pass, 1980

Lorraine, who was later christened “Mountain Laurie” by our good friends and neighbors Hank and Elinor, loved the place. She said she felt an affinity for Boreas Pass that she had never felt elsewhere.

This high and remote pass was, at one time, home to several hundred people. There were numerous gold mines in the area, and Boreas had, for a time, its own post office. The Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad built a line to haul supplies into Boreas and into the thriving mining town of Breckenridge, 10 miles away. The railroad built a number of buildings at Boreas, including the roadhouse. This building served as living quarters for railroad employees.

Lorraine felt she had a connection to this area. A believer in reincarnation, Lorraine said she may have had a life here before. The feeling was so strong Lorraine requested her ashes be spread around the small cabin, next to the roadhouse, after she was gone.

Lorraine in front of the cabin at Boreas Pass. 1980

Lorraine, AKA Mountain Laurie, in front of the cabin at Boreas Pass. 1980

Mountain Laurie passed away 20 years ago this November 1st. Per her request, one of her sons-in-law took her ashes and spread them around the small cabin. We hope she is resting in peace. This post is dedicated to her memory. Lorraine was my mother-in-law, but she was also my friend.

We visit every year. We have visited in the spring, summer, and fall. (In the winter the road is closed.) Some years we feel Mountain Laurie’s presence more than others. Spring is best, when the bluebirds are in the area during their migration, and the wild flowers are getting into full bloom. Wild strawberries, no bigger than the tip of Jer’s little finger, ripen close to the ground. High mountains thrust up into the blue sky, and the breeze carries the hint of summer to come.

Its a place in renewal. Fresh young pine are replacing the stumps of the timber cut long ago. The Forest Service has rescued the roadhouse and cabin and plans to preserve them. A steady steam of summer visitors stop, making the location active if not as dynamic as it once briefly was. A historical society occasionally opens the roadhouse and cabin for visitors to enter and learn of the place’s history around a warm pot-bellied stove.

There are worse places to spend eternity.

So, Boreas Pass is special to us. We visited on Labor Day this year. The aspen are just beginning to turn color, many flowers are still blooming, and the weather was great. Other family members, most recently Pam’s brother Craig and his wife Dianne, have been to the cabin on Boreas Pass as well. It is a family affair!

Below is a collection of photos we have taken at Boreas Pass over the years. They are not in any specific order. You can click on the photos to bring up a larger view. The larger view includes titles and captions containing more information about the subject of the photo.
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Thats it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Category: Pam (Page 1 of 2)

Labor Day Weekend

Transitions

Birthday Girl

Alpine Loop

4th of July Weekend – Long Post – Bonus Video

Miscellaneous musings

Boreas Pass 2012

Kittens, Land Hunt, Tractor, and stuff….

Pam’s father passed away

Boreas Pass and Mountain Laurie

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