Tree Down!

So, after 20+ years of watching this fir tree grow from a 15 foot baby to a 50 foot giant and watching as the root system spread across the ground, I finally had to call in a tree guy. He showed up and recommended that I let him feather the tree. That entailed having one of his guys climb the tree and remove enough of the branches to allow it to more easily withstand the windy conditions we get up here on the hill several times a winter.

I hoped that the feathering would do the trick but two years later the roots running across the ground were pulling up further above the ground and was getting more nervous about what could potentially happen if we left the tree alone much longer.

I called several tree experts in to take a look and give us a bid on taking it down. All seemed to agree that removing it would be a good idea. Their bids to remove it varied wildly.

This fir tree towers above our home, the hot tub and has spread out to crowd out a beautiful dogwood. So, I was not much concerned with its demise. Leslie, on the other hand, has the philosophy that we should leave everythng alone. After a discussion though she has begun to defer more to my thoughts on this so this time it was easier to convince her the fir needed to be removed.

We got bids from three outfits here in town. The bids varied from $1,000 to $1,700. In this case I wanted the roots crawling across the ground removed and the stump ground so we could plant new grass. Stump ginding adds several hundred

dollars to the price of the job so, in the past, we have left the trunks. In the other cases the trunks were out of the way and didn't make a difference aesthetically. This stump would.

This morning, the crew showed up and made fast work of the tree. It's kind of sad when you think about how long it took for that tree to grow and the beautiy it added to our yard. But, if it had fallen it would have cost far more to repair the house, which is where it most certainly would have landed.

The branches went first as the tree climber ascended to the top. These were hustled off by the crew to a grinder parked out in the driveway. This kind of work doesn't even attract any gawkers around here. So many nasty, dirty cottonwoods have been taken down in the neighborhood as well as other species due to rot and or the danger of falling, that no one pays much attention.

The tree was down and carted away in about an hour leaving only the stump and roots to be grinded up. The chipper and sounds of chain saws ended and the take down team drove off to the next job.

Sometime later in the afternoon, a single guy drove up in his truck towing the stump grinder, a pretty massive device that looked out of some medieval torture chamber.

The goal was to grind out all the roots running along the ground and to grind the main stump down about 18". We'd come along after a few weeks and fill in the holes with new top soil and reseed with a new lawn.

The biggest issue aestetically is the gapping hole the absence of the tree leaves for the neighbors to peek in on us in the hot tub. So we plan to plant a tree or two later on. But these must not be of a species that grows anywhere near the height of that fir. We thought of a couple of dogwoods similar in height to the ones we already have in the yard but ones of differing colors. That'll be a ways off. Maybe in a year or two when the lawn is well established and the stump has settled down. Anyway, the project is done. Happy day!

Spring and The First Mow

It happenss every year about this time. I head out to the barn out back, unlock the double doors, swing them out and peer into the darkness at my John Deere riding tractor.  I love that tractor. The green and yellow paint, the very idea of owning a John Deere tractor even though it's really a riding mower, makes me smile.

When we bought this place my one caveat was that we would have to buy a riding mower. The steepness of the landscape and the size of the lawn made it all but a necessity. But, even I thought a John Deere brand tractor was a bit pricey when I compared it to a Sears Craftsman mower. So, I went with the Craftsman, and then a few years later after that one began to literally fall apart, I bought another one. After a few years that one. too, began falling apart. Enough!

I headed out to Washington Tractors up in Lynden where I new they had a great selection of John Deere equipment and took a look around. Sure enough there was my new tractor!

Well, maybe I was aiming a bit high. Maybe something a bit smaller would
do. After my daydream of all the cool stuff I could do with that first tractor, I shook it off and wandered over to the area on the lot where riding mowers were on display. I compared the different models and their price tags and settled on that little beauty whose green and yellow backside was staring out at me from the barn door.

I always reach out and give the top of the seat a little stroke before I do anything else. It's also where I hang my ear protectors, A few years too late to protect me from hearing loss, but at least the tractor won't be responsible for any further damage.

As the tractor hasn't been started since last October, the next thing I try and do, usually doesn't work--starting the engine. Inevitably, the battery has gone dead requiring me to connect up the Craftsman device I have in the barn that does still work after 20 years--the battery charger. I pull back the hood and connect the red and black wires to the associated battery leads and turn on the charger. A few hours of this treatment and the tractor is more reasonable about starting. A few cranks until the fuel is running through the lines and she fires up. A puff of smoke comes out the front end and after turning the throttle from choke to run the tractor is ready to back out into the spring sunshine.

The first mowing of the year is usually done with the blades at a higher level as the lawn has become lush and long after all the rain. A second swath at a lower level will usually get the lawn about the right height.

The biggest problem with the first mowing is all the leaves and branches and twigs that lie all over the yard as a result of the sometimes fierce wind storms we can get. I can mow over a lot of it, mulching it as I go. But, there is always enough that can't be mowed to fill the back of the pick-up truck, often a couple of times. Some of that is clippings we have created as a result of new branches that pop out from exisitng plants and trees and out over areas they are not welcome. Blackberries are the biggest offenders and they are a huge pain to get at, always resulting in scratched up arms and hands, blood oozing as if I'd had a fight with a cat. It never seems to matter whether I wear a long-sleeved shirt and leather gloves, I'm still a mess.

And so it goes. Another trip around the sun. Spring has sprung. Daffodils are blooming, camilias, too. The flowering plums are a riot of pink color up and down our street.  The tulips won't be far behind and then we'll leap into those short precious summer months when the sun is up at 6 in the morning and doesn't set until well after 9 PM. Then, as is the way of the far pacific northwest, the days will begin to shorten until the sun comes up later and later and sets by 4.

Happy spring everyone. Enjoy it while it lasts. I know we will.

Shakedown Cruise

We left the harbor on what was predicted to be a maybe go, maybe stay kind of day on Thursday, March 30 from our slip in the Squalicum marina. As it turned out it would be a glorious day full of sunshine and a light breeze. In short, a perfect spring day for cruising.

Our Key of Sea had only recently had its spring maintenance completed--fresh oil, fuel filters, new coolant, battery fluids checked and a general check up.The engines were prronounced in great shape. With the waste tank cleaned and the fresh water tank fresh and topped off, we started the engines at about 1:00 in the afternoon and pointed the bow to the south for the 2 and a quarter hour cruise to the Cap Sante marina in Anacortes.

Snagboat W.T. Preston on the Anacortes waterfront.

This marina is a favorite of ours. It is well managed, with plenty of slips available at reasonable prices. The shore power system is so easy to plug into, the exact opposite of our home port where skills as an acrobat would be very handy to get yourself plugged in. The biggest attraction at Cap Sante is its proximity to so many services, amenities and attractions. 

View from Cap SantePark

Two major grocery stores are within an easy walk, as are several restaurants. Every kind of boat repair and maintenance service is right there in the harbor. The entire main street of the town, Commercial Street, is only a block walk away. It is lined with restaurants, antique shops--a shoppers delight. Add to that a couple of unique attractions including the historic snagboat, W.T. Preston and a hike up to Cap Sante Park with its amazing view of the marina and in all directions.

We arrived in the marina about 3:15 and edged into our prearranged slip, C28. It was a bit of a rough landing. Two other boaters nearby came running to help get us finally into our spot. We tied up and began settling in. Aside from a couple of other boats, we were really alone on the dock. The rest of those attending the rendezvous wouldn't arrive until the next day.

Our cruise south to Anacortes had been sunny so I'd decided to run things from the flybridge. Unsure of the weather the following day, I decided to close things up up top. I covered the captain's chair with its canvas cover and then pulled the main canvas over the entire bridge to protect it from the wind and rain in the forecast.

We hadn't paid our moorage or power fees so we walked up to the marina office. The reciept included a discount for marina customers at Anthony's so we headed over for lunch. 

Crowd for dinner Saturday

After a great night's sleep we prepared for the boats arriving from our squadron as well as those from Friday Harbor's squadron and from the Bellingham Yacht Club. Boats began trickling in by around noon. By 5:00 most of the boats had arrived and the dock was pretty full. Docktails began down at the party barge at 6 and the evening was spent visiting with friends and making new ones.

Saurday morning dawned with overcast, windy skies and the threat of rain. Most folks seemed to hole up on their boats. Our friends Erik Senuty and Ione Adams were heading into town for a walk and some breakfast and invited us along. We wound up at Adrift, a great restaurant. Then wandered town before heading back to the boats.

Joe and Carol Young performed

Dinner that evening was a chicken BBQ and potluck on the party barge, There was a great spread of goodies from the boaters and the evening was filled with the music of Joe and Carol Young, well-known Bellinghamster musicians, who played music classic rock and folk songs most of which the crowd could sing along with.

Sunday morning we packed up and bugged out earlier than most of the others as we needed to get Leslie back to B'ham for a couple of music department events. We were unsure of the weather for Sunday but it wound up quite lovely for the cruise home. Not much sun but no rain and flat calm seas. 

Spring Break Roadtrip 2017

Just back from a week-long trip down to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. We generally attend nearly every year to take in as many shows as we can. We hadn't been in a couple of years so we decided it would be our Spring Break destination. We've been attending this Festival since the mid 80's when we took our daughter for the first time.

On our way down we made an overnight stop to visit the fam in Seattle. Any excuse to see our granddaughter, Evie. Nick cooked us one of his famous Sunday Roasts which was a whole roasted chicken and potatoes the way his grandmother taught him to make them. I can't tell you exactly how he does it but they are amazing. He also makes a gravy to pour over everything and a veg on the side. Great dinner!

I was playing with Evie when she spotted my ipad and I shared a bunch of photos of her. I described each one as we went along. When we got to one of her hand on top of mine, which is one of my very favorite photos, I explained that it was her hand on top of mine. She reached her hand out and gently placed it on top of mine like in the photo. It was a definitely an Ahhhhh moment.

The next morning (Monday) we headed south for Ashland. There are no shows on Monday so it is a good travel day to arrive there and then get a good night's sleep before taking in a show the next day. We have stayed in the same Choice Hotel in south Medford for many years. Inexpensive but well maintained. It is in a great location, too. Right behind the Harry and David's outlet store and next to old Highway 99 which we use to drive the 10ish miles into the heart of Ashland.

When we arrived Monday late afternoon, we decided to have dinner at Mexican restaurant we'd discovered on-line. It was the number 1 rated Mexican place in town so we headed over. El Molcajete Mexican Grill turned out to be on the same street as our hotel so it was a quick drive over. Very good food. Good enough that we went back again before leaving for home at the end of our stay. When you sit down they sere you the usual chips and salsa but also sit a plate of frijoles in front of you.

Our first show was Julius Caesar. It was a disappointment. We have not been very impressed with a lot of the Shakespeare productions in Ashland for quite a few years. Actually, about the time the new artistic director arrived. I'm not sure if it is poor directing or poor acting or both but the acting just seems uninspired, as if the actors had no idea how to deliver a Shakespearean line. Which was odd considering the next show we saw.

Day 2 we spent the day stopping by some of our must do places in the Medford and Ashland area. We always walk over to the Harry and David's store and always find some great bargains, too. A stop at the Rouge Valley Creamery in Central Point as well as Lille Belle Farms Chocolate which is right next door to the creamery are aslo a must. The creamery is famous for its bleu cheeses and Lillie Belle its handmade chocolates. Often times we can buy the Rouge Valley Blues at the Harry and David's store cheaper so we always check there first.

On this trip we also discovered that the Dagoba Chocolate factory is in Ashland, so we made a stop there and stocked up. Great sampling there, too.

That evening we attended Shakespeare in Love which was brilliantly acted! It followed the film pretty closely with a few adjustments for the stage, but it was so good.

Our final show was Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles. This adaptation of Euripedes' Medea follows an immigrant Mexican family across the border and then as they attempt to adapt to life in America with some tragic consequences. It was superb!

Heaven On Earth

So, two out of three ain't bad. We rejoined as members while there which gives certain priviledges including use of the member's lounge and a chance to purchase tickets early each year. It also allowed us to return our tickets to the fourth play we'd intended to see but decided to head towards home early because we wanted to get back for a concert Kate was doing with Choral Arts NW.

Heading north, we made a pit stop ata place we'd only recenty read about in a travel magazine. The Heaven On Earth Bakery in Azalea, Oregon could easily be missed if you aren't looking for it and quite frankly, the place is pretty dumpy. But the baked goods are very yummy!

We stopped in Albany for the night for two reasons, so we'd have a shorter drive the next day to Seattle, and to eat at Novak's Hungarian Restaurant!
We've been making stops here for many years following the restaurant to three different locations. It is currently in downtown Albany, in a great old building. Perfect for the old world style food they serve. We highly recommend it.

Finally, arrived in Seattle after a hellish drive through several stop and go sections of I-5 which all turned out to be accidents. We stoped at Fred Meyer to put up dinner fixings--a whole chicken, an onion, carrots and yams to make a roast.

Had a fun afternoon playing with Evie while dinner cooked, then headed to Everett where Kate's concert was happening. Enjoyed the concert despite it being 3 hours long. It was a Passion written by a local composer who had been commisioned by the choir to write it. It was based on the writtings of Rudyard Kipling whose son was killed during WWI. Very moving in places. Sad, but it was nice to be able to be there to support Kate in something she loves to do.

As the concert wasn't over until 11:00, we didn't arrive home until well after midnight. We poured ourselves into bed and slept very well after a very long, happy day.

Dinghy Issues

Shortly after purchasing the Key of Sea I lowered the dinghy that came with it and climbed aboard to take it out for a trial run. However, stepping into the little boat it became immediately apparent that this dinghy was not going to meet our needs. With only me in it there was almost no freeboard (the distance between the water line and the gunwhale). Scary. 

We started looking around and found  a reasonably priced new dinghy down in Anacortes, WA and bought it. It was around $1,000 (a boat buck) and seemed like a good deal. 

Quillback rockfish

Fast forward 6 years later to our 3 week cruise to Canada. I took the dinghy out several times on my own to go fishing. I caught a ton of these rock fish species called Quillbacks. Great fun to catch and when I'd get into a good spot they'd be on my line almost constantly. Two problems with them though. One, they are a proteced species in a lot of places meaning you can't catch them. That's a problem if your fishing and you catch them. So, I tossed a lot of fish back. Second, take a look at the photo of the fish I posted here. Notice those spiny looking fins? Well, they ARE spines. Sharp spines. Now imagine my bringing the fish into the dinghy and wrestling with the fish long enough to get the hook out without causing too much damage to the critter or me. The fish is flopping around on the floor of the dinghy, those spines bouncing off the floor. Now for the bad news. The floor of our dingy is inflatable and made of rubber. It didn't take long before I noticed the damage done. Suddenly the air in the floor of our dinghy was leaking out at a pretty fast rate.

That dinghy is our life boat should we need to leave The Key of Sea in an emergency. With the floor constantly going flat, we had ourselves a big problem. Fortunately we didn't need it for the rest of the cruise. BUT!!!

When we returned home I found a repair place in Anacortes and took the floor, which is removable, down to their shop. A couple of hundred dollars later the floor was "fixed" and I reinstalled it. It kept inflated pretty well needing refilling about once or twice a year.

Fast forward to today. When I visited the boat a few days ago I noticed the floor was entirely flat. So I took it out and brought it home to check it out.

Our current dinghy a Mercury 310

I like to lay things across the spa cover out back because it gives me a large flat space about waist high to spread things out and get a good look at them. So I took the floor out to my shop and inflated it with my compressor. Then put on top of the spa cover. I grabbed a spray bottle I'd filled with water and dish soap and started spraying soapy water across the surface of the floor. It didn't take long to see tiny bubbles beginning to form in spots here and there, even along the seams. Tiny, very tiny.What effect this has on the inflation of the floor is apparent. The solution? Probably a new dinghy.

But what to purchase? Certainly not one with an inflatable floor.

Inflatable dinghies are the biggest sellers. They are light weight, inexpensive and hold a lot of people and or weight when compared to most other options on the market. But even the inflatables come in a wide range of models.

The least expensive are the inflatable floor versions. I now see why.  Then there are the RIBs or Rigid Inflatable Boat. These have the inflatable side tubes you are familir with if you've seen the famous Zodiak boats. But, they're hulls, the bottom of the boat inside and out are made of a rigid material, either fiberglass or aluminum. The fiberglas is usually less expensive than the metal hull. You also have the option of a single or double floor, the double floor being more expensive but more stout and heavier.

__________________

So, 3 days later, the inflated dinghy floor is still holding its pressure. So I'm thinking 1) the dinghy still has some life in it and 2) I will try and get another season or 2 out of it. Good news, for now.

The Honda 2 hp outboard that fits on that dinghy is in the shop right now as it wouldn't start when I last tried. A call the shop this morning which yielded the news that it was only one of 20 other 2 hp motors in the shop and that it would probably be another couple of weeks before it would be looked at. I suspect the slow turn around is due to the local charter fleet, which has almost all Honda 2 hp motors on their dinghies and has probably got all of them in for seasonal
maintenance.

This little fellow just barely works on our 10+ foot dinghy and I am in the market for a higher horse power engine. Maybe next season. It does the job of getting us to and from shore when we anchor out and works when I want to wander off a ways from the boat to do some fishing. Its two basic flaws are that, due to it being only 2 hp, the dinghy is more difficult to control at lower RPMs. So, when I am approaching the big boat to connect to the davit system, I usually have to make a couple of runs at it. At low RPMs the dingy just starts heading off on its own. Secondly, the motor only has an internal fuel tank. The small tank is okay for most applications but if you are heading off too far afield, you may find yourself running out of fuel. The dinghy has oars that work fine but rowing back to the boat in wind or waves or if you motored too far from the boat, well, it's just not

1 gal, fuel tank

much fun.

So we have begun taking a one gallon tank of fuel with us in case we run low. I also always make sure to top off the internal tank after returning to the boat and checking the tank before we leave to make sure we start out with a full tank.

Honda generator

We found out recently (a couple of years ago now) that the fuel most ffolks are using in their cars has ethanol in it and ethanol is BAD for small engines. So, we've located a couple of service stations in town that sell ethanol-free fuel and make sure that is all that goes into that little gas can. Using the ethanol fuel apparently has a negative effect on delicate systems inside the engine so my outboard motor and the Honda generator aboard are only fed this special and a bit pricier fuel. As a result we should have fewer mechanical issues and the devices should last much longer.

Boating Ettiquette 101

I must admit I didn't know about all of these ettiquette points myself when I started boating. I've always just brushed off any help from guests aboard our Key of Sea. Ahhh, no need to bring anything except yourselves was my mantra.

But after a year or two of watching guests hop off the boat and walk down the dock to their car with little more than a "Thanks, we had a great time! Lets do it again soon!", I quickly figured out that these little jaunts or multi-day fishing trips were leaving me holding a big bill--for the food, the beverages and the fuel. At $4 a gallon a boat that burns through 3 gallons an hour (and our boat gets good gas mileage), even a quick twirl around the bay can get pricey. I know, it's only $12 for an hour's entertainment. But there is also the wear and tear on the engine(s) down below that must be maintained in order for our guests not to find themselves floating around out there due to an engine failure, the maintenance and replacement of other parts and critical items aboard--life jackets, the head, the fresh water system, the electrical system, the electronics, and on and on. Boaters have taken up a very expensive hobby. They must love it or they'd sell their boat after the first season when they get a repair bill!

Then there are the traditional  points of ettiquette like #1 below. So, looking around, I found this great primer for those who might find themselves a guest on a friend's boat. It came from a blog written by Margaret Page. So read on and next time you have a chance to board a boat as a friend or guest, mind your manners!

Proper manners—the art of practicing good social graces—transcend beyond dry land with something salty dogs call “boating etiquette.”

Whether you’re going out on the water for an afternoon of sailing, or for a weekend of sea-faring adventures, the first rule of thumb when you’re a guest on someone’s boat is that the captain (or the skipper) is boss. His/Her boat. His/Her rules.

Here are some more tips to ensure you’ll get invited back the next time the boat leaves the dock:

1. Ask permission before boarding. When boarding a boat, always ask permission from the person onboard first. “Permission to come aboard” is a standard, and appreciated, boater’s courtesy.

2. Buy the fuel. If you’re an invited guest, offer to pay for the cost of the fuel. It’s the least you can do and will show your gratitude for being invited along for the ride.

3. Don’t show up empty-handed. You can bet your host was at the dock before sunrise readying the boat for the journey and will be at the boat long after you've gone washing it down and checking off a lengthy list of items that must be checked whenever you leave or return.  Offer to bring along lunch for everyone. Your skipper will appreciate having one less thing to prepare.

4. Pack light, but smart. Bring the minimum amount of clothing for the climate—to conserve space on the boat—but be prepared. Sunscreen, sunglasses, sea sickness medication, personal meds, a waterproof jacket, non-slip footer, and a warm sweater should be on your list.

5. Play it safe. Be sure you know the “rules” of the boat. If you’re captain doesn’t tell you where the safety vests are, ask. And don’t mess with the dials, buttons, gauges, radios, or anything that even resembles an electronic instrument used to keep the boat afloat.
Help the skipper. Help the skipper only if given specific instructions. This is not the time to improvise.

6. Stay out of the way. Use common sense here. The captain has a lot to think about—traffic, weather, waves, the best place to find fish. A boat is a small space so stay out of the way when you need to.

7. Ask before you “go.” Before you use the “head,” get proper operating instructions. No two marine heads operate alike and a clog caused by excessive amounts of toilet tissue can be expensive (and messy!) In some boats, “If it did not go in your mouth it does not go in the head,” so it’s better to ask first!

8. Quiet down. If you’re a nighthawk, and you’re spending the night at sea with friends, be sure to keep the noise to a minimum after the “early-to-bed” guests have turned in for the night.

9. Keep it clean. Another no-brainer here, but “If you make a mess, clean it up,” or you’re likely to be removed from the captain’s guest list the next time he sets sail. Be sure to dispose of the trash AFTER you dock.

10. Don’t rock the boat. Wait until the boat has docked to gather your personal items and make your way off the boat. The sudden shift can distract the captain as he is trying to dock.

Be a great guest and you'll probably get a return invite.

My Homemade Chicken Soup

It really isn't a big secret. Its just that most people opt for the short cuts that, in the end, leave them wondering why their soup isn't all that great or, they just don't care that their soup could be so much better.

Toss 'em!

The difference between a so-so soup and soup the way its supposed to taste? Simple...its all about the stock you start with. And there are no short cuts for this. Not cans of stock, not cardboard boxes of stock, not the powder in the jars or the little cubes wrapped in foil. Start your next soup by tossing all those options in the trash.

You create a great stock with fresh ingredients. Fresh meats and fresh herbs.My stock. Okay, Let's start with a chicken stock. I'm making one up this weekend for a homemade chicken soup.

Stock simmering

 Start with a big stock pot of fresh, cool water (a couple of gallons). As you bring it up to a boil, toss in a whole chopped onion, 4 stalks of celery and 4 carrots all rough chopped. Add 2-3 cloves of garlic, a couple of bay leaves, several whole black pepper corns, a teaspoon of salt and one whole chicken. Parts or whole. Its okay to use the wings, thighs, backs and drumsticks saving the breasts for fancier needs if you want. Bring it all to a boil and then turn it down to simmer for 45 minutes.

Turn it off and pour the stock off through a colander into a another stock pot. Put the stock in the fridge overnight. Skim off most of the fat from the top the next day before reheating.

Strip cooled chicken meat off the bones and put it away in the fridge until tomorrow. Toss the herbs and veggies away. Pull or cut up the chicken meat into bit sized chucks.

The next morning, Scrap of the fat that has formed on the surface of the chicken stock. You decide how much to leave to add fat to the soup. Bring the stock back up to a boil while adding the following:

3-4 carrots sliced into coins
3-4 stalks of celery cut the same thickeness as the carrot coins.
1 onion chopped
1 pond of a pasta of your choice
Chicken chunks

Your basic simple chicken soup, Yum!

As the stock returns to a boill, toss in all the above ingredients and turn stock down to a simmer. Let soup simmer for 15-20 minutes. Check the seasoning. Add black pepper and salt to taste. When the veggies and pasta are almost soft (al dente), turn off the heat and set the soup aside. Serve when ready. Sprinkle a little chopped parsley over the top or tortilla chips or cilantro. Add your favorite hot sauce. Use your imagination!

Add tomatoes, beans, other veggies or herbs to suit your personal tastes.A little of this and little of that and you easily go from a chicken soup to a minestrone or any of dozens of other variations.