I needed to take care of some business in Humboldt, so I made the 3.5-ish hour drive up on Saturday morning. I'll warn you in advance, there are no pictures today. I had my camera, but I just was so busy I forgot to take pictures! I'll try to make pictures with words. The chock-ful visit started at 10 am with coffee/visit at Ramone's with Dana, who worked at Blue Heron. It's always enjoyable to "talk shop" on education, as well as catch up on Green Party happenings. I discovered that I was one of 183 people in Lake County who voted for Jill Stein. And that Humboldt County had the highest percentage of Green Party voters in the entire nation (3.9%). Go Humboldt!
After that, I had a phone chat with my friend Jen,, who lives in Seattle. We visit every Saturday, but this week I was sitting in my car looking out over the Arcata Bottoms, with blue sky and phenomenal fluffy white clouds.
Then I checked in at my rental to take care of some business, and enjoyed picking up some Gala apples. I was impressed with the size and number of apples on the tree this year! Also snacked on a few raspberries. Yes, raspberries in November. When I have a house where I can have a garden, I'm taking some starts of those raspberries. Heavenly.
Stopped to see my friends Sharon and Sam at the pasture, and picked up a huge hornets/wasps nest they had found while building fence. Going to take it back to school for some hands-on science. It is very old, and empty, so no worries. Just in case I've put it in a plastic bag, sealed, to see if anything comes out in the next day or so. It's pretty amazing because it has blackberry brambles that have grown through it, like arrows piercing a heart.
Next stop was my old house to see my friends Dena and Gary and Kiah (the dog). I bestowed Gloria's purple rain coat on Kiah, who looked smashing. Her collar matches, so it was meant to be. :) Ended up going for a good hike at Trinidad Beach with Dena and Kiah. Kiah is an Australian Shepherd, and she met many fans of Aussies at the beach that day. She loves being an ambassador for the breed! The beach was having one of those near perfect days: low tide, blue sky, aqua-green waves turning over in glistening, near-translucent pikes.
Leaving Dena and Kiah in Westhaven, I stopped off in McKinleyville to say hello to Davena and her family (Will and the ever adorable Ewan). Had a good visit, picked up a book to share with students at school with word play and alteration. I have an idea about having upper grade students make stories along the same line to share with lower grade students... Ewan shared a book, Moo, Baa, La-la-la. My favorite moment was when he was carrying his blanket around, running, and he made this exaggerated prat fall, slow motion to his knees and hands, finally laying flat. Then he looks up to see who was watching. Hilarious! Also made tentative plans for a visit during TG break, on their way to family! Very cool. It motivated me when I got home to figure out the heating in my house. :)
Next (yes, this is still Saturday) I went to Eureka to pick up a few things for my winter wardrobe. Lake County is getting pretty chilly. I still have a few warm tops from Idaho, but I "under-grew" most everything, else. My friend Sharon came in to help with colors (thank you!). I'm really pleased with what I found, and I look forward to being a lot warmer! After shopping for clothes, Sharon and I ate dinner at Pachanga, which is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Humboldt County.
I went "home" to my old house and slept in my old room (Thank you Dena!). At one point, I woke up to the sound of my clock ticking. I listened to it, and smiled, feeling so at home. Then I realized that I did not have my clock here anymore! The sound promptly disappeared. At another point in the night, I woke up to the sound of the heater kicking on, and I was startled, because I do not have a heater going at my house on the lake yet. So I got up, and tried to navigate through my new home to the heater panel. That sent me into a wall, because the hall I was going down does not exist in my old house. LOL.
Sunday morning I got up, ate some potato-cauliflower soup Dena left for me (Thank you!) and enjoyed the morning. Gary came by and helped me change the battery in my car. I owe him a debt of gratitude, because there is no way I could have done it myself, after seeing what it entailed. Nothing is easy on the Jetta, except driving it! When we hauled the battery out, I confirmed my suspicions: it was the original battery, with an installation date of Dec 2002. A ten year old battery! Needless to say, Jetta is quite peppy now, and I will need to watch my gas foot until I get used to it again.
On my way out of town I stopped at my old pasture to give wormer to the pony, who was due, and visit with Katrin and Erika. It was good to catch up and I enjoyed hearing Erika's stories about school, and learning that 5 + 1 is 6, and 7-1 is 6. :) Then I stopped to say goodbye to Sharon and Sam, and pick up my other key for Jetta so I can hopefully avoid another call to a locksmith here in Lake County (that was last weekend...).
Last but not least, I swung my my friend Kathy's house (she visited me last weekend) to buy my annual quart of Dick's honey and visit for a few minutes. I learned from Kathy and Dick that the birds I labeled "Pie-Billed Grebes" are actually American Coots! Kathy bestowed me with a package of soft wool socks for cold Lake County mornings (thank you!!).
I hit the road and made it home in time to give my horses their evening grain and a hug. Phew! A good trip, chock full of good people and scenery. I love Humboldt County for its beauty, but especially for all my friends who live there. When I woke up this morning and looked out on my lake, I smiled, thinking about how much I am growing to love Lake County for all its beauty, and for all my new friends who live here, many who I have yet to meet!
As I mentioned earlier, this morning I found out how the heat works (forced air, throughout the whole house) because it has gotten so cold here. It seems to work well, and I closed all the vents in the other rooms so its just heating the kitchen and living room. Now I can have visitors without worrying that they are going to lose fingers and toes to the cold. :)
Today is Veteran's Day. I extend my appreciation and gratitude to all my family and friends who have served in the military.
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