Labor Day Stars and Air Quality

         Just six and a half months before the pandemic Roland, Jenna and I had gone to Bandon.  And yet it feels like decades ago since we made that trip on Labor Day weekend last year. I did not think about that Labor Day until yesterday when I was looking for a picture of the fog. 

        We chose not to go anywhere this year due to COVID.  When Labor Day had turned into night I was lying in bed and looking up at the stars.  What a beautiful sight to see stars all summer.  I didn’t realize that Labor Day would be my last opportunity even though I spent several minutes admiring the twinkles (which appeared to be twinkling as the fan had been lightly moving the blinds).

The next day the RS pres. had picked up to attend a mini-RS meeting.  We’ve had four now beginning in Canyonville, Riddle, Working sisters, and Tri-City.  Will have one more in Myrtle Creek.  I enjoyed the scenery as we were outdoors.  The light breeze was inviting.  The skies were clear on the drive home.  But sometime between 1:00 and 1:30 the smoke crept over the mountains until they seemed to disappear.

Sometimes fog and smoke will appear the same as both distort our vision.  But fog is clean and rises. I don’t have any problems breathing in the moist clean air.  Smoke descends – it envelopes and lingers.  Smoke is not pleasant.  It chokes. It destroys.  It does assist with cool colors sometimes.  But it’s certainly not worth what the fires take away.

From earlier posts I am sharing these pictures of the fog and the smoke:

Sept 5, 2019 fog Bandon Beach

Sept 5, 2019 Bandon

Tri City Smoke Sep 2017

Bandon fog

smoke Myrtle Creek

the worst the smoke has ever appeared 2017

2017 before masks were a required fashion statement

current Star Mountain fire cropped from KZEI photo

    

 Our hometown has not been surrounded by smoke and fire as it was in 2017.  I don't recall the governor issuing evacuation orders in 2017 as the hot topic that's been presented this year.  We have been told that the entire state are at Level 1: be prepared to leave Level 2: pack up to head out and Level 3: LEAVE RIGHT NOW.  

We are at a level 1 saddly there have been and continue to be several at Level 3.

Enough Already!

 

                The worst sound, for me, is to hear my daughter cry and not being able to do anything about it.  Fortunately for us she does bounce back quickly.  It’s been a tremendously hard year for everybody.  This week has come with new personal challenges as well.

            Jenna started school yesterday.  Her Utah friends are in their second or third week but her local friends won’t be starting school until next week.  Everything online as of now.  Jenna has run into a few snags but has been able to figure them out on her own.  I don’t think returning to school online has been the most stressful thing for her.

            I haven’t gone into much detail about her friends as I know there was a time when she had friends reading different posts from my blog.  That may or may not continue.  I don’t know.  As with in West Valley, most of her friends come from broken homes.  There is one friend who has mostly lived with dad but her visits to mom seem to come more often and for longer periods.  This time she has asked Jenna if she would care for her dog while she is out of town.

            We brought the dog to our house last night.  Bouncy and excited like a puppy.  Jenna, who does not have the best sleeping patterns as it is, was crying and uncertain what to do.  Roland managed to get the dog to lay down for twenty minutes or so.  We ended up taking her back to the empty house.

            We had signed up to feed the missionaries tomorrow night.  I had mentioned here that Roland had wanted to make nice steak dinners for them.  I figured the only way we were going to do that was to bring it to them – which it appears we will end up doing as the air is too unhealthy to feed and visit them outside.  Jenna loves having the missionaries over.  Taking dinner to them is just not the same.  And so she has cried about that.  Chances are they won't be able to keep their appointment with us anyway as other missionaries have had to be evacuated from various cities.  I'm certain that they are under mandatory restriction to stay inside.

We retrieved the dog this morning after we went to Dollar General to pick up a leash, flea collar, and toy.  Jenna got a blanket from her friends room.  I drove the car home while Jenna walked the dog – or was it the other way around?  It appeared that the dog had been pulling Jenna.

We are hoping that the dog will have more time to get used to the surroundings than what she did last night.  I had actually been looking forward to watching her chasing chickens this morning.  It’s still smoky outside.  It’s a health hazard for people.  Would imagine it would be a health hazard for pets as well.  The walk from her friend’s house to ours doesn’t seem to have worn the dog out at all.

The sun has appeared to orange, red and yellow as it rises.  Thus far this morning does not seem quite as smoky as last night.  The mountains are more visible – though not fully exposed.  Outside still feels like a science fiction movie.

Swallowed Up

 

                                                this photo shows the opposite.  Sky is white and sun is blood red

Evacuations are taking place all around the state

Douglas County has had some fires

Douglas County is large and so we aren’t always

directly infected at Myrtle Creek and have not seen

smoke all summer and so I can’t complain about it

only today did the smoke swallow the mountains

It almost feels overcast outside and yet

there's a yellow/orange/white reflection from the sky.

The smoke has left the sun with an awesome glow that has an

eerie feel to it when it peers through my windows like

in science fiction movies when the aliens are

about to invade.  But it is 2020 after all. 

The last six months have seemed like a

work of science fiction.  I think it looks like this on

the entire west coast right now.

This all took place within a matter of minutes.  I can now barely see the house across the street.  I guess we'll be using masks not only for COVID but to hopefully breath under all this enveloping smoke. (cough, cough)

Squeaky Floors, Beds, and Bathroom Trips

          Before we moved into the house we noticed that the floor squeaked.  Whenever we walked on a certain spot over the floor it sounded as though the boards were so loose that we would easily fall through the floor.  I suspect the carpet was laid down to cover a variety of flaws that should have been repaired and are still in need and will be repaired in time.  Just not now.

          Before COVID Roland did have someone come out to level the house.  He got rid of the squeak in the front room but managed to move it to our bedroom – which is worse.  At least in the front room we could walk around it but I do not have a choice in the bedroom.  It is right next to my side of the bed.

          Even before I was married I had a weak bladder – meaning I could not make it through the entire night without at least one bathroom trip.  I suspect that is because I prefer the cool temperatures and apparently the coolness on the outside of my body triggers my “pipes” to leak on the inside.  Only the last few years have sent me more than once during the night – which is why I try not to drink all of the water during the night.  But I really don’t enjoy being dry.

          Anyway whenever I step on the floor it disturbs Jenna – I think because she enjoys sleeping on the floor.  Her and Randy.  They prefer their mattresses from firm to concrete (concrete being the perfect firmness).  Up until two weeks ago the mattress in her room was the most uncomfortable mattress I have ever encountered.  I don’t think I’ve ever had any oatmeal or pancake mix as lumpy as that mattress was.  Roland ordered her a folding bed that she is currently sleeping on. She has more space in her room and it does look nice.

          Roland and I used to have a sleep-number bed.  I managed to pop two chambers – though I can’t figure out why the last one popped as I did not use it much.  Even before we had moved to Oregon I would often fall asleep in the recliner as I read or watched TV and Jenna and Roland would just leave me there.  We had purchased a recliner to put in the bedroom so that Roland wouldn’t feel so alone.  Finally we upgraded to a non sleep-number and the bed reclines each side.  I control my side.  Roland controls his.  We’re closer but he still doesn’t like it because I sleep reclined and he sleeps flat.  He feels like we’re in two different beds.  It’s a major pain to make. But I do sleep better so I guess it’s worth it.

          Still have an issue with the room temperature however.  I want it cool.  He pulls all the covers around him.  I have a blanket over my feet as they are always cold.  I think I will roast when it's cold outdoors and Roland thinks it will have to be over 75 degrees in order to fall asleep.  I don't make as many bathroom trips when I am hot.  But I don't sleep well either.

Lots of Packages

 Roland has ordered many things for

home improvement. 

We hung up the blinds that

were delivered. 

Jenna spray painted a pineapple topper

(it had been ordered in black but

arrived in silver and bent).

 

Hung that over the porch

 (picture to be added). 

Hung spiders and a spiderweb

(also to be added) and Roland

noticed that the flag on the

mailbox had been turned down. 

 

I retrieved a little square box and

asked him what he was expecting

from Henderson Nevada. 

He had ordered a Swee’ Pea bank as

he has given me the nickname Sweet Pea. 

He had made this card for me on

my birthday at the end of May.

Steak is Not a Lap Food

Roland accepted another opportunity to feed the elders. 

This time we will be feeding four of them.

Roland wants to provide them with a steak dinner. 

That means we will have to use real plates instead of paper. 

Hey, wait a minute . . .

last time we had the Elders over we put all

the food on the table so that they could

load up their plates with whatever they wanted. 

 

Each of us held our plates over our laps. 

That isn’t going to work with steak. 

The missionaries are not allowed to come inside or

even knock on the door. 

It’s not like we have extra tables hanging around that

we can take outside.

 

Roland had suggested a barbeque with

hamburgers and hotdogs.

Jenna and I were hoping for Hawaiian haystacks. 

They’ve been to other barbeques.

For the most part when we’ve had haystacks it

Has been a new idea to at least one elder.

I think Jenna and I may have won out.

Roland is now purchasing toppings for haystacks.

Wahoo!

 

I suppose we could make steak dinner and

just drop it off to them. 

But we would rather have their company than

just feed them.

 

 

Another Spelling Error

There is evidently enough people who spell label incorrectly (me being one of them) that this site was created.  I apologize to my readers of foreign tongue who may have struggled through my posts or given up on them.  Often I wonder what the draw is to keep some readers signing in.  Perhaps they enjoy a challenge and can find that through several of my posts.  I guess it’s quite obvious that I don’t always use a spell check or use grammarly.

When I was at the MTC we were often divided into groups and were asked to solve problems.  One specific example that comes to mind  was discouraging the use of labels.  Each group was told that we’d be going on a mission to outer space and were given a list of items that we should bring.   To add to the challenge each of us was given a label which was placed over our foreheads so that each member of the group could read what they were except for his/her own.

Each label I saw was negative.  I don’t even remember what all of them were or how many but one was something along the line of “dismiss all suggestions” and one said “ignore me”.  I did not know what was on my forehead until the end of the activity but I did not view it as negative.  No matter what stupid thing I said (and I’m sure that it was all stupid – or if it was correct I picked it for the wrong reason) everyone else would agree with me – including the one we were all ignoring. 

I remember I had felt bad for ignoring the Elder who could have saved us all if we had listened to him as I believe he had either gotten them all correct or had missed only one.  I, on the other hand, had killed off my group.  It was a great activity.  It showed us how we need to work together and communicate with one another.  I hope that all others felt the same way.

I don’t even know what triggered my memory of this event nor could I remember whether I had shared it in another post before.   I did not find anything to indicate that this had been shared already. As I was searching I realized that I had four posts in which I misspelled “lable” and some (though not as many) spelled “label”.   So there you go.

Those Yellow Jackets Were Not Social Distancing

             After Jenna got stung Roland told me to call an exterminator.  Normally when I Google something (such as pest control) I skip their first suggestion and move on.  Evidently Roland goes with Google’s first suggestion and had me call an overly expensive pesticide which uses a contracting system – only we did not know that until 10:30 yesterday morning.

The agent was nice and obviously honest.  Each of us believed the Yellow Jackets were just a one time thing as we have lived in this house for more than four years and have never had a problem with Yellow Jackets – even during the time our deck was being built.

So I called another company and an exterminator was sent out that afternoon.  He first approached us without protection but realizing how close the nest was to the driveway quickly changed into his protective gear.  Roland bravely watched him from the deck.  Not me.  The pictures are not the best as I stood behind the protective glass.

 

I saw the yellow jackets stir after the exterminator had upset them.  Serves you right, you little varmints.  We never did anything to indicate that you are/were welcome in our yard.  Apparently the nest was buried further into the ground or plants than was at first believed and the man was able to remove only about half of it.  He returned without his suit to spray some more.  Brave soul.  But I could see the suit he had on had been extremely hot.  We were told there should be no problem after today. 

 

Good riddens you creeps!  You are not welcome on this planet!  Stay away!

What a Bright Moon

             I got up about a quarter to three to

visit the bathroom. 

I noticed the moonlight spilling

into our room. 

The room was as light as

it is at 7:30 p.m. 

I could see it through the skylight on

my return and then

I drew back the curtain to

check out the brightness. 

It looked like a giant

headlight in the sky. 

I don’t remember ever seeing

the moon shine so brilliantly. 

It hurt my eyes to look at it directly

same as the sun.

Hope They Weren’t Murder Hornets

              I remember “murder hornets” mentioned briefly in May.  I didn’t even know if it was a real thing or not.  Apparently they are twice the average size and will slaughter bees and hives within the matter of minutes.  I haven’t heard of any harmed human cases.

          This morning Roland had given Jenna the assignment of filling one of the bird feeders – which she has done before but not with the dramatics that were felt today.  Both Roland and I heard her screaming and crying.  Evidently there is a hornet’s nest nearby and over a dozen had inserted their stinging swords into her.  It didn’t appear that they had attached her legs, but there was evidence of their vulgar action between both shoulders and neck, her arms (mostly by hands) her head and face. 

          She usually has her hair up but happened to have it down.  Perhaps the hornets were drawn to the overgrown “nest” piled around her head.  Both Jenna and I do need our hair cut.  It seems to grow just past the shoulder and stops in length but continues creating a thickness of layers that can’t be stopped.  I can cut our hair – but I don’t have the talent for thinning it out.

          We found her at the bottom of the deck apologizing between screams and tears.  Roland tried to shake the hornets away and got stung in the process.  Just one hand with multiple stings.  Nothing compared to her.  They removed more hornets which buzzed around the bathroom and Roland closed the door on them.  I told her to take a shower in my room and drown the critters.  I think I smashed five more as she continued to scream.

          I told her to douse her hair with water so we could drown the beasts and then she washed her hair and brushed it and I put it up for her – something I have not done since she was a child.  I rubbed an aloe based cream and gave her some aspirin.   I don’t like when Jenna is unhappy.  I don’t wish for those screams and tears to haunt me, but will be willing if it will make the pain and trauma be taken from her.  Why did Coffenberry choose this vermin to be their mascot?

Four Missionaries and the Big Question Mark

 

                Jenna had attended a class and learned that our ward now has two sets of missionaries.  I met them today.  The one who has been in the area the longest had been called to serve a country in Asia.  I think he said his calling location was changed before he had arrived to the MTC.  His companion had served four months in Japan before being transferred to Myrtle Creek.    The other two elders were called to Spanish speaking missions: one to Mexico and the other to Peru.  Though they are no longer serving in those countries they are still on a Spanish speaking mission.  Interesting.

            The ward counsel was told that church services would be starting up again.  This is the third time that’s been announced.  Would be nice to have it be the final time.  The plan is to restart on September 13 (a Sunday, not a Friday) and we will wear masks, social distance, and sing if we choose (with our masks on).  Only one speaker will be assigned and then we will return home.  It will definitely be different from the last meeting we attended the first week in March.

            There will be church for three weeks before General Conference.  This ward has always held fast and testimony meeting the week before General Conference.  Big Question right now is if we will get to have that this month?  How would that work?  That hasn’t been planned out yet.  I suppose I will have more detail as we approach September 27.  Hoping we will be able to meet.  But it won’t be the same – I’m guessing for the rest of the year.  How will we celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas?  The same way we spent Easter? 

            I hope we have a new president to be inaugurated in January.  President Trump deflates hope.  Did I share this video already?

From Plastic to Masks

         Too often when Jenna and I had gone walking she would want to pick up litter and collect treasures.  I wasn’t overly fond of having her touch all that she did but tried to make a habit of bringing two plastic bags for each walk – one for the garbage and one for the treasures.  It was her idea to beautify the earth and so I did not want to discourage her from trying to clean it up.  The litter she found mostly consisted of paper though occasionally we would find straws, wrappers, or sticks from suckers. Her treasures would include rocks, leaves, shiny things, clothing items (which would get washed before I’d allow her or her stuffed pets to wear them) and pine cones.

Her thought process today is really not much different.  She’ll continue to collect things to be thrown away or whatever may grab her interest – including masks that have been left in the parking lot.  She hasn’t touched any of the disposable ones but found a black cloth mask in the parking lot yesterday morning.  That went into the washing machine the minute we returned home.  She washed her hands and I took a shower as we had both touched it.

Our car appeared that it had been through a dust storm – though I wasn’t aware how horrible it looked until I got behind the wheel and my view was quite distorted.  I washed both cars after we had returned home.  I didn’t figure their cleanliness would bring on rain (which happens in many cases right after the car gets washed) but did see the wind blowing later in the day.

Before the pandemic our governor created a law to remove the plastic though it has seemed to be swept under the rug as more pressing issues have targeted this year.  I don’t see plastic littering like I used to.  We do have a new concern.