October 14, 2008
August 19, 2008
Early Winter?
After a helacious day of thunderstorms, the West of Coos is still warm, muggy and rainy. We had hail too. And monstrous lightening, which is very rare around here. The thunder was rolling, with loud clapping intermissions. Quite the show! And now I see that rain is pretty much the agenda for the entire next week.
My flowers are not liking this news.
Earthquake - Oregon Coast
August 16, 2008
Seafood Festival Kind of Stinks
My parents had their annual Seafood festival garage sale. So I helped, and hung out, and drank their coffee, and watched the goings about from up on the hill.
For the past two day both the festival and the garage sale have been very, very busy. Looking over the bay into Charleston, all a body could see was wall to wall cars.
Lots of people said they were from inland, where the heat was driving them insane. They oohed and aahed over the plants, as they had to use shade cloth to keep anything but roses burning to a crisp. Poor city people.
They also said the whole town, whether it be a motel or a camp site, was totally booked up. Methinks we should be renting out rooms and rv parking. But a garage sale is good enough. People didn't seem too thrilled with the festival itself, but they loved Charleston and just wanted any reason to get out of the heat. Many said the garage sale was the highlight of the whole trip. And there are the repeat people, the ones that vacation and come visit us every year.
Today my parents ditched me in the afternoon. They had previously purchased tickets to see the Lipenzimerblahblah horses at the Myrtle Point fairgrounds. They did not realize it was the same weekend as their yearly garage sale. So Derek and I ran the garage sale for awhile and made up stories about some of the items. It's what we do.
Oh, and about the horsey show? The parents said the horses were really, really neat. However. They had purchased some special tickets for sitting in the front row that cost them extra money. When they got there, the people had sold more "special tickets" than they had spots to sit. So they drug out chairs and put them way down at the end. Basically offering my parents worse seats than if they had just bout the regular tickets and sat in the bleachers.
So after spending extra money, they just went and sat in the bleachers anyway. Hoping to at least get some far away view and perhaps a few pictures. But that too, was not to be. Oh no. For the people who planned the building of said bleachers had, in a STROKE OF GENIUS only demonstrated by the people in charge of anything at our small coastal towns, saw fit to build light poles. That blocked the view in many critical spots. Then of course there was that blonde doink that was in the front row and had to stand up the whole time blocking the view of everyone behind her. THE WHOLE TIME.
My parents vowed never to go to a show at that arena or fair ever, ever again. That was before the $4 parking or the $12 for an itinerary with a glossy horse picture on it.
August 11, 2008
Bambi Spotted on Daisy Hill
I finally got that picture of the forked horn I was yapping about. YOU SEE NOW? Despite the blurry picture (I'm blaming my husband because, well, it's his fault), you can tell how cute he is.
It wasn't enough to subject you to one blurry deer picture. No. I had to subject you to a second blurry picture of previous said deer AND his sweetie. Then I shopped it to traumatize you further.
There's something reminiscent about this picture, something very... Last of the Mohicanish. You know, when the sister's are riding, or walking together or something, right before the battle where the BAD INDIANS go for the attack as their father surrenders the fort and leaves. When they are looking opposite ways, then they switch and both look the other way at the exact same time, like synchronized swimmers,
Like this:
Don't they remind you of the stupid sister? The one who drools catatonically the whole movie and finally has the where-with-all (whatever the hell that means) to throw her whining ass off a big high rock. Go deer girl!
August 02, 2008
Earthquake - Oregon
July 31, 2008
Another Hot Week On The Oregon Coast.
Which it was. Yesterday it rained briefly for the first time in FOREVER. Which was good.
I was busy all week. Busy taking care of a family member who has become ill. Busy setting up for my summerly garage sale. Busy getting yet another rental ready. Busy watering plants, cooking mass amounts of food for the weekend, (nine loaves of bread, two kinds of cookies, macaroni salad, and a partridge in a pear treeeee).
Too busy to post to you about the 4.2 earthquake that Oregon had the day before yesterday. Or the 5.4 earthquake that occured in L.A., California yesterday (among several somewhat smaller others). Or about the forked horn, still in the velvet that greeted my husband at the mail box. Or about the young doe I saw trapsing about libby.
Yet not too busy to take a picture of this young granny smith in my backyard. I probably should have been doing something constructive instead, like washing the wall to wall dirty dishes that had accumulated. Or putting up the groceries so you could walk through the kitchen. I'll have to think about it a little longer before I jump to any hasty conclusions.
July 22, 2008
The Lilly Field
There are at least 12 different kinds of lillies here at the Wyrd Ranch, and each blooms at a different time. Pretty much one kind right after the other. These particular ones are trumpet lillies. We have 5 different kinds of just these. The rest are Asiatics and Orientals. Which are different. Or so they tell me. And Easter Lillies. Which probably belong to the above families of lillies. I really don't remember now. All of these beauties get together and stink up my area quite wonderously.
I have a few tiger lillies and daylillies as well. These don't make me as happy as the others. So I shall be sending them away by the end of the summer. The look. Scraggly.
In other earth shaking news: we had a 4.1 earthquake 300 miles WNW of Barview, Oregon today.
July 18, 2008
Did you know?
That the Federal Government owns most of Oregon? (53.1% to be exact)
That the King of Jordan ate a mushroom, swiss cheese burger and onion rings at the Kozy Kitchen in Myrtle Point? I went through there a month ago and I had THE EXACT SAME THING. I hope his food was better. *Ahem*. He was riding a Harley, btw. I should send him a S&M Barbie.
And most importantly, that our Coos County Icon, Crazy Theresa was spotted (bye me) hanging outside of McDonald's last week?
More Earthquakes
Sizeable Earthquake
July 17, 2008
Yet Another Earthquake.
Earthquake - Oregon
Two earthquakes right in a row, so far. A 4.1 magnitude that is 305 miles WNW of Coos Bay, Oregon and a 4.4 magnitude 260 miles West of Waldport, Oregon.
July 15, 2008
Earthquake - Oregon
Oregon experienced a 4.2 earthquake about 270 miles offshore. Also, Greece had a 6.4 earthquake.
July 12, 2008
The Bahamas a.k.a. Coos Bay
It's hot folks. H-O-T. My middle name is now, water-the-garden. And the garden thanks me. With tons of smelly, pretty flowers. Carnations, Oswego Tea, snapdragons that smell like jolly ranchers, roses, lillies, lobelia, crimson mullien. Everything is blooming, even the little hostas. And herbs galore. Greens. Mint for my juleps. If I had juleps. Is juleps a body part? Wait. Am I missing something?
I worked on transplanting my lemon cucumbers yesterday. They are my cucumber favorite. My husband requested they be grown in our garden last year, because his paternal grandfather always grew them. So I did, thinking they wouldn't amount to much. NOT TRUE. They were huge little globes of delightfully fresh, crisp watery cucumberness that grew wonderfully, even when I stuck them in too-little of pots. One of the nice things about transplanting these cukes is that as you repot them you smell this wonderful fresh cucumber fragrance. And it will make you happy. Honest.
July 11, 2008
Earthquake - Oregon
A 4.4 that was 101 miles West of Barview, off of the Oregon coast.
July 07, 2008
Holiday Week on the Oregon Coast.
Instead of going camping around in the State in search of beautiful scenery and fireworks (which in Coos County and along the coast are staggered so that onlookers may participate in several gatherings), we opted to stay close to home and celebrate.
We ventured over to the parental home for a nice family gathering and huge fire-pit barbeque. Where else could we enjoy a private party with a view of Charleston, the bay, the bar, and south slough. Plus the family is rich with wonderful cooks who bring many fine ass-fattening dishes. I myself was instructed to bring "something chocolate". And so I did. Chocolate cheesecake with an oreo crust. I melted a bag of caramels with a half a cup of heavy cream, added a cup of chopped walnuts, and poured it over the crust. On top of that went the cheesecake. Frosted with a dark chocolate ganache. Had I been blessed with more time and a higher pan I would have added more layers. Which was unnecessary. Totally.
Also, Mr Wyrd took a few days extra off to work on the new greenhouse he is building me. So in between planting more beans and peas outside and watering, I was repotting my greenhouse babies for the trip to their new house.
On the actual day of the 4th, there were not as many people around and about as is usual. Also, local neighborhood firework activity was down by about 90%. It could be because our drunken neighbor has left for Alaska for work for several months. Or it could be the $600 something fine that has been layed upon those who have fireworks that shoot more than 3 feet off the ground, (like all of them). Which the police insisted they were going to inforce.
Whatever.
June 29, 2008
Be Careful Out There.
With high temperatures in the state and the July 4th holiday looming ahead, things can get a little crazy around here. Don't believe the temperature readings you see for the coast. Many weather reports tagged us as in the 50's yesterday. It was 80 degrees in the shade at my house.
So it's already hot, and it's crazy, people are shooting off fireworks starting like last week. It's a recipe for accidents. Especially drowning. You tourists out there, don't swim in our ocean. If the booze and lack of experience and undertows don't get you, the ecoli (or something else) will. What do you think happens when our ancient coastal sewer systems are besieged with tons of touristal excrements? Nothing happy I assure you.
June 03, 2008
Marshfield High Keeps On Sucking.
It seems that the yearbooks are out today. The yearbooks we parents already paid some 40 or 50 bucks for. Yes, Marshfield was letting the kids pick them up today... FOR AN EXTRA THREE BUCKS. If they did not want to pay the extra 3 bucks, or couldn't, then they had to wait for Friday to get them. What's the big deal you ask? Well today was the last day of school for the Seniors. So if the rest of the kids wanted their senior friends to sign their yearbooks, they were SOL.
Gee, thanks Marshfield. Another petty way to suck more bucks out of the parents. GOOD GOING.
June 02, 2008
New Oregon Earthquake
A 4.7 magnitude 250 miles off the coast of Oregon.
The tsunami message said it was a preliminary 5.3. Somebody tell me what that means exactly?
Another Earthquake Off The Oregon Coast.
June 01, 2008
Medium Sized Earthquake in Oregon
May 24, 2008
Two Earthquakes Off The Oregon Coast.
There was a 4.7 and a 4.2 about 300 miles off the Oregon Coast. The Tsunami site says the larger one was a 5.2.
May 15, 2008
Hotter Than Barbie's Booty
After the sun started to go down, it cooled to 90 degrees on the porch. I have been watering constantly today. Not only is this heat dangerous for plants, but it also poses a massive threat to us used-to-cool-weather coastal beings. Thank goodness I have trees and plants, it turns my zone into a balmy jungle region instead of a desert wasteland.
I kept the house closed up today, (mostly because kitty got herself in another scrap and had an abscess, requiring her to have a drain put in, meaning no outside), and the ceiling fan on. Everytime I thought I was going to die from the heat, I just went outside, where it was 20 degrees hotter. I cannot imagine that tomorrow will be even hotter. Is this possible?
It's a perfect evening for that walk on Sunset Beach.
May 09, 2008
Friday. How I love Thee.
It's been a cold and windy blowhole on the coast. Big, cold destructive blasts of North Pole wind make it impossible to be outside and be happy. Last night we actually had ice on our car windshields. Bleah.
The basil I put out too early just shriveled up and croaked. But did that teach me? Heck no. I'm still putting things out. It's my sink or swim program. It's also the only way I can empty out my crammed full greenhouses. So I can start some more things. Stop looking at me that way.
April 30, 2008
More Wyrd Weather
So far, it has hailed here in Coos Bay everyday for what seems a week. At least the last 4 days straight, and then some before that, broken by an occasional nice day. Yesterday: cold. Today, some sun but bits of icy wind and more cold.
Of note: a 5.2 earthquake in Northern California. Important because Northern California is connected to us (us as in, Oregonians). Connected to, and much like, Oregon. So much so infact, that we should just STEAL Northern California and call it SOUTHESTOFALL OREGON.
Anyway.
All of this bad weather and talk of earthquakes makes me ponder the many historical infrastructures of the Oregon Coast. Such as Newport's beautiful bridge shown in the above picture. Or any of the bridges. Or the roads. Of which there are not many that lead out of our little coastal towns. Coos Bay has been isolated many times during my life span so far. Didn't take much of a disaster either. Little flooding here, little landslide there. Easy shmeezy.
April 29, 2008
Earthquakes
Yesterday, a 3.1, 86 miles ESE from Portland. This morning, a 4.1, 131 miles directly west from Barview, which is between Coos Bay, (specifically Empire) and Charleston, Oregon.
April 28, 2008
Speed Gardening
Speed gardening is what happens when you get 2 nice days in a whole month instead of the 10-20 that are typical of the month of April on the Oregon coast. After weeks of cold and windy and snowy and hailing weather we were blessed with a few warm and wonderful days.
Mr. Wyrd and I weeded and composted and moved around the many plant beings that inhabit our yard. I transplanted Heinz tomatoes and night blooming jasmine and dwarf snapdragons and Siam basil and marigolds, about 300 plants in all. My greenhouse, once stuffed full, is now an echoey mess of dirt and containers.
Which means, of course, I have to start more stuff.
April 24, 2008
Ex Prez Coming To The Bay Area
So the call I got last night was true. Ex-president Clinton really IS coming to the Coos Bay / North Bend zone. I hope he takes note of the wild beauty of our area. I hope he falls in love with the ocean, and the beaches, and the forest, like many of us have.
I hope he also sees the clear cut areas. And all the areas set aside for strip mining. I hope he notices the potential for our area, and how it has been overlooked in favor of Casino's, and LNG, and ASC, and everyone else who comes here to take advantage of the desperate plight of our citizens, then leaves the area in more of a shit hole than it was before said activities took place.
Maybe he will see our lush vegetation and abundant wildlife. Or maybe, like every other politician that comes here from somewhere else, he is just looking to line his own pockets or further his own position in life.
Earthquakes
Two more earthquakes so far today, one is a 4.0. It seems to me that whenever Nevada starts having earthquakes, we are in the mix there somewhere. This one was about 100 miles directly west of me.
It doesnt hurt to review your survival preparedness list here folks.
Number 1, make sure there is some drinking water stashed, even if its just a bucket in the tub and a pitcher in the fridge. Couldn't hurt, right?
April 23, 2008
Bill Coming To North Bend High School
That's the message the telemarketer just left on my phone. Friday, infact. I wonder, will he be coming in person or show up via TV. I'm thinking of going so I can march around with a "No LNG" sign.
He must be desperate to get his wife some leverage. Or maybe he just likes Oregon girls.
April 18, 2008
Winter is Coming to the Coast
I prefer to gaze at this pretty red lilly in my window, and pretend like it's not almost freezing outside. Pretend like the snow level isn't dropping like the stock market. Pretend like the weather channel didn't just show me a week straight of rain. Dammit.
April 12, 2008
Summer Hits The Coast
A perfect, warm summer's day. In the middle of winter weather. Only it isn't summer, and it isn't winter. I blame it on the ever continuing earthquakes. We made the news! Hundreds of earthquakes off the Oregon coast, indicative of volcanic activity. Only there is no volcano. Or so they say. But there probably is molten lava movement. On the off shore fault. Whee?
April 08, 2008
Number Ten
Ok, so we actually skipped a day, (yesterday), but this is our tenth day of earthquake(s) in a row. There seems to be quite a bit of earthquake activity elsewhere in the world lately, with some in unusual places, like the one in Texas.
April 06, 2008
Oregon Earthquakes; Day Nine.
I'm kind of amazed here. Granted, it's only a 3.6, but STILL. NINE DAYS IN A ROW PEOPLE.
April 04, 2008
Earthquake, Day 7
I've been watching the earthquake site for a few years now. I don't remember ever having this many earthquakes for this many days before.
April 03, 2008
Yet Another ... Earthquake
Actually we had two more earthquakes, a 4.0 and a 4.1. So that's like, 6 days in a row of earthquakes for Oregon. An earthquake every day with three of them on Tuesday, and two so far today. HMMMM!
April 02, 2008
Cold and Frosty Mornings
It's still freezing here at night. The days have been sunny all week, but a ice cold wind starts up every afternoon. There is about a three hour period where it is actually comfortable to be outside. I clean the garden and weed during those precious three hours. And I stare at the plants. The rest of the time I bounce between the cuddly, warm house and the cuddly warm greenhouse. And I stare at the plants. This one is my newest hoya. Thank you mommy!
March 30, 2008
It Snowed On The Coast.
I woke up to big fluffy snowflakes this morning. They lasted just long enough for us to wake up our neighbors with the news. Mr Wyrd and I had already planned on a morning galavant, so this fluffy snow thing just inspired us more. We drove up Highway 101 towards the Seven Devils Road. The scenery looked like a Christmas snow forest. Gone wild. Something about snow on the coast is just really magical. Because it is so rare. And because of the vegetation here that is quite jungle like. Large firs and cedars and spruces all mixed up with crazy, wild alders, and tons of salal, huck, blossoming salmon and blackberry bushes and grasses all providing the thick undergrowth.
Unfortunately, I cannot share this with you because I forgot to bring the cameras when I ventured out this morning. Instead, I shall try to console you with the cinnamon rolls I made yesterday while trapped indoors by the cold.
I'll give you the recipe later this week when the cold drives me back inside the warm and cozy kitchen.
March 27, 2008
LolSpring
This is what I get for laughing at you Klamath Falls people.
March 16, 2008
No Home Depot and Other News
That's right folks. No Home Depot after all. Concerned with falling profits, Home Depot decided to go over their contract with a barbie comb until they found themselves a legal out to their contract with us Wild West Folk.
Sad. But not as sad as when we lost Lowes. We like them better.
In other news, we had two earthquakes off the coast of Oregon. A 5.9 and a 4.2. WheeHaw.
On the home front, I finished a massive pile of paperwork this week. M-A-S-S-I-V-E. Paperwork is now replaced by gutting the living room, and gardening. I potted up copius amounts of exotic geranium seeds. I was reminded of how much I hated the word copius so I had to use it. Today there will be sowings of varieties of Coleus. Along with peppers and tomatoes.
Greek Grrl aka NayborGirl and I tried to pretend to be social animals and ventured out into the city yesterday. We looked for garage sales. I think there were three. All closed. Because it was rainy and cold. So we perused by the Goodwill. I think I can truthfully say that I will never go there again. Their prices were horrible. When I go to a thrift store, I expect items to be at least half price. Not only were they not half price, but they were often TWICE full price. As was demonstrated by their many from-the-dollar-store items marked up to 1.99. Next we went to hospice, which I have always cursed in the name of too expensive, but they are nothing like Goodwill, so I shall stop whining about them. For now. (I was rather grossed out by their coughing and hacking sick cashier though...). Really, the best commercial non-profit thrift store is still the Salvation Army. Bar. None.
March 13, 2008
Saving the Wrecks
I am right at this moment watching a fox news clip that is blah blahing about our Oregon beaches and wrecks. They are talking about how efforts are being made to save the wrecks. I don't see any of those efforts being made myself.
Last weekend we stuffed the parents in the 4-wheel drive and took them to behold the George L. Olsen. This was our third trip. Each time we go, we see more damage to the ship. Chunks of the outer hull are missing, revealing the unbleached wood underneath. I would suspect people are taking souvenirs, which is rather sad.
The ocean is taking its toll as well.
This is a previous picture I took of the shipwreck.
This is the same side of the boat as the previous picture. I took this last weekend. You can see how close the sand is to covering up the portholes now. As for the back of the boat, which is still partially buried in the sand, people are being allowed to climb all over it, up and down the sea wall. And trust me, everyone is touching the boat. Oh sure, the cops are there, but they only seem to be interested in people who are going over 25 miles an hour. No effort is being made WHATSOEVER to keep people from touching/climbing on/destroying the wreck. And don't even get me started about the stupidity of destroying the New Carissa.
A reef for fish, a perch for the birds, and a wondrous site for human beings. What's not to love? Can our city fathers/mothers actually make a decision that makes sense? Why tear up something that has attracted so much attention, that has provided so much entertainment. Not to mention how much money destroying the Carissa would cost. I just don't get it.
March 02, 2008
Local News Flicker
Sometime this afternoon Mr. Wyrd and I were sitting on our porch enjoying the puddles of sunshine, and the many birdies, when we noticed there was a big cloud of smoke floating about. We pondered that it might be this or that, the average trash burning scenerio or something. Well it must have been a whole lot of something because about an hour later 4 or 5 firetrucks and the Northwest News SUV were heading up the hill here in Englewood land. Let's hope nobody was hurt.
February 28, 2008
Back To Our Regular Programming
Sometimes, the people at the boat, are every bit as interesting as the boat itself.
February 26, 2008
M-O-O-N .... That Spells BOAT.
See that brave gentleman holding up the mast? HE'S A PATRIOT.
This picture seems rather sad. Reminiscent of the Titanic. I typed that word with my pinky extended. Watch me do it again. Reminiscent.
February 22, 2008
Not An Orphan Anymore.
It seems that the newly discovered wreck has a name after all. It is the George L. Olsen. Supposedly you can see part of the name on the hull, but I have yet to personally determine that. It ran aground in 1944, and then basically they just stripped it and hauled it out to sea and dumped it. Some of the lumber that was salvaged from the ship's cargo was used to build the Baptist Church in Charleston. Which my husband's uncle helped to build. He was a missionary. That was his position. *Ahem*.
February 18, 2008
This Old Boat
See those two funny looking high school kids walking on the beach? Well that tall, lanky looking one is mine. The one wearing his nice white school shoes in the wet sand. That looks like a baby deer just learning to walk.
This is the port side of the bow of the mystery ship. The called it the port side so everyone would know which side of the boat to break the wine bottle on. I could be lying.
Another picture of the bow. Get out to see it while you can. This area will be closed in March because it is a snowy plover sanctuary. And though the sand is being eaten away during the winter, it will be redeposited in the summer, when weather conditions and current directions change. OR it could rot away.
Oh yes, I left you a couple of big pictures behind the cut. Just click on the little pics.