Is it hot or what?

Yes, even up in these parts it is kind of hot. Where we live is actually 1000 feet higher then Quincy and we don't have all the concrete so it is a nicer heat. The shade is pleasant and there's always a breeze.

I just finished my school work for the week and my brain is on history overload. Though, I am getting to the parts of history I am familiar with, yeah.

Yesterday I water proofed the chairs to our patio set. It wasn't too bad, but I did break a sweat in the shade. I finished the 4 chairs and bench. Today we set up the table. We even have an umbrella for it, a little covered with cat hair since he was sleeping on it in the garage.

The birds that are nesting on our porch finally flew off. Unfortunately, one got injured by???? We were going to leave it to its fate but finally put it in a box. the mom and dad were quite attentive. They would distract the cat every time it came near. I kept giving it water and the mother or ??? actually got in the box with it. At one point there were over six birds causing a commotion around it. Let me tell you, all those scrub jays screaming was intimidating. By the end of the day the baby and all the others fly off somewhere.

Nathan has been going Sky Lodge to work. He will be finished tomorrow. He has been covering for his cousins who usually work there. He doesn't want to get up in the morning. He got his report card. He got straight A's. He's hoping for money since he's saving for another guitar. Something about having one with scallops.

Update on the yard (if you're getting tired of this conversation I would skip to the end) the grass is filling in and looks pretty nice. The clover is also starting to fill in but I think it will take a bit longer for it to look the way I want it to. All of the flowers are starting to bloom. I could smell the lavender today while I was working outside.

We have the High Sierra Festival starting this week. Quincy is already packed with people. The trip to town today was crowded. We did mow dad's lawn today, right before the heat got unbearable. I also grabbed some more ground cover plants. I can't remember what they are called but they grow like crazy and they remind me of a succulent cactus. We do have a rouge pantsy that is blooming all the time. I don't know why it decided to grow in the drive way, but it has become a member of the family, kind of like those birds. I will try to transplant it somewhere better soon. Tim has been working hard on the raking. We have quite a big lot and it hasn't been raked for years. We have to have a fire zone around the house and it gives Tim a great source of exercise. He gets about three pick up loads a day on the week end, and 1 during the week.

Well, I'm sure that's all been quite entertaining and I now need to sit and think about nothing.

New Web Photo Site

Yes, you can now find pictures at the following site
http://www.seehere.com/kretallack/photos The password is retallacks

I will be putting pictures on here as I get them. You can order prints of any of the pictures if you'd like but I am putting them here for your enjoyment.

Today was spent trying to get Molly off a mouse. She does a better job then the cats do. It was hiding in the kitchen and Molly was very, very, very intent on getting it. Nathan and I finally put the dogs out and cornered the mouse. We didn't have the heart to kill it so Nathan took well into the woods and let it go. In reality, it has probably been eaten by something by now. It was cute, but let's face it, it had buggy eyes, jumpy legs, and a killer attitude!

We ended up in town tonight to get the important stuff (TP). We went to dinner and then to Mikey's house. After a musical run down of the 70's and 80's, we snagged a couple movies and headed home. Besides watering this afternoon, this was the extent of our excitement today, which is great to me.

Well, I took an allergy pill and need to hit the hay. Hope you enjoy the pictures now and later.

Happy Father's Day

Yes, another dinner at the Retallack's house. This time I made lasagna. I made three different types; vegetarian, regular, and low carb. It was a great experiment and the next low carb will have to be done a little differently. Everyone also brought different salads. It was a great gathering and the weather was perfect for outside dining. My next project is to get Randy and Tim to build a rock BBQ, I actually found a plan for one. It is made primarily out of cinder blocks, which we already have a lot of, so I don't think it will be too expensive, although, it may need to wait until I go back to work in September.

Randy brought up part of the table set; two chairs. Once it is all here it will look great and I will be able to seat all the adults without bringing out the metal chairs, Yeah..... Randy was very generous to bring up the table and chairs since it is a 400 lb endeavor!!!

Any who, I have two tests to take and a paper to write so I'd better get at it. I also hear that mom and Lynn have two super cute new dachshunds and I need to call to get a picture.

Just Sittin' Around

Yes, that's what I'm doing right about now. Chris is giving a music lesson in the house so I'm sitting on the swing enjoying the fresh air (well sort of since I put compost down last night)

Last night Tim and I patched the areas of the grass that did grow in thick. All in all, the areas we have planted look much better then before. The clover is starting to fill in and looks great. Next year will be even better. I chose not to plant flowers that I will just have to replant next year so at this point we have a lot of green and not much color yet. Our house is at a higher elevation then the house at the bottom of the ranch so we have a late bloom time. I also planted from seed so that takes time too. The adopted Scrub Jays have three little ones, at least that's what I can see. They seem to take no notice of us. we can get in and out of the front door without getting attacked. Last year we spent a lot of time taking pictures of them when we had them in the tree next to the deck. (I was told the birds come back to the same nesting area every year so I'm assuming these are the same birds)

I havefound the exact table I want and of course we are goinf into summer and buying something right now is taking a lot of thought. I seats eight people which is one iof the most important things I wanted. It is a made of Rubberwood, a by product of latex tree. (once the tree quites producing latex they now make furniture out of it instead of burning them) It's a good color for the rest of the house, counter high (pub style), with a butterfly leaf. One if the best things is that it is solid hardwood so it should last awhile. Randy actually found the table for me and will be picking it up in Roseville for us if I decide to get it. Decissions, decissions, decissions......

We will be having the crowd over this week end for Father's Day. I don't know what I plan on making. Tacos went well last time. tim and the boys had an offer to take a senic flight for about an hour on Sunday. They aren't so sure they want to go at this point, but I'm sure they would enjoy it if they do go.

Well, once again, not much else going on in these parts. I will be taking two tests, doing three discussion posts, and writting one research paper by Sunday night. I still don't have my books for the hist-2 class so I plan getting everything finished for the hist-3 class so I can spend the week end focused on the hist-2r class when the books get here. Of coourse, this is the class that has the paper due and I have to use the class book as one of the resources.

Catch ya' later ;)

And We're Off

Wow, I just checked my grades for my first tests and amazingly, I got a 100% on the test that I had to take cold; go figure. So i guess it should a piece of cake from here. I still don't have the book but I have until the end of the week for the next test and my papers aren't due until then either.

Onward, we did quite a bit of yard work this week end. We took some loads of yard trash up the hill for the community burn. While there I found Iris bulbs that someone had dumped, score. I brought them home and gave them a new home. I actually had to water for the first time in over a week. I also took my house plants for an outing. They got a bath and some fresh air. Unfortunately, the bees were quite excited about having new plants to buzz around. I had to 'convince them' that wanted to stay outside.

I did hear from Raynelle' this week end. She is taking lots of classes and considering work in New Zealand. She wants to do her graduate work at Humboldt State.

Well, gotta get to the books and shampooing the carpet.

What's Up

Well, things are still the same in these parts. Friday was the last day of school so I will have until August 24th off from work. (not that great since I don't get a paycheck either) I am however, taking two summer courses; Western Civ before and after 1500. Each class is a 6.5 hour a day so I will be reading more then I'd like to and writing papers every waking hour. (the classes are 18 weeks of material crammed into 6 weeks) I started this last week so I have 5 weeks left.

We finally broke down and bought some gravel (river rocks) for the kenneled area. It has made a big difference in how much dirt comes in the house. We did finally get the kennel situated so Tipper can't get out, but.......twice now we have come home with the three little one roaming the streets, granted, they did stay together and were very happy to see us. Not a guilty bone in their body. I think we now have them locked in. We lined the outside of the kennel with large rocks. Also, we actually ended up with enough left over rock to re-gravel the driveway, at least most of it. Of course, none of this makes any difference to anyone since you didn't know what it looked like before. I should have taken before and after pictures. Oh well, I guess imagination is something we all could use more of.

Holly graduated last night. She and Chris played a fiddle/guitar piece and Chris played with his jazz trio. Both groups were good. The fiddle tune was one I hadn't heard before and it was amazingly difficult but they made it sound easy. Afterwards they attended the SoberGrad party at the school. they couldn't leave until after 3:00 am so we haven't seen him since Friday night. Chris had spent today at Holly's house.

Nathan is getting really good on the guitar. He has taken up classical guitar also. He is working on writing his own songs and coming up with variations on others. He is the same age Chris was when he started playing guitar.

Mike and Carina are doing well. They are both working hard. Mike has taken up skateboarding again and had realized that he let himself get out of shape. He takes his dog, Oliver, with him so he can pull him on his board. They ended up buying a silver Thunderbird. Mike is thrilled and has driven it out to our place already. The people selling the BMW never followed through with the information and they were able to get the Thunderbird for $600.00. The car ended up being the same car Holly's family used to own three years ago, go figure.

We haven't heard from Raynelle' lately, but I do know she is busy with summer classes and working.

Quincy its self hasn't had anything much going on. The music festival is happening soon so we do have some interesting people already coming into town. There is definatly an increase in the amount of people coming through town. We actually had to wait for a table at breakfast today! which is a good thing for the local business but not for someone who is hungry. After breakfast we ended up going to dad's house to mow and weed. The weather was nice and cool so it wasn't too bad.

Last but not least, the thunder was amazing. It rolled through the valley with incredible force and lasted for minutes. The horses behind the house weren't very happy either.

On Looking Up By Chance At The Constellations

You'll wait a long, long time for anything much
To happen in heaven beyond the floats of cloud
And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves.
The sun and moon get crossed, but they never touch,
Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud.
The planets seem to interfere in their curves
But nothing ever happens, no harm is done.
We may as well go patiently on with our life,
And look elsewhere than to stars and moon and sun
For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane.
It is true the longest drouth will end in rain,
The longest peace in China will end in strife.
Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake
In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven break
On his particular time and personal sight.
That calm seems certainly safe to last to-night. -On Looking Up By Chance At The Constellations by Robert Frost


Boy, if it rains anymore we will have to move to higher ground. Actually, we live up from the river, but still, it's pretty wet around here. We won't be doing much outside so far this week end. The grass we planted last week end hasn't had any sun to help it along. With all this it should really star t growing when the sun does appear.We actually should build a fire today but, finding pellets around these parts is impossible this time of year.

We finally broke down and bought crates for the dogs. (and beds) We are trying to convince them that their beds are way more comfortable then the couch. They will also be crated at night because they are always running outside to bark at something, which is not pleasant when you are sound asleep. So far Harry thinks Tipper's is great and doesn't want anything to do with his (he will be sharing with Molly since they used to before we got the other two) Waffles has been crated since we got her so she doesn't walk around and make nasty messes. She is actually getting the idea that if she doesn't go potty outside first thing in the morning, she might miss out on the Pork Rind treats Tim hands out while he makes his lunch.

I will be starting my summer classes on Monday, History which isn't my favorite subject. Right now I am signed up for one class and on the waiting list for the other one. Hopefully I will get in the second one if enough people drop. It sure would make my schedule much easier next semester.

Week End Productivity

Well, we finally got our back yard grass planted. Tim did all the tilling and the boys and I spread the compost and seeds. Of course, it is now cloudy. For the dogs area we are planning on purchasing some turf from the High Sierra Music Festival when it is over. It can't smell any worse then the dogs do now.

They sell it cheap and we won't have to figure out how to get seeds to grow while the dogs stay in the kennel. Some of the area will still be rocks though.

Nathan and I did a bit of weeding also. The Miners Lettuce (Indians Lettuce) has taken over the grounds. It's pretty cool but gets bigger and bigger until everything looks weedy. Apparently, you can eat the stuff and Chris has, but I don't really want to eat that much lettuce.

Chris took grandpa and me out to lunch today. We went to the usual place and had the usual quick lunch so I could get back to work. The afternoons are hot and humid. My classroom doesn't have much circulation, which is not so good. It will be nice to be out of school. I can't imagine being in my room during the summer.