Misc.

Today we made our weekly trek to Napa and all the stops there. We also got permission to pick blackberries across the street. They are so good. I even froze some. The owner also let us have plums and apples. Other fruit isn't quite ripe. He has been very generous with us. He also told us another neighbor killed a rattlesnake in his yard recently so to watch out. We'll be listening for rattles.

We started packing the camper with clothes to take to camp meeting Wed. I did laundry too. Tomorrow I'll make bread and continue to load food. We're taking Chiquita with us. We'll be staying in the Dogpatch area because that's where all who have ANY pets go. Apparently there have been some noisey birds in the past. Chiquita can be very loud too, especially when she hears other birds chirping.

It's supposed to cool down here the next few days so we don't know what the weather will be like further north at a lower elevation. It's very pleasant here now though.

Busy

One of our neighbors across the street has fruit trees and berries that don't seem to get picked. He has given us permission to help ourselves. Al picked a pot full of blackberries and they are oh so delicious! I picked gravenstein apples and cooked them up into applesauce. There are pears, more apples and berries, and I think apricots. We've eaten some of his plums before and now need a ladder to pick from higher limbs. We are thankful for our neighbors that share.

This morning I was in Angwin stocking up on meat analogs and made several phone calls back to MI since we can't get good reception at our house. Unfortunately, I was only able to find one friend at home. It was good to talk to Linda K. I miss all my friends there.

The Punch Bowl

This afternoon we took a walk to find out where the "punch bowl" is. Al's nephew told us how to get to this destination. Once we left the street on a path it was all down hill. We made it to a stream with a trickle in it but not the punch bowl. We didn't take water and didn't know how much further it was so hiked back up again. On the way Al pointed out some poison oak branches that were sticking out over the path. Not knowing if I brushed any of them going down I took a shower as soon as we got home. We also passed many berry bushes with ripe berries and helped ourselves. They were soooo good.

Our renter has been bringing white peaches home from where he is working in construction and he has shared them with us. Al has planted a couple of the seeds hoping to start a tree. Right now there are plum, apple, apricot, etc. trees producing fruit in the area. On walks we pick plums from trees growing along the road. They are very small but still good. Some day we'll have our own fruit trees.

Mental challenges

Today has been one headache after another. First I dealt with the post office for holding our mail for a week without it being requested. Then I called Juno to drop our commitment to their "high speed" connection which wasn't faster than before. Then I spent an hour reading through AT&T's offer for DSL which was very technical and confusing. My mind is spent.

I did get some exercise weeding, trimming bushes and washing windows. No walk tho. I hope I can put my mind to rest and sleep tonight. I also got more info about the campgrounds where we're going for Redwoods Area camp meeting next week. More things to plan for. I think I'll enjoy the escape.

Unblievable but True

Yesterday afternoon it clouded up and as the day went on we had a few sprinkles of rain. When we woke up this morning we discovered it had actually rained during the night--not hard or long--but enough to leave the asphalt wet. Now maybe some of the dust is cleared out of the air and we won't be sneezing as much. We can hope! Today it appears will be cloudy. We would still enjoy seeing more rain.

Company
It's partly cloudy here today which is a rare event since we've been here. I keep thinking maybe it'll rain but that's impossible in the summer. We have a beautiful breeze too so it's keeping the temp down to a comfortable level.

I just finished cleaning the camper in prep for the Redwoods Area camp meeting starting next Wed. We'll be gone for a full 11 days. We hear it's a beautiful site.

Tonight we're having a surprise birthday supper here for Al's nephew who is turning 40. Al's sister is planning it and there'll be 9 people--all relatives. We've been hoping for company and we're getting it. Now I need to go do my part in getting things ready.

I had my blog ready to send and Al picked up the phone and cut my connection so now I'm starting over again.

Yesterday I drove with my sister-in-law 2 1/2 hours to a baby shower in Cupertino for her daughter-in-law. It was a long ride but enjoyable party.

When I got home after 9 p.m. Al's cousin and his wife were here. They are the first house guests to stay with us. We will enjoy our time together with them.

This morning after breakfast Al and I went to Napa for our 101 stops in a real town. We didn't get home till 2 p.m. One of these days we're going to go to Santa Rosa instead and check out that place for shopping.

Our temps have moderated and it's been in the low 50's at night. Good and cool.