Dear family and friends;
Hello again. We hope you are all well and living life to the full. I know everyone has had a busy and interesting year. We have, too.
Last winter was record snowfall for this area, as those who live in Spokane will remember. We had over 100 inches of snow, most of it falling in two weeks. Many roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow, especially after it started to rain on top of it. Out here on the Palouse, we had amazing snowdrifts wherever the wind felt like dropping the snow. We had no tractor or snow-blower to push it out of the way. Our kind neighbor came and plowed out our driveway three times (God bless him). Otherwise, we would have shoveled ourselves into exhaustion. The snow piled up against the fences and the dogs figured out they could walk right over the fence on top of the packed snow! The goats huddled in their shed for three months, coming out occasionally to enjoy the sunshine. We had to give them unfrozen water three times a day, as well as hay and grain. Every time I walked under the snow lip hanging out from the metal roof, I worried it would smash down on me. One poor lady in Spokane was killed in exactly that way.
Then we had an unusual warm-up in January. The creek suddenly rose and flung huge foot-thick ice blocks all over the place. There were ice jams under bridges that had to be blown up with dynamite. Next thing we knew, the river broke over the banks and came rushing toward the house. I was carrying stuff up the stairs and packing for evacuation and wondering what to do with the goats. The water came up to the driveway and stopped. Lots of little voles and mice came scurrying out of their winter holes and ran around looking for high ground. Our dogs had great fun chasing them! We realized we were in a wonderful little community when our neighbors told us they were watching the water levels and were prepared to come and help us if we needed it. We had never even met most of these people.
When the long, hard winter was finally over, it was time to plant our huge garden. I planted 12 kinds of potatoes as well as every other kind of vegetable, hoping I would make big money at the farmer’s market. We built a greenhouse; we put up fences and gates; we fixed the goat house; we built a bee house; we bought a tractor and moved piles of wood and concrete. It was hard work! As far as making money, I think I broke even. However we realize that this farm is going to be an expensive hobby rather than a money-maker for a long time.
The great success was our bees. We went from one hive to four and sold one to a neighbour. We harvested 80 pounds of honey and sold, gave away and enjoyed it. Next year should be even better, as long as our neighbours don’t put pesticides on their fields. I made sure they all got a jar of honey so they would remember our bees.
We haven’t done much foster care this year. In the summer we had a 4-year-old tornado called N. He stayed for a month and really wore us out. After he went to live with his grandparents, they sent him back for a couple of weekends so they could have a break!
In the spare time that he could find, Ray had fun working on a music CD, which was dedicated to his cousin who died in a plane crash. He is also playing the bass guitar at our little church here in Latah.
The first week of September was the Adam family reunion, which was a great time of camping on our big lawn, eating, playing games, great conversation, swimming at Lake Coeur d’Alene, etc. Again I regret that we live so far away from everyone and that it takes a major effort to come and see us. Now that it’s winter, it’s pretty lonely out here on the farm! We don’t even have goats to keep us company, as they are chilling in the freezer. But we do have a friendly community. Last weekend was the Latah Christmas potluck. There were over 100 people there, out of a population of 192. That’s a good turn-out. We have met a lot of people in just one year, and we hope we stay long enough to take our turn on the town council or something! I’m tired of moving and starting from scratch every four years or so. We are happy here.
So that is most of the news. We also were in a car accident (icy road) and totaled our car but no-one was hurt.
We are mourning the death of Ray’s beautiful niece, K, who was struck by a car here in Spokane. This is such a big loss – she was in her prime, with a great job as a respiratory therapist, two growing kids, a bright future and now she is gone. It’s so tragic. What a hard reminder that life is so fragile and so sweet.
We love and appreciate all of you and hope next year will bring good things.
Hello again. We hope you are all well and living life to the full. I know everyone has had a busy and interesting year. We have, too.
Last winter was record snowfall for this area, as those who live in Spokane will remember. We had over 100 inches of snow, most of it falling in two weeks. Many roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow, especially after it started to rain on top of it. Out here on the Palouse, we had amazing snowdrifts wherever the wind felt like dropping the snow. We had no tractor or snow-blower to push it out of the way. Our kind neighbor came and plowed out our driveway three times (God bless him). Otherwise, we would have shoveled ourselves into exhaustion. The snow piled up against the fences and the dogs figured out they could walk right over the fence on top of the packed snow! The goats huddled in their shed for three months, coming out occasionally to enjoy the sunshine. We had to give them unfrozen water three times a day, as well as hay and grain. Every time I walked under the snow lip hanging out from the metal roof, I worried it would smash down on me. One poor lady in Spokane was killed in exactly that way.
Then we had an unusual warm-up in January. The creek suddenly rose and flung huge foot-thick ice blocks all over the place. There were ice jams under bridges that had to be blown up with dynamite. Next thing we knew, the river broke over the banks and came rushing toward the house. I was carrying stuff up the stairs and packing for evacuation and wondering what to do with the goats. The water came up to the driveway and stopped. Lots of little voles and mice came scurrying out of their winter holes and ran around looking for high ground. Our dogs had great fun chasing them! We realized we were in a wonderful little community when our neighbors told us they were watching the water levels and were prepared to come and help us if we needed it. We had never even met most of these people.
When the long, hard winter was finally over, it was time to plant our huge garden. I planted 12 kinds of potatoes as well as every other kind of vegetable, hoping I would make big money at the farmer’s market. We built a greenhouse; we put up fences and gates; we fixed the goat house; we built a bee house; we bought a tractor and moved piles of wood and concrete. It was hard work! As far as making money, I think I broke even. However we realize that this farm is going to be an expensive hobby rather than a money-maker for a long time.
The great success was our bees. We went from one hive to four and sold one to a neighbour. We harvested 80 pounds of honey and sold, gave away and enjoyed it. Next year should be even better, as long as our neighbours don’t put pesticides on their fields. I made sure they all got a jar of honey so they would remember our bees.
We haven’t done much foster care this year. In the summer we had a 4-year-old tornado called N. He stayed for a month and really wore us out. After he went to live with his grandparents, they sent him back for a couple of weekends so they could have a break!
In the spare time that he could find, Ray had fun working on a music CD, which was dedicated to his cousin who died in a plane crash. He is also playing the bass guitar at our little church here in Latah.
The first week of September was the Adam family reunion, which was a great time of camping on our big lawn, eating, playing games, great conversation, swimming at Lake Coeur d’Alene, etc. Again I regret that we live so far away from everyone and that it takes a major effort to come and see us. Now that it’s winter, it’s pretty lonely out here on the farm! We don’t even have goats to keep us company, as they are chilling in the freezer. But we do have a friendly community. Last weekend was the Latah Christmas potluck. There were over 100 people there, out of a population of 192. That’s a good turn-out. We have met a lot of people in just one year, and we hope we stay long enough to take our turn on the town council or something! I’m tired of moving and starting from scratch every four years or so. We are happy here.
So that is most of the news. We also were in a car accident (icy road) and totaled our car but no-one was hurt.
We are mourning the death of Ray’s beautiful niece, K, who was struck by a car here in Spokane. This is such a big loss – she was in her prime, with a great job as a respiratory therapist, two growing kids, a bright future and now she is gone. It’s so tragic. What a hard reminder that life is so fragile and so sweet.
We love and appreciate all of you and hope next year will bring good things.
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