Construction Zone

We are in the midst this weekend of preparing for our two week construction madness. Our back fence, shed walls, deck and pool are scheduled for upgrades. Saturday David and I started readying the area for the contractors to start on Monday.

Yesterday's tasks were to cut back the foliage along the fenceline, and start clearing out the pool accoutrements, as well as start emptying the swimming pool.

By last evening we had the water nearly out of the pool, and things are starting to look bare in the backyard.

The little patch of grass I've been trying to save for the last year is now covered with pool stuff.

But we're so excited to see what happens on Monday when the deck and fence are ripped out!

Memorial For Roberta Pitts

Just got back from a quick trip to Stehekin to attend a memorial service the community put on for both Roberta and Dr. Bill Stifter, the other person killed in the plane crash. It was a nice memorial and meant a lot to me to hear from people up there what happened and to see how they came together as a community to deal with the tragedy. It's a unique place, Stehekin.

To see the eulogy Ron Scutt gave at her funeral, as well as a wonderful poem written by Liz Courtney, go to www.stehekinchoice.com.

On a lighter note....sort of...

Have you seen the new website, cats that look like Hitler, or (are you ready for this?)...

Kitler?

(we need some laughter around here this evening)

More information about the plane crash

There's been quite a lot of press and speculation about what went wrong with the plane that Roberta died in. Both victims died of freshwater drowning, but there's a lot of speculation about why the plane crashed.

The other sad thing about this crash is how many people were at the Stehekin boat landing and witnessed the crash. People responded quickly to try to help rescue Roberta, and those brave souls are now second-guessing that they didn't do enough. That always happens in these tragic circumstances. I'm sure, without knowing what exactly happened, that everyone did all they could.

My Aunt Roberta

Tragic news to report from Cafeliz - my Aunt Roberta died in an airplane mishap over the weekend. Read about it here.

We think the services will probably be held on Friday in the town of Chelan, but we're not sure yet about the details. She was well-loved and will be sorely missed by everyone. Tributes to her and Dr. Stifter, who died alongside her while he was trying to unbuckle her seatbelt, are posted on the Wenatchee newspaper website here.

New Family Member

David and I are in love with our latest family member, Fergie.

We rescued Fergie from a shelter - well, from two shelters really.

I first saw Fergie at the Oregon Humane Society - she was in isolation because she was snapping and growling at everybody and seemed in bad shape. Because she wasn't doing well there, they moved her to a second shelter in Clackamas County where I ran into her again. This time she licked David and me all over and charmed us with her old lady eyes.

She is 12 years old, Jack Russell Terrier, has a few medical problems, but is full of love now that she's in a home environment. She doesn't bother about the cat, but Lucy is not happy with her new sibling. We hear that may change, but we're not forcing anything. Stand by!

Epidemic, Update

You haven't heard from me in a few days because I've been on possum watch....David and I now sit on the stairs to our basement with rolling pins in our hands waiting for the clicking sound which signals the arrival of possums.

We've killed five so far, and the bloodbath isn't over.

Today a faculty member, formerly from the Southern part of the US, informed me that the beasts will keep coming as long as the scent trail into our basement exists. "Get yoself some ammonia and clean that place up!" he yelled at me over the telephone, safe in his hotel room in another state.

But where to begin? We really don't know how they're getting into our basement, but one of us has got to get brave and find out. I keep pointing my finger at David ("you're the man, YOU do it!") and he keeps finding other things to do ("Honey, where'd you put my shoe polish?" which is completely unbelievable given he doesn't own a pair of leather shoes) Maybe we need a dog.