Water, Wind, Wood, Work

The rain has been coming down in torrents. The wind has been gusting as much as 60 miles per hour! Last night the National Weather Service said 2-4 inches of snow would still be on the ground Thursday morning. I skeedaddled down to the Bay Area when I heard that. (I wasn't driving to work in awful weather this morning.) Another tree fell across Perry Creek in this storm. (PGE does no one a favor when they top those pine trees. They inevitably die.) Between the heavy snow in December, the rain this winter and these high winds, any weak trees still standing are coming down!

My oldest daughter, Alanna, and her boyfriend, Patrick, have been at the ranch the last few weekends. They worked hard to cut the downed trees and limbs, just the right size for a fireplace. Some were walnut trees that had to come out, others were oak trees that had to be removed to make way for the road and power to the new house. The orchard is looking downright cared for! Mom and Dad were up this past weekend, too. Dad sharpened chainsaws, Mom cooked great tasting meals. We even did some re-organizing in the barn!

It's so nice to have a warm and comfy house to retreat to after a days work. Still have lots to do.... but that's how it goes on a ranch. I'm looking forward to being together with family again this weekend. Never an empty to do list 'round here!

Back Tracking - March 2008

In the spring of 2008, the old home on the hill went on the market. There is a lingering sense of loss that remains physically painful. As a tree that has been uprooted must "feel". Walking out the door, abandoning pieces of myself, my family history, my dreams. My great grandparents had left their home back east to build a new life on this ranch. Did they leave by choice or by circumstance? I don't know.

I was afraid that if I left this ground for temporary housing elsewhere, we might never return. So my youngest two children, three dogs, and three cats moved into the cabin, which Dad had built in the southwestern corner of the ranch during the 1970s. We have wonderful memories of family gatherings at the ranch. There was never quite enough room for everyone at Grandma's house during harvest so we would sleep here, all cozy together in a scene reminiscent of "The Waltons", a television series set during the Depression.

"The house is enveloped in darkness, save for a light in an upstairs window. Through voice-overs, two or more characters have a very brief conversation, often humorous and related to the episode (our day), and then each family member would bid each other good night, one at a time." Good night, John Boy. Good night, Mary Ellen. Yes..... just like the Waltons.

Whether by choice or by circumstance, change comes. With God's help and perseverance, we've seen through tears to new possibilities. This (not so) little piece of ground will finally get the attention it has deserved and the pioneer spirit of our ancestors will live on.

Whether by choice or b

Uncle Bill- William L. Klare

A long and hard fought battle ended on Thanksgiving 2009. Uncle Bill, my mother's brother, passed away with family surrounding him. Although he must have been in pain, he didn't let his family see him suffer long. Thank you, God.

40 years ago, on Thanksgiving, his own father passed away. I'll never forget that Thanksgiving either. Coincidence? I think not. More like Divine reassurance. We are certainly thankful for the gift of his life and the privilege of knowing him.

This is a man I remember from my beginnings. A twinkle in his eye, a quiet sideways look, and a grin. Gentle and strong. Smart about everything. A craftsman. A generous heart. A rancher and cowboy, through and through. A superb storyteller. He served his country in the Navy and lived his whole life on the ranch. A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, who will be greatly missed. He was our historian. He and Aunt Teresa worked together their entire lives. A partnership like no other. And work they did. The strongest folks I've ever met. I love this photo of them.

When I said I didn't want to use the bread board that he made me, because it was so pretty, he made me another that I could use. When I was plowing for a garden and the disc on the back of the tractor grabbed hold of an anchor for the electrical line west of Grandma's house, sparks flew and I took out our power. He rescued me. When I started a burn pile where I shouldn't have last year, the fire got away from me and I had to call the fire department. He rescued me.

God makes a few great men and this is one of them.