Feeling brave

Posted on July 19, 2015July 18, 2015 by Lauren

I’ve never felt particularly at home in nature. So it’s ironic that now I find myself in a position of being surrounded by it. The open desert air is at once refreshing and overwhelming. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and horrifyingly wild. The handful of times I went camping as a kid, I enjoyed myself but was more than happy to return to my suburban life indoors. Out here, it is the critters that have taken some getting used to.

A year ago, I freaked out the first time I saw a mouse scurry across the living room floor. We’re talking full out piercing scream accompanied by a scramble up on a chair. I refused to empty the mouse traps. I wanted a firm, impassable line between the outdoor creatures and my indoor space. Then one day I realized, that was just not going to happen in a place where the desert is an irrepressible force of life, constantly pushing to undo our attempts to tame it. So we put traps in places that we are most likely to catch mice and that are out of reach of the kids. I’ve gotten to the point where I can empty a mouse trap and reset it. I sweep bat and packrat poop off the back porch, where we’ve trapped 16 packrats this summer alone. The rabbits darting in and out from under the deck no longer startle me. I’ve accepted that mosquitoes and horseflies are cohabitants out here.

But the snakes … the snakes still make me uneasy. I approach the front planter with caution every single time, ready to jump at a moment’s notice if I see even a hint of a snake. The resident garter snake suns itself on the brick and rocks. The skin sheds fascinate and repulse me. I’ve found a couple of those, indicating there is more than just one snake out there. In fact, a few weeks ago, I came across this one sunning itself in the morning sun.

I took this photo through the window from the safety of the dining room. It didn’t look like a garter snake, with its sleek grey body. And I thought my nephew, who likes snakes and amphibians and other creepy crawlies might be able to identify it. So I got brave and went outside to see if I could get a better photo.

It saw me coming and slithered off the brick and onto the ground. And it was fast, which made me jumpy, but I was on a mission armed with my camera. I’ve noticed that my trusty Nikon often makes me braver than I would be without it. I suppose it’s a form of armor. Or maybe it simply distracts me from my unease. In any case, I snapped this photo of the snake as it moved through the grass. It was watching me, fully aware, but didn’t try to get away. And I stalked it as it moved around the planter, determined to get a decent shot. As I studied it, I noticed its yellow/green under belly and some scars on its back, where maybe it encountered another predator. Its quick, efficient movements were impressive, and I momentarily forget to be scared as I followed its path with my camera. And that’s when I snapped this photo.

It was a nice clear shot of the snake with a nearby skin shed. I sent the photo to my sister-in-law, who showed it to my nephew, aka the reptile expert, who quickly deemed it a yellow bellied racer.

How about that? A little bravery resulted in a decent snake shot and a little less fear of those slithering reptiles. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not seeking them out, but if they come across my path I won’t scream … too loud. Small victories.

Friday Flix: Taken 3

Posted on July 10, 2015July 9, 2015 by Lauren

We saw “Taken” on DVD about a year after it was released in theaters and boy howdy were we impressed. It’s not so much that it’s a masterpiece of cinema – it’s just really good at what it is: a taut action thriller that grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the credits roll for the entirety of its spare 93-minute run time.

In “Taken,” retired CIA agent Bryan Mills (played by Liam Neeson) must make use of his particular set of skills when his teenage daughter is kidnapped while on vacation in Paris. He follows her trail through Europe as her kidnappers prepare to sell her to the highest bidder on the human trafficking market. Neeson plays Mills with razor focus, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake as he vows to take his revenge on the kidnappers and return his daughter to safety. DJ and I still quote the iconic scene when he’s on the phone with his daughter who is hiding out hoping to evade the kidnappers ransacking her vacation house.

The movie was a surprise sleeper hit when it was released in 2008. Made on a modest budget of $25 million, it ended up grossing more than $145 million. And you know Hollywood executives aren’t going to let a cash cow like that go unmilked. “Taken 2” and “Taken 3” were released in 2012 and 2014 respectively. We were totally on board for both sequels. That’s how much we liked the first one. Of course, they aren’t as good as the original, but the thing that makes them work is Neeson. His Bryan Mills is compelling enough to watch through all three films. He’s a dedicated dad whose demanding career got in the way of his marriage. But he doesn’t let a pesky thing like divorce come between him and his daughter, and he’s decent to his ex, which wins him points, too.

So technically this review is supposed to be about “Taken 3.” I wasn’t super fond of the set up for this one. I felt like the filmmakers used up their creativity in the first two movies and then felt the need to go for shock value in the third. Spoiler alert: the ex-wife dies early on in the movie, which forces Mills to go on the run as the police tag him as the murderer. Forest Whitaker plays the lead agent tracking Mills as he tries to find the real murderer to prove his innocence. Now we all know Whitaker is one heck of an actor who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland.” He’s also an accomplished director and producer. With all his talent, I felt like the screenwriters could have done so much more with his character, but he turns in an understated almost clichéd performance of an agent who is always one step behind the fugitive.

“Taken 3” lacks the relentless drive of the first movie and the exotic locales of the second one. I’m not sure I can totally recommend this movie, but as a fan of the first one, I didn’t feel like it was a waste of an evening either. So here’s your takeaway: if you haven’t seen “Taken,” add it to your Netflix queue pronto. Take or leave the rest.

Friday Flix: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Posted on June 26, 2015July 16, 2015 by Lauren

We’re going to start doing movie reviews each Friday. Living out in the boonies with data-capped internet access we don’t have the luxury of streaming Netflix movies and TV shows like we did when we lived in town. However, we still watch movies the old school way – on DVD. We were thinking it would be fun to document our weekly movies with reviews here on the blog. Having watched “Cars 2” approximately 78 times, I could write a lengthy dissertation on the abundance of cultural stereotypes in animated movies and their impact on young minds. But I’ll just say the first “Cars” movie is better and leave it at that.

So let’s dive right into “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” shall we?

We rented this movie by director Wes Anderson because we’ve loved some of his other movies, most notably “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Bottle Rocket.” DJ especially enjoys Anderson’s humor and flawed characters. Unfortunately, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” put us to sleep. Literally.

Told in flashback, the film is set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between World War I and World War II and follows M. Gustave, a concierge at the hotel and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his friend. Ralph Fiennes plays Gustave who is drawn into some convoluted plot involving the inheritance of a priceless Renaissance painting. There are appearances by Wes Anderson movie regulars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Edward Norton, but honestly I simply couldn’t get behind any of the characters. The sets were so intricately drawn up, the costumes so detailed and characters’ movements so precisely choreographed that I felt the movie tripped over its own cleverness. One has to appreciate director Anderson’s attention to detail but I really felt it got in the way of the story, which I wasn’t fond of to begin with.

So we will continue to be fans of Wes Anderson. This movie simply wasn’t our bag of chips. Have you seen this film? Did you like it? I would love to hear differing opinions in the comments.

So as not to end on a sour note, anyone have any movies they would recommend we add to our Netflix queue?

Thoughts while weed eating

Posted on June 17, 2015June 16, 2015 by Lauren

Note: Post courtesy of DJ.

You have time to think when you are weed eating. One thought that dawned on me this morning as I was attacking a stand of mustard weed with the ol’ string trimmer was: “couldn’t a cow (or pig or goat) be doing this?” As in, reducing mosquito habitat, converting energy to fertilizer or at least mulch, etc. etc.? Probably, I concluded, as long as there weren’t too many cow (or goat) pies everywhere I want to step. Which led me to the thought of balance, which has been an ongoing theme out here at the farmstead. Or perhaps theme should be replaced with lesson, and an ongoing one at that. This concept also happens to describe a book I just finished reading called “The Big Burn,” by Northwest author Timothy Egan. He subtitled his book “Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America.” I think anyone who enjoys early 1900s American History and specifically that of the then-still wild American west will enjoy this book as will folks who just enjoy a dramatically told true story.

The story begins as Teddy Roosevelt and trusted friend and advisor (and later to become the father of the modern U.S. Forest Service) Gifford Pinchot are wrestling with a grand idea… that of conservation. Seems the two Easterners, of means and education, feel a deep kindred calling to the vast wilderness of the West, to the wonders of its unspoiled nature and to the words and places of noted naturalist John Muir. Well, seemingly the only other folks at that time (circa early 1900s) who had an appreciation for these lands (besides, obviously, the woefully underrepresented and exploited Native Americans) were timber barons and copper kings, and the legal, bureaucratic and media apparatus necessary to sustain them. Roosevelt argued that the current and future citizenry of the country deserved to have an opportunity to appreciate and benefit from these incredible places and resources. T.R. began reserving huge tracts of forest for the newly formed Forest Service to manage, led by Pinchot and his Rangers. Such a large undertaking couldn’t help but be met with some resistance from those who would profit from the continued exploitation of the resources.

One of the Service’s strongest early stances was that of “zero tolerance” for wildfire, which time and science have since shown to work against the overall health of the forest (or prairie or desert) ecosystem. A more natural fire regime including periodic, but less intense fires, has been shown to positively influence plant and animal diversity and health, not to mention being far cheaper and safer than attacking every fire with every available resource. But In the early days of the USFS, their mission regarding forest fires was simply to put every fire out.

That became an impossibility in the summer of 1910, when a vast tract of mixed and white pine forest stretching from the Palouse of Eastern Washington, across the Northern panhandle of Idaho, into Northwest Montana and on into south-central Canada exploded in flames. A historically dry winter and spring led to tinder dry conditions in the forest that ultimately resulted in an unprecedented fire storm that claimed countless thousands of acres of forest but also several settlements and nearly 100 lives. Tales of bravery (like that of “Big” Ed Pulaski, who led a group to safety in a mine shaft, or the Buffalo soldiers of Company G 25^th Infantry, who heroically maintained order and helped save many lives in and around Wallace and Avery, Idaho) were balanced with those accusing the forest managers of incomprehensible incompetence and hubris. Many lives had been risked and indeed lost in the fight against one of the most powerful of natural foes. Some had signed on to work for the FS, but there were many untrained miners and even prisoners forced into service by necessity. Of course, after the fact there was much hand-wringing on how or even whether or not the Service should continue.

Anyway back to balance… so I now remember why it can be pretty hard to write a good book report. There is a lot to think about in this book, so it’s hard to be brief and yet touch on some of the things that spoke to me. This book reminds me of the cliché that anyone who claims to have all the answers just hasn’t been asked the right questions yet. That’s where I come down on managing public land… It takes bravery to make difficult decisions instead of theorizing about or studying or placing blame after the fact, and it takes determination to live with the results of those decisions. Ideally, the people who make those decisions will have access to and interest in as much information on the topic as is available. Then they’ll try to balance the science with public interest. But here’s a spoiler alert: there may be more than one public interest — there may be many of them, and they may seem to be forever shifting and (hopefully) evolving.

Other recommended titles on the topic include “Young Men and Fire,” by Norman Maclean and “Fire on the Mountain,” by Norman’s son John N. Maclean.

A trip to the forest to cut some wood

Posted on June 10, 2015June 9, 2015 by Lauren

We went through a few cords of wood this past winter as our wood stove is our primary source of heat. So now that summer is almost here, it’s time to stock up on wood so that it can dry and cure before next fall when we’ll need it again. We’ve made a few trips to the forest to get wood and wanted to share some photos from our first woodcutting trip. The in-laws deserve a shout out for scouting the location beforehand, bringing lunch and the truck in which to cart the wood back home. It was a fun, productive day, so here it is in pictures.

We had to drive awhile to get out of the desert and into the forest.

Luckily, we came across some fallen trees that just needed to be bucked up.

DJ inspects the equipment and mixes the fuel for the chainsaw. Note the protective gear: gloves, pants and ear protection. Safety first, people!

And for the fun part. Watch those woodchips fly.

Nana and li’l S watch the action.

Loading up the truck.

Making sure we’re legal.

Lil’l E: “Did someone say lunch?”

Are you hungry yet?

Posted on June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 by Lauren

Scenes of spring

Posted on May 13, 2015May 12, 2015 by Lauren

Spring egret — An egret stands in the creek.

Spring bird — A little yellow bird hangs out in the plum tree.

Spring Bumblebee — A bumblebee pollinates the pea shrubs.

Spring is in full force as things green up and the weather mellows out.

Three girls I would be friends with

Posted on May 5, 2015May 4, 2015 by Lauren

I read a lot of books, mostly novels, some YA, some fantasy, some romance, some space sci-fi, some non-fiction. A little bit of everything. The ones that speak to me are usually coming of age stories about girls whose inner strength is just begging to be recognized. And the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers has this in spades.

The trio of books takes place in 15^th century Brittany, a country on the cusp of war with France. While Christianity has taken hold through much of the country, people still have loyalty to older gods such as Saint Mortain (god of death) and Saint Arduinna (goddess of love’s sharp bite). There is a convent on an island where the daughters of Mortain (mostly girls whose families have cast them out because their mothers were unfaithful) are educated and trained to kill in the name of their god. We meet Ismae, Sybella and Annith at the convent as they finish their training and are eager and ready for their deadly assignments. Their lives have not been easy, but at the convent they find friendship and purpose.

We are thrown into Ismae’s harrowing story in “Grave Mercy.” Her mother attempted to poison her while in the womb, leaving her baby with a nasty scar. Ismae survives childbirth only to be shunned by her father who wants to be rid of her as soon as possible. He tries to marry her off at the age of 14, but through a twist of fate Ismae narrowly escapes her brutally abusive husband-to-be. She ends up at the convent where she finds she has a talent for administering poisons and is thrown into training to become an assassin.

Sybella’s backstory is even more horrifying as she shows up at the convent nearly insane from the trauma her family has wrought. Once she learns to trust again, she thrives in her training sessions at the convent as she heals from her tragic past. Though she can be a bit prickly in nature, she forms solid friendships with both Ismae and Annith and it is the tight bonds with these two who help her overcome the abuse of her upbringing. The second book in the series, “Dark Triumph,” picks up as the convent sends Sybella right back into the heart of her family nightmare. But perhaps this time she will be strong enough to face her terrifying father.

The third book, “Mortal Heart,” gives us Annith’s story. Unlike the other two, Annith came to the convent as a young child and has known no other life. This doesn’t mean she has had it easy, but she longs to take her training and leave the island that she’s always called home. She’s frustrated as she watches her two friends leave on assignments and must stay behind to help train the younger girls. When the Abbess reveals that Annith has been selected to be the new seeress and may never leave the convent, she’s forced to consider actions that defy the Abbess’ authority and perhaps even the god she has sworn to serve.

While using their deadly skills to fight for their duchess and country, these girls also discover inner strengths that give them the courage to face the demons from their pasts. Make no mistake, these girls are fierce. Their stories involve violence, court intrigue, romance and questions of religious faith. They use their wits and specialized skills to overcome obstacles while remaining loyal to each other and their duchess.

The author has based some of her story in truth. Anne, the Duchess of Brittany, did indeed inherit her kingdom at the young age of 12. She had vision for one so young and fought for the rights of her people. She was revered in history as a conscientious ruler. In this series, she is surrounded by older councilors (mainly men with agendas of their own) and while she depends on their opinions for information, she still chooses to form her own decisions. She recognizes the skills of our fair assassins and uses them to help rule during a pivotal time in her country’s history. There is no conniving or petty back-stabbing among these girls. They support one another with an honesty that is refreshing.

These are stories about girls coming to grips with their strengths and weaknesses and realizing that they have something worthwhile to offer the world. They overcome difficult, abusive childhoods to become young women who take their destinies into their own capable hands and refuse to be mere pawns in someone else’s game. These are girls I would gladly call friends, and I hope their stories inspire you as well.

What literary characters would you welcome into your life? Let me know in the comments.

The otters are back

Posted on April 10, 2015April 9, 2015 by Lauren

After being AWOL all winter we had an otter sighting the other day.

There were actually three of them, but we only caught two on camera. Catching a glimpse of these guys frolicking in the creek makes my day. For one, they are a bit elusive. They don’t linger like the ducks do, but they make more of an impact leaving great waves in their wake as they make their way through the water. Occasionally, they’ll detour to one side or the other to investigate something that has caught their interest.

And occasionally, they’ll wrestle with each other, making turns and swirls in the water. Unlike the other wildlife around here that seems intent on hunting, gathering food or building nests, these guys seem to enjoy having fun from time to time.

They are curious, as evidenced by this guy who paused on his swim down the creek to mug for the camera.

Spring’s hope

Posted on March 31, 2015April 1, 2015 by Lauren

“He who plants a tree, plants a hope.” – Lucy Larcom, American poet

Generations ago, some forward-thinking pioneers planted a bunch of willows out in the middle of the desert. It’s one of the only ways I can distinguish our little patch of paradise from the rest of the desert in this desolate landscape. These willows are now towering old-growths that provide nesting areas for wildlife and a nice refuge from the punishing wind. However, some of them are now dead or dying (side note: hello firewood!) and it’s time to pay it forward for future generations.

My in-laws have been planting trees out here for about two decades now and thank goodness. While some have thrived, countless others have not. The hybrid willows and the Russian olives have been a resounding success, while the legend has it that one spring they planted no less than 100 black cottonwoods that haven’t been heard from since. It is not a forgiving environment. Young trees have much to overcome – gophers, porcupines, beavers, deer and cows can kill them before they even have a chance to bud out. High winds and heavy snow can topple them in an instant. So we have to stake them and cage them until they get big enough to take the abuse from the wildlife and weather on their own. Then there is the issue of water. They call it the desert for a reason. Water isn’t exactly plentiful. Until their roots reach the ground water, they need regular waterings in order to sustain life. Another strike is the alkaline, heavy clay soil out here. One friend of ours noted that you can practically hear the plants cringing and screaming “Nooooooooo!” when you go to transplant them into this challenging climate.

Even so, we want to make sure there are trees here for our kids and grandchildren. We ordered about 80 trees last fall. Some willows, some fruit trees and a few spruce. We’ve been planting them for the past three weeks – some went in the orchard, some along the creek and some in the backyard. Some went in pots in the greenhouse until we figure out a place to put them. We hoped that the desert soil wasn’t too much of a shock for them and that they would survive. We staked and caged them for support and protection. We supplemented the soil with peat moss, some gypsum and a slow release fertilizer, and we’ve been watering diligently.

But between the stress of shipping and sitting in our garage for a few days, we weren’t sure that we’d done entirely right by these trees. Perhaps there was just too much stacked against them from the beginning.

But then …

Hope.

We know it’s early yet, but with these swollen buds and greenery we have hope that these young trees will be here for many years to come. Perhaps in a roundabout way it’s also a metaphor for our situation out here. Sometimes it’s ok to invest time and energy not knowing exactly when, or if, or in what form the dividends will come. Sometimes this vast space seems a little overwhelming and intimidating, the dry landscape testing the will of those who wish to set roots here… yet we continue to try to find a way. Spring is here and so is hope.

Desert Schooner

Living the rural life in Oregon's High Desert