Trip to Medford

We needed to get Mike's prescription filled so we went into Medford today. It takes 2 1/2 hours to get there and today it was over 100 degrees - what I left Phoenix for! Mike suggested that maybe the heat is following me..right.

Here's a picture of mile marker 55 on Klamath where Mike's going to put in his dredge. He tried on a wet suit today (sorry, I didn't move fast enough to get a picture) .

We picked up some more supplies at the Big R feed store and I had to snap some shots of the cute chicks we saw there.

We got back home by 6:30 pm where the temperature was down to 89 and our cozy little home was waiting. This weekend we may go for a hike along one of the many trails in the area.

Feeling useful

Today I dallied at home doing email before going into town. I took a side road I hadn't explored before and found River Park. It's a big public park that runs along the Klamath.with a pavilion and picnic tables. I've been told that beginning in June, there are potlucks on Saturday night. It's a good spot to take a book or my flute and hang out.

After that pleasant find, I stopped in at the 49er's office. I helped with some filing and then figured out how to print labels for them, with some pretty old software (they are using Q&A, like Dad had at his office). It felt good to help out and be appreciated for it. I still love playing office. I guess I'm just not ready for full retirement yet.

Mike found a 4" dredge that he'll pick up on Saturday. With it, he'll be able to go out in the river, in a wet suit, and suck up the dirt on the bedrock under the water. I promise to have pictures in the near future. I've got a wet suit too (thanks, KC!) so both of us will be splashing around.

The weather turned warm (we were in the upper 90's today!) and it's brought the water level up at least a foot with the snow melt. One prospector said it looked like being on the edge of the Pacific. He'd gotten some nice flakes of gold doing some vacuuming the crevices where some other prospectors had been digging last year.

Here's a little lesson for you. A "miner" is someone that's found gold - a "prospector" is someone who's looking for it. As the saying goes, life's a journey and not a destination.

Poppies and pamphlets

The California state flower is the golden poppy and they are "popping" up all over here. I snapped this picture on my walk home from the 49er's office this afternoon. Mike drove me in this morning on his way out to get some parts for his equipment.

Everyone is very nice here. The staff at the office are mostly locals and a couple of other visitors, like me. Today I had the task of putting those little clear sticky circles on 3 edges of the member bulletin - 500 bulletins times 3 is 1500 stickies! I got to chat with the other ladies (talking being my second favorite thing after reading) with a break for lunch just a short walk away. I could really get addicted to the Pizza Stop's black bread..it's yummy!

Mike rigged up a long PVC arm for the hose and plans to be able to get out into the water further with it. He ran into a snag when his waders leaked - seems the hot sun on our porch dried out the rubber. A lot of folks seem to store their gear and even their RVs here. It something we might look into.

In April I took another class at the John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. I went for the Southern Cooking class and more than once I wandered over to the Altered Books class.

Altered books are a craft art form where old books are converted into art projects. Today I received a text book on the subject and I can't wait to try and create one. I already have several ideas in mind and there are lots of found objects around to incorporate into the project.

I see some bugs I need to chase out of my "room" so good nite for now!