August 18th 2023

Home we built August 18th 2023 was a date that will stay in my memory. The day began normally with a trip into town for a chiropractor appointment for Pete and I. Afterwards, we did grocery shopping followed by getting other supplies at North 40 on the way home. When you live out-of-town you tend to get all of the errands done in one trip.

Pete got a new pair of slippers at North 40 taking a little while talking and it was making me nervous about making it home in time. I had a 3:30 Zoom Board Meeting for the Spokane Watercolor Society. When we got home I rushed and turned the computer on and was only about 5 minutes late. The meeting was short maybe 30 minutes.

As I was getting ready to shut down the computer, there was a pounding on our front door. It was our neighbor Travis G. from just above us on the hill. He was saying did we see the fire

Then Everything Changed

What fire? Then all of our cell phones started beeping that spooky evacuation alert. A spooky incessant sound. Looking off of the front deck with Travis there was a great big cloud of smoke going high into the sky. Travis saw 200 ft high flames from his house. The smoke was going away from us, when suddenly, the wind changed and it started to come striaght at us.

Another neighbor, Brian C. came up our driveway saying the same thing and asking if we had notified everyone. He had let his next door neighbor know, and she had already evacuated. He said he would make sure the Eastmans knew on his way back.

I went inside and notified all of the people in our neighborhood watch group via email, and we all started making calls to whoever we already had on our phones. Just then, I noticed a folder of pictures on my desktop that I had taken for the insurance company after our last wildfire scare a few years prior. It was 150 pictures and I opened Google Drive and started an “upload” saying a little prayer, it could send it in time.

I found backpacks and bags and begin dumping medicines, medical gear, and bathroom drawers, just dumping them in. Packed a weekend backpack with clothes like I was going on a weekend trip. And Pete grabbed his suitcases and put clothes and stuff in them.

Pete grabbed the box of our important papers, then started carrying loads of guns and ammo upstairs into the back of the truck. Everytime I made a trip into the car, I watched for small electronic devicesthat could fit in and charger plugs and anything else along the way. I got Max’s dogfood bag, his brushes and his leash but forgot his dish. I grabbed the cooler off of the deck and pulled the soups out of the pantry that were ready to eat thinking, I did not do all that work for nothing. Someone was going to be hungry. The car was getting full fast. Then, the electricity went out.

No More

My next load from inside was going to be computers, keepsakes and treasures. I paused for a second to look at the pictures, Grandpa’s clock, and the piano OMG! Then, a pound on the door revealing the sheriff returning yelling, EVACUATE NOW! We followed him out and as I was heading to the car I noticed the chainsaw and gas weedeater with a blade hanging on the back of our Kubota tractor. I stepped over there and started unwiring them. Pete came and helped me, grabbing them and putting them in the back of the truck. We gotta go!

We followed the sheriff out with all our neighbors behind, and as we turned the corner where the mailboxes are the flames were crossing the croad around us. Just a little too close for comfort. We all just kept going through a thick curtain of smoke.

The Oregon Road Wildfire on August 18th 2023 was a day forever impressed into our memories. Peter, myself and Max made it out.

Assessor’s Board Members

Tom Konis, Spokane Tax Collector is on Facebook.

Meet the Assessor’s Board Members

Did you know that the Board Members of the Spokane Tax Assessor are Realtors/and or/Brokers except for one who is a Lawyer specializing in Real Estate? Does this look like a Conflict-Of-Interest to you? We have Realtors appraising the value of our property at inflated values that in turn will create an increase in the amount of their commission when they sell your place. Sounds like insider trading to me.

Spokane County Tax Assessor

Tom Konis Tax Assessor Voter's Pamphlet The Spokane County Tax Assessor is Tom Konis. It was surprising to find that Konis is listed in our Voter’s Pamphlet as running Unopposed. Is this a good idea for a man who has made over 1-1/2 million dollars in this assessor’s office all ready to be handed the position for the next 4 years without any effort having to be put forth?

He was an appraiser since 1993 (26 years), assessing residential property values in Spokane County. A residential appraiser for 26 years, at $50,884.08 works out to wages in the neighborhood of $1,322,986.08. For 3 years he has been the Spokane County Assessor at a wage of $114,351.57 so, Tom Konis has received a total of $343,054.71 so far in that position. We should get someone to be a write-in candidate to at least make the election have some semblance of fairness.

Wages for our elected officials are listed here.

Dumb and Dumber

McDonalds Remodel Check this out, are we getting dumb and dumber? Duh.

Is BYE… Biden becoming contagious?

OMG, I had to take a picture of this Mcdonald’s location at the corner of one of the main intersections in Northern Spokane, Washington.

McDonalds Remodel 2 It’s the contractor in me that finds this absolutely hilarious. Are we so stupid as a society that we need a sign saying, “closed for remodeling”?

I waved at the guy in the yellow shirt and he said they have had “clueless” people pull in asking where they could pick up coffee. Haha. Seriously?????

The building is gone and they are doing underground work. LOL. Just one quick glance at this and my brain says, wow they demolished Mc Donalds. What are they building there next?

If someone does not instantly understand that this McDonald’s is NOT OPEN, then they must be related to BYE…Biden. They had better avoid staircases too.

Piano Tuned Today

Schiller Piano 07 I had my Schiller piano tuned this morning by a real professional, Mike Paul. He has been tuning for years and years. He says she is a really beautiful instrument, sounding so full and vibrant. She makes practicing a pleasure as our house fills with music.

History of the Piano

This Schiller upright grand piano was purchased for Spokane Washington Symphony but kept in storage because they did not need it. Later, it was sold to a lady who wanted her daughter to learn to play. Unfortunately, her daughter never did learn to play. Peter and Linda used to own a second-hand store, and they bought it from that family’s estate sale. They passed the piano down to nephews & nieces (none played). so, it has been carefully moved and not played for more than a century. In 2016 it was given to us and I have loved playing it ever since.

Mike Paul told me to take a picture of the serial number and ask the manufacturer to find out what it is worth. I contacted the manufacturer’s restorer, even though it doesn’t need any repairs at Antique Piano Shop. It appears to be exotic grain walnut wood in the carved Louis XV style, built circa 1911. Schiller Piano 01

Schiller Keyboard 1

The warranty on the inside of the lid.

This is to Certify that this instrument is Warranted for the term of TEN YEARS from the date of its manufacture, and should the instrument, with proper care and use, prove defective in material or workmanship within that time, it is hereby agreed to put it in good repair upon delivery to our factory.

Schiller Piano Company F. G. Jones Prest., Oregon, Ill.

Schiller Lid Warranty

Check out on the top left on the harp, “$425.oo Net Cash Price at Factory” – Schiller Oregon Ill. How much was $425 worth in 1911? Schiller Piano 04 We are so blessed.

Civil Rights in American History

Civil Rights

I grew up in Hawaii and in our schools there was no extensive study of the founding fathers and the creation of American Civil Rights. Our level of education generally wasn’t the greatest. So, I am taking a free course online at Hillsdale College to learn about them now.

Learning

The first lecture was, “Why Civil Rights Matter“. It introduced me to begin considering things I have never really sat down and thought about.

The second lecture was, “Civil Rights and the American Founding.” Now, I have to bust out the dictionary to keep up but the effort is well worth it. It kind of explains the different types of rights involved. I am learning about American politics and how things are supposed to work.

Before being confronted the next time, maybe you too would like to be more informed. How is our government supposed to work? Hopefully, the next confrontation with an excited liberal will be less stressful. I want to be able to talk calmly and intelligently about truth, instead of reacting to inflated emotions?

I’d suggest that you take this course. In fact, I wish all Americans would.

Ranting Dust MASKS Blahhhh!

Utter Stupidity Blahhhh!

Ranting dust-mask wearing. The Governor is wrong to deny Christians the right to participate in celebrating our religion. Singing at Christmas is a way that we have celebrated the birth of Our Lord for centuries. Attending church and singing should not be something an elected official in Seattle has a right to monitor or allow/disallow.

Requiring that everyone wear a dust mask for extended periods of time as we live in forced isolation (except for the political officials) is not a viable solution to the problem of C-o-v-i-d-1-9. It is not a solution of any kind. Our population grows increasingly weaker due to in-activity & isolation, with increases in depression and economic fearfulness. Wearing dust masks for extended periods of time is downright ridiculous. It is not beneficial to maintaining good health. Masks worn, are not typically sterile, and they decrease the free flow of fresh oxygen as they recirculate moist contaminated exhaled breath. Can you spell I-N-F-E-C-T-I-O-N?

Astronauts Won’t Wear a Dust Mask

The only way a mask could protect me from contracting China Flu is if I were able to suit up in a clean sealed system similar to what auto painters, hazmat clean-up workers, or astronauts use. A fully-sealed suit with a contained bottled air supply. If we are dressed like Neil Armstrong then we are in masks that are truly safe.

Take a good look at your face mask.

We are talking about a thin cloth dust mask protecting us from molecules of virus or bacteria on particles in the air and on surfaces. Here is your sign. Yep. You can’t see individual pathogens with the naked-human-eye. Think about that. The media shows us the virus cells as seen-through-a-microscope (these guys are tiny buggers). Do you believe that wearing a face dust mask made of cloth that you can see-thru, is going to screen these microscopic particles out of the air you breathe? Dream on… I wore these dust masks every time I had to break out concrete on a jobsite. Yep. 8 years of wearing these buggers and believe me I fully understand what they are capable of screening out. They have a hard time screening out dust let alone microscopic stuff. BS and more BS from an ever more ignorant bunch of politicians.

I’m sorry, I digress (no I am not sorry).

Goodmorning, Artist Style!

Good Morning!

Good morning, artist style. This rainbow-colored caterpillar is who greeted me this morning in a fantastic way. It gave me a great pick-me-up. I love that this 10 legged character was the first smile I received today. What great creativity you both have, Thank you, girls!

Friends Warm the Heart

We were lucky to have Bruce Morris and his girls over for a visit on Saturday It was fun to be able to just talk, eat and walk around. Pete worked 30+ years at Kaiser Aluminum on a rotating shift. It’s always wonderful to be able to actually meet his fellow worker friends. You hear a person’s name over and over, through the years but, you don’t really know them. It is virtually impossible to schedule get-togethers when working opposite shifts.

I have met Bruce a few times at the Kaiser yearly Silverwood Company Day. But honestly, this is the first time we have actually been able to visit and get to know him and his girls. Seems like the mystery man “Bruce” has now become a real person to me. Plus, Bruce’s girls are two of the nicest and most talented artists and I can’t wait to be able to draw and paint with them sometime soon.

Friends are More Important Than Ever

The simple things like being able to see and visit with a friend, are really appreciated after extensive periods of confinement. Am so ready to end this Covid 19 quarantine and have a normal friend and family relationships again. I want to enjoy getting my ski legs on and playing with friends on the hill.

Publicly Burning Bras (Masks)?

It is time to march down the main street burning these dang masks…. as far as I am concerned! That is where my head is at!

Okay, Enough Already!

Awesome Coffee Mug

Pete got me a wicked awesome coffee mug yesterday, pictured here with some java in it.

Be still and know Psalm 46:10

If you know me you will agree since it is really hard for me to be still ever. Growing up, people like to call me a Portagee. My cousin would laugh cause she would know exactly what that means. Anyhow it is great to be drinking my daily brew from a brand new cup with such a good message on it.

Hopes for Quarantine

Quarantine?

Here are some hopes for quarantine from a country hick. You might be a country hick if you choose to stay home and garden. Can what you grow and also cook all meals from scratch. Country folk know what is going into their bodies and are able to pronounce all the ingredients in their foods.

We tend to take our time and living rurally makes us limit our trips into town. Why? Because the drive there and back takes enough time to require it. We plan a whole day of errands whenever we go into town, so, we hardly ever run to the store for one item.

As a society we rush-rush-rush

For years I have watched working people, getting in line at fast foods on the way home. Rushing around, taking kids to numerous after-school programs as they run around like a chicken-with-their-head-cut-off. Finally, they arrive home exhausted to open a box of cold food for dinner. Unfortunately, this routine allows no time to wind down. Rush to eat, and head to bed, and do it all over again the next day.

Before the quarantine, I’d see people buying boxed fast foods and frozen bags of ready-to-heat-up stuff. I’d wonder, has everyone forgotten how to make basic foods? Baking bread, rolling out pasta, roasts, stew, soups, whole chickens, sauces, and casseroles from leftovers. It’s not that hard and truthfully, homemade food tastes better.

Besides, a whole cart full of flour, sugar, produce, and meats amount to about half the cost of a cart full of fast food packages. I’ve often walked out of the store wondering how families can afford to buy expensive, less healthy foods like that?

Quarantine Benefits

I am hoping that American citizens are re-learning how to cook delicious family favorites in their own kitchens. We are discussing things, playing games, and laughing with our loved ones. We can wean ourselves off of fast foods with their chemicals and poor nutrition. If we do, our society could weigh less and be healthier.
We could embrace fewer activities filling each and every waking moment of our lives. We haven’t attended that plethora of activities and we have discovered that a little “downtime”, does us all good. Maybe a few of the activities can be eliminated to make things easier. Instead, we can learn how to relax and refresh ourselves.
When this restriction ends, it would be best if we realize that we are in charge of how we choose to live our lives. We can embrace the choice to spend time at home, with our families first, and take better care of ourselves.