It was ESP August 26

I was thinking about my Dad all morning and when i got back there was a message from him on the answering machine.

I was kind of restless today, i've been here on this property most of the summer just kind of "house-sitting", keeping myself occupied by working in the garden. Not much galavanting, trying to conserve my gas money. I go to Bald Rock about every 10 days and have taken 2 rides up the hill towards Bucks Lake and go into Oroville every 5 or 6 days.

I was worked up today and it helped to go for the hike and to sit for a little bit where i wasn't looking round for something to do or fix or clean and no phone, no computer, no stereo.

Today , i just had to go for a ride. I went to Bald Rock. I went kind of late, it was 10AM. Getting HOT on all that granite. But after exploring and climbing to the top and taking photos of the rocks, i started back down and found a cool breezy spot in the shade. It was a nice clear level spot on the granite, just behind a good sized pine, kind of sandy, facing east. I just sat there quietly for about half an hour or more. I kind of dissappeared again, into the wind i guess....and when i came back wondered. " what am i doing here sitting on these rocks all alone" " without any goals or purpose and is it OK? Am i failing life?

I was thinking about my Dad a lot and wished he had spent some time with me here this summer.
And every time i hike on Bald Rock i wish Ilona was here with me...OH she would love it so much. she hikes all the time up to West Peak in Meriden , any kind of weather and even alone

When i got to the parking lot ( just a dirt clearing) I backed into a little spot and picked up a rock to put in front of the wheels of the car. There was a pile of ants and ant eggs underneath the rock. When i got back to the car, after my little hike up the very easy trail, something with a really big tongue had licked them all up.

Also there was lots and lots of evidence of coyotes, i guess you'd call it skat, full of berries and fur.

Fresh, wet. I mean A LOT, going up the trail through the woods on almost every rock... There must have been quite a party up there last night.

It looks like the deer herd that was browsing here all summer has moved on. Maybe they didn't like me lurking around with the camera all the time. I've been hiking through their beds during the afternoon going to pick berries. Keeping on the outside of the berry patch where i can see the road. Tempting as it is to venture further and deeper into the bushes, but thinking maybe the bear is sleeping under there in the shade, or a skunk!

Tomorrow Larry and i are driving down to Sonora. We are going to the memorial for Armondo Puccinelli...who died in the fire at his home with his lady companion. It will take us about 4 hours to get there, Ill be back in Berry Creek by about 4 or 5 Sunday afternoon.

Are you ready for the storm? I keep seeing notices on Yahoo that the whole East coast is bracing for a pretty bad one.

Well, this afternoon i have to check out the drip system again. The one in the Veggie garden. Im getting spray in the tomato bed but the other lines must be blocked because the other beds are dry and the plants are wilting.

im keeping my eye on one lone cucumber that has volunteered to grow in the middle of the onions. I swear it doubled in size since i watered it yesterday afternoon. also i threw in some escarole seeds which started to sprout this week, Mary you will have a nice crop i hope. already picking the arugula that i planted in the half barrel near the deck. suddenly, the roma tomatoes are turning orange, and the other tomatoes have gotten so heavy, though still green, they are pulling down the cord ive tied them up with. More tying on Sunday or Monday, I hope to return with a nice pile of bamboo stakes.

Calling my cell phone? I don't have any cell service here. In fact i haven't been able to use it at all. I tried a couple times from different spots but lost the signal and i can't even access my voice mail.

So, im about to fill the cooler with ice, and bottled water for the trip. And take a shower before i head down the road to the post office. Ill clean the windshield. OH and iron my good shirt and "dressy" jeans.

Love and Miss you

Mom/Sal

ps, in CT. hope you stocked up with water and flashlight batteries. Erin if we get a lot of lightning be sure to unplug the computer.