Saving Gas

After days of extreme wind, rain and cool temps the sun finally came out today.  Along with the sun came an insane need to get out.  I had the brilliant idea to ride the bikes to Fred Meyer for ingredients to make a salad.  Of course my other half didn't hesitate or miss a beat making the decision to go.   Biff was instantly ready to head out without even checking the temperature. Sometimes it is hard to play with a person who never gets cold, doesn't care if wind blows in his ears or will ride against a gale force wind.

I managed to stall him until the outside air reached 54 degrees. We always know that leaving our house and heading toward town, we will ride into the wind.  Today was no different.  As you peddle, you keep telling yourself that it will be an easy ride home because the wind will be at your back. 

Never having done a shopping trip on bikes we were testing the waters---how much could my basket hold.  The ride was easy and pleasant considering there are few sidewalks and no bike lanes.  The biggest obstacle was dodging broken bottles.  We made it across the major intersection without getting hit.  The secret is to pretend you are a smart car and peddle fast.

We came home with just over $16.00 in groceries.  The bread wasn't squashed and the milk made the ride on Nolan's rack strapped down with a bungee cord.  The trip was a success, free and fun.

Can you believe you are looking at $16.54 ?  It is a good thing we used no gas on the journey.

    

Market Lake

A late spring storm at Market Lake wild life refuge offered spectaular skies and giant thunder heads.
This is always an interesting area in all seasons.  We started visiting Market Lake when our kids were small.  The marshes host a variety of ducks and water fowl as well as sand hill cranes.  Thursday when we drove out to make a visit the geese had their babies out and about along with the malards and their broods.

Things cycle in Mother Nature and the musket rats are no longer part of the wildlife.  No more mounded houses made of reeds grace the water.  When we first started making periodic trips to Market Lake they were scattered throughout the marsh and musk rats could be seen swimming back and forth from the bank to their houses.  Now ducks, geese, koots, hawks red winged blackbirds, yellow headed blackbirds and cranes are the main residents.

Later in the summer brown headed cattails will line the water's edge.  The reeds will turn from gold to green. 

The trill of the red winged blackbirds bounced from one bird to another.

Hanging In

 

I have avoided my blog for weeks.  I have been hesitant to write because things have been rather mundane, or perhaps that is to say things have been normanl. It is a normal Idaho spring--wind, wind, wind and more wind.  My main objective has been to formulate a plan of escape.  In spite of the time this blog has been neglected, it was not due to an attempt to carry out my escape plan.  I came to the conculsion that I had no place to go and was trapped here.  I kept telling myself--- this too will pass.  Somehow the phrase offered little solace  because the passing has been extremely slow. One morning I will wake up and it will be summer with maybe less wind and perhaps temps above 55.  I am optimistic and will keep repeating to myself--this too will pass.  Hope springs eternal.