House Sitting - Day 1 in Kalama, WA

On Sunday Allan wrote...

Once again the anticipation and waiting for a certain date has "reached fullness," as Michael Valentine Smith said in Stranger in a Strange Land. This week we traveled from the hot-box that is Atlanta to the cooler climes of Kalama, WA to house sit for almost seven weeks. Our hosts, who left yesterday on a nation-wide grande voyage trip to visit friends and relatives, greeted us Friday night with a great "meet the neighbors" get-together.  They've been very thorough and thoughtful. They gave us a complete tour of their home and property; left us a "quick start" document that details all the workings of their house; a variety of flyers outlining things to do in the area; a link to their travel blog; and a vehicle to use while they're away.  I can't imagine any host being more thoughtful and welcoming.

This morning at 7AM I let the cats and dogs out, fed them, walked the dogs (although didn't make it to the top of the 34% grade that runs 1.5 miles up the "foothills"), brushed them, cooked breakfast, chowed down and...now...will get back to some writing jobs that have been waiting for a quiet day. I think the animals are all ready to lazy around on this rainy afternoon.

Diesel is stretched out under the dining room
table, at my feet, as I type.

Sandy has her favorite place downstairs and is just relaxing.

Bernie (left) and Cinder are recovering from a busy
morning hunting. Cinder was seen with something brown
in her mouth as she crossed the back yard early this morning.

On Sunday Becky wrote...




Allan and I have care of the home and pets, and we are getting down the routines our hosts requested.  We feed the dogs--walk the black lab mix Diesel and little blond dog Sandy in early mornings, brush them and give them a treat.  Bernie and Cinder are gentle, mature cats, who hunt and prowl and then nap indoors part of the day.  They sit on our laps at night for TV watching.  One big yellow/white and the other dark gray.


The environment this morning is so quiet, I can hear only rain draining off the roof, the dog's breath, and this keyboard right now.  Neighbors, a dozen of which we met at the cookout welcome, are widely spread out over Green Mountain acreage, some of the homes upscale, mansion-style.  Friendly people at first, and then friendlier after a few more drinks. (I provided Red Diamond and Bogle Merlots, and we drank it all up.)


The landscape around this beautiful modern cabin is heavenly with the giant Douglas firs, rolling mountain views that seem endless. The whole property is surrounded by dark rail 3-slat fencing, nice for the dogs. Plenty of pasture land, tall wheat grasses, and sitting areas on every side of the house, including around the workshop and office building about the same size as the house and just as pretty.  Amber colored wood paneling makes up the entire 3-level house inside and outside.  LaDonna is a Master Gardener, and has tastefully arranged pebbles, creek rocks, boulders, moss, and varying ground covers in and around her flower gardens, making it appear as though it has all been here forever.
I'll be brushing up on my watercolor painting skills, since this medium required the least bulk of tools and paints to pack and transport.  Everything around here already looks like a watercolor painting, so it should not be too difficult to get the hang of the watery medium over the next six weeks.  Visually, it's pretty much perfect here. The temp high is about 70 degrees today, and we aren't using heat or a/c.  We have a wood stove in the downstairs TV room and a shed full of aged wood that has that pungent woody scent all of us has enjoyed in our fireplaces (that is, before we switched to gas logs)....


The towns around our Green Mountain retreat are small--2,000 to 36,000 population and only 9 to 20 miles away. We are very near Mt. St. Helen's volcano park and will visit on the next sunny day this week.  We will be taking pictures in the next few days when it is predicted to be sunny and mild.  Doug says it rains here about 60 percent of the year, so we have to be patient for those blue sky days, but when the light finally shines on us, it is worth the wait.


Carry on, Southerners.  Talk soon.