April 1, 2020

Liz Writes Life

“Counting flowers on the wall that don’t bother me at all, playing solitaire ‘til dawn with a deck of 51, smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo, now don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do.” This 1960s Statler Brothers song has been playing in my head for nearly two weeks – since the federal social distancing guidelines and then California’s edict to “stay in place (home)” was issued regarding the Covid-19 virus.

Just what are we all doing, at home, with all this extra time? Are you bored?

The song is actually about a man claiming that his ex-girlfriend (or wife) doesn’t need to worry about his happiness, because he has plenty to do.

As more states have mandated stricter stay-away-from-each-other measures, and shut-down schools, people are coming up with some interesting things to do. Youtube videos are becoming the rage. I saw a young child start his own cooking show. Pretty cute. One Texas man held a stay-at-home fashion show and dads are dancing with kids. Yep, these are innovative things.

I don’t get on facebook much or do other social media, so I think I am missing a lot of hilarity. Email or texts on my cell phone are my main means of that kind of communication. In an email, I did see local gals are making medical masks for Fairchild Medical Center. There is a video on how to make them. If we are feeling bored (or not), it would be a great idea to help out this project!

I thought I’d get to doing more genealogy and re-writing family history stories, but haven’t gotten around to it. Gotta admit, I really don’t mind slowing my life down!

More of us have gotten back into the art of the old-fashioned phone call letting friends know the hours for seniors at the local grocery stores, asking how their extended family is doing, along with trying to keep-up with the fast-moving virus and shut-downs throughout the world. It has been a whirl-wind few weeks for sure!

Well, back to the Statler Brothers song: Remember back in the 1950s and 1960s, when most living rooms were adorned with wall paper? Yep, I recall homes with wall paper that had lots of tiny flowers on the wall. It would have taken quite a bit of time counting them all.

Even though I haven’t played cards for quite a while, I do remember quickly learning to always separate the suits and count all of the cards before playing any game. If a card was missing, we would use the Joker. Just had to remember which card it was standing-in for!

Because I can’t get the song out of my head, I have changed a couple of words. I don’t smoke cigarettes. So, I decided to put “eating chocolate” in place of those words, then I reminded myself that I am trying to reduce my chocolate consumption. So, for a healthy-motivation, I am using the words “eating carrots.” Ha, ha.

Now, as to watching Captain Kangaroo? It was on television, when I was a kid. But, we didn’t get that station at our house up Sawyer’s Bar Rd. Or, rather, a person bigger than me had to go out and turn the antenna (on the tall aluminum) pole. My parents just didn’t do that. The antenna was strapped to a fence post on the south side of the house. We typically got ABC KRCR out of Redding. So, for younger people, I want to stress that we did have television-watching choices – on or off!

Just for fun, I did a search for Captain Kangaroo on youtube.com and up came several shows from the 1950s. Yep, it was entertaining – for kids. Then, I got distracted clicking on old shows like the “Glen Campbell Good Time Hour,” Johnny Cash’s show and other shows of that time period. Then, I watched Garth, Kenny Rogers and Dolly, Mac Davis, Elvis – you name it. Whittled away quite a few hours, it did.

Now, I am not making light of this extremely difficult situation we find ourselves in trying to stop the spread of this dreaded Covid-19 virus. It is good that we are hunkering-down and not physically socializing. And when cabin fever starts to hit, we can always go out and dig-up the flower bed or the garden, wash windows, or count the blossoms on the pink spring-blooming trees. My ornamental plum just popped! So, don’t tell me I’ve nothin’ to do!

Sheriff and CCW

Last week, Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jon Lopey sent out a Covid-19 update press release. I was glad that he addressed the California Concealed Weapon Permit process for renewals. Every two years, a CCW Permit holder must renew by taking a class. Because we should not gather in groups, I am not sure how renewal instructors are handling the situation.

So, it is good to know that Sheriff Lopey is allowing a 90-day extension. Apparently, if the time-limit is getting tight and the re-certification class is not available, the individual facing the expiration of the CCW permit will need to contact the Siskiyou Co. Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Lopey will then provide you a letter certifying the extension of the CCW permit, if applicable.

Telemedicine

It looks like doctors are gearing-up to do much more face-to-face telemedicine appointments as an aid to patients, particularly the ones with Covid-19 symptoms during this social distancing situation. Now, animal doctors will have the same flexibility.

During this lock-down, veterinarians are allowed to do “emergency only” service for clients. But, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced telemedicine will be permitted. While, most veterinarians would rather see their animal patient for diagnosis, this should be helpful in stressful situations – as long as the human owner can also help explain the symptoms! Previously, through federal regulations, vets were required to make physical examinations in order to prescribe treatments. Yep, that is a really good move from the FDA.

TP

Oh, and there is good news on the toilet paper horizon. I saw a commercial on T.V., where a toilet paper company said it is making lots more! Yay! We were also reminded to share.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 3-25-2020

March 25, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Guess we were all surprised at how fast our lives were up-ended this past week. Gosh, the covid-19 virus has moved swiftly around the world from China. Governments have moved even faster to slow the spread of this pandemic that has touched every aspect of our lives.

President Trump, at the White House, sent out guidelines for social interaction and our own California Governor shut-down schools, many essential businesses and ordered a Stay-at-Home edict – all within a week! Social distancing is now the norm. So, entertainment, meetings and even sports are canceled. Scott Valley Protect Our Water also canceled its meeting this week.

Certainly makes us wonder how we will survive, but we will!

Through the internet, human ingenuity is prevailing and we will soon be entertained with a million different youtube videos regarding our locked-down situations. Hopefully, most will be funny. Television is already re-showing NCAA basketball games from as far back as 1990s. The Kentucky Derby will be re-scheduled to September. 

Hoarding is causing problems. Panic buying is creating short-term shortages. When people can't get toilet paper, there is a problem, especially when we have been reassured there is plenty of toilet paper in the warehouses. But, it is scary not knowing what tomorrow, next week or month will or won't bring.

In scouring news on the web, I read several articles that said experts are concerned over the hoarding of items. There really is no need to do it. Apparently, North America makes 90 percent of its toilet paper. Only 10 percent comes from China or India. There is plenty of TP in warehouses and manufactures are certainly making more. Maybe we should leave a package or two for someone else.

Here is an interesting note about TP: Apparently, in the 1800s toilet paper was being manufactured from tree pulp. Unfortunately, the pulp wasn’t mashed enough to disintegrate all the wood splinters and, well, you know how frustrating that would have been! It wasn’t until a better process was developed in the mid-1930s that our toilet paper became safer to use!

It needs to be said that most workers in some industries are still working. Farmers and ranchers are still working. Our own local farmers were out planting this past week. Those in the industry, food and grocery supply chain are still working. Even more importantly the truckers hauling the supplies are still working. We do have supplies and we need to trust the shelves will be re-stocked.

In a Bloomberg news article, it was reported there is plenty of meat in the system. One stat said 957.5 million pounds of chicken is in cold storage. For sure that is good – if you like chicken!

In the slaughter house industry, I read where more meat inspectors are being certified just in case the current inspectors fall ill from the covid-19.

I do feel so sorry for those who have lost their jobs from a variety of businesses and schools being shut-down. Eateries quickly moved to take-out or delivery service, because no one is allowed to go inside and sit down to eat. Innovation is happening in many businesses. It was exciting to see our own local Denny Bar Co. order aloe vera gel and bottles to make hand sanitizer using its own alcohol. Hope I can get a bottle before they are out!

Iditarod

So, it seemed quite ironic to have our lives so changed from a virus in the year 2020, while mushers and dogs were on their way to Nome, Alaska re-enacting the ordeal of the race to save the people of Nome from diphtheria nearly 100 years ago. With the rapidly moving covid-19 news updates to check-out, I almost forgot to check on the Iditarod racers. I am always inspired by this race through the frozen North.

Thomas Waerner, from Norway, came in the winner this year with the time of 9 days, 10 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds in the 48^th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

A few days into the race, the mushers began learning about the world-wide pandemic, but were temporarily isolated in their own conditions. After winning the race, Waerner quickly realized that he wouldn’t be flying home to Norway any time soon. Because of mandated social distancing, the huge celebration of his win was not held nor the previous days’ of annual festivities. Supporters were encouraged to disperse and potential revelers told to stay away. But, Waerner’s dogs did receive their prize wreath of yellow roses.

The Iditarod is an iconic race that re-enacts the human-kindness and mercy that runs through our societies. It was the winter of 1924-1925, when Nome was hit with diphtheria and the local doctor did not receive the life-saving antitoxin before the port was closed due to ice. The antitoxin he had was not fresh and was not working. Children fell ill and several died. The town council quickly quarantined the several thousand residents to their homes and the doctor sent a radio telegram to the Commissioner of Health of the Territories pleading for thousands of units of diphtheria antitoxin. Mail was the only form of transportation, which was by sled dogs.

That original 1925 race was accomplished by relay with various mushers and sled dog teams taking turns running across 674 miles of Alaska Territory. Twenty mushers and 150 sled dogs participated in the five-and-half-day rescue and literally saved the town.

It is humbling to remember the sacrifice and courage of those brave mushers and sturdy dependable dogs. Truly, they were heroes. There is faith, hope and success in team work.

During this difficult trial, may God bless us to expand our charitable acts. Call and check-on your family, friends and neighbors. Let us pray for our medical, first-responders and policing folks who are diligently trying to save lives -- along with those who are infected with covid-19. And may we take this time to slow down, take deep breaths, reflect on the good in our world expanding our hope and trusting that this, too, shall pass.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 3-18-2020

March 18, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Finally, March weather has arrived! It was great to wake up to seven inches of snow on Sunday morning here at the south end of the valley. Yay! Hopefully, the upcoming predicted rain and snow showers will continue to add moisture.

I remember back in 1975, Jack was working for the Beckman ranch outside of Etna. His folks drove up for a visit from Cottonwood on March 19^th and on the first day of spring, March 20^th, it snowed and snowed. Ended-up with over a foot of snow (more I think) and the freeway shut-down for two days. So, a Miracle March could still happen. Maybe a Miracle April could be in the works as well.

Believe it or not, I did get out in the garden last week and hooked several hoses together. It was T-shirt weather. Made some furrows by the five-inch tall garlic and some volunteer garlic and onions. In grubbing-up some weeds, I found a few volunteer butter crunch lettuces, so made a circle around them. Also, dug around the rhubarb that was barely poking out of the ground and then irrigated everything; plus a few perennials. Wow, it was dry.

The lawn clippings that I put on much of the garden, last year, worked really well. When I grubbed-out the few weeds growing, the soil was pretty soft under the clippings -- even though they had composted down to less than an inch. I think this is working to improve the soil, at least a bit, and I will continue begging for lawn clippings from friends this summer.

Thinking of all the work involved in the garden, I decided to ask my 14-year-old grandson, Bryce, if he would help me. Thankfully, he said “yes,” so I picked him up after school on Friday and we pulled the dried-up plants that I didn’t get cleared last fall. The garden looks great. We also added manure to a spot and planted more butter crunch lettuce and spinach.

We even cleaned-out most of perennials from the flower garden area. Boy, the rye grass has moved-in something terrible. Don’t know quite what I am going to do to stop its spread. Looking out the window on Monday morning, I could see eight-inch tall green blades sticking-up through the snow. Ugg, guess it will give Bryce and I a challenge.

Virus

Ok, I will admit that I am surprised that the covid-16 virus pandemic is creating such havoc. All levels of governments moved fast this past a week, because of the concerns world-wide. Shockingly, I will stay away from making any political comments except that more trees may need to be cut down to make more toilet paper.

Certainly never thought it would be a virus that would cause panic over the need to store extra food. I am sorry that I haven’t been encouraging a bit of extra food storage the past few years and will admit that I have become lax, but I did have an extra large package of toilet paper in the cupboard – before the recent run.

Locally, our stores seem to be able to keep up with the demand for food. No, I don’t believe we should be purchasing an over amount just to hoard things, but having or purchasing extra of our favorite foods and necessities is prudent. Good luck to everyone as we weather this pandemic.

Schools closed

I just learned that the Scott Valley schools will be closing, today, March 18, 2020, because of the threat of the covid-19 virus. The schools will re-open after Spring Break on April 20, 2020. Wow, that is a long time, especially for parents that may be working. My goodness, we are in unusual situations. Let’s be sure to check on our neighbors, especially older folks and those with children. We may need to share our food and necessities. Fortunately, we are great at helping each other!

Veterans

Many activities are being canceled. One of those is the annual Siskiyou County Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day that was scheduled for March 28, 2020 at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka. Bummer.

American Legion

But, members of the American Legion Perry Harris Post #260 are revitalizing the group, which has been in a hiatus for two years. Revitalizing is good news, because the Post provides free military services for funerals of veterans as well as memorial ceremonies at our local cemeteries for Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day.

Bob Prather was recently selected as Commander with Bruce Hurlbut as Vice, Dave Bradford as Finance Officer and Al Buchter is Adjutant. All those that have served in the military and released from active duty are invited to join. The next meeting will be held on April 8, 2020 at the Etna City Hall at 7:30 p.m. Give Bruce a call at 530-467-5327 or Dave at 530-467-3477 and let them know you are interested.

Election

Surprisingly, it looks like $15 billion bond measure Prop. 13, that we voted on in the March 3, 2020 General Primary Election, was defeated. With all the campaigning in favor of the bill, it is interesting that it only had about 46 percent of California voters in favor. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association alerted voters that this proposition would cause private property taxes to increase.

“The state should fund school facilities itself rather than adding to school districts’ debt,” HJTA reported. It is the HJTA that fought for the passage of the 1978 Proposition 13 to protect property taxes from continually increasing. So far, the group has been able to alert the public, when the legislature or politicians try to chip away at that protection.

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water is still planning on holding its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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March 11, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Garden

Nope, I did not get lettuce planted. Also, did not drag the hoses out of the garage and get them hooked-up to irrigate the garlic, rhubarb, asparagus and perennials. Ended-up doing other things, although I can’t remember what those other things were? Oops.

Ran into Dan Deppen in Etna and he was planning on planting potatoes and onions last week. My potatoes that I dug last fall are sprouting and would love to be planted. Yep, one more thing to put on the “to-do” list. I also need to cut lots of suckers from the lilac bush that is too close to the house; and there is good new growth on the two rose bushes, so I need to cut-off the old canes and prune them up.

I’ve been doing family history stuff (in the house) and even on warm days have not been enticed to get outside and start the spring clean-up. Hum, the calendar says that the first day of spring isn’t until March 19^th. Gosh, that means it really is still winter!

Sure was praying for extra rain and snow from the squalls that came through last weekend. The warm February temperatures really hurt our snowpack. The March U.S. Forest Service survey shows our Siskiyou snowpacks are at about 43 percent of historic averages. Darn!

Helicopter story

A few weeks ago, I had another good chat with my brother, Steve Dillman. He recalled a fun story that is worth sharing. At least, I think it’s worth sharing.

In the late 1970s, Steve was flying a Hughes 500 helicopter working for Lucas Logging based in Yreka. For some background, Steve flew helicopter in Vietnam, then for a timber, mining and exploration company based in Ketchikan, Alaska and for a company in Grants Pass before being hired by Lucas. So, Steve had lots of experience using the helicopter for many purposes. For Lucas, he was supporting the logging business, flying employees to various jobs, working on fires and doing other for-hire commercial enterprises like pouring cement from an under-the-aircraft bucket on bridges for local contractor Leo Davis. Quite often he flew search and rescue missions in our mountains -- saving injured climbers and sometimes taking bodies off Mt. Shasta. So, his 15 years of expertise was broad.

Our Uncle Charley Dillman was working for the City of Etna as its “maintenance” man. There is probably a much more politically correct and important-sounding title for this position nowadays. Anyway, each morning Charley hand-cranked the large United States flag up the 200 ft. tall flagpole, which had been made from a very big fir tree. One time, it got stuck when he was cranking it up or back down. He couldn’t get it to budge. So, he started wondering how to (cheaply) get it fixed. Should the city hire someone to climb the flagpole? There was serious concern and mystery on the sturdiness of the pole. No one seemed to know how long it had been in place. (Today, the newer flagpole is only 100 feet tall.)

That was when Charley thought of his nephew, Steve, who was pretty handy with a helicopter. The two discussed the problem. Yep, Steve could lift Charley up to the flagpole, so he could investigate and fix the problem. Steve put his thinking cap on (after obtaining permission from his boss to do the deed) and borrowed a parachute harness with several nylon-sling lines. He thought of all the safety issues to make sure he wouldn’t accidently release the sling-line from the cargo hook; then remove his pilot door, so he could look straight down and watch Charley dangling under the copter.

The day arrived for the project. Steve landed the helicopter in the parking lot of what was then the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is now the Methodist Church. Charley bravely let Steve snap the harness in place and Steve took to the controls flying him over and above the flagpole. He lowered Charley down until he was literally standing on the gold ball on top, then allowed Charley to slide down the pole. Charley checked the upper snap. No entanglement there. He signaled to go down further and found a splice in the cable had become lodged with the snap. He was able to get it unbound and loose. He signaled again to Steve who flew back to the parking lot setting Charley down and then the helicopter.

Hurriedly, Charley walked over to the flagpole and cranked the flag down. Whew! The project worked!

Then, casually, the two decided to walk down Main St. and refresh themselves at the local café. They ran into Molly MacGowan, who was one of the few people that had watched the entire scene, which really didn’t spark much interest in the town’s people. Even now, Molly told me that she doesn’t recall much of the event.

No money changed hands. It was a voluntary support-the-Siskiyou-community project for Steve and Lucas. And the unsung hero, Charley, may have enjoyed the “thrill” of hanging in the sky at the age of 58 or 59. He was born in 1919. Or maybe it wasn’t such a thrill, just a job that needed fixing.

Klamath dams

Last week, the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corp. announced it is on track for taking the four hydro-electric dams out and that it submitted documentation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that is has sufficient funds to complete the destruction of the dams.

Gotta say that I question that KRRC has the sufficient funds of $446 million. I also question KRRC’s math on the actual cost of removal of the dams and if KRRC has correctly addressed potential liability issues of known and unknown additional environmental destruction to private property owners from the loss of the Irongate and Copco reservoirs and potential river flooding.

Even though KRRC claims it is “on track” it must be remembered that no decision has been made by the federal agency now in control of the process. And as KRRC continues its track towards dam removal, there are also property owners, grass roots groups and the County of Siskiyou watch-dogging and questioning KRRC’s documents, tactics and claims. Dam removal is still a long way from being a done deal!

POW

Scott Valley Protect Our Water will meet on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at the Fort Jones Community Center at 7 p.m.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 3-4-2020

March 4, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Garden

Oh boy, a few daffodils are seven-inches high and about to pop open. Yay! I just love this bright yellow during late winter. The Jessie Hammond daffodils, next to the west side of the house, look like they will open in about week. So, I started checking the rest of the flower garden areas and noticed the tulips are also several inches high. Darn, now I really gotta get out there and pull-out all the dead perennial stalks.

My goodness, it is so dry that I worry about the perennials. The little violets near the house have been blooming for several weeks, but look so weak and bedraggled because of lack of rain. My outside water is turned-off, because it runs just underground in a plastic line. Freezing temps are far from over and I don’t want to break a line or a faucet. So, I may need to drag the hoses out of the garage and hook them up to the frost free faucet by the pump house and irrigate.

In checking more of the flower garden, I noticed the iris’ are up along with a few inches of daylilies and coreopsis. The two varieties of lamb’s ears never did die back and neither did the fever few, which is three-inches high trying to catch-up to happy-looking California poppy plants. So I checked the Oriental poppy plants and several of them are up eight-inches with foot-long draping fronds.

Then, I realized I better check the garden. The chives are pushing up through its old vegetation. Yep, they are pretty tough. Surprisingly, some of the garlic cloves I planted in November are up several inches -- and look wimpy. Ugh, they need water too! Oh and there was a four-inch deep hole affecting several new garlic. Hum, it must be a spot the cats decided to claim. I covered it with more chicken wire. They can “go” somewhere else.

I no longer need to worry about the rhubarb as several stems are just starting to uncurl cracking through the soil. Whew! I felt that I over-harvested last fall and was concerned I might have killed the plants. I also looked at the asparagus bed, but didn’t see any sign of life, yet. Good. It needs a good watering.

Because a mild March is projected, lettuce and peas could be planted anytime, but may need irrigation. I do want to plant some lettuce, but will have to keep the sprinkle-water-bucket full and use it quite often.

In checking the recent snowpack situation in the Sierras, it has dropped from 90 percent of average, in early January, to 64 percent of average a few days ago. That is not good. Time to really pray for rain!

POW

Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 1, spoke at the Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting last Thursday. He shared there is significant push from government agencies to address wildfire behavior and over-loading of timber and brush in the privately-owned lands as well as the public lands.

In early February, Ray traveled to Sacramento to meet with a Governor Newsom task force, which is transitioning from a beetle tree task force (these were beetles that were killing swaths of trees) to the newly named Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Task Force. Ray was appointed by the Siskiyou Co. Board of Supervisors as its representative and was also chosen by the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) to serve on the task force. RCRC is a 37-member county organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.

This was the kick-off meeting that will focus on specific areas to thin trees and brush, which will coordinate grant monies coming from the state legislature and the Governor’s Hazardous Fuels Initiative.

Ray said this should be extremely helpful for Siskiyou County as it will be a new tool for the county to address specific high-risk areas in the county and coordinate support from the state. For once, the county will have a stronger voice regarding its priorities.

There is also another potential aid or tool that will help the county work on reducing the threats of wildfires and this is in the latest Farm Bill. It provides a Master Stewardship Agreement for county supervisors to directly work with federal agencies on fuel reduction that affects county citizens. County staff is working on a presentation that will be shown and discussed at the March 17, 2020 board meeting.

These programs are a huge acknowledgement that the different levels of government and agencies must coordinate, communicate and actually work together. Ray is hopeful much more work will get done on the ground.

COOL labeling

Frank Endres, who is a rancher in Tehama County, will speak to the Siskiyou Patriots on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Endres will discuss the need to help beef producers re-obtain “Country Of Origin Labeling” for beef products entering the United States. COOL was mandated through the U.S. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, but has since seen the repeal of labeling beef.

Endres wants to change that and re-include beef in COOL. Endres serves as a regional director of R-CALF, an organization that represents U.S. cattle and sheep producers with a membership of more than 5,000 cow-calf producers, cattle backgrounders and feeders. Endres will also explain how American family farmers are being priced out of the market. This should be quite informative. The meeting will be held at the Covenant Chapel at 200 Greenhorn Rd. in Yreka.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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