New address

   We are now at Malheur Wildlife Refuge in the middle of nowhere.  Actually it is 30 miles south of Burns, Oregon.  High desert, cattle country, 4200 feet elevation.  Wuite warm days ans cool nights.  The weather right now is high 80s during the day and 40s at night. 
   We will be here until the middle of Oct.  We will be working at the Sod House Ranch.  It is a ranch the dates from 1877.  It was the fourth and final ranch established by Pete French in the Blitzen Valley.  Nine of the original buildings and still standing along with the corrals so there is a lot of memories that have room to come out in the site. 
  Next week we will start to clean up the buildings and area to prepare it for opening on August 15.  The ranch is open to the public from Aug 15 to Oct 15.  The reason for the late opening date is that the huge Cottonwood trees there are nesting sites for Great Blue Herons, Double Crested Comorants, and Snowy Egrets.  The young have fledged or are getting ready when our visitors arrive.
   The new adventure begins.

 

Our rig is the last one in the line.  In a few weeks the number will be cut to two.  Across from the trailers is the volunteer building with living room, kitchen, and laundry.  Out of sight is the bathroom building.

Wooden Boats

The Cherokee is a Belle Island runabout.  Made by craftsmen. Made of fine woods Mohogany, Oak, Teak.  Chrome, brass, fine leather.  $7000 in the 20's and 30's which is about $80,000 in today's money.   This boat was not just a showpiece it was raced on Lake Tahoe for 15 years.  She raced with other women and men and beat them.  The Cherokee was, for many years, the fastest boat on the lake.

 

Remember you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

The Pond

The flowers around the pond at the Pope estate are looking good.

Pine Lodge

Last Tuesday we visited Pine Lodge the Ehrman Mansion on the west side of the lake at Suger Pine State Park.  The estate consisted of 1000 acres with the mansion sitting with a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe.  A knowlegeable guide took us on a tour of the house, which is large (11,000 sq ft) and quite nice.  The grounds are fabulous as well.  We had a picnic and lots of sun and fun.  I have a photo of their wooden runabout, "the Cherokee" sitting the boat house that I will add later.

AM and PM at the lake

July 6, 2015  A morning walk and an evening walk on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

After a Rain

Jeffery Pine Pollen on a puddle.

After July 4th

   It is Monday morning following the 4th week-end.  Yesterday the weather was beautiful for the visitors drive home.  I can't imagine Highway 50 heading back to Sacramento.  Ugly!  We made it a point not to drive into town during the week-end. 
  I am in town today to go to exercise at the pool so I have stopped in front of Stapes to borrow their WiFi.  I will do it again tomorrow to post some photos I took yesterday.  I forgot the cord from the phone to the computer.  So stand by for those.

Lots of Yellow Swallowtail Butterflies around right now.  It must be summer.  !!