Praying Mantis

I was surprised to find this little preying mantis on my front porch this morning.

Thought he might like the roses better.

Wasp Sting

While trimming a hedge a bit ago, I cut a 1/2 branch and immediately felt a sharp sting on the inside of my left arm. There was a wasp nest there I missed. I tossed the branch about 10 feet away but as the wasps that were out hunting came home, they were clearly upset when they could not find their nest. They were angry, and kept swarming around and around trying to find it. I realized they were not going to let me get close enough to do any more trimming today and went inside to attend to the sting.

They were paper wasps. They do lots of good and eat lots of bugs and garden pests. But they do sting if they think their nest is threatened or when agitated – like by someone jumping about and waving their arms. (Don’t do that.)

Unlike many bees, wasps can sting multiple times and inject venom with each sting. The venom reacts with your nervous system to produce lots of pain. This makes it seem really bad thing even though it really only left only a tiny little hole in your skin – it’s like setting off all the fire alarms in the house even though there isn’t fire. (Yes– I know some people do have serious allergic reactions.)

If a paper wasp feels threaded it can release pheromones to summon its buddies to help them – and they will arrive angry. That is another reason not to get overly excited if you get stung. Stay calm, go inside and get your favorite wasp remedy – like baking soda, Benadryl, calamine lotion, Claritin, ice packs, etc.

North Creek Fire Truck

The two fires I was supporting, Owl and Horse, were 100% contained so I was released yesterday. (The fires in this cycle all had animal names.) Initially I was going to be transferred to Moose but they decided they had enough people to finish it up also so later that day, I was released to return home.

I got up at 3:30 am to start working that day. I didn’t leave until later in the day and didn’t get home until about 9:00 pm, all in all, a long day. I came home but will return the truck I drove this today.

Time to Head Home

Here are a couple photos I took as I was leaving the fire camp. The bridge picture was in town of North Fork (pop 284).

The sign picture was in Salmon (pop 3,070), which has a handy combination Burger King and Chevron Station. People were very nice here and appreciated our efforts.

I never locked my truck doors here though I had a laptop and a camera in my backpack sitting on the front seat. I never got to use the computer and there was no cellular phone service in North Fork. But when I went into Salmon to pick up supplies, I could make a quick call to Meg or make a FB post there..

Salmon River Road

I typically got up about 3:30 am. I had to slip out of my sleeping bag to change into very cold pants and a shirt. Then I had to drive along the Salmon River in the dark with patches of River fog to get breakfast and return- It’s a two hour round trip.

i came to look forward to the transition from dark to dusk and from dusk to the first hint of the sun coming over the mountains. In the night, the river usually gather a light blanket of fog which was pretty. It mostly reflected your headlights back in your eyes, so you couldn’t use your high beams when your drove.

I typically carried the breakfasts and lunch for about 125 firefighters. (I became a popular guy.) In addition, I brought whatever supplies the fire fighters had radioed in the previous day. This included chainsaws, first aid kits, fire pumps, firehoses and so forth.

Sometimes it seemed like a long lonely road, but I knew they would be waiting for me. I think it was Napoleon who said “An army marches on it’s stomach.” I learned later several people had refused the assignment to make this long run in the dark.

The first time I saw this, I stopped and thought how much narrow can it get? In spots ahead, with a cliff wall on one side I had to pull the mirror in. On the river bank on side I often had just about one wheel wide to the edge. At this time I really wished I was driving something smaller than that big Ford F-350 diesel.

Salmon River

This is my tent and the truck I’m driving this trip. Though you can’t see it in this picture, the Salmon River is about eight feet behind me. I think this Ford F-350 diesel has about 325 horsepower. The way they load me it, I think they know that.

I choose this location away from the main camp because I get up so early in the morning making an hour run to town, picking up breakfast and supplies and getting back in time to feed the fire teams when they get up.

Some interesting people live back here on some of these remote roads. I stopped here to take this picture and the guy who put it up came out and chatted. He said his sign has helped get people too slow down and its safer for the kids in cabins in this local area now as a result of it.

This was near Corn Creek along the Salmon River Road out of North Fork, ID. It’s long winding road but a beautiful drive.

There are rockslides all the time, so whether it’s still dark in the morning or late in the day, I have to be ready to stop and clear them or go around them.

Having Lunch

Stopped by this river and ate a little lunch snack Meg made for me.

I’m assigned to the big fire up in the Salmon-Challis Forest along the Salmon River.

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I Made It Rain

We have had days and days of smoke filled skies and bad air quality warnings.

Late yesterday afternoon I decided I would try to try to take action. Just before dinner.

I performed the ancient ritual and washed not one but two cars at the same time.

And this morning when I got up, one look at the drive and I knew it worked – we had rain last night.

I know the fires will continue and this didn’t end the problem, but I think it might help…

Art in the Park – Cup by Angela

Today we went to the BAM (Boise Art Museum) 68th annual “Art in the Park.” It featured the works of more than 250 artists representing a number of different art forms (plus 30 food/snack vendors).

It has become quite the premier annual art event around here. Even kids seem to enjoy wandering from booth to booth and sharing their insights and commentary on the different art.

Then we came by the booth of a friend ours, Angela Neiwert. How cool! Angela also teaches ceramics at Boise State University. Meg happened to pick up one of her mugs and really liked how it felt in her hand. I was impressed by the delicate artwork on it. Angela told us where that the kingfisher on this cup hangs out and so forth. Each bird on a cup was a one she had seen. We got the last cup Angela did in this series.

I can share a bit of how it looks – but not how it feels in your hand.

I mean this really in an interesting cup. There’s a lot going on here.

After we got home Meg clarified that she got the last cup Angela had in this series. But I can look at it!

Ramsey’s Tomato Soup

I had picked so many tomatoes. Meg kept enough to make this Gordon Ramsay recipe called, “Roasted Creamy Tomato Soup.” Below is a video of Ramsey making it! I watched it also.

See that part about pesto. It add some great flavors. We gave away the remaining tomatoes to several friends and neighbors. Here’s Meg’s doing it.

See all those big pans. Yup, it was me who washed them.

Meg made the whole recipe so we have leftovers. I’m looking forward to more.