21-30 June, 2015 Time to get some things done at home.

Despite some setbacks we are once more trying to get our "spring things" done at home.  My allergies were bad in Kansas and they didn't get any better once we got home.  I finally went to the VA health clinic.  I had to wait a week for a doctor so they set me up for July 1st.  In the meantime my asthma was getting worse and I was so short of breath that I accomplished very little in the last part of June.  On top of that I was having some problems with a broken tooth.  It broke while we were in Nevada but right after I broke it there we went to my mother's to see my stepfather and the dental clinic I used was closed for vacation.  Then when we got back to Nevada I had to go to my sisters for my niece's funeral.  Got back from there and they couldn't see me until two days after our scheduled departure.  So we started home and right after getting home I worked on my daughter's pickup replacing the clutch.  While I was doing that my mother called with news that my stepfather had died.  When we got back here I finally got in to see the dentist and he scheduled me for the tenth of July!  So, by the 11th of July it should be taken care of (and our bank account will be $500.00 plus lighter.)  Oh well, it will be nice to have it done.  In the meantime ...

We are still trying to get in some bike rides.  This is a fork where two little streams meet.  We've gone down the right one in kayaks before but it's pretty shallow and we spent a lot of time portaging kayaks.  There's a pull-off by the bridge where fire engines can refill their water tanks from the stream.

This is the view looking ahead on the road.  Highway 93 is just past the tall trees at the left front of the photo.

We plan on doing some work to the U-Haul and taking it back south with us this fall.  We're taking a "non-direct" path this fall and wanted to travel in comfort.  It hasn't been started in 1 1/2 years so it took some coaxing!

I replaced the alternator's voltage regulator on my wood-cutting truck by swiping a regulator from one of the motor homes we have parked on the place.  It was the one we took back East last spring.  We're setting it up as a small guest cabin for people to stay in when they visit.

We were overrun with rabbits and ground squirrels while we were gone.  One of the rabbits is now in the barbecue grill alongside some potatoes (in the foil).  I've been trapping and shooting the ground squirrels ever since we got home.  I think the record is 23 in two days.  We now have the dog back and she has accounted for several as well (including a couple of rabbits and a grouse).

Scott is holding the water jug in place as it empties into the barrel.  From the barrel it will be pumped into an overhead tank above the sink.  It gravity feeds from the overhead tank to the sink.

Our son-in-law went fishing and as always came back with some nice pike and perch.

One of the problems with my asthma is that it leaves Susan to mow the lawn.  It was quite a job too!  We just bought the lawn mower last summer because I was tired of spending as much time trying to keep the mower running as it took to mow the lawn.  This one gave me fits as well and every time Susan shut it off I had to spend the next 15 minutes getting it to start again.  At one point I took the carburetor off and went through it.  Aargh!  Sometimes it seems like you can't win.  Maybe we should just get some sheep or horses and let them mow the lawn.

While she was mowing I was digging up rocks in the yard.  I swear those things must reproduce.  We never seem to run low on them.

Scott having some quality time with his little brother.

Scott being silly.  Those are robot antennas.

Scott with another "costume" on.  I think he's a robot here.

We were taking a break in the back yard when we noticed this doe stalking in.  Evidently some of the springs back in the woods have dried up and she didn't want to walk the half-mile to the nearest pond.  She was really nervous but she did come in for a drink from the water tank.

She's about 20 yards from where we are sitting.  The dog wasn't home yet so she didn't have much to worry about.

Scott at our oldest son's house.  The chair he's using is one that is commonly seen at primitive camps.  It's made from a couple of wide  boards.  

We finally got the ceiling fan installed on the front porch.  It's nice for stirring up the air on the days when the wind isn't blowing.

More grandkids playing with the Lego blocks.  It kept them occupied much better than if they'd watched TV.  Scott and Anna (the two youngest - not in this photo) spent hours playing on the trampoline in 95 degree temperatures.