July 26

Good evening! It's 6 pm and I'm waiting for the crew to get back from their survey, probably around 7:30. Dinner is cooking, chicken in the crock pot, rice and stir fry veges. Made a strawberry cake for dessert. Debating on whether or not to make some biscuits. Had an off day today, woke up at 5 with a splitting headache, went back to sleep and got up at 7:30 to make breakfast. Headache was better but still didn't feel great, told Brad I was going back to bed and when I woke up at 11 am, everyone was gone. I'm trying hard not to catch what the crew brought on board with them, sniffles, sneezes and all that crap. Taking some Emergen-C and advil, hoping and praying not to get sick. I've felt really good the whole time I've been up here, would hate to ruin my record. Got a pocket of cell coverage in this cove so enjoyed visiting with Byron several times. He got to go see his mom, who by the way is 94 yrs young. She is amazing, always has been. Her eyesight is failing which has now stopped her quilting, darn it. Over the years, I watched and learned how to put a quilt together from her. However, I never ventured into the hand quilting that she was so good at. My background didn't include sewing get togethers or quilting bee's. So my start came from her and all the blankets and quilts she made for people. I also learned alot of cooking techniques from Gramma J. Every Thanksgiving we would walk in the back door at their house on Hwy 20 in Sweet Home and she would hand me a spoon to try the stuffing cooking in the crock pot on the back porch. Then when dinner was almost ready, she set me in front of the stove and had me make the gravy, good grief, throwing me right into the fire. I had never made gravy before but she was confident I could do it. We canned beans and peaches together, made applesauce and jam. I loved every minute of it. Gramma J also showed me how to make cinnamon rolls and bread and rolls. My own mom was a good cook too and she taught me how to bake an apple pie, which I did my sophomore year of high school. She also taught me one of my favorite dishes to this day, green beans and red potatoes, simmered together and served with butter. Yummm.......simple but yummy. Guess I can thank those two ladies for my love of cooking and baking. We will be heading back to Ralph's Cove tonight, which was our first stop of the survey. They are hoping to be more successful on the second trip. The stream opens up to a gorge with high walls and cliffs on both sides, which is where they encountered the bears and had to wait for them to leave. The problem with that is the bears can only go further up the stream or straight down the stream, right where the crew is trying to catch the fish. I'm hoping today's survey went well, weather was pretty good although it rained here at the boat this afternoon. They don't mind the rain and wind, they stay fairly dry with their waders and rain gear. Well, going to go cut up the vege's so they are ready for stir fry. Headache is coming back, dang it anyways. Would appreciate your prayers for good health, thanks much. Yak at ya tomorrow....dj