I am so happy that the weather and calendar have turned the corner to Autumn!

This is my favorite time of year: lovely temperatures, lovely light and hopefully some rain this week … it is scary dry in my woods!

But …

Wild Thing!!

She is in the prep area.

I am cleaning up, checking all systems and hopefully a road trip is in our near future.

A slight “fly in the ointment” … I opened the water heater compartment, preparing to get it ready for loading water and found several disturbing things. Rust was the least of it …

I didn’t take a photo (I DID take video :) ) … a mouse nest sans mousies thankfully and a lot of mouse poop.

The mouse leavings are removed and cleaned up. The rust elimination process is in progress.

One thing at a time.

If there are no setbacks as to road worthiness and livability and/or work projects … I hope to take off next Sat-Sun-Monday. Weather is also on the list.

Destination is not very distant … 270 ish miles to Anaconda, Montana vicinity. It will be a combination “Wild Thing” shakedown and look at that area plus thinking about RV downsizing and house moving and … what do I think after nearly 7 years without venturing out and about?

I have zero expectations.

I will see what I can see and think on all things.

So Happy!! Excited to change things up a bit.

*** Right. So, neither Emmett nor Oscar have been rving … :)

September 15 and it feels like Fall.

It is still smoky, and the beginning of this week was the worst smoke of the summer and the heaviest I’ve seen in 29 summers in Northwest Montana!

All of us have been mostly inside. The smoke was heavy enough to make Emmett sneeze, me cough and wheeze and Oscar did not go outside at all.

Yesterday afternoon, it started clearing a bit and today was very much better – HURRAH!

It made me feel like recording a bit of the morning:

Short and serene … enjoy!

Summer is winding down (mostly) … almost Autumn and here is a video from early June.

My excuses:

1. video editing learning curve has been steep
2. experimenting with different kind of shots
3. my slow internet until I bought the new router
4. life :)

I have all sorts of ideas for videos and things to learn but it takes a LOT of time. AND since much of it happens on the computer and my “day job” is on the computer, it is sometimes challenging to think about spending MORE time on the computer.

The ending is a bit abrupt … still much to learn!

I hope that a year from now, I can look at this and where I am then and say: “Ok, I learned some things!”

So, this post is for someone that I am assisting in making a decision about a transportable device to allow for:

• Internet
• Email
• Text
• Facetime
• WhatsApp chat

The contenders are:

• 9th gen iPad (10.2 inch)
• 14 inch laptop

Left to right above … and this is just for size comparison…

iPhone 12 Pro MAX, 9th Generation iPad 10.2 inch, my 13 inch laptop (similar in size to the one I’ll show later)

Again … size … my hand which is largish! … holding the 9th gen iPad vertically.

Better photo of vertical with some basic apps. Top apps with text descriptions are the home page.

The bottom row, called the Dock is where you put your most frequently used apps.

The location of apps is fully customizable … YOU get to decide what goes where.

The keyboard … when you activate an area that expects typing, the onscreen keyboard pops up. It is touch like texting on a phone, but with this 10.2 iPad, it is much larger.

Kindle app in portrait/vertical mode.

AND, a new feature of the Kindle app which I LOVE is the ability for vertical scrolling vs page turning.

So … instead of touching the right or left side to page on or back, you scroll bottom to top or top to bottom. I find this much easier, especially when I increase text size.

Ok … the laptop. This is a basic laptop that I found on Amazon. It is actually $80 less than the iPad and works the same as the desktop you currently have.

But transportable!

Much as I love iPad … I kind of think that the laptop might be something you’d find easier to use: visually and less (MUCH less) learning curve.

Links to both on Amazon:

Windows Laptop

9th Generation iPad

First … Emmett, Oscar and I are all well.

As noted in the last post, I’ve been dealing with a worsening internet access issue and finally I was done!!! and I made a change in equipment.

I think shortly after last Summer’s slow down, I happened on a YouTube video by a digital nomad … a seriously technical person … who referenced CradlePoint mobile routers. I bookmarked CradlePoint and then did nothing.

Cutting to the chase, after rodeo week (this year) with large chunks of time without ANY internet at all, I bought a CradlePoint IBR900 Ruggedized Router. Yes. Ruggedized!!

Anyway, the router is made for RV/Truck/Mobile applications, but after speaking with sales and tech support … no reason I couldn’t use it in the house as well as in the RV same as I have my MIFI devices.

Bottomline, I’ve had the new router for almost 2 weeks, but fully operational for 1 week (challenges getting correct SIM) and had a stellar week of consistent Internet access/speed.

And that is not all of my techie news…

So.

Router upper right. It is sitting on an upside down small stainless steel colander. Routers run hot and this is my solution to make sure there is air flow all around.

Lower right: EcoFlow Max

Upper left: EcoFlow Wave

EcoFlow is a newish company that makes … “We create the world’s most innovative, eco-friendly power solutions that enable you to live, dream, and explore without limits.” Translation = lithium power stations aka solar generators.

I hope to eventually have a backup power system for my house and/or RV that allows me clean backup power. The Max is part 1.

While I was researching and watching EcoFlow, they released the Wave A/C which can be powered by the Max, their “Pro” or a supplemental battery pack. I opted for the Max/Wave bundle in their Kickstarter pre-sale.

The Max-Wave bundle allows me to run A/C in the case of a power cut. And while the Wave is only 4000 btu, it is enough to cool my bedroom, or my office.

In the photo above, the Wave is plugged into a normal U.S. AC outlet. It has been cooling my office nicely this past week with temps in the 90’s F. ***I have my normal 2 behemoth “portable” 12000 and 14000 btu units running in the living room and boy’s room as well as 2 small fans going to move air around. The house is VERY comfortable!

So.

Good internet access. Cool house. We are very happy here!!

Hmmm.

Usually, I am in bed first and then Emmett and Oscar join me and they find their spots around me. But this evening, I was hot and sticky so after making normal “going to bed” motions, opted for a quick cooling shower. When I went to get in bed …. “Wait … where is my spot???”

Morning sunshine in the woods.

And microgreens in the kitchen! Radish on the right about ready to harvest. Broccoli starting on the left.

Afternoon nap…

That’s it for July!

We are all well! Above photo is from June 1 but we still look pretty much the same except the woods grasses are much taller!

I’ve not blogged because I have been using my blogging time to work on video learning: shooting AND editing. I have made good progress and hope to have some videos uploaded shortly. Currently, the typical 4th of July to ??? overload of visitors is playing havoc with my internet upload speed while everyone sends selfies of their vacation, etc.

So, taking a break from video and posting some photos that didn’t make it to Instagram.

The lupins are blooming all over! They have been beautiful but above photo is June 29 and now, July 7 they are coming to an end :(

All of the wildflowers were happy this year: wet and cool spring was to their liking … mine, Emmett’s and Oscar’s also.

Oscar continues to be happy staying very close to the house, so he gets to go outside with us when I’m doing yard chores or playing yard games with Emmett. He likes to hunt in the big stick pile and the other wood piles. He has not caught anything outside except bugs and flies. Inside he got a mouse one night and he is an excellent fly catcher! He traps the flies under a paw and then is mystified that they are dead. I am very happy with that outcome, though! I am thrilled that he is home boy and sticks with us.

It is the season of color at the moment … the wildflowers …

Sunset …

Lupins, canola fields and misty mountains along the road home!

And speaking of mist … this past Tuesday, after a rainy 4th of July weekend, it cleared overnight and got very cool: 45F. The dewpoint also 45F which = morning fog.

That fog put on quite a show as the sun rose:

Holy Cow!! Emmett and I walked and I gawked, took some photos and some video and it was just stunningly beautiful.

I will keep that day in mind. This week has been very nice, and we might get a bit more moisture off and on through the weekend. But next Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be hot: 88F and 91F. We’ll see how things go but it might be A/C time :(

*** All photos taken with my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I add this because I shared some of the misty morning photos with my work group and they were astounded. I am a little also when I think how far phone cameras have come. I have only had iPhone since the phone cameras took a leap in capability but get better and better! Most of my video is also coming from my phone … wait until you see :) !!!