Grass pollen, bears, and water

 I have never really suffered from seasonal allergies, but this year is biting me.  Grass pollen is high, trees moderate, so I think the grass must be getting to me.  My doctor advised me to throw everything at it, Claritin, Flonase, Astepro, and I'm keeping the house closed up.  The wind is not helping a bit.

Bear activity in the neighborhood seems to be on the rise.  We had two or three of them wandering around our house the other night, and I chalked that up to the outdoor meat grilling we had done.  Aaron and Marchelle have had two bear encounters at their house, both scary.  Bear aware.

And we all know know the water issues we're facing on Mineral Farms Lane.  So many have been involved in trying to solve this issue without costing us three quarters of a million dollars, but our options are few.  

Mike has been spreading pheromone packets around town with the help of the Ouray Trail Group.  Supposedly, when the pine beetles are flying in the spring, a pheromone packets in the area signals to them that these trees are already occupied.  We have such a horrible pine beetle infestation, along with some fungus among us, that we're doing what we can to stop it.  He was able to get some for the neighborhood, but we'll be looking into getting more for next year.

Pheremone packet near Cascade Falls

the inside of a fallen tree.  Those pointy things
are the roots of branches

from Portland Trail