the Grizzly and the Plums

Never had a day like this one.  No photos (though I hear there is one on the 'New Denver and area Bulletin' Facebook page).  Sometimes you just don't have your camera when you need it.

So, it began like this.  About noon I went out to pick prune-plums (masses) from the tree in Chris' garden.  I was on a ladder outside the fence.  Doco joined me on the agricultural ladder inside the fence.  Next thing, a whoop from Chris from the porch of the clay house.  "Bear!" then "GRIZZLY!!!"  A large dark blob on the mound under the apple tree by the clay house that then ambled over to munch on the feral plums in easy reach.  That tree was still laden and due to be picked later today too.  Turned out that Chris had been sitting on a chair near the ranch-house end of the porch.  Eros the cat (who had arrived last night to live with Chris - one of Jeff and Ana's three) ran past.  Chris looked to see why and found a bear's face approaching around the corner.  Both were startled.  The bear ran off a few steps but came back when Chris went inside in search of his bear spray.  (Who needs bear spray sitting on the clay house porch?)  Two sprays and two bear-bangers later (one of which hit a pillar and rebounded nearly hitting Chris), the bear retreated up into the forest, but only about 50 feet (similar to the cougar of several years ago).  Chris waved me and Doco up to the clay house to see him.  Yikes.  Chris was reading his grizzly identification brochure and this fellow sure matched - highlights on the tips of his hair, a humped back, and especially long claws.  That bear didn't want to leave, but, as Chris said, nor was he aggressive.  Just hungry I guess.  What to do?  Chris called Bri Lillies - the local bear-watch person who then had him call the game warden.  Same bear had been well seen in New Denver this morning, close to the Duerichens, fishing in Carpenter Creek, then "heading for the Harris Ranch".  Two bear-bangers later, he ambled off south, in a Silverton direction - and we lost sight of him.

Next, a lunch break in the ranch house - best-ever corn, straight from Chris' garden, soup, and just-right pears.  No bear, so Doco went for a nap and Chris and I headed back to the clay house to pick all the feral plums.  We were chatting away - the bear had left for Silverton - Chris on the agricultural ladder, me on the shorter one. Then, Chris (looking over his shoulder) - "there he is" - 50 feet from us, rubbing along Mick's fence, trying to find a way through?  to beets??  Another bear-banger and off he went past the squirrel barn and up the hill.  We finished picking what we could reach and Chris finished the job by cutting off the top branches of the tree, fruit and all, trucking it to Harris Road and tossing it over the bank.

Sighting number 3.  I returned to the garden plum tree, inside the fence.  Chris drove by in his truck.  Moments after, I was about to go out the gate with a box-full of plums, heard a bit of rustle (and the chickens got restless), looked over and there was bear peering at me from between the cathedral and the outhouse!  Double yikes.  I guess I yipped, Chris arrived with the tall ladder, and bear backed off and away.

Sighting number 4.  Within five minutes, Doco, Chris, and I were all picking furiously in the garden tree and bear appeared right beside the clay house, cleaning up all the fallen plums.  We left him to it - better there than where we were and maybe he would get his fill.  Done in ten minutes, he bolted up the hill and we have not seen him since.

Shortly after all this excitement, six Harris third-cousins-once-removed arrived for a ranch visit and dinner.  They had been forewarned that we could not stop until the tree was picked (only a few high ones left).  Rain showers and the bear made it an inside visit, but a good one.

Now to bed.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring?  Or tonight for that matter.  I haven't been bothered by the assorted black bears in various rowan trees, but a grizzly … ???
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So here he is, near Carpenter Creek in New Denver, shortly before his visit to us at the Harris Ranch - scooped from Paula Cravens posting on the 'New Denver and Area Bulletin Board' Facebook page.

tree fort - stage 3

Meanwhile, the older cherubs had been working away on the tree fort, adding a 'stage 3'.  I had been aware of much activity - cedar boards being milled (by Norbert), special bolts being fetched from Silverton Building Supply - and various inhabitants escaping for some relative peace, perhaps to Rowan's and then Thomson's birthday hammocks - but I hadn't seen the fort with 'stage 3'.  On their next-to-last evening at New Denver, perhaps it was time I did.  Colin and Douglas both said, "Not sure that's a good idea, mum", but I went anyway.  I saw what they meant!

This is my "before" photo.  Ellen prancing from stage 1, third-cousin Samuel observing from stage 2, Griffin spanning the gap between stages 2 and 3, Thomson on stage 3, hoping Griffin makes it, and Teagan watching it all from the comfort of the Thomson-hammock below.  I couldn't stand to watch so left before the "after".  But I guess Griffin made it because they all arrived back intact for supper, and the final day they bolted on a stage 2-to-3 connector pole - a bit slim, but something.

August 18th

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The photos of the fort, below, taken today, Sept 4th, are as the crew left it on Aug 20th.  A lovely quiet place to sit (on the ground) and listen to the forest.  No bears appeared.  Only drunken robins (rowan berries) and squirrels hurling down cedar comes for their winter stash.

North view - approaching from above - stages 1, 2 and 3

East view - 

South view - rope ladder to stage 2 and stage 2-3 connector pole

West view - from below

Last (or first) view - from the trail down

Doco and Devon's table

Doco has been itching to make this table all summer.  Too much going on until these last ten days.  Turned out that Devon was keen and available to work with Doco, so they set to.  Several hours a day working away in the squirrel-barn workshop, and here it is.  Finished!  Modified from a bench to a table (lower and wider) to be a replacement for Thomas Wright's table that has lived outside in the weather on the ranch house porch for 40+ years - MUCH used and now wobbly.  

the original 'Fine Woodworking' plan

almost done - the finishing touches

DONE - with its two very pleased creators

… still lovely after its first night in the rain

… and PEARS.  What better place to show off this year's marvellous crop.  Three fruit boxes in total, picked by Devon and Doco, ahead of the bear.  Not the huge crop of 2015 and 2014, but beauties.  I see now why painters use them in 'still-life' paintings.