08-31-2025 Medicine Lake, Managing Yellow Jackets, and Mattie

August slipped in quietly, reminding me that even ordinary days can hold a spark. The month began with a flurry of errands as we prepared for our Medicine Lake camping trip (which I wrote about here). I keep a running to-do list for each trip, which makes it easier not to forget the essentials. This time it meant loading the kayaks, packing clothes for every possible kind of mountain weather, and, most important, gathering all the supplies for THE DOG.

Traveling with Mattie sometimes feels a bit like traveling with a baby. There’s the dog bed, the crate, blankets for warm and cold nights, food, treats, collars, vests, leashes, and of course, doggie bags. Add to that the usual chores of scheduling the water delivery, soaking the property before we left, and making sure grandson Matthew knew what to do while we were away, and you can see why the first few days of August were busy.

By the 5th we were on the road to one of our favorite high-country hideaways. Four days of cool mountain air, sparkling water, and quiet time with Deb were exactly the refresh we needed. Coming home on the 8th, I carried with me the inner peace that only Medicine Lake seems to bring.

Back home, life quickly returned to its usual rhythm. I had hoped to find fresh Oregon blackberries for jam, a summer tradition, but somehow I missed the season. On the practical side, we had a well-flow test done and learned we are only getting 1.2 gallons per minute. The water guy thought it might just be a late-summer dip and suggested we test again in November.

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The most excitement came mid-month, when Mo knelt down to repair a leaking hose and uncovered a huge underground yellowjacket nest. That first day, she was stung just once, and that evening, we tried drowning the nest with water and following up with wasp spray under the cover of darkness. But the next morning, the yellowjackets came after her with a vengeance. She ended up with twelve more stings and a firm resolve to end the battle.

When I tried to take a turn spraying, I learned how quick they can be. I was stung hard, chased into the garage, and then into the bathroom, where one little stinker managed to crawl up my shorts and sting me again. I locked that mean guy in the bathroom, and I ended up bottomless until I was sure he’d stopped buzzing around in there! That bathroom was my only access to my clothing closet.

That was the last straw. We called in a local pest control company, and a kind young man named Hayden came out to deal with the nest. He sprayed thoroughly, dug it out, and inspected the whole property for more. We decided it was time to start a quarterly spraying program, which also meant tackling the long-standing black widow population in the RV shed once and for all. Honestly, it was the best money we’ve spent all season.

When Hayden returned the next day, he found the nest he had dug out and closed had been opened.  He asked us if we had dug it out, and we said no way.  But we did see a skunk out there in the early morning.  I learned that a skunk will absolutely dig out a yellow jacket nest to eat the larvae and pupae. Skunks are natural predators of ground-dwelling wasps, such as yellowjackets, and their thick fur or natural immunity to stings helps protect them from the insects as they excavate the nest to feed at night when the wasps are less active.

Yellow jackets, especially their larvae and pupae (grubs), are a primary food source for skunks. Skunks typically forage at night, and yellow jackets are less active and more vulnerable during these hours. Skunks have long, sharp claws that are effective for digging into burrows to reach the nest.

You will often see disturbed earth or holes around the nest entrance after a skunk has raided it. The skunk may visit the nest multiple nights in a row to finish the job. Skunks are very effective at eliminating yellow jacket nests, solving the problem naturally. 

Mattie, meanwhile, kept us busy with her own health needs. Between vet visits on the 15th and 25th for an infection from anal swelling, and her regular NexGard and Heartgard on the 11th, she had more than her share of care this month. Twice-daily meds, warm Epsom salt soaks, cleaners, and creams kept us on our toes. Thankfully, she’s healthy again and doing well. We’re grateful for a good vet, hard to find in Grants Pass, where appointments are scarce.

Still, August wasn’t all about chores and checklists. There were bright spots, too. I took a few hot days to stay indoors and begin the Christmas card-making project.  I somehow didn't manage cards last year and made a commitment to start early enough this time around.  I do know that most folks don't send cards anymore, but making them is something easy and fun for me, with quick results and some satisfaction more immediate than knitting or quilting.

I made apple pies with apples from our tree that Mo peeled and cored for me and they were the best I have made so far.

I also had great success with an easy artisan bread recipe that yields some great bread with a great texture and plenty of holes to capture hot butter.

Our book club met at the Toasted Barrel to talk and laugh about our book that most of us didn't like much. The book was titled "The Book Club for Troublesome Women".  We all agreed we had never read about a more boring group of non-troublesome women ever.  The only redeeming feature for Connie and me is that at our age, we do remember a bit of what it was like to be a wife in the early 60s.  It is interesting that when we don't particularly like a book, we have a lot more discussion about it. The food and drinks were great, and they are also good at mocktails for those of us who want them.

Later in the month, Kristin and I went to lunch at our new local eatery, Rogue Salad.  It is a bit like a giant subway where you choose what you want and then walk the line, adding or subtracting ingredients to your taste.  So delicious and fresh.  Kristin first took me to the Rogue Salad in Medford last year, and everyone I know was delighted that one opened here in Grants Pass this month.

It was funny because we ran into Connie from our book club there, who was lunching with a dozen or so of the neighbors.  It was a happy, crowded, and much too noisy space.  Kristin and I ate outside!

We enjoyed a couple of cozy Sunday brunches at home with Deb . 

Sometimes we ate indoors when the yellow jackets were being crazy. Then, after a gorgeous, heavy rain toward the end of the month, we were able to eat outside again on the deck.

Mo tackled some of the late summer raking of fallen leaves and acorns that are the blessing of our lovely shady oaks.

A few beauty routines, nails, haircuts, and a bit of pampering were woven in as well, small reminders to take care of ourselves as summer’s heat softened into the promise of fall.

As always, we filled in the blanks doing puzzles that we so enjoy.  Some are more fun than others, but our favorites for the time being are White Mountain scenes with lots of color and 1000 pieces that aren't too small.

Looking back, August was a patchwork of small but meaningful moments: outdoor adventures, pet care, practical tasks, and time with people we love. Nothing too flashy, but stitched together it made for a rich, balanced month full of simple pleasures.