The "Surprise" Hill

When we built this house 26 years ago, we put a light on the corner of the house for the nighttime barbeques...or so we thought. Little did we know that the light at night after a big snow was AWESOME to light up the sledding hill. The hill looks WAY bigger at night and we had lots and lots of sledding parties over the years. This week, Sydney and I checked it out and built a pretty fast run. Cowabunga!

A Perfect Day After Christmas

Just came in from snowshoeing all around the property to finally catch up on FB posts by the fire. Feeling ever so grateful for so many of YOU - friends and family - on this gorgeous snowy day after Christmas and reflecting on the power of giving, whether it's time, money, care, cards, and/or causes. Reminds me of those wise words:  "To those to whom much is given...much is expected." I am most grateful for opportunities...and hope I do not pass any by this year. :)

op·por·tu·ni·ty[ˌäpərˈt(y)o͞onədē]  NOUN

1. a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something

    

   

    

Such Cool Seattle Kids

I had such fun hanging out with these friends of Sydney's today in Seattle, Harrison and Mariah. Sydney and I drove through a few hours of snow and rain and Snoqualmie Pass CLOSED five minutes after we drove through. Phew! But we are now settled into Cindy and Jeff's condo tonight and heading home tomorrow.

Well...the ONLY benefit of dropping an old phone into the toilet is?

Getting a NEW phone for the first time in...6-7 years? The last one was Sydney's old android and it had a good long life. I think the value was $25 when it decided to dive into the pot last week. FIRST time I ever stuck a phone in my back pocket....and last.  So I got a new one today after learning all I could from the ATT store in Cheney - love those guys and bought them all Starbuck's Frappuccino’s before I left :)  Tho I love Mac computers, still said no to the iPhone - I decided not to join the 80% of the world's cell users that want one of those!?!  But I'm very happy with the photo capability on the HTC Desire. Here was the first shot I took coming back up our lane today from town. What a GORGEOUS snowy day in Spokane...

Flicker Up Close and Personal

Sooooooo many birds are now clamoring for food at our three feeders. Mostly Nuthatches, House Finch, Chickadees, Gold Finch, and Pine Siskins...but today a huge flicker was swinging madly on the little suet block, jabbing it with his strong beak to beat the band! All the feeders are about two feet from our dining room window so the view is awesome :)

Season of Remembrance...

There is a Hospice Tree at Riverpark Square covered four deep with remembrances of loved ones who have passed on. I remembered Mom and Dad today with two little doves. I hope we can always keep memories alive with traditions and stories. Even if it's a bit painful, talk about those no longer with you at the dinner table. We can bring them back for awhile with a smile...

Mr. and Mrs Frosty are Here!

Well, whether it snows or not, we will have a pair of "snow people" to gaze at every morning outside our window. Such a wonderful time of year...

Mr. and Mrs. Frosty are Coming!

Vern loves it when my Christmas present requests are cheap - hahaha!  Earlier this week, I posted my request on this little blog based on a very cool stump family at a local university and it's coming true! The logs were so heavy I had to help boost the belly onto the bottom so I know what's happening but I am still excited. Will "dress" them up and post a family portrait tomorrow.

Josh and Mom Remembered in Snowy Branches

My nephew Josh left this world in the spring of 2014 and posted one of my mom's Christmas Cards on FaceBook to me just a few days before he died. He said, "I think this is one of my favorites." I responded saying it was one of my favorites as well. Mom's sketch that year was all about wonder and hope. When I think about Josh searching out that card, scanning it, contemplating it's meaning, and sending it to me, I only wish he were here so we could chat about it. He just never made it to the more distant finish line. Today, the branches were covered with snow and I know that sight would have inspired both my artist mom and Josh. Remembering you both today with love.

Ponderosa Santa???

I told Vern this is what I'd like for Christmas...plus that really awesome felted skirt from Kizuri - lol :)  We'll see if he comes through on this one. I do know that tomorrow he is cutting down the BIG tree that snapped off 30 feet up.  Hmmmmm.....

Haaaaaaaaaalelujah!!!

I joined about a hundred (or more) others singing Handel's Messiah tonight along with four soloists and a beautiful string and horn symphony. Wow. Have not sung that since HIGH SCHOOL...yes, I still even had the score! And it was FUN. Most of us are probably not very good singing alone, but it appears we can hold a tune and the chorus sounded marvelous together. Now I can check that off my bucket list...and possibly do it again next year!  :)

Baby Moose Muncher

It's a sad story, today.  This little guy's mother was killed last week and now Baby Moose is munching here alone and quite fearless. He just goes around and around the house and garden neatly trimming all the bushes. He avoids the Oregon Grape bushes much to our dismay - I believe they are too stickery for his lips! Not sure what the Wildlife biologists will do about him - as he is also going over to the local elementary school playground and hanging out. Yikes...but I adore him.

Turkeys Survive Another Thanksgiving!

Well, the local "crew" appears to be untouched. All 14 were available to gawk and gobble at me when I walked by today. There were four Toms in the bunch and when I gobbled at them, the remaining hens all turned their heads instantly and simultaneously and gobbled back. Wish I could have caught a recording of that. Hilarious!!!!

Grandmom's Snowflakes

Thirty one years ago this month, my Grandmom Marguerite Bryan made about 40 hand crocheted white snowflakes and angels for the evergreen tree set up in the foyer of the old church at the Iowa Living History Farm. She made them for our wedding day. And they are still the first lovelies to adorn our tree each year. Other meaningful ornaments will follow when Sydney gets home, but for now, thanks Grandmom.  There are so many spirits of Christmas Past coming alive in our house lately. It feels good to be surrounded by their gifts of love.

My Very Special Walnut Nativity

My dad made sooooo many of these special Walnut Nativity sets back in the day. He cut the baby Jesus and Star at an angle so they would be highlighted with the white sapwood near the bark. I gave lots of them away to dear and special friends over the years. Now mine sits in a place of honor with Grandmom's red crocheted doily underneath. Isn't it the little things that make this season special? :)

My Lady of the Lake Lollies...

I know research shows that a strong support group for women has wonderful benefits.  Well, I had proof in my house last Sunday and just wanted to encourage ANYONE out there to surround themselves with wonderful friends. Seems like anything we might eventually go through (good or bad) has been experienced by someone in our group...so there is always advice, strength, encouragement, and of course loads of laughter tossed in the mix. We missed a few special ones at the Christmas Party, but thanks to the Ladies of the Lake for making life so fun over the last 20 years!

Burnt Sienna...Favorite Color

Does anyone remember Burnt Sienna from early coloring book days? IF you got a double or triple row of crayons in a box, you might know what color I am talking about. I was quite proud to name that as my favorite color back in the day - haha!  I've passed this dead pine tree for many months now and the needles have recently turned an exceptionally lovely color. I do believe it is Burnt Sienna :)

Amy's Priceless Nativity

My sis-in-law, Amy Jones, cut out the large wooden figures and painted this exquisite Nativity for us many many years ago. It is the first Christmas decoration to go up and the last to come down. The kids would often play with all the characters, putting baby Jesus on the back of the camel...or Mary and Joseph face to face...or sometimes baby Jesus face down (if they thought he had gotten in trouble with his folks that day!?!). Needless to say, it is well loved.  Now that Amy is gone, it's all the more special to think of the time and love and care she put into this lovely set. Thank you Amy for your priceless gift.

Oh the Scent of Christmas...

Truly one of my great simple joys of the season is to get our tree at Swenson's Nursery in Cheney, put it in the iron stand, give it a drink, and let it stand for a day or two. Just green and gorgeous and smelling of pine needles and forests. Someday I might not decorate it at all...but not this year. All the little meaningful symbols will be hung soon and I'll remember the origin of each one.  Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are thy branches...:)

A Baby Girl for Linus

My dear friends Emily and Danny Messina had their precious baby girl Carinna at last, and Linus, their Dachshund, is learning how to share.  I decided Linus had to be represented in her baby quilt :) One of my greatest pleasures is to finish the binding by hand on a quilt. I think of who is going to be wrapped up in it and send a lot of love into the stitches. And how sweet it is to be binding it by the fire in my favorite chair chatting with dear friends from Holden Village, Lorrie and Marv Franson.

 

Find Beauty in a Walk Somewhere...

I walk this path nearly every single day now rather than the once or twice per week I used to walk. It's probably the single biggest change I've made since retirement. I now feel lost without my walk. There have been SO many things happen on walks over the years - hundreds of phone calls to my mom and dad, practicing lectures or presentations in my head, sometimes memorizing a poem, watching an occasional moose or coyote, scattering turkeys, snacking on serviceberries, seeing fall mushrooms push up through the dry soil, noticing the first spring flowers, picking up lots of trash with Vern, and of course the companionship for 12 years of faithful dog, Moby. Every day is a little better with a walk. Won't you join me? :)

Just "Be" for Christmas

I am going to keep this reminder to "Be" beside my poinsettia throughout the upcoming Advent Season. This is the month to SOAK up the moments, cherish family and friendships, and take in all the Christmas sights, sounds, and smells. I remember a lovely story about a little girl running into a beautiful flower garden and the gardener standing nearby feared she would pick the biggest one. The girl stopped right beside a rose, leaned over to stick her nose right in it, took several deep breaths, then ran off to play. Perhaps we don't need to own or consume so much...just pause, appreciate everything a bit more, and give something away.  I bet that memory will last :)

Safety Pin Turkey Skin Anyone?

My clever husband was following his brother Aaron's advice about rubbing seasoned butter UNDER the turkey skin and THIS is what I placed in the oven. He accidentally ripped the skin a bit and solved the problem.  Has anyone ever seen this before? The turkey was actually very tasty!  :)

"4-H" and Bert Forever in our Hearts

I was quite a tomboy growing up. I hear my mom had to make sure I did not wear stripes and checks together - even when I was in high school. But I got a REAL break when I met our 4-H leader, Alberta Hansen. Her daughter, Laurie, and I happened to be best friends so it was especially sweet to spend a LOT of time at their farm and in the company of this remarkable lady. She not only taught me to sew pretty well, but also refinish furniture, bake bread, make a pie crust (yuck), and best of all, show my amazing horse, Misty, at all kinds of equestrian events. In her later years, Bert lived at Spring Valley and I was able to visit her often as my folks were there too. Bert once told me a story about an optimistic lady who lost all her hair but three long strands on her head. She said, "Oh goody! Now I can easily braid them!"  When she was down to two hairs, she said, "Yay! Now I can wear pig tails!" Down to one hair, she remarked, "Ahhhh. A ponytail at last!"  And finally with no hair at all, she proclaimed, "Good! Now I don't have to mess with my hair!" This was Bert. I loved her dearly and she left this world this week. The good thing is, she left a daughter behind who is probably going to turn out exactly like her mother with an eternal hope, optimism, and strength to get her through ANYTHING. Here is Bert below with me and dear friends, Jean and Joy. We were three of her "4-H followers" right to the end.  We love you, Alberta Hansen.

Wendell's Words for Terry Read

These words of Wendell Berry have comforted me in the past and will do so again with the great loss of our very dear friend, Terry Read, pictured below with Sydney on the Washington State Ferry some years ago. It was taken during one of the many wonderful "free days" during our church reunion on Samish Island and the joy portrayed on both faces says a lot about the nature of this man. We all loved those memories and adventures on Lopez Island with the extended church family and our hearts go out to Linda and daughter Andrea, the two most cherished women in Terry's life. The words of Wendell seem so harsh at the beginning, but bring some peace at the end.

"What gets you is the knowledge, that sometimes can fall on you in a clap, that the dead are gone absolutely from this world. As has been said around here over and over again, you are not going to see them here anymore, ever. Whatever was done or said before is done or said for good. Any questions you think you ought to have asked while you had a chance are never going to be answered. The dead know, and you don't.

And yet, their absence puts them with you in a way they never were before. You even maybe know them better than you did before. They stay with you, and in a way you go with them. They don't live on in your heart, but your heart knows them. As your heart gets bigger on the inside, the world gets bigger on the outside. If the dead were alive only in this world, you would forget them, looks like, as soon as they die. But you remember them, because they always were living in the other, bigger world while they lived in this little one, and this one and the other are the same. You can't see this with your eyes looking straight ahead. It's with your side vision, so to speak, that you see it. The longer I live, and the better acquainted I am among the dead, the better I see it. I am telling what I know."
(Wendell Berry, Atlantic Monthly, 2008)

Sawing Away at Sam's Swoop!

Last night, we got an email from our Spokane Mountaineer friend, Lynn, to meet other Nordic ski buffs at 8 am today for a chainsaw trail clearing day. There are nearly 40 miles of groomed trails and unfortunately, every mile has downed trees.  It was so devastating to see the old beauties lying on their sides. After they are limbed, the bobcat will drag them away. Many hands make light work!

Happily Out of Place: The Farmer and The Violin

This painting hangs in the Pattee Hotel in Perry, Iowa, where I went to high school. The rural scene painted by Gary Ernest Smith, called "Celebration of Life," shows a man standing in a freshly plowed field as he plays a violin. He looks happily out of place — like this world-class hotel in a tiny Iowa town. I took the photo of this painting a while ago but wanted to remember it today. "Happily out of place"  I like the sounds of that phrase. Taking an unusual or perhaps even unpopular stand on something - after deciding, happily, that it's the right thing to do - not necessarily what everyone else does. Perhaps we should all do that more.

Heavens torn apart for Terry with One Big Boom

Mother Nature was in a violent mood on Tuesday in Spokane, WA, with trees crashing down all over the place leaving 380,000 people without power. We lost a few big ones on our property as well. My sister in law, Jennifer, and I think it's because the heavens were torn apart when our dear, dear friend, Terry Read, was tragically killed by a car that morning in Los Angeles while walking his dog. The outpouring of love for this man is so great we think the whole world cherished him. We certain did here in Spokane. Our hearts are broken for his wife Linda and daughter, Andrea...

"Draw" Yourself Happy

For just about my entire teaching career, I used a simple sketch in my "last lecture" which showed a stick figure drawing themselves. The figure was holding a pencil in one hand and literally finishing drawing the other half of their body. I loved this analogy of choosing how you will look, act, do, and BE every single day of your life. After all YOU are holding the pencil!  Here are the coolest kitchen towels ever that I am putting into some Christmas baskets this year expressing my little philosophy :)

Judy's Amazing Life and Her Baby Bunny Blankets

My beautiful dear friend Judy McKeehan is, I think, the most talented woman I know. Her artistic talent is simply unstoppable. There are physical reasons which could have caused her to stop creating beautiful things, such as brain tumors, tremors, and hearing loss as well as many emotional reasons including untimely deaths of a grandchild, husband, father, and mother. But Judy, much like the Energizer Bunny, just continues to produce - and not just anything - we are talking quality, heirloom pieces of art. She still paints, photographs, sketches, sews, knits, designs, and crochets. After her first life altering brain surgery over a decade ago, Judy commented to me, "Well, let's see what this new Judy can do!"  I will never forget that statement and I know it inspired my mom considerably in her later years dealing with Parkinson's.  I just spent a lovely quilting retreat weekend with Judy and dear friends and she is patiently teaching me how to make her delightful crochet bunny baby blankets pictured below. THANK YOU Judy for being such a gift to your loving family, the Cheney/Spokane community, and the entire world!

Yoga Barn

Vern's "shop" is now moonlighting as a Yoga Barn for two of my dear friends who are wonderful instructors!  And all I have to do is walk out my front door twice a week to "their" studio :) I am FINALLY giving this fabulous flexible form of exercise a good try in my life and have no excuses not to declare this the Year of Yoga. It's so nice to have ALL our living spaces very well used and loved...

Zentangle Anyone?

My friend Cindy Phillips and I took a free class at the Moran Prairie Library today called Zentangle. It TRULY was an amazing experience and the time flew by faster than you can blink an eye. One definitely gets into a state of "flow" when Zentangling! It's a wonderful repetitive, creative, meditative art experience that ANYONE can do on a 4 X 4" piece of paper :)  Here is my creative (he says not) husband and our "practice" Zentangles we did tonight :)

A Little Bit of My Dad...

Adam just posted a SWELL holiday commercial today about a lonely old man and a lovely neighbor looking out for him (google "Glade facebook" to see it). Made me all misty for my dad...SOOO as I was contemplating the post for tonight, I came across this little video of he and I having our own little tractor ride just five years ago. Dad had JUST finished restoring the Super M and had restored the International 560 a few years earlier. We drove them a few miles on a cold Iowa spring day and made quite a memory. Just a couple of months later he had his stroke which took them off the farm for good. Sigh......

World Famous Xylophone!

What a treat to be able to go to "The Jubilee" in Spokane where many Fair Trade organizations from across the Pacific Northwest gather for two days to sell their wares. I was so intrigued with this wooden xylophone from our own Spokane store, Kizuri. It was made by Doozie, from Ghana, who also constructed the instruments used in the soundtrack for the Broadway Lion King production. The sounds from this simple instrument were aMAZing! People probably thought I was crazy but I played it quite awhile. Transported me straight to the jungle! :)

Well, HELLO Christmas Cactus!

So tonight I'm wondering, "Now WHY am I doing this?  No one reads it. Do I think I have something to say?" etc, etc. But then I remembered I promised myself to NOTICE something every day for a year!  So I start walking around the house. Lo and behold, the Christmas Cactus was blooming it's little head off behind the planter hanging down the wall by the Good Luck Chickens. I hadn't noticed it until today. Ok...I'll buck up and start opening my eyes more! :)

Tomato Cages Extraordinaire

I have spent YEARS "ruining" tomato cages when fall comes. They almost always break apart and/or get terribly bent out of shape. I will bend and pound them enough to get another season or two, but it's not fun. Last year when I really needed to replace them, during an unusual moment of clarity, I did NOT get the sale ones, but rather spent an extra few dollars on these heavier ones. Well, they are amazing and will probably last me years and years and years. Am I getting smarter in my older age? LOL!

Gallons of Sweet Cider = Friendship and Fun!

It was such a treat to be invited to join John and Sandy VanDerWalker's annual tradition of pressing apple cider this morning!  They are such a delightful couple who actively practice AND preserve all kinds of culinary and creative arts. Sandy and Vern cleaned and hauled and John and I tossed, shoved, and cranked out well over 40 gallons of cider. Of course we took many breaks to sample hot spiced cider, smoked salmon, sausage and cheese snacks, and cream cheese pumpkin rolls :)

COLOR...Blind

Many many years ago, when I was in grad school, I decided to "be blind" for a day. It was probably a foolish idea, as of course I could take off the eye patches anytime, but I stuck it out and learned a few things. I woke up with blinders on, shaved my legs, poured orange juice, made toast, rode a big city bus alone, got ripped off in a record store, ran as fast as I could around a track holding a friend's hand, jumped high on a trampoline, and got hopelessly lost finding the locker room. I remember two things:  1:  On the bus, anyone who spoke to me was simply a warm voice. I did not know or care or even think about their color, age, or appearance. 2:  When my friends gathered around me at the end of the day and I took off the patches, my first word was COLOR!!!!! 

This little surprise flower which will probably be gone after tonight's frost, made me remember that very old memory...

The Hen Who Flew...

Well, today about 10 am, the garden was eerily quiet and I suddenly wondered where all the chickens were. Several months ago, a hawk had attacked and all the hens and guineas dove for cover. The big white hen "hid" in a bush with her entire body sticking out and her head hidden (hilarious!) but fortunately everyone survived. Today felt the same way. When I finally looked in the chicken coop, they were all in there hiding...except the big white hen. I searched high and low and found a small tuft of feathers.  Sniff... :(  Thought I might be writing an obituary tonight.

About an hour later, I saw her standing at the door waiting to be let into the coop!!!!! All I can surmise is that a hawk snatched her, possibly flew a hundred feet or so, then dropped her because she was too big!  She likely hid out till the coast was clear, then limped home. ALL afternoon "the girls" seemed to be having a conference in the coop. Big White sat in the center nest and did not budge the whole day. Everyone seemed to be intently listening to her story.  Can you imagine?  LOL!