The tree beside me is lit softly,
red balls shiny & bright.
Snow falls thick & quiet,
Under the streetlamp outside.
Julie Andrews sings Christmas carols,
peaceful strains that sooth.
The kitties lie on the couch,
Snuggled & happy.
A fire crackles behind me,
both heat & comfort.
My bed awaits upstairs,
Warm & cozy.
Goodnight,
Goodnight.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Alternative Transportation
With the weather horrible, and me not wanting to drive anywhere I have taken the opportunity to experiment with alternative transportation in cold weather.
Option 1: Mountain biking in the snow.
This proved both effective and safe (while on the Gilman). I was able to get to work in about an hour. The problem was getting onto and off of the Trail. Sidewalks and shoulders were iced over and unridable. Those sections needed walked. However the trail was probably the safest place on the Tuesday morning commute. I passed 2 joggers, 3 walkers, and no one else.
Option 2: The Bus
While I am a big fan of public transit (I make the bike racks for buses) it is currently a horrible fit for my home to work commute. It is a mile walk to the stop. Today the bus was 25 minutes late (actually I think the bus before it just wasn't running). Once on the bus it is a half an hour ride to the stop. The stop is then another 1.5 to work. So basically the bus ride is 30 minutes and I only travel 5 miles. Uhggg.
What will tomorrow bring...not sure. We will see how the weather is when I wake up. I can say I am not in good enough shape to run to work, so lets just say I am considering other options.
Option 1: Mountain biking in the snow.
This proved both effective and safe (while on the Gilman). I was able to get to work in about an hour. The problem was getting onto and off of the Trail. Sidewalks and shoulders were iced over and unridable. Those sections needed walked. However the trail was probably the safest place on the Tuesday morning commute. I passed 2 joggers, 3 walkers, and no one else.
Option 2: The Bus
While I am a big fan of public transit (I make the bike racks for buses) it is currently a horrible fit for my home to work commute. It is a mile walk to the stop. Today the bus was 25 minutes late (actually I think the bus before it just wasn't running). Once on the bus it is a half an hour ride to the stop. The stop is then another 1.5 to work. So basically the bus ride is 30 minutes and I only travel 5 miles. Uhggg.
What will tomorrow bring...not sure. We will see how the weather is when I wake up. I can say I am not in good enough shape to run to work, so lets just say I am considering other options.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Yes, I am a snowbunny.
It was pouring snow as I stepped off my bus this evening & headed home. By the time I got home, everything was white. And being me, I was completely giddy with delight! Levi & I had a grand time introducing the kitties to snow, especially Calvin, who looks hilarious when runnning through it! Then I had a lovely walk around our neighborhood. Happy snow to all!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Thanksgiving
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Spokane--ate lots of food, relaxed & watched movies, did some Christmas shopping, & got the Christmas tree! Our drive home today took a while as the highway was snowy from Ritzville all the way to the pass, but we're home now, watching snow fall outside our own windows. :)
Lois putting the finish touches on Thanksgiving dinner.
Trying to stay warm at the tree lot.
It's Bigfoot!!
Amusing ourselves while the guys cut down the tree.
It was definitely a smaller tree this year than many past.
We ventured out on Black Friday, for a new TV for the parents.
At the rest stop on our drive home.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Lois putting the finish touches on Thanksgiving dinner.
Trying to stay warm at the tree lot.
It's Bigfoot!!
Amusing ourselves while the guys cut down the tree.
It was definitely a smaller tree this year than many past.
We ventured out on Black Friday, for a new TV for the parents.
At the rest stop on our drive home.
Happy Thanksgiving!!Monday, November 20, 2006
A Festival of Hope
The 28th annual Keystone Festival was a great success! The event raised over $10,000, all to support development & self-help projects both locally & in developing countries. All had great fun trying on accessories, eating pumpkin pie & learning about the organizations the festival supports.
The Heifer table broke records in a big way! In the 15 odd years that I have run the Heifer booth at this fair, the money generated continues to rise each & every year. At over $2,300, this year's came close to doubling last!
The Pacific Northwest has always been a community concerned about important issues such as global affairs, hunger & poverty, environmental protection & sustainability, social justice & peace. For years, I have watched people wander this fair, learning & donating, discussing & listening & as a result have seen my own concern & involvement grow. And each year I see that same growth of concern, involvement & activism in our communities.
This is what brings me hope.
The Heifer table broke records in a big way! In the 15 odd years that I have run the Heifer booth at this fair, the money generated continues to rise each & every year. At over $2,300, this year's came close to doubling last!
The Pacific Northwest has always been a community concerned about important issues such as global affairs, hunger & poverty, environmental protection & sustainability, social justice & peace. For years, I have watched people wander this fair, learning & donating, discussing & listening & as a result have seen my own concern & involvement grow. And each year I see that same growth of concern, involvement & activism in our communities.
This is what brings me hope.
My Keystone Heifer booth.
I thought it looked especially nice this year--fun to have the added additions of a few new ehtnic dolls.
Gloria & Rita at the bake sale table.
Mom & Aunt Beth enjoying some lunch.
Steve & Mom at the Northwest Harvest booth.
And me, working to "Heiferize" the Northwest!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Hope to see you there!
A Festival of Hope
Come browse & Christmas shop, enjoy a tasty lunch & a mingling of cultures--all the while learning how the money you spend goes to support hunger relief & self-help projects, both locally & in developing countries.
Give a gift of hope.
Saturday, November 18th
10am-4pm
Sunday, November 19th
12-3pm
Keystone Congregational United Church of Christ
5019 Keystone Place North
(one block east of Meridian in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood)
Monday, November 13, 2006
Heifer Training Weekend
I flew out to San Jose early on Friday morning for the first West Coast Heifer University for Area Volunteer Coordinators. All of the current & future volunteer coordinators from both the NW & the SW regions gathered for a weekend retreat at the Raindance Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains. From Seattle, we had myself & my dear friends Lisa, Erik, Carla & even baby Lars! It was a great weekend of discussing, brainstorming, learning & listening. I got the chance to reconnect with some of the people I traveled to Honduras with, as well as the joy of meeting some wonderful new people. My work with Heifer certainly adds many dimensions to my life, not the least of which is the variety of incredible people I meet & form connections with.
It was an interesting discovery for me to find out that on the West Coast, our Seattle volunteer group is the model. This gave me mixed feelings, as I was immensly proud, but also a little uneasy as I generally feel rather unorganized & worried that I don't have the time to provide my volunteers with what they need.
My highlights from the weekend were:
--meeting & hearing Heifer's history from Jan West, the daughter of Heifer International's founder
--learning about the incredible work that Heifer is doing in sub-Saharan Africa in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic
--having a break-out session with my Seattle group & setting some great goals for the future of our volunteer group
--running trails through the sunlit Redwoods at the retreat center
This weekend served as further confirmation that this is the organization I want to work for. Please pray for this to happen for me!
The view from where I am laying in the previous photo.
Carla & happy Lars.
My Heifer "boss", Isaak.
Adam providing a little music.
Lisa & I enjoying Saturday evening's wine.
Taking notes during a break-out session.
Jan West, Carla, & Lars.
The moon through the trees on my trail run.
Sunlit redwoods along the trail.
It was an interesting discovery for me to find out that on the West Coast, our Seattle volunteer group is the model. This gave me mixed feelings, as I was immensly proud, but also a little uneasy as I generally feel rather unorganized & worried that I don't have the time to provide my volunteers with what they need.
My highlights from the weekend were:
--meeting & hearing Heifer's history from Jan West, the daughter of Heifer International's founder
--learning about the incredible work that Heifer is doing in sub-Saharan Africa in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic
--having a break-out session with my Seattle group & setting some great goals for the future of our volunteer group
--running trails through the sunlit Redwoods at the retreat center
This weekend served as further confirmation that this is the organization I want to work for. Please pray for this to happen for me!
Relax time on the deck of my cabin.
The view from where I am laying in the previous photo.
Carla & happy Lars.
My Heifer "boss", Isaak.
Adam providing a little music.
Lisa & I enjoying Saturday evening's wine.
Taking notes during a break-out session.
Jan West, Carla, & Lars.
The moon through the trees on my trail run.
Sunlit redwoods along the trail.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
An excerpt from a passage my Grandmother wrote in 1979 that was included in the program:
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Father God, whose we are, and to whom we all go, we rest in Thee - content. For we know nothing can come our way except by Thy will or consent. No experience or circumstance can overwhelm us, for we have Thy strength to uphold us and Thy comforting love to console us. There is nothing to fear save separation from Thee, and - praise be - that fear is swallowed up in Thy promise that nothing in this world or the next can ever separate us from Thee.
And so we rest - content.
My favorite floral arrangement was fittingly so the one from all of us sixteen grandchildren--pink & purple were Grandma's favorite colors.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Father God, whose we are, and to whom we all go, we rest in Thee - content. For we know nothing can come our way except by Thy will or consent. No experience or circumstance can overwhelm us, for we have Thy strength to uphold us and Thy comforting love to console us. There is nothing to fear save separation from Thee, and - praise be - that fear is swallowed up in Thy promise that nothing in this world or the next can ever separate us from Thee.
And so we rest - content.
My favorite floral arrangement was fittingly so the one from all of us sixteen grandchildren--pink & purple were Grandma's favorite colors.
Part of Grandma Donnie's legacy.Friday, November 03, 2006
Grandma's Without Grandma
Boo & I both took the day off today & spent it together. We started it with a yoga class at a local gym, which was calming & energizing. Then we drove the short distance to Grandma's house & were both a little overcome with emotion. Standing on the front porch together, we looked out over the garden, dripping wet & lush with the rich colors of fall. Then we turned around & looked into the house, to the small dining room & kitchen beyond, where we are so used to seeing our Grandma smiling in welcome. With no Grandma to hug & visit with, we shrugged into our raincoats & walked down to feed the chickens. We talked & reminiced, laughed & cried. Continuing our walk, we went down to see the creek, swollen & rushing from the recent rains. And we stopped to gather & enjoy the continued bounty of Grandma's garden. We gathered apples, pears & kale, & returned home to make some warm food & snuggle in with our husbands. My family, the whole crazy bunch of it (that includes you, Goweys, Hearns, Winstons, Hagopians, & Penicks), is my greatest blessing.
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