Pictures up

Here is a link to the hike pictures from this weekend.

Oyster Dome

Today was spent hiking up Blanchard Mountain in Bellingham to the Oyster Dome & Bat Caves. Levi & I set out from our house with Boo & Bet, Aaron & Nicole, Liz, & we met up with Elyse once we got there. I'm a bit tired to write much & the photos will describe it better anyways. It's a great hike--highly recommend it on clear days. And of course we finished off the day with dinner at the Boundary Bay Brewery, where some other B'ham friends joined us. I do miss Bellingham.

Bet being camouflage.

Favorite Touch

HUGS!

I love the feel of hugs, whether from friends, family or my hubby. Hugs are for everything--greetings, goodbyes, congratulations, consolation, comfort, joy, I could go on & on.
A few of my favorite huggers:
-my hubby
-my Momma
-my Alan
-my friend Kristen
-my friend Hoang

Five Senses Week (is it possible for me to make a short post?)

I have fallen a bit behind & now have two senses to catch up on!
Believe it or not, I have been working 9 to 10 hour days at work, getting both our sample rooms completely cleaned up & organized for inventory. Anywho...on to important things like my favorite senses!...

Tuesday-Taste: after viewing Bree's blog & discovering the favorite sense for the day, I thought & thought. Many flavors came to mind, but it wasn't until I was eating my salad today that I settled upon black olives. Biting into one immediately brings to mind images & memories of my Mom's family, the Goweys. As long as I can remember, there has always been an appetizer dish of black olives out on the tables before dinner time. There are sixteen Gowey grandchildren & as kids, we use to stick the olives on our fingertips, waggling them around in each other's faces, before savoring each one from each of our ten digits. Memories from the Gowey family, especially ones that took place in my grandparents' house, are particularly in my mind, as my Grandma Donnie left us just three short months ago. The taste of olives will always remind me of Gowey gatherings; of the kids' table we sat around in the brightly lit kitchen; of childhood silliness with my cousins, all of whom I continue to treasure as adults. Here is a photo of Amanda Jane, the youngest grandchild, carrying on the tradition with an olive on her little finger (& one in her mouth).

That's it for me tonight--I'll just stick with my belated schedule & do "touch" tomorrow (something to think about while working the day away).

G'night, friends.

Five Senses Week

My friend Bree is posting her favorites of the five senses--one for each day this week. It's always fun to post new things & learn more about your friends & since Bree is encouraging all of us bloggers to participate, here is Monday's, Favorite Smell...

I love the smell of a newly struck match--it tingles the nostrils a little & makes me think numerous happy thoughts that include fire, memories from both childhood & now: candles, backpacking, Christmas, our fireplace at home.


It's a nostalgic scent, a comfort smell. It burns bright & quick, then lingers as it fades, promising more adventures & memories yet to come.

Snow Day

It was a lovely day--spent just for me, with beautiful snow outside!
I took a nap in the morning & woke up to large snowflakes pouring down. Went for a walk & visited a Heifer volunteer who lives nearby. Cleaned & organized areas of the house, did laundry, & had some fun playing with Valentine/Winter displays. I had hoped to spend some time in my craft room designing Valentines, but maybe tomorrow evening. I made a yummy dinner, watched a TV show, worked out in the living room, played & cuddled with the kitties, & soon I will be headed to bed.
Just what I needed.
Here's a glimpse:

Winter Wonderland

Gorgeous snowy days...
On Wednesday night watching it softly fall under the glow of the streelight outside our window;
walking to & from the bus stop on Thursday & Friday & enjoying the brisk air;
taking the kitties outside for a little snow experience;
walking with my sister yesterday on the nature path behind my house & being delighted when teeny-tiny snowflakes began to fall;
snuggling up inside with tea & gazing out the window as the flakes got bigger;
taking a little walk around my neighborhood in the quiet stillness at twilight;
navigating my way to a friends' on icy streets this morning (I must say that I did rather well);
driving up the Sammamish Plateau today & marveling at the beautiful trees laden with snow;
more on Tuesday night?

Happy snow, friends!

Congrats Boise State!!

You are the true National Champions this year. 13-0.

Winston Christmas

Boo & Mom fixing the yummy salad.

My new favorite photo.

The wonderful "G-people."

Mom & G-paw.

Beautiful, poised G-maw (with an Uncle Steve painting that I admire in the background).

Hubby.

Alan playing zither music.

Aunt Kathy, Mama, & Uncle Steve.

Uncle Steve being silly.
For those who may not know, my aunt & uncle, Steve & Sharon Winston, are the founders & owners of The Spanish Table (Seattle, Burkeley, Sante Fe & Mill Valley). Until recently their Seattle Flagship store was across the street from the lower back part of Pike Place Market, but they just moved in right underneath the market. Head in & check out the store--they have a great wine selection & all kinds of fun, specialty cuisine items from Spain & Portugal (& soon Argentina). My personal favorites: the lemon stuffed green olives & the gorgeous handpainted Spanish ceramics.

A view from the South End Zone 300 level

3 and 7 from the 8. 1:12 left

My buddie and I are debating how this game is going to end. We see the first down is made. He is arguing that we let them score on the next play while I am arguing that the Cowboys are just going to take a knee and run the clock down to :01 second.

The ref then announces the play is going to be challenged. My buddie and I both know calls like this (read any involving the Hawks) never get reversed so we continue our debate.

The call is reversed!

The entire section (standium?) breaks into "Block that Kick!" chants. From where we are we can't quite tell what happened but we see Romo break from the pack and all our hopes ride on #27 running around the corner. When #27 finally catches Romo everyone jumps, hugs, cheers, hugs, high fives, and hugs.

These same reactions were repeated after the Alexander run and at the end of the game.

As we walk from our seats everyone in the halls his high fiving each other. As we walk down the ramps Seahawks! Seahawks! chants constantly break out and everyone is best friends!

The season of giving

Though we still have two more family Christmases to go (with Elyse & with the Winstons, both next weekend), I feel as though the holidays are winding down. It's the new year & we all must return to work tomorrow. While cleaning & organizing tonight, there was many reflections going through my head--thoughts on the past year & on this holiday season coming to a close. Part of my work today has been to find homes for new Christmas gifts--always a fun task. My good friend Kristen posted photos of some of her favorite Christmas presents on her blog & then invited friends to do the same.
Here are a few of mine:

This gift is from that very friend, Kristen. For quite a while now she has been drawing colorful little scenes & often sharing them on her blog. This is one that I fell in love with & she framed it for me as a Christmas present. A friend that understands my heart. :)

This wonderful Skookum doll pair were a gift from my Mom & Alan. They were found at the event in February when the Musuem of History & Industry sold off many of the dolls donated over the years. They are such a beautiful pair, in excellent condition, & now a treasured part of my Skookum doll collection.

From my sister & Albert: a new gorgeous, warm Patagonia Capilene, in my favorite sunny yellow! Who's up for a winter hike, so I can try it out? :) You might also notice the wires from my new iPod shuffle, a gift from my hubby, that is already seeing much use.

A yummy, fuzzy scarf from my Dad & Carolyn, in the palest of winter pinks. It's so soft & perfect for my coloring.

And of course, the books. We have a tradition in my family called the "book pile." Every year as far back as I can remember, my sister & I have always had a book pile waiting for us on the coffee table on Christmas morning. There is always sounds of delight as each book is lifted off & another discovered underneath. Now, books make up quite a bit of our Christmas wish lists. One of my favorite subjects has always been treehouses & these were two missing from my library on tree dwellings--one from Mom & Alan, one from Ralph & Lois.

I've long wanted to read more from John Muir & this is a collection of some of the adventures had by the naturalist & adventurer. A gift from my younger sister Emily, her husband Anthony, & their baby girl, Tillie.

A gorgeous book from my cousin Megan, who drew my name in the now 14 person Gowey cousin gift exchange. Levi & I have been visiting a different national park every year (first Yellowstone, then Glacier, & Yosemite will be our destination this summer) & I'm sure our list will grow after browsing this book.

I don't have my copy yet, but it was to be included in my book pile from Mom & Alan. I am very excited to read about the incredible, groundbreaking Grameen Bank.

I'm including a photo of four of my favorite Christmas cards just for fun. The lower lefthand corner is my friend Kristen's card. Her husband, Kyle, is an amazingly talented artist & the sketch is his own. The white snowflake in the upper righthand corner is special in a very unique way--seeds are imbedded in the biodegradable fibers & once I plant the snowflake it will grow blue Forget-me-not flowers.

And last, but not least, the awesome new camera that took all these photos! Much thanks to my hubby & his family for my great new digital camera that I am enjoying immensely.

Thank you to all for the wonderful gifts & cards--
I love each & every expression of giving during this season.
Happy New Year!