Ah, the Delights of August

August is such a restful month. I don't know why. Perhaps it's just that all the craziness of the school year ending is long past and the early summer excitement is over, leaving only the quiet lull between that activity, and the coming hustle and bustle of autumn. Whatever it is, I LIKE it.

We went to another, much larger, Living History Festival here in town, at a huge old filbert orchard. (It's the same park/ranch where I took the pictures of us in the woods, down by the river, and on the old red tractor displayed in earlier blog entries.) At this festival there were union encampments, confederate encampments, and civilian encampments all nestled under the canopies of the venerated nut trees. Horses carried soldiers along the paths amidst foot soldiers and ladies in hoop skirts. Mountain men, French trappers, and green uniformed sniper units co-mingled in the vastness of the park. There were booths and demonstrations. We witnessed another Civil War reenactment. This time there were over 500 participants plus cannons and horses. It was sobering. Very well done.

Rounding out the adventure of the festival were friends we bumped into in our journey to the past. Under the shade of the trees we discussed life in those times, sharing what we knew and pondering what we didn't.

Sadly, idiot that I am, I didn't check the battery level of my camera before I left home. My picture snapping was abruptly stopped after two photos. I D I O T ! Oh well, as I always say, "More time to drink in the day without having to think about taking pictures." Yeah, okay, if it makes me feel better, right.

I did get one of Tom and Cassie riding in the shuttle bus out to the park.











As we walked toward the large field where the battle was raging, we spied this handful of Union soldiers hiding in the oak trees, waiting for action. Right after I took this picture, several of the men looked up at us, smiled, and waved.












Switching gears a little, for another August Adventure, this past weekend Cassie hosted a Halo Party here at our house. Halo is a video game which Cassie and some of her friends like to play in a large group, with two teams, all playing in the same game via X-Boxes, multiple tv's, lots of cables, and a hub. Pretty fun! The picture below shows Nick, Cassie, and Zack helping set up.









The location rotates, alternating from home to home, every few months, when it works out for everyone. This was our turn, and Cassie superbly brought it all about through careful planning and much emailing. She even easily persuaded Tom and me to grill hamburgers and provide veggies, fruit, chips, and of course, OREOS!! What a blast!


Tom and I get a kick out of listening to the kids reactions as they play. "Look out!" "AHHH, who shot me in the foot!!" "Oh MAN! I died." Sounds gruesome, but it's really fun.




You'll notice Caroline in the picture with Zack and Cassie. At eleven, and not having 'played with maps', still she managed to keep up and lasted the entire seven hours. Ten til five, with a lunch break at noon, and an afternnoon break to reconnoiter - and eat Oreos. (Cassie and Zack have Tootsie Pops in their mouths.)



It's nice that our girls are getting to the age where we start having their friends over in droves with activities beyond slumber parties. The boys did that sort of thing often and I realize now that I miss it. I really enjoy the kids' energy. And what a terrific bunch this is!


I call this group, The Couch Potatoes. Experienced players, great people.



The kid on the right, Mitch, should not have settled himself down next to the bowl of Tootsie Pops. In his excitement, he ended up eating TWENTY (count 'em, 20!) and did he have the happy jitters by the end of the day. Hopefully, he doesn't have a ginormous hole in his tooth where he lodged the suckers while he played. (You can see the Tootsie Pop stick protruding from his mouth. He's a cool kid.)

Tom Petty - "Some Grow Young, Some Grow Cold"

"I Need a Big Weekend, Kick up the Dust, Yeah a Big Weekend, If You Don't Run You Rust" ~~ Tom Petty

At 55 years old Tom Petty is in no way slowing down or growing cold. In fact, he rocked on for two hours with the Heartbreakers, no break, and sounded absolutely terrific! What a great show! We enjoyed singing our favorites with him. I think Cassie, Caroline, and I were part of only a handful in the audience who knew the words to the Traveling Wilbury's song, "Handle With Care" and we enjoyed singing along.

I don't imagine many of you reading this will even know what I'm talking about what with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the Traveling Wilbury's, but, we know, and we are happy to be able to add this concert to our growing list of wonderful musical expeditions.

Joe wore the shirt I bought him to wear on his England Trip, the one with the "Sell you computer, buy a guitar" and "Tom Petty Rocks" words on it. Well, a pretty blonde girl had one on, too, and she squealed, "OOOOH, we have the same shirt. Let's get a picture together!" So, Joe obligingly put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. Click! Her sister took a picture.

When people gather together with a common interest, well, you just never know what kind of fun you'll have!

Our ride home was rambunctious as we were all happy and excited.

Bed at 3 in the morning, was BLISS!

Back to work tomorrow!
--------------------

"Lost Children" - by Tom Petty

"Lord please watch over
all these lost children
born to chase the hurricane.
Please shine some light down
on those who wander
filled with hunger and pain.

Please raise the wind for
all those out sailing
on an ocean alone.
Lord shine a light on
all these lost children
far away from their home.

Lord keep an eye on
all these lost children
swept away in the wind.
Please shine some light down
on all those travelin';
lead them all home again."



Thursday Evening Escape

"Find Yourself or Maybe Lose Yourself While Your Free Spirit Flies....."


















"Cool and Green and Shady"

Tom and Caroline relaxing at the ranch.

Ben, Cassie, and Caroline settling into the quiet rhythm of the water and the forest.


















Snag in the Sky















The Eldest

"Could get a lot done if this thing could MOVE."


"Let's keep exploring."













Sunset

July 2006

Blogs go by the wayside during the recreational outdoorsy months of summer! Gardening, walking, playing....you know all about it.

More pictures and fewer words fill today's entry. Enjoy!

We went to a Living History Event a few miles from our house this month. There were many interesting things to see and do, including many guns to view. Tom is showing Caroline and Cassie how to load this pistol.



My parents came up to celebrate the Fourth of July with us. What fun! We read the entire Declaration of Independence and afterwards pledged our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America (and in your mind are you repeating after me, finishing the pledge in that hurried slurred rendition we said every morning in school?) An interesting thing is that when we came to 'Under God', my dad kept going without reciting that part. We all looked at him, until it dawned on us that when he was a kid that phrase was not part of the pledge. Eisenhower added it, I believe. It was a great civics lesson for the kids. (Yes, I choked up. Always the patriot!)

Here is our backyard campfire/marshmallow roast. While we were sitting here there were fireworks going off all around. It was surreal!


Even with a casted broken arm Tom made a toasty bed of coals that roasted the marshmallows to a golden brown.


While we were out watching fireworks and enjoying the fire Sammy began to bark his baying beagle bark. He'd sniffed out a baby opossum, playing dead under the tomato plants in the vegetable garden! Well, the girls rescued it, with Tom's help, and here's a picture of the cute little thing. Cute while little, not so much when they grow up. We made sure the critter was all right, then released him back into the neighbor's blackberry brambles where the possums seem to hang out.

This little guy made a repeat performance a couple of weeks later, this time under the shed, at midnight. How do we know? You guessed it! Sammy......baaaooooooo! He let us know there was an intruder. Tom and Joe, newly home from their swing shift jobs, went out with Sammy and managed to help the little guy escape......again!



We decided to stay close to home this year, foregoing a formal 'vacation.' It's been pleasant to be foot loose and fancy free. No big house projects, no planning and packing. A surprising turn of events occured because of Tom's broken arm. He had to be put on light duty, so the powers that be at work decided this would be a good time for Tom to participate in some cross-training, which he's been asking to do for years.

One of the men working in Utilities is going on a month long vacation, so Tom is training for two weeks in that job, and will perform it for the month of August, while the guy is away. The cool thing is that he retains his exact same pay and benefits, PLUS he's on day shift instead of swing. He gets up early, goes to work, gets home in the mid-afternoon, and we play until bedtime!

Last night we commented that this year the vacation came to US!

It's amazing how just a change of pace, a break from the routine, can refresh a person.

We shall end our July with a Tom Petty concert up in Ridgefield, Washington.

August holds visits with dear friends, camping, swimming, and more hanging out as a family. I LOVE summer!

Hope yours is enjoyable in its own special way!

(I THOUGHT I said, fewer words! Is that even POSSIBLE with me????)

"Some of the things you have the hardest time parting with are the things you need the least." ~~ Bob Dylan

Eagles and Beagles

The girls and I were sitting on the back porch rocking in the log rockers when we spotted a huge eagle soaring overhead in the southern sky. What a glorious sight! He soared, turned, made a loop and flew over the giant silver maples up to the northern sky. We watched him glide on the air currents with his wide wings carrying him to some tall old Douglas firs where he landed.

Such a graceful creature! It's not a common occurrence to see such large hawks or eagles when here in town. We see littler ones now and then. I think they go after the (shudder) squirrels. We see majestic birds of prey in the Cascades when we go up there, but here, from our porch, well, it was one of those special moments.

Sammy, our beagle, was in the back yard, too. He had been snooping out squirrels as they scampered along the fence pickets chattering and taunting him on their way to the trees or the feeder. When the eagle flew overhead Sammy froze and gazed up at it in seeming wonder. He followed it along with us until he could see it no more. He was very very alert and interested in that big bird. It was almost as if he experienced awe.

I know WE did.

I always think of John Denver when I see eagles and hawks and his song goes through my head.

"Come dance with the west wind
And touch on the mountaintops,
Sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars!
And reach for the heavens
And hope for the future,
And all that we can be
Not just what we are."

How much I appreciate words which can express thoughts in times of inspiration!

The girls and I had one of those 'stop time,' 'freeze the moment' sort of encounters. Refreshing. All because God directed a mighty bird to fly overhead just when we were out there to see him.

Thanks, God!

(In case you are wondering, this picture of the eagle is one I took in Sitka, Alaska. I didn't have my camera with me yesterday and didn't want to miss the 'show' to run into the house to fetch it.)

Squirrels and Sentiments

Taken from our living room, with a bit of glare from the window, this photo shows part of the five member squirrel family that is nesting in our front yard Thunder Cloud Plum tree. There are three little babies, though only two are in this photo with their watchful mommy. The babies are so cute, and vulnerable. That mother squirrel diligently keeps them in line, though they are full of energy and push the envelope of safety often. Sammy, our beagle, has allowed them the freedom to inhabit 'his' yard. In fact, we've seen him vigorously chase off any hostiles that threaten the little family, mostly cats.

We have a squirrel feeder which also attracts all sorts of pretty birds. With bird flu 'out there' we are grateful for the times when it's safe to feed the birds. We suppose one day prudence may cause us to stop filling the feeder. For now, we have blue birds who snatch up the pieces of corn and, in order to bust them open, whack them repeatedly on the fence, which sounds like someone rapping knuckles on the wood. It wakes us up in the morning, at just the right time. (Well, Swing Shift Tom may not agree......:-)

The wildlife in our yard keep us entertained, for free!

This weekend our family experienced one of those blessings in disguise where the disguise drops suddenly. From it we have become reassured of the joyfulness of being part of a healthy community. The freely offered support of local friends, in the face of great pain, has made the pain favorable, for without it the knowledge of just how deep and true the friendships are would not have been known. Some of the people who sympathized were people whose kindness we expected, for the friendships are noticeably close. But there was also an outpouring of love and energetic true support from people whose care and concern were not so apparent before. It was our trauma that brought out the communication of that connection.

The love these people have for us, and we for them, goes way deep. Way way deep. And when the expression of it was needed, it flowed out of folks without thought. The kindness worked its magic, soothing like a balm.

Without the sorrow, the connection would probably have remained under the surface.

We humans can be daft sometimes, assuming people can read our minds. Maybe we're just too shy or busy to express the love and admiration we have for one another. We keep things under the surface. We keep to ourselves. We comment our good will to others, but seldom directly to the person who needs to hear it.

Enter pain. Enter sorrow. Enter vulnerability.

Outpourings of unrestrained care follow.

When confronted with pain and loss we rejoice for what we have found!

~~~Ripples~~~

Words.....reaction......response......behavior......attitude...









..........like droplets into the waters of life...............













.......which create ripples circling outward and outward and outward freely interacting with all in their path,





sharing uncontrollably our positive or negative influence on the world and the people around us.








Don't kid yourself, we don't live unto ourselves only, but we are part of the whole creation, and we DO contribute whether consciously or not.

A kind word sent rippling outward will eventually have a good effect.

A negative word sent rippling outward will eventually have a damaging effect.


Our words, reactions, responses, behaviors, and attitudes must be chosen carefully, thoughtfully as much as possible, with the realization that they will hurt, discourage, or destroy, or they will heal, soothe, or comfort.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Once an old woman was visited by a lovely young maiden seeking the wisdom of her elder.

"Wise Mother, I fear I have done a harmful thing. I have told many people a terrible lie about my friend because of my jealousy and pride. Now I am sorry for the rash words, sorry that I have lied, sorry that my friend is miserable and weeping because of me. What shall I do?"

"Oh, my child, first, remember the grief you have seen on your friend's face, remember her pain, and your pain for causing such anguish. Second, young maiden, take these downy feathers." As she spoke the old woman handed the young woman a cotton sack full of white goose feathers. "Lay one feather on the doorstep of each home in the village, then return to me."

The young woman carefully placed a light feather on the doorstep of each and every home, a task which took hours. After the last feather was faithfully set upon the last doorstep the woman slowly walked back to the home of her mentor.

"I've done as you have asked. I am very tired. It is nearly evening and the breezes are beginning to blow. Now, please, explain to me why I have been instructed to lay the feathers? What has it to do with my wrong?"

"Ah, but you are not finished with your task." At this the young woman's shoulders drooped. The old woman continued, "Return to each and every home, pick up the feathers, and bring them back to me."

The young woman's jaw sagged and her eyes opened wide. "I cannot begin to do that, Mother, for the feathers have blown away! I can never retrieve them all!"

"And you can never retrieve the words you have spoken."

The young maiden began to weep.

Pulling the young maiden close in an embrace, the old woman whispered gently, "Consider the quality of your words and deeds every moment, that they offer the world help and hope rather than discouragement and destruction."

____________________________________________

Forgiving ourselves and others for what has occured in the past, we can strive to learn from the pain we've received and given, we can look to today and tomorrow, determining in our hearts and minds, that we will be agents of comfort, wisdom, and hope rippling across the waters of life!


May the ripples coming your way today be pleasant to receive and share!

She's Wooing Me.....

Two years have passed since Tom, the girls, and I traveled to Alaska and had the adventure of our lives! The locals told us that she would woo us back, and it's happening. It's happening. We hear the sounds of the waters, the swish of the fish in the streams, feel the spongy moss under our feet, smell the fresh evergreen scented air, picturing in our minds the frozen giants - the glaciers - and turn our hearts north, to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

How grateful we are to have memories of such a wild and pristine land!

Grateful, too, for photographs, to nudge the memories into full color and accuracy.



We'll go back again, of that I am sure.

Other places await our arrival between now and then. To look forward, to explore new and for us uncharted areas, that is a wooing stronger than Alaska's call right now.




Imagination is fertile ground!


"A secret to radiant health and well-being is neither envying anyone nor blaming anyone. Be at rest in your self. Bless all as you proceed serenely on your way through life." ~~ J.D. Walters

The Birthday Girl

Caroline turned 11 today! What a happy little girl. She knows how to have fun, and today she did!



















This cake was made by Cassie, to order for Miss Caroline! It tasted GREAT!


And blowing the candles out.........11 year old style!








May we have the joy of a kid.........at all ages!

Happy Birthday to you, whoever you are, and whenever it is!

England Excursion, Part Two: Tower of London

Here is the Tower of London Edition of Joe’s England Excursion!

First, a little history.

Following the Battle of Hastings, in which William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold of England, William had himself crowned King of England on Christmas Day, in London, in 1066. Ever since then he has been known as William the Conqueror, and the event is called the Norman Conquest. William was descended from Rollo the pirate.
William built a castle in London by the Thames River. On the same spot Julius Caesar had built a fort, but it had disappeared; and Alfred the Great had built a castle there, but it, too, had disappeared. But the castle William built is still standing today. It is known as the Tower of London.


This is the moat around the entire Tower of London, outside the walls. Inside the walls are many separate castle-like buildings which comprise the entire Tower of London. The various portions were added on throughout the ages and the moat encircles all of it.





This is White Tower, the original Tower of London, the first part built by Willliam the Conqueror. The entire armory displays are housed in this part of the fortress.

Joe found out after he'd taken all the photos that he took inside the buildings, that indoor photography is strictly prohibited (due to copyright)! But he got away with it because of his Lucky Quarter, worn on a chain around his neck while in England, long story! So, relish these pictures, they were taken unlawfully, though innocently.















In the Royals' Apartments, right above Traitors Gate, are these steps which Joe went up and as he recalls, led to one of many chapels. They were steep! Most of the steps in the Tower of London, as in all castles, ascend clockwise. (These in the picture, are the exception.) The reason for the clockwise orientation of most staircases is so that if the castle were stormed, the defenders of the castle who would be higher on the stairs, could properly swing their swords in the air against the intruders, whose sword arms would bang into the wall.















This is one of many firearms displays which are in the lower levels of the White Tower. In case you didn't know, these are muzzle loading flintlock pistols.























More arms! Left to right: cutlasses and daggers, spears, muskets, more spears, and swords behind the circle of pistols which are like the ones in the above photo.

















The higher in the tower you go, the older the stuff! This is a full suit of Gothic Plate Armor. Gothic Armor differs from older forms of armor because of its wrinkled look on the skirt, added for stiffness during the Gothic period. "Stiffness is goodness when it comes to getting hit by swords!" Joe tells me.










And that, my family and friends, is my Part Two! I hope you enjoyed it. I had fun getting this information from Joe. I have one more Edition for you, the York Edition. Then, I'm done. Summer is about here already, and things are beginnng to hop! We are already having to water our yard! It's only mid-May. Wowie!

Thanks for being so patient! Enjoy the changing seasons!

"The secret of overcoming mental dullness is to train yourself to say, "YES!!" instantly, whenever your impulse is to grumble, or to cry, "NO!" Welcome life in all its variety and challenges. Like the petals of a daisy, keep your heart open to life's experiences. Overcome within you the tendency to rejection and withdrawal." ~~~~~~ J. Donald Walters

England Excursion Part 1

Joe made it home from England with a slight accent, a new vocabulary, and a new fondness for tea the English way, with a little milk! (The photo above was taken in the York Train Station, by Joe. It's one of my favorites.) He decided to remain in England to avoid the high travel costs, plus he found there was so much to see that he was satisfied with a one country adventure. He has a gazillion great photos, more than I can post up here, so I am beginning a revolving display. Check back every week or so for a different display on a different topic.

Today's entry contains photos of a few of London's familiar landmarks. Enjoy!

Joe took this self-portrait of himself in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.
















Big Ben, which is the name of the bell, not the clock or the tower.
























Trafalgar Square
















Tower Bridge

Buckingham Palace












This guard at the Palace was in the process of turning while on his back and forth patrol. He had just come into position, and was stamping his foot quite loudly as he proceeded in his turn. Joe was impressed with how high he raised his knee, and the level of noise his stamping made. No, Joe didn't try to make the chap laugh!








This next photo is taken one rotation after he'd stomped, turned and continued patrolling. The gun he's holding is a loaded SA80/L85A1 with bayonet, which is the standard British assault rifle. You'll notice the foregrip is shrouded with a dust cover.



The British Museum (below) is full of GREAT THINGS! Joe says he saw mummies, an old Roman 20 sided die (as in dice), sculptures from all over the world, those long Tibetan horns used in ceremonies, innumerable busts of Romans and Greeks, crocodile hide parade armor, old swords, arrows, shields, and gladiatorial armor (he went through the Roman stuff a lot, he says), hieroglyphics, cunieform, sarcophagi (which are mummy coffins, think King Tut), jewelry from around the world ("It looks just like the stuff you buy downtown that the hippies would make. It does! It looks just like that!"), ancient money, and the equipment they used to make the money including stamps and presses all the way up to the 1950's era lathes etc., plus that famous statue from Egypt of the cat with the ring in its nose, and more. Too much to list here!













This is what Joe calls, "A Mossy Old Church" and they were everywhere. It's part of what we think of when we think of London, huh.














Next week's entry will showcase the Tower of London.

Toodle-oo!

"He Not Busy Being Born is Busy Dying"

Well, our trip to Reno to see Bob Dylan was a huge success! What a blast! Here's a picture of his two huge RV's. We saw the Dylan entourage pull up to the Reno Events Center and then we watched Bob exit the larger rig. Wow!



















Tom snagged this freebie newspaper and the girls snatched it from him so we could snap a picture of them with Bobby. Happy girls! The music at the concert was energetic and sensational! Bob sang for two hours straight, no break, and it was not long enough! As always, after allowing us to enjoy his world of music, Bobby left the building ever so promptly to drive away into the night, heading for his next concert town.

There was snow in the air and on the earth as we drove over Donner Pass. The roads, thankfully, were snow free, making for a peaceful, dreamy unwinding of a thrilling weekend.