tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59205349075320833122024-03-05T06:22:26.114-08:00Scratchin' and Peckin'chickens, children, and general-purpose musingsMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-68931897087920949242014-03-16T15:11:00.001-07:002014-03-16T15:12:54.797-07:00The Lovely Diminutives<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...Listen, love,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The fat lark sang in the field;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I touched the ground, the ground warmed by the killdeer,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The salt laughed and the stones; </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ferns had their ways, and the pulsing lizards,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the new plants, still awkward in their soil,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The lovely diminutives.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Theodore Roethke, from Field of Light</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Greetings to you on this almost-Spring day. I've been taken over by happy routine this winter, and it's been nice. Comforting. I love doing my things: walking Oakley, playing games in the evening with Jack and Caroline, cooking to music and enjoying a glass of red wine, enjoying my friends near and far, organizing corners of my house that have gotten cluttered. Just living, you know? When people ask me what I've been up to, what's new, I don't have much to say beyond The Usual. I've been hanging out in cruise control, a fallow field, and I am learning to appreciate this more and more. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spring is almost here and with it, I have been propelled back into the action. It has just sort of happened, much to my pleasure. I think I'm giving myself over to the seasons and it suits me to let it happen. Like the bees, I'm increasing my industry now. I planted my garden boxes last week--just before a major deluge, so we'll see. If nothing comes up in the next week, I'll just replant. I'm following a plan for square foot gardening and I'm excited to see if I can increase my yield. I'm sort of a by-the-seat-of-the-pants veggie gardener, so this is good for me to read a book and follow directions! I planted 3 kinds of radishes, 2 kinds of carrots, lettuce, and arugula. Yesterday, I started a bunch of flower seeds indoors under lights in my garage: Halo Apricot hollyhocks, purple Zebrina hollyhocks, chocolate Cosmidium Phillipine, and Neon calendula. Last week I contained the raspberries to a dedicated patch--that was crazy, as those canes had spread out all over the place! In a few weeks, I'll plant snap peas, my favorite thing to grow!!! I have also ordered about 10 different types of fragrant sweet peas, and will put them in around the beginning of April. Big garden plans and dreams, as always!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also just celebrated our Oakleyversary! That's right--it's been a year since we got Oakley and he has changed my life. Thanks to him, I walk all the time, rain or shine. We love to walk out in the valley fields off-leash and I love seeing all the changes that are happening all the time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I've been really obsessed with the stark, skeletal beauty of the winter trees and have taken lots of pictures and even attempted a few little paintings. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love walking in the rain and celebrate the fact that I'm waterproof! And now, the plum trees are blooming out there, the willows are all budded out, and the meadow grasses are greening up. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's MAGICAL!!!</span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-7347114287378002692013-10-03T08:57:00.000-07:002013-10-03T08:57:15.662-07:00These Are The Days<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...these are the days</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">you might feel a shaft of light make its way</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">across your face</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">and when you do</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">you'll know how it was meant to be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">see the signs know their meaning </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">it's true</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">you'll know how it was meant to be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">hear the signs know they're speaking </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">to you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">to you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">--excerpt from a 10,000 Maniacs song </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was listening to an old mix tape in the car on my way to work and this song came on. You know how you can hear a song many times but sometimes lyrics jump out as if they were new? That's what happened here. I really heard the words and thought about how they apply to my life. Like most people, I am carried along through the day, keeping track of ALL the little things I have to get done. Sometimes even hurrying through the bedtime routine with the kids because I just <em>have</em> to get back downstairs and load the dishwasher, make lunches, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No, these ARE the days to remember, to enjoy the metaphorical shaft of light across my face. It's Fall. It's time to sloooow dowwwn and take the time. To be present in the moment. To sing an extra song at bedtime. Kids are only little for a short time, so remember to look at those little hands and clear eyes and cherish the days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's what the signs are whispering to me and sometimes I strain to hear, but I'm trying. Being a parent is hard and lovely. My kids are good kids but we have our struggles. Caroline is having some temper issues and it's tough. These days I have to focus on showing her what I want to see mirrored back. It's work and not easy. I'm a yeller sometimes, but I'm seeing that it's not helpful and poor modeling. When I'm frustrated with her behavior I need to be able to not engage and let her calm down. I need to remember that she is little and needs my help. I <u>know</u> how it was meant to be, and it's my job to teach her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And to remember to hug these days close, stand in the light, and listen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-39702427249889201172013-07-17T12:26:00.000-07:002013-08-22T09:15:36.438-07:00Mischief Managed!On July 15, Caroline's 9th birthday, we celebrated with a Harry Potter Party! It was a right jolly good time, indeed! Here's the invitation:<br />
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And here's the party:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibarkT_QW0vUZmN8wOnWT4gSQs23PWmdpd8v1C99rnd_UCEc2v79l85Zpw-8vwVLHLBbCDh2DVDqu7KJJTrxloYQEk0oacL3GOk-nQcHywALOIhpdDMJkng5GfhJs1vQm2mVl3zyF6JEc9/s1600/DSCF9676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibarkT_QW0vUZmN8wOnWT4gSQs23PWmdpd8v1C99rnd_UCEc2v79l85Zpw-8vwVLHLBbCDh2DVDqu7KJJTrxloYQEk0oacL3GOk-nQcHywALOIhpdDMJkng5GfhJs1vQm2mVl3zyF6JEc9/s640/DSCF9676.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chocolate frogs! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">party favors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv32yzCN67FxPLIrRHo7DDbI6MIQ0yXAMhMHGL7bizAswagcMa5tYQuA0ynOMmTMT1KPpJ1izY4CdI8_6PBWpyJQDeUXm7N6cW5iwNMr63kxwlx_NogsPm0G-qiMFQ-PG7EF0xEyQCUUH/s1600/IMG_2133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv32yzCN67FxPLIrRHo7DDbI6MIQ0yXAMhMHGL7bizAswagcMa5tYQuA0ynOMmTMT1KPpJ1izY4CdI8_6PBWpyJQDeUXm7N6cW5iwNMr63kxwlx_NogsPm0G-qiMFQ-PG7EF0xEyQCUUH/s640/IMG_2133.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, it's not THAT kind of spin the bottle!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here we are at the wand choosing ceremony. The wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around, so we used Ollivander's Magical Wand Divining Bottle to match wand to wizard. The wands were roots from my holly tree which were unearthed when we shored up the chicken coop (from rats!) by digging around the perimeter; they were knobby and perfect! I held up each wand and told the group where it came from and what was in its core, i.e., 'This wand is from the Whomping Willow tree and has a unicorn tail hair in its core.' Then Caroline spun the bottle and the wand went to whomever it pointed. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMFFNEQm4CcEmCXGvQ0wvtqxs4bOfyL1UnBENPWHWQS_RaPAM5qlW8G-6FPYZkSwG4zpKUAV0dOZ1BSRC_tFXq4rlFVmgpqRoMBn7XrJRsEYuStozDzPGARfwRZ3HOedL0EQeFgH3mlDC/s1600/IMG_2139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMFFNEQm4CcEmCXGvQ0wvtqxs4bOfyL1UnBENPWHWQS_RaPAM5qlW8G-6FPYZkSwG4zpKUAV0dOZ1BSRC_tFXq4rlFVmgpqRoMBn7XrJRsEYuStozDzPGARfwRZ3HOedL0EQeFgH3mlDC/s640/IMG_2139.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The next step was for the wizards and witches to glitter the tips of their wands!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0F3iUU0MkIePyeKSndjqdrWdLxZQpd3UqtIntW-Cw0-Ke-RUGPD0SIhmM16oB9Y9fhZTGwjaPcBkoS_KAZ6pba5Gnu3FL1lRXgoTrY7jPtpM9rx3xh7XArAY1FrblRgZV5JFCexd1JFr/s1600/IMG_2140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0F3iUU0MkIePyeKSndjqdrWdLxZQpd3UqtIntW-Cw0-Ke-RUGPD0SIhmM16oB9Y9fhZTGwjaPcBkoS_KAZ6pba5Gnu3FL1lRXgoTrY7jPtpM9rx3xh7XArAY1FrblRgZV5JFCexd1JFr/s640/IMG_2140.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">birthday girl!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ewz2JntJwpOcX4iVz162U37w2oKUJ1TrTMbWdxk0in7E9dndGsGzmRtVVlpFIg7Ww4Fq_BUuTOyOycNS2iRg3t1YN6aRV7wMdaWr9qUxtR74-jSVf4FfsyFzuYitS2zePyLQ0bT3YVHy/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ewz2JntJwpOcX4iVz162U37w2oKUJ1TrTMbWdxk0in7E9dndGsGzmRtVVlpFIg7Ww4Fq_BUuTOyOycNS2iRg3t1YN6aRV7wMdaWr9qUxtR74-jSVf4FfsyFzuYitS2zePyLQ0bT3YVHy/s640/IMG_2144.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's impossible to use too much glitter!!!!</td></tr>
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Party snacks: Flobberworms (gummy worms), Gillyweed (seaweed), Bowtruckles (pretzel sticks), and fruit wands (strawberries, grapes and blueberries on skewers). The Gillyweed was especially popular. Too bad we didn't go swimming! (Gillyweed enables you to breathe under water!)</div>
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After they ran around casting spells with their glittery wands--the best one was a chicken coop rat banishing spell, Ratbegonigus!, it was time for Divination class. They drank their tea and paired up to read each other's tea leaves. In the center of the table is the crystal ball (a snow globe), the Sorcerer's Stone (an agate) and a Remberall to help me remember what comes next during the party (a wine aerator). <br />
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They stared into their partner's cup to look for pictures and symbols. <br />
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Kelsey gazes into Lola's cup where she sees a butterfly, signifying that Lola is growing and changing. Lola sees a monkey in Kelsey's cup, signifying Kelsey's athleticism and playful spirit. The kids really got into this! Then Bridget dressed as Professor Trelawney and told crystal ball fortunes. <br />
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After the fortune telling, we set off for the forbidden forest!<br />
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The Forbidden Forest is down in a ravine with a creek, just next to the park near our house. Here the witches stand in front of a GIANT mossy rock at the edge of the creek. Then we played Werewolf Attack. Gino volunteered to be the werewolf, and everyone else hid. Then he stalked them and when found and tagged, they became infected and turned into werewolves, too. Then they hunted together until everyone was a werewolf. This was a very fun game and we played it twice!<br />
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Then they had fun playing in the creek and especially collecting bits of clay from the creek bed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does Angelina see a unicorn? Or maybe Buckbeak the hippogriff?</td></tr>
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Peter and Gino with their clay. We could have stayed in the Forbidden Forest all day. Luckily, we did not run into Aragog or any of his GIANT SPIDER descendants! <br />
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Back home, it was time for Professor Sprout's (Hogwarts Herbology instructor) famous Rose Cake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-JhklaLzSUIy-cn3VuYBTd3b3JnMtpl9k22dMEClygxZdDVHhdfth0sMN8kUqFou9dvmSB2wbGCR9oBA1wOLhCgztLjtEwBGDKuj8FZqrjO4BFjUzdELuXh1ud5XUM4yqbQ9Dxpk_3QE/s1600/IMG_2161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-JhklaLzSUIy-cn3VuYBTd3b3JnMtpl9k22dMEClygxZdDVHhdfth0sMN8kUqFou9dvmSB2wbGCR9oBA1wOLhCgztLjtEwBGDKuj8FZqrjO4BFjUzdELuXh1ud5XUM4yqbQ9Dxpk_3QE/s640/IMG_2161.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday witch opens her presents!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gino swigging his Butterbeer </td></tr>
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This was so fun for me to plan, as I love Harry Potter so so much and luckily, so does Caroline! Later that evening, Caroline, Bridget, Peter and I went to Ixtapa for dinner:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5g6anTm409a3NWq7s46YcLZLRrm8su_IlkXDxaf31k-ATvf0NlstgQkrqLfS011u0_Xjx1wUqdjjuv24oo8esGeiU05wHImZOFQwHNYbdSXZ3QvMF23FhYvDRuh-8wD9-Vy4JpaTKXey/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5g6anTm409a3NWq7s46YcLZLRrm8su_IlkXDxaf31k-ATvf0NlstgQkrqLfS011u0_Xjx1wUqdjjuv24oo8esGeiU05wHImZOFQwHNYbdSXZ3QvMF23FhYvDRuh-8wD9-Vy4JpaTKXey/s640/IMG_2184.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happpppy Birthdayyyy, Ponchita!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to you!</td></tr>
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<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-60347108560539848062013-04-02T21:04:00.000-07:002013-04-02T21:07:59.882-07:00Morning Light Comes Tapping at the Lid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Unextinguished</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clouds glow like coals just fresh from fire, a flare<br />Of western light leaps with intenser blaze<br />To conflagration in the upper air.<br />All distant shapes turn brighter to the gaze.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The fire of heaven dies; a fire unseen<br />Wanes to the febrile smoldering of sleep;<br />Deep-hidden embers, smothered by the screen<br />Of flesh, burn backward to a blackened heap.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But morning light comes tapping at the lid,<br />Breaks up the crust of cinders that remain,<br />And pokes the crumbled coal the ashes hid,<br />Until thought crackles white across the brain.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Theodore Roethke</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutPgXIVZdb-_5OGJMtEuulMH7z13fv1k2H91_0E2qg6X2MPgDe_aQ2_LnIOqR-iFVAL2yPM_sBMYFLhGIG9FicAt2ykH4UoaHCZsyZFVhNoy5EjmfxV7Jnj8X7GCuLvf-Wz16VmEIjRfU/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutPgXIVZdb-_5OGJMtEuulMH7z13fv1k2H91_0E2qg6X2MPgDe_aQ2_LnIOqR-iFVAL2yPM_sBMYFLhGIG9FicAt2ykH4UoaHCZsyZFVhNoy5EjmfxV7Jnj8X7GCuLvf-Wz16VmEIjRfU/s640/IMG_1348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is one of my favorite scenes to photograph. It's on my way to work, looking east toward the mountains with the sun rising behind. There is a stop sign on the country road I drive, due to a structural problem with one lane; instead of fixing it, they just reduced the road to one lane and both sides of the stretch have to stop and take turns. There are a couple of interesting things about this, I think. One is that if another car is on the other side, it's always a competition about who goes second. Every time I see a car approaching from the other side I slow down, ensuring the other car reaches its stop sign first and therefore takes the lane before me. Despite this, the other car always waits me out and I end up going first, giving a hearty wave as I pass. Second, I used to blow through the stop sign if no one's on the other side, but since a friendly, merciful Johnny Law reminded me that it is a STOP sign, I now stop every time, and I relish it! It gives me time to pause and look at the beauty before me, a physical stopping and a mental stopping. Stop hurrying, stop worrying, take a photo maybe, and just be in this exact moment. </div>
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In other news, we got a DOG! Oakley is an 11 month old Australian Shepherd and he is absolutely wonderful in every way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd29tWleJF11aclat3mpHp9VnsF3cBQQRXmaMtK275mMDAJjxpg4lTe87nahple8SnrPmSa-XQki2DKaqYRp5BDy5MNTYXf02uNU7Q1wtYuwuJyIUVEN9lfFtMpsQ8cvD0IHpTJQ_akeE/s1600/IMG_1264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd29tWleJF11aclat3mpHp9VnsF3cBQQRXmaMtK275mMDAJjxpg4lTe87nahple8SnrPmSa-XQki2DKaqYRp5BDy5MNTYXf02uNU7Q1wtYuwuJyIUVEN9lfFtMpsQ8cvD0IHpTJQ_akeE/s640/IMG_1264.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagxRC9DpeWXW5MuVGQMnyG-Np-QEcNEVWDdr1_Rro4w_-XY05wbeJcQR6naHuyVHwwljpihcS0X8r89GBnUUV3QAIXETIjSQPLjtVzuQWD6-jlv3DroZzojBfodguDA6VEf5vnnxxBPtG/s1600/IMG_1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagxRC9DpeWXW5MuVGQMnyG-Np-QEcNEVWDdr1_Rro4w_-XY05wbeJcQR6naHuyVHwwljpihcS0X8r89GBnUUV3QAIXETIjSQPLjtVzuQWD6-jlv3DroZzojBfodguDA6VEf5vnnxxBPtG/s640/IMG_1236.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjMtEv8KDIEG5ozkT9RVC3EN38b4-M2y47pdLxIsqNVWWNSDzawpG6gjdzSx_1-EfYx5LQOFfyUKT24cPVh0lf9yRPQ8JAPDg8rkzL30mdf_Ops8DVHxaJSVt8c-3blT6wVZq78v5xNxw/s1600/DSCF9555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjMtEv8KDIEG5ozkT9RVC3EN38b4-M2y47pdLxIsqNVWWNSDzawpG6gjdzSx_1-EfYx5LQOFfyUKT24cPVh0lf9yRPQ8JAPDg8rkzL30mdf_Ops8DVHxaJSVt8c-3blT6wVZq78v5xNxw/s640/DSCF9555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks to this dear dog, I get to go on lots of walks. Beautiful, long walks. This is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. When Oakley and I walk on the trail, we are in a rhythm, we are in the zone. We break from the trail when we see a path leading away into the open space. Off goes the leash and I open up my stride and just breath in the air, trying to make it a part of me: the heavy scent of plum blossoms, swamp cabbage, moss, and water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun3uDc-Gx91-8lSZyFp9wRgtMCF2-qDrhsAfXB8Y4RO6ARAxrkMXY0qXS1uxu2NaWhnhdl74qdRYrg9RjQ4F5qZ_QOZE13DyQofUsMxH88FQTjaGUlkztPNxuA1upKborge37Y57Ie7Km/s1600/IMG_1288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun3uDc-Gx91-8lSZyFp9wRgtMCF2-qDrhsAfXB8Y4RO6ARAxrkMXY0qXS1uxu2NaWhnhdl74qdRYrg9RjQ4F5qZ_QOZE13DyQofUsMxH88FQTjaGUlkztPNxuA1upKborge37Y57Ie7Km/s640/IMG_1288.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
This is Harris Creek, taken from a foot bridge. I always stop here and contemplate the world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4GTLzbPrbhiGSEnniraslB2S9tWftttkQybGUpWDqChiIqwsIbYlcMTJWu9leDyPXFsNNs7gg8HhpzIbcEGsYs-hF82SR-WiwEmfRHRDJthfLTu2Hd0oPYOOwp1GZVsvjbnnqrqx8RwH/s1600/IMG_1286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4GTLzbPrbhiGSEnniraslB2S9tWftttkQybGUpWDqChiIqwsIbYlcMTJWu9leDyPXFsNNs7gg8HhpzIbcEGsYs-hF82SR-WiwEmfRHRDJthfLTu2Hd0oPYOOwp1GZVsvjbnnqrqx8RwH/s640/IMG_1286.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Looking out, beyond the trail, dreaming of roaming the where-ever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9bYHYdcoiGv_WmF30Ut6y_9tbmUs5TyemExo5eG4EouhcZ-ETzW6eg6pefD6cAGTXPwyGejWqDubqpsmCqNAGtDc3__0N8vrppKt72EiFNbr2otxlql8kr6u1BG0D9BZwxGGJTUnrLjK/s1600/IMG_1272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9bYHYdcoiGv_WmF30Ut6y_9tbmUs5TyemExo5eG4EouhcZ-ETzW6eg6pefD6cAGTXPwyGejWqDubqpsmCqNAGtDc3__0N8vrppKt72EiFNbr2otxlql8kr6u1BG0D9BZwxGGJTUnrLjK/s640/IMG_1272.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Always remember that love is all around. Look for it and you will see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2H1Ah7Nvk-EQmt8wMOnwZEycR40OovgKKs3599lsSeuzWYUdiXQSU8ph7-kBgE1ZKd-XwXshxX8b8TMmsb6g9PW0ZX2sZdH0Nn1ztcVmkr6qjUuEuhSvN3wDGh8KdcpbGdVu1uJxHzCKM/s1600/IMG_1291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2H1Ah7Nvk-EQmt8wMOnwZEycR40OovgKKs3599lsSeuzWYUdiXQSU8ph7-kBgE1ZKd-XwXshxX8b8TMmsb6g9PW0ZX2sZdH0Nn1ztcVmkr6qjUuEuhSvN3wDGh8KdcpbGdVu1uJxHzCKM/s640/IMG_1291.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Here, there is no rule that weeds can't be beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2jMyc5nm7KrJP9ZDvMsBXDjr0cRZpnYAwUL0uRs2R8_pL3Ngjy3D5TvOhkaKpFjggaV7s2OHPVtlOzrxoQCZsVcRHwFc1WNzgbbJdrN7Aovxd_Nd3dof6_qF9JEPVRh3hV9D0heWUddB/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2jMyc5nm7KrJP9ZDvMsBXDjr0cRZpnYAwUL0uRs2R8_pL3Ngjy3D5TvOhkaKpFjggaV7s2OHPVtlOzrxoQCZsVcRHwFc1WNzgbbJdrN7Aovxd_Nd3dof6_qF9JEPVRh3hV9D0heWUddB/s640/IMG_1305.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And floods either for that matter!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VWaWWpXnIKMdDvCdT0kMQ3T3lVZe8bF8abN3xWwOkygL5ZOWO-PU1WjM7z9TawO6Ozg_tpBn9DlZ32nXQIgn0WpKaHTlRa8VGYM7HhBL692ToBFZWAoM4vXiTKc8aFw6VIQOdqP6BicY/s1600/IMG_1315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VWaWWpXnIKMdDvCdT0kMQ3T3lVZe8bF8abN3xWwOkygL5ZOWO-PU1WjM7z9TawO6Ozg_tpBn9DlZ32nXQIgn0WpKaHTlRa8VGYM7HhBL692ToBFZWAoM4vXiTKc8aFw6VIQOdqP6BicY/s640/IMG_1315.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Take a minute and smell the flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRNi8K32Q3X6XYY7VP4AgCv-8r5TG6qEyeh1zwGoT4_mDfuaGzDmbU70cwguAUY2bASipERiE71Hl3NtdnymXnQoNjMrl4w2HQCldCLohpMDTk4SnEyXh9os7ALBFWiNVLGlxaUPtkhB8/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRNi8K32Q3X6XYY7VP4AgCv-8r5TG6qEyeh1zwGoT4_mDfuaGzDmbU70cwguAUY2bASipERiE71Hl3NtdnymXnQoNjMrl4w2HQCldCLohpMDTk4SnEyXh9os7ALBFWiNVLGlxaUPtkhB8/s640/IMG_1318.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
And smile. Just smile.<br />
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<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-82018237699248098982013-01-09T10:18:00.000-08:002013-01-09T13:26:17.768-08:00Hello To This New Relief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Relearning Winter<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hello Winter, hello flanneled<br />
blanket of clouds, clouds<br />
fueled by more clouds, hello again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hello afternoons, <br />
off to the west, that silver<br />
of sunset, rust-colored<br />
and gone too soon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And night (I admit to a short memory)<br />
you climb back in with chilly fingers<br />
and clocks, and there is no refusal:<br />
ice cracks the water main, the garden hose<br />
stiffens, the bladed leaves of the rhododendron<br />
shine in the fog of a huge moon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And rain, street lacquer,<br />
oily puddles and spinning rubber,<br />
mist of angels on the head of a pin,<br />
hello,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and snow, upside-down cake of clouds,<br />
white, freon scent, you build<br />
even as you empty the world of texture-<br />
hello to this new relief,<br />
this new solitude now upon us,<br />
upon which we feed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">--Mark
Svenvold</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Winter is here now; I can finally accept it. I seem to have a bit of denial at the change of every season, well, except for Spring--I greet that eagerly. The blur of the holidays has passed and things are more peaceful. For me, winter has alit like the snow geese in the valley. I'm doing my best to embrace the quiet clean of the season. The stark white of the sky. The purity of the rain. The other side of it involves making lots of fires in the woodstove, cacophonous times with friends and neighbors, and making soup. Here are a few pictures from the weekend:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VEyODFjc1d1jMlf_lhxuMWk4G2zJl2jSbxj2p215VNlhlNt5eVr9M44m1lH2vnvQYu-_UXQHXoajzFT0RcW6pS-VXfbn30toZUdEmz0XgADvxJYcXMkc6CQ03hVvWGdX3sjCnTHwVBzz/s1600/DSCF9485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VEyODFjc1d1jMlf_lhxuMWk4G2zJl2jSbxj2p215VNlhlNt5eVr9M44m1lH2vnvQYu-_UXQHXoajzFT0RcW6pS-VXfbn30toZUdEmz0XgADvxJYcXMkc6CQ03hVvWGdX3sjCnTHwVBzz/s640/DSCF9485.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline and Bridget with Easy Bake Oven red velvet "cupcakes" </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjVMjuWFDGirOiIbL1Mt5ErJhnToFwgKxXjd9sAx0lKtEgItpvEZcUCBr5tzjfCLFwGVJ1OBXiidIsLkX1rrj73PLZVE_QNk68OuG2uR0l7njkwLvyxF0te3SRNVODno9C-56vofHG0qh/s1600/DSCF9488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjVMjuWFDGirOiIbL1Mt5ErJhnToFwgKxXjd9sAx0lKtEgItpvEZcUCBr5tzjfCLFwGVJ1OBXiidIsLkX1rrj73PLZVE_QNk68OuG2uR0l7njkwLvyxF0te3SRNVODno9C-56vofHG0qh/s640/DSCF9488.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treehouse Club ate the treats at their meeting.</td></tr>
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A fun thing I've been doing lately that gets lots of positive feedback from the younger set is to put out some appetizers when I'm making dinner, les amuses-bouches, si vous voulez. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxLSeug9yML1eEf_qAY0Q_B3Ln9QG9lO12OZHLkxEckbRj3kWxPYQo4dV_5Xplcx_ad9Hoiiko4IUDR4eqegBNKfIecSijI2OVYJJZIF4fBFy6ZEDQcd1lqwZb4U67lMYeH7yj0fPNNPr/s1600/DSCF9474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxLSeug9yML1eEf_qAY0Q_B3Ln9QG9lO12OZHLkxEckbRj3kWxPYQo4dV_5Xplcx_ad9Hoiiko4IUDR4eqegBNKfIecSijI2OVYJJZIF4fBFy6ZEDQcd1lqwZb4U67lMYeH7yj0fPNNPr/s640/DSCF9474.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carrots with vinaigrette, apple slices, toothpick fun: salami, artichoke and mozzarella</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7o_siYIpxZyrdgxdE5tIiuQUxso8IFc5eeZSrFVt8Ahe4nzv9xsGdTYXyzcCVmO9zAIRrEm6Ue6G6QhYtSwHUyOaSlHOnGZpjo7UuYCxmCQPaD2urqWZ_qfhrNnoronQxqdHK0jSH2iK/s1600/DSCF9495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7o_siYIpxZyrdgxdE5tIiuQUxso8IFc5eeZSrFVt8Ahe4nzv9xsGdTYXyzcCVmO9zAIRrEm6Ue6G6QhYtSwHUyOaSlHOnGZpjo7UuYCxmCQPaD2urqWZ_qfhrNnoronQxqdHK0jSH2iK/s640/DSCF9495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carrots and green peppers with parsley pesto and celery with peanut butter</td></tr>
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The new recipe this weekend was chili. Unbelievably, I had never in my whole life made chili. I found a good-sounding recipe on the intermawebs and it turned out to be delicious. Here's the recipe, followed by a picture of it on the stove and of the happy eaters enjoying their requested chili dogs. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All-American Chili</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ingredients</span></div>
<ul>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">6 ounces</span><span itemprop="name"> hot turkey Italian sausage</span><span itemprop="preparation"> and 1 lb ground sirloin (I used a pound and a half of ground turkey with Italian seasoning)</span></span></li>
<li class="hasDeal cboxElement" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 cups</span><span itemprop="name"> chopped onion</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (I used one onion--just fine)</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 cup</span><span itemprop="name"> chopped green bell pepper</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (about 3/4 of a large pepper)</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">8 </span><span itemprop="name"> garlic cloves, minced</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li class="hasDeal cboxElement" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 pound</span><span itemprop="name"> ground sirloin</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (see above)</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 </span><span itemprop="name"> jalapeño pepper, chopped</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (didn't have this--used about a TBS of chopped chili in adobo instead--yum!)</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 tablespoons</span><span itemprop="name"> chili powder</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 tablespoons</span><span itemprop="name"> brown sugar</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="amount"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 tablespoon</span></span><span itemprop="name"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> ground cumin</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">3 tablespoons</span><span itemprop="name"> tomato paste</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 teaspoon</span><span itemprop="name"> dried oregano</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/2 teaspoon</span><span itemprop="name"> freshly ground black pepper</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1/4 teaspoon</span><span itemprop="name"> salt</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 </span><span itemprop="name"> bay leaves</span><span itemprop="preparation"> </span></span></li>
<li class="hasDeal cboxElement" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">1 1/4 cups</span><span itemprop="name"> Merlot or other fruity red wine--I used Syrah, I think</span></span></li>
<li class="hasDeal cboxElement" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 </span><span itemprop="name"> (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (I used chopped tomatoes--worked great)</span></span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span itemprop="amount">2 </span><span itemprop="name"> (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained</span><span itemprop="preparation"> (I used pinto beans, chili-spiced and regular)</span></span></li>
<li class="hasDeal cboxElement" itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">sharp cheddar to top it off</span><span class="dollar"><div class="pointer">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Preparation</span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage, onion, and the next 4 ingredients (onion through jalapeño) to pan; cook 8 minutes or until sausage and beef are browned, stirring to crumble. (I just browned the turkey with the onion, pepper, garlic and chili in adobo)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Add chili powder and the next 7 ingredients (chili powder through bay leaves), and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, tomatoes, and kidney beans; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Uncover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaves. Sprinkle each serving with cheddar cheese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Note: Like most chilis, this version tastes even better the next day.</span><br />
<span itemprop="preparation"> <em>From Cooking Light Magazine</em></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0Cu664hLIp-6qgLISKqUS5ocaHYHrvwND4c2deKd42_b7Ix9JfskMB646pwSRjBAXT0SSHab_5Ab-2cJw7OHKEIQCrQh1MUfRu2NZCr5y8WVIOoC5r377WPdOtU6P1bgGNNu4CDEnwsU/s1600/DSCF9492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0Cu664hLIp-6qgLISKqUS5ocaHYHrvwND4c2deKd42_b7Ix9JfskMB646pwSRjBAXT0SSHab_5Ab-2cJw7OHKEIQCrQh1MUfRu2NZCr5y8WVIOoC5r377WPdOtU6P1bgGNNu4CDEnwsU/s640/DSCF9492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKR1Am3r2l43W00_TAcT9qjzdhJn2w1r53uF_ZU2IboxV2SWSGnwn1uizKQO5XMHdjWkeRtjQqWuyG0S5msfLK6mLqM5SAxWJBKvd5pGbN9nOTu3Xj1-_-nQE0VnQtFFNj9SgrncLQZI4/s1600/DSCF9498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKR1Am3r2l43W00_TAcT9qjzdhJn2w1r53uF_ZU2IboxV2SWSGnwn1uizKQO5XMHdjWkeRtjQqWuyG0S5msfLK6mLqM5SAxWJBKvd5pGbN9nOTu3Xj1-_-nQE0VnQtFFNj9SgrncLQZI4/s640/DSCF9498.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they loved it!</td></tr>
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I hope you are finding celebration and new relief of Winter in your own dynamic ways!</div>
<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-26415233569903457012013-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:002013-01-03T22:38:25.105-08:00The Liquor of Indolence<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table class="poem"><tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Now coldness comes sifting down, layer after layer,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To our bower at the lily root.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Overhead the old umbrellas of summer
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wither like pithless hands. There is little shelter.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hourly the eye of the sky enlarges its blank</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Dominion. The stars are no nearer.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Already frog-mouth and fish-mouth drink
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The liquor of indolence, and all thing sink
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Into a soft caul of forgetfulness.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The fugitive colors die.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caddis worms drowse in their silk cases,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The lamp-headed nymphs are nodding to sleep like statues.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Puppets, loosed from the strings of the puppetmaster
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wear masks of horn to bed.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is not death, it is something safer.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The wingy myths won't tug at us anymore:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
The molts are tongueless that sang from above the water
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of golgotha at the tip of a reed,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And how a god flimsy as a baby's finger
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shall unhusk himself and steer into the air.</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">--Sylvia Plath</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh, to drink the liquor of indolence! I do love it just a little bit this time of year. On the other side of the bright silver coin is industry, and that appeals, too. Can't I have both?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Driving to work today, the sky was cobalt and a bright star (or planet?) hung low on the eastern horizon, right over the Cascades. 26 degrees. Frosty roads, trees, fields. Walking in from the parking lot, everything sparkled with a cold glitter. I ran my finger over a frosted rail and it felt like sandpaper, pleasing me. Looking out my office window now, the evergreen rhodies' leaves droop down, the buds topping each segment pointing straight up,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> like gold stars on Christmas trees. And the sky now a clear aqua, frost becoming droplets of cold water wherever the sun touches. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> I love the boreal beauty of this sky's blank dominion.</span></td></tr>
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MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-20239170318970251182013-01-02T11:10:00.004-08:002013-01-02T11:10:38.395-08:00Polished Little Circles on the Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Malheur Before Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An owl sound wandered along
the road with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn’t hear it—I breathed
it into my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p></o:p></span><span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Little ones at first, the
stars retired, leaving<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">polished little circles on
the sky for awhile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span>Then the sun began to shout
from below the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Throngs of birds campaigned,
their music a tent of sound.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span>From across the pond, out of
the mist,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">one drake made a V and said
its name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span>Some vast animal of air began
to rouse<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">from the reeds and lean
outward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span>Frogs discovered their
national anthem again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn’t know a ditch could
hold so much joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span>So magic a time it was that I
was both brave and afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some day like this might save
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">--William Stafford</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span>This is one of my very favorite Stafford poems. I thought of it when I saw the gorgeous sunrise this morning:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvJnQWaF7iXnvZlKTLj741PCVo7vqkBjTrBeKc4URUfmFzXuPTLXFYcw3zIfmCPEnEQ4NwoCmW5NfvP8HeDo1SDVVROtTYWLwX_HWI4J_h3QcLA3j4PEOuIrXasuXu2Acak9Y5ljNK3VV/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvJnQWaF7iXnvZlKTLj741PCVo7vqkBjTrBeKc4URUfmFzXuPTLXFYcw3zIfmCPEnEQ4NwoCmW5NfvP8HeDo1SDVVROtTYWLwX_HWI4J_h3QcLA3j4PEOuIrXasuXu2Acak9Y5ljNK3VV/s640/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span>I love to take pictures at this spot on my commute. There is a stop sign there because the road goes down to one lane, due to some structural problem with the other. I used to blow through that stop sign if no one was coming the other way, but since I was scolded by a policeman, I stop! Which, really, is a gift. If no one's behind me, I often take a picture; looking through the black winter trees, over the pond, toward the sunrise and the mountains is spectacular! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span>I am learning that it's important to obey the stop signs in life, whether literal or otherwise. Take a minute, pause, not everything has to get done NOW! Slow down and enjoy what's in front of you. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span>Someday like this might save the world.</span></span><br />
MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-30413717519612402042013-01-01T22:21:00.000-08:002013-01-02T19:57:30.246-08:00And All Goes Well<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes things don't go, after all,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A people sometimes will step back from war;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">elect an honest man; decide they care</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enough, that they can't leave some stranger poor. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some men become what they were born for. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes our best efforts do not go </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Sheenagh Pugh</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy New Year, Friends! Such lovely sentiment in that poem. I kept waiting for the BUT... but it never came. Yay! Such an apt message on the first day of the new year. I tend to be a believer, anyway, that things tend to work out, but this poem is a good reminder, even for me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The fall came and went, the holidays blew by, and I am feeling just right on this January day, full of hope, full of inspiration. The last few days have been welcome quiet for me and I have enjoyed them. I made a whole bunch of new year's resolutions, too. One is to write more here, which ties in with another one--to make one new recipe a week, and then share it with you, along with a review of it, both by me and the children. Doesn't that sound fun? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wasting no time, because that's the kind of gal I am on New Year's Day, I made the first new recipe tonight: Black and White Chicken Chili from <u>Cook's Country Best Lost Recipes</u>. I love soups and want to try making lots of new ones. I <i>almost </i>made chicken noodle instead, but then I remembered that I'm being more adventurous (another resolution!) and trying new recipes this year. I am glad I did, too. This is one tasty soup/chili/whatever. Here is a picture of the finished product (this is not one of those blogs that shows photographs of every step; I think you can imagine what a pile of chopped onions looks like):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREqyOGOfng8ZpKXQwZ4bkGq0mzpWXQp0b3NuHXUbXSaV3ul3TzCc1CvadULRjDbj7OpvVKPPj5oS2thWyHVSC1j1syFUBWf0m-pZ_hjDz9w4pZ4Ht7m7u6Ejgn2REs87nz3N65nqo8N1T/s1600/DSCF9468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREqyOGOfng8ZpKXQwZ4bkGq0mzpWXQp0b3NuHXUbXSaV3ul3TzCc1CvadULRjDbj7OpvVKPPj5oS2thWyHVSC1j1syFUBWf0m-pZ_hjDz9w4pZ4Ht7m7u6Ejgn2REs87nz3N65nqo8N1T/s640/DSCF9468.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I topped it with cilantro and avocado, and although you can't see them, there are some tortilla chips in the bottom, for fun. Here is the recipe, with my notes:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Black and White Chicken Chili</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">serves 4-6 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">salt and pepper</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 TBS olive oil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 onion, minced</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 cloves of garlic, minced</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 tsp. cumin</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 (or more) cups chicken broth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 can black beans,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> drained and rinsed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 (8 oz.) can chopped green chiles, drained</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">garnish with cilantro, tortilla chips, avocado and sour cream, if you like!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's how the cookbook says to make it:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 TBS of the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high until just smoking. Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer chicken to a plate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Heath the remaining 1 TBS oil in the pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1/2 tsp salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, oregano, and 1/2 tsp pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broth, scraping up any brown bits. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Return the chicken, along with any accumulated juices, to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the thickest part of the breasts registers 160-165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 10-15 minutes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Transfer chicken to plate. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces and return it to the chili; add the beans, corn, and chiles. Return to a simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Off the heat, stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's how I made it--serves more like 8-10 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(I also threw in 3 chopped carrots and a can of pinto beans, plus another 4 cups of broth and a little more chicken).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Put the chicken on a foil-lined rimmed cookie sheet an drizzle with olive oil. Season with garlic & parsley seasoning, salt and a little pepper. Bake at 375 for about 22 minutes--depending on how thick the chicken is. Then cool and shred.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. While the chicken is baking, heat a couple glugs of olive oil over medium heat, in a Dutch oven. Throw in the carrots and the onion and saute for about 10 minutes, until they begin to soften up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Now add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and a little more pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Add the broth (8 cups), beans(smash a few with your spoon to release starch and help thicken the soup), corn and chiles and bring up to a simmer, cover partially and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 15-20 minutes. Throw in the shredded chicken during the last 5 minutes or so of cooking and voila! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Ladle into bowls and top with avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips, and or whatever appeals. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids weren't here tonight, but we're having it for dinner tomorrow, so I will update this after getting their feedback. I thought it was delish!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">UPDATE: Caroline said, "I love it!" and ate 2 bowls.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jack said "YUM!" and ate 3 bowls! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This recipe is a KEEPER! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy New Year!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-75356515910591652722012-11-13T18:23:00.001-08:002012-11-13T21:59:03.533-08:00A Leaf Falls Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> People are few;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A leaf falls here,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Falls there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Issa</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday, we returned from a long weekend in Cayuse to celebrate Elliot Thanksgiving. As always, it's lovely to go home. Especially to a place that is so familiar and also unknown. I've spent a lot of time breathing that air, but there is always something new to experience, a direct connection to nature, the old wind whistling a new song. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a weekend gathering of the usual suspects. We enjoyed: a magnificent meal lovingly prepared by Tina, glasses of prosecco, old and new friends, a walk on the hillside up the draw, fat snowflakes on "Thanksgiving", horses to be fed, dogs wanting their bellies scratched, fuses blown, a treasure hunt in an old shed, pancakes, monkey bread, pies, Tina teaching me how to bead, gathering sumac, teasels, and gnarled rose branches for wreaths, finding bones and antlers on the hill, and cuddling up with Caroline in a big bed piled with heavy quilts and blankets and listening to the wind howl all night. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM62eZfomvYt03w1uITYYShMT8wTxVQjaz1g0FQjBYS2coDIDv6eZzNkkK3WSqTUrGE9Ikdq1cJ7FKFN_NClzMeWWuol65oHamgUpKyFQRZueXu_kWJYXvFDXtbPC-qikVjL-FFwE3evQ-/s1600/DSCF9270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM62eZfomvYt03w1uITYYShMT8wTxVQjaz1g0FQjBYS2coDIDv6eZzNkkK3WSqTUrGE9Ikdq1cJ7FKFN_NClzMeWWuol65oHamgUpKyFQRZueXu_kWJYXvFDXtbPC-qikVjL-FFwE3evQ-/s640/DSCF9270.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">morning ritual--feeding the horses with Papa Grey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL2VmWYcoUexFXYNxUYY_MbR6EX4VMaXiRUNpvkR62ZvGCRqTtoDFYxF4TO4wm417hkXzNQrM4v2Bj0G450HXQu0TWTpyQ4DykjIOlFRvSNWkf7ibvMDnIJTQcO1O2OO2aEvNeHdIa6Vg/s1600/DSCF9281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL2VmWYcoUexFXYNxUYY_MbR6EX4VMaXiRUNpvkR62ZvGCRqTtoDFYxF4TO4wm417hkXzNQrM4v2Bj0G450HXQu0TWTpyQ4DykjIOlFRvSNWkf7ibvMDnIJTQcO1O2OO2aEvNeHdIa6Vg/s640/DSCF9281.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Business dressed for dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeF90zOnXFaw0Su1xOe6sJ-NRuivhGzY2uNGKe1uGT743tPAK6H-wrYLF9SgH45pSey2hMNXGKGe4GKB5k331BUbivdrVNT-9vh2N2kUseFYhG1x5r5Mu7CsBVkK-ghVdQEK2w3Oo6xoF/s1600/DSCF9283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeF90zOnXFaw0Su1xOe6sJ-NRuivhGzY2uNGKe1uGT743tPAK6H-wrYLF9SgH45pSey2hMNXGKGe4GKB5k331BUbivdrVNT-9vh2N2kUseFYhG1x5r5Mu7CsBVkK-ghVdQEK2w3Oo6xoF/s640/DSCF9283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fire AND snowflakes??? Yessssss!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOlpkE9-Xel1stZP4mxihIp1NrV9AREym_kqbCxj5x3rsbe1Y3KRM1G34qE7UTecJkuENr6YuXSzXCttP1J5VRkNCXwYabUEncaI37DuZY0rA-E0DO3JxiPiWcuVK5xrx1nu-ZXdpDWrg/s1600/DSCF9286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOlpkE9-Xel1stZP4mxihIp1NrV9AREym_kqbCxj5x3rsbe1Y3KRM1G34qE7UTecJkuENr6YuXSzXCttP1J5VRkNCXwYabUEncaI37DuZY0rA-E0DO3JxiPiWcuVK5xrx1nu-ZXdpDWrg/s640/DSCF9286.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rosehips on the hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEIP64pMZoT4YuXk6dgACNRUR65z6Hcg271b_U6HYeNzwslKYVi9AkO2oNFmKnXmbREO2Jw8FQoJeaM1Dmfj_ojFoJUN9taqCsqEgksGNVaxNrG4I_zy_6yg50wOsTEgpPvV3iovpLdN1/s1600/DSCF9288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEIP64pMZoT4YuXk6dgACNRUR65z6Hcg271b_U6HYeNzwslKYVi9AkO2oNFmKnXmbREO2Jw8FQoJeaM1Dmfj_ojFoJUN9taqCsqEgksGNVaxNrG4I_zy_6yg50wOsTEgpPvV3iovpLdN1/s640/DSCF9288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely sumac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QDZIZI2fvs1fNJamN-OYJRLAzETWJRDmr8m_eqpXl8LjOXDv6kh5L4PNpSgjoA9E65Wo7xeoRo4_2HG3nYnSWSLkhrKwQloeYwFpmJ38SkbFC94i3O15GKTraa4_85xxMUgNY1PFwsYF/s1600/DSCF9290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QDZIZI2fvs1fNJamN-OYJRLAzETWJRDmr8m_eqpXl8LjOXDv6kh5L4PNpSgjoA9E65Wo7xeoRo4_2HG3nYnSWSLkhrKwQloeYwFpmJ38SkbFC94i3O15GKTraa4_85xxMUgNY1PFwsYF/s640/DSCF9290.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">clipping away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKd5Wvk1Teew2fvHkiCgWVHTNv__Y2M415ZssZUhyuIUgd-YkZVNv1x-6NPhyphenhyphenUN-pBe0WbUhYZ75sg65qPdjaVUH8sNPd6j18_qeKBa2xokKIZLMbiTtw4XHg_O3SsVkyMX7pdnp8eyLI/s1600/DSCF9293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKd5Wvk1Teew2fvHkiCgWVHTNv__Y2M415ZssZUhyuIUgd-YkZVNv1x-6NPhyphenhyphenUN-pBe0WbUhYZ75sg65qPdjaVUH8sNPd6j18_qeKBa2xokKIZLMbiTtw4XHg_O3SsVkyMX7pdnp8eyLI/s640/DSCF9293.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfect picture of my dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3bSrjrFM6nwrnJCyYaf9bjVBlral3w-REiDlph9cptmtOC6GINCVD5f-RU8EDLjXaD8JJPmU-UfyuKjofGanT56Kop93qh4_4kwF4cgsNktxAG5wuI0TEyvT6QyTwFt1nuglKkqvrikB/s1600/DSCF9296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3bSrjrFM6nwrnJCyYaf9bjVBlral3w-REiDlph9cptmtOC6GINCVD5f-RU8EDLjXaD8JJPmU-UfyuKjofGanT56Kop93qh4_4kwF4cgsNktxAG5wuI0TEyvT6QyTwFt1nuglKkqvrikB/s640/DSCF9296.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the boys found a wild apple tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtuTYzlUV91LuYySftFw6PlsFLQEGM97fJJd2Pk3znMeiwyc0vJSKHjrxGfeGY-vfSvXm7HT7JEZ8MWcUaizMJ6jNFIgykovcxWw00AOHxAlS-6OSksuUgejN5elRldzk4zdGbdDPQA70/s1600/DSCF9298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtuTYzlUV91LuYySftFw6PlsFLQEGM97fJJd2Pk3znMeiwyc0vJSKHjrxGfeGY-vfSvXm7HT7JEZ8MWcUaizMJ6jNFIgykovcxWw00AOHxAlS-6OSksuUgejN5elRldzk4zdGbdDPQA70/s640/DSCF9298.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Jack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM0b-Z2lXzM2WkgOok3DULDlO8AAIOggxiiK51Pu6E_mGDmG79SSDqO42Q1CjWopCPOZ66i4MhkNU8t-IkltHd9AfNkX7mpQ4VcvDJniJch5CspeCQk_flxH_MGJyseZSjFzHOJwTxwpl/s1600/DSCF9299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM0b-Z2lXzM2WkgOok3DULDlO8AAIOggxiiK51Pu6E_mGDmG79SSDqO42Q1CjWopCPOZ66i4MhkNU8t-IkltHd9AfNkX7mpQ4VcvDJniJch5CspeCQk_flxH_MGJyseZSjFzHOJwTxwpl/s640/DSCF9299.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack with bones and apples</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvM9SgivBqHBfikyXPWAf8Exi_Y68QaVb3sh9eqw6eyitxx9AKeQbFMBQVLBXuITVq268y7uvrKq-AwBbYLKUOTnnbuLRSG32z6IOqC1HXeUnBMqB6eDZCrBT3dD2NNgdi3VKIwnpENkq/s1600/DSCF9303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvM9SgivBqHBfikyXPWAf8Exi_Y68QaVb3sh9eqw6eyitxx9AKeQbFMBQVLBXuITVq268y7uvrKq-AwBbYLKUOTnnbuLRSG32z6IOqC1HXeUnBMqB6eDZCrBT3dD2NNgdi3VKIwnpENkq/s640/DSCF9303.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
I've lots to be thankful for.MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-62293581228139118772012-11-04T12:48:00.001-08:002012-11-05T19:10:11.048-08:00Deep In The Brain, Far Back<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Night Crow</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I saw that clumsy crow</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flap from the wasted tree,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A shape in the mind rose up:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over the gulfs of dream</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flew a tremendous bird</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Further and further away</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Into a moonless black</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Deep in the brain, far back.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Theodore Roethke</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Isn't that a marvelous poem that sort of swirls around in the sky of your head? I think of it as a Fall poem, meant to be read when electric yellow leaves fly through dark grey days and the world feels a little uncertain. There is a depth to this time of year that I can appreciate. The fall has more texture than the other seasons; the colors stand out, even more than the rioting flowers of summer. The air feels different, expectant maybe. The other seasons are more straightforward, but there's a quality now that seems mysterious. I love it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have had adventures away and adventures at home lately; I love both. Here are some pictures that tell a bit of my fall story so far:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YSfvV8EMB46cKrXQM_WYKmZiwK5bYAYRUQhX9byKFiH-RSkXZDhHBv5RcfRVJhIyKzBitbAlVqc-swYWzZqe1YzwXJL-Uh_5bt3PLfVGqG0zYPTIeLOSb51ZGLNCpYN43YzVdA0ii-r_/s1600/DSCF9054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YSfvV8EMB46cKrXQM_WYKmZiwK5bYAYRUQhX9byKFiH-RSkXZDhHBv5RcfRVJhIyKzBitbAlVqc-swYWzZqe1YzwXJL-Uh_5bt3PLfVGqG0zYPTIeLOSb51ZGLNCpYN43YzVdA0ii-r_/s640/DSCF9054.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We grew a thumbkin this year! Won't the fairies love it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ddqFKFU6lWReyiJfIgDTrIIHzjA7khmiUHKZ5Lc8sRT37muzELr8VWu3vFDiBH9NAUCy27YI2rclrXwJmSJQk09j2bhSknIuwlMlH7QW-jw8RsvRgNe79rZNRs3hmOqG41da6RBRD2PZ/s1600/DSCF9055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ddqFKFU6lWReyiJfIgDTrIIHzjA7khmiUHKZ5Lc8sRT37muzELr8VWu3vFDiBH9NAUCy27YI2rclrXwJmSJQk09j2bhSknIuwlMlH7QW-jw8RsvRgNe79rZNRs3hmOqG41da6RBRD2PZ/s640/DSCF9055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">asters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-1kmErE0fjtg_GsrSYz3VQkEh_BG1A__TUy1HOtkpusMJ5PK086riGmJaAqd1k2nF5hcamJK1lK_0MKNJEeJ92rQWQfNa89w7pFiL4WlCLqurx50hNUTAfPcQwPJ69RYuG09T08iCe2x/s1600/DSCF9058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-1kmErE0fjtg_GsrSYz3VQkEh_BG1A__TUy1HOtkpusMJ5PK086riGmJaAqd1k2nF5hcamJK1lK_0MKNJEeJ92rQWQfNa89w7pFiL4WlCLqurx50hNUTAfPcQwPJ69RYuG09T08iCe2x/s640/DSCF9058.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last hurrah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewpfWlKLgqdWAyB2iCCypo7sluF2XWtlSiGt3WkUkVIl35A8WPR0UlNSH2w_KCw0-56XSpUCQ_y6Ux2EY6qxIo8yHvi_BsI1J6JhTwPpCAPEJebn-th4sYwvxpqQhLex_y5T6ZhF84iuo/s1600/DSCF9073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewpfWlKLgqdWAyB2iCCypo7sluF2XWtlSiGt3WkUkVIl35A8WPR0UlNSH2w_KCw0-56XSpUCQ_y6Ux2EY6qxIo8yHvi_BsI1J6JhTwPpCAPEJebn-th4sYwvxpqQhLex_y5T6ZhF84iuo/s640/DSCF9073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dear friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFS2LCSImBkj15DnlfkH86Zqu9uk-GuBXiy2ZQ2h0TsI_UY3vFmGwhIRH0B9Ulg3sOybUH-vWC4NA1RlCXO3WMI3hap4KLG658W1zIqREI6XxKpK0xR2zhVASDshjUs6_317HvGNRkPQn/s1600/DSCF9086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFS2LCSImBkj15DnlfkH86Zqu9uk-GuBXiy2ZQ2h0TsI_UY3vFmGwhIRH0B9Ulg3sOybUH-vWC4NA1RlCXO3WMI3hap4KLG658W1zIqREI6XxKpK0xR2zhVASDshjUs6_317HvGNRkPQn/s640/DSCF9086.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhmGeB25Udhgn9yjrkwtUBTc3zLzZCL_3QyqHf2GuvPWsEvXyxf0MfW8q9maggnZAOC7wOBE4DWYfr_c7YMC8dZq0pwaKoU5xxTj5P3CvOdqC9EhirPY4aajHxDXrL2xSsJaEf8OZHYmL/s1600/DSCF9090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhmGeB25Udhgn9yjrkwtUBTc3zLzZCL_3QyqHf2GuvPWsEvXyxf0MfW8q9maggnZAOC7wOBE4DWYfr_c7YMC8dZq0pwaKoU5xxTj5P3CvOdqC9EhirPY4aajHxDXrL2xSsJaEf8OZHYmL/s640/DSCF9090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big maple at dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk-TZiRpzcpZDKMIdbcKBne2UWjjtCkl5poOP9eazXNWHBcrEOCfVDoGDNB3BaTd_NrS-YXptxgcdZCFQjICdVuZa5jlJDy6LYLOslH8-IiurxokLGA2Q-xZo8oglfsWDqVglUUfCN6yk/s1600/DSCF9124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk-TZiRpzcpZDKMIdbcKBne2UWjjtCkl5poOP9eazXNWHBcrEOCfVDoGDNB3BaTd_NrS-YXptxgcdZCFQjICdVuZa5jlJDy6LYLOslH8-IiurxokLGA2Q-xZo8oglfsWDqVglUUfCN6yk/s640/DSCF9124.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the river</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCFvmyKotkdw56v8zLM7eEL1ubad9Gy2nvmLmmuAUq_ErzYxcFYkBkILnarFQEqY0lDQGaF27Od52guIFrH2gJShROkHVE0y5R-5PQnKL8Q4ff04ZVmZMcmekSrQbn9Ln-3J2CeEJy5be/s1600/DSCF9142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCFvmyKotkdw56v8zLM7eEL1ubad9Gy2nvmLmmuAUq_ErzYxcFYkBkILnarFQEqY0lDQGaF27Od52guIFrH2gJShROkHVE0y5R-5PQnKL8Q4ff04ZVmZMcmekSrQbn9Ln-3J2CeEJy5be/s640/DSCF9142.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">happy in the kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pH_uss73HelPWArSUPi-sUJqmSwLbAboPRyZHZC9ddjGOJvH-X0wPv1pqWLZTNROdlSgkIJBSy5CWURXg2avNlOeZQEfvKReXzgXEr7oDKcHB6405ua7VcjQRW2C-2wAwEM72Kq1Nkz6/s1600/DSCF9171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pH_uss73HelPWArSUPi-sUJqmSwLbAboPRyZHZC9ddjGOJvH-X0wPv1pqWLZTNROdlSgkIJBSy5CWURXg2avNlOeZQEfvKReXzgXEr7oDKcHB6405ua7VcjQRW2C-2wAwEM72Kq1Nkz6/s640/DSCF9171.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very impressive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQua5KUhM0Q7QThLFMK-Q1NqL_Bkm77DGy4zhVloAGBwvve3eZETmUGGSCUdr4ug21UogoqEMJM0gPiuIMfpi4jW6Bwpa1Ljd-nu8_BSUVb23-Daaqw93z5XFUVAnJxzQgAZq3kcxMguF6/s1600/DSCF9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQua5KUhM0Q7QThLFMK-Q1NqL_Bkm77DGy4zhVloAGBwvve3eZETmUGGSCUdr4ug21UogoqEMJM0gPiuIMfpi4jW6Bwpa1Ljd-nu8_BSUVb23-Daaqw93z5XFUVAnJxzQgAZq3kcxMguF6/s640/DSCF9178.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cool, huh?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeI7GMivePnn1JGQ-ZrLDoyojg-OYqF-sQ8IzxKF3EYz-IM1RSWC4FqGBxiV4q1Sq7bP5PFTYaAZmzinh6ekm3HVRiRtsF9R6xMjHf6LaUt0BO3Rn4EdS7LGi1B4fvaf1kYgqUSTthhKa/s1600/DSCF9183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeI7GMivePnn1JGQ-ZrLDoyojg-OYqF-sQ8IzxKF3EYz-IM1RSWC4FqGBxiV4q1Sq7bP5PFTYaAZmzinh6ekm3HVRiRtsF9R6xMjHf6LaUt0BO3Rn4EdS7LGi1B4fvaf1kYgqUSTthhKa/s640/DSCF9183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Korean War Memorial--ghostly!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Fi3GuthVYafIcd6KRhxd9LbOah1z7kcFcOJeQcn0J_J1uTNz28jUWgEGP2ZsMlFfe99HlULvJ1Dc-sIU3e5DgwIjuJVhEgP0vWkCIQb_FLw0vAIK09qW4mHlCQLdN_p9_351XEU2G-5P/s1600/DSCF9210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Fi3GuthVYafIcd6KRhxd9LbOah1z7kcFcOJeQcn0J_J1uTNz28jUWgEGP2ZsMlFfe99HlULvJ1Dc-sIU3e5DgwIjuJVhEgP0vWkCIQb_FLw0vAIK09qW4mHlCQLdN_p9_351XEU2G-5P/s640/DSCF9210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a walk in the Virginia woods</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSwPtsys1JSDWZJWr-PylrwrmdJe9uWxMIz1WYJRQj-YlwX8KEcjC0DUO_MDeLVVPLGAT8JCNmMyUcqquF4pHDDSe1a_QWk1N5tINqqLC_KL5e1oYrAtvx8lBlMCZtL-FkvPwuiO2Fcak/s1600/DSCF9212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSwPtsys1JSDWZJWr-PylrwrmdJe9uWxMIz1WYJRQj-YlwX8KEcjC0DUO_MDeLVVPLGAT8JCNmMyUcqquF4pHDDSe1a_QWk1N5tINqqLC_KL5e1oYrAtvx8lBlMCZtL-FkvPwuiO2Fcak/s640/DSCF9212.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa! Miller almost stepped on this fellow. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6NimZltEUlVpE6Qk-dg-4JuYB6JH9Rpvqk0F04uxWFlAyFwcM9cnehSKYQsWwBagv9e_AvfyZLw-w3pntifCnLJi7wBueJlhTJCsGjGexYrnmIBu5sMDAYC8VDwC16ydvNaGl-8fHVCR/s1600/DSCF9213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6NimZltEUlVpE6Qk-dg-4JuYB6JH9Rpvqk0F04uxWFlAyFwcM9cnehSKYQsWwBagv9e_AvfyZLw-w3pntifCnLJi7wBueJlhTJCsGjGexYrnmIBu5sMDAYC8VDwC16ydvNaGl-8fHVCR/s640/DSCF9213.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caretaker's house at the old, now-closed prison in Lorton, VA. Eerie.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcdloCqKseVjfLw26s0JvGlvbdfYaQCEr6GSPD2BaZaYL-M4IcpiLl9jXahxsWH3PESxahtsj2UK-k5aAYRXvi7Y1E2JwB8iH_EZfmKxMxD-LvjxyRaF-gioocl7-yAhlBrjQzIaYFFtI/s1600/DSCF9231.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcdloCqKseVjfLw26s0JvGlvbdfYaQCEr6GSPD2BaZaYL-M4IcpiLl9jXahxsWH3PESxahtsj2UK-k5aAYRXvi7Y1E2JwB8iH_EZfmKxMxD-LvjxyRaF-gioocl7-yAhlBrjQzIaYFFtI/s640/DSCF9231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq4O7xKOSzMFlAxYMBCSf70nQt_4VlqQBZkpJp8yX3b6_zmMPOFlJ-0UmX4zjfGDQwD1ag0NJ8SsG7o2cGnS4-rvexdQZVcJbIu8NyvwdsHNeokPbrGFLlEbNLrD1lxc1UpO5XPTnFwUH/s1600/DSCF9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq4O7xKOSzMFlAxYMBCSf70nQt_4VlqQBZkpJp8yX3b6_zmMPOFlJ-0UmX4zjfGDQwD1ag0NJ8SsG7o2cGnS4-rvexdQZVcJbIu8NyvwdsHNeokPbrGFLlEbNLrD1lxc1UpO5XPTnFwUH/s640/DSCF9234.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPauz2S6SGZEwcaQgRlwzscU_XCe5oQXgDqaA8Eug3hmrzqvAQFw9IGpNr_LoPoAwqFb8ImT412FX3vihRPCd0BTq8ODZqZYS5jSUQmw-zbc46ctcERdXQ0W7lO8tC00AwW9AjH6xjYWjN/s1600/DSCF9238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPauz2S6SGZEwcaQgRlwzscU_XCe5oQXgDqaA8Eug3hmrzqvAQFw9IGpNr_LoPoAwqFb8ImT412FX3vihRPCd0BTq8ODZqZYS5jSUQmw-zbc46ctcERdXQ0W7lO8tC00AwW9AjH6xjYWjN/s640/DSCF9238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pumpkin catapult</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvwwF3Y3mIQVJzlIL6bk32QTOTzz1FZOUvVc5Zngwckob-I3tUzfjL2YunJEep2ENkcNpTfkX_eK52FHDZ3jJWZh0t8HuxsRbm0YmZwi7A7eMNn9njYDTLvRV5R3bmwyQpZfG0iuXVbqV/s1600/DSCF9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvwwF3Y3mIQVJzlIL6bk32QTOTzz1FZOUvVc5Zngwckob-I3tUzfjL2YunJEep2ENkcNpTfkX_eK52FHDZ3jJWZh0t8HuxsRbm0YmZwi7A7eMNn9njYDTLvRV5R3bmwyQpZfG0iuXVbqV/s640/DSCF9245.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">airborne and leaf-bound!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez4T7YR8v0WTk_aSiMCaAfZpyBHP_83bD2GkhyUc3N09YTOTiIl-e49ZBwHhi7yR3P5KV_IgU7UFyqv7ydnEQFqxZWoNi_DbBe4UETXqE5qdToVc9vtWnhSP_RNgjY2f0yig5Be2MOE5G/s1600/DSCF9256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez4T7YR8v0WTk_aSiMCaAfZpyBHP_83bD2GkhyUc3N09YTOTiIl-e49ZBwHhi7yR3P5KV_IgU7UFyqv7ydnEQFqxZWoNi_DbBe4UETXqE5qdToVc9vtWnhSP_RNgjY2f0yig5Be2MOE5G/s640/DSCF9256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hot soup and cream biscuits for a chilly night</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May the Night Crow land on your bedpost and carry you over the gulfs of dream...</span></div>
MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-62933889775123725322012-08-02T00:55:00.002-07:002012-08-02T10:51:01.422-07:00When Our Limbs Were All July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Barred Islands</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Between their sandspit ends</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we rowed, two spruce islands</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">moored in a blue Maine bay. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And under the Sou'west sky</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we rowed ashore to swim</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for love, a summer whim</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when our limbs were all July.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Riding in on the tide</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with shipped oars, jade </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">shallows under us, we </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">both looked down at the play</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of sun on seaweed gardens,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">swaying whorls in the currents</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we neither could see.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and then the kelp-grown slope</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">slid up to meet us, steep </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a hill below our hull:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sand, stone, and clamshell</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dredged by waves, time-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">shaped by tide and fathom;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and then the tide was full.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We floated on hope at flood,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and over, over, the tide-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sunk bar; there where the run</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of current, the waving sun,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">showed clear on the waterglass</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sand, on the seawind grass,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">how the islands were one.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Philip Booth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, isn't that just lovely?! I've sort of been in a poetry lull lately, but this brought me back. In fact, how is it that I really haven't read Philip Booth before? He is great! I was flipping through a friend's anthology, <u>New</u> <u>Poets</u> <u>of</u> <u>England</u> <u>and</u> <u>America</u>, and I just loved all of the Philip Booth poems included therein (6 in all). I don't think I have a single book by him, but I am on a quest (Daaaaaad...?). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are several things I like about this poem. It has very strong images that I find to be almost like a magical transport into the poem; I can almost feel the boat rocking as I stare down at 'the play of sun on seaweed gardens, swaying whorls in the currents we neither could see.' And his use of language is lovely and evocative: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we rowed ashore to swim</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for love, a summer whim</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when our limbs were all July.'</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and one more:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the waving sun,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">showed clear on the waterglass</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sand,'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plus, I just really like how the poem resonates with me. I'm not sure I totally get it, but that's ok. I think it's a metaphor, and a good one, at that. I like the layers of it, for both the description of the day/experience and the relationship between the 2 people. Read this poem out loud and you'll hear what he's doing with the rhythm of it, the near rhyme, the alliteration, the kinesthetic verbs, all of it working toward a poem that does its job; at least for me. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other Booth poems in this collection are: Heron, The Wilding, Vermont: Indian Summer, Twelfth Night, and North, in case you want to look them up on the intermaweb (or in that book that you're <i>probably</i> going to give me).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, look at that, I meant to write about what we've been up to over the last month, but got sidetracked by the poem. Let's just go with that! Here are a few pics and captions that should get you up to speed. It's been a lovely summer and in a few days, we're off to the beach for our annual trip. Joy, if you're reading this, guess what, this poem is coming your way out loud when we're sitting on the sand. Sweeeeeet!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzG9tNZPXrmBepdIPZ9IhhrdEbJkGPzNOykiOYEUBftjev-U0crXG_t4EtS4RiBQGvsfOEo5HQZ4kNYVcB52ByGDMPU-ViBdb4gVPVnX6uSx9pf1JCE-kr4y-B4Vq8hEbe6nqVZxtR7ox/s1600/DSCF8457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzG9tNZPXrmBepdIPZ9IhhrdEbJkGPzNOykiOYEUBftjev-U0crXG_t4EtS4RiBQGvsfOEo5HQZ4kNYVcB52ByGDMPU-ViBdb4gVPVnX6uSx9pf1JCE-kr4y-B4Vq8hEbe6nqVZxtR7ox/s640/DSCF8457.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new chicken gate made from my old chair rail trim--I even used a drill and measured!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVILV6qV45O7ukxRYeOiMqHhuJTyUdpsei_Zrw6nFKvjQIXoWNg4-PAjfReMRSfVjEPZwlfpX_ruFt7sLpxB0PD_wRvIB9q5ftB7Lh5TB5HOAnzhyphenhyphenPIzCuMeMrQkMKnbXBmWiSmFmfmiM3/s1600/DSCF8460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVILV6qV45O7ukxRYeOiMqHhuJTyUdpsei_Zrw6nFKvjQIXoWNg4-PAjfReMRSfVjEPZwlfpX_ruFt7sLpxB0PD_wRvIB9q5ftB7Lh5TB5HOAnzhyphenhyphenPIzCuMeMrQkMKnbXBmWiSmFmfmiM3/s640/DSCF8460.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grosgrain ribbon=good chicken barrier...just needs to look like a fence, doesn't actually have to BE one</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRplI_fPMUsLMaSKyTRqwrNp12tnVbmbzWfmdYeQbBDR6LOb4mmGNYFaIwoCDBeVkBHiCLWABOeR6ZSgpsHpAxbo7F7u2RzwBVJrC9rO0m4PyzMqkCo-yEFTFducwJPsdInNh-dAZsFv3Z/s1600/DSCF8477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRplI_fPMUsLMaSKyTRqwrNp12tnVbmbzWfmdYeQbBDR6LOb4mmGNYFaIwoCDBeVkBHiCLWABOeR6ZSgpsHpAxbo7F7u2RzwBVJrC9rO0m4PyzMqkCo-yEFTFducwJPsdInNh-dAZsFv3Z/s640/DSCF8477.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppies! Orange-y red crossed with cream to make this lovely color</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK1sFGAg_m29jGmwuLKJJzIocfH8xsmbLVFCpqlU8_E9l6qLUjw_vGcNZrJTy0pbWTlPH6ZTuPp7pL8s5sd8aQ98bXsmZmABA5CuPaokrhaH9HmULnYs8AwwTSjHI7z9GY872iAgjQ44X/s1600/DSCF8567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK1sFGAg_m29jGmwuLKJJzIocfH8xsmbLVFCpqlU8_E9l6qLUjw_vGcNZrJTy0pbWTlPH6ZTuPp7pL8s5sd8aQ98bXsmZmABA5CuPaokrhaH9HmULnYs8AwwTSjHI7z9GY872iAgjQ44X/s640/DSCF8567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"new" quilt that I picked up for a song! It is hand quilted with perfect little stitches on the back.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRZQBBfSiUsm_kcJSHM9PKhtTosOQw4OULRUVzCpulDebFSAA1zzjZW7XnSgQrrP-MFO7nVI0Wcsxjv-t2NPVCumxKCvuTrw6giprCNsr1YRYvLSLQ7I9on2fycnuiWlT-wR5-q-TF2yS/s1600/DSCF8578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRZQBBfSiUsm_kcJSHM9PKhtTosOQw4OULRUVzCpulDebFSAA1zzjZW7XnSgQrrP-MFO7nVI0Wcsxjv-t2NPVCumxKCvuTrw6giprCNsr1YRYvLSLQ7I9on2fycnuiWlT-wR5-q-TF2yS/s640/DSCF8578.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy business for Caroline's 8th birthday</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrKtF6djd413NyZkULZHAzerGNc73TEKWe1KP_810C0ztIIFwO3cjxicx1Zd2vJkdE2ji-qvQ20M_GaFrMNvQSowXE_LJSauDTxQJS_W-7Hd3N-3VCfwroQRxzRMbGUxpThYDaukfKbLD/s1600/DSCF8585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrKtF6djd413NyZkULZHAzerGNc73TEKWe1KP_810C0ztIIFwO3cjxicx1Zd2vJkdE2ji-qvQ20M_GaFrMNvQSowXE_LJSauDTxQJS_W-7Hd3N-3VCfwroQRxzRMbGUxpThYDaukfKbLD/s640/DSCF8585.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some partygoers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D3sMD3Nwhog09TbpY_8pBFHdSRoC0IgTdC9Y7HWrw0uL_TyaysbFHz3woNDuZfpNe6b4KnoxG6hu6ONbqiz39dexe1zt0UC-D7CED2fDGk-j4N_Cm_EAzvO1qe7NFIx9wBbKL4JsgOSq/s1600/DSCF8598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D3sMD3Nwhog09TbpY_8pBFHdSRoC0IgTdC9Y7HWrw0uL_TyaysbFHz3woNDuZfpNe6b4KnoxG6hu6ONbqiz39dexe1zt0UC-D7CED2fDGk-j4N_Cm_EAzvO1qe7NFIx9wBbKL4JsgOSq/s640/DSCF8598.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't they look so sweet?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhMU8YMK5S-7iKBb1BUNE5ftii6WyhJRHncfJow9WC0kVu0EDiJ29OrVGxDprYhXZirI65eR7b45sK-kZN28RMhVxRsona-lSC36aL0VAmkHVD1NBccrgu4rk2kw-3_8A3IU25s-mtYO6/s1600/DSCF8651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhMU8YMK5S-7iKBb1BUNE5ftii6WyhJRHncfJow9WC0kVu0EDiJ29OrVGxDprYhXZirI65eR7b45sK-kZN28RMhVxRsona-lSC36aL0VAmkHVD1NBccrgu4rk2kw-3_8A3IU25s-mtYO6/s640/DSCF8651.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline with Narissa, one of her favorite people on the planet</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUruJs_K2l9sBrZH-7_KoQdifQsQ6CmaNx-fSXL5CJaPNOoGUvZgKV6iBBOaN37ea75wsi3I0spiV5bBfi96e_jEadN8YjyaFvSWNI-tnWc5fEguCWfg3eje-LCnTJkHV_DXaFvzFfq5l/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUruJs_K2l9sBrZH-7_KoQdifQsQ6CmaNx-fSXL5CJaPNOoGUvZgKV6iBBOaN37ea75wsi3I0spiV5bBfi96e_jEadN8YjyaFvSWNI-tnWc5fEguCWfg3eje-LCnTJkHV_DXaFvzFfq5l/s640/IMG_0073.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini Monkeys</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckTIhS1N7QyaDn5ofiBd7vdwxVYRgGkPmTNuFFKAoGJl9ug8JTstPf38UU1N0GY76jVp5c-1_oTXscrgIigucUl62JLdsph8t-L7JjjR-APO2-e6TwjFbclkVs7mYhBqwxwl8g6V78EF3/s1600/DSCF8664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckTIhS1N7QyaDn5ofiBd7vdwxVYRgGkPmTNuFFKAoGJl9ug8JTstPf38UU1N0GY76jVp5c-1_oTXscrgIigucUl62JLdsph8t-L7JjjR-APO2-e6TwjFbclkVs7mYhBqwxwl8g6V78EF3/s640/DSCF8664.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess what?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA9a2CJ4tMaFZ9sDz9uYa-ldeypB6BQsBA4XtNuLOhw0K_EV4smDU64obYuqzFAfkSdaBJ7BXNfvzCBsKMYBsZgfhwSwU3aJ_lWH5oSMXl9g_DiJUnLBY3jPcPmtmpkRdDlOyaJwLckDF/s1600/IMG_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA9a2CJ4tMaFZ9sDz9uYa-ldeypB6BQsBA4XtNuLOhw0K_EV4smDU64obYuqzFAfkSdaBJ7BXNfvzCBsKMYBsZgfhwSwU3aJ_lWH5oSMXl9g_DiJUnLBY3jPcPmtmpkRdDlOyaJwLckDF/s640/IMG_0108.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Roller coaster" road to Cayuse</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ub4TU0BzLhtzkqvsEFT4DaZIgZupHT5qduYWPGeRvJ8xJZx479DVuAGacCdfjQ7cFXVcD-1wWMXNXT7CX2-WQaQD4CPA4UCzWgDQ43GW9-byfTFkzPBxDs66yHqNUpR-jBOPP1JZcHdr/s1600/DSCF8675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ub4TU0BzLhtzkqvsEFT4DaZIgZupHT5qduYWPGeRvJ8xJZx479DVuAGacCdfjQ7cFXVcD-1wWMXNXT7CX2-WQaQD4CPA4UCzWgDQ43GW9-byfTFkzPBxDs66yHqNUpR-jBOPP1JZcHdr/s640/DSCF8675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geisha, of the Cayuse dog pack</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqQ3vDyyvt5daWe_l3OXmH3hZxVKrmbprubvkfgWUNLiSW1_yyvGCZIdiPLOS_0MqhzL_0QByFqfB2s2YC52UdnOpXZQ6KeokT4XkuRC_tzn5y-5d9JkYlTDUOic6sV8QS39lRS5Tt-Me/s1600/DSCF8690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqQ3vDyyvt5daWe_l3OXmH3hZxVKrmbprubvkfgWUNLiSW1_yyvGCZIdiPLOS_0MqhzL_0QByFqfB2s2YC52UdnOpXZQ6KeokT4XkuRC_tzn5y-5d9JkYlTDUOic6sV8QS39lRS5Tt-Me/s640/DSCF8690.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture, not sure why. Kids in cayuse, half a border collie, old shed.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZ9nBTiEyzEJEvc8O7s5Ck4Yjz4SXt3mEZT3vA-1uGWG3f_7raFIu91ZyfomgFc6Gx5bR-mk734vd6r-1TVocYXjhDEvZxkwDUshte4w_oVSlkFAB-oKsBxzs5CgpZBk-ArUDSleK_yI/s1600/DSCF8695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZ9nBTiEyzEJEvc8O7s5Ck4Yjz4SXt3mEZT3vA-1uGWG3f_7raFIu91ZyfomgFc6Gx5bR-mk734vd6r-1TVocYXjhDEvZxkwDUshte4w_oVSlkFAB-oKsBxzs5CgpZBk-ArUDSleK_yI/s640/DSCF8695.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bee jammin'</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYApqQlP9hy1OfAZoT4MhrYV1kphOS5R8Ac_gnVGs15HWwGpiYPxI2n-5d_Zrygknf2Mf9LRecG-SfiIsmIUDaj4YpMutkxhyphenhyphen39-VRTM8GMwOOp3VhB7I_7XzR7tG-HoKHL1tl6QRusVR/s1600/DSCF8720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYApqQlP9hy1OfAZoT4MhrYV1kphOS5R8Ac_gnVGs15HWwGpiYPxI2n-5d_Zrygknf2Mf9LRecG-SfiIsmIUDaj4YpMutkxhyphenhyphen39-VRTM8GMwOOp3VhB7I_7XzR7tG-HoKHL1tl6QRusVR/s640/DSCF8720.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayuse beelord</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr8dkYq7NcfVaRiRWSEbvyl0CMLRmoQnCR_nsB6hNul92NHHWf2iQqh3eWvdi4zF60yW8_iYcoxsTNeZmmkjjLQfpcg6hMWT7pzPDMFdsVdg3lE3vH8C6mo6RTyGCB0a-xTLmoOjzn-H1/s1600/DSCF8729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr8dkYq7NcfVaRiRWSEbvyl0CMLRmoQnCR_nsB6hNul92NHHWf2iQqh3eWvdi4zF60yW8_iYcoxsTNeZmmkjjLQfpcg6hMWT7pzPDMFdsVdg3lE3vH8C6mo6RTyGCB0a-xTLmoOjzn-H1/s640/DSCF8729.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sweet business</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids with Great-Grandma Ethel. Doesn't she look great for 30-10?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack and a Mater truck on our road trip shake break</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1tc59FQI_XjvlwAtziiAnPD7FDeHG2nxsA8UueM1BiJJTs44bF10F0n7eQgj9oZAvAjfXuEOUygU-tUb38a0oqYZezODAv7b1HxkT15XMv9pWxAj3VMoV_dEUFqiF9Rh5xVdmjs9KPW5/s1600/IMG_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1tc59FQI_XjvlwAtziiAnPD7FDeHG2nxsA8UueM1BiJJTs44bF10F0n7eQgj9oZAvAjfXuEOUygU-tUb38a0oqYZezODAv7b1HxkT15XMv9pWxAj3VMoV_dEUFqiF9Rh5xVdmjs9KPW5/s640/IMG_0096.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmmmmm...watermelon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxddjqSzJu23o4cTTzC2YbWKRrtxNJQGzmRmTEGXIbJyeOUGlt1zaQwKtJdeKVKMteY0Cq7Tq6HHqqiTolH2-GEDy9aSjcPJsaP5tEJVcL5JyeQ7lM2jHQruoj1JGMLsPrRxCEc2QO-N4/s1600/IMG_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxddjqSzJu23o4cTTzC2YbWKRrtxNJQGzmRmTEGXIbJyeOUGlt1zaQwKtJdeKVKMteY0Cq7Tq6HHqqiTolH2-GEDy9aSjcPJsaP5tEJVcL5JyeQ7lM2jHQruoj1JGMLsPrRxCEc2QO-N4/s640/IMG_0134.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with tree house lumber...so much lumber</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CzRb2mHIXqRp24CDt5VhGNuylEfpHg31CG1A3F_PbCF0cPUclCcPER0wMgTrnVUGSGpkMdY1Kijs0M8YT2H0B7DRw22rq9r6LAMfvOtJLV5-GhjZbwPwWORx0_Io8ppTZgbd4j19r4cC/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CzRb2mHIXqRp24CDt5VhGNuylEfpHg31CG1A3F_PbCF0cPUclCcPER0wMgTrnVUGSGpkMdY1Kijs0M8YT2H0B7DRw22rq9r6LAMfvOtJLV5-GhjZbwPwWORx0_Io8ppTZgbd4j19r4cC/s640/IMG_0151.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew framing up the tree house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpde34ERqTYSANEVG1JGLhmKRVP41_E7CyvOAUZFfJSSyBJBqANRkIkiMnkWWrUrQVhI9gA94rkxCIC5q4CEM-EfQ6zGRJM_foAs_FCDBori69KQb0uVyay65YcGD7NuPF0yFSq42S4yuN/s1600/IMG_0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpde34ERqTYSANEVG1JGLhmKRVP41_E7CyvOAUZFfJSSyBJBqANRkIkiMnkWWrUrQVhI9gA94rkxCIC5q4CEM-EfQ6zGRJM_foAs_FCDBori69KQb0uVyay65YcGD7NuPF0yFSq42S4yuN/s640/IMG_0169.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">framed and partially sided</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflyWOhGDz6J5lcF3lFDHimjlAoR7NIUfVkqyrjHhn_wnBQkDMlA71bUbpnNgmOzDEEL2Hg-8248NZBy_yW-P_Fl682frAnR_oFyr_fp1OcoUK-XPfO2005bZGmxnWj45-lg5ZTi7IJdph/s1600/IMG_0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflyWOhGDz6J5lcF3lFDHimjlAoR7NIUfVkqyrjHhn_wnBQkDMlA71bUbpnNgmOzDEEL2Hg-8248NZBy_yW-P_Fl682frAnR_oFyr_fp1OcoUK-XPfO2005bZGmxnWj45-lg5ZTi7IJdph/s640/IMG_0213.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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They LOVE IT!!!!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-40128947218595106822012-06-27T11:38:00.000-07:002012-06-27T11:38:06.065-07:00Walking Down A Path<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Some people like to make a little garden out of life and walk down a path." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Jean Anouilh</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am definitely 'some people.' And in my little garden I like to plant lots of little pleasing things to enjoy along the path. I'm home for summer now and I love it. If you know me well, you know I like to be home most of all. And I try to live in a way that will model to the kids how to enjoy the little things that make life the sweetest. On Monday, we picked strawberries, as we have done every year since they were old enough to walk. Tiny Pleasure: when you pick a perfectly ripe berry and it POPS when it comes of its stem. The kids and I listened and laughed at those POPS! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2mtbyATgtZ3ZzjZYL_mnTW7D5-_30rI1gsaXZvz6hKpXutgD9N_p2g5ijXOsImA9iNTtknv25M9wy8IdsMRDPEKutNhWaCuRygEIMN-RSiuln8I_MdQp5Ht20ONdFrTawqmAW08mEZL4/s1600/DSCF8386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2mtbyATgtZ3ZzjZYL_mnTW7D5-_30rI1gsaXZvz6hKpXutgD9N_p2g5ijXOsImA9iNTtknv25M9wy8IdsMRDPEKutNhWaCuRygEIMN-RSiuln8I_MdQp5Ht20ONdFrTawqmAW08mEZL4/s640/DSCF8386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We picked 11 pounds this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoIJipC6InZS7hM8IP01TDphkQoLs0RYgZ4wMyG9ofo5DVQhr7Z_tWcLoqmQAQbYVE-vbE8FESYOThLp0MdQJ8a-GKqqVfeeLODaeDsxmiaKZNUN7uQksjHDlO7WRFSmEJ1QU1RKDo6dS/s1600/DSCF8409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoIJipC6InZS7hM8IP01TDphkQoLs0RYgZ4wMyG9ofo5DVQhr7Z_tWcLoqmQAQbYVE-vbE8FESYOThLp0MdQJ8a-GKqqVfeeLODaeDsxmiaKZNUN7uQksjHDlO7WRFSmEJ1QU1RKDo6dS/s640/DSCF8409.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pro strawberry masher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh8gkHWK0LIvVP7GuQ3XlXR7akiv00kDnQzwPLA6gq9SG_s4AyGpsbzGQR4rHWQFgGLYp4aAf6EVppYaD4dYh79NItvyzIG3x5ExgdblgmOn5r0X-KbkRJcQ0yUcU2uZL3e1cmU0WLVq8/s1600/DSCF8415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh8gkHWK0LIvVP7GuQ3XlXR7akiv00kDnQzwPLA6gq9SG_s4AyGpsbzGQR4rHWQFgGLYp4aAf6EVppYaD4dYh79NItvyzIG3x5ExgdblgmOn5r0X-KbkRJcQ0yUcU2uZL3e1cmU0WLVq8/s640/DSCF8415.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freezer jam--hit me up anytime! We made 24 jars of it (and I'm making more on Friday). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY8i5QC7vI2cMqFg5z7dTbvrgYncB_j0BHp1DIe0LkgUlok_ZFmciFderAG7NhMobn_zA2svIN2MUnKEjjLhp-vdVWBDPxm4uBMVTIbqWSsRXqJRhWJCS5vIiG-TCCunYxf9jnrTixDs_/s1600/DSCF8427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY8i5QC7vI2cMqFg5z7dTbvrgYncB_j0BHp1DIe0LkgUlok_ZFmciFderAG7NhMobn_zA2svIN2MUnKEjjLhp-vdVWBDPxm4uBMVTIbqWSsRXqJRhWJCS5vIiG-TCCunYxf9jnrTixDs_/s640/DSCF8427.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, the BEST shortcakes--recipe below</td></tr>
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4 cups flour<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
2 TBS baking powder<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/2 cup butter (that's one stick)<br />
1 beaten egg<br />
1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 </span>cup whole milk<br />
turbinado sugar (opt.)<br />
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Preheat oven to 400. Combine first 4 ingredients. Chop butter into pieces and cut into flour mixture till crumbly. Beat in egg and milk. Butter 2 cookie sheets, or use Silpats or parchment. I use about 1/4 cup of dough per biscuit, but you can make them as big as you want. I also like to sprinkle a little turbinado sugar on top--for crunch and sparkle! Bake 15-17 minutes till golden. Serve warm with sliced berries and homemade whipped cream (whip heavy cream in your mixer until it starts fluffing up--add sugar to taste and a splash of vanilla)! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvgP2pMkkld94rDrjsaUMFPMlOt1Yf19aM6DCCFQK3q0RhhedNC188xPikPR107RUD-HATeC408suQShy0OoAkJD7JlHm78VUFOQfqOzleHhV6t3War5ZN2ZYU-CANaerl9hx5khDv5gb/s1600/DSCF8433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvgP2pMkkld94rDrjsaUMFPMlOt1Yf19aM6DCCFQK3q0RhhedNC188xPikPR107RUD-HATeC408suQShy0OoAkJD7JlHm78VUFOQfqOzleHhV6t3War5ZN2ZYU-CANaerl9hx5khDv5gb/s640/DSCF8433.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is also very good for breakfast!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since I haven't blogged in a super long time, here are some pics of pleasing things from the last month or so. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OM and I took our kids to the Mother Earth News Fair at the Puyallup Fair Grounds. They enjoyed the composting toilets booth very much and each took a turn on the eco-thrones. Who wouldn't want to sit on a toilet seat in public?? (Oh, that would be OM and I.)</span><br />
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These two chatted each other up on the outskirts of the chicken-rearing talk. Love it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piggyback rides, of course.</td></tr>
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The Sisters made our annual pilgrimage to Lummi Island. So lovely:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVZb01kCaHSypZaG7gDXW7eDKmgZFwEquZ1e65lHwfxWVm4SuTzRitjF7pRIbKRQT8pSMvlYIPRkfj9nJH2M6EznXQQqSO7pvLadAmeCqzuvYaRXIwfTSfPpgbvWgtrrlm5JcupYZ5VK/s1600/DSCF8229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVZb01kCaHSypZaG7gDXW7eDKmgZFwEquZ1e65lHwfxWVm4SuTzRitjF7pRIbKRQT8pSMvlYIPRkfj9nJH2M6EznXQQqSO7pvLadAmeCqzuvYaRXIwfTSfPpgbvWgtrrlm5JcupYZ5VK/s640/DSCF8229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuH5v4mLf160HQuphR94MlhUe20cJo5Dtt_SDu0FfEwtMD4MnthSSB4TKNf8f8A6fnKLukl7UIxoTZ6Qk6nfs2U4LV5YBaw49QpzSu1YXtUaRVb58_nDbrqYjXrjdFiQPvmvn8QuPzEif/s1600/DSCF8233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuH5v4mLf160HQuphR94MlhUe20cJo5Dtt_SDu0FfEwtMD4MnthSSB4TKNf8f8A6fnKLukl7UIxoTZ6Qk6nfs2U4LV5YBaw49QpzSu1YXtUaRVb58_nDbrqYjXrjdFiQPvmvn8QuPzEif/s640/DSCF8233.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nance has had this gorgeous embroidered shirt since high school; we all covet it. How cute is she???</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How are the chickens, you may wonder? Well, they're doing great! Here they are in their new fenced enclosure. Isn't the grosgrain ribbon fence lovely and functional? I really need help with a proper gate, though. It's a PIA to get in there. We have awesome new next door neighbors who love the girls and we have removed 2 fence boards so they can range over in their fenced backyard, as well. It's like a chicken-share! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1R_nx9JG48RlUvGioeKrNzhMjhxqKhIKAmGNUH-5AZO9Jzh3iMtOsSmHwQnrHUaCBkgLDYKJiNSBytlfdP89BPb7ldkpoKevl93DiG25Hk8WFiGhUBikQBTg_JH3RpSseRfkkEnM2ihy/s1600/DSCF8267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1R_nx9JG48RlUvGioeKrNzhMjhxqKhIKAmGNUH-5AZO9Jzh3iMtOsSmHwQnrHUaCBkgLDYKJiNSBytlfdP89BPb7ldkpoKevl93DiG25Hk8WFiGhUBikQBTg_JH3RpSseRfkkEnM2ihy/s640/DSCF8267.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koa likes to hang on the coop's roof and keep an eye on the chickens. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdYm56u8zRFJvKZ5RdrPrZmsZFqlG6OZWAkD2njdQLVgXXER7JbPEhWXmjHtiJr14xGOTzT4GfU5uJV62E0Axx6UklFrjDF5rYefgZHcy9r-vS2P4fSS9PmOez9ygk3FMlCVfbwzCTKsG/s1600/DSCF8278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdYm56u8zRFJvKZ5RdrPrZmsZFqlG6OZWAkD2njdQLVgXXER7JbPEhWXmjHtiJr14xGOTzT4GfU5uJV62E0Axx6UklFrjDF5rYefgZHcy9r-vS2P4fSS9PmOez9ygk3FMlCVfbwzCTKsG/s640/DSCF8278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fanny chicken!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90CZu0MFSgwcCEx3FkYF1gN9CInIsHLWqFMauPK-gWSkTLcDt8VFCbB15TAaE3bDhL5r2LmtGHcrhXRjobZssgY6U2XSJlCl8Ak5DI2fJfk81zAdeIFMcOzESYdoPTo6pMR7bUm-42V0Q/s1600/DSCF8282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90CZu0MFSgwcCEx3FkYF1gN9CInIsHLWqFMauPK-gWSkTLcDt8VFCbB15TAaE3bDhL5r2LmtGHcrhXRjobZssgY6U2XSJlCl8Ak5DI2fJfk81zAdeIFMcOzESYdoPTo6pMR7bUm-42V0Q/s640/DSCF8282.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Australorps are soooooo pretty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEOWRSKLsdCasHPHUEB9Wpxp9Pxk3OlpvDkUIfyD6lqw0RqZtr2JQfZNE9hWUuqrtgI5tk5NeV-X6RD1JB_HeD4jHaP1RNXwkyHc_YncPjnQBrOgA1Drh74vUkiN1B13f0CcDf-53iA7f/s1600/DSCF8295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEOWRSKLsdCasHPHUEB9Wpxp9Pxk3OlpvDkUIfyD6lqw0RqZtr2JQfZNE9hWUuqrtgI5tk5NeV-X6RD1JB_HeD4jHaP1RNXwkyHc_YncPjnQBrOgA1Drh74vUkiN1B13f0CcDf-53iA7f/s640/DSCF8295.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard work being a chicken shepherd!</td></tr>
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And Koko Kitty isn't the only one who's been working around this joint. Caroline is a good mommy to her Baby Alive and gave her a nice bath outside the other day. And yes, of course I had to heat water in the kettle to offset the ice cold hose water. Like I said, she's a good mom!<br />
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And Jack got inspired by the big box of scraps I brought home from the wood shop at my school (thanks, Dirk!!!!), and made a sign for our yard (as well as for 2 of our neighbors). My dad made him the awesome tool box here and he loves using his tools! </div>
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Thanks for stopping by the blog. Come again soon. And come to Duvall and visit the Elliot-Allens anytime!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-66623189755116128732012-05-28T12:06:00.000-07:002012-05-28T19:21:16.070-07:00And Still Through Every Clime and Age<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The stars are failing, and the sky</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is like a field of faded flowers</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The winds on weary wings go by;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The moon hides, and the tempest</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> lowers;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> And still through every clime</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and age</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I wander on a pilgrimage </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> That all men know an idle </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> quest,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> For that the goal I seek is--</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> REST!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--James Whitcomb Riley</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a difference a 3-day weekend makes! I feel rested, caught up, not in a hurry for anything, and peaceful. This one extra day is precious and my praise for it tells me that I've been doing too much lately. And that dang, am I ready for summer vacation or what?! We've had lots of fun this weekend: dressing up for Caroline's doll's birthday party:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were sooooo fancy!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were outside all weekend and took all of our meals on the deck (except for today--raining!). I weeded, mowed and transplanted seedlings (finally!). Things are getting huge and looking lush! So far, we've harvested our first radishes and spinach:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pallet raised beds--my, how you've grown! </td></tr>
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Watched poppies burst into bloom:<br />
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Enjoyed seeing the backyard flower bed NOT get scratched and pecked:<br />
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Loving the Cayuse irises from my dad and Tina's place:<br />
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The beans will soon cover this:<br />
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Who doesn't love a purple iris?! And they smell sooooo good! <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The chickens are now fenced in on the north side of my house. They have their own side lawn, a garden bed to dig around in, rocks with hiding bugs and slugs, and their new favorite place--under the deck. While I miss watching them roam around the backyard, this is safer for them and less garden destruction for me. Plus, they can be out all day, even when I'm at work, so...more freedom but less range. Seems like a pretty good trade. I made their fence out of spare parts from OM, leftover bits of lattice that I found behind my shed, the old chair rail trim that used to be in my dining room, and...grosgrain ribbon. Notice I did not say BUILT the fence, but rather MADE the fence. The ribbon was necessary to create the illusion of a tall barrier that they should not try to fly over. And I must say, it's working beautifully. Don't underestimate the utility of sewing notions:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, ladies! Don't try to escape--muhwah ha ha!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do believe this ladylike, fluttery iris is sticking her tongue out at us!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peanut butter French toast for breakfast today--yummy!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wish you a day filled with all the pretty flowers!</span></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-13049872306198345742012-05-27T00:48:00.000-07:002012-05-27T00:48:52.210-07:00Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">O chestnut tree, great rooted blossomer,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How can we know the dancer from the dance?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--W.B. Yeats</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Those are good, thoughtful questions, aren't they? I've been thinking about questions like these a lot lately, as I've been so busy and consumed by many things, great and small. Not blogging, always feeling like I'm running to the next thing, too many balls in the air. In the evenings to decompress I like to just sit quietly. No blogging. No Netflix movie. Limited plans. And I think, am I the root, the blossom or the bole? If I had to pick, I'd say: the root. Grounded, responsible, stubborn. Some days I'd prefer to be the bole and just drift off in a puff! And who wouldn't want to consider herself a blossom? Hello! I know, I know...I'm all three...we all are. We're all the dancer, we're all the dance. But I like to think about things like this, when it's dark and still and the world is quiet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I do my best every day to really live it. I'm trying to be a quieter mom (read: less of a yeller). I'm striving for peace in my daily life. Less worry. Letting things go. Saying yes nearly every dang time when a kid asks for another popsicle; today Jack had 6 and Caroline had 4. Who cares??? Gotta go to the store tomorrow for more! Last night, the kids and I took our neighbor's puppy for a walk to the park and around town a bit. It's a great pleasure to walk after dinner; I just love it! Jack even found the first salmon berries of the year and climbed down a steep creek bank to get some for all of us. When we got home, we sat at the top of our driveway and had a popsicle. The concrete was still really warm from the day's heat, the sun was going down and the sky was pretty, and we just enjoyed the 10 minutes of sitting there, slurping down the 'cicles, trying not to let one side break off and fall on the ground, soaking up each other and the moment. This is what matters to me the most: dancing the dance.</span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-26476096904175715452012-04-24T23:31:00.002-07:002012-04-24T23:31:52.099-07:00Sowing Seeds<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dirt-caked days of Spring</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">bring a song with every step.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Honest hands, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">knead, sift, pull, poke and pat, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tucking in seeds like children.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Legs sore,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">shoulders pink,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hair full of debris, and</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am born again--</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">up through the earth</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pulled as if on a string </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">toward all the light </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of the world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--M.Elliot</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, it's certainly not a fancy poem, but I did write it, and it's the truth. Every year when Spring comes, usually waltzing into my neighborhood sometime in April, I become a born-again gardener. I mean, it's not like I really <i>forget </i>about my garden, far from it--I dream about it, sketch it out, order 50 billion seeds (from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds--my fave), look at pictures of the garden from years past--BUT, until She actually <i>shows up</i>, it's like I didn't really believe it. You know, like say, delicious chocolate-- it's super tasty, but until it's melting on your tongue, you really can't grasp the depths of its awesomeness, the richness of the experience. Garden dreaming is wonderful, but it's 2D--putting your hands in that dirt is a whollllllle 'nother experience. You hear me? </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made these raised beds out of pallets</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're going to make a strawberry pallet garden, you're going to need a piece of plywood for the back--garden cloth alone ain't gonna cut it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big clamps and a drill will be necessary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voila!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a concrete block makes a swell sedum planter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp81pXbc_dsUNPLFl_ZoAEvvYZB2_bGD6InFbbHmpUqmd0Yw3A3vP1iti6-3iQRMij7evLdzsyqABPWnQBPzzwqr6lGOAqw2HzwSbILrDzMrVxpxt1Vc8yZSgfJPu4Ra7XgYQU5xRuw8ml/s1600/DSCF7960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp81pXbc_dsUNPLFl_ZoAEvvYZB2_bGD6InFbbHmpUqmd0Yw3A3vP1iti6-3iQRMij7evLdzsyqABPWnQBPzzwqr6lGOAqw2HzwSbILrDzMrVxpxt1Vc8yZSgfJPu4Ra7XgYQU5xRuw8ml/s640/DSCF7960.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garlic is looking good, snap peas are planted by the length of fence and cauliflower, broccoli and spinach are in the cold frame</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_GZcHVbOMw48orayHqg7xx6_EXknLebJm4toPE9r_93AphYPeSY3bhyMsyJrYNCLoXCl1Mt9B2TFlDQiHVYekIbc1_a7vToi2rr-csAHQtObXrBtuExxmvfG45WpHAAUNbIBjm83otik/s1600/DSCF8011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_GZcHVbOMw48orayHqg7xx6_EXknLebJm4toPE9r_93AphYPeSY3bhyMsyJrYNCLoXCl1Mt9B2TFlDQiHVYekIbc1_a7vToi2rr-csAHQtObXrBtuExxmvfG45WpHAAUNbIBjm83otik/s640/DSCF8011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">radishes, carrots, onions, lettuce, bok choy, and spinach are in this bed</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGRa9Xdon8zhz91Y68PalFS5-pLjS_uCi0torpicSEIhuJtKH1H4gQAWuvQUMgzEQKjEx7MiHUlnivc5mCCQm7CPFOn8o6jSwTiXx2B0XzCC8QhLEs_LNQzdICNWRr4aAay2VM0an2P59/s1600/DSCF8016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGRa9Xdon8zhz91Y68PalFS5-pLjS_uCi0torpicSEIhuJtKH1H4gQAWuvQUMgzEQKjEx7MiHUlnivc5mCCQm7CPFOn8o6jSwTiXx2B0XzCC8QhLEs_LNQzdICNWRr4aAay2VM0an2P59/s640/DSCF8016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">indoor grow operation: hollyhocks, borage, bees friend, calendula, cosmos, moonflowers, and peppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, that's what I've been doing instead of blogging this last month! Next time I'll tell you about my chickens and adventures in fencing. Until then, I'll sign off with some nerdy garden humor. Happy growing, Friends!</span></div>
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<br /></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-86039201584476732862012-03-25T11:48:00.001-07:002012-03-26T00:04:21.704-07:00Mud-Luscious and Puddle-Wonderfulin Just-<br />
spring when the world is mud-<br />
luscious the little<br />
lame balloonman<br />
<br />
whistles far and wee<br />
<br />
and eddieandbill come<br />
running from marbles and<br />
piracies and it's<br />
spring<br />
<br />
when the world is puddle-wonderful<br />
<br />
the queer<br />
old balloonman whistles<br />
far and wee<br />
and bettyandisbel come dancing<br />
<br />
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and<br />
<br />
it's<br />
spring<br />
and<br />
the<br />
<br />
goat-footed<br />
<br />
balloonMan whistles<br />
far<br />
and<br />
wee<br />
<br />
--E.E. Cummings<br />
<br />
<br />
This may be my favorite Spring poem. I shared it with Anne's 8th graders the other day and we had such a good discussion about it and they were able to 'get' it. It was magical. I recited it for the kids last night as we ate our favorite Spring tradition--nettle soup! OM and kids and my kids and I went on the lovely hike yesterday to gather nettles and just get out in the gorgeous Spring weather. It was a fantastic day:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv93A6LZXWNg_t7Vh99GwpCC8wDiD_PH-03QWgWFq4iMkS0CllMnwrfvhE4yUuHz9iZw5CfQuYZQBTEOMazlvb56JWwXtZhQrpRMUbR67eakuWB9kyg0ta7m9mQ_3TeTarKYor20uoh-Wn/s1600/DSCF7805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv93A6LZXWNg_t7Vh99GwpCC8wDiD_PH-03QWgWFq4iMkS0CllMnwrfvhE4yUuHz9iZw5CfQuYZQBTEOMazlvb56JWwXtZhQrpRMUbR67eakuWB9kyg0ta7m9mQ_3TeTarKYor20uoh-Wn/s640/DSCF7805.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack's ladybug friend</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJG0YYp8QNyQu3Wn4jffHwZzwrYgkv87QOvJXmnpYvXPH5z6ANoOxJlSPTDgPgskmWBMvS4xD1UJNQHoZs8gbbabUKpn_Cp6kZzjWR70bHSQBSNcqpBEutxYH8Fusgq6WMk7Q6XnFPCdq/s1600/DSCF7806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJG0YYp8QNyQu3Wn4jffHwZzwrYgkv87QOvJXmnpYvXPH5z6ANoOxJlSPTDgPgskmWBMvS4xD1UJNQHoZs8gbbabUKpn_Cp6kZzjWR70bHSQBSNcqpBEutxYH8Fusgq6WMk7Q6XnFPCdq/s640/DSCF7806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gino and Caroline with special rocks and little daisies</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Iir2qO349h6ZYkRogUGGDXMZqwtoxHv1SdAK1jFF6zQtJuRlGxRrAtjUtcFtsNfnbzWM2cE9NmjEbKmPpS2Ti1U2zjZTvnE0KK_YU7O8fN3bU7eoqo6tNpR-0qJTSenfQtBDS9CVx-wp/s1600/DSCF7809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Iir2qO349h6ZYkRogUGGDXMZqwtoxHv1SdAK1jFF6zQtJuRlGxRrAtjUtcFtsNfnbzWM2cE9NmjEbKmPpS2Ti1U2zjZTvnE0KK_YU7O8fN3bU7eoqo6tNpR-0qJTSenfQtBDS9CVx-wp/s640/DSCF7809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They dammed up the creek!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNQoCJGI0IQFnclz-DvWQRKElweDPvt0cAVhYgC5CK1rm025JlK0KVQU8qb3cgZ2F8S4RWGi1O1P2a36-A0pdCH_kpiWMAgsz-Jp8eD0SwfhrhBLHpfDYLY6i6NqeZAZoBCiN7ydm9_eS/s1600/DSCF7813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNQoCJGI0IQFnclz-DvWQRKElweDPvt0cAVhYgC5CK1rm025JlK0KVQU8qb3cgZ2F8S4RWGi1O1P2a36-A0pdCH_kpiWMAgsz-Jp8eD0SwfhrhBLHpfDYLY6i6NqeZAZoBCiN7ydm9_eS/s640/DSCF7813.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo documentation of OM drinking her FIRST beer--a Newcastle Nutbrown Ale!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e3Wnny6iDY5w0y7dnyQzZ5TQBbM5YhAQ8PVQvu9AnWvtYijZHfZAZNB2gqiQu_B-Agjqn5goHzuE1-N17uTlz7lIrLyf3xKZrlRv_lCANK9SPSb7S7RYC5C97I070L18l7YY0grwlg47/s1600/DSCF7818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e3Wnny6iDY5w0y7dnyQzZ5TQBbM5YhAQ8PVQvu9AnWvtYijZHfZAZNB2gqiQu_B-Agjqn5goHzuE1-N17uTlz7lIrLyf3xKZrlRv_lCANK9SPSb7S7RYC5C97I070L18l7YY0grwlg47/s640/DSCF7818.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelina and Caroline taking a break from their dam work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidlIKkYziL1eymJPs5McdFUTduugXPeEbatiNuCbgaA0gHjJ2-neD4NuB1o30EJ3440bcARWTTl7Q6LgXNOAOhXMYvAGTuMDtUyAcYL2xkHTuTiSQnvDBv85behnRLhRcxN-sEo-uuIfQ/s1600/DSCF7817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidlIKkYziL1eymJPs5McdFUTduugXPeEbatiNuCbgaA0gHjJ2-neD4NuB1o30EJ3440bcARWTTl7Q6LgXNOAOhXMYvAGTuMDtUyAcYL2xkHTuTiSQnvDBv85behnRLhRcxN-sEo-uuIfQ/s640/DSCF7817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking up at the sky through the trees' mossy arms</td></tr>
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<br />
OM and I picked nettles while the rascals dammed up the little creek SO well, that it flooded over the trail. Then, they had the job of unblocking the culvert, which took several jabs with long sticks, muddy hands and lots of determination. But they did it and it was pretty exciting when the water started whooshing through again. OM and I got a lot of tender nettles while the kids did their work. The nettle plants were pretty small, but abundant. In early Spring, their top leaves are sort of purple-ish-- lovely! We of course wore gloves and plucked several leaves off of each plant, leaving enough for the plant to go on. I filled about half of a paper grocery bag--enough for soup and a frittata, but I'd love to go back in a few weeks and get more for pesto. Here's a few pics of the soup, followed by Greg Atkinson's delicious recipe:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkBDTcEAWhjOskOvOdXbXimfkasU0y1Sy60-g00K9naCAChyphenhyphenF8lOwh87sxJ5y-JiVHt_1vIkznhmft-6grXzCPDY8wULtbMofN81_QH2HfZ5UldOMSqyRvoYuGA0zG_Fzl-pU8mzIG9YI/s1600/DSCF7826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkBDTcEAWhjOskOvOdXbXimfkasU0y1Sy60-g00K9naCAChyphenhyphenF8lOwh87sxJ5y-JiVHt_1vIkznhmft-6grXzCPDY8wULtbMofN81_QH2HfZ5UldOMSqyRvoYuGA0zG_Fzl-pU8mzIG9YI/s640/DSCF7826.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is right after I added them to the pot--they cook waaaaay down, like spinach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNq5cmUwVPCNiwaTbTu3IL0nqA92rvf9_hI_ILzooP3AKqN6WJfIIdpr0791STuf85-sxSpfllabbJZE1ysOQ7lNSOWb6ez1MmzY4-IGXnL_aijm3UjC7iRCsA1Ki7VyfrUO-m7ZpO-rk/s1600/DSCF7827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNq5cmUwVPCNiwaTbTu3IL0nqA92rvf9_hI_ILzooP3AKqN6WJfIIdpr0791STuf85-sxSpfllabbJZE1ysOQ7lNSOWb6ez1MmzY4-IGXnL_aijm3UjC7iRCsA1Ki7VyfrUO-m7ZpO-rk/s640/DSCF7827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids love nettle soup! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo8IBBWDFTqZHy346ckSTHC-hsE4lEdI1ok7CEV7WVe9xIoQfiWa8CZNl78XNTBePef_LoBy5Q29O_4_XLI8I1uOJQ2s2_5qIm5QkNyJBw4oGnzee6wlBxud_OneOtcRYGmNXTfw2xg_y/s1600/DSCF7829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo8IBBWDFTqZHy346ckSTHC-hsE4lEdI1ok7CEV7WVe9xIoQfiWa8CZNl78XNTBePef_LoBy5Q29O_4_XLI8I1uOJQ2s2_5qIm5QkNyJBw4oGnzee6wlBxud_OneOtcRYGmNXTfw2xg_y/s640/DSCF7829.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A bright sauvignon blanc would have been especially delish with this, but all I had was zinfandel--still good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Greg Atkinson's Stinging Nettle Soup<br />
<br />
Nettles lose their sting as soon as they're cooked to become a heavenly green leafy vegetable. They taste like Spring itself!!! <br />
(makes about 6 cups of soup)<br />
1/2 pound (about 8 cups, packed) stinging nettle leaves<br />
1/4 cup butter<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped<br />
2 cloves garlic<br />
1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced<br />
1 tsp salt, or to taste<br />
1/2 tsp pepper (I leave this out as my kids aren't pepper fans)<br />
4 cups (1 box) chicken broth (I use low-sodium, organic)<br />
<br />
1. Pick over the nettles (wearing gloves) and remove any debris; pile them into a colander, give them a rinse.<br />
2. In a soup kettle over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil; add the sliced onion and saute', stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until it begins to color.<br />
3. Stir in the potato chunks, nettles, garlic, and broth. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.<br />
4. I used an immersion blender to chop it up, but you could also use a blender, in small batches, to puree' it. (I think I'll do that for today's lunch.) I also add a squeeze of lemon just before serving, to bring up the flavors.<br />
<br />
<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-54893597063042021472012-03-13T22:00:00.000-07:002012-03-13T22:00:57.991-07:00Then Laugh On, Happy Rain!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Laughter of the Rain</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The rain sounds like a laugh to me--</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A low laugh poured out limpidly.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My very soul smiles as I listen to</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The low, mysterious laughter </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of the rain,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Poured musically over heart and brain</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Till sodden care, soaked with it through</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and through,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sinks; and, with wings wet with it as</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> with dew,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> My spirit flutters up, with every</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> stain</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Rinsed from its plumage, and as</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> white again</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As when the old laugh of the rain was</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> new.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Then laugh on, happy Rain! laugh </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> louder yet!--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laugh out in torrent-bursts of watery</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> mirth;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Unlock thy lips of purple cloud, and </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> let</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thy liquid merriment baptize the earth,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> And wash the sad face of the world,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and set</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The universe to music dripping</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> wet!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--James Whitcomb Riley</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am reading through James Whitcomb Riley's collected poetical works that my dear ol' dad gave me, all 829 pages of it, and I am finding some gems, such as this. So, if you like to read this blog, brace yourself for more JWR, because he's under my skin in a very good way! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been typical PNW crizzazy March weather lately. I love it! I love the unpredictability and the variety of conditions. Today it was: cold and clear, rainy, snowing cottonballs, hailing, sunny, windy, and sleeting. Not dull. And like JWR, I say, "Unlock thy lips of purple cloud, and let thy liquid merriment baptize the earth." Isn't that just a <i>great</i> line?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are some other things that have been making me happy lately:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Barns I pass on my drive to work:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nancy's greenhouse, aka The Nut Hut:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nancy's horse, Rebel, and a juicy red apple:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OM dancing with the dancing girls:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plus, the realization that Newt Gingrich sounds exactly like Kermit the Frog! Next time you hear him on the radio, picture Kermit. It will make you laugh, guaranteed! Just like this lovely rain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-91277389060052169712012-03-06T09:07:00.001-08:002012-03-06T17:06:01.590-08:00Whoopty-Doo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Twangle, then, with your wrangling</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> strings,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The tinkling links of a thousand </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> things!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And clang the pang of a maddening</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> moan</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Till the Echo, hid in a land unknown,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Shall leap as he hears, and hoot</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and hoo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Like the wretched wraith of a</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Whoopty-Doo!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--James Whitcomb Riley, from his poem <i>A Nonsense Rhyme</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good morning, Friends! Guess what? Today is a partial snow day--2 hour delay! The very best of all snow days--no make up and these free golden hours to read and drink coffee and even blog. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have had some nice days lately, filled with lots of comfort food. Let's take a peek from the weekend menu:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtboENihxw_BbcZe8cycFxbl9VEolbVNI1ZhHmy-d2q5ZEztnPToAT3Hsx5hTbq7iM4Km9aicDbul6dTh0gcMmoQpKysXOfutE5nd_SPaJ7_NFewhICuqcv0ihyphenhyphennDEXeL4FSdmQ2P-CIHe/s1600/DSCF7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtboENihxw_BbcZe8cycFxbl9VEolbVNI1ZhHmy-d2q5ZEztnPToAT3Hsx5hTbq7iM4Km9aicDbul6dTh0gcMmoQpKysXOfutE5nd_SPaJ7_NFewhICuqcv0ihyphenhyphennDEXeL4FSdmQ2P-CIHe/s640/DSCF7639.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of onions...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make for delicious "Fronch" onion soup (we've been watching Better Off Dead--haha)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gnyVRf8XgPIHYWscLKu-RbnxoDpZcRbobAwu0IQgU6tg24W_5zddj8tZPa0CgHMTr8k607Uk_Kj8xvpSyZzNywEp9KVWbehc8viO9jknDyo05v0dMKqDV-HreiTwh9ZhbLtm25qyhrCo/s1600/DSCF7647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gnyVRf8XgPIHYWscLKu-RbnxoDpZcRbobAwu0IQgU6tg24W_5zddj8tZPa0CgHMTr8k607Uk_Kj8xvpSyZzNywEp9KVWbehc8viO9jknDyo05v0dMKqDV-HreiTwh9ZhbLtm25qyhrCo/s640/DSCF7647.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmmmmm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL3U4Yg9M2yOVZvGR0dAKjxZi8Rs15iQs8fP7acjCUjTaY7lytbRpTM3b7LPECNTsn-fXl4nofVjYL8glp9XmJCB3frDdSi2hUEY5n5dlpPa8tuFOxaGYv2_4WfsMkL9XK3fR4hJ4HW07/s1600/DSCF7649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL3U4Yg9M2yOVZvGR0dAKjxZi8Rs15iQs8fP7acjCUjTaY7lytbRpTM3b7LPECNTsn-fXl4nofVjYL8glp9XmJCB3frDdSi2hUEY5n5dlpPa8tuFOxaGYv2_4WfsMkL9XK3fR4hJ4HW07/s640/DSCF7649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons o' pancakes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCoWfbLASrn7V7vcmJu_DaMF0-HIQmbs2UB6_1KZdfDzpQRLOfdq25-zDjTvrP3voeAI36LBaYANG3Ef2FLlOx6nINdun1fvG-3bX8Ph6C1bSfHlm3es4sZ8yeQbs8_r1fOJ2itgFyqBv/s1600/DSCF7671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCoWfbLASrn7V7vcmJu_DaMF0-HIQmbs2UB6_1KZdfDzpQRLOfdq25-zDjTvrP3voeAI36LBaYANG3Ef2FLlOx6nINdun1fvG-3bX8Ph6C1bSfHlm3es4sZ8yeQbs8_r1fOJ2itgFyqBv/s640/DSCF7671.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good ol' mac-n-cheese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL82MkAPPPbC-RQUOIEZH_QpagU-CHeI_dOXPltQAKXisdBvuJ08Woy1DgaZ0sygBiIF4na_VHKflvDPN5fGqPXLILfHReJvTLbACgdcQ2gTJ3rHKBRVcH2RkeyIpvYMXw41jlT-MqKpcg/s1600/DSCF7658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL82MkAPPPbC-RQUOIEZH_QpagU-CHeI_dOXPltQAKXisdBvuJ08Woy1DgaZ0sygBiIF4na_VHKflvDPN5fGqPXLILfHReJvTLbACgdcQ2gTJ3rHKBRVcH2RkeyIpvYMXw41jlT-MqKpcg/s640/DSCF7658.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chicken whisperer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee's on--it's a snow delay day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candlelight breakfast, naturally.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ACCGn1N0tZsjohFzJIJAxz_pyMup_3M4SkpebW29ip4JqhS8Nq8FhuyOdi_kdPkujjsO7Ky-cZqxJspaXh2o96S5aH76kp7TE7F4kGqGJIBDzykJ5ddDqVdwwOOI22Jdq_Y1rQ1IjBZW/s1600/DSCF7689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ACCGn1N0tZsjohFzJIJAxz_pyMup_3M4SkpebW29ip4JqhS8Nq8FhuyOdi_kdPkujjsO7Ky-cZqxJspaXh2o96S5aH76kp7TE7F4kGqGJIBDzykJ5ddDqVdwwOOI22Jdq_Y1rQ1IjBZW/s640/DSCF7689.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Guy out in the snow event that made today possible!</td></tr>
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Whoopty-Doo!</div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-31599946719776528812012-02-29T21:21:00.001-08:002012-02-29T21:21:42.647-08:00Leap!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The sense of danger must not disappear:<br />The way is certainly both short and steep,<br />However gradual it looks from here;<br />Look if you like, but you will have to leap.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--W.H. Auden (excerpt from his <i>Leap Before You Look</i> villanelle)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Leap Day, friends! Had to write a quick post for the February 29 dateline, if nothing else. Plus, we had a nice afternoon and Jack found a real Leap Day treasure in the chicken coop. Check it out:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5j0KrF0bqFiWA0t93WRrd93r9ttCgzMRGnOxPsXAOw93XHTHobYzVnmsurvb0Zu45Q2DskYi9EUYQyFcBxm76KiGpnxQG8QqusxOAg1qzS9e1p4y0QllvRaFS6rAwgL983-Jtpf9-PuuS/s1600/DSCF7629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5j0KrF0bqFiWA0t93WRrd93r9ttCgzMRGnOxPsXAOw93XHTHobYzVnmsurvb0Zu45Q2DskYi9EUYQyFcBxm76KiGpnxQG8QqusxOAg1qzS9e1p4y0QllvRaFS6rAwgL983-Jtpf9-PuuS/s640/DSCF7629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A teeeny, tiny egg! Awwwwwww!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I made a nice fire and we all hung out in the family room to enjoy it. I've found the fire is the key to getting everyone to hang out together at home. I mean, who doesn't love some warmth on a cold day? We read, play games, talk. It's wonderful. Who knew something so basic and simple would be just the ticket to getting that cozy close family vibe going? Well, the secret is out and I wish everyone had a wood stove, a cord of wood, and the inclination, 'cause this shit's magic!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Continuing with our Leap Day celebrations, we had pizza for dinner with a side of garlic spinach, and homemade ice cream for dessert, with chocolate syrup. Good ol' Hershey's. Did you ever drink Hershey's syrup straight from the can (!) when you were a kid? You'd puncture it on both sides of the top to really get it flowing, and then suck it down. Will my kids do stuff like that? Of course they will. Do I need to know? Not really. At some point in our childhoods, we start making tiny leaps, away from parental consent, toward becoming independent beings. And I think we get braver as we grow up. I know I have, in that I pretty much do what I want and trust that I can make a decent decision for myself. As OM says, "I got this!" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, do the best you can and believe that it's enough and okay. Then leap.</span><br />
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<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-54175619072447671072012-02-23T19:14:00.000-08:002012-02-23T19:17:23.601-08:00In the Usual Places<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though the crocuses poke up their heads in the usual places,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The frog scum appear on the pond with the same froth of green,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And boys moon at girls with last year's fatuous faces,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I never am bored, however familiar the scene.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When from under the barn the cat brings a similar litter,--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two yellow and black, and one that looks in between,--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though it all happened before, I cannot grow bitter:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I rejoice in the spring, as though no spring ever had been.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Theodore Roethke</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1AdTvpdHQZupZJmVch6Xm0eptNonOejhz6q6p1naG4ILcf6Qg5roQJYAMfU_WRdN1XE4VsJc4oDyp96LMo9Ivlv9vSCA7KXRJyhsKitoQiZH7KrnkMHb9Kl-sj5SDolckEmD2XJWAuaQ/s1600/DSCF7620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1AdTvpdHQZupZJmVch6Xm0eptNonOejhz6q6p1naG4ILcf6Qg5roQJYAMfU_WRdN1XE4VsJc4oDyp96LMo9Ivlv9vSCA7KXRJyhsKitoQiZH7KrnkMHb9Kl-sj5SDolckEmD2XJWAuaQ/s640/DSCF7620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These weren't up yesterday! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rejoicing!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rejoicing!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> REJOICING!!!</span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-80751206044339079722012-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:002012-02-21T16:53:11.233-08:00Marvels Coast By<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe Alone On My Bike</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I listen, and the mountain lakes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hear snowflakes come on those winter wings</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">only the owls are awake to see,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">their radar gaze and furred ears</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">alert. In that stillness a meaning shakes;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I have thought (maybe alone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on my bike, quaintly on a cold</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">evening pedaling home) think!--</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the splendor of our life, its current unknown</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as those mountains, the scene no one sees.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh citizens of our great amnesty:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we might have died. We live. Marvels</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">coast by, great veers and swoops of air</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so bright the lamps waver in tears, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and I hear in the chain a chuckle I like to hear.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--William Stafford</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am slowly shaking the nasty cold, the dread mogus, as my mom and Bobster would say. I feel like a human person--yay! And OMG, we even left the house today! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though while we've been home, we have enjoyed watching one of the neighborhood deer grazing in our yard and our neighbor's yard, too. This is a young deer, maybe a year old, and she is really cute. And seems to have a gentle spirit, as most deer do or at least pretend to. Our cat, Coco, is interested in this deer and sort of followed her around all morning, lounging about while the deer grazed on lawn. The chickens were not troubled by this large creature, either and went about with their scratchin' and peckin' undisturbed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I marveled at it all: the peaceful animals, my sweet kids, mug after mug of red zinger tea with LOTS of honey (medicine, yo), and feeling so glad to be on the upswing from this dang cold. And tonight we are getting Thai take-out, and I'll be able to taste it and everything! </span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-50422341269170326102012-02-19T20:52:00.000-08:002012-02-19T20:55:49.817-08:00A Swan Needs a Pond<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"...When I stand, I'm almost a tree.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leaves, do you like me any?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A swan needs a pond.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The worm and the rose</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Both love</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rain."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">--Theodore Roethke, from Bring the Day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been sick all day with the nastiest little cold. Sniffling and coughing and aching. No thank you! I almost never get sick, so I forget how it is to feel miserable. What has gotten me through today, besides ibuprofen, tea with honey, and naps, is dreams of my garden. I went through my favorite seed catalogue again, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and made my list. I sketched out my garden space, including the 2 raised beds I'm building out of old pallets. And also the bean tepee I made out of the chair rail trim that used to be in my dining room. I'm also going to try a vertical pallet garden for strawberries this year, as they tend to hog garden real estate and I think they'll do fine in a standing up pallet. They'll have a better view, anyway. And the chickens will be SOL this year. Ha! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry, Sookie</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The raised beds are going to be fantastic. I'm putting them up at the top of my driveway, in front of the garage door I never open. It gets awesome sun and the radiant heat coming off the garage door will be a plus, as well. In those beds, I think I'll grow: cherry tomatoes--probably one Sungold and one Black Cherry, Chioggia Beets, Lipstick Peppers, Early Scarlet Globe Radishes, Bloomsdale Spinach, Cosmic Purple Carrots, Pepperoncinis, basil and parsley. Also, in the front, my neighbor said I can garden his little patch of ground that separates our driveways. I think I'll plant Golden Bantam 12-Row Corn with Missouri Wonder Beans. Plus some pretty mixed zinnias, for fun. Also mixed into my front border garden will be more cherry tomatoes, green pattypan squash, and garlic. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the back, it's Purple Podded Pole Beans and Chinese Mosaic Long Beans on the tepee, which will also double as a kid fort. I'm going to fence the garden this year to keep out the feathered predators. It was lettuce carnage last year and I can't stand the heartbreak again. So, in the fenced garden will be Sugar Snap Peas growing on a length of metal fence from my dad. Peas and beans are my favorite things to grow because they are sooo easy and soooo yummy. The kids love them both, too and will snack away right out of the garden, which warms a mama's heart. Also in the garden will be 3 kinds of lettuce, Purple of Sicily Cauliflower, 2 kinds of broccoli, lots of garlic, and lots and lots of potatoes!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On March 20th, the 1st day of Spring and my dear old Dad's birthday, I will plant sweet peas practically everywhere--5 different kinds, all very fragrant. Poke 'em into the ground or in pots, give them something to climb, and they'll bloom by June and go all summer. They may be an annual, but to me, they're a perennial favorite-hahaha!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Until then, here are a few pics of the garden in years past. It really will look like this again! And even better, hopefully!!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-61560452038221383312012-02-16T09:21:00.000-08:002012-02-16T09:21:53.139-08:00it is or it ain't<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Love is or it ain't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thin love ain't love at all."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">--Toni Morrison, from <u>Beloved</u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm still thinking about love. And why it's so important. I think it's what binds us together in a community. Whether that's a family, a circle of friends, a marriage, or a society. Loving each other. Loving the work we do at home. Preserving and building things that will last, even beyond ourselves. That is love. Love is like the egg in the crab cake of life. It enriches and holds it all together. Without it, life is fragmented, disconnected, boring. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Toni Morrison's quote above truly resonates with me. If you love someone, then <strong><u>LOVE</u></strong> them! Love is the answer. Love will set you free. Love conquers all. The cliches just go on and on! And you know why? Because they are true. If you want connection and deep meaning in your life, then fatten up the way you love. Feed it. Nurture it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Because if you don't, you'll look up and have nothing.</span>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-78482780664206823212012-02-14T09:17:00.000-08:002012-02-14T09:18:21.783-08:00Light is the Center of DarknessI love a love poem. Especially on Valentine's Day. So here are a few for you, dear reader. <3 <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Celestial
North<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Nights
like this you could tell me time<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">is
porous as gauze and I would believe<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me tonight has always happened<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">and
always will be happening, since nothing<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I
know any longer says No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whisper it<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">and
I would believe you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight the breeze<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">cooling
us comes from the place where dreams <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">are
harbored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say this moment when winter<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">swivels
into spring is genesis writ small,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">say
light is the center of darkness<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">and
I would turn toward it like a flower,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">following
your hand across the heavens<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">as
it finds the north celestial pole.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Floyd
Skloot<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
And, it wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a Neruda poem. We should all be so lucky to have a love like this:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sonnet 17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I do not love you as if you
were salt-rose, or topaz,<br />
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.<br />
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,<br />
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.<br />
<br />
I love you as the plant that never blooms<br />
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;<br />
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,<br />
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.<br />
<br />
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.<br />
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;<br />
so I love you because I know no other way<br />
<br />
than this: where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> does not exist,
nor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>,<br />
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,<br />
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep. <br />
<br />
--<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pablo Neruda</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<br />MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5920534907532083312.post-69674131881050146282012-02-07T14:49:00.000-08:002012-02-07T19:37:29.847-08:00Out Of The Blue Drench<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Southern Sunrise</span></st1:place><span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Color of lemon, mango, peach,<br />
These storybook villas<br />
Still dream behind<br />
Shutters, their balconies<br />
Fine as hand-<br />
Made lace, or a leaf-and-flower pen-sketch.<br />
<br />
Tilting with the winds,<br />
On arrowy stems,<br />
Pineapple-barked,<br />
A green crescent of palms<br />
Sends up its forked<br />
Firework of fronds.<br />
<br />
A quartz-clear dawn<br />
Inch by bright inch<br />
Gilds all our Avenue,<br />
And out of the blue drench<br />
Of Angels’ Bay<br />
Rises the round red watermelon sun.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt;">--Sylvia Plath</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #3f3a23;">Over the last few days, I've enjoyed the bright blues all around. Morning skies, the milky periwinkle mist over the valley floor, the electric blue of the day, and the indigo nights. The sunrise this morning, while not Southern, was just as described by Sylvia above. In what may be, one of her most upbeat poems. Love it. Love nature. Love it all. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia;">The feel of a coming Spring will do that to a person. Even when I've had crazy days at work (full moon--no, seriously) and moderately bicker-y kids, the loveliness of season trumps all. The smell of the air, and my sore muscles from working in the yard all day on Sunday tell me I'm waking, emerging from fallow fields, and ready to broadcast new seeds over the world. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia;">Today, while driving the kids to school, we talked about travel. It was one of the best conversations we've ever had. I love traveling and I really love meeting foreign people, in general--much more so than Americans, if we're being honest. I'm a reverse xenophobe. I realized that I haven't really talked travel with the kids and it was soooo fun to do so. I would love to take them to Europe, specifically France, England, Scotland, Switzerland and Italy (Sicily with OM and brood). Not in one trip, and I know that's a big list of wonderful places, all deserving of serious time spent, BUT, we're dreaming here and why not? My passion for these travel dreams rubbed off on them and they had lots of fun questions and I'm looking forward to talking more about it. And then doing it someday! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3f3a23; font-family: Georgia;">So I'm off and out--while the watermelon sun is still shining.</span></div>MEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06141584090837342362noreply@blogger.com0