Mardi Gras is Over

Did you eat pancakes last night- if not you can try again today just to start the Easter season right. Remember that regardless of faith connections and differences, life is best celebrated each season and this season we are preparing for Spring.

In the northwest this year it is particularly easy to celebrate Spring preparations because of our mild weather. Monday I stepped into my new boots and began garden clean-up in earnest. I even broke out the chocolate garden soap to keep my grimy fingernails clean(ish). Today the sun is shining and I plan to head out to the vegetable garden for the first time, so this will be a short hello to all just to remind you to celebrate the moments of each season.

There are always good reasons to keep busy but don't make yourself too important in the universal scheme of things. You are responsible for putting your best self forward into the world but you can not control the outcome or response .

For Lent, let's all try to think more about bringing happiness into the world and less about self-sacrificing. I think there is enough imposed sacrifice and suffering right now to more that meet the requirement. The world, small and large, needs a reminder that fun still exists, people still laugh and we are all important.

As our Lenten preparations for Spring (which will come to the East coast someday), let us all make time to mail a card to a friend, call someone and chat for a moment, take a walk to clear our heads, go to bed early and, most of all, realize that happiness is the best preparation for the joy that is Spring. Being a good person is being happy and sharing your happiness so despite the occasional obstacles in our paths and the walls blocking our view to the future, make Lent the time to pronounce happiness as our goal and share it.

Mother Theresa is quoted as saying: We can do not great things- only small things with great love. Let's try doing some small things for others with love and joy.

Happy pancake dinners.
Love
Mama Llama

February Days of Rain

The A-frame is rented.

January is over and the first blush of hope of becoming a sparkling new human being with a scintillating new life of opportunities is slowing sliding back into the routine of gray rainy routines. What to do? It is that time of year when nothing seems to change or to be changeable but we only need to look back at the year 12 months past to see how much happened that we did not foresee.

It will all be unexpected in this year too, so right now I remind myself to just take one step at a time. I don't feel like getting out of bed- just do it and make a cup of coffee. I want to sit on the sofa with no idea how to proceed- just walk into the computer and solve ONE dilemma, answer one note to a friend; okay now the internet has sucked dry my mind.

Walk out and sit at the spinning wheel for a minute to finish one skein so the blanket on the loom can be finished. (Don't think about the 6 more to be done-that is depressing and irrelevant) Oh, I have a class with the Korean student this morning so I will have to get dressed out of sweats and into something acceptable because she dresses up for the meetings in jeans jacket, cute short dress with tights and black boots. I don't want to make her feel it is useless to put her best self forward to I guess I better get dressed. I will take her to Central Market to talk about what we find there and do grocery shopping at the same time.

Then when I get home I will make brownies (An article in the COOK'S has the secret to perfect brownies) so David will have lunch and dinner dessert and maybe make Pumpkin Soup for dinner and see how far that gets me. This day is moving along, as they do, and I feel a little more hopeful.

And so it goes...just take one step even when it doesn't feel like a step you want to take. No big insights just constant little efforts and we break out into the sunshine sooner than expected. My yoga teacher's departing words last night were particularly relevant although I can only share their essence as I have forgotten the exact words : Recognize the creative energy of the universe and see that your control is not part of its path. So, worry and anxiety really does not make success happen sooner! Just remember all the good things that happened unexpectedly and know they will continue to happen.

Keep on Walking!
Love,
Mama LLama

FINISHED

Well, for the most part anyway. I put most of the finishing touches on the a-frame this morning including the fumigating finish. Plumbing is completed, the wall is built and the refrigerator has electricity. Holes are spackled, crevasses are caulked and the floor has been swept and vacuumed one hundred times at least. It was a long haul but I am glad to have it completed before the new month starts. If you want to check out the posting on Craig's list, here is the address

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/apa/1579603840.html .





Otherwise just take a gander at these pictures and imagine me listening to books on tape while I hammer away. Look forward to my normal rambling missives in the coming month because many thoughts have, of course, been flowing through my mind as I work. Too bad there is no dam to stop the flow so they just run like rapids into the sea but who knows when some bottle with a message might flow back.



Have a great week ahead.
Love,
Mama Llama

The A-Frame cometh!

The holidays are over and the year 2010 has begun in earnest. I am glad that my year of the Rooster does not start until February so that I can get THIS project finished and let the good times roll. It seems like forever but it has only been about 2 weeks in progress. Rather than give a blow by blow, I send along some photos of the work in progress. Today I head up to install the floating floor- no water is involved but that doesn't mean it is safe and easy. Wish me luck!

The New Year Begun

It is January. All things are new with opportunities for change and improvement ahead. In Seattle that means it is wet and gray but this year we are thankful for the warm winter weather, not wanting to match the freezing hand and toes around the country.

The holidays are over which always leaves a little empty feeling inside me as well as the challenge to fill it with new projects and new connections. This holiday was especially enjoyable though I suspect I say that every year. We had lots of family celebration with cooking, eating, drinking lots of wine and walking on "thin ice", literally. The cold weather in Idaho gave us the gift of a frozen lake to explore. The snow was light- just enough to be a beautiful frosting on the trees- and the ice fishermen assured us the ice was 8 inches thick...but it kept groaning and cracking when we walked! I am NOT at ease on the frozen water! Still, it was extraordinary and beautiful and fun. Being together with generations of family is really the best of all holiday experiences. It means laughter over the past and present, as well as craziness with people being pushed to the edge of reason....and we keep doing it every year.

With everyone arriving from the four corners, we made time to be together again at Kyrsa's making the holiday seem really luxurious. One of the most memorable and fun parts of the holiday was being the "top chef" with my cooking crew of Susan, Colin and Erin who were the best sous-chefs ever.

Colin and Susan were able to be in Kingston to be part of the daily ease of holiday vacation which made me really sad to loose their companionship and their help in the kitchen. Erin (you may know her as fresh summer breeze) had an entire week plus so that gave us time to see friends and shop and pretend there was all the time in the world to play. The Christmas holiday really is the only reason I can look forward to winter. When it is over, I begin to look forward to Spring and plan to garden projects for the "real time".

Now onward to planning, creating the gardening in the year of the Rooster- my year! Did you know the Chinese only get their year every 12 years! You can't survive on a good year every 12 years! So I am expecting a year of miracles for everyone this year. A new decade with lots of new challenges that make us smile and sing (not the kind that make us "grow"). Happy Miracles in the New Year and happy moments too.

Christmas here we come

It's December the 21ist and I am longing to be up north... The longest day of the year but in the mid-40's here in Kingston and in Spokane as well so there will be no "White Christmas" at Twin Lakes this year but fun anyway.

We will have lots of cookies and enough wine to keep everyone happy. Duffy is on his way to the pet hotel and the animals have Annalisa from next door to keep them full of holiday hay. We head out over the pass with the car top carrier affixed with new connection- always a little bit of an adventure to see if we are picking up gear from along the highway. I am putting only luggage up there on the way over because it will be easier to gather between speeding cars. I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon. It has been an easy Christmas here with time for cookies and lights and even some outings with friends. I wish I could pass that time and ease on to you all but remember it is all part of the cycle and your CHristmas holiday of time and fun is around the corner. If it was EVERY holiday there would be no excitment to see how things turn out!

I say good bye to the Christmas tree in Kingston and hope it will hold its' holiday cheer for our return. The new Christmas tree at the lake will be decorated without near the excitement of the flocking episode a few years back but it will still hold our laughter. see you all soon and remember that we are turning the corner into a new year so smile and expect wondrous tines.

Only 2 Weeks until Christmas Eve

Don't freak out now! It is impossible to think that Thanksgiving was only 2 weeks ago. It has been a crazy time around here but things are just perking along now.

After Thanksgiving the wreath factory was in full swing and I successfully mailed out the first group then sped my way to Spokane to check on Anita in the hospital.The drive over was spectacular. It was cold and clear when I left Silverdale in the late afternoonl. Driving over the Tacoma bridge, the colors of the sky reflected the winter sunset in vibrant corals and robin's egg blue that slowly changed to slate. As I climbed the pass, the full orange moon rose on a now gray slate background. All the way across the state I was mesmerized by the changes in the colors of the night. The moon faded from orange to lemon yellow to pale wheat. The sky turned dark blue, then navy blue then black. Even the field Christmas lights were bright as I drove through George, remembering the years of driving past those lights that reminded us we were on OUR way to Christmas. Despite the reason for the trip, it was a wonderful drive and Anita was feeling good and rearing to go by the time I returned back home. She continues to feel her old self though a little cautious. The experience is not one she wants to repeat. On entering the emergency room, the doctor began questioning her about her symptoms and background. He asked if she had a living will. "Yes," Anita offered, "but I really don't want to use it today."

Now that is pretty good but might not make the best line of the holidays which still goes to Lynne at the dinner table. While talking about Father George making Thanksgiving dinner for his priest friends, Anita shared that he was serving capon instead of turkey. "What is capon exactly?", Kyrsa queried. Barb knew that capon are castrated roosters. Without missing a beat, Lynne said, "That's seems an interesting choice for a bunch of priests."

Let the holiday games begin!

In Kingston the wreaths are done and the house is full of Christmas cheer sans tree. The tree will be added soon, don't you worry. Yesterday I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies, wine dunking cookies are always the first to arrive and I hope there will be some left when you all arrive. There is no fire roaring today because despite frigid temperatures ranging from 15-29 there is a burn ban in affect! What is that about? Oh well, the house is warm in all corners for a weird change. I am teaching a couple of days just to keep things interesting and have projects to finish but mostly I am looking forward to sharing the holidays. I do love the time being together with to many expectations and too little time but I want it understood that growing up happens and new traditions too. The time will come when our traditions will change and that will be good too. Yesterday is really never as important or as much fun as today and tomorrow.

So, I will imagine that you are all insane and working on everything in your lives that keeps you busy with very little time for holiday thoughts. Life happens. But Christmas will happen and there will be food and cookies and we will have more moments to share.

Love you all,
Mama Llama

Thanksgiving and onward

Thanksgiving Day is done. Great food and great company were shared and Kyrsa had another birthday, which is always better than the alternative and reminds of that she is a very special daughter and sister. Those who were not there were talked about - always better than what is said to your face! - and we are reminded to give thanks for all the gifts we have in our days.

I could mention the reasons for my personal thanks, children who are spectacular, health for all those I love and days that are secure and safe. In looking at the world around us, we are definitely the most fortunate. So many adventures and explorations in our pasts and the ability to make more as part of our futures. Thanks enough to remember for the next 12 months.

I could go on and on and on but right now I am most thankful for the return of my computer from the repair shop. My being away from cyberspace for more than a week has very little affect on the world but made me feel more isolated and powerless than I would have imagined. Though little was done to my old machine, it returned with no loss and a tiny bit of improvement so for that I am VERY thankful.

Now we look ahead and see the holiday season beginning. Make fun and play with your days. It is a season of giving love and remembering. That really is what makes the Christmas holiday special, not material gifts but reminders of caring and loving. This fall I thought allot about gifts and their importance. While moving things around to lay the cork flooring, I realized how much of my home is about gifts received. Everywhere I look I see a painting or picture given by someone to me with love. When I get dressed in the morning I choose jewelry to make me smile because it reminds me of the special person who gave it to me. I clean out a bag and see another thought or feeling shared in a card or poem; each of these is a reminder of a rich life with wonderful memories, laughter and hugs that continue to give long after their original receiving.

Now do not take this as extra pressure but as the very opposite. This holiday don't worry about what to give but how to remind others that you are thinking about them often and loving them. Every time you send an message through email or post, call on the phone or take time to visit is a special gift of caring. Make this holiday a special time to say hello to friends near and far and to let them know they are in your heart and mind. As busy and hectic as life gets, we are always happier when we think more about others than about our own concerns- the best gifts let us think of each other and the love we share. So... share laughter, cooking, time and fun all this coming month because it is time to celebrate the season. No excuses now!

Love, Mama Llama

Rainy November Day

The week begins in the way of all November days in the Pacific Northwest... rain and more rain. I have a fire burning, hot tea and a book on tape to entertain while I warp a blanket and set newly spun yarn. La dee dah.

I discover once again that weaving and gardening: all seasons just the same. These are all activities chosen so that odd thoughts can jump in and out of my mind at warp speed. I think, question develop the thoughts and ideas then they jump out completely to return only when unbidden during a conversation far in the future.

Today I take note that I have listened and read several books recently by several English writers, all united by nation of residence, writing dotted with satire and humor and, surprisingly, a common thread questioning the choices a possible God is making regarding its human creations. Weird that this seems to be such a preoccupation with random English writers from different generations.

John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey ilk), Nick Hornby ( High Fidelity, etc) and Terry Pratchett (Disc World, Going Postal...) These are writers who use criminal justice, contemporary life and science fiction as their medium. They seem to fit the existence of God and questionable wisdom of godly choices into the humorous tales they unwind. Who would have guessed such things weigh on the English conscience so generally? To the credit of each of these enjoyable story tellers, none seems to advocation an answer to their pondering and they always provide entertainment including laughter. The laughter is what I find essential.

So, there you have a thought for this wet day. I don't have a personally resolution but I actually do choose to believe in a random collection of power, wisdom and strength beyond my personal control. This never seems to absolve me of my own responsibility to act, do, change. It does however offer solace when I am worried, insane or just plain depressed by the winter gray and helps me share the beauty of a moment that makes me smile.

Last words of wisdom: don't go for a walk without your rain gear.
Love,
Mama Llama

Summer Feasts Remembered

So, I know that I am VERY late but I finally have a response to Colin's 10 top driving eats. Here are the summer feasts that bring summer smiles back to me.

I realize I am way behind on sharing and I will be back now that November is here. I find transitioning from Summer to Fall is never easy for me. The month of October is seldom good and September is usually challenging as well, as I juggle summer activities with Fall and Winter expectations, not knowing which way to turn and not wanting to miss any of the last moments of sunshine. So, that said, I am "over it" now and back to regular anxieties.