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.

Verizon

I love talking to verizon and ‘communications’ companies in general. Get that, a "Communications" company. ha.
- I talk to the internet people: I made changes to the account, I need to clarify billing. They say, “great we’ll get it done. We’ll make the change, but you need to talk to the phone people before it’s all final.”
- Ok. I talk to the people, they say, “ok, makes sense, but you need to talk to the financial people.”
- Ok. I talk to the financial people. They say, “fine, but you need to talk to the internet people.”
- I say, “I already talked to the internet people.”
- They say, “hmmm, yeah, well you need to talk to the internet people and tell them to talk to the financial people.”
- I say, “you are the financial people.”
- “Yes, but we’re not the internet people, so we can’t make the change until we talk to the internet people.”
- “Yes, but if I talked to the internet people and they told me to talk to the phone people who told me to talk to financial people, then why can’t you just talk to the internet people now, or just make the change final.”
- “Well, we have different software.”
- I can say nothing. So I wait.
- “And it sometimes takes 2 billing cycles to update a change.”
- “But the bill is theoretically due next week.”
- “Well you definitely should follow up.”
- “That’s what I’m doing.”
- “You should just have the internet people finalize everything.”
- “That’s was the goal of my phone call to them. They told me to talk to the phone people who told me to talk to you.”
- “Well, just have them come talk to us.”
- “Ok… so…I guess I need to clarify things: why do I, the customer, have to be the instrument through which the employees talk to each other, especially since a) you can’t do anything based on what I tell you (or you’d make it final right now), and b) it takes me 20 minutes of muzak each time I need to transfer. Why can’t you just talk to them or pass the information along?”
- “Well…how about I call over there with you right now?”
- “Fine.” And then they begin calling over there. I can hear a few rings while we both wait on the line. Then:
- “The number you have reached is not in service… The number you have reached is not in service…The number you have reached is not in service…”
- “Hello? Hello? Financial people? Are you still there?
- Nope. Guess I’ll call back tomorrow.
(As you probably guessed from your own experiences, multiple iterations of this conversation were omitted in my retelling. Each line of the conversation was repeated two or three times before moving to the next hard return.)
- Was this the first rant this blog has seen?

Gleaning

Top Ten of the Summer

Top Ten Things That Can Fit Into Your Hand And That I Ate On The Road Trip Across The Country (in no particular order)

• Kyle ’s espresso in Jackson, Wyoming


• Good good beers in Greenlake, Seattle


• Raw chicken gizzard at Glynwood Center, Hudson River Valley, NY


• Doughnuts from Sultan Bakery, Hwy 2, Washington


• Charcuterie at Barb’s (devilled eggs, great cheese, salami, pink wine, etc.)


• Crab legs from the tanks at Central Market, eaten on the porch


• Italian plums (which I was picking in my dream last night) from the tree by the pond, Kingston, washington


• Chamomile ice cream & the best kind of birthday cake a boy could ever want (angel food), at the Lake


• Wintergreen lifesavers, to keep you alert on the road, on the road


• Huckleberry milkshake from Victor Emporium, Victor, Idaho

now, what are your top ten of the summer?

half way there and still going

It is hard to believe we have finished the first week of October!! I can't keep up the pace if October is going to keep me moving at this rate. As you all know, David and I started the month in Spokane for Lisa and Erik's wedding. It was a very nice evening celebrating a couple very well matched and very gracious. I enjoyed visiting with Deb and Vic, Gary's brother and sister-in-law, and Grace, Gary's mother. It was unfortunate that Phloris could not be there because I know she would have loved it. She and Grace are good friends.

On returning to the west side of the mountains, David headed for San Diego and I headed home to start the "cork tile" project. It was now or never! Monday morning I moved furniture around to one side of the house and ran up to the rent-it center to get the 100 pound floor roller. Starting on the bridge by the door, I worked my way forward to the bedroom. Half way through the bridge I realized I really needed to get the tiles rolled before evening, so rather than wait for the return of neighbors I hauled the roller upstairs, doing leg presses at each stair-step. There were a few moments of worry when I thought I might tip head-over-heels and end up flying thought the door at the bottom of the stairs but I made it upstairs. I cut, laid and rolled the rest of the bridge, 2 closets and the middle of the bedroom. I finished by 11:30 pm with every muscle ready to go to bed. After washing tools and myself, I took Duffy outside and ... wait for it...locked myself out of the house!

Do we have and extra key outside? NO! Fortunately it was a full moon and a clear sky so I could see to get the ladder and climb over the upper deck. I threw myself over the deck because of course I am too short to put my leg over. Fortunately I fell onto the deck and not backwards into the rhododendrons. Always an adventure.

Today I rested! Picked Asian pears, dried fruit and looked at bathroom sinks at Loews. I think I am ready to finish the second half tomorrow. Not to worry though. I put a key outside!

Keep accepting new challenges! Where is the fun in doing what you already know?

Love, Mama Llama

Goathead Thorns

Ventured out for my first real ride, out from this city of bikes. Headed out through orchards and fields, toward Lake Berryessa. A beautiful beautiful ride - after 20 miles. The 1st 20 are spend on straight, flat roads, surrounded by row after row of trees or ploughed earth. But at least they're quiet - only the passing truck filled with rancher, pickers, or tomatoes. Here's evidence of a tomato truck that had more than it's share:


The hills - a section of coastal mountains between the central valley and nappa / the bay - are steep, dry, gold and green. And after the flat hour out, it was great to power up to the steep pass. I turned around an decided to head home a slightly different way - a busier road that kept me on the white line. I accidentally shifted of the pavement at one point, was on gravel for about 3/4 of a second, then shifted back up. But heard a click click that meant something was on my wheel and brushing against my frame. I stopped to examine and found at least 8 spiky thorns in my front tire. I pulled one out and heard a hiss.
Got out my patch kit and patched two holes in the front tire. then broke the valve when I was pumping the tire back up. So I put in the new tube I had in my bag. All was well, until I realized that I should check my back tire as well. It was already flat. Thorns removed then 3 holes to patch. The valve broke on this tube as well - need to do a better job with this tricky pump - but it was still taking air. But one of the patches was failing, so I road for a mile or so, out of the saddle, and then started walking. By the time all this patching and changing was done, and I had walked a few miles, Susan was out of class and drove to pick me up, still 10 miles or so out of town. Bear in mind, I have kevlar beaded tires that are not supposed to puncture and with which I have ridden through glass, potholes, and innumerable other undesirable conditions. But there's these thorns out here with 3 small spikes designed, like a tripod, to keep a fourth, giant spike pointing straight up, and into my tire. A few good lessons for the first day out: the mountains are farther away than they appear, stay off any gravel, and bring lots of tubes!
More info I just found: The Goathead Thorn
They really are evil little sons of female jerks!