Happy Celebrations

The house is quiet and the cool rains have returned but there are lots of warm feelings swirling around. Would that I could share some photos but I left my camera in Lynne's car. It seems that is the theme of the weekend- leaving little bits of ourselves around so that we will be able to return... but pictures will be here soon to make us all smile.

The word around Seattle is that this weekend was the best gathering the Haspedis clan has had in a long time largely because  nothing was required of us except visiting, eating and drinking, with enough time to do it well. Combine that with an extraordinary coconut wedding cake and there is little more to make a perfect celebration.

Having a long meal with lots of wine and conversation on Tulin Road always makes me feel like family time, especially when there is a little story telling and a bit of idea exchange to keep everyone thinking. It was great fun to have Susan in the kitchen with me making things come together easily and with extra fun. I think all of the girls would agree that nails and champagne are the perfect way to start a wedding day- a little female bonding, always full of laughter and the reminder that we are always here for one another. Seeing old friends and new family on Sunday was a great focus event around which to gather, continuing the theme of wine and sharing into Monday at  Airfield. Kyrsa is a master at the wine tasting! We all had a wonderful time but having Anita and Lynne there to continue the weekend celebration made it perfect. Is there a better way to end a weekend than with a picnic in the sun and a glass of rose? Lest anyone think I am passing them over, family always includes Alex and Lisa. Alex's absence was acutely felt Sunday evening and commented on by many.

These are the reminisces of the weekend but the real reason for this little review is to share the words I heard all weekend. "Your children are really great". Of course I can only agree ( for the most part) but I do want to thank you all for your  generous hearts as we shared time together.  Lynne and Anita both said it was the best time together because of the many chances to visit and share. Barb had a great weekend and was sad only because she and Dave were not able to be at the wine tasting event! She wore her "wedding sweat shirt" to Pilate's Tuesday and her trainer could not believe Colin was not a professional (professional what?). For me, I loved every minute of the sharing time and laughter and being squashed into the back of vehicles...all moments to remember when challenges wreak havoc or when stress seeks to overwhelm. Thank you to us all for a great reminder that life really is pretty great and so are we.

Summer is here-finally

June 21st has come and gone- the longest day of the year. To celebrate I took a walk AFTER dinner and it was still light at 9 pm! This is the best time of the year for me and I realize how much my body demands the energizing  light and warmth of summer. It may not be all that warm but the light is here so we have made a start. With the long days come hours of time in the garden bringing those random thoughts cruising in and out through the holes of my brain. Here is one that I have meant to put out into the universe for some time.

With the summer comes the end of the school year. In the present economy, school employees everywhere have been buzzing about jobs that have ended and contracts not renewed. In many cases teachers retire and their posts are not filled from outside but staffed within. This might sound like a good business plan but a junior high school general math teacher does not an AP calculus teacher make. The young, energetic journalism teacher, teaching part time journalism and part time English on a long term subbing contract is not best replaced by a Buisness English teacher with 26th years of seniority. 

These are real examples of real decisions made to help budgets but to destroy curriculums. There are hundreds of young educators looking for contracts and even when they find that first job, work 14 hour days in preparation and make a very successful presence in the classroom, they become the first casualties of the "budget crunch". This is an old story and 60 year old teachers are NOT ready to join an old folks home. Neither are they able to live for 25 years on their reitrement pension. The experience these educators have gathered need not be sent to a scrap heap as out moded  but big problems are best solved by well designed structural changes, so a structure needs to be errected allowing the passing on of information and the infusion of youthful energy.

Of course I have an answer! School districts needs to develope a force of senior teachers, each with no fewer than 20 years of experience in their assigned grade level or curriculum. Each grade level/curriculum would have one "mentor teacher" for every 2-3 schools and no fewer that 2 mentors per grade level. These mentors would weave their way through every school and classroom so that each classroom teacher would see a mentor once a week, seeing all of the mentors in the district in rotation.

Mentors would be in the classroom, acting as observes and helpers. They would also spend time talking with teachers individually about teaching, discipline, curriculum, materials and other subjects that make up the life of a classroom. With a mentor force in each grade level, teachers would be able to connect with some ideas from the variety of mentors in their field. Information would be passed not only from mentor to classroom teacher, but from classroom to classroom throughout the district with the mentors act as conduit for ideas and problem solving. The qualitity of classroom education would not only improve but be energized and inspired with this constant communication and support network. The mentorship would be a term-limit program with a maximum of 4 years ending in retirement and with a contract  renewed annually without tenure.

So, school districts of the world open your eyes and budget for success in the long term or get someof those education federal/ Gates grant dollars for new changes and improvements. Here is an plan for success with no wasted technology that will be old before it is understood and no new, untested curriculum with unreachable  promises. This is a way of using people we have to improve the program them have spent a life time learning. A new idea offered into the universe...run little idea run!

Love and more ideas to come from the garden,
Mama Llama

June Gloom? Not Really!

I KNOW it is tiresome - all this complaining about the weather but 49 degrees in the morning is getting really old! Still, that seeems the only thing to complain about so life can't be too bad. There has been lots of entertainment already in June.

We started the month with a bridal/wine shower for Barb. It was great fun for us and Barb gathered a great stash of great wine. I was able to bring loads of peonies from the peonie farm at the top of Tulin. I have always wanted to get huge boquets there so it was a dream come true and they were beautiful!
Kyrsa created a cocktail for the evening- the BAB'S. It is a blond martini with vodka, blackberry vodka, a splash of vanilla liqueur and a lime twist. The martinit got the party off to a agreat start with everyone in the mood to remember Barb's past and celebrate her into a great new future. There were pictures from age 3 to the present with all the hair styles to bring back time. Kodachrome may be gone but those pieces of paper remain- it begs the question about remembering this present into the future when images are erased or inaccessable with each new machine. We have a hard time learning from the past as it is- what will happen when the past becomes only that which matches each new technology. Sometimes it is a helpful perspective to make time stand still and reflect upon the moments we have survived- we then realize the worth of the little steps we make every day.

But time marches on, or so we maintain. I, on the other hand, marched directly into the past after the shower. Anita and I drove back to Spokane. I spent 3 days at the lake, doing some sewing projects in the rain, weeding and hacking in the sun and kayaking when the wind stopped blowing. As you can see, nothing much has changes at the lake and that is all good. The wasps were buzzing already and I was tempted to reach out the upstairs window with a pole to knock off hornets nests but fought the temptation! I only checked out the eves and sprayed foam into holes. I know you will all be relieved to hear that things are relativly unchanged in Rathdrum as well. We are especially happy to have the hardware store back so all the repair projects can be handled more quickly, thereby giving even less time to think about our actions before we run in and do something stupid. It is good to know the universie is working with us to continue on the

path to independent problem solving.

So, there it is, the first weeks of June with the hope that all summer is filled with the same level of celebration and reflection. I head to Seattle this morning for a day with my sisters. Lynne is free wheeling- so to speak- with no leg braces and no walking aides other than the little cane Linda gave her. We are all hoping her x-ray next week finds bone growth and avoids the bone graft surgery but at least this last month has provided her with a little more movement and activity. She is sure learning patience! Lynne and I are meeting Barb for lunch. As she is a married lady now, I expect she will be much more refined.

Wishes for a great day to everyone. Enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables around you and pick flowers for the table where ever you can find them (maybe the maighbor is on  vacation?)

Love,

Mama Llama

Let me introduce to our new housemates...

... Dolly and Tammy Fae.

A friend of ours down here, Jenn from Bainbridge, is away for the summer and needed a home for her chickens. So yesterday a friend of hers and I put the coop on a truck and moved it into the back corner of our yard. then I spent the afternoon building a frame for chickenwire to keep the raccoons and other meaner and smarter animals out. Some wire from the hardware store a few blocks away, some scrap lumber and a few sore muscles, led to this beaut. I think I have Grandpa's thumbs - black and blue. Dolly and TF arrived when it was finished - at about 9:30. This morning they woke up confused - a new cage, where previously they roamed about a farm. But by this evening they will have forgotten it was ever any different. After all, they're already back into the routine. Upon coming home from work...

Don't get too jealous, Mama Llama. Fingers crossed that they'll make it through the summer. (and that we'll make it through the summer. the coop is directly outside our bedroom window, and chickens are notoriously early risers. )

You know what I think?

I warned you, now here is where it begins. I give away huge, money making ideas to anyone reading my words. You may have forgotten that several years before American Idol, I suggested the television networks bring back the talent contest as a way to lower their budgets and give new artists a format. Okay, so they created a reality nightmare for most of us but still there is a huge section of the viewing public happy with the idea.

Now I take it to the next level. With the onslaught of reality television, we have all lost the great talents of new and creative script writers coming out of universities and crafting words with images in a tradition to follow Orson Wells, Stephen King and Ron Howard?. Where are the opportunities for those great, quirky minds like Dave?

Reality TV meets the script writer! With the use of the easily available recording technology, contestants submit 3-minute shorts for the first round of the contest. As per the usual format (I guess because I don't watch), there are judges and audience voting to select a group into the next round- a 20 minute short story allowing 4 stories in a 2-hour program. A finalist round with one month of hour long programs searching for the seasons best new series is the result. There is it in a nutshell, the new reality show to foster wordsmiths and play-writes before they are lost to our language and our creative culture.

Feel free to pass this great idea into the universe where I feel sure it will find it's home. Now you all keep creating new universes or at least new realities out there.

The Tall Trees

Though everyone said a month ago that the rain would stop until october, occasional spring showers are still baffling the locals and besieging the hot weather vegetables. The holiday weekend began with dire forecasts of snow in the foothills and rain everywhere else. Our friend Matt from DC was out for the weekend to go camping, so this a bummer. Especially since he wanted to head to Redwood Nat'l Park, which is practically on the oregon border and generally cold and wet, even at the best of times. But I caved and we headed up there. Along the way, a good omen...

After a LONG drive through windy roads west of Redding, we arrived in the dark and car camped at camp ground near 101. Got coffee and breakfast burritos in Arcata and drove up the park. After picking up a bear cannister and map at the ranger station we headed into the park, up and down horse trails then along a river trail, out to a beautiful gravel bar across from the Tall Trees Grove (see Nat'l Geo article for some details about the place). In the morning we climbered over trees and through some very swift water to get to the tall trees, but made it, cooked up coffee, then headed back down the river trail, eventually settling at another prime spot in the grass above the river. Made it back early sunday for horseshoes and horseplay in davis with susan. here's some of the excitement.


This week the farm is at last heating up and supposed to be into the 90's by next monday. the zucchinis are already trying to launch an attack on the farm. susan is powering through final projects and we're getting excited for more weekend trips before it's too hot to move. we'll bring the heat up with us in june - promise. and i hope that 'stew' makes it that long.

Memorial Day

This photo emphasizes that the Pacific Northwest is the singularly most winter-like place in the country. This weekend there were no pitchers of sangria, no barbecues on the deck but instead fires in the fireplace to take the chill off the house and hot cups of coffee throughout the day. Monday did give up a smile with a few hours of sunshine and actual warmth- temperatures in the 60's- so we could make it through the weekend without slitting our throats! Ah- summer in Seattle.

Still, complaining gets us no where and life really is pretty darn good. David and I had a fun mini-vacation in Vancouver- a great way to celebrate the end of 2 weeks of teaching. We stayed at a great bed and breakfast on Granville street and hopped a bus every time we wanted to head to town or out to dinner. It was great not having to confront BC drivers and the weather was very pleasant for walking and enjoying the spring flowers. There were some great meals and some really crazy conversations at the Bed and Breakfast with other visitors!! The Granville Island Market was terrific as it always is. With all that great produce, bread, pastry and fish how is it possible for Canada to have so much bad food? Besides Granville Island, we walked through gardens in bloom and beaches full of strollers and skate boards; all the best of urban weekends.

Now life is back to gardens and looms. I have the vegetables planted in spite of the cool weather. The only thing left to put in is the corn which I will try again only because I have the room. I have and entire flower garden to weed BIG TIME but instead this weekend I created another garden space in the front yard- damn that garden inspiration that said you could start a garden by putting down newspaper and straw then adding soil. Since reading that I have been adding gardens all over the place. This weekend I am putting in a couple of new blueberries and still have one more space to add when I collect more newspaper. (See above for a look at my new garden space -LOL!)

So the summer is starting in Kingston with or without the weather to join us. The chickens all have names now- Little Red, Henny Penny, Cluck, Stew, Ping and Buffy. They are getting big and seem to stay dry and happy in their home.

This week is the first of "no-teaching" time. They just don't pay enough to get me into the classroom the last 2 weeks of school. I will be in Seattle to do some grocery shopping for Barb's shower with Lynne and Anita. Saturday is the wine shower, as the beginning to the month's celebrating of Barb's wedding. June 12 is the day they have set for the actual marriage- pretty exciting. I look forward to being all together on the weekend of June 27 for family insanity. It will be a small dinner group on Sunday and I know there will be thoughtful words spoken by my children. With good luck and health we might even get to fit in a Monday visit to Kyrsa's wine tasting cellar before dispersal. I know it has been a busy month for us all and the summer holds challenges too but I for one will try to write more important in interesting thoughts like the ones I have had recently concerning oil and energy resource distribution through out the world. I know you are all waiting with baited breath for that! Have a great month beginning the summer-

Love,
Mama LLama

Chicken Tractor or Bust

May has been a very fast month! I have been working at school more than I ever should. Way too many students know my name and I know way to many students by name. The other day I discovered that I am referred to as "the sweater sub"! At least this is the name they say without getting suspended.

The best part of May is always Mother's Day, which coincided this year with Erin's birthday, so it was REALLY Mother's Day for me. I can't say often enough how very proud I am to be the mother of three of the best people I know. It astounds me that I have had a part in their lives and their adventures. Their constant gifts to me is that they continue to take on new challenges and make new adventures to share. (Like watching a suspense-filled movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat!) On Sunday Dave and Kyrsa made a great dinner and Seattle offered sunshine and warm weather. We drank wine and ate in the sun, pretending we were on the Mediterranean- the best any day can offer.

What with teaching all day and rain visiting too many nights, my garden is over run with weeds BUT the chickens are finally out of the basement. (It will take a good week to get rid of the dust.) The building of the chicken tractor took place Bloomsday weekend (the first weekend in May) while David was in Spokane. It was much more difficult that expected even though I thought long and hard before starting.

I was able to use many 2x2's from the A-frame remodel but the big mistake was using the heavy plywood suggestted by the plan. Even with 2 sets of wheels, it is quite difficult to move. This may end up as the winter hutch placed next to the rabbit hutch after I construct the lighter model for summer. I know a few more tricks now!


The chickens seem pretty happy scratching at the grass and the grubs. Tonight when David helped me by putting both sets of wheels under the tractor, all 6 chicken escaped through the big gap. They were so amazed by all the interesting sights that I was able to catch them and return them to safety, but I will have to start training them to follow the grain!!

As most chicken owners have recounted, chicken are quite entertaining- in the way that watching a train wreck captures your attention. They are certainly NOT the most intelligent of animals. When they first entered their new digs, they had a hard time figuring out that food could be found in that big red dish. Eventually they get it and even without chicken feed, they are entertained by the bits and pieces they find on the ground. So, now the chicken tractor is home and I am done with 2 long weeks in school. We have all survived! David and I leave tomorrow for a short trip to Vancouver and I can only pray the tractor will remain secure.

The Sky is Falling

It is hard to believe that I have been home for more than 2 weeks. Where does the time go? Here in Kingston the garden and the loom have been the biggest usurpers of my time. The weeds are growing despite or because of the pouring rain. The worst part is my continued efforts to add more garden space rather than less. Somehow my brain can not compute the space/time ratio correctly. I guess all the days teaching "everyday math" classes isn't helping me much.

The temperatures are low even for the Pacific Northwest but on the good side, the lilacs and rhodies are lasting longer than usual. They are always my favorite harbinger of Spring. The Spokane Lilac festival marked the beginning of warm weather in my youth so lilacs continue to hold all kinds of good omens for me.

David made his annual pilgrimage to Spokane for the Bloomsday Race giving me three days to myself to start the BIG project! I have been putting off the chicken tractor but this last weekend it all started. The Chicks are growing through adolescence. They will soon be ready to head into the big world, outside the basement. It can't be soon enough because they are sending dust to every possible surface. It will take me a week to clean once they are gone. I am just thankful they are finally out of the kitchen!!

The chicken tractor grew much larger than expected due to my own machinations, but I hope all will be manageable when I add the removable wheels! Why do I imagine these projects will work? By the time I had hauled, sawed, pounded and tweaked for 48 hours, my hand was paralyzed into a claw. Only Tiger Balm and a handful of aspirin made it possible to weed on Sunday.

I am going to keep the final product a mystery for a little longer- this weekend will be painting and final touches including chicken wire and chickens, so watch closely for next week's posting. The unveiling is scheduled for Sunday. I want the chicks in their new home for a week before David and I head to Canada to celebrate his birthday with a little get-away.

In the meantime, I am working the next 2 weeks in the high school which is simultaneously great and wretched. I have too much I want to accomplish at home, to include working! On that front, I had another funny experience from the subbing world. Picking up fresh eggs at the Suquamish farmer's market, the young man running the garden booth asked "Is you last name Dixon?".
I immediately wanted to say "NO- and I have no children" but in a weak moment admitted to the fact. He recalled that I had been his substitute at CK! There is no place to hide for the wicked.

On that note, be well and have a great week. Build a great year by remembering that each day is the best day of this year.

Love
Mama Llama

Live from New York...

Hello from New York!

This is the first post I have made on the road. I am at Erin's apartment in Brooklyn writing on her old laptop.I feel very independent since I am here all alone. Erin headed to Portland this afternoon for a work meeting and I head home tomorrow afternoon. Until then I am on my own in the big city.

I have had a great vacation. Getting away always gives new energy and new perspectives. I hadn't even seen the news until this evening. I hate to pass on the bad news that the New York doormen are heading to strike and may not be turning up for work tomorrow. Thankfully I will be able to come and go without a problem.

Beyond the concerns of homeowners on the upper East-.side, New York has been great. I had a wonderful visit with Carol and Jim. Avon was celebrating Spring in the very best way-trees in bloom and tulips in all hues. Carol and I walked and talked as we always love to do. We ended our visit with a short stop at the Museum in Hartford. Carol gave me her tour of the best works there. It is GREAT art museum.

I was so inspired by Hartford that I made this a vacation of museums. Friday night I met Erin after work and we checked out the Biennial at the Whitney. It was really a great collection including the last years of Biennials and this years new collection. Sunday we stopped in at the Neue Gallery- a post modern German collection in an old mansion that was originally the home of Cornelius Vanderbilt III. Otto Dix was the featured exhibition along with lots of Klimt. It was very interesting and impressive. After a walk through Central Park we headed to MOMA for a look at an incredible exhibit of photojournalism spanning the 1930's through the 1970's with people on the streets of nations all over the world during the everyday life as well as during the dramatic events of the times. We also took in a great Picasso exhibit there. So much more but we only had a certain amount of artistic curiosity so we headed home for wine and dinner.

My entire visit has not been museums. Saturday there was fun in the lower East side then dinner at home with Jenni. Jenni was great. She is creating a wonderful and exciting project and I loved hearing her share about it. We had a very easy but delicious dinner. After buying artichoke stuffed gnocchi in a pasta specialty store, the hard work was making salad and sauce. That meant all the more time for visiting and wine.

Monday I explored and corners of Brooklyn from Crown Hill to Park Slope. You would think that with all this walking I would be able to find my way around New York and Brooklyn like a native. You would not know me though- I still have a hard time orienting myself and tend to turn the wrong way when ever I can. All the more fun.

SO, there you have the story of a great week exploring and relaxing and sharing. Now I head back home to garden projects, blanket weaving and school classes. Not much for me to complain about at all. So love to you all,
Mama Llama