With the recent rains and cooler temperatures it is clear that autumn has arrived. Though I lament the passing of yet another abundant summer, my body yearns for a break in the work. My soul is ready for re-awakening and refreshing. Something about this season is my coming back presently into the world. Perhaps it is ancestral calling that celebrates a long tradition of celebrating the new year during this time.
I never had a summer "break". This will mark the first time in a very long time where I wasn't able to expand completely into the nothingness that leads to creativity and fun adventures and projects. That said, I DID have time to write and to get into the brain creativity that I have long since nurtured... so perhaps my break looked different than in previous years.
Everything is great. I am so thankful for all of the abundance, love, and support in my life. I am happy to share my abundance, love, and support as well. From weddings to plants, the past summer was one of richness and growth, of meaningful connections to people, earth, place.
If you are reading this and felt that I have wronged you in any way in the past year, I am sorry and I hope that you may forgive me. Please connect with me so that I can do this work in a more heartfelt way.
Today is the half-way-ish point for Michelle... in another 5 months there will be another human being in our home :) Her business is expanding; she'll be in a new office at the end of the month which will bring that adventure into a new realm of expansion, success, and fun. My work is taking shape as well; once the grant funding is secured, my role as a director and dreamer will unfurl like the fiddleheads in late spring. Hopefully the funding stays around for a while :)
The gardens are slowing down; we have collected ample harvest. Strawberries, tomatoes, basil, radishes, and beets all rocked this year. Carrots, leafy greens, beans were unfortunately mowed down by rabbits and slugs. Blueberries didn't fare so well either. Asparagus is growing, maybe we are only one more year out from eating some. Pears were less abundant though plums were remarkably prolific. In a recent trade, we passed of plums for bunches of green beans and a dozen eggs.
We have done the usual late summer flurry of activities... the dehydrator hummed for weeks, and the canning pot steamed for hours. (Fortunately the new stove and hood made for a tidier experience!)
Two weeks ago, we enjoyed a first-of-the-year Coho salmon which was just gorgeous. The scales were shimmering silver and the flesh was that of a powerful animal. It always pains me slightly to eat these fish, because I have to process them. It keeps me humble and cognizant of the life force running through all animals when I have to cut open an animal that I am to eat and to serve to my family. This particular Coho was carrying eggs that she was ready to deliver to the creek of her birth. I am sorry that this mission was interrupted by the fisherman who caught her and sold her to me. But I am thankful for the salmon's story and to her relatives who continue the life-chain up the Nooksack River. At the same time, I processed a King Salmon too. First time I have ever worked with this salmon. He was quite an incredible animal too. He is in the freezer until February when we hope to have a big celebration.
Life is so fleeting; it can end in a moment. It is so incredible, a moment can last a lifetime. I have been very tired recently, but I am trying to make the most of every moment. It's a fun task and one worth living. How fortunate and grateful I feel that I can pursue this meaning of life.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
Hunkering down for the summer
Well, I haven't gone anywhere this summer. In fact, I think I haven't traveled since our trip to the desert in the beginning of April. It has been great. That said, I worked a lot- especially as a substitute teacher in May and then the recent coordination and directing of a summer school program in July. It has been great to be home so much but I am ready for a reprieve from work. With the exception of Jake and Page's Wedding (3 days away), Kate and Mats' Wedding (1 night away), and an overnight at Deas Island Regional Park, I have been home every night for a long time. It feels good to me now that I am not traveling like I was last year or even a decade ago.
Since May I have been "writing my exams" and this period is to end at the end of August. I am very behind, and am writing this blog as yet ANOTHER means of procrastination. But this has been one of the occupations of my time. Writing and reading. It's challenging but definitely fun. It makes me feel good that I can actually recall some of the literature I have read. It's even more fun when I can piece the literature together in ways that develop some ideas of how I perceive myself, the world, and future research possibilities.
I did take a break one day and drove up to Blaine to hang out with Biggs and ponder the meaning of the universe... and to enjoy a beer in a hammock on his property... wow they have done a lot of work to that place!
I also found some tree trimmers and asked if they could drop off wood chips and mulch at our house. They were happy to oblige... with TWO big truck loads and in 6 weeks I have moved nearly all of it to the rehabilitation project that is our backyard. It is exciting to create space for newly planted trees and shrubs; I hope that they all grow big and strong!
And as a result of not going anywhere, some folks have stopped in to see us. It was great to recently have cousin Aaron and Jenna stay over for a couple of nights. We ate, drank, walked, laughed, and enjoyed the timelessness of summer together. We also celebrated Katie's birthday with an impromptu lunch and a kind-of planned dinner with Kevin too.
Another small report is that Michelle and I decided to try a 30x30 challenge. Its small but a good reminder of the importance of being active, going outside, and spending time together. We are making the effort to walk together for 30 minutes a day and the goal is to make this for 30 days in a row. So far we haven't missed a day- and this morning marked the 13th day. Hoorah!
Interestingly enough, the speed limit outside our home has been reduced to 30 from 40. It is neat what a community of people can do if they are interested in making change.
School starts in less than a month and I have to finish these exams, put in 40 hours of research work, repair the chimney, build a wood shed, split firewood, process a bird, and make some soap. All of this might be doable.... but probably not :) I'll be OK with finishing the writing. If I can get the chimney in too that would be a bonus, but I'd be OK if that happened in early September too.
Here are some pictures. And then, back to writing :)
Since May I have been "writing my exams" and this period is to end at the end of August. I am very behind, and am writing this blog as yet ANOTHER means of procrastination. But this has been one of the occupations of my time. Writing and reading. It's challenging but definitely fun. It makes me feel good that I can actually recall some of the literature I have read. It's even more fun when I can piece the literature together in ways that develop some ideas of how I perceive myself, the world, and future research possibilities.
I did take a break one day and drove up to Blaine to hang out with Biggs and ponder the meaning of the universe... and to enjoy a beer in a hammock on his property... wow they have done a lot of work to that place!
I also found some tree trimmers and asked if they could drop off wood chips and mulch at our house. They were happy to oblige... with TWO big truck loads and in 6 weeks I have moved nearly all of it to the rehabilitation project that is our backyard. It is exciting to create space for newly planted trees and shrubs; I hope that they all grow big and strong!
And as a result of not going anywhere, some folks have stopped in to see us. It was great to recently have cousin Aaron and Jenna stay over for a couple of nights. We ate, drank, walked, laughed, and enjoyed the timelessness of summer together. We also celebrated Katie's birthday with an impromptu lunch and a kind-of planned dinner with Kevin too.
Another small report is that Michelle and I decided to try a 30x30 challenge. Its small but a good reminder of the importance of being active, going outside, and spending time together. We are making the effort to walk together for 30 minutes a day and the goal is to make this for 30 days in a row. So far we haven't missed a day- and this morning marked the 13th day. Hoorah!
Interestingly enough, the speed limit outside our home has been reduced to 30 from 40. It is neat what a community of people can do if they are interested in making change.
School starts in less than a month and I have to finish these exams, put in 40 hours of research work, repair the chimney, build a wood shed, split firewood, process a bird, and make some soap. All of this might be doable.... but probably not :) I'll be OK with finishing the writing. If I can get the chimney in too that would be a bonus, but I'd be OK if that happened in early September too.
Here are some pictures. And then, back to writing :)
Happy Wedding to Page and Jake
Katie, Kevin, Linda, Michelle at Big Lake
Happy Birthday to my teammate
New speed limit
Garlic curing in the afternoon
LOTS of mulch delivered to our house
Beers with Biggs
Kevin, Katie, Michelle- Happy Bday to Katie
Racehorse Falls with Michelle, Jenna, and Aaron
And later for a salmon meal
Yum :)
Monday, June 19, 2017
Busy but cold and rainy spring
From mid-April to now, mid-June, we have been busy. It has been a rush of work mostly in that M's business is taking a life of its own and I was substitute teaching wherever I could. Now that has subsided... M is off for England tomorrow for 2 weeks and I am into writing mode full time. Though July will be consistent days as a summer school coordinator, I will have time to write too with the hope of being done with my exams by the end of the summer.
As such, we have neglected the garden. Also not contributing to our energy is the prolonged rain and cold. And a small toe surgery :)
But from here on out, there will be regular outside time and that is exciting! I look forward to continued (and never-ending) work on our habitat rehabilitation project as well as the garden maintenance.
Last night we harvested strawberries which have LOVED the rain. Fortunately we got them before the rabbits and slugs ate them all (as they did with all of the peas and the broccoli)
In the meantime, here are some pictures taken recently:
Cats sleeping on a Tuesday
Cats sleeping on a Wednesday
Cats sleeping on a Thursday
Cats sleeping on a Friday... i am so tickled that they slept so much while I was writing. It is a cute inspiration.
This is summer when western Washington is wet and rainy all the way through June. Flowers still bloom, strawberries still flourish AND snickerdoodle cookies :)
As such, we have neglected the garden. Also not contributing to our energy is the prolonged rain and cold. And a small toe surgery :)
But from here on out, there will be regular outside time and that is exciting! I look forward to continued (and never-ending) work on our habitat rehabilitation project as well as the garden maintenance.
Last night we harvested strawberries which have LOVED the rain. Fortunately we got them before the rabbits and slugs ate them all (as they did with all of the peas and the broccoli)
In the meantime, here are some pictures taken recently:
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Kitchen remodel 4 - basically done and moving back in
Well, cabinets are painted and in :) The plumbing is done and we are all moved back in. As I type this there are many small pieces left and tomorrow (hopefully) Karl will be finishing with the project by installing the hood box and ventilation fan and ducting. Most of the connections are done, but we just need the box and the vent itself. Then every major portion will be done and we can work on the punch list of small tasks like base trim here, a dab of paint there, figuring out the tiny lingering leak under the sink, and really organizing everything.
This project went three months; supposed to have been less than 6 weeks. So we doubled the timeline :/ The budget was jokingly for $1500 but expected to be $3000. We'll be closer to $9000. BUT the kitchen is great and we got a major deal for this amount of work. With home prices in Bellingham impossible nowadays, we did the right thing in fixing and revamping instead of looking for something else. The old kitchen last 30 solid years. Now it'll last another 30 :)
New cabinet installed in an empty cavity
Green cabinets with bronze knobs, off-white textured subway tile
new sink faucet and sconce (light) as well as new can lights in the ceiling
New upper in the far left corner. Very usable and tidy kitchen... well, it will be tidy when we put everything away :)
This project went three months; supposed to have been less than 6 weeks. So we doubled the timeline :/ The budget was jokingly for $1500 but expected to be $3000. We'll be closer to $9000. BUT the kitchen is great and we got a major deal for this amount of work. With home prices in Bellingham impossible nowadays, we did the right thing in fixing and revamping instead of looking for something else. The old kitchen last 30 solid years. Now it'll last another 30 :)
Kitchen remodel part 2
New drywall after the insulation, courtesy of Banks&Strich kitchen remodel company!
Well, Karl offered us cabinets for a screamin' deal, so we ended up replacing the cabinets! Not intended. So, old cabinets out...
Well, Karl offered us cabinets for a screamin' deal, so we ended up replacing the cabinets! Not intended. So, old cabinets out...
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Desert trip in Spring (in pictures) - Days 4, 5, 6
From Upper Antelope Canyon (Navajo Reservation) :
From the Toadstools Trailhead hike (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument):
From Horseshoe Bend:
From The Wave:
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