Christmas cookies

Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, December 18, 2018

This year it was time for some new Christmas traditions: friends invited us to their house, and we spent the afternoon baking Christmas cookies together. We each got to see new recipes and methods. Moms talked; girls played.

Two moms and three girls = WAY more fun than one mom and one girl. Danke, K!

Gingerbread laptop

Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Last year we took a break from gingerbread creations for some reason. I fear it's too long ago to remember why. But this year, we are back!

A's inspiration for this year: a gingerbread computer. We considered the desktop "box" model, but in the end went with a laptop version. Typing lessons never looked so good.

And ones and zeros for guests...

Advent calendar: the next generation

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, December 2, 2018

When I was a kid, every year we'd make Advent calendars using last year's Christmas cards, heavy card stock, and carbon paper. This year, A was inspired to make an Advent calendar of her own for a friend.

First, she wrote a long piece of fan fiction which she divided into 24 sections. Next, I cut doors into a piece of thick cardboard and backed the whole thing with thinner paper. After painting her "scene" on the cardboard with acrylic paints, we opened each door and tucked a part of the story under each door.

Much more fun than our Advent calendars of old!

Lopez in October

Lopez Island, Washington 
Saturday, October 13, 2018

Apples planted by Dad more than 30 years ago are ready for eating. Poplars planted more than 15 years ago by JLG are ready for admiring. A fantastically beautiful weekend...

Thanks, Mom & JLG!

WaCanId: Adventure awaits!

Seattle, Washington
Friday, August 17, 2018

I can't believe it, but I just signed up for the biggest bike ride of my life: 370 miles through the Selkirks with a ride called WaCanId. Will I be ready in three weeks for this adventure? Stay tuned!

At the moment I just can't quite get past the fact that I have to drive 350 miles to GET to the starting line in Sandpoint, Idaho...

The Renwick meets Burning Man

Washington, D.C.
Saturday, April 14, 2018

I spent the morning at the Renwick enjoying the art of Burning Man with my three college roommates. Back together again after 30 years!

The whole experience seemed vaguely oxymoronic to have all that crazy, counter-culture stuff there at the lovely, stately Renwick, but there you have it. All kinds of wonderful human-powered vehicles, lights shows, videos of the actual event, and fantastical creations of all kinds.

I will never make it to Burning Man, but I REALLY enjoyed the exhibit--and was inspired, even!

Pink snow

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, April 8, 2018

Today there was time for a long bike ride which included a trip to the top of Queen Anne. I felt amply rewarded for my efforts by this lovely sight near the top of the hill. Everywhere in Seattle there are cars dressed in pink petals--as if they all just came from a wedding.

Of a misty morning

Lopez Island, Washington
Saturday, March 31, 2018

Awoke to my favorite sight in the world: morning fog in the field outside the farmhouse. And there's more: plum trees just about to blossom, field sopping wet and, of course, Mom has tulips on the table. For a moment, the world seems a perfect place.

Seattle spring

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, March 29, 2018

On the way home from school, A and friends collected dandelions for the rabbits. Surely, spring is here!

February Advent calendar

Seattle, Washington
Friday, February 9, 2018

About two weeks ago, A got the idea to make a sort of Advent calendar--for the month of February. We each sat down and thought up a month's worth of fun "tasks" for each other: writing haikus about the rabbits, searching for chocolate, picking up litter--all kinds of random, silly stuff...

3 generations

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, January 21, 2018

A's Girl Scout troop finally got organized enough to get their sashes together and, voila, we finally have three generations of sashes to show for it: A, grandma, and I!