Kobe Daisy

Two Sundays at the Seattle Center

2009-09-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

We've been taking advantage of this glorious weather lately. The last two Sundays we spent the afternoon down at the Seattle Center; first for the Hawaiian Festival and yesterday Fiestas Patrias 2009. Bumbershoot and Folklife are, of course, wonderful, but it's nice to spend time there when the crowds are considerably less. Combine the warm glow of afternoon sun, plus music, food, and beautiful surroundings and you have just the perfect day!

Riding the doggies around in the stroller causes such a stir it's a bit embarrasing. Three different people actually took their picture. Who knows, maybe they will show up on someone's blog.

Kobe's head popped up just as I took this last one.

The Hawaiian festival had two craft areas for adults (kudos to the organizers, usually it's just for kids!) By the time we got to the lei-making table they had run out of flowers. The quilting area was my second choice and I probably would not have gone over there; I'm so glad I did. The ladies had little kits all made up to hand-stitch this square. How cool was that? I grilled one of the volunteers with questions, then went on my way. I have started stitching it at home and am just thrilled with it's simple beauty.

Can't have a Hawaiian festival without ukulele!

Yesterday we went down again to the Center for the Fiestas Patrias 2009. Alas, no craft projects but the food was good and hot and the music loud and enthusiastic. This little guy played a mean rhythm.

Most of the time we spent hanging out by the fountain.

100th Anniversary of Norway Day!

2009-09-20T19:06:00.001-07:00

August 30, 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of Norway Day during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle. The Norwegian Ladies Chorus performed as part of the celebration as well as the Norwegian Male Chorus.

It was a stunningly beautiful day, just perfect for the Nordic Spirit to make it's way to Fisherman's Terminal. As I was driving into Ballard I could see fog rolling into the ship canal, creating this lovely scene (second shot).

The Nordic Spirit. According to the link, it was built originally as a fishing boat in the early 1800s but was "adapted to a Viking design in the 1960s." It was donated to the Nordic Heritage Museum 30 years ago. More information at this link (scroll down to bottom of page; it's the second-to-last story.)

I wasn't on hand when the Nordic Spirit docked, but recorded it's departure:

It was just the perfect day, and great to be a part of the celebration.

Afterward, Gail, Claire, Mom, and I had dinner at a great Thai restaurant. (Diane, you and I ate there a few years ago; same location, just a different restaurant!)

Dragonflies and Whales

2009-09-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

This last trip to visit Grant's Mom in Southern California was especially nice as far as our day trips went. We focused on Laguna Beach (nature walks abound!) and Dana Point (whale watching.) We were on our way to one particular nature area in Laguna Beach and instead stumbled upon the Environmental Nature Center. It's a small area of only 3.5 acres and surrounded by houses, but the beauty found there was delightful.

Most of the butterflies in the Butterfly House were safely secluded for the afternoon and the House ready to close, but a few were still out. The flowers this butterfly chose to enjoy was laying on the ground, but the dirt provided a lovely background:

The next day we went to Dana Point to go whale watching. This is a very tricky experience. You must focus your camera on the whale when it surfaces. This is what happens when you don't:

A marine biologist was on the boat to provide information about the whales. In addition, we got to watch while she collected whale poop; an experience I did not expect to have!

After the video disaster, I was very, very happy to get this shot:

Only in California: a giant lemon being followed by a Maserati.

Fun in Wenatchee

2009-09-07T18:42:00.001-07:00

These are a few pics from my recent all-too-short visit with Barbara and Toby. They live in Wenatchee and I take the train to get there. The trip over is great; Grant and the doggies drop me off at the Edmonds train station for departure at 5:17. A pleasant 3.5 hours later, I'm in Wenatchee. The trip home, not so good. But we're not worrying about the 5:25 a.m. return trip at the moment; Toby is ready to get in the water!

Like lots of dogs (not mine) Toby loves fetching and water, probably in that order. So, we are on the Columbia River and Toby is having a grand old time, getting a good run.

Barbara is very unkeen on having her picture taken. She allowed this one, all shrouded in shade and at a distance. I'll take what I can get :-).

The sports setting on my camera is pretty cool.

Toby: "Yes, I'm very pleased with myself!"

Heidi lives across the street and was happy to pose with Toby.

This shot was taken from just up the hill behind Barbara's house.

Looking down on Barbara's yellow house from said hill.

Two of the neighbor dogs: Sam,

and Molly.

They would have LOVED to some with us back to Barb's house, but knew they weren't invited :-(.

Barb has created a lovely oasis in her back yard. This is one of her three ponds.

You-know-who keeps watch.

Barb has just finished another pond with the water cascading into this one and cycling back up. Can hardly wait to see it!

So looking forward to my next visit. Love you guys!

A Day at the Locks

2009-08-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

These pics were taken during one of our Resident outings. How lucky we were to get to see the Arctic Star come through!

How cute are the tugboats!

My coworker and a few of the Residents across the canal. We make reservations for three vans to take us on our outings (only two wheelchairs per van) so we don't always get to our destination at the same time. Thank goodness for cellphones to keep in touch!

Icicle Seafoods

This dog kept whining and moving around the boat. He was probably very ready to hit land!

Mom's Flowers

2009-08-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

There is a bounty of flowers in Mom's yard right now. What a joy it is to walk from the car to her porch, gazing at all the beauty that is in this lovely space. Thanks, Mom, for creating such a beautiful sanctuary!

Antique Mall Wonders

2009-08-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

After our birthday lunch at Arnie's, Claire, Kellie, and I always head over to the Waterfront Antique Mall and browse to our heart's content. We are always on the lookout for Scandinavian items, and I was thrilled to find this very Norwegian pull-out sewing box. Poor Kellie; she had spied it first but passed it up after looking at the price. What she missed was the 75% off signs for that particular vendor! Fortunately, I didn't miss the signs :-).

I love this handled container with the faded roosters. They were such a popular motif in the 50's and 60's. The best part was that it was purchased at Kress; the price tag was still attached. We had a Kress in Ballard when I was growing up.

Truly the best purchase of the day was this book by Edith M. Patch, published in 1934. I had never heard of her but later learned that she was an entomologist and had a great love for nature. Long before Silent Spring came out she warned against the "indiscriminate use of pesticides." In addition to her scientific work she wrote children's nature books. Looking through this book before knowing anything about the author, it was interesting to note that the book had photographs as well as drawings.

This seemed unusual for a children's book. After reading about Dr. Patch, it made sense that she wanted to be very accurate in her depiction of wildlife on Holiday Hill. It was a delight to read.

Tre Norske Interview

2009-08-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Cool article about my favorite Scandinavian music group!

Birthday Lunch for Claire

2009-08-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Our annual birthday lunch for Claire at Arnie's in Edmonds. Always a lovely time and a wonderful tradition.

Kellie loves her Mom!

The food is oh-so-good.

Mimosas go well with these meals!

As do the sticky buns, yum!

Claire received this beautiful necklace from Kellie's boyfriend. Does he have good taste or what?

Happy birthday, Claire! Love you!

Crafting

2009-08-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

I went to the Urban Craft Uprising yesterday, fully planning on feeding my craft obsession. I strolled the aisles, enjoying all the displays, buying only a couple things. It was when I went over to the workshop area that I really perked up. The first workshop was put on by the cool authors of Feltique, Niklola Davidson and Brookelynn Morris! They put roving in our hands and we all went wild, poking our little wads of wool with a little barbed needle. I was just going to felt a large bead and embellish it, but after felting on two orange dots I realized I was holding a bug head! So, on went antennae and a little black mouth.

The person next to me felted a darling apple, with stem and leaf; the person on the other side made a beautiful flower. Sadly, my camera was out of juice so I couldn't "capture the moment" :-(.

I bought the book and look forward to many more felting adventures.

I kick myself for not going to the previous workshop! It was put on by Diane Gilleland, the author of Kanzashi in Bloom and the creator of CraftyPod. So today I pulled out some lovely fabric squares, searched the internet, and made my own little kanzashi flower. Oh, I felt so much better!

I stayed for the next workshop put on by Susan Beal. Her book is Button It Up. She provided hair clips and a colorful mound of buttons and we all made cute hair baubles. I could only find one of the two clips today... I bought her book as well :-).

The crocheted flower in the picture is one I made a few weeks ago. I've been on a real crochet kick lately and will post about that later.

These are rocks I felted a few weeks ago. These pics don't really do them justice. When picking them up you feel the weight of the rock and the softness of the wool; a very pleasant combination!

What a perfect day, sitting on the deck with my pack, crafting away, and watching the birds!

Mountlake Terrace Parade

2009-07-26T19:18:00.001-07:00

Kobe and Daisy in the stroller always creates quite a stir, but it sure is an easy way to transport them in a crowd. So it was when we attended the MLT parade Friday night. Parades can get very loud and I'm always amazed at the doggies' tolerance for noise. This held true until the Seafair Pirates showed up. Pirates being pirates, they have to fire off their cannon. Suddenly I had a Daisy in my arms, poor baby. That cannon was the tipping point.

The most beautiful entrants were these Hawaiian princesses on their horses. I was so busy taking pictures I never did find out what the organization was. There were about eight horses and riders, all bedecked in lovely lei. I may have to go to another parade just so I can see them again!

Trip to the Zoo

2009-07-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

Last week we took some Residents to the Woodland Park Zoo. I guess it's been a while since I'd gone because a lot had changed. The new penguin exhibit is very cool and I don't remember the elephants being in this particular area. This one fellow was busy spraying himself with dirt. By the time I thought to get a video of him he stopped but this pic shows it pretty well.

I know you shouldn't anthropomorphize animals but this jaguar did look very sad. He was in a narrow space right next to the window. He was very, very still, and reminded me of a cloisonne figurine.

The tropical rainforest exhibit certainly makes you realize, no matter how hot it gets in Seattle, we have it pretty good, weather-wise!

The lady I was pushing was not at all into snakes but I just had to get this shot!

Tre Norske at Bergen Place

2009-07-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Tre Norske does get around. Wish I could have been there!

Eddie

2009-07-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Remember when bookstores were the only place you'd find a languishing cat? Now I just need to go to my dentist. "Eddie" has been hanging around for quite some time (evidenced by the food and water bowls set out by the front door - I never actually saw him.) Early this spring I asked again about this elusive kitty. Clare, my very talented and thorough Dental Hygienist, said, "let's go outside and check on him." The mystery cat revealed!

The next time I visited he was inside the office, looking very much at home (you know, like he owned the place.)

I swear they designed their carpet with Eddie in mind. Doesn't he look most elegant against the sharp angles?

I expect Eddie will be sleeping on my lap the next time I get my teeth cleaned (just kidding, Clare!)

Mom's Roses

2009-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Mom's roses got a good hard pruning this year and it sure made a difference! Rose after rose after rose; they are dressing up her back yard with wild abandon! All the rain we got this spring probably helped too. It's truly a joy to walk from the alley to her back door and be greeted by such joyous splendor.

Ok ok, these aren't roses but aren't they amazing? Up close they almost look like hydrangea.

These are Queen Elizabeth. Mom bought this rose in my honor (my middle name is Elizabeth) when I was little. They were my favorite :-).

Father's Day at Mountain Meadows

2009-07-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad, and I spent Father's Day with Norm and the doggies at his new digs. He is the farm manager at Mountain Meadows Farm outside of North Bend. We took the Access van to get there. I didn't realize we would be changing vans at the Bellevue Park and Ride (and that it would be a 45 minute wait!) but it was worth it for Dad to get out of town.

Norm and Kelli's house.

I've never seen Columbine this color; beautiful!

Norm said the trees lean like this from the winds in the winter.

There's lots of room for their several horses. The farm has a total of 200 acres.

Conveniently, the house has a wheelchair ramp. The owner's mother lived here at one time.

The former manager built four of these, crossing a stream, to look old. I think he succeeded!

A beaver keeps damming up the stream. No sooner do they take the dam apart and he starts rebuilding it.

Notice the somewhat bare tree trunks. The local elk enjoy the tender shoots!

We look forward to visiting again!

Fishing Trip

2009-06-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

Recently we took some residents to a trout farm in Renton for a fun fishing trip. This place supplies everything; poles, bait, buckets, nets, and ponds full of trout. It was a beautiful setting, and since we went on a weekday, very quiet. The only other group there was a crowd of preschoolers; they were fishing at the pond shown above. The staff was so helpful! They brought all the supplies down and were full of enthusiasm. The only difficulty was carefully getting six of the residents down to the pond safely in their wheelchairs. The path was dirt and gravel and on a bit of an incline.

Watching the proceedings.

Everyone caught a fish!

The staff even cleaned the fish and got them ready for a photo op.

When we got back the kitchen fried up the fish and they all got to enjoy the taste of fresh trout. A very good time was had by all.

Kellie's Birthday Dinner

2009-06-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Our annual birthday dinner at Anthony's Homeport in Kirkland was lovely, as always.

Our parting ritual every year is to see if we can get our coins to land in the silver bowls.

Easier said than done. I managed to land the first two coins; after that, nothing!

Fish and Chips at Little Chinooks

2009-06-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last week Mom and I had fish and chips over at Little Chinook's. It's located at Fisherman's Terminal. It is also the location of the Fisherman's Memorial, the base of which is reflected in these pics of sealife. Please check out the link to see the complete sculpture; it is very striking and a fitting memorial to all the men and women who have lost their lives in this often-dangerous line of work.

As soon as I walked out to the water the geese came a-paddlin'.

They are now trying to be cool, as if they weren't really looking for a handout.

Chives

2009-06-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Our "sanctuary" at the nursing home is going through a lovely transformation, thanks to our activity director's creative vision. Old planters and the two raised beds have been swept away and replaced by beautiful urns of plant and flower glory. I'll post pics soon.

One of the raised beds was full of chives. Leroy, our resident volunteer, rescued lots of the little bulbs and tucked them here and there in the garden.

Tre Norske

2009-06-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tre Norske performed at the nursing home yesterday. What a hit they were with the residents (especially Axel!)

Singing at the Nursing Home

2009-06-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Every year, the fabulous ladies of the Norwegian Ladies Chorus come to sing at the nursing home. Now that Dad is a resident there, it's even more special when they come. Thank you so much, my singing sisters!

Crochet Flower Pins!

2009-06-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, these were so fun to crochet! I got the idea from a tutorial over at the delightful Attic24. Her blog is a complete joy. She inspired me to buy a quantity of yarn in lots of colors, rather than the random skein I usually purchase. The colors! The choices! The possibilities!

Mother's Day

2009-06-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom (on Father's Day)!

Mom's crown was punched out from a greeting card; how useful!

Our Father's Day will be on Monday; we are taking the Access van out to North Bend to visit Norm and Kellie (the van does not go out there on the weekends.)

Kobe's thinking, "get me out of here, away from these crazed dogs!"

Sea Glass

2009-06-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

I've had so much enjoyment from the sea glass my friend brought me from Puerto Rico. I have them in a dark green felted bowl and love to take them out and examine each one. What shall I make out of them? Maybe more merfish, or earrings, or a bracelet, or just let them stand alone in their beauty and mystery.

I'll have to investigate where each color of glass may have come from.

What a delightful gift. Thanks, Phyllis! Your friendship is a gift as well.

Lunch in the Garden

2009-06-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

The garden at work is so beautiful this time of year. I like to take my lunch out there when I can. It's so calm and serene.

Dad's Scarlet Runner Beans are doing well. These were beans he'd saved from 2006 or 2007.

This rose is HUGE. I forgot roses could get this big!

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Merfish

2009-06-01T20:51:00.001-07:00

Recently, I was given a lovely collection of sea glass. A friend had collected them while wintering in Puerto Rico. I was so touched by this gift and wanted to make her something to show my appreciation. Margie from Resurrection Fern posted a tutorial last month on crocheting a merfish necklace, using either a smooth stone or sea glass. I've admired her merfish for months now and was thrilled to be able to crochet one myself. After it's creation I took my little merfish out for a photo shoot.

I'll soon be saying goodbye to this little sea creature but look forward to making more.

World Record Eyelashes

2009-05-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

Kobe used to have long, very long, eyelashes. Unfortunately, a random trip to the groomers ended all that. They accidentally cut one side, so they say.

Part of Kobe's charm (only part, mind you) was his eyelashes. For Daisy, it's usually, "Oh, she's so cute!" With Kobe, it was "Look at those long eyelashes!" I want to get back to those glory days.

The world record for longest eyelashes on a dog, according to Guiness, is 4.7 inches. Some dog named Buddy is the record holder. Kobe's were at least that long; we feel robbed! So, what can we do but let his luxurious lashes grow to their former splendor? We'll keep you posted.

Mom's Garden

2009-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Gardens are a never-ending delight with their whimsy and beauty. The flowers may go but some of these images make me smile year-round.

These last two are "Dad" pictures; they definitely make me smile...

Hurra for Syttende Mai!

2009-05-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

What a glorious day it was. The weather was perfect; sunny and just right. I didn't have to park very far from our gathering spot but took a photo of the street sign, just in case! Everyone was smiling and full of enthusiasm. Kellie provided lots if birch branches for us to wave, along with our Norwegian flags.

For pictures of the parade, check out the Seattle Times article, and especially two pictures of the NLC at My Ballard on Facebook!

Nature

2009-05-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

I know most people don't think kindly of snails, but I love them. They're so beautiful and graceful. Yes, they tend to nibble at the store-bought plants in the middle of the night. I just can't get too mad at them.

I spied this little baby on Mom's birdbath.

Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Eight dozen of these confetti-filled eggs are at the ready for the Big Day. Considering how many of these eggs were cracked on my head during the fiesta, I will be having good luck for a very long time!

Senor Peterson is getting ready to take a shot at the pinata:

American Legion

2009-05-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

Dad has been a member of the American Legion since 1945. Since he has been at the nursing home he has only gone once to the monthly meeting. I got a call yesterday from one of the members, Bill, who basically said, "Axel is going to the meeting tonight, no excuses." So, what could I do but skip NLC rehearsal and get Dad down to Hale's Ales in Ballard!

A good time was had by all. And, I learned my lesson: Get Dad to those monthly meetings!

Photos taken by Ron Walker

Colors of Spring

2009-05-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

Such a gloomy day today; doesn't seem like we've had a sunny stretch for more than two days! These pics are from brighter days not too long ago.

Lee Stripling

2009-05-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Lee Stripling passed away a scant two weeks after his last performance at the nursing home. The Seattle Times published a nice article about him. He will be missed so much!

Embroidery

2009-05-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

This stunning piece of needlework belongs to one of our Residents. Her mother stitched it, presumably in Sweden.

I can just imagine her working on this during dark winter evenings, dreaming of summer and it's promise of light, warmth, and beautiful flowers.

Wade Figurines

2009-04-20T07:52:00.001-07:00

I love tea. In high school it was Market Spice, in the 70s, herb tea, then a way-too-long period of coffee, and finally back to tea. I drink a lot of green tea blends, but the every-morning-go-to tea is Red Rose.

The bonus, of course, is the Wade figurine inside each box of Red Rose tea. This morning I opened a new box and, wonder of wonders, a new series of figurines had started! Isn't this little scarecrow just darn cute?

Flowers and Pine Cones

2009-04-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

This bush has it backwards; it blooms before before leafing out. It must figure the flowers are so beautiful they can stand alone.

Guess this isn't really a pine cone since it's not a pine... Oh, OK.

Pomapoo

2009-04-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

OK, Kobe and Daisy are the cutest doggies in the world, but this bundle of fluff sure comes close (don't tell K. and D. I said that)! I spied him at Starbucks and just had to meet him. His owner said he was a Pomapoo: half Pomeranian and half Poodle. Makes me wonder if this little guy is a Pomapoo as well (second dog in the post).

Sunsets

2009-04-17T21:03:00.001-07:00

Mom, this pic is dedicated to your wonderful new next door neighbors! If it wasn't for their pruning efforts, you wouldn't be able to see the "Brothers." I'm going to give them a big hug when I meet them!

Sigh....

You know how you see a beautiful sunset and rush to capture it on camera? By the time you get back to the scene, camera poised, the sun has dipped even further. Having these pics still make me think of how beautiful it was.

Gunther

2009-04-17T20:53:00.001-07:00

Gunther is one lucky dog; he gets to go to work with his Mom. I'm lucky, too. I get to visit with him when I take Dad's hearing aids in to be checked.

Just like Kobe and Daisy, Gunther is providing sweet doggie therapy.

Good boy! And I leave the office feeling much happier.

The Lee Stripling Trio

2009-04-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of working in long term care is having live entertainment for the Residents at least once a week. My favorite is the Lee Stripling Trio, featuring, from left, Bonnie Zanhow, Lee Stripling, and W. B. Reid. Their lively, toe-tapping music is also a favorite with the Residents. Lee recently had some medical issues but that hasn't dampened his desire to continue to share his music. Check out his website to learn about his amazing story and info on an upcoming documentary of his life and that of his musical family.

Afternoon Sun

2009-04-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

It was fun to stroll around the yard and see what beauty I could find. The sun was out and it was actually warm! What an amazing treat after all that cold weather! As I post this the temperature has dropped again; what gives? It's not global warming anymore, it's global "weird weather."

Kobe and Daisy are feeling very left out.

Dandelions in Norway are not reviled as they are here. I've actually seen them gracing postcards!

This is the best ground cover ever!

This ladybug was deep in the protection of the plant. I had to annoy her a bit to get her out in the open. Finally she complied!

Is he not just the sweetest boy?

Rain

2009-04-06T18:56:00.001-07:00

When it rains the "park" in the back of the nursing home floods. A creek runs right underneath; no wonder it's so lush and green.

The ducks are happy; the more water the better.

When I stood ready to take this pic the ducks were in the water. They soon came sauntering up, hoping for a treat. Realizing I had nothing to offer they made their way back as slowly as they had come. One of our residents feeds them several times a day (along with pigeons, crows sparrows, seagulls, and an occasional squirrel.)

Birdies

2009-03-30T18:25:00.001-07:00

We have a new bird feeder, full of black oil sunflower seeds. Our friends, the chickadees, are joyful patrons of this feeder. They are amazingly bold, allowing me to stand next to the feeder and take their picture. I have to be quick; they swoop in, grab a seed, and fly back to the rhodie five feet away. There they crack open the seed and pick out the meat.

When we first bought the house the previous owner was very hopeful that we would continue feeding the pine siskins. They were very abundant that year. Since then we rarely see them. I was thrilled to spot two of them at the feeder the other day. Wonder of wonders! Their pattern of eating is nothing like the chickadees; they just stay at the feeder and chow down, seeds flying every which way. I gazed at them in wonder, knowing that if I even stepped out onto the deck they would be long gone.

Father and Son (and Daughter)

2009-03-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Don't know who had more fun that day, Dad or Norm. Fishing was Dad's favorite pastime. He looks so handsome here and Norm so proud of his catch. I fished with Dad many times, too, and treasure those memories. Some favorite times were fishing up at Conconully, near Omak, in Eastern Washington.

Dad and I went fishing at Greenlake a couple of times in recent years. Now that he is doing so much better I want us to go again. Whether we catch any fish or not won't really matter.

Kaffe Stua

2009-03-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sissel playing her accordion at Kaffe Stua. Not pictured are Megan and Juanita on violin. I got this picture from Kae Ellingsen.

Black Bean Dip

2009-03-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here is Rena's recipe for Black Bean Dip (see post from 2/20/09)

Black Bean Dip

1 tsp oil
1/2 c chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 c salsa
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
15 oz can black beans, drained
1/4 c cheese, jack or cheddar
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
Chopped tomatoes, lime slices, and cilantro for garnish

Heat oil in skillet and saute onion and garlic until tender. Add black beans and smoosh up with potato masher. Add salsa, chili powder, cumin; mix well. Add cheese and cilantro and stir until cheese is melted and entire mixture is nice and warm. Place in serving bowl and garnish as desired with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and limes.

So, so good. Thanks, Rena!

Harborview Rehab Dept.

2009-03-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Dad and I rode the Metro Access Van to Harborview for his Access eval. These images adorn the walls of the Rehab Department hallway. I enjoyed them to much I just had to share.

This is my favorite.

The amazing thing about the Access vans is that they will go anywhere in King County. Now that Norm and Kelli have moved to North Bend Dad will be able to visit them using the Access Van. So cool!

Annual Fishcake Meatball Dinner

2009-03-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from a fun evening. Lots of great silent and live auction items, wonderful food, super company and the music? Oh my, the music, provided by members of the Ballard High School Jazz Band: amazing.

Wenatchee Doggies

2009-03-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

My friend Barb is a lover of animals, just like St. Frances. The neighbor dogs know this. They sit at the top of the hill behind her house, waiting for an invite. Often there are five (big) dogs in her back yard, getting the love and attention they don't get at home. They live their lives outdoors as "watchdogs." This won't do at Barb's house; all are invited over to to get the companionship they crave. How can you resist those eyes?

Jake, Rena and Kelly's dog. Rena is Barb's daughter.

Barb's dog, Toby, in the lap of luxury.

Family

2009-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's not every day that we are all together so this picture is very special to me. Norm is in the process of moving to North Bend; much closer than Camano Island! We will be seeing much more of him now.

Birthday Celebrations in Wenatchee

2009-02-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

Visiting my dear friend Barb is always a celebration. Her love, enthusiasm, creativity and generosity know no bounds. She had kept the birthday celebration (mine) of this trip a secret and I was wowed at every turn. For one, every meal was a photo op:

Breakfast, sigh.......

Her daughter Rena made this divine black bean dip.

Homemade pizza and coleslaw.

Pumpkin cake with sparklers!

Leaving Southern California

2009-02-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

I took this shot from the rental car on the way to the airport. Looking forward to our next trip down in May or June, hopefully.

Jade Plants

2009-02-15T22:08:00.001-08:00

This image is on my first post. Notice how much the jade plant has grown! The previous pic was taken two or so years ago. They flourish so much better outside!

Mom brought these plants with her when she moved to Leisure World.

Leisure World

2009-02-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Mom's home at Leisure World.

There are 7,000 of these units, covering a lot of ground. I know her area pretty well but there is so much undiscovered territory. Since everything looks so similar I don't venture far, for fear of getting lost!

I like to wander and check out the sights:

I have this very cat planter, made in Mexico and given to me in 1969. What are the chances?

Norm's

2009-02-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

Next time we go to California we must eat here :-).

California Dog Park

2009-02-15T21:00:00.001-08:00

Visiting Grant's Mom in California usually means traveling by plane with Kobe and Daisy staying at the Academy of Canine Behavior in Bothell. They have a great time there but we miss them terribly. To help make us feel better we are constantly seeking out doggies to admire, pet and photograph. On this trip we visited a dog park and met a pile of 'em!

Unfortunately we arrived pretty late but got enough doggie love to tide us over for the day!

Southern California

2009-01-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

After all the snow we've had it was nice to spend a few days in Seal Beach, CA. We visited Grant's Mom for five days and did all of the usual: dinner from Sango, Japanese movies, Korean soaps, crocheting, knitting, taking lots of pictures, lunch at Hoff's Hut, watching the Australian Open. It's always so relaxing and fun to hang out with her. I like to knit and crochet while watching all those Japanese movies; during this visit I crocheted her a yellow and green spiral-patterned dishcloth (of which I forgot to take a picture) and a pair of handwarmers:

Red is definitely her color.

Snow - Day Six

2008-12-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

I noticed more and more of those ribbons of snow/ice hanging from our trees this morning. They are so cool looking, appearing to defy gravity. Magical!

Snow - Day Five

2008-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

When do we ever have snow for five days straight with an accumulation of 10 inches? It's not leaving any time soon. Since this is the first day it's not bitterly cold, venturing out seemed like a good idea

Notice the rope of snow dangling off the branch; that's what got me outside in the first place! It's long gone now.

Annual Doggie Photo Shoot

2008-12-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

Getting Kobe and Daisy dressed up and posed for their annual holiday card does not happen in one or two shots. I've taken as many as 35 before I got the one I wanted. Here are a few outtakes:

That nummie was very good, thank you.

Oh boy, I get another one!

We are just way too cool.

Are we done yet?

Give that treat to me NOW!

The Bat Cave

2008-12-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

I cannot lay claim to this bit of creativity but had to share it. Our Activity Director, Donna, is a decorator extraordinaire. She cut out dozens of paper bats and single-handedly affixed them to the walls and ceiling of this hallway to the main dining room. Many more are in the dining room but I wanted to show the movement she created. Amazing!

Shoes

2008-11-30T20:19:00.001-08:00

Oh, I love shoes. Unfortunately, most shoes don't love me. Every day at work and most days away from work my feet are dancing in New Balance 767s. My feet may be happy but I look down at boring ugly. My goal in life is to someday find a hardcore walking shoe that looks cool. Doubt it will ever happen, but in the meantime I admire the beauty of others' shoes.

Take these. They belong to one of the residents; aren't they just so darn cute? Maybe I could buy a pair like them and just wear them around the house, admiring how darling my feet look.

Contratulations!

2008-11-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

1938, true love.

2008; that love has only grown! This handsome couple lives at my nursing home and just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. True love lives on......

Veteran's Day

2008-11-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Dad has been a member of the American Legion for over 60 years. He joined not too long after he and Mom were married. It has been my fervent wish to get him to a monthly meeting ever since he's been sick. He never, ever missed a meeting until now. It finally came together this month, right on Veteran's Day. The meeting was held at Hale's Ales Pub in Ballard on what was a very dark and stormy night. It was not one of his better days but he was there, surrounded by his fellow veterans and good friends.

Gratitude

2008-11-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

I keep a gratitude book that I try to update daily. Got this idea from Oprah; bless her. In it I list at least five things that I'm grateful for that day. It's never difficult to find reasons to cherish and celebrate the day: a doggie on my lap, a good book, lunch with Mom, hugs from Dad, flowers from Grant.

At work yesterday, Grant fell down a flight of stairs.

He took today off to rest and heal (with help from Aleve!) but otherwise is doing well.

I am very, very grateful.

Holiday Bazaars

2008-11-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

My next door neighbor and good friend, Dawn, and I go to the Mountlake Terrace Holiday Bazaar every year. It's a delightful ritual we look forward to. We always find treasures for our holiday gift giving and we've come to know many of the vendors from year to year.

This November brought a new vendor. He was selling cast cement lawn ornaments (bird baths, crocodiles, pots, etc.) I bought a beautifully detailed bumble bee; he fits right in the palm of my hand. Dawn came home with a darling pig. If Dad was still at home I would have bought one for him, too (Dad has always had a fondness for pigs...)

Isn't he just darn cute?

Halloween

2008-11-05T19:23:00.000-08:00

Halloween is always a busy day at the nursing home. I brought my face painting kit and decorated a lot of faces, passed out funny hats and took tons of pictures. A few of the staff dressed up (bless them!) I was a wizard, Kobe was a cowboy, and Daisy was a unicorn. I'm always amazed at how mellow they are when I make them wear these crazy getups.

See the dog inside the parrot? He rode around on her shoulder all day.

Now, there's two smiles to just warm your heart!

Acorns

2008-11-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of resurrection fern. On October 15 Margie posted a wonderful tutorial on crocheted acorns. Last year when visiting my dear friend Barbara in Wenatchee I collected a bunch of acorn caps. Armed with a small amount of sock yarn and a size 5 crochet hook I made up a batch. I don't knit socks but fortunately I had two small balls of yarn left over from the socks Peggy made me.

My next trip to visit Barbara in Wenatchee will find me gathering more acorn supplies.

Raining on Kobe's Parade

2008-10-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

Poor Kobe. He had a bit of an accident and dislocated his hip. Ouch. After a trip to the ER (x-rays, etc.) he was sent home with his hind legs "hobbled" and a nifty little collar to prevent him from chewing off the tape. We have to limit his movement for a couple weeks and hopefully he will be OK. Apparently we now need to get doggie restraints for the car!

This has not stopped him from going to work, mellow dude that he is.

No worries for his Halloween costume now; he can go as an Elizabethan.

Scratch Patch

2008-10-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

Today was an oh-so-lovely day! I was out running errands and decided to head over to Scratch Patch. I had read about it in the paper a year ago, right after it had opened. Parked the car and walked down to Roosevelt and 65th, where I thought it was located. Not there! I asked around and found out it had moved to a new (and bigger) location. Big sigh of relief! The new location is over on Latona and 65th.

Scratch Patch sells stones, colorful, polished stones. The joy of Scratch Patch is that these pretty stones cover the floor and you get to sit in this sea of color and pick out the ones that catch your eye. I really wish I'd had a small friend with to share the experience with but I managed to forge ahead and had a wonderful time. Here is the article I read back in August, 2007. You'll see why I wanted to experience this little oasis!

Here are a few of the pretty stones I chose.

Doesn't this look like fun?

The owner, Amanda Lamprecht, is just a delightful person. She has created a wonderful, calming
environment and I definitely plan on returning, this time with a friend!

Dogs and Bracelets

2008-10-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

I so enjoy the blog resurrection fern. Margie Oomen is one talented lady. She is very creative and her photography is beautiful. I have been very inspired by her work and highly recommend you check out her blog.

On September 12, she presented a tutorial on a knit and felted bangle bracelet. Great idea, I thought, and grabbed some yarn to create my own bracelet. Unfortunately, I used bulky yarn and the result was a bit overwhelming. Not to let this bit of knitting go to waste, I cut the bracelet, took out the knot, and stitched it up to fit my wrist. I then sewed on a bunch of gold beads and my bracelet was saved!

Daisy found it all a bit boring.

Kobe just slept through it.

I want to make some more bracelets using the correct weight yarn. If they turn out I'll post them. Kobe and Daisy will probably not find them any more interesting, however.

Socks!

2008-10-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

I used to be a wool sock virgin. I'd never owned any, until now. This last week my dear friend Peggy presented me with a pair of lovingly knit wool socks. I knew they were coming and had even tried one on for a "fitting." But when I put on the finished pair I knew I was in love. Those of you who knit socks know what I'm talking about. They keep your feet warm (but not too warm), hug your feet gently, and look fantastic!

Peggy, thank you so much!

Summer/Fall

2008-09-29T18:24:00.001-07:00

I came across this bud and leaf on Mom's back gate the other day. It so looked like the end of summer and the beginning of fall, all nestled together.

Book: Conquering the Impossible

2008-09-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Conquering the Impossible, by Mike Horn. This is taken from the back of the book: "In August 2002, Mike Horn set out on a mission that bordered on the impossible: to travel twelve thousand miles around the globe at the Arctic Circle - alone, against all prevailing winds and currents, and without motorized transportation. Conquering the Impossible is the gripping account of Horn's grueling twenty-seven-month expedition by sail and foot through extreme Arctic conditions that nearly cost him his life."

A truly amazing account of his journey. I was mesmerized. Here is more information on him.

Yet Another Trip to California!

2008-09-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Grant and I took a long-overdue trip to visit his Mom. She lives in Leisure World, a gated retirement community of 9,000 in Seal Beach, California. It's nestled between Long Beach and Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles.

It's seems like we used to fly closer to Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens; maybe heading south we fly further to the west. We are much further away than this photo shows.

Walking around Leisure World is a delight. Given it's locale, flowers of some kind are always in bloom and the sun is usually out. These flowers remind me of plumeria and smell divine.

I was very happy this little birdie cooperated for me. He flew around a few times before settling back in so I could take his picture.

Next trip I'm going to figure out what kind of tree this seed pod came from. I love the tiny drops of resin clinging to it.

This pot certainly made me smile!

Oh, the sunsets.

Paul's Place is one of our favorite eating establishments. It has outside seating only, surrounded by a stone fence, potted plants, and a canopy of trees overhead. Dozens of sparrows wait patiently for handouts. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach; next trip it will only be ice tea and one taco!

A Lovely Visit With Friends

2008-09-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

I spent part of this last weekend with my good friends Diane and Del in Dublin, CA. The flight down was sunny and clear and I was able to get the moon heading south,

and the sunset heading north as we prepared to land. I'm glad I wasn't sitting on the right side of the plane!

Del planted lots of different varieties of tomatoes this year (the ever-popular sweet 100s are pictured.)

Diane made a delicious Caprese Salad with fresh basil from her kitchen. I'm in heaven! At home I've been faking it with sliced string cheese and dried basil; still good but nowhere near the real deal.

Diane and Del's house overlooks Dublin and offers amazing views of the city and the open spaces beyond. Be sure to check out their website. Diane has taken some amazing sunrise pictures that are truly awe inspiring.

Aren't these lavender wands lovely? Diane has made good use of her crop of lavender and wove some fragrant, colorful goodness. Thanks for sharing!

Love those tiki torches!

Thanks, Diane, for a lovely, restful and fun visit!

On the way home from the airport Grant and I stopped by to see Chris at her new digs. She and I worked together at Ballard Care and Rehab for nine years. She is now the Activity Director at an assisted living facility next to the Pike Place Market. What a cool location for these folks to live; the view is awesome! I miss her good humor, creativity and enthusiasm but those are the same reasons they are so lucky to have her. I'll just have to go visit (and bring my ukulele!)

Kobe and Daisy are at the vets for their annual checkup. They look just a bit nervous.

Sunday Afternoon

2008-09-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was sitting out in the back yard yesterday with a feline companion. This beautiful tabby is one of six cats living next door. They love to hang out in our yard, possibly to get some "quiet time" (three small dogs live with them.) However, this guy may have had other ideas; he's under the birdbath.

These blackberries are growing in our back yard. I had this odd idea to let them grow, just this once, so we could have our own crop of blackberries. What was I thinking? Not only do we have a bumper crop of berries, but the canes are marching over everything in their path. They've even managed to get into a tree and are cascading down to the ground below. Not a pretty sight, unless you're into watching one of nature's great opportunists put on a show.

In the meantime, I'm just going to sit back and read my book, with Kobe keeping me company (the cat is long gone.)

My view.

Mom and Dad's Patio

2008-09-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Every spring their little patio begins it's transformation. Begonias and fuschias are brought up from the garage. Geraniums are coaxed back to life. New plants are potted. By August it is a riot of color and life.

St. Francis watches over the proceedings in his little corner of the patio. He is hidden behind bleeding hearts in the springtime but that is long past as we head into fall.

The Importance of Good Soil

2008-09-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Every day I take Dad out to check on the status of his scarlet runner beans. The plants above had the good fortune of growing in potting soil; the little plant below was not so lucky. I won't make that mistake next year!

Dad's 88th birthday party!

2008-09-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

A good time was had by all at Axel's birthday party. Tre Norske performed all of Dad's favorite Scandinavian music. Next, Brother Norm and his good friend Jimmy Wright rocked out with lots of great oldies and were a huge hit! Trygve and Linda Bjorndal played the accordion and harmonica, respectively (that was a surprise bonus!) Many of the residents stopped by to enjoy the music as well.

Dad had a great time.......

Brother Norm

2008-08-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

cocker spaniels live with us now

2008-08-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

It's pretty difficult to get dogs to hold still for pictures without enticing them with treats, hence the expectant posture. I would rather they stare adoringly at me.

Axel's Garden

2008-08-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Since Dad is now at the nursing home there is not much produce coming out of his garden. He used to plant tomatoes, scarlet runner beans, corn, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, beats, onions and I'm sure more that I have missed. This is not counting his beautiful raspberry plants, which continue to produce. Fortunately, though, the lady who supplied him with some of his tomato plants came over in early summer and planted several. Lots of the little yellow cherry tomatoes (Dad's favorite) are growing, as well as bigger tomatoes. Tonight I made that delicious Italian salad with one of those beautiful big tomatoes. Can't remember the name but it's comprised of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, olive oil and basil.

But there's more in Axel's garden. Lots and lots of volunteer potato plants made their way to the sun and produced beautiful little potatoes in the rich dirt below. He's not there to tend to his garden but part of it still flourishes.

Celebrating Claire's Birthday!

2008-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Every year, Claire, Kellie and I get together to celebrate our birthdays. Last Sunday was in honor of Claire's birthday (actual birthday August 19.) We spent hours roaming the antique mall on Aurora north of Costco. We all left with treasures, Claire especially. Her favorite color is purple; unfortunately this is not a color common in Scandinavian needlework. Eagle-eye Kellie spotted a klokkestreng (Norwegian bell pull) with purple as one of the colors. Score!

Dinner was at Arnie's in Edmonds, another birthday tradition and a good one!

We live with a sheepdog and a baby polar bear

2008-08-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

But not for long. Kobe and Daisy are going to the doggie beauty parlor tomorrow and will return with what is known as the "puppy cut." This is their ragamuffin look. Their friends at the nursing home will either be thrilled or disappointed when they return to show off the groomer's handiwork. It will be either "oh, but they were so cute!" or "they look so much better now, thank goodness you cut their hair!" Grant is in the first camp, I'm in the second.

Hydrangeas

2008-08-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

Mom, your flowers are always so charming and delightful, but these hydrangeas are definitely over-the-top!

Nature is bigger than we are

2008-08-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

I was leaving work recently after an especially intense day, walking out to the parking lot. I looked up and saw a rainbow so glorious it just stopped me in my tracks. OK, this rainbow was waaaaay more intense than my day and I felt instantly better. How could I not?

Friends

2008-08-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Where would we be without our good friends? They love us, support us, laugh with us, cry with us, and make our lives so much richer. Yesterday I spent the day with some dear, dear friends. The sadness we are experiencing in our lives right now was softened a tiny bit by our time together.

Copper Gate

2008-08-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

Mom and I have been running a lot of errands lately. One gets hungry running errands, and thankfully there are lots of options in Ballard for a good meal. On one of our recent outings Mom suggested the Copper Gate, a converted tavern on 24th and 63rd. I had heard about the naked ladies on the walls but had forgotten about the Viking ship bar. Way, way cool. Wasn't sure of the meaning of all those horns in the bow. Click on the picture to see some of the naked ladies!

The Perfect Dishcloth!

2008-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons why I like to make dishcloths in general and this pattern in particular:

1. It's in the mindless crochet category, perfect for odd moments (like waiting in those long lines to get on the freeway - shhhhhh!)
2. It's a useful item everyone can use.
3. The yarn comes in bright colors.
4. It snuggles in your hand so you don't lose your grip on it.
5. It has a cool name: A Practically Hyperbolic Dishcloth.

My dogs do cute things

2008-08-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

Daisy is a dainty girl. Would you call this a dainty snore?

Mmmmmm!

2008-08-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to have dessert for lunch.

Recording for Holiday CD

2008-07-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

Mom had a very fun experience a week ago. She and fellow Tre Norske members Juanita and Megan were hard at work at Radiopoet Productions, recording music to be featured on a holiday CD of Scandinavian songs. She was down with pneumonia when the members of the NLC recorded their parts. Big bummer. We missed her greatly that day. But, her accordion will shine through on two of the songs, thankfully!

Dad

2008-07-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

Dad has been staying at my nursing home since March of this year. I wish he was home with Mom (gardening, playing pool, cooking great dinners, making tea for Tre Norske on Monday nights) but if he has to be at a nursing home at least it's my nursing home. This picture was taken at one of our recent parties. Everybody was wearing hats. Mine was the coolest.

Very First Post!

2008-07-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day today and I'm happy to be starting this blog. Since I journal for myself all the time I might as well write a bit and post pictures for family and friends.