Passages

signs of Spring

We didn’t go to the ocean, we are not going to Maui, we are not in Florida or Sayulita, or New Zealand.  We stayed home this February.  Hunkered down.  We are getting things done.  This is the time of year to go to the dentist, get the car tuned up, watch the Academy Award nominated movies on Netflix, get the income tax information together.  In between wind storms, we look for signs of Spring.  Roger cut a lot of firewood.  I went through old photos.  And framed some of them for the family photo gallery in my stairwell.

Roger's side
 

Layer on to that all the regular stuff like book club meetings, grooming the dog, birthday parties, and long walks when the weather allows.  Roger rearranged his nursery and potted up hundreds of plants to sell at the upcoming Farmers Markets.

Aunt Donna, cousins David and Karen visit F.H. for the first time

 Visitors arrived from North Dakota.  We are having better weather than there, right?  Aunt Donna and cousins David and Karen showed up one weekend.  Last time we saw them was at the Noonan, North Dakota Centennial celebration in 2007. (click here to see picture of Travelers Hotel in Noonan.) Donna’s husband Robert died right before Christmas so her son David took Donna out west to visit family.  That same weekend, we received word that Donna’s brother (Roger's uncle Don) in Renton suffered a stroke and subsequently died so it is a good thing that she came out here when she did.

prayer flags in the trees at Thornbush

 

I’ve been reading a lot, between watching movies.  Read a book called Joy for Beginners set in Seattle, about a woman who survived cancer and celebrated by rafting down the Grand Canyon.  She challenges each of her friends to take on a new skill or task that, wouldn’t you know, changes her life.  This was a novel.  But I have a friend who recently rafted down the Grand Canyon.  Now she finds herself in a cancer ward in Seattle.  Family and friends are rallying around as can be expected but it is just another reminder to cherish these Very Rich Hours.  Even in the gloom of February.

5th Anniversary of my Retirement

Hired at Metro 8/9/77 retired at K.C. 1/31/08
 

This month marks the fifth anniversary of my retirement from King County Metro.  It occurred to me that I have now been retired longer than I was Supervisor of Scheduling. Wow.  My successor, Jon, has been a supervisor a year longer than me.

2013 begins with a New Year Celebration with the gang.  Here’s a pix looking down from above. 

I didn’t realize that we had instructions to all wear blue. . .

 Father-in-Law Al turned 87 and celebrated with a visit from Lil and Bree and Guy’s family. 

Miles and Austin size up the pony ride

 

Niki shows Al and Bree pictures from her phone

I wanted to show a picture of the loading dock that Roger built last Fall.  It has an outdoor sink perfect for bathing the dog, also we’ve moved the worm compost system here from its original setting behind the shop.  The dock has been very handy for many projects.  Here’s a picture of my willow harvest this winter.

Four kinds of willow plus some plum

 

The weather this winter has been fairly mild, but we have had a few frozen days.  Here are some pictures—of the frozen waterfall at Eric’s and a picture of the path to the pond—compare this to last July’s picture.

 

 

 

Click on to enlarge

 

Roger has been busy rerouting the railroad around the boiler to meet up with the new loading dock.  He has also been collecting up to 18 eggs a day from the two chicken flocks.  And he’s been getting the nursery ready for Spring.  The Grange is busy making plans for the year including a seed exchange.

 I managed to finish a basket this month.  And I got to go to our annual spa retreat with Liz, Jeannette, and Michelle.  And last weekend R and I went to Seattle, visited the new new MOHAI, and celebrated Diane’s big 6-0.   Mine will be coming up soon enough.

Celebrating the 60's

 

The month of January was filled with family, friends, projects, natural beauty . . .

 

It looks as though this retirement thing is working out just fine.