A new tradition

For the second year Ron and I decided to give each other a getaway right after Christmas, instead of stuff. We went again to the Chrysalis, and it was super relaxing! A window seat overlooking Taylor Dock-what could be better?

Remembering sunny days

This is the lovely cheerful frame that Ava and Nicole make for me for Christmas, complete with a picture of Ava planting her sunflower house. So bright and colorful and a reminder of warm days that were and are yet to come!

Such a creative child I raised!

I absolutely love this super cool lamp that Chris made for me for Christmas.

Birthday Sushi

Nicole turned 25 this year and we celebrated at Kuru Kuru Sushi, then  had chocolate cheesecake at her apartment.  Fun times celebrating our sweet, beautiful and talented daughter!

The Battle of the Leaves

Man vs. leaves--who will win?

Okay, was there every really any doubt?

Sweet baby girl turns 5!

Thanksgiving By Ralph Waldo Emerson

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

  Today is a day like any other: twenty four hours, a
 little sunshine, a little rain.

Listen, says ambition, nervously shifting her weight from
 one boot to another---why don't you get going?

For there I am, in the mossy shadows, under the trees.

And to tell the truth, I don't want to let go of the wrists
   of idleness, I don't want to sell my life for money,
   I don't even want to come in out of the rain.

  ---from Black Oaks, by Mary Oliver

Pumpkin carving and carrmel apples

Apple time

A fun day at the apple farm with Nicole and Ava!  Cruised around in a golf cart, picked a few apples, bought some delicious apples and the best peanut butter I've ever tasted.  All in the sunshine!

Out of clutter find simplicity
From discord find harmony
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

                                      Albert Einstein

Making jam---a very sticky business

Raspberry pear and strawberry rhubarb, and all but the raspberries are from our garden.

Early Thanksgiving, eh?

Since we have a Canadian university student, we took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy an extra Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Thursday night pizza and glue books with the girls

Artstock

Ava loves art, and I love Friday Harbor.  That's how I got the idea that it would be fun to attend Artstock on the island, where galleries and studios would be open and artists would be at work.  So Ron and Ava and I set out early Saturday morning to catch the ferry.  I took a picture of Ava

and she took one of me!

The ferry ride was a big hit, probably the highlight of the day, at least for Ava.  (Maybe Ron, too.)

And some brilliant person came up with a great idea--puzzles on the ferry!

We explored the town, visited some art galleries (one complete with an artist at work, which Ava found fascinating!) and spent some time at Serendipity, an incredibly wonderful used bookstore.

We had lunch overlooking the harbor

Guess who took this one?

And then it was time to head back to the ferry....

Ava did a little steering

              and a little resting.              

Back in the car, heading home, but one more stop--the day wouldn't be complete without ice cream!

Okay, one more.....