clamming at Pacific Beach

This is what we were looking for, a depressed (but not suicidal) hole.

Then we (those who were strong enough - namely not Teresa) used the 'gun' to tube down around the clam.

Pull the gun up and voila (or not so voila) there is a clam.

Then you wash it off in the water.When you don't smash it with the gun, you are happy. And you put it in the bucket with the other dying (or dead, smashed) clams.There are holes like this all over the ground.And birds flying about looking for the discards.

Lindsey pushing around the empty stroller.

Getting Rebecca to laugh!

Rebecca was ditched, the woes of being latched into the stroller.

Making use of the romantic atmosphere (seagulls, fish smell....)Our crew:The sun, setting.

new art

I used an old maple syrup jug, copper wire, silicone and twine to make a something to hang up. It looked best in front of 'the joy of paint' so there it now is.

the portrait of a lady by Henry James

Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the book:


"The house had a name and a history; the old gentleman taking his tea would have been delighted to tell you these things: how it had been built under Edard VI, had offered a night's hospitality to the great Elizabeth (whose august person had extended itself upon a huge, magnificent and terribly angular bed which still formed the principal honour of the sleeping apartments), had been a good deal bruised and defaced in Cromwell's wars, and then, under the Restoration, repaired and much enlarged; and how, finally, after having been remodelled and disfigured in the eighteenth century, it had passed into the careful keeping of a shrewd American banker, who had bought it originally because (owing to circumstances too complicated to set forth) it was offered at a great bargain: bought it with much grumbling at its ugliness, its antiquity, its incommodity, and who now, at the end of twenty years, had become conscious of a real aesthetic passion for it, so that he knew all its points and would tell you just where to stand to see them in combination and just the hour when the shadows of its various protuberances - which fell so softly upon the warm, weary brickwork - were of the right measure."

Now if you read through that entire thing, you may have noticed that it only contains one period (along with 2 sets of parenthesis, 2 semi-colons, 2 colons, 16 commas and 2 hyphens). It is the longest sentence that I have every read!

Just thought I'd share. Needless to say, or maybe I do need to say, that I did not read beyond that. And it was a feat to get that far.

banana, candy cane oreos, milk, chocolate sauce....

This is our own special blend, blender the above ingredients...you should try it...it is....ah....interesting.

battle of the bands

We went to a battle of the bands with Laura and Dan, at Studio 7 in downtown Seattle. There were a few good bands...but overall most were too loud (mostly grunt rock), had no imagination and some were a little scary (greasy, 40 yr old man danging around with a mic). And with the hard rock bands there was this group of boys in front that would start moshing...which looked like about 20 kids in a fight (Teresa was not amused!) We did have a good time though - it was generally amusing.

country village

On our way to gospel meeting every Sunday, we pass this shopping area with a big rooster out front and we always wish we had time to stop by....so on Friday we dragged Jim, Kathy and Dan with us to check out the different shops. There are art galleries, toy shops, cafes, antique shops, clothing...all in these older looking buildings connected with boardwalks and there are several converted train cars as shops. Scattered about there are ponds (with lots of ducks) and fountains. It was fun wandering about!

turkey day

we had our first host job for turkey day - Jeff made most of the food while Teresa supervised (and stressed out). :) Mama K. made several pies: blueberry, acorn squash, sweet potato and apple; and her famous rolls. Dan brought the canned goods. And papa J. brought cinnamon rolls for the next morning.

Here is the spread: we got to use a lot of dishes we'd never used yet...

:

the effects of light

I picked out this book from the library because I liked the cover. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was also very well written. And even more surprised to find that it had something new and different from what I have read before. The Effects of Light by Miranda Beverly-Whittmore my current favorite.

It is about the lives of two sisters, Myla and Prudence, who are raised by their father David, and his friends. From their childhood to their adolescence they are the subjects of one photographer. These photos become very controversial, but the girls are sheltered from the contention until it comes to them. The story is told from both girl's perspective, and somewhat from the father's. It explores the origin and importance of art and its effect on all of our lives. It discusses ideas about art that I hadn't considered before, and I find fascinating.


Miranda Beverly-Whittemore's Webpage

random

christmas cactus in full beautiful bloom

jeff's flowers

scrabble...

on Sunday we stopped at Joe and Jasmine's and played rook. then Jeff and I played scrabble. it seems that when we think, we must hold our heads on.

gingerbread cookies

Jeff and I made gingerbread cookies this past Sunday and yesterday we frosted them. It is something that I grew up doing this time of year. My mom and I would get out the millions of cookie-cutters that she had accumulated over the years and make cookies to send to all the family. We weren't so ambitious this year, we will eat them all ourselves (which I guess is actually pretty ambitious)....unless people come visit... :)

last night's dinner

I thought this dinner deserved recognition it was so beautiful (and good to eat). Jeff made tuna cooked in white wine and garlic, butternut squash and asparagus. Yum :)

for sale: new blue guitar (yamaha)

I am sure there is more to it, but I don't know a thing about it. Here is a pic:Yamaha

some lyrics i wrote a while back...

I was generally drawn by the dismal, miserable…
I was generally known to be blue
I cared only for lost causes
So naturally I found you

I knew things could only get better
I glimpsed unusual probabilities
I was a hopeful pessimist
So naturally I reached with both fists

With careful nonchalance I gathered you up
I allowed myself to like you
I advised you to run away
So naturally I gave you cause to stay

I painted you sunny days
I even sang for you
A new person walked out of the mist
I became a gloomy optimist

a job

I am now among the employed!! I will be working at Northwest Hand Specialist (www.nwhand.com). Mostly at the Everett office and sometimes at the Shoreline. I will be doing everything from reception to aiding the occupational therapists. 30 hours a week.
This is the job that I wanted to have...and yes, it is my first job. I always claimed that I would never have my first employment be at one of the following: McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell or Jack in the Box. Not even Wendy's. And I have succeeded! I skipped that 'essential' step.
I am excited!
This is a great job, because I want to become a OTA or a PTA (occupational or physical therapy assistant). This is relevant job experience!
Yah!

well, I was sitting on the couch...

and i thought that one corner of our living room looked picturesque, so i got out the camera and took a picture of it...but i didn't stop there.

the corner:

I couldn't decide which I liked better of these next two photos so I included them both.
The lights above the sink:

My newest painting, dubbed 'the joy of paint' with our tree:

My lovely glass head: