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:

a memior of the celica

Today we sold the celica.
I never thought that I would be sad to see this car go, but there it is. The car that Jeff would pick me up in when we were dating. The car that I told Jeff all of the reasons that I thought I shouldn't be dating him...but I was anyway. The car that I just started learning to drive last month. The car that I so hated to ride in because it was uncomfortable, loud and smelled funny.
Jeff will probably miss it, since now we own two trucks, neither of which even come close to a sports car (unless we go off-roading, that is a sport yeh?).