One last thought before the old year creeps out the door.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.
I wish you and yours a pleasing and prosperous new year
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
PUNISHMENT
1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says: "Dam.”
3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Not surprisingly, it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive."
5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal? Transcend dental medication.
6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off." Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
7. A woman has identical twins and places them for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
8. These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him... A super callused fragile mystic plagued by halitosis.
10. And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. "No pun in ten did."
2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says: "Dam.”
3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Not surprisingly, it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive."
5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal? Transcend dental medication.
6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off." Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
7. A woman has identical twins and places them for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
8. These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
9. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him... A super callused fragile mystic plagued by halitosis.
10. And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. "No pun in ten did."
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
IM BUCHWALD
It seems that Stephanie has discovered that the “treasure” is a house in Stuttgart, Germany. And she asks, “What is that house?” To which I reply…
Loosely translated to German the name of my blog is Im Buchwald.
That name is significant to me because I lived im Buchwald. More specifically, I lived im Buchwald at Waldmeisterweg 30. That house is Waldmeisterweg 30.
To give you a perspective of where it is situated, on the aerial photograph you will find things marked as staffel. A staffel is stair-stepped trail. The Ginsterstaffel, the one we used most frequently, leads up through the gardens and weinberg to Im Buchwald a small village-like area above the larger village-like area of Gablenberg. I was assigned to work there twice. First as a German-speaking missionary and then months later as an Italian-speaking missionary. It was the second time in Gablenberg that we rented the room im Buchwald.
The house at Waldmeisterweg 30 sits on a hillside facing north. Our room in the daylight basement looked out over the garden at the back of the house. In the autumn it was comfortable almost to the point of being enjoyable. But in winter it became very nearly unbearable – obviously something we had not anticipated. It was an un-insulated space with walls of stone and concrete. And although the interior walls were finished nicely they conducted heat and cold much too efficiently.
I started to think about that basement room overlooking the garden as I huddled under my federdecke earlier this month. It was chilly in our bedroom at home but nothing like the chill my companion and I woke up to each morning in our ‘garden apartment’ there on Waldmeisterweg. Our room was heated by a single ceramic-tiled coal stove. We took turns getting up a bit early to make the fire each morning. And with only $75.00 each a month - $75.00 for rent, food, clothing, transportation, and whatever else was needed – we didn’t feel it wise to heat the room when we weren’t there and tried to make coal last longer. So we burned one or maybe two bricks a day. One in the morning and maybe one in the evening if we hadn’t adjusted the draft right in the morning to keep it burning slowly all day. Think winter scenes in Doctor Zhivago.
Loosely translated to German the name of my blog is Im Buchwald.
That name is significant to me because I lived im Buchwald. More specifically, I lived im Buchwald at Waldmeisterweg 30. That house is Waldmeisterweg 30.
To give you a perspective of where it is situated, on the aerial photograph you will find things marked as staffel. A staffel is stair-stepped trail. The Ginsterstaffel, the one we used most frequently, leads up through the gardens and weinberg to Im Buchwald a small village-like area above the larger village-like area of Gablenberg. I was assigned to work there twice. First as a German-speaking missionary and then months later as an Italian-speaking missionary. It was the second time in Gablenberg that we rented the room im Buchwald.The house at Waldmeisterweg 30 sits on a hillside facing north. Our room in the daylight basement looked out over the garden at the back of the house. In the autumn it was comfortable almost to the point of being enjoyable. But in winter it became very nearly unbearable – obviously something we had not anticipated. It was an un-insulated space with walls of stone and concrete. And although the interior walls were finished nicely they conducted heat and cold much too efficiently.
I started to think about that basement room overlooking the garden as I huddled under my federdecke earlier this month. It was chilly in our bedroom at home but nothing like the chill my companion and I woke up to each morning in our ‘garden apartment’ there on Waldmeisterweg. Our room was heated by a single ceramic-tiled coal stove. We took turns getting up a bit early to make the fire each morning. And with only $75.00 each a month - $75.00 for rent, food, clothing, transportation, and whatever else was needed – we didn’t feel it wise to heat the room when we weren’t there and tried to make coal last longer. So we burned one or maybe two bricks a day. One in the morning and maybe one in the evening if we hadn’t adjusted the draft right in the morning to keep it burning slowly all day. Think winter scenes in Doctor Zhivago.
We weren’t the only people heating with coal. It was pretty much the norm – everybody burned coal. In fact so much was being burned in Gablenberg that as we went down the Ginsterstaffel each morning, we could just see the tip of the steeple on the Lutheran Church peeking out above a sea of brown coal smoke. The air was full of soot. I always wondered why we were able to breathe that air. In fact the air was so bad that we wore scarves more to keep our collars clean than our necks warm.Water for the morning wash-up was heated in a pot on a one burner hot plate. One of us would study while the other washed. (Real bathing was done once a week at the public bathhouse in a small room with a timer on the door.) Our water source was a faucet resembling a gas spigot with stepped sides and was located in the unfinished area toward the front of the house by the coal bin.. If I turned it too far, the outer portion would fall off. As you can imagine getting it back on would mean a thorough soaking. Not at all pleasant on an arctic morning. Or any other time for that matter.
Breakfast was cooked on the hot plate after we had dressed and studied. Our breakfast diet was simple and consisted mainly of some variation or combination of milk, yoghurt, bread, cheese, jam, and oatmeal. Germany is where I became an oatmeal gourmet. There were many kinds and I knew them all. What was best for cooked cereal and what made the best Muesli. I have since become more accepting of poorer brands and varieties. But when one is forced into a situation of limited choices, optimization of what remains feels like a real luxury.
This is about the time we learned to make bread pudding because Sister Fetzer, the mission mother, told us we needed to have more variety in our meals. Pasta salads/casseroles were also added about this time. The great variation being whether we added cheese or tuna. We ate or drank a lot of soup as well. I never thought of it as excessive but we must have answered “Soup” to the question “What did you have for supper?” once too often. One of the families we were teaching commented on it frequently by offering dinner invitations. The mission rule was not to eat with members or friends. Although our diet must have given some the impression of being monotonous or inadequate, we thrived. And it really wasn’t one of the important things.
Still to come is:
Stammtisch, Frauenkopf, Fernsehturm, and Evening walks under the Beeches.
And still later more numbers.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
WRESTLING WITH RETIREMENT
Well, tomorrow I go back to work. I haven’t been to work since the afternoon of December 17.
Going back will be hard. I am becoming more and more accustomed to being at home. I really am ready to retire. Or at least do something besides work for the Navy – or maybe just not something associated with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
I thought it would be hard to walk away. That I had a lot invested in the job. Surprisingly it hasn’t bothered me being away. I don’t care if someone has messed with the programs I wrote. Just if I have to go back and undo their messes in order to do my job for the last two months. Then I’ll be put off.
So tomorrow I will call the human resources office about setting my date. I’m hoping for the last day of February.
I can’t say that I’m not apprehensive. I am. It’s a change. A big change. But I keep telling myself that I retired once before without any real problems. And we still had kids at home. I can do it again. That’s what I tell myself.
Now I have to believe it.
The gospel doctrine lesson today was a discussion of the last chapters of Moroni. And more specifically the verses dealing with faith and hope. The priesthood lesson was Teachings for Our Times taken from President Uchtdorf’s talk entitled “The Infinite Power of Hope.”
One of the quotes used by the gospel doctrine instructor was from “The Doctrinal New Testament Commentary” by Bruce R. McConkie.
“As used in the revelations, hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God hereafter. It is not a flimsy, ethereal desire, one without assurance that the desired consummation will be received, but a desire coupled with full expectation of receiving the coveted reward.”
And from “The Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon” by Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet, and Brent L. Top:
“To have hope in Christ is to have the peaceful assurance that one is on course, the quiet confidence that in general terms the Lord is pleased with one's efforts, the anticipation of happiness here and glory and honor hereafter. ”
Can I make application of that principle in my ordinary personal everyday life?
Can I have a peaceful assurance that I am on course and anticipate a future of happiness in this life? Can I have hope for a comfortable life after retirement?
The scriptures state that without faith there can be no hope. So what or who is it that I need to have faith in?
And James wrote, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” And so what is the work that I should be anxiously engaged in?
The Lord has said, “If ye love me keep my commandments.”
It is also true that if I love myself I will keep the Lord’s commandments. As this is done, happiness and success will follow. Remembering always that the Lord has promised if we walk “in obedience to the commandments, [we] shall receive health in [our] navel and marrow to [our] bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”
And again He has promised that He “will rebuke the devourer for [our] sakes.”
And as President Hinckley so often reminded us, “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
These promises were made without respect to time of life.
Going back will be hard. I am becoming more and more accustomed to being at home. I really am ready to retire. Or at least do something besides work for the Navy – or maybe just not something associated with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
I thought it would be hard to walk away. That I had a lot invested in the job. Surprisingly it hasn’t bothered me being away. I don’t care if someone has messed with the programs I wrote. Just if I have to go back and undo their messes in order to do my job for the last two months. Then I’ll be put off.
So tomorrow I will call the human resources office about setting my date. I’m hoping for the last day of February.
I can’t say that I’m not apprehensive. I am. It’s a change. A big change. But I keep telling myself that I retired once before without any real problems. And we still had kids at home. I can do it again. That’s what I tell myself.
Now I have to believe it.
The gospel doctrine lesson today was a discussion of the last chapters of Moroni. And more specifically the verses dealing with faith and hope. The priesthood lesson was Teachings for Our Times taken from President Uchtdorf’s talk entitled “The Infinite Power of Hope.”
One of the quotes used by the gospel doctrine instructor was from “The Doctrinal New Testament Commentary” by Bruce R. McConkie.
“As used in the revelations, hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God hereafter. It is not a flimsy, ethereal desire, one without assurance that the desired consummation will be received, but a desire coupled with full expectation of receiving the coveted reward.”
And from “The Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon” by Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet, and Brent L. Top:
“To have hope in Christ is to have the peaceful assurance that one is on course, the quiet confidence that in general terms the Lord is pleased with one's efforts, the anticipation of happiness here and glory and honor hereafter. ”
Can I make application of that principle in my ordinary personal everyday life?
Can I have a peaceful assurance that I am on course and anticipate a future of happiness in this life? Can I have hope for a comfortable life after retirement?
The scriptures state that without faith there can be no hope. So what or who is it that I need to have faith in?
And James wrote, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” And so what is the work that I should be anxiously engaged in?
The Lord has said, “If ye love me keep my commandments.”
It is also true that if I love myself I will keep the Lord’s commandments. As this is done, happiness and success will follow. Remembering always that the Lord has promised if we walk “in obedience to the commandments, [we] shall receive health in [our] navel and marrow to [our] bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”
And again He has promised that He “will rebuke the devourer for [our] sakes.”
And as President Hinckley so often reminded us, “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
These promises were made without respect to time of life.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Death of a Snowman
First my apologies to Arthur Miller.
The death of a snowman is not a pretty thing. A slow and messy process. In reality not at all what King Arthur described in Camelot. If you will allow that stretch.
I'm happy to see the temperatures climb above freezing, however, the calming beauty of a landscape blanketed in white has added to my Christmas experience. Suddenly dropping me in the middle of a Currier & Ives print. I could almost hear the sleigh bells. Which would be wonderful, since I’m finding it progressively harder to hear any kind of tinkling.
But still there has been the reality of what is involved in living so close to nature. There is a responsibility to the world around me. Not only that which I have added to it – caring that the cover over the car so that it doesn’t collapse under the weight of the snow - but also to the creatures sharing this little corner of the world.
Small example: we started putting out food for the squirrels and birds. And now we’ve done it often enough that we have to continue. Not only that but we need to be sure what we’re putting out won’t be detrimental. If we don’t provide the type of food required for their survival we could unwittingly be the agent of their demise.
But now turning to something I wrote about on December 15.
That was the “treasure hunt.” Here’s an easier way to find 48°46’17.76”N 9°12’36.79"E
Use the tool at: http://tools.freeside.sk/geolocator/geolocator.html and copy and paste the coordinates in the box provided.
Then zoom in and let me know what you find and I’ll give you the story – my story - behind it.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Boxing Day Denial
It’s time for me to be in bed but I thought I should tell Matt and Tim and their families thank you for the enjoyable day and the nice presents. And with your help, I did manage to get all the pictures off my camera and onto my computer.
Mom and I got home without incident. And after getting something to eat and a little procrastination, we decided to open the presents we had wrapped for ourselves. Although at first I think Mom wanted to put it off until tomorrow and have a second day of Christmas, she gave me the choice and I just couldn’t wait. I would give you a list of all the “presents” but it would be quite a lengthy list - essentially anything we bought during December. We were fittingly surprised.
And just a follow up on the Crazy Quilt series: I’m putting together a small trunk with a crazy quilt, a cinnamon bear, and a silver star as an under-the-tree Christmas decoration for each of the four families. That should be to you by Three Kings Day.
Love to all.
Mom and I got home without incident. And after getting something to eat and a little procrastination, we decided to open the presents we had wrapped for ourselves. Although at first I think Mom wanted to put it off until tomorrow and have a second day of Christmas, she gave me the choice and I just couldn’t wait. I would give you a list of all the “presents” but it would be quite a lengthy list - essentially anything we bought during December. We were fittingly surprised.
And just a follow up on the Crazy Quilt series: I’m putting together a small trunk with a crazy quilt, a cinnamon bear, and a silver star as an under-the-tree Christmas decoration for each of the four families. That should be to you by Three Kings Day.
Love to all.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Amazing Lights
Since most of you probably won’t be going to Peacock Lane or some other well known street to see the Christmas decorations, here’a something Alex sent out for our pleasure and amusement. Christmas lights dancing to 'Amazing Grace'
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
You may have guessed I was up late last night – early this morning – I was waiting to see what kind of weather was coming thinking I might need to do something. By 1:00 a.m. the temperature was just below freezing. About 30°F and I was tired. Three days straight of shoveling snow, shaking bushes, chopping wood, and digging cars out had worn on my back. (Thanks be for Motrin and Icy-Hot Patches!) So I went to bed convinced that we were going to have an uneventful Christmas Eve. I wouldn't have to stir from home. The gifts to neighbors were delivered yesterday. The temperature would be going up and there would be no more snow to deal with.
I woke to hear WHUMP and see Kathy’s constant companion, the television, go black.
“So,” I thought, “No power.”
I was ready. I grabbed my Federdecke and gave it a good shake to fluff it up and turtled it. Nothing but the top of my head showing.
Then I heard Kathy say, “Oh, the TV just turned off.” And she got up and turned it on.
Ten minutes later the power was gone and this time for several hours.
It has warmed up. 33°F. It did snow. Two to three more inches. Wet and heavy. Tree limbs already stressed to the breaking point are… breaking.
We’re back on and Kathy is prepping the turkey for roasting. It may be finished on the grill. Good thing it’s only ten pounds. Kathy the optimist.
I’ve had my oatmeal, banana and cup. The cell phone is charged. The radio is cranked up. Plenty of dry clothes stacked up. Kathy’s in the shower. So I’ll just wait it out.
Oh! And by the by, here’s the last episode of Crazy Quilt.
And the merriest of Christmases from our little cabin in the woods. Warmest wishes and our love to you all on this most joyous of all seasons. God bless you all. May all your dreams come true.
I woke to hear WHUMP and see Kathy’s constant companion, the television, go black.
“So,” I thought, “No power.”
I was ready. I grabbed my Federdecke and gave it a good shake to fluff it up and turtled it. Nothing but the top of my head showing.
Then I heard Kathy say, “Oh, the TV just turned off.” And she got up and turned it on.
Ten minutes later the power was gone and this time for several hours.
It has warmed up. 33°F. It did snow. Two to three more inches. Wet and heavy. Tree limbs already stressed to the breaking point are… breaking.
We’re back on and Kathy is prepping the turkey for roasting. It may be finished on the grill. Good thing it’s only ten pounds. Kathy the optimist.
I’ve had my oatmeal, banana and cup. The cell phone is charged. The radio is cranked up. Plenty of dry clothes stacked up. Kathy’s in the shower. So I’ll just wait it out.
Oh! And by the by, here’s the last episode of Crazy Quilt.
And the merriest of Christmases from our little cabin in the woods. Warmest wishes and our love to you all on this most joyous of all seasons. God bless you all. May all your dreams come true.
Crazy Quilt Dragon 26
EARLIER TODAY - .It’s nearly Christmas now and the intact star is back with Judy and Jimmy. They are anxious to return to their home. Crazy Quilt wants to remain at the North Pole but the children and Paddy are to return in Santa’s sleigh. Jimmy asks Crazy Quilt to hold the star as he climbs into the sleigh. When turns to ask the dragon to hand him back the shiny ornament, our friends discover he’s gone… running away as fast as he can! AND NOW…
Crazy Quilt Dragon 25
YESTERDAY – Back in Santa’s office things become clear. Melissa has warned that Wintergreen Witch has escaped from her exile and has headed for the Snow Country. Reinforcements are sent to the soldiers battling the witch. In the meantime, Santa takes his visitors on a tour of the North Pole workshop. Then comes word that Captain Tintop has returned victorious… and with the star! AND NOW…
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS
We’re home from the battles.
Earlier I sharpened my axe and cut up the larger limbs – 4 to 6 inches in diameter – that were at the end of the driveway into manageable lengths and stacked them for anyone who wanted it as firewood. The green I raked to the side to wait transport to the burn pile. JD and I will get the maintenance truck later next week.
When the temperature warmed up to 34°F we ventured out for groceries. Kathy needed shortening in order to make filled cookies, so we plussed-up our stocks in other areas as well.
The main roads are fine. It’s just when you turn off onto streets like the one leading into Lake Holiday or the streets leading into parking lots in the Gig Harbor commercial area that things get a bit dicey.
We expect another storm this evening but are still uncertain what we will see here in our neck of the woods. Here’s what ‘s in the forecast.
“By late tonight night another weather system will approach the state spreading snow into Puget Sound around midnight. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible by the commute on Wednesday morning. Snow will continue most areas through the morning with another 1"-2" possible. Showers will continue during the day on Wednesday but will be more mixed snow and rain for much of the area as temperatures warm during the day. There may still be some afternoon accumulations on the Kitsap Peninsula and in the convergence zone from about Seattle northward to Everett.
“Another, slightly colder weather system will move in early Christmas morning for another chance of snow. Another 1"-2" of snow could accumulate mainly during the early morning. Again in the afternoon it will turn to more of a mix of rain and snow showers with only spotty accumulations mainly north of Seattle in the afternoon. Only a few scattered rain or snow showers should linger into Christmas night with no new accumulations.
“Friday should see increasing rain and snow spreading into western Washington in the morning. This storm should warm temperatures enough to turn the precipitation into rain everywhere. The rain should continue off and on through the weekend with high temperature into the low 40s.”
Sound like we may have a white Christmas? And after all that we've been through I'll be disappointed if we don't.
Earlier I sharpened my axe and cut up the larger limbs – 4 to 6 inches in diameter – that were at the end of the driveway into manageable lengths and stacked them for anyone who wanted it as firewood. The green I raked to the side to wait transport to the burn pile. JD and I will get the maintenance truck later next week.
When the temperature warmed up to 34°F we ventured out for groceries. Kathy needed shortening in order to make filled cookies, so we plussed-up our stocks in other areas as well.
The main roads are fine. It’s just when you turn off onto streets like the one leading into Lake Holiday or the streets leading into parking lots in the Gig Harbor commercial area that things get a bit dicey.
We expect another storm this evening but are still uncertain what we will see here in our neck of the woods. Here’s what ‘s in the forecast.
“By late tonight night another weather system will approach the state spreading snow into Puget Sound around midnight. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible by the commute on Wednesday morning. Snow will continue most areas through the morning with another 1"-2" possible. Showers will continue during the day on Wednesday but will be more mixed snow and rain for much of the area as temperatures warm during the day. There may still be some afternoon accumulations on the Kitsap Peninsula and in the convergence zone from about Seattle northward to Everett.
“Another, slightly colder weather system will move in early Christmas morning for another chance of snow. Another 1"-2" of snow could accumulate mainly during the early morning. Again in the afternoon it will turn to more of a mix of rain and snow showers with only spotty accumulations mainly north of Seattle in the afternoon. Only a few scattered rain or snow showers should linger into Christmas night with no new accumulations.
“Friday should see increasing rain and snow spreading into western Washington in the morning. This storm should warm temperatures enough to turn the precipitation into rain everywhere. The rain should continue off and on through the weekend with high temperature into the low 40s.”
Sound like we may have a white Christmas? And after all that we've been through I'll be disappointed if we don't.
Crazy Quilt Dragon 24
YESTERDAY – Jack Frost raises the window in time to spot the Bad Dolls dashing away with the star. Santa orders out the detachment of tin soldiers to pursue the dolls. But bad news, Captain Tintop radios back that the troops are encountering difficulties. A strange creature, never before seen in Snow Countery, is aiding the Bad Dolls. AND NOW…
Monday, December 22, 2008
HOT WATER
My atomic clock and wannabe weather station tells me that it is 32.3°F on the east side of our house. It’s after 5:00 p.m. and it’s getting dark. The sky has been clear most of the afternoon and the temperature was above freezing a good portion of the day. Not a good mix for driving to work in the morning. But I’m not saying a word. That decision is Kathy’s.
As you see below I said I was off to get a shower this morning.
Problem: There was still a power issue with well #1 and we had no water pressure. So while I waited I went out and shoveled yesterday’s snow off the walks and deck. Cleared the hedges. (It’s fun to climb inside and shake up my own private snow storm.) Clean the cars. And drag limbs. Yeah. They were ours.
I walked down to the association office to make arrangements to have the limbs picked up only find out that the maintenance man had quit. (My next “career?”) So what could I do? Well, since the porch and walk were woefully in need of shoveling, I shoveled. As I was finishing, the office manager poked her head out and said, “Mr. Beecher, we’ve lost power again.” So I walked back up the hill to let JD know why the roads hadn’t been sanded. “Maybe I’ll take the job,” I told him.
As I turned to go home a Saturn Vue crested the hill and we stepped back to see the back end swinging our way. All wheels were locked. Slowly the front wheels turned toward the opposite side of the street and back end crept closer to the car parked in front of JD’s.
“Turn the wheel the other way!” I yelled. He did and things got a bit better. But back wheels were still sliding.
“Take off the brake!” I yelled. And they started rolling straight down the hill. But I guess panic set in as the speed increased and all wheel locked up and they were sliding again.
“Don’t brake! Don’t brake!” I yelled.
They rolled down the hill and out the gate.
I was walking up the driveway and JD called to me. “You work for the highway patrol?”
“No,” I said, “they got openings, too?”
So now the power’s back on again and this time I’m getting in the shower.
As you see below I said I was off to get a shower this morning.
Problem: There was still a power issue with well #1 and we had no water pressure. So while I waited I went out and shoveled yesterday’s snow off the walks and deck. Cleared the hedges. (It’s fun to climb inside and shake up my own private snow storm.) Clean the cars. And drag limbs. Yeah. They were ours.
I walked down to the association office to make arrangements to have the limbs picked up only find out that the maintenance man had quit. (My next “career?”) So what could I do? Well, since the porch and walk were woefully in need of shoveling, I shoveled. As I was finishing, the office manager poked her head out and said, “Mr. Beecher, we’ve lost power again.” So I walked back up the hill to let JD know why the roads hadn’t been sanded. “Maybe I’ll take the job,” I told him.
As I turned to go home a Saturn Vue crested the hill and we stepped back to see the back end swinging our way. All wheels were locked. Slowly the front wheels turned toward the opposite side of the street and back end crept closer to the car parked in front of JD’s.
“Turn the wheel the other way!” I yelled. He did and things got a bit better. But back wheels were still sliding.
“Take off the brake!” I yelled. And they started rolling straight down the hill. But I guess panic set in as the speed increased and all wheel locked up and they were sliding again.
“Don’t brake! Don’t brake!” I yelled.
They rolled down the hill and out the gate.
I was walking up the driveway and JD called to me. “You work for the highway patrol?”
“No,” I said, “they got openings, too?”
So now the power’s back on again and this time I’m getting in the shower.
POP GOES THE POWER...
I got the Crazy Quilt up as soon as I could. Well, I guess I could have done it at 5:00 a.m. but since Mom wasn’t going to drive to work I put off dragging myself out until a bit later. Then there was a flash – it wasn’t lightening – then the UPS was calling me. I have a nice Belken that comes with software the shuts down the computer. All I have to do is turn off the beep. So we lost power.
There is a big limb – fir bough as we used to say – in the street in front of our house. I’m not sure if we or our neighbors were the culprits so I’ll just blame it on the snow.
Obviously we’re back up so it didn’t last long but still I’m off to get a shower just in case.
Oh, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard actually closed due to weather! That is historic!!
There is a big limb – fir bough as we used to say – in the street in front of our house. I’m not sure if we or our neighbors were the culprits so I’ll just blame it on the snow.
Obviously we’re back up so it didn’t last long but still I’m off to get a shower just in case.
Oh, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard actually closed due to weather! That is historic!!
Crazy Quilt Dragon 23
YESTERDAY - Santa makes the group welcome and orders up his reindeer to take the four adventurers to the shop of Jack Frost, who quicker than quick, repairs the silver star as good as new. He puts it on his window sill to get good and cold, but when they are ready to go they find it missing! AND NOW…
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Crazy Quilt Dragon 22
EARLIER TODAY – It’s a flying hat and they take off for the Snow Country. There, on Melissa’s instructions, they hunt for someone known as Nicky Froodle. A W.C. Fields sounding snowman directs them to a nearby castle and the little elf named Nicky. He tells them that he will take them to someone who can help them mend the broke star. None other than Santa Claus himself. AND NOW…
Crazy Quilt Dragon 21
This is a little late today. I was out shoveling snow. It seems that we dodged the bullet. No wind - just a lot more snow. I got the walks and the deck shoveled. My home teacher was out before I was and he did the front. So now it's done except that it has started to snow again. But on to the story... YESTERDAY – A still angry witch is about to turn our friends into bullfrogs but discovers Queen Melissa has taken away her magical powers. The Grand Wonky reappears and forces the helpless witch to return the star. On the queen’s orders the witch is taken away in the Grand Wonky’s custody. Tired, the adventurers fall asleep under a tree. When they discover a huge silk hat. AND NOW…
Saturday, December 20, 2008
STORM STEW...
Well, I won’t need to do anymore work on my lesson and I won’t need to print agendas. I just got “the call” followed by an email (There will be no church services for the Key Center Ward tomorrow, December 21, due to the storm conditions.) That means the Stake Christmas Devotional will be canceled for the second week in a row and unless performed after Christmas won’t be presented at all.
The storm conditions referred to were described by KOMO-TV in the following write-up from their web-site:
"Snow has been falling steadily across most of Western Washington since Saturday afternoon, and was forecast to continue to fall through the night. Meanwhile, gusty winds were reported in the Cascade foothills, but it appears the wind gusts won't be as severe as originally forecast. The areas like North Bend, Sultan, Gold Bar, Black Diamond, Maple Valley and Enumclaw could still see sustained winds of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 50-70 mph. A winter storm warning remained in effect for most of the Western Washington lowlands through Sunday morning for as much as 2-8" of snow -- with higher totals as high as 12" expected along the far western Kitsap Peninsula and Southwestern Washington. As of now, forecasting models suggest the brunt of the storm will head into northern Oregon and southwestern Washington. Areas south of Olympia could see as much as 6-12" of snow with this storm before changing to rain or freezing rain. Travel is strongly discouraged and should be put off until Monday."
So we are staying put.
Tim’s phone called me twice and all I could hear were voices not clear enough to distinguish words. The tone and timbre was of urgency – many different voices speaking hurriedly in a strident pitch. So I called back. After two attempts it connected. He was at a friend’s home helping with flooding. The cold temperatures have that effect on pipes. I don’t want to tempt trouble and I do hope the warmer weather returns soon. We know that it will warm up eventually.
The storm conditions referred to were described by KOMO-TV in the following write-up from their web-site:
"Snow has been falling steadily across most of Western Washington since Saturday afternoon, and was forecast to continue to fall through the night. Meanwhile, gusty winds were reported in the Cascade foothills, but it appears the wind gusts won't be as severe as originally forecast. The areas like North Bend, Sultan, Gold Bar, Black Diamond, Maple Valley and Enumclaw could still see sustained winds of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 50-70 mph. A winter storm warning remained in effect for most of the Western Washington lowlands through Sunday morning for as much as 2-8" of snow -- with higher totals as high as 12" expected along the far western Kitsap Peninsula and Southwestern Washington. As of now, forecasting models suggest the brunt of the storm will head into northern Oregon and southwestern Washington. Areas south of Olympia could see as much as 6-12" of snow with this storm before changing to rain or freezing rain. Travel is strongly discouraged and should be put off until Monday."
So we are staying put.
Tim’s phone called me twice and all I could hear were voices not clear enough to distinguish words. The tone and timbre was of urgency – many different voices speaking hurriedly in a strident pitch. So I called back. After two attempts it connected. He was at a friend’s home helping with flooding. The cold temperatures have that effect on pipes. I don’t want to tempt trouble and I do hope the warmer weather returns soon. We know that it will warm up eventually.
COLD DAY
When I got up this morning at 7:30 (I know I was lazy) the temperature was 22° F. Now at 1:30 it’s up to a balmy 25° F. The coldest I remember at home in Milwaukie, Oregon, is 14° F. Remembering winter days of my childhood that was one dark morning long ago but typical of our lives.
My mother had got me up for breakfast and a surprise. The radio was tuned to KWJJ and what we would now call Classic Country was brightly spilling all over the kitchen. My impression is that we still had the wood cook stove and the water heater in the kitchen, so the house was warm by those standards. The back door separating us from the outside was a raised panel door the top third of which was a single glazed window. It was that window that my mom wanted me to see. Jack Frost had painted a full half of it, beautifully spreading plumes of ice crystals across it in. Almost a paisley pattern in translucent white.
That was about it. “Look. Jack Frost was here.”
Then it was on to the preparations for the day. Dad’s lunch of sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, a thermos of hot coffee and other home made foods in jars crammed the lunch pail, a rectangular box with a domed lid that held the thermos by means of wire retainer and closed by two chrome latches. That was it except for those special times when there was left over cake or pie. Then a piece was wrapped carefully in wax paper and placed on top of all the rest.
What happened next was my scrubbing. We did not shower daily. We scrubbed stripped to the waist in front of the sink. On cold days that was an onerous task. As a small boy I wasn’t at all attracted to water except in mud puddles. Mix it with soap? It would be something straight out of Calvin and Hobbs. And so what I started was always finished by my Mom. But better her than my Aunt Amy who must have had nanny training in Teutonic torture. Somehow I survived and I always felt warmer getting dressed after the ordeal by water. But I’m sure my friends wondered how I got sun burned in the middle of winter.
The rest of the day was school for me. What went on at home during my absence? I don’t know. But after school even though it got dark early we managed to play in the yard. And there were two or three 15 minute radio programs to listen to. Although grade schoolers didn’t have homework my Mom would have me read from the readers she had bought. There were chores like filling the wood box or taking out the garbage - table scraps and the like were buried in the orchard as a soil amendment. Then my Dad might read aloud from one of the books he was reading. To bed by eight and in the morning we would start again.
I guess that by today’s standards it may seem to have been a bit bleak but we were happy. And happy is important.
My mother had got me up for breakfast and a surprise. The radio was tuned to KWJJ and what we would now call Classic Country was brightly spilling all over the kitchen. My impression is that we still had the wood cook stove and the water heater in the kitchen, so the house was warm by those standards. The back door separating us from the outside was a raised panel door the top third of which was a single glazed window. It was that window that my mom wanted me to see. Jack Frost had painted a full half of it, beautifully spreading plumes of ice crystals across it in. Almost a paisley pattern in translucent white.
That was about it. “Look. Jack Frost was here.”
Then it was on to the preparations for the day. Dad’s lunch of sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, a thermos of hot coffee and other home made foods in jars crammed the lunch pail, a rectangular box with a domed lid that held the thermos by means of wire retainer and closed by two chrome latches. That was it except for those special times when there was left over cake or pie. Then a piece was wrapped carefully in wax paper and placed on top of all the rest.What happened next was my scrubbing. We did not shower daily. We scrubbed stripped to the waist in front of the sink. On cold days that was an onerous task. As a small boy I wasn’t at all attracted to water except in mud puddles. Mix it with soap? It would be something straight out of Calvin and Hobbs. And so what I started was always finished by my Mom. But better her than my Aunt Amy who must have had nanny training in Teutonic torture. Somehow I survived and I always felt warmer getting dressed after the ordeal by water. But I’m sure my friends wondered how I got sun burned in the middle of winter.
The rest of the day was school for me. What went on at home during my absence? I don’t know. But after school even though it got dark early we managed to play in the yard. And there were two or three 15 minute radio programs to listen to. Although grade schoolers didn’t have homework my Mom would have me read from the readers she had bought. There were chores like filling the wood box or taking out the garbage - table scraps and the like were buried in the orchard as a soil amendment. Then my Dad might read aloud from one of the books he was reading. To bed by eight and in the morning we would start again.
I guess that by today’s standards it may seem to have been a bit bleak but we were happy. And happy is important.
Crazy Quilt Dragon 20
YESTERDAY – It’s only Chief Cukenbotelwasher, who has been attracted to Crazy Quilt's pelt, which he wants. But Judy persuades hime to take her pocket mirror instead. Just when they reach the Golden Grove the evil Wintergreen Witch reappears. She demands the broken star and since Judy no longer has the protective pocket mirror, Jimmy is forced to surrender the pieces of the star. AND NOW…
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