Random edibles on my counter last night

Fresh green beans and rainbow carrots from the garden, ready to be cooked for dinner.

The latest batch of kefir.

Chocolates ready to be sent home to my sis with Mum.

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I spent tonight packing for Mum. 

The job is quite beyond her powers of concentration these days.
Her ID necklace is updated.

The cute Liz Clairborne purse I bought today for my sister is packed.

I love this purse quite unreasonably.

I've always purchased purses more for price and size than love.

It's ironic that the first time I ever buy for love it would be for someone else. 

Or maybe not.

She is, after all, my only sister.

Joy in the morning

Weeping may endure for a night; but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5.

A church leader once said that we should strive for our children to live better lives than have we. The idea resonated somewhere deep in my soul and I took it to heart. And believe me when I say that I do not always respond thusly to counsel from church leaders.
Remember my inner rebel?
I'm not sure I changed any of my ways, but I have been tickled continually at how my children as adults are all, in their own ways, better than their Dad and me.
Not, I hasten to add (lest they become fat-headed) in everything!
But each one is doing something in his or her life better than I have ever done.
I'm not going to elaborate in detail, because that would be thrasonical and no doubt boring to anyone not specifically mentioned. But I have to share this photo, which I took on Thursday.
Bethany took G-Nana and Jenny shopping at the outlet mall at the coast and I watched all six grandkids at her house. Bethany home schools her four kids now, which has been wonderfully effective, even for the two little ones. She has grown nicely into motherhood. It is always amazing to me how she copes with her four very strong-willed children, because she was fairly passive as a child. But cope she does, rising to each new challenge as it occurs.
I must admit that when she had less kids and they were younger, I was sometimes aghast at the lack of routine in their lives. Routine has become more of a necessity, and I had to laugh when I read her bulletin board.

That's my daughter!

So, Bethany, hope that was okay.

And the other three, don't get your noses out of joint because I didn't shout your praises today.

Oh, and the scripture?

I almost forgot.

Well, you know, I have cried buckets and lost many nights of sleep over each one of my children.

Now is the joyful morning!

A point of view

I am an awesome grower of green beans. I prefer the old-fashioned runner beans, because they keep me supplied all summer long from their gangly vines. Although, this year, they have only just started producing because of the late start to summer. Over the last three days, I have gathered enough tiny beans to accompany our dinner tonight. I like to pick them when they are six inches or less. They are so sweet and tender, there is no better green thing.

Take note, you Sue detractors: I do eat vegetables! They just have to be the right ones.

As I was searching for little beans today, I thought again (as I have often thought when hunting strawberries and blueberries this season) that it all depends on your point of view. You can look and look, seeing nothing....

...but as soon as you move, just a smidgen....

...wonderful things become apparent.

Even though you might have to squint to see them.

I've been blindsided by a couple of things recently.

Nothing earthshaking.

Just life stuff.

But it preys on my mind till all I can see is what's in front of my eyes.

I think I need a new point of view.

An unnatural pastime

It's unnatural for people to go running around the city streets unless they are thieves or victims. It makes people nervous to see someone running. I know that when I see someone running on my street, my instincts tell me to let the dog go after him. Mike Royko.

I'm still not sure why I have taken up the dastardly habit of running. 

Well, maybe I do, but I think it's in vain.

I keep thinking that it will aid in my losing futile Battle of the Bulge.

So Saturday morning, bright and early, we drove to McMinnville for the first annual Run, Run, Ye Saints. That's a Mormon funny, for the uninitiated. 

As a new waddler runner, I was aiming for the 5K. Jeff, who is about to run in his third Hood-to-Coast relay, was geared up for the 10K. Hope, who rode out with us, was ambivalent about the whole thing.

Hope and I were feeling pretty fresh.

Hey, make sure I'm looking skinny in this one!

We are so going to nail this.

Jeff and our friend Bill, who had the distinction of being the oldest runner in the pack.

Bill is an inspiration to us all.

Yep, still feeling pretty fresh!

The only reason I would take up jogging is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. Erma Bombeck.

And then we started running.

It was a nice, flat route, with pretty pink arrows for us to follow.
The last part wound around some neighbourhood streets that abounded with garage sales.
I was sorely tempted, but my resolve remained firm.
I waddled ran every step of the way, except for the water station.
Total time: 37:43.
I know, awesome, right?
I think I'll rest on these laurels for a while, maybe longer if I do.

Wow, I've had a lot of random lyrics roaming through my head lately.

Here is Lindsay, looking svelte after her run.
Lindsay is a photographer and blogger extraordinaire.

And Linds, I think it's a cute pose!

Lindsay helped organize the run, along with Brenda, her Mom.

Who is a mite obsessed with running these days.

And is probably to blame for my even considering the pastime.

I just had to post this photo. This is our friend Kimberly, who looks disgustingly perky for having just run 10K in very good time. 

I feel unreasonably resentful of Kimberly.

The Man.

Finishing with Flair.

Our ward had the best turnout.

Probably from being nagged to death  reminded so often and enthusiastically by Brenda.

On Monday morning I awoke with the lyrics And I will hang my head, hang my head low running on auto-repeat through my head. See, I told you, random lyrics. I couldn't remember where I had heard them. Late in the day, it came to me. My MP3 player, which is my trusty running companion, contains all the tracks of the Decemberists' Crane Wife. Quirky  songs, but I like them.

I don't think jogging is healthy, especially morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups. Rita Rudner.

First Friday Fun

Our town is really coming into its own.

Every first Friday of the month, downtown stores host an Art Walk and wine tasting evening.

We're not so much into the wine tasting.

Well, not at all, truth be told.

But we love the free tasty snacks, the art, the shopping, and the music.

And the camaraderie that abounds.

Tonight, Bethany and her Fab Four, Mum, Jeff and I braved the crowds.

We ran into several old friends and met some fun new people.

Natalie, almost three, is becoming quite the career shopper.

Look Mom, it's only four dollars!

Really, she said that!

Scary, huh?

P.S. It wasn't really four dollars.

Great Nana was in a spending mood.

Come to think of it, she's always in a spending mood.

Kenzie picked out some very dangle-y earrings.

According to spellcheck, that is the correct way to spell dangle-y.

Yoiks.

Spellcheck does not like how I spell yoiks.

Now.

Where was I?

Oh yes, dangle-y earrings.

The Fab Four, checking out the Wizard of Oz cows in the display cabinet....

...after which, the  boys got bored so we sent them home with Jeff.

Who, you have to know, was done with shopping already!

We girls drooled in the re-sale shops, finding all kinds of things we didn't know we couldn't live without. I think I shall have to go back during the week when things are quieter.
Natalie had a melt-down.
Every time I admired something, Mum tried to buy it for me.
Only she was out of cash and had to borrow from me to buy the kids' doodads.

The Trolley pulled up and we decided to take it to wherever it was going.

You're not taking photos, are you?

Are you still taking photos? 

Susan, you're not taking photos are you?

Well, maybe I am. 

Why don't you give me a smile?

At the end of the line, we disembarked at the Chehalem Cultural Center.

The same place we took family photos a few months ago.

The sculptures have changed, but they are still very organic in nature. 

I really like them.

This is a big, woven, beaver dam.

A garden of twigs.

And birds.

Bird songs were also emanating from the sound system.

A circle of dried daisies. 

Such painstaking work, so vulnerable to the vandalic tendencies of its visitors.

Wow, that was more alliterative than I planned.

And yes, Annie, it is a word!

A giant bird nest.

Roc, maybe?

Pteradactyl?

This sweet baby dress was at our last stop, the antique store by the library.

It may travel to North Carolina for our little Elsie.

Guess who is getting left at home next time?

My battle-weary, shopping-hating, doodad-despising husband.

But that's okay, because tomorrow we are doing a 5K/10K run in the a.m. and going to the coast to see the Oakridge Boys in the p.m.

Hope you have a fun day planned too!

Thrills on Thursday

So.
This morning, after the sprinkler system turned off, I could still hear water running.
I ran outside and found a disaster!
Water was gushing from the pipes where the system controls are located.
Gushing, I tell you.
I could see the little dial on the water metre in my mind's eye, hands circling quickly and without mercy.
While quietly cursing Jeff under my breath, I ran over to my handy-dandy neighbour, Jim's house.
Knock knock knock!
Carol answers the door.
Where's Jim, I need him, I have an emergency!
Jim came hobbling out of the house.
What's the matter Jim, your shoulder again?
No, my hips.
Jim tried to turn off the water, but the hole was flooded.
Do you have one of those tools to turn off the main?
I don't think so. I'll go buy one.
So off to the hardware store I dashed.
Sans cell phone.
In spite of the little voice inside my head, telling me Take your cell phone.
I got home about ten minutes later.
Jim had found the valves on the sprinkler pipes and turned them off.
Carol had been trying to call me on my cell phone.
Oh well.
Thanks Jim.
I owe you one.
Again!

Fast forward to tonight, almost bedtime.
A strong and sickly smell of skunk invades the air.
Turns out Jeff had baited a mousetrap with suet.
Under our bedroom window.
To catch mice.
Or maybe scare away a possum.
Right.
That possum has a stripe down its back.
Apparently.

Would you like that gift-wrapped, madam?

Have I told you about my new gift strategy for my grandchildren?

My lovely, adorable grandchildren, who own so much stuff I can hardly comprehend it.

Papa and I give them classes for Christmas and birthdays.

So far, I think it has had positive repercussions.

Come with me and take a look.

Kenzie got a month of horse riding lessons for Christmas. She enjoyed it so much that Mom and Dad have sprung for a few more lessons. I really like how it has broadened Kenzie's horizons; every lesson she comes back with news of progress. Most exciting to me is that she is no longer afraid of everything, as you saw at the stables a few days ago.

Click on the photo to get a closer look at the cute blue boots she is wearing. 

Nine years old and she already fits her Nana's boots.

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Little Jeff received a month of tumbling classes for his birthday in May. Thomy really liked the look of them, so now both boys are in the class. I hear Jeff is still a bit bashful, but Thomy is in his element.

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Daniel is finally enjoying his swimming lessons that he got for Christmas. 

The boy is a fish. 

His energy is boundless.

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Thomy is on his second set of art classes, this time for his birthday. The original studio closed, so I had to find another one that was not too obnoxiously far away.

After we went to the Rose Gardens a couple of weeks ago, I took Thomy for his first Friday open studio. Kenzie tagged along.

It was Monster Day, a la Maurice Sendak.

First, they made their own pet monsters out of wood and paint.

Thomy also drew and painted his own monster, which was then modge-podged and mounted.

We were at the studio for over two hours and had a terrific time.

Thomy and I have a date in August for another open studio Friday. 

This time it will be Pirate Day.

Hey Jenny, maybe you should tag along!