260/365 Knitting

Rhythmic flashes mark

The count as gliding needles

Untangle the day.

259/365 September Afternoon

Warm sunshine - tempered

By winds edged with the cool

Air of fall dreams - sings.

At Last

We left our driveway around 6 AM

on Monday, September 9.

Arrived in Portland

around 5 PM, Tuesday.

 

Wednesday was forecast to be hot so

we planned a day along the coast.

Taking windy back roads to get there made

the trip fun from beginning to end.

 

These pictures are from Tunnel Beach

near Oceanside.

This bit of cliff (?) juts out and during higher tides

separates the beach into distinct sections.

 

Enter:

 

The view from the opening: 

 

Exit:

 

Esteban, Jacob and Tim on the other side.

 

 

The cloud banks never did lift.

People we talked to explained they

were looking for agates

which wash up along this particular stretch of beach.

They were pretty intent 

so we gave it some casual effort

and found a couple teentiny samples.

 

We also found:



 

As we wandered along that day it was

inevitable that I would compare this beach

with other beaches I've enjoyed.

 

 

When someone hears those five letters

- b - e - a - c - h -

chances are they will access a picture completely

different than the one I conjure.

The variety is endless

and the personal associations, priceless.

 

If we both hear

- g - i - r - a - f - f - e -

we will probably have a very similar

 - fairly standard - response

 

because it's unlikely that either of us has

a personal giraffe experience

to help define our images.

(this one comes courtesy of googleimages)

 

 

I'll be back soon with more from Oregon

 but for now

here's to a day of lovely reflections

of your beach experiences.

258/365 September Evening

A trace of wood smoke

Scents the air as the first real

Nip of fall takes hold.

257/365 Night Sounds

Rustling leaves surround

The house, tracing the path of

Desultory winds.

256/365 Connecting

Extending oneself

Garners rewards that exceed

The initial risk.

255/365 Fall Changes

Mornings in jackets

Turn to afternoons spent in

Shorts and ev’ning shawls.

More

This past weekend we did

squeeze in some fun between all

necessary chores.

 

Tim's brother, sister and their spouses met at our place

and together we took in the

World Food & Music Festival

in downtown Des Moines

on Saturday night.

 

The weather was perfect.

The crowd was just the right size.

We heard great music.

and ate some amazing food.

We laughed, chatted and ate our way through

several hours of relaxed camaraderie.

It was a fun night and the food - so delicious.

 

Did I mention how good the food was?

 

But if I'd known how this was going to work

I'd have brought my own spoon.

My own family knows that sharing food from a common plate

or a sip from a common glass is a challenge for me.

They love me in spite of it.

 

On this night, the festival spirit required

that you buy whatever delicacy

caught your fancy

and share it among the six of us. 

Sometimes we even shared the utensil.

 

 

At  some point I began to think

that I could survive the coming apocalypse.

 

 

 

 



254/365 Opportunities

To brighten the face

Of a child requires only

Minimal effort.

The Weekend

Reviewing the trip to Oregon

 keeps getting bumped from the list

but I will cover it - soon.

 

These are pictures from the storm clean-up over the weekend. 

Friday found me working on the

loose branches already on the ground.  

Tim addressed the tree's condition

on Saturday, removing smaller branches 

(I had to work so I missed this phase)

getting it to this point so we could

 work together Sunday before I left for the library.

 

 This branch was broken and wedged among other branches

requiring a multi-phase removal.

 Here you can see that the trunk is on the ground

but still caught above.

We repositioned the strap and pulled again to dislodge it.

 Nothing was broken.

 Firewood for next fall.

 

 This is what's left of Aidan's tree. 

We removed two branches from the middle and lost

a good portion of a third.

It made for a long, busy day.

 

This story - like so many - involves

more than just the obvious, surface details.

As I was hauling branches to the front curb

- making the trip over and over -

I was thinking of how much our lives

 change over a year.

 

Since June I've lost 22 pounds,

again, only part of the story.

The numbers are wonderful but

the significant part of the story is how I feel.

I move easier.

Sleep better.

Have more energy

and interests.

I feel good.

I feel well.

 

 

 

 

 

253/365 Changing Paces

Softly shining through

Vibrant skies the sun hastens

Westward, warmth in check.

252/365 Hope

How many todays

Will a dying friend see in

Her struggle forward?

251/365 Bounty

Laughter shared among

Friends lightens the spirit and

Knits hearts together.

250/365 Aftermath

Agitated birds

Search for the remnants of their

Homes with constant calls.

I have pictures to post from our trip to Oregon.

But not today...

 

Today it's a quick few snaps after last night's storm.

 

Along with a promise to

get some other loose ends tidied up.

 

Soon.  Today I will be cleaning up storm damage

after I return from the gym.

 

Aidan's tree.

 

 

We lost several big branches from Aidan's tree - small ones

from all the others.

 

Hail, wind, and debris from who-knows-where

peppered the house and fences for about  30 minutes.

 

The wail of emergency squad sirens started almost

immediately after and was soon accompanied by

the whine of chain saws.

 

Several streets were blocked off and I've been

told that the elementary school

- down and street and around the corner -

lost part of its roof.

 

This morning the sun is shining.

 

 

249/365 Silver Linings

Unexpected storms

That scour the landscape of our

Souls can bring new growth.

 

we had storms last night that disrupted my internet access.

248/365 Routine

Creatures of habit,

We long for the established

Rhythms of our day.

247/365 In the Mood

Cool air through open

Windows prompts me to reach for

A handy blanket.

Home again, home again

We pulled into our driveway about 1:00
this morning.
We covered 4300+ miles in
six days and had a great time
but it's hard not to think
that we were
one phone call away

from being in Estes Park last week.

We drove through an edge of the system that

settled over the area as we went through

Cheyenne and Laramie last Monday.

And, again, as we came

through yesterday.

 

During our sojourn in Nebraska

we enjoyed so many wonderful days
hiking around Estes Park.
 

 

Entering Big Thompson canyon always

took my anticipation to

the next level. 

Glen Haven was a favorite stop.

 

It's hard to imagine the hard work

ahead for those who will try

 to reclaim what was lost.

Today was busy with
unpacking
laundry
cleaning the car
groceries
etc.

Tim ran this morning and
I made it to the gym this afternoon
for the 5:30 class. 
Tomorrow we'll be tired.

 

246/365 Jiggety Jig

Flying past mile posts

Through the long hours as rain falls

And home draws nearer.

245/365 Inhale

Each stop along the

Road is uniquely scented,

Telling rich stories.

244/365 East through Idaho

Rainclouds darken the

Horizon, North to South, some

Baleful, some benign.

243/365 Vacation

New definition

Of a lazy day: waiting

For the hen to cluck.

242/365 View from Mt. Hood

Like wind-tossed ocean

Waves, peaks swell and break against

The far horizon.

Portland was expecting temps in the upper 90's

 today so we decided it would be a good time to visit the coast.

 

We drove up to Oceanside and frolicked along

the beach.  We had just learned

about agates found along the beach

and spoke with several people who were

happy to show us what

they had found. 

We actually found a few. 

And had a great time just dawdling around.

 

Crab bisque at a local eatery was

more than delicious.

 

At Garabaldi

- a working port -

we purchased fresh clams

and two kinds of fish

which we grilled for supper.

mmmmm

 

We found a couple back roads,

taking the long way home

and enjoying the sights.

 

Tomorrow - Mt. Hood.

241/365 Beat the Heat

Salt spray, crab pots and

Winding roads worked their magic

On a steamy day.

240/365 Mountains

Nine letters name the

Infinite variation

That meets awe-struck eyes.

Monday

We covered roughly

1000 miles today.

 

I enjoy Nebraska - once you reach the middle.

 

We ran into rain between Cheyenne and Laramie.

The first rain we've seen for

two months.

 

I really like Wyoming.

It's austerity appeals to me

for some reason.

The colors are subtle but

surprisingly varied.

 

I appreciate the serious construction of the

snow fences and liberal

hand that spreads them across

the landscape.

 

Another long day tomorrow.

239/365 Nebraska

Cottonwoods line the

Meandering river through

Miles of rolling plains.

238/365 Road trip

I hear the siren

Call of beckoning vistas

And long to ramble.

Sunday Evening

It's been a long, hot week.

 

Yesterday we had an old friend

from North Dakota

stop through for a quick

but delightful overnight visit.

 

Tomorrow

 we'll be heading out for a few days of vacation.

 

Tonight

I'm busy with last minute details:

 packing

laundering

cleaning out the 'fridge

painting my nails.

 

I will write my haiku

everyday

but

posting may come

in bunches.

 

I've never taken to the idea of

preparing something

ahead of time.

They really are reflections of each day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



237/365 Disquiet

Concern clutches the

Heart, voiding the comfort found

In familiar words.

236/365 Fading Light

How fast the dark night

Overtakes the dwindling strength

Of September’s days.

235/365 Phantasms

Pumpkins!  And apples!

And soups! Oh my!  Recipes

Lurk in tempting dreams!

234/365 Pace

Finesse is required

To calm the daily hubbub

As tempos increase.

Quickie

Just to let you know I'm still here.

 

 

A friend recently passed along a tip to use coconut milk

in smoothies.

 

After reading labels

I decided to go with coconut water.

 

So my first experiment was

to make ice cubes which could then

be added to my protein shakes.

(I make it at least an hour before consuming

so it can thicken a bit.)

 

Yesterday I added 4 of these ice cubes

to my standard ingredients

fresh strawberries

vanilla soy milk

malt powder

protein powder.

 

It was fine.

 

Today I added 4 coconut water ice cubes

to vanilla soy milk

protein powder

malt powder

and

unsweetened cocoa.

 

"My word," said the bird!

 

 

 



233/365 Clarity

As each new piece falls

 Into place the puzzle, or

Plan, becomes clearer.

232/365 Direction

 

Each day requires we

Make deliberate choices

To shape our pathway.

231/365 Confusion

Head-shaking frenzy

Of thought in disarray waits

For restored order.