Christmas Eve

Still snowing off and on... but a little warmer today.








Annual Christmas picture of the kids with their new pajamas :-) including Mac with the glowing eyes.










Also picture of Mac on a snow hike and the chickens in the snow (they don't seem to mind).

More Snow!

The snow continues...

Ali and Adam got home safely on Saturday - right before the airport started shutting down flights.

We took Mac for a walk in the woods - he really enjoys the snow and rolls around in it, making dog snow angels :-)

Lots of Snow!

Western Washington is being hit by a series of snowstorms - more than we usually get - combined with extremly cold temperatures (for us). It has gotten down to 12 degrees at my house and about 7 inches of snow with a lot more predicted tomorrow. The neighbor kids are having a blast, sledding down our small street that is a combination of snow and ice. Mac loves the snow and thinks the sledding is a game for him.

Christmas Tree

Mac and I went to the local tree farm to cut down our tree. Mac picked out a nice one and I got it home and decorated.

Winter Garden

I put my garden to sleep for the winter. As an experiment, I planted one bed in winter clover, covered another with leaves and dug compost into the last one. In the spring I will see which one has the happiest worms :-). I also planted garlic which has just came up and will be harvested in late spring.

Fun at Work?

Last week I took a three-day Leadership Challenge seminar at work and one of the days consisted of running around the sports field playing cooperative team games - lots of fun! One of the games involved lifting me in the air and threading me through a spider web of ropes - without touching any of the ropes.

The Fisherman on Thanksgiving Day

My Dad loves to fish more than anything else. Even when it is freezing or snowing -he will be out fishing. On Thanksgiving Day, Dad was out fishing with our family friend, Terry Nash on Klamath Lake in Oregon near Dad's house.

Asia Part 3

In Japan, I went out to dinner with the Japanese team at a beautiful restaurant that had a Japanese garden and stream in the middle of it. I also went to my favorite park in Tokyo - the Shinjuku-Gyoen park - http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/tokyo/shinjuku_gyoen.htm. They were having the annual chrysanthemum festival.

Asia Part 2

In Beijing, we also toured the centuries-old drum tower, after climbing a lot of very steep steps.

Asia Part 1

I just returned from a business trip to Asia, visiting our teams in Korea, Taiwan, Beijing and Japan. Lots of good food and fun (and some business :-) with the teams.

We spent a weekend in Beijing and toured Old Beijing (and also had Starbucks at the entrance to this area) - http://www.kinabaloo.com/houhai.html where we rode rickshaws and ate lunch in a restaurant that is famous for serving food that the emperors ate.

Buddy

His favorite place since the weather has turned cold - right on the couch by the fireplace.

Autumn Hiking

The trails at St. Edward State Park are especially beautiful right now, with all the leaves down on the trail. Mac and I go whenever the weather is cooperating.

Team Bowling

My manager took his entire team bowling last Friday for a morale event. I hadn't bowled in several years and had up and down scores all afternoon, but it was fun being with the team and not thinking about work. Here is a picture of my team!

Africa Part 3

The last night in Zambia we treated ourselves by staying in a beautiful hotel near Victoria Falls. Since it was the end of the dry season, there was very little water going over the falls, but the dependable monkeys were still there!

The hotel had just opened and was on the banks of the Zambezi River. The sign below warned us against crocodiles, hippos, snakes and an electric fence.

Africa Part 2

I took my flute this time and my friend Pat and I did a duet of Amazing Grace at church on Sunday. The service was outside that Sunday with cows wandering through the service.

We worked outside at the hospital cleaning and scraping the walls in preparation for painting.

Africa Part 1

I just returned from several weeks in Zambia at the village of Mwandi with members of my church. This was my third trip to Zambia and this trip was as wonderful and rewarding as all the others. Most days we worked at the orphanage, or the hospital or the AIDS clinic (and sometimes all three). We enjoyed each project, although this visit was in extremely hot weather (120 most days) which made doing anything a little harder. The picture above is of one of the everyday beautiful sunset views from the mission guest house and the picture below is of friends at the mission.

Canning Apples

I have several apples trees in the backyard and one is especially prolific this year so I started canning this past weekend - something I haven't done for several years. I made Apple-Raisin Marmalade which turned out well! I will do applesauce and a few pies next weekend.

The Zoo!

My college roommate, Rebecca (also known as Barney from our college years) and I decided to spend last Thursday at the zoo. The weather was cool so a lot of the animals were out. The bird feeding station was especially active. We even rode the historic merry-go-round - an 1918, hand-crafted carousel that has been beautifully restored.

Japanese Garden

Recently, good friends came to visit - Nobuko-san and her family (husband Brian, children Casey and Alyssa). Casey and Alyssa were dressed in their beautiful Japanese party clothes but were still able to feed the chickens many tomatoes :-). They brought me a beautiful stone Japanese lantern which I am enjoying especially at night with a candle inside. I am trying to create a Asian atmosphere on my deck and the stone lantern has added a lot of the character that I am looking for.

My Team Part 2

My team - acting serious and silly :-)

Twin Falls Hiking

Adam, Mac and I went hiking today at Twin Falls, in between rainstorms. As usual, Mac went swimming as soon as he saw the river.

Ali, Morgan, Adam and Erin

I have had a wonderful month of company with Ali and Morgan visiting from San Francisco and Adam's girlfriend, Erin, coming from Virginia.

Ali, Morgan and I spent a day on San Juan Island in the lavender fields and in the state parks on the island.