My Favorite Things: The Stocking

Christmas is different now that my kids are mostly grown up and purchase their own fun things. I have attempted to simplify gift-giving, and stay away from the commercial side of the holidays as much as I can. There is one person, however, that loves getting gifts all year 'round and who finds joy in the smallest things, and that is my younger daughter, Cecilie.

Cec is having difficulty with a couple of her siblings and doesn't come to our house much at this point. I have gotten in the habit of visiting her on her turf in Lake City (Seattle), and that has been a great way of developing our one-on-one relationship. But as Christmas was coming, I hoped she would put hard feelings aside and come over anyway. Well, as it turned out, she visited a friend in Poulsbo for Christmas Eve and Christmas, and asked if I would pick her up Christmas night. I think she would have come to our house, but she didn't want to spend the night, and it was getting late, and I had real concerns about her marching up her street super-late at night, carrying a bunch of money and loot. So, I picked her up from Poulsbo and brought her to the Bainbridge Island ferry in the pouring rain at 8:55 PM.

I did, however, bring her gifts and stocking. She opened the gifts , which she had known about ahead of time, in the car. Then she started on the stocking. “I just love stockings! We should have Birthday Stockings, too.” The envelopes were the first things out. Each envelope was carefully opened and each card read and commented on. And the money was verbally appreciated. She was happily surprised by the generosity of the relatives who gave cash. Then she opened the gifts in the stocking and enjoyed each and every thing that came out, one by one. She was especially pleased with the pen and pocket calendar (which I had gotten free from a pharmacy), index cards for her recipe box, a useful Hari Krishna cookbook (vegetarian, of course), gourmet black licorice, and pistachios.

She made her ferry in plenty of time, and was home by 11, with all the things she needed to carry with her.

What a joy it was to see and be with Cecilie as she savored a little bit of Christmas with me. This was perhaps the highlight of my holiday-time in 2010.

Pet Peeves

A few things have been bugging me lately and I just have to ge them out.

Have you ever sat at a red light, in your car, and noticed that a car is waiting at 2 other corners and no one is going through any light in any direction? So annoying.

How about this: You get out the milk and there's about a tablespoon left in the carton. There is more milk, but the person who finishes the milk is supposed to rinse the carton and traverse the 6 feet to the back door and drop the carton into the recycling can. Does a tablespoon of remaining milk constitute an empty container? No. Should the person have overfilled his cereal bowl with that extra tablespoon of milk? Yes.

Tailgaiters.

So, I went to a store in the mall where I was to treat myself to my favorite (naturally flavored) lip balm, which I buy about once a year. I had a coupon for a free thing, and the saleswoman suggested an "aromatherapy" item. I expressed that I was sensitive to artificial fragrance (which the store is FULL OF), and she assured me this would work for me. I got the aromatherapy product. Third ingredient: Fragrance. Sore throat from using said product. Pet peeve #1: Dumb salespeople. Pet peeve #2: I listened to her instead of reading the label.

Certain gross topics spoken of at the dinner table. Not cool!

Excessive talking during choir practice.

Other people's super-loud snoring.

What is a pet peeve of yours??

Thanksgiving 2010

What a wonderful holiday Thanksgiving is! A holiday that simply celebrates gratitude through a magnificent meal with loved ones. What is better than that??

I made the dinner for my husband, 2 of my sons, mother-in-law and her sister. Plus a couple of dogs, though they didn't eat at the table with us.

I made the foods that are traditional for our family, with homemade whole wheat rolls, our marshmallowey fruit salad, and a pretty good turkey. With a pumpkin upside-down-dessert.

Then we enjoyed Friday, Leftover Night, with 10 around the table, including 2 more queens and 2 more butlers. After the food, Kyle showed up with leftover PIES! What a wonderful finish to a really enjoyable meal.

We rounded out the night with a spectacular game of Scum. Oh, what fun....

What did you do during your weekend?

Nursery Notes

We now have so many little ones in the nursery I don't have the same kind of time to watch them and notice their little funny quirks and ways. But I will do my best.

B. was the happiest boy. He showed us all by dancing around the middle of the room when he wasn't engaged in anything else, and by smiling his great big smile to whomever he was near. He is a joy in nursery.

A. was a little grumpy. She came up to me with a doll and just started yelling, and when I asked her if she wanted the doll's clothes off (she likes them in the buff best) she actually used words. Yes!

I like T.'s new haircut. Losing the mohawk happened at the same time he decided to not be so tough with the other kids. He likes to sing duets with me in the microphone. It was Old McDonald's cow this time.

E. just loves the nursery workers. She hung out with our newest helper most of yesterday. Her speech is just blossoming.

G. is still his expressive, enthusiastic self. He can't help himself from hugging T. often, and yesterday they were getting along famously.

J. clung to her mom and was sad when I pried her off, and she played with the little doll house the entire play time. She likes lining up the furniture around the house.

S. zoomed around the place using her big muscles. She sometimes gets a twinkle getting into other people's activities, but backs off it you notice. Oh, darn!

O. and P. are young, and are both blonde, and yesterday had similar sweaters on. P. is rather silent, and loves to empty puzzles and bins. Fortunately, he can be persuaded to put them back (usually to re-empty), but that's fine. O. is exploding into speech, and had a great time pointing out the body parts on the doll and then pointing out body parts on himself. Mostly they didn't match.

L.B. couldn't hold it together without her mom, and had to go to her dad. Boy does her face get red! Hopefully she will adjust soon.

S. and L. were easy to tell apart. L, I think, bumped her nose before church, and had a little mark. They are just cruising along as big nursery girls, except I noticed that one twin got taken out for a photo and the other twin melted into inconsolable hysterics. And her mom was even there!

K.R. was quiet, but she zoomed around getting into all different toys and activities. She acted a little sad when she noticed one of the leaders looking at her, sitting down and making a pouty face. She is still very quiet.

T. seems like he will adjust well. He likes to play with the toys and the kids. As the fourth child in his family, he's pretty good at sharing and getting over it when someone takes his stuff.

K.B. came for a little bit with his mom, but stayed glued to her the whole time. She is really enjoying her last baby, and is in no rush to push him off into nursery.

D. came with his grandma, but doesn't seem to handle being with us too well.  I won't take it personally.
Of course I have forgotten my camera, but will try for photos soon.

The Soccer Team

Some of our children are playing indoor soccer on Friday nights. Tim and Rhiannon have played in the past, too. I am not sure how long this will last.

Silas, Kyle, Julie, Zach, with Sophie being the fan. Thanks to Rhiannon for sharing her photo.

Nursery Nightmare!!

Today the most horrifying experience of my current nursery career took place. I opened the closet to get out the toys, and T. asked for the GUITAR. "Guitar??" I asked myself. "What could he be talking about??" But T. was right, atop a bunch of toys on a pretty high shelf was a super-sonic-electronic-neon-green-multi-function-noisy-totally-fake guitar. He loved it!!! He kept it strapped to his shoulder and operating the entire classtime, except for 2 5-minute blocks when he let C. and G. use it and when it was time for music, lesson and snack.

Now, my policy with battery-operated toys with noise involved (we were once in possession of a noisy sit-and-spin) is that you may play with it but can't turn on the sound. But, for heaven's sake, what would the guitar be without the awesome (to a 3-year-old) sound effects? Another policy with the noisy toys is that we don't have any. The guitar just MYSTERIOUSLY SHOWED UP IN THE CLOSET. Is nothing sacred in this world? What might I find next week? A living herd of safari animals?

So, T., I hope you enjoyed the guitar. It will be a long time before you see it again if I have anything to do with it.

Oh, yeah, and I forgot my camera.

Hoarding!

So, I have neglected my blog this summer, but I am back.

I recently finished reading a deliciously fascinating book called Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee. I don't remember what prompted me to request the book from the library, but I did months ago. (It was probably a story on NPR.) Anyhow, the book was difficult to put down, and I got through it very quickly, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.

Do you have any hoarders in your family? I remember visiting a great aunt, who I had met occasionally at my grandparents' house; she was a cat lady. This is considered a type of hoarding by the writers of the book, and the chapter on animals did bring Auntie Marianne to mind. I will never forget that visit and the little apartment full of cats, with newspaper covering every surface. I can only imagine what my mother and aunts went through when they cleaned out Auntie's apartment!

There was a section in the book on childhood hoarding. This brought one of my dear children to mind, but since I have finished the book I have been remembering my disorganized childhood (no reflection on the parenting I received).

Then today, while purging a perfectly good white (ish) t-shirt and perfectly good white (ish) pillow case I couldn't put them in the giveaway bag. I set them aside and thought, "I will tie-dye them, they'll be really cute." Keep in mind, I have never actually tie-dyed anything, don't have any dye on hand, and don't really want to undertake a tie-dye project at this time. Then the hoarding book popped into my head. I immediately put the shirt and pillow case in the bag! Whew, that was a close one!

The well-researched book taught that compulsive hoarding has a relationship with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and that people with this tendency have some interesting other issues. I am not a compulsive hoarder (I don't think), but in the past few days I have realized I do have some of the thought patterns of a hoarder. This has been insightful and enlightening! Hopefully, this will help me continue to purge.

On that note, I have erased my 100 Things--Again list, since I have gotten rid of many more than 100 things this past month. I am sure I will need to do it again, since I have probably brought in nearly as many things as I gave away.

Nursery Note

Sunday we had 16 kids and it was hectic. It was as if I had had a gigantic workout when we were all done. It was a good day, though. The only thing I have to report is that I got caught by a member of the Relief Society Presidency with a floaty green scarf about my head and shoulders, hunched over to the level of a 1-year-old, animatedly munching on a pretend piece of toast. She said she wished she had a camera.

Speaking of which, should I start bringing one? Feedback appreciated, moms of nursery kids.

Nursery News Update

Our nursery has grown from 4 in January to 14 regular attenders at this time. (We have counted up, and at least 4 more are on their way before the end of the year.) Most of the children are young, so we have restructured our schedule and activities to accommodate everyone's needs. Especially ours! No more coloring/crayon-eating; and let's just wait until the last minute to have our lesson and snack. Play as long as you can, little ones.

P, one of our newest arrivals, has had a bit of a hard adjustment. A very little while after he was dropped off on his first official day, he realized his parents had abandoned him and he stuck his little blonde head behind a stack of chairs and cried inconsolably. He had to return to his dad because he was beginning to upset other children and adults in the room. This past Sunday his dad stayed for the first hour and snuck (sneaked?) out when P wasn't looking. After about 15 minutes of playing he noticed the vacancy, hurled himself at the bottom of the door and sobbed hysterically. But this time he COULD be consoled. I snuggled him on my shoulder for a while and held him on my lap until he was ready to play on his own. By snack time he was okay, and then it was, blessedly, time to go.

We have twin girls who have to be identified by the color of their dresses or even hair ties. I post who's who on the chalk board when they are dropped off so we all can get their names straight. They spend most of their time putting the little cars down the circular track. They are generally so happy! S particularly likes shouting, "A BALL!" whenever she throws one around.

C continues roughing up her peers when they are playing with something she takes a fancy to, but she is improving each week. T has had a couple time-outs, and now a simple threat of one keeps his behavior appropriate.

P's mom comes in and does a singing-time with all of us in a circle of chairs. It's a wonderful break during play-time. She's so good....

I appreciate my nursery workers and everyone who is helping in our nursery! Since the influx of newbies we have needed to borrow helpers from other meetings. Thank you, all.

Girls' Camp, Nursery

I had the fabulous opportunity at the last minute to go with the 12-18 year old girls in our ward to Zion's Camp in Belfair. It was fun and exhausting. My feet haven't had that much stress on them in many years: I was a kitchen helper. My informal survey revealed that the favorite meal was pasta the very last night, the one and only thing we ran out of all week. Figures!

Today in nursery K. showed off her full-fledged 2-year-oldness by pushing down (hard!) anyone who bugged her. It was mostly younger, but not necessarily smaller children. She has guts! She spent quite a few 2-minute stints sitting on my lap after an offense. By sitting I actually mean wiggling every which way trying to get down. But she never made it off my lap before the appointed 2 minutes.

I decided to help G. have a better experience leaving nursery, so when B.'s dad came to get his happy, smiling boy, I pointed out to G. how happy we can be when it's time to go home with our moms or dads. He smiled and jumped up and down cheerfully, and in walked his dad. He grinned, then frowned, grinned, then frowned, and then yelled at the top of his lungs while his dad carried him off. It was funny! Progress....

One Hundred Things Revisited; Nursery Note

After looking over my "kingdom," I have decided that it needs another overhaul. Winter brought with it an educational opportunity, along with another reason to collect books and stuff. I love all my new books and stuff, but that means our finite space is bursting with it and I need to purge, again. So, beginning ASAP, I will get rid of at least 100 things in the next few weeks.

I will probably start with a stack of books I got from a nice sister in the ward who was doing her own purge. What a silly I am! I brought home about 8 books, only one of which I will ever look at, and that's Silas Marner. And I am simply keeping that because I think my son, Silas, may like it.

Nursery Note: Little B. had his first official nursery day, and he did very well. He hung around the 2 big boys like a shadow. He isn't as sure on his 18-month-old feet as the experienced 3-year-olds, but he did his best to keep up most of the time.

The funniest thing happened after G. pestered T. with a plastic shark. G. kept pretending to have it bite T. while T. was chugging around on a little vehicle. T. did not like this one bit, and stopped moving. This irritated G. and he kept trying to push T. along with the shark, while growling. We re-employed the term, "No hands on friends," substituting sharks for hands. A little while later T. picked up the abandoned shark, flipped it over, grabbed the fin with one hand and the tail with another, and proceeded to shoot G. with his new makeshift gun. Very amusing.

Nursery Nugget

We have a number of new nursery kids coming in the next few months. I was talking to one mom about not seeing or visiting with her very often, and I said, "Well, T. is coming into the nursery in a few months, then maybe I will get to see you once in a while." "But THAT'S not until November," she exclaimed. Funny how something that seems just around the corner to a harried and ready-to-be-inundated-by-6-more-toddlers nursery worker is a long ways away for a harried mother-of-a-busy-toddler-dreaming-of-enjoying-a-church-meeting-in-peace.

Our busiest, most controversial nursery girl moved to Brownsville ward, so our space is a bit more (...how do I say this...?) mellow. We had only one little boy among the girls all this year until rather recently, and now we have 2 more (and a bunch on the way). K. plays mostly by himself and is super-easy. He has 2 big sisters at home, so I think it's a relief to be without them. And then there's G. What enthusiasm, what energy! When it's time to go, he throws an absolute fit--he doesn't want to leave! He grabbed onto my legs and just cried yesterday. I had to point out that all the other kids were gone, they toys were locked up, and the snacks no longer existed. Finally, he took his mom's hand and let her take him to the car.

Isn't it nice that someone likes a church class so much he doesn't want to leave it? Have you ever felt that way?

Pioneer Trek

Allan and I had the great privelege of being Pa and Ma to a family of young people for Silverdale Stake's very structured Youth Conference last week in south eastern Washington. We hiked with handcarts and camped outside (no tents) in period clothing for 4 days, with our "children" doing virtually all the packing, pushing/pulling, cooking, etc. There were a total of 150 youth, 75 hiking adults, and a multitude of support staff (medical, admin, food committee, and security). Many thanks to Blaine Wilson Photography for pictures.

Ignorance is bliss!

"And merrily on our way we'll go, until we reach the valley-o."

You can't imagine the blazing temperatures from the photos, but it was really hot, especially for us weather wimps. Deodorant wasn't on the list of allowed items!

"Listen up, everybody!" Our Trail Boss,  Jeff.

Hiking on day 1 until 12:40 AM. Theme of the trek: All is Well. We went 11 miles that day.

Resting in the midday heat.

Approaching Zion we were blessed with live music. Above, our family of 3 boys, 3 girls, and an auntie. Hot, filthy, thirsty, and ready to be done, we could see an oasis of grass and trees ahead. 

This was a great experience. Our family was fabulous, with no complaining and excellent cooperation. Would I do it again? Definitely!

How the Garden Grows

No photo of the veggies yet, the morning light wasn't cooperative.

Above: Grape plant in its second year, propagated by Aunt Geraldine in Yakima and shared with us last year. We have a total of 4 grapes thriving and one, well, we'll see next year. Below: One of 6 kiwis I salvaged from the local demonstration garden as twigs on the garbage heap. They are doing well.

Herb barrel in front of the house, containing parsley, oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, garlic chives, and one of my hopeful bay tree twigs.

Six inch bay tree (laurus nobilis). There is nothing like starting one for yourself and seeing results!

A pretty yellow rose in the bed by the front door. The fragrance is heavenly.

Update

So much going on!

Silas has graduated from drug court. Everyone is happy about that. He has more freedom, and is clean and sober. The drug court program was successful, the people were effective teachers, mentors,and  butt-kickers, and my son is a very different person from the one who was arrested over a year ago.

My vegetable garden is coming along swimmingly. Since we are having so much rain this season, this is a fitting description. I am eating lettuce, kale, spinach, freshly pulled garlic, and various herbs regularly. The backyard is being transformed, but oh, so slowly. I am building the planter out and up and I have baby grape and kiwi plants growing. The combined medicinal herb garden and flower beds are being created slowly but surely. I have a very short retaining wall going up, and am sheet mulching to build up the soil. This is a rather slow process, since I am using our very own compost and other on sight mulching matter. Go ahead, use your imagination!

My Master Gardening (MG) education is moving right along. Classes are completed, and I continue with my many volunteer hours. I have worked at the Silverdale Farmers Market, answered questions at the WSU Extension Office, worked at the MG plant sale, and plan to start work at my local demonstration garden (Anna Smith) this week. I have met some wonderful people through this, and look forward to every opportunity to work at the various locations.

Allan and I get to be a Pa and Ma next month at our stake's Pioneer Trek. For those who don't know, this is a very short re-enactment of a handcart migration. For training purposes we had a mini-trek with all the other mas and pas this past weekend. We dressed in pioneer clothing (and lots of it!), joined our assigned "family" members, packed our supplies on a 3'x5' handcart, and hiked. We were supposed to hike in the mountains, but the weather was snowy there and we lucked out and got to do it on a farm on Bainbridge Island. It poured much of our time. My feet have never had to perform their function so wet and muddy. We slept out under tarps, which was a first for me. I was wet all over and all of my things got wet in the handcart--this was not good. But it was only for one night, we slept (and I use that term very loosely) in a comfortable pasture, and now I have personal handcart stories to tell my "children" on our trek in the summer. Which will take place in a hot, dusty location.

My ESL volunteering continues on. My student, Pok, isn't as motivated as some, and she doesn't get to practice her English much. I am trying to shake up our lessons a bit and brought her here to my home last week so she could know where and how I live. She came alive, asking questions and looking around; it was funny. She is working on sight reading, and is nearly done memorizing the most commonly used 500 words in our language.

The work I do in the nursery is still fun. Last week 2-year-old S. looked up at 2 of us adults who were chatting. She softly asked a question, but was so quiet I had to have her repeat herself twice. I finally heard her ask if Sister Muffins would help her, and I cracked up. Sister Uffens went and worked with her at the little doll house. Our nursery is losing one little girl, a real character, because her family is moving. We had a new little boy this past Sunday, which is great, since we have only had one boy all year so far. Hurray for new people moving in!

Life is good. Great things are happening. Our wants and needs are being met, and the Lord has been very good to us. Changes are coming, but that is not unusual. What is happening with you?

Census Update

Okay. This has happened twice. We have gone out for Chinese food, and got to the fortune cookie stage. Here was mine, this last time: "Real fortune is being heard. U.S. Census."

Then my real fortune was on the other side. (It's irrelevant.)

Okay, I am all for the census and everything, and have enjoyed searching through census records from the past. I have found wonderful and interesting things about people, even my own people all over the country. In fact, when it comes to the 1930 Census, I have a cool story.

My great grandparents lived in New York City at the time. I searched the records and found my great grandmother and her children who were at home, but no great grandfather. That was weird to me. Then later I found the whole family, including both Frederick and Agnes, the parents, and their youngest children living in Los Angeles. The father had gone ahead, and the mother and children joined him later (they had sailed through the Panama Canal, and on the boat my grandma Jessie and her sister had entertained passengers with their soft-shoe). I talked to Allan about this, and his reaction was, "They skewed the data!"

But, I digress. I find the marketing for this year's census strange. Chinese fortune cookies with an ad for the census is over the top for me, especially since I have already filled my form out and mailed it away. What do you think??

Chinese Food

I went out for Chinese food yesterday with my friend Gayle, and it was fun. I ate too much egg fu yung, and it was yummy. I got to bring a little home to enjoy for breakfast this morning, and it was good as a leftover, too.

Guess what, though? The server boxed it up, placed it in a paper bag, and put that bag in a PLASTIC BAG. THAT I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I GOT HOME. Oh, my first plastic shopping bag of the year. Darn it!

This makes me more determined than ever to pay attention to the things I bring home. I would have done fine with just the paper bag, or even the nice little Chinese box without any bag. What a waste, and how irritating.

How about all of you? How are your goals for the new year going?

1. I Brought the Book Back 2. Bay Leaves

On its due date. I just sucked it up and did it. It was a cool, blustery day, but I decided to have a nice time, and I simply gave the book back on the day it was due and that I agreed to when it was checked out. End of story; thanks for the comments.

Something fun happened on the way back to the ferry, though. I had 25 minutes before the ferry was to leave, so when I spotted a sign for a small nursery around a corner I hurried over there, hoping to find a little something to commemorate my trip.

What I hoped to find was a small bay tree (Laurus nobilis). I had seen one about 15 years ago at a nursery that no longer exists at Pike Place Market. I still kick myself for not buying it--it was a small house plant and I have looked for one ever since.

I asked the nursery man out back if he had such a thing, but he didn't. He said he had a huge bay tree even farther out back that he would cut me a few branches from. He said he strips off the nicest leaves and rinses them, pats them dry, and freezes them. I declined, but he pressed me. "I have the clippers right here, let me just go cut you some." I couldn't help but change my mind, and I finished my walk to the ferry the proud owner of 3 small branches full of bay leaves. They smelled really good.

When I got home I stripped the leaves from their branches, discarded the blemished ones, and put them in the freezer. [I used one tonight in our soup, it was the best ever.] Then I had an idea. What if I could make little bay trees like the one at Pike Place out of the branches?? I am having great luck propagating some kiwis, grapes, and red twig dogwood from branches, why not this?

So now, all over the yard, sort of, I have mini bay hopefuls popping out of the ground. All this fun as a result of returning my library book on time!

Thank you desertorganics.com for the photo.

Moral Dilemma!

I don't watch much television these days, but I do tune in to Private Practice weekly online, and fold my laundry while I watch and listen. This show is a spinoff of Gray's Anatomy, which I don't watch. The plot lines are sometimes ridiculous, and I have been known to lose patience with them, especially the interpersonal relationships of the regulars on the show. The thing that keeps me watching is that on each episode there is a singular moral dilemma. (It's a medical show with heavy emphasis on women's health and fetuses.) I love seeing how the writers and actors approach the problems and work them out. It keeps me coming back week after week.

Now, this next part may not SEEM to be related to my semi-addiction to Private Practice, but keep reading, and you'll see how it is. Here goes: I have been diligent about staying on top of my library checkouts and due dates. I haven't had an overdue book since January, and I am feeling totally happy and proud of myself for keeping my bargain with myself to not have any overdue books. I just looked up my goals for this year, and technically my goal was to not have any library fines. And I don't. But I will have an overdue book if I don't do something drastic; I won't have a fine, however.

All right, now I will digress. I heard an NPR report about a book called "Grow Your Own Drugs," by James Wong. Wong had a series in Great Britain about using herbs from your backyard to make folk remedies to help with all sorts of health and other issues. Now he has a book out with many recipes and information on herbs and healing. The book came out last year. It sounded wonderful, and I totally wanted to read it. I am in the habit of checking a book out of the library before purchasing it, so that I am able to make sure it's something I need to own and that's worth my money. In this case, it's not a book I may buy used, since it's new, and I knew I would want to look at it before I could make a decision. I went to the local library's website, but the book wasn't even ordered. Sheesh! Then I went to the website for the library system in the county where I used to live, one library of which I visited often when Silas and I had our Wednesday visits when he lived with his dad. My card is still active there, and it's legal for me to have one. It's within walking distance of the Edmonds ferry. Lo and behold, they had a copy in their system! I put it on hold, and waited for it to turn up at the Edmonds library.

Thankfully, my son Zach lives not far from that branch, and said he would pick up the book if I needed him to do so. On the last day before the book was to go back on the shelves, Zach went over to the library to check it out for me. Unfortunately, the power was out when he got to the library. Fortunately, the librarian was happy to take down my number and allowed Zach to take out the book. (He said, "I felt like a pot-head, needing to take out a book called Grow Your Own Drugs!")

Zach brought the book over to me the following week, and it was beautiful and informative. It is a book I would like to own, and I probably will, before too long. It is due tomorrow, and I haven't had the time to make any of the recipes, even though I am coming down with a cold. Keep reading for the moral dilemma.

The library system from which I (er, Zach) borrowed the book has a fabulous policy with regard to overdue books. They don't have fines! If you have an overdue book they put a hold on your card after a couple weeks, and if you don't bring the book back they make you pay for it before you can check out books again. Or simply bring it back. Isn't that a great policy??

My book is due tomorrow, and I am not sure I will be able to get it back to the library. It takes a ride to Kingston (40 minutes), parking, a ferry trip to Edmonds, (30 minutes), a walk up the hill (20 minutes), a walk down the hill (20 minutes), ferry back (30 minutes), ride home (40 minutes), and any wait time for ferry, along with weather considerations. And parking fee and ferry fee. That's a lot. Or I could wait until Zach comes for a visit and he can drop it off when he gets back to his side of the water. This will probably be in the next couple weeks. Remember, there's actually no penalty for returning the book late.

So, here's the dilemma. Am I bound by my personal goal and integrity to return the book on time?? Or, since I can't renew it because someone else is waiting for it, am I bound to return it and get it back to the library for that other person to check it out? (Note: It's the only copy in the system.) (Another note: You all can guess that I am often waiting for someone to return a book so that I can check it out. And I get really irritated when people keep their books past their due dates. This is actually happening with a book I am waiting for. I hope that person pays their whopping fine!)

Feedback welcome and appreciated. Though I think I have actually made my decision.

Litter

On my early morning walks it is light before I get home now, and I am thrilled. Sadly, though, next week daylight savings begins (I refuse to capitalize it), and it will be another little while before I will enjoy light on my walks.

With the springtime brightness comes a sad realization, though. There is a lot of litter on our streets and in our ditches. It really is ridiculous. Occasionally I or my family will take some time and pick some of it up, and once or twice a year a work crew will come dispose of it.

As I examine the mess from afar, I notice one thing virtually all of the litter has in common: it's all from some type of junk food, or something that's convenient, but not particularly good for you. Pop and beer bottles and cans, candy wrappers, chip bags, cookie and cake packages. One day, stunningly, there was most of a beautifully decorated cake, in all its grocery-store packaging in the entry/exit of a mobile home park, just sitting there. I picked it up and put it to the side so it didn't get run over, thinking maybe someone lost it from the roof of their car or something, that it had  been forgotten. It sat there for quite a while. Weeks. (I would have picked it up and thrown it away, but by then I was curious as to how long it would actually sit there!) Animals finally got into it and the packaging has finally disappeared, for better or worse.

In my own quest to minimize my garbage, eat locally and better, and stay away from junk and soda, this litter is amazing to me. Do people just drop it there as they are driving or walking by? Does it fly out of the car by accident?

I remember driving home from Marysville to Stanwood, and one of my children let a small Cheerios box fly.  I nearly had a fit--We stopped the car and retrieved that silly box in some amazing traffic. I wonder if that child is a willfull litterbug now as a young adult?!

In a populated area such as ours, there are garbage cans everywhere, from bus stops to shopping centers, to parks and public areas, to places of employment and business. If I find some garbage in my handbag or car, on my next stop I can surely dispose of it in an appropriate place.

I had an interesting friend, Johnny, with whom I worked some years ago. I remember once Johnny said, "Imagine what the world would be like if everyone picked up just one piece of litter every day." I think the world would not only have fewer pieces of litter, but also people who are more aware of litter's impact and who may think twice before dropping trash onto the ground or be proactive when they something flies out of their car or whatever.

As for the junk food wrappers, I find it interesting that the same people who don't mind putting that junk into their bodies don't mind polluting our world with junk, too. I remember McDonald's used to have printed on their bags, "Keep America Beautiful. Please put litter in its place." Hey, Mac, thanks for the reminder. Should the corporations that sell us things be responsible for the garbage they generate, especially when it lands in our gutters and streets? Because the consequences become all of ours, whether we litter or not.

Doing Time in Nursery; Update

I am working in our ward's nursery and having a ball. It doesn't hurt at all that I love my co-leader, who was just released as my VT companion. Anyway, I have to tell a couple of funny stories from nursery this week (and I will probably have one every week).

Beware: To protect the identities of our class members, I will just use first initials to identify them. Parents will know of whom I rat out.

Snack time. All small people (7 total) around the table. Nineteen month old A. looked interested when I asked who would like to say the prayer. I asked if she would like to, and she, being non-verbal at this point, grunted in what I interpreted was the affirmative. So she folded her arms and everyone, sort of, finally did the same. I whispered rather loudly in her ear, "Dear Heavenly Father..." A. remained silent. After a long pause, while I was deciding to just proceed, T. across the table repeated, "Dear Heavenly Father." "Thank you for this nice day..." I whispered into A's ear. "Thank you for this nice day," quietly repeated T. Into A's ear I stage whispered, "Thank you for our snack." "Thank you for our snack," again from T. I ended the prayer the traditional way, as did T. And my co leader and I had a giggle while we had snack.

I have to confess it is fun to see K., who is tiny, grab something off the fake stove that H. is busily setting up, and run like heck away from the action. She loves being naughty!

And E., who has only qualified to be in nursery for 2 weeks now, nearly jumped out of her diaper when I shot the (soft)ball into the little basketball hoop. You can sure tell she has brothers.

It has been a while since I have taken the time to blog. With taking the Master Gardening class and doing the reading and homework, I find myself with significantly less discretionary time. I have learned a ton, though. Every time I walk outside, or even glance at a houseplant, I see it all with totally new eyes, horticulturally speaking. I even have a plan to improve the lawn!

Silas began school again a couple weeks ago and seems to be adjusting well. He struggles with getting up on time, and we are working together to have better mornings. He begins 2 sections of auto shop tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how he does in that class. His educational experience hasn't included much practical hands-on work like this.

Our weather has been marvelous the past few days. In my past, when people have discussed weather, I have felt like it was a lame excuse for conversation. But here in the Great Northwest I have noticed that the weather is a great and interesting topic of actual conversation. Do people in other areas of the country/world do this? Is it because I am from the Los Angeles area, where the weather is pretty nice most of the time that this is kind of funny to me?

Master Gardener Class, Update on Goals

I have begun classes to become a Master Gardener. Sometimes the program seems more like Master Computer Wizard. The reading material, quizzes and assignments are all online through Washington State University Extension, and we go have live training on Fridays at the Norm Dicks building.

I am finding the computer side a little time-consuming and slow. I am learning a ton, and, believe me, after doing crossword puzzles and diagrams repeatedly and hoping the system will accept them (which it hasn't yet), I will know more than I ever wanted to!

The time with other students, community educators and mentors, and our fearless leader, Peg (WSU Extension employee), however, is great. What a wonderful group of people works in our county! I am impressed with their dedication to the program, and how generous they are with all of us, and each other.

Update on goals:

I have paid a total of $1.75 on library fines this year. So sad. My attitude is to continue in confidence that I am able to keep from accruing more fines. (Note: I was discussing my lofty goal with not 1 but 2 library workers at 2 separate times and both mentioned that they, the librarians, are the worst about keeping books out and racking up fines. Interesting, isn't it?)

No plastic bags yet.

Maintaining good habits. Hope to kick the sugar monster soon.

How about you? How are your goals or visions or revisions coming along?

The Forgotten Goal

I neglected to include my goal of not having any library fines this year. So far I have had a fifty cent fine (paid!), for books checked out for others. Let's see if I can reach this one--it's probably the most difficult of all.

Goals for the New Year

I usually have a big planning pow wow with myself about yearly goals, but I don't feel like doing so much this year. I have about 4 goals:

1. Live in the moment. Don't fixate on the past and don't get all wrapped up in worrying about the future. I'm pretty good about this, but could improve. This goal is not measurable, so I will just have to make a point of doing it when I find myself not in the present. My quality of life will improve as I do this.

2. No plastic shopping bags. This was a goal last year, too. I have improved, but not as much as I had hoped. This is measurable: No (more) plastic bags in the broom closet.

3. This 3rd goal is too personal to share, but it's measurable and I should be able to accomplish it.

4. Keep doing all the good things I am doing, including spiritual-mental-physical-health and helping-other-people activities.

Do you set goals or have New Years Resolutions? What will you be working on this year?

Eleven Boxes

I have a great friend named Bea. We met when I noticed she got off at my same bus stop and walked into my neighborhood when I was ferrying to Seattle in 2006. She sat toward the end of the boat where I sat on the way home, and one day we began chatting after our work day. Our conversations on the 5:30 PM ferry became very important to me, and Bea is simply one of my favorite people. I walk with her to her bus stop most work mornings at 5:30, because otherwise I know I would never get a chance to visit.

Bea is from Honduras, born to a German father and Honduran mother. She is around 66, and works full time as a legal secretary in a downtown Seattle office. She commutes 5 days a week (which is very demanding), is healthy and full of energy, is positive and interesting, and is a great role model. She was widowed about 12 years ago, and lives with her daughter and son-in-law and 2 grandchildren.

We have had many conversations about life and people, shared recipes and favorite reads, and observed many fascinating people who would ride the ferry. One of my favorite, most memorable talks we had, though, was when we discussed owning things and moving. You see, after her husband passed away while they were living in New Orleans (pre-Katrina, of course), she needed to decide where she was going to spend the next few years. Bea decided (upon invitation, I'm sure) to spend some time living with her only 2 grandchildren. She thought out her move, and determined to pack very light. She got rid of all her furniture, and even gave her car to a nephew. Everything she felt inspired to keep was packed up in boxes and sent to her daughter's home. She then walked on the plane with her allotted 2 suitcases of clothes and 2 carry on bags. And, all in all, she shipped only 11 boxes of possessions here to Washington.

This has amazed me since I have heard about it. Eleven boxes! "What could have been in those boxes," I wondered to myself. I even asked her the next day on the ferry, and she told me blankets and towels and stuff. "What about photos?" She told me, "I have one of my husband, and I gave all the rest to my 2 daughters. Why do I need photos when I have the real things?" In this world of scrapbooking it is indeed astounding to imagine, much less encounter, someone who doesn't "do" photos!

I have thought many times about those 11 boxes. When my husband and I go on our mission(s), could we fit our things in 11 boxes each? Could I "give away all that [I] have"? What exactly would I put in 11 boxes and ship to the rest of my life?

How about you? What would be in 11 boxes of your most precious possessions?