December 22, 2008

snow haiku


now then, lets go out
to enjoy the snow ... until
I slip and fall !!

(basho 1688)

last bit of sunlight

December 19, 2008

December 3, 2008

3 ~ three beautiful things



* recognizing an old memory in reclining yoga pose ~grateful for opening my eyes and reminding myself to come to the present ~ seeing the past suffering and not allowing myself to get carried away

* chana saag for lunch

* beautiful waxing crescent moon so low in the sky you want to reach out and touch it ~ clouds come slowly in and now it appears as a soft lantern

December 2, 2008

2 ~ three beautiful things



* lovely walk this morning near the university and sheep barns ~ sunshine and spring like weather

* sweet potato biscuits from here ~ with steamy bowl of soup

* noticing first bloom on yuletide camellia

November 30, 2008

three beautiful things

1. wild apples picked on our walk out at bald hill became ~ apple walnut tart

2. listened to podcast of daido roshi at zen mountain monastery ~ discourse on exploring compassionate action, the metaphor of "wearing socks for others" is used to describe knowing personally the suffering of others and responding accordingly. ~ inspiring talk!

3. cream of split and fresh pea soup w/rosemary and lemon ~ excellent ~ from vegetable soups from deborah madison's kitchen

November 17, 2008

birthday feet (feat?)


my feet of 55 years today


trails and contrails at dusk


don't be too long coming back

November 5, 2008

"yes we can"

last march walking downtown to view a movie we missed the opportunity to see Barack Obama at our local pizza parlor ~ American Dream Pizza. a buzz was in the air as we stopped to watch policeman wave a motorcade and large bus through the stoplights on main street ... we were told Obama had just finished his cheese pizza and drew a large crowd inside and out. it didn't matter we had missed seeing him for ourselves. we both felt delighted he made a stop along his tour and spoke to many at dream pizza. we held that event as some omen to this election ...

last evening as I was finishing up the laundry and ironing in the basement, before turning off the light I paused ... walked to the pantry and inside I picked up a bottle of champange we had just put in storage for this New Years Eve. I told myself when David arrived home from work and we watched the results on the laptop together ... this night could feel more like New Years Eve then many we have had in the past.

cheers to the next four years!

October 23, 2008

resting in the sunshine together


coming upon 30 years (january 2009) together he still amazes me with his ability to recovery from minor surgery to daily challenges.  he walked out to the car instead of a wheelchair and enjoyed breakfast soon after we arrived home.  now we are resting in the sunshine of the fall light.  a stack of garden and yoga books from the library and lentil soup soon on the stove. fall bulbs will arrive in the post today... he can sit in a chair and direct me in the planting ... being present to the day.

October 17, 2008

path 5

the path to the zendo

October 16, 2008

clear lake -path 4

the path of the lake (clear lake in eastern oregon)

October 15, 2008

winter - path 3

several paths out the door and along the street

October 14, 2008

garden - path 2

one our of garden paths

October 7, 2008

fall hike - path 1

a favorite hike about an hours drive ... east into the mountains. we won't make the trek this year as our list to finish outdoor garden planting grows longer than shorter. making way for a new blueberry plot, a flowering quince in the herb garden and mulching the plants for the winter.

October 6, 2008

a room with a view

we took a short trip up the coast of Oregon, spent a few days in Manzanita and booked a ferry from Anacortes to Sidney B.C. with final destination at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino B.C. for three lovely days.  reminded us so much of home we hopped the ferry in Nanimo and made it home around midnight.  good to get away ... good to be home.



August 22, 2008

poem by mary oliver




THE SUMMER DAY

who made the world?
who made the swan, and the black bear?
who made the grasshopper?
this grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
now she snaps her wings open and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
tell me, what else should I have done?
doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
tell me, what is it you plan to do
with you one wild and precious life?
~mary oliver~

August 8, 2008

wise words




Awakened mind exist in our surroundings ~ in the air and the wind, in the sea, in the land, in the animals ~ but how often are we actually touching in with it?

~Pema Chodron~

August 5, 2008

Mary's Peak




our sunday afternoon drive up mary's peak

July 30, 2008

henro's (pilgrim's)


a henro or pilgrim is described as someone who undertakes a "pilgrimage" literally 'far afield'
over the years our interest has always been peaked when coming across a story of someone taking a long journey and how in doing so it added to or changed their life. we have a bookmark titled "henro's" ... blogs of pilgrims taking many different kinds of pilgrimages. some are journeys afar and some of them are daily journeys at home. we have come to find them inspiring and humble folks...enjoy!

japan ... go here, alaska here, world wide travel via skateboard ... here, rowing the pacific ... here, yukon ... son, mom, dad and nature travel by bike ... here.

then there are those that travel together but not to distant places ... here or here.

July 17, 2008

witnessing nature


off in the distance this morning while watering the roses I heard the song of tiny bushtits and as I walked down the sidewalk towards other plants ... two flew in and with flapping of wings were gathering water on themselves ... singing and bathing from the water on the leaves of the shrubs.  flying back and forth not minding that we were standing and chatting softly about this or that, greeting neighbors and enjoying the cool breeze ... each of us going about our daily routines.

grandma at 93



I wish i could show you
when you are lonely or in darkness
the astonishing light of 
your own being.
~Hafiz

June 16, 2008

happy fathers day


I want to say thank you to the most special person in my life and happy fathers day! your unconditional love from the very beginning is what made us a family ... instantly.

I love you truly!

hike haiku


bathing by moonlight
soap removes the dusty trail
but what cleanses mind?

13 june 2008
david & lydia

June 6, 2008

journal entry

i feel something growing inside me.

let me out it says.

is it coming out through the paint?


maybe it's escaping into the pages i read.

or was it tossed aside ... and now i find it washed upon the beach.

17th aug 1997
lkm

adventure


we are off tomorrow on what seems like a little adventure. details soon ...

May 30, 2008

why don't we know this?


"you can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere"
(a buddhist saying)


"you make your own world ~ by the kindness you pay to others, even with the thoughts in your head"
(a quote from a dharma teacher)


May 28, 2008

fig, tea and granola

the weather continues to be cool and overcast which calls for an afternoon cup of tea and a treat. soon it will shift to iced coffee ....


our monthly batch of granola (added diced dried fruit) ... the heat from the oven was welcomed on this cool and breezy afternoon.

enjoying the daily routine

May 8, 2008

cloudy may day

preparing leek and potato soup for tomorrow's lunch. enjoying a quiet and cloudy day

jacks blue pottery now in the kitchen

May 7, 2008

beauty and bees

we are surrounded by blooming rhododendron's and in turn means many bees and our favorite the, bumble bee. 


this showy lipstick pink rhodie is dads favorite and the grand beauty below at the back door is showing off this year.


April 24, 2008

a place to hang our ... towels

electric is finally finished with sconce and switch panel installed

medicine cabinet
new door ... painting will happen when the weather warms up

door knob to match the bedroom ... astoria glass

and after living in the house for 8 years and no place in the bathroom to hang a towel ... we think this will do just fine!