Life, Plans, and What Really Happens...

Betcha thought this was a poppy. It's actually a mushroom and there are several growing in our yard. They are edible (not that I'm ready to try that out). Still, they are interesting and make for pretty Fall color. The trees are quickly losing the last of their leaves now, but they have put on a lovely show. Reds, yellows, oranges, and that burnished gold that looks like the color of embers smoldering in the fireplace. All against the backdrop of the evergreens. Usually, in the morning there is some mist hanging through the trees which lends a certain tranquility to the palette. Very pretty indeed.

We went to a wine tasting midweek at a restaurant in Poulsbo that has become my favorite, Sogno di Vino. It was small and intimate and then we stayed on for dinner. In the warmer months it has nice outside seating along the street, and in these cooler months the inside has a cozy contemporary feeling. We'll go again in a couple weeks when they show and tell (and taste) wines to serve with the turkey on Thanksgiving.

Last year I predicted that we would not be in California for another Thanksgiving; that we would be "here" instead. Not only has that proven true, but there is much to be thankful for in this new place. I'm looking forward to the holiday. It's my favorite one. I envision having a houseful to share it with one day, but for this year we will happily enjoy the company of daughter Kate and her boyfriend Morey. The other three are planning visits closer to the end of the year.

We have not seen any increase in wildlife with the season change, although in Bremerton they captured two bear cubs after sightings were reported for three days. The mama bear is still on the loose. Bremerton is much more populated than our area. I work there. It's at the southern end of the Kitsap peninsula and we are at the northern end (about 25 miles). Mind you, I'm not especially anxious to see a bear. But I understand that they don't hibernate here (though I hear mixed views on that) and residents are advised to bring their trash cans into the garage this time of year.

So, today brings weekend errands: post office, dog food, groceries. I have a bit of "work" to get done online and some laundry to tackle. I haven't started that quilt yet, but tomorrow looks like a real window of opportunity. Finally. But you know the saying. "Life is what happens while we make other plans..."

Little things...

We achieved getting the car in the garage! I had forgotten how nice that is. So, on my wet and/or cold mornings, it makes it much nicer when I leave for work. And I found a jazz station to listen to on my drive. Little things making life a tad sweeter. Speaking of sweet, John returns tonight from one of his regular trips to the Bay Area. Gosh those seem to come around quickly. And we like having him come home.

I got a Blackberry. They call it a Smart Phone. As if to rub it in, I think. It definitely knows more about what it does than I do. Intuitive? I think not. But I'm learning. Old dog, new tricks kind of thing.

My honeymoon at my new job is coming to its natural end. I have been given responsibility! The column under my name on the "Coordinator's Responsibilities" has stuff in it. I have a number of departments at various locations to look after, committees to serve on, and I will be talking to a group during their retreat about cultural competency issues (one of my "passions"). And I will still be engaged in online class development. And the little house that our department was housed in flooded last weekend and it was decided that we would all be moved out of there pronto. So, 4 of our team has been relocated to the hospital and 5 of us will go next week. We are being placed here and there temporarily. Change is good, right?

I'm looking forward to the weekend. Last weekend we attended that fundraiser and during the silent auction John won a gift certificate from a local nursery (Yay!) and I won an interesting wooden structure called a crafter's stand. It's basically for needlework. Perhaps I ought to do some of that now. It was just such an interesting "thing" that I wanted to bid on it. But no plans to go anywhere this weekend. And that's okay...

Wellies and Sou'westers

It's wet out here! The rain came in this past week and some adjustments have been made. The wellies and the rain jackets (the good rain slickers that the Port Authority wear) have taken up residence on the porch. New windshield wipers were installed and they are wonderful. It's the little things. To be fair, I left Oakland on Tuesday morning to return home and it was pouring rain there as well. In fact, I considered myself lucky to get out before any flights were delayed. But up here, I think this is a sign of things to come. I really don't mind though because it's a change and I like seasons. The trees have really changed colors now and in the mornings there's an ethereal mist around the woods.

I caved in and ordered some window shades for the downstairs today. We are so impressed with the insulating ability of the ones we installed upstairs that it just seemed good sense to get them for the downstairs since we'll be using the heat more. They do tuck away out of sight at the top when they're open, so they don't spoil the view. And it will make for cozy evenings in winter.

Finally had an automatic exit detection loop installed in the driveway last week. Now the gate opens on its own when a vehicle approaches. So, when we have service people here, we don't have to initiate that process from within. Again, it's the little things.

We're off to a fundraiser tonight for the Humane Society; silent and live auctions, dinner, etc. Should be fun. And we have a soft spot for the Humane Society, especially after they cared for our Zoe. She's loving this weather. I think we deprived her of "nature" down in California. She stands and looks up in the trees, watches the leaves falling or the wind moving the tall branches, and barks at the sound of the rain as it drips in the woods. I'm glad she has this place...

The Guardians...

When we viewed this house a year ago, one of the things I liked were the stones that had been arranged around the perimeter near the woods. There's usually something that attracts me to a place. In Newark, it was a dilapidated bench circling a tree in the front yard. Never mind that the house I was going to buy was falling down as well. I liked that bench and I wanted to live in that house. Years later the bench was sawed up and removed when things needed to change, so it served a useful purpose. But at this house, it's the "stones". When my friend visited recently from the UK, she could see the personalities in the formations and now they are the "guardians" that look outward into the wilder parts. There is "the old woman", "the lovers watching the sunset", "the man with big shoulders", and a bird of prey, as well as the others who are not yet named. Here is the Old Woman:


They just keep watch. Very cool...

Breathing Deeply...

The week has flown by. Visitors gone, mundane chores done, back to work. John has been away to the Bay Area since Tuesday to return tomorrow. Zoe and I muster on in his absence. I am continuing to find my way at my new job and it promises to get busier and be quite interesting as I find my niche. Lots of good and positive things happening at this organization.

I am anxious to begin a quilt project now. It must be connected to the rhythm of Fall and nesting instincts or something. Fall is definitely here in the Northwest and I like it. Leaves are changing color daily and dropping steadily. The air is chilly and clear and the mountains even have a little snow on them again. We'll get the raised garden beds built and the bulbs planted this month so they are ready when Spring arrives 6 months from now. And we have to find a way to compact all the "stuff" in the garage so we can get the car in there and I can make a tidy exit in the mornings.

Poulsbo is having a Fall Festival in town on Saturday and we will likely go and check that out. I'm looking forward to the weekend...

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow...

Continuing with our visitors...

The trip into Seattle was good. We went to the Seattle Underground tour and then lunch at Pike's Marketplace. Going on foot by ferry is a good way to do the city. Since it was Sunday, we had plenty of company as fans of the Seattle Seahawks packed the ferry and walked over to the stadium for the game. Monday we split ranks. The galas went to Port Townsend for a walkabout and the fellas went to Olympic National Park for a walkabout of a different kind (involving uphill trails). By the time we all arrived back home, the weather had turned and the wind was blowing. A call to the Whale Watching company confirmed that the weather was not going to cooperate on Tuesday and we rescheduled for Wednesday. So, Tuesday was laid back and we picked out quilting fabric for one of my Southwest motif patterns and found some materials for projects Christine has in her queue. The guys tried to sort out the TV issues which means they went on a field trip to an electronics store.

The weather on Wednesday was great for our trip out to sea. Cold enough to need layers (most of which stayed on) with brilliant blue skies and white clouds. The crew were very attentive and fun. If they had called it Wildlife Watching, it would have been a perfect "10" as we saw several new birds for our birding friends and also some seals. But no whales. Perhaps the weather the day before sent them off (there are 3 resident pods in the area). We crossed into Canadian waters in search of a reported Humpback and the naturalist and the captain allegedly saw a couple of big blows, but really we did not see whales. But they did give us tickets for free trips until we do see them. And it's a trip I'd do again just for the doing. Great day.

Today we are staying close to home. It's John's birthday and we are going to a lovely restaurant to celebrate. M&C leave tomorrow and the week has just disappeared! But it's been a really good one...