Here is Anna Rae in front of her dorm. It is a very old building full of character.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Burton-Judson Hall
Here is Anna Rae in front of her dorm. It is a very old building full of character.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
This was our first sighting of Anna Rae. We flew to Chicago on Thursday Oct. 26 but her schedulewas too busy and quite honestly, I was too bushed from travel and lack of sleep, so we didn't see each other till Friday. We met her as she was 'on the job' at the Oriental Institute, doing her best security job telling people to keep their mitts off the glass of the cases of mummies from the middle east. That shirt is ridiculous! I think it is a men's XL. The shirts are supplied by the institute and as I understand it, a morbidly obese person did the ordering and she had no concept of size other than BIG, BIGGER and BIGGEST!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
So why a picture of the Space Needle at night? Because none of the pictures we took at the Bob Dylan Concert Friday night at Key Arena turned out. YES! As incredible as it seems (even now, after the fact) Chris and I were given tickets to the Dylan concert, by a co-worker of his. Mai (the co-worker) has a fiance who works as a CPA for Miller Brewing and they have a luxury suite at the arena for events. Mai is half our age and my guess is that she has very little knowledge/interest in Bob Dylan. It was such a generous gift and unanticipated surprise for us. I truly don't know what I liked best but Tangled up In Blue, Highway 61. From his encore set Like a Rolling Stone had me up on my feet. What snappy dressers they are! Grey and black suit jackets, and hats like my dad used to wear in the 50s and 60s; so COOL! Thank goodness we brought our binoculars though. It was a luxury suite and we had free snack food and beer and the band looked like ants from where we sat. But I was in 7th heaven just to be there soaking in the music.
This is what our yard looks like now. This photo was taken from the east corner of our deck. It is a considerable change from the spacious greenbelt that used to be our view. The Tempelhof Pine will be up to the window of the grey house in 20 years so we have to adjust for a lot less privacy than we are used to. If neighbors become an issue a Sequoia or Cedar can create a screen a whole lot less time. We are also slowly cutting down the apple tree that you see in the center of the fence line, 4 limbs are gone already. The old apple tree just doesn't go well with the new pine which of course also needs more sun.
Japanese Tempelhof White Pine
This is the more expensive of the two trees. The tag says it has a moderate rate of growth which means that it will take 20 years to reach its mature height of 25 feet. I bought it because I fell in love with its needles that are green on top and white on the underside, creating a blue cast which I think will look attractive against the grey house. The tag also says it pairs nicely with rhodies which is what I want to plant close to the fence behind it and slightly to the left.
A Changing View
Well, now that the big grey house behind us nears completion I must alter our landscape to cope with the changing view. So I went out and bought two new trees. One is a Pin Oak. I have always loved oaks and associate them with the two stately trees which graced my grandparents' farm house front lawn. From one of their trees hung a porch swing which easily held myself and two or three of my siblings or cousins. It took two of us working together to get it to swing straight. The other tree held a simple board swing that had long, thick ropes. We could fly so high that it took us to that edge of exhilaration that is tinged with white knuckled fear. My skinny-kid arms couldn't come close to circling the trunks of those oaks. The Pin Oak I planted will not reach that impressive size in my lifetime but every time I look at it I will remember the happy adventures of my childhood visits to the farm.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Sol Duc Hot Springs
What a great way to end summer, wouldn't you agree? Now it is Labor Day weekend and I have been in the classroom several days setting up and out in the community making home visits to my students. This is something new for some Seattle teachers; we are being paid for 25 hours of home visits and we are to make as many as possible before school starts. I have made 11 which is a very good record I think. I have greatly enjoyed the home visits; it is so revealing to see kids in their home setting and it gives parents truly one on one time to talk with the teacher. I think a lot of my kindergarteners are going to adjust to the first day more easily because of these visits.
Sunlight Through Trees
Click on this to enlarge it; see all the moss hanging from the branches? It is rare to see a rain forest in sunlight! We were lucky to have one of the 3 days with sunshine.
On Mink Lake Trail
It is about 2.5 miles up to Mink Lake. It is rocky hiking but the scenery is so beautiful!
Sol Duc Falls
Sol Duc is on the Olympic Penninsula. With a ferry ride and drive it is about 4 hours from Seattle. The hike to the falls is only about 1.5 from the campgrounds.
Campsite 69
Anna Rae and I went on a mother - daughter 3 day camping trip to Sol Duc Hot Springs. When she was little we went here every year. But this time marked 7 years since our last visit! It really had not changed much in all that time and we had a lovely time together. The pictures are really spectacular as you can see.
Best Friends
Anna Rae and Christine have been friends since first grade. This picture was taken on Christine's last day in Seattle before heading off to California and college at Pitzer.
Black Stemmed Hydrangea
I'm growing this hydrangea for it's black stems which are very striking against the light green foliage. This year my newest hydrangea is Lady in Red. I did not take it's picture because I didn't get any blooms but it has red veined dark green leaves which are really pretty.
Hydrangea "Lemon Wave"
That's Bishop's Weed growing all around the hydrangea, It echoes the leaf pattern found in the hydrangea.
Hydrangea
Ok, it is still small but it is from a cutting taken by a friend about 4 years ago. Real gardeners know how to be patient.
Hydrangea "Pia"
My sister Lynn wondered if I had hydrangeas. Yes, I do and they are getting more lovely with age.
July Flowers
There's no place like home. Back in Seattle my lilies were at their peak. They smelled SO good! See the little aluminum pail. I have 6 of these around the yard with a couple inches of sand in the bottom and 3 votive candles in each. It makes for soothing nighttime ambiance.
Evie
Evie is one of Jeff and Peggys' much loved dog-kids. Evie and Boo are both so darn frisky I could NOT get a a decent picture of the 2 of them together. Evie has truly startling eyes; one is blue and the other brown.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Yum!
Only Northeastern Wisconsinites know about this delicious chicken soup/stew that is cooked in a stainless steel washing machine drum over an open fire. Oh and it must be stirred with an unvarnished canoe paddle. No I am NOT kidding you! As for the recipe; ask my dad.
Water Fight
Firefighters from various communities compete to push the barrel to the opposite end of the line. I think they were volunteer firefighters for the most part. It was so hot. I kept wishing they would miss the barrel and hit the crowd.
Polka Dancers
Two tents, two bands per tent taking turns at playing rousing polka music. Did you know the polka is Wisconsin's state dance/
It is not as alluring and exotic as the hula but it is easier to learn. You can't help but be happy when you hear a polka.
It is not as alluring and exotic as the hula but it is easier to learn. You can't help but be happy when you hear a polka.
Brad and Terra's New House
This is the backyard of the house which is smack dab on the bank of the Milwaukee river.
I mean literally; they could slip a kayak right into the water without leaving their house and
imagine how relaxing that would be after a hard day at work! Although I would opt for the hot tub on the back deck; especially on a cool fall day.
I mean literally; they could slip a kayak right into the water without leaving their house and
imagine how relaxing that would be after a hard day at work! Although I would opt for the hot tub on the back deck; especially on a cool fall day.
Cindy and Dave
I was so glad that my brother Dave and his wife Cindy were able to meet us in Milwaukee at a brew pub (great food too!) for lunch.
FOR SALE: Two Room Schoolhouse
This is the school that my mom and her brother and sisters went to when they were kids. I think it was grades 1-8.
And actually I believe my great aunt Gladys Caldie also taught here. Now it is less than a mile away from where Lisa, Tim and Tanner live. Sure wish I could afford to buy and restore it.
And actually I believe my great aunt Gladys Caldie also taught here. Now it is less than a mile away from where Lisa, Tim and Tanner live. Sure wish I could afford to buy and restore it.
Boating on the Mishagamie
I am not sure I spelled it right but that is how the name of this lake sounds. It is full of fishing holes and Tim and Tanner probably know all of them. I made a much appreciated find on this little spin around the lake; an anchor that someone else had lost. We were able to pull it up out of the muck and sand and I am sure Tim will find a use for it.
Tanner & Jesse
I think Jesse is the cutest yet kind of funny looking dog (I mean that in a nice way
Lisa)
Lisa)
Tanner Reads!
It was so much fun to look through all of the work that Tanner had saved from kindergarten. But the 'icing on the cake' was having him read for me. He sure is well prepared for first grade.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Sela and Kelby
All around Madison it's 'Cows on Parade' and they really are colorful and creative. I liked them better than the pigs that Seattle had on their streets a few years back.
The Fossum Family
Eating a much deserved snack on the Madison capital square green. It was hotter than blazes and we walked all around the square and then some. Kelby and Sela didn't complain a bit, so it was kind of hard for us adults to do any whining but it was HOT!
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