Washington Splendor

The view from our window at the Morgan Hill Retreat
Poulsbo, Washington ~~ January 19 - 21, 2007

Winter's Afternoon

Soft sunlight slants
Illuminating the creekbed below
A sky saturated in blue
Awaits its promised visitors
Feathery white flakes
Falling in random patterns
And frozen droplets
Grasping onto branches
Like a lover's embrace

I wait as well

Eager to observe
Transformation of nature
Outside my window
Blue turned to grey
And bushes huddling for warmth
As I take it all in
By the soft glow of a crackling fire
Basking in my own lover's embrace

A Boy's Thoughts: January 28

As he was being tucked in tonight, Daniel asked Keith, "Daddy, when I have a wife will I live here with you and Mommy?"

Keith replied, "no, you will have your own house and family to look after..."

There was a pause. Then Daniel said, "But, Daddy, I sure would miss you and Mommy..."

(insert Mommy's heart ripping out of her chest here....)

Popcorn Chronicles--Part II

Another story my Mom shared that involves popcorn is this:

my Mom's fun-loving, crazy Aunt Hazel used to have a memorable tradition she shared with children that would visit her home. She would heat oil in a skillet, call the kids into the kitchen and proceed (without a lid) to pour kernels in...resulting in a "rainshower" of popcorn. Mom would smile as she recalled trying to catch the popped kernels in her mouth before they hit the floor...

It is my fondest wish to be the kind of person that helps create memories like that someday...

Popcorn Chronicles--Part I

My Mom would always tell me this story about being in line at her high school cafeteria...

On certain days, the lunch ladies would ladel up bowls of this bland, digusting-looking, greyish-yellow soup. In her words, it looked like "dirty-sock water." Then, to dress it up a bit she assumed, they would take fresh, hot, buttered popcorn and dump it on top of the soup. Problem was, by the time the students got seated, the once-appealing popcorn had evolved into a soggy lump of white floating precariously atop the tasteless broth.

Each day, she would beg the lunch lady to place the popcorn on the side so she could salvage some part of the meal...but, she refused...choosing instead to take great joy in sending the fluffed kernels to their certain demise.

Don't know why I remembered this today.

This is the

FIRST DAY

of my

SECOND YEAR

of blogging. . .woo hoo!

Silence is Golden

(written Wednesday, January 17, 07)

I had my doubts.

A week spent in a former outbuilding-turned office-turned guest house with no TV, no phone and no radio...I would surely go mad.

Well, it's my last evening here and, contrary to what I had anticipated, I am sad to leave what has become "my little haven."

Each morning and each evening, I am engulfed in silence. Outside my door lies a blanket of snow that seems to muffle even the most basic sounds of nature. No night sounds or tree branches crackling...no crunch of leaves or bushes rattling...instead, the air is still, muted even.

As hard as I try, it's difficult to recall my normal routine back home. Thoughts of alarm clocks, telephones ringing and the Today Show blaring seem so distant--far away from this room where all connections to the outside world do not exist.

With no TV, I pour through books and magazines.

With no radio, I sing songs in my head or even at the top of my lungs.

Then, for periods of time, I sit in complete stillness...part meditation, part awe of how enveloping total silence can be. Not even the flicker of my candle pierces the emptiness.

Tomorrow, I depart. A car radio once again pouring sound into my ears, I will drive away from this haven and venture back into a world of new reports, commercial breaks and a hectic, fast-paced schedule. And as my world returns to normal, I'll look back with longing at these precious days spent in a guest house in the middle of a snowy field in upstate Washington... this little haven where the "sound" of complete silence was a welcome retreat for my soul.

So much to blog...

so little time!

So, I will blog about my trip when I get back. This small keyboard on my phone is not conducive to in-depth blogging...therefore, I'll try to blog when I get back. It is beautiful here...snow everywhere...horses and barns sitting atop pastures painted white. Tommorow I head to Victoria, Bristish Columbia tomorrow on a float plane--straight out of Fantasy Island :-) I can't wait.

More later...

Katie

L.B.I.

Today, I am embarking on a lengthy journey and will be doing it just like in the "olden" days...you know, my Life Before Ipod.

It died. Kapoot. Nothing. No sign of life. I was listening to it on the way home from the store last night, bring it inside and poof. She's never come alive again.

Now, please let me clarify that I KNOW where this ranks on the scale of tragic historic events:

9/11
Tsunami
Katrina
Katie's iPod unresponsive .....nope, it just doesn't belong on that list.

HOWEVER, I must say that the overly emotive, highly demonstrative person in me is crushed to the core. A 5 1/2 hour flight seemed bearable as I constructed playlist after playlist of all my favorite songs. Hundreds of them at my disposal. Now...nothing.

Oh well. Maybe I'll depend on a good book or count the number of people resting soundly with little wires coming out of their ears. That will surely help me pass the time.

Oh well, it's probably for the best. I still hadn't worked out that whole "not singing while listening because other people can't hear what you hear" thing.

My seat mate on the flight will be relieved.

Head (North) West Young Woman

Heading out tomorrow morning to Washington state for a week of training with a new client of mine. They're headquartered in Port Angeles, WA which looks to be a mighty pretty place: http://www.portangeles.org/

From there, I hope to head over to Victoria, British Columbia for a day of exploring before meeting a good friend for a girl's weekend at a bed 'n breakfast in Poulsbo, WA.

The weather there definitely presents some packing challenges but I'm excited nevertheless.

I'll try to post from the road...have a great week!

The Sound of Silence

4:20am
can't sleep
pull back the covers
lightfooted I tread
into the silence

computer screen glares
as the machines hum and
whir.............
the faintest of whispers
electric conversations

boys sleeping soundly
the night air feels empty
foreboding even
so back to the covers I creep
to warmth and security and...........silence

Wired

iPod's playin
katie's swayin

cell phone's ringing
interrupts singing

depending on a PDA
to help me organize my day

wires hangin off of me
not much time to simply "be....."

To My Future Daughter-in-Law

I ironed Daniel's socks this morning to make them all warm and toasty because it was really cold outside.

I am so sorry.

At the Movies: The Pursuit of Happyness

(and, if you haven't seen the movie--yes, I know I spelled that incorrectly! :-)

Keith and I double-dated with our friends Jimmy and Melissa last night and THOROUGHLY enjoyed this movie! Will Smith is amazing--as is his real life son Jaden who also plays his son in the film. For the entire length of the movie, I wanted to hug them both, or help them, or give them our spare bedroom...something!

Many warned me this movie is "sad." It is...but not in a Schindler's List, Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan kind of way. It's more a series of unfortunate events that lead to the homelessness of a brilliant man and his son. It is sad and there are parts where Keith thought he would have to mop me off the floor. But it is also one of the most uplifting/inspiring films I've ever seen.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one... (I also highly recommend taking Kleenex with you, too. :-)

At the Movies: Night at the Museum

Keith and I took Daniel to see this tonight-- a really cute movie! Ben Stiller plays the "bumbling/insecure guy that becomes a man" so well (ala Meet the Parents).

The special effects are pretty amazing and the story line is basic but very clever. There were plenty of laughs and even a few touching moments believe it or not. Bottom line: Fun, creative, feel good movie...Daniel had a blast.

Destin, Florida

December 29, 2006

These photos were taken in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
during a Christmas week visit with Papa and Meme.

Santa Express

This was taken on Daniel's surprise trip aboard the Santa Express
on December 23rd. What a wonderful time we had!

Potential

beyond myself
somewhere
I wait for my arrival

Conversations--part 1

Daniel: "Can I lay my head on your shoulder, Mommy?"

Katie: "Of course!"

(Clad in dinosaur footed pajamas, he climbs in my lap and buries his head on my neck)

Katie: "My goodness, why are you so snuggly this morning...?"

Daniel: "Because you feel safe and warm..."

(We rock back and forth in silence for a couple minutes...)

Daniel: "Mommy?"

Katie: "Yes?"

Daniel: "Can we stay like this forever?"

Katie: "That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

(Daniel begins to think about the potential consequences)

Daniel: "Yeah, but then you couldn't go buy my presents for my birthday!"

(Realizing the non-gifting that could occur as a result of a too-lengthy snuggle, he quickly hops down and races down the hall singing...)

Moment over. It was nice while it lasted. :-)

2007

A fresh new year
a calendar full
of empty pages
fresh, untouched days
full of possibility

a blank slate...