Musings on a Late Fall Day

 

My maple tree is losing it's leaves. It is like watching it cry. In color.
 

 

 



 

The mist moves through the mountain valleys, creating backdrops for viewing. Without the mist behind, tall trees blend in.

 

But now they form an island.

 

Like all of us at times, I suppose.

 

 

Can you see them still?

 

There is a power line that dissects this scene.

 

On still, snow covered nights you can hear them hum.

 

It is an eerie sound.

 

But I must get busy.

 

Today I am going to town.

 

 

 

 

The season now in Washington State, is in the last of it's Autumn glory.

 

 

 

The road at the top of our little mountain makes you dizzy looking down.

 

But my eyes are drawn to the surrounding hills.  

 

The hills are peppered with bright orange Maple trees. There are still a few leaves on the tips of the Cottonwoods. I can see the perpetual raindrops on my windshield that we have this time of year, along with a cedar sprig from the tree under which I park my little gray pick-up truck.

 

 

As I reach the bottom of the hill, I turn left and this is what I see.

 

This is a "4 way" intersection.

 

Three ways are gravel dead ends leading into the forest.

 

One way leads back home.

 

One way leads to the nearby ridge.

 

One way leads to the river.

 

This way leads down off the mountain and towards town.

 

 

I stop to take photos of this horse rolling next to lazy cows under a glorious golden Maple tree.

 

 

Flaming cherry trees guard the entrance to a white farmhouse.

 

 

Trees as brilliant as tropical flowers deceive us with their beauty, a temporary mask to the starkness yet to come.

 

 

Brilliance lies at our feet in homage of Nature's sun-god of creation.

 

 

Nourishment for a new year to come.

 

 

Nature ends it's season of growth with fireworks unrivaled by mere mortals.

 

 

Beauty to hold in our hearts during bleak Winter months to come.

 

 

Almost to my destination, I remember Nature's brushstrokes will be much more subdued next time I pass this way again.

 

So I drink in the colors until they fill my soul.

 

 

xx



Celebrations as We Move Forward

 

WELL! Today is finally election day! Does it seem like the campaigning never ends?

 

I mean, it starts right after the election these days!

 

Sigh.

 

 

I am happy that we get to vote, though.

 

I try to imagine a life where I am a woman without any rights at all, under a dictatorship and at the mercy of a society with total patriarchal rule.

 

Our brave young soldiers are fighting for those very women right now.

 

But it takes the will of the people to overcome centuries.

 

It might take longer than we have.

 

I am forever grateful that I was born here.

 

And I think of all the women who are not as fortunate around the world.

 

There is so much work to be done.

 

 

So here I am with my darling Erica. She is my oldest son Gabe's new bride and we are together celebrating our October birthdays. I know, it is November. There are 10 of us and it is hard to schedule.

 

Isn't she precious?

 

We are in my daughter Jennie's, and her guy Josh's kitchen.

 

 

This is actually where we are sitting.

 

 

Jennie sets a pretty table and she is a wonderful hostess.

 

 

Here she is on the right with big sister Heather, who helped with Hostessing duties. The Seahawk's game was on and Heather is a big fan.

 

I have two blondes and two raven haired children.

We have every hair color in our extended families.

 

 

 

My two computer genius sons, Gabe and Dustin. Note the weekend unshaven look. These guys know what 24/7 work is.

 

One is Microsoft and one owns an IT business he built from scratch.

 

They work hard and play hard and already have the snowboarding racks on their vehicles.

 

Aaaaah, to be young and full of energy again!

 

 

I don't have to tell you how much I love my children.

 

But trust me, they gave me a run for my money.

 

Some of my neighbor's still won't forgive us for some of their youthful pranks.

 

But now those neighbors have teenagers of their own.

 

Full circle.  

 

But I am happy to say, they are now all hard working, kind, responsible young adults.

 

I can breathe a sigh of relief.

 

 

But the very best thing is, they all get along with each other.

 

They like each other.

 

They would do anything for each other.

 

My work is done.

 

Here, Gabe is demonstrating to Jennie the new touch screen tablet he helped develop.

 

This guy worked his way through college working in the produce section of the local grocery store.

 

His brother had a landscaping business.

 

Dennis and I were firm believers in teaching a good work ethic.

 

All of my children earned their way through life from an early age.

 

Paper routes, yard work, babysitting.

 

They did it all.

 

 

Here is Dustin showing Josh something on his laptop. I am so proud not only of my own children but their partners, also.

 

Josh is a supervisor at work while also taking classes for a degree in business.

 

 

My three sons, including Heather's Eric on the right. This guy was a proud Marine, is now in the National Guard Officer's program, and works for the Veterans Administration.

 

Did I mention he earned a Bachelor's degree by working and going to night school?  

 

Tough as nails on the outside, but he is one of the kindest, most decent guy's we know.

 

A proud representative of our nation's young soldiers.

 

 

 

Here is Dustin's sweet Jen on the left, Heather, and Erica.

 

Jen works with critically ill children at Seattle Childrens Hospital while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy. A doctorate.

 

Sweet Heather and Erica both have marketing degrees.

 

Jennie also works in marketing in the Title industry.

 

It is a very different world than when I grew up.

 

It was rare to have women with college degrees and titled positions.

 

Unless you were a teacher, or a nurse, or a sales 'girl'.

 

Most women, if they 'had' to work, held jobs as sales 'girls', secretaries, or factory workers.

 

The glass ceiling was very low back then.

 

Very few of the girls I went to high school with, went to college.

 

Most went on to trade schools that taught secretarial duties, nursing schools, or they got married.

 

Senior girls loved showing off their engagement rings!

 

But the winds of change were already blowing and blowing fiercely.

 

 

I can remember standing in my tiny cottage as a young wife and mother, holding my toddler while expecting my second child, and staring in wonder at the television while the news broadcast women holding signs in mass marches for woman's rights.

 

Even though I have lived a 'traditional' life, I cheered them all on.

 

I have daughters.

 

But hasn't it been a long struggle?

 

I have watched from the sidelines, tried to join, but sometimes it is like swimming upstream.

 

Especially when you have children.

 

Oh, things are better now.

 

Women have equality in education.

 

There are day care facilities and equal pay for equal work.

 

But I see how difficult it is for young women, for older women, for women with families.

 

It reminds me of that old country song where women proclaimed they can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan......

 

Being on the outside and looking in, maybe I don't see the real picture.

 

But I do see that women are doing way too much.

 

It's time for some balance.

 

So, I think, the word 'choice' is not really representative of life as a woman.

 

Unless they choose to do it all.

 

And the fight to move forward is a constant battle.

 

Women will always be torn between their families and their work.

 

It's just the way we are. Thank goodness.

 

Where would our civilization be if we, as women, did not put our families first? Whether we work or not, it is always the same, that is our first priority.

 

So moving ahead the way it works for a man is not really something that works for women.

 

We need our own way of doing things.

 

Because we are all about balance.

 

But the world is not. 

 

But slowly, it is changing.

 

Hopefully towards that end.  

 

That is why we continue to vote, continue to hope, for the next generation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Autumn Wreath

 

This time of year there are so many beautiful Autumn leaves.

 

I wanted to capture that beauty and what better way to do that than with a simple Autumn Wreath!

 

This is so easy to do and here I will show you how.

 

 

Gather some medium and small sized leaves on a dry day and press between the pages of a phone book (or two) for a week. Weigh down the book. You will need about 100 leaves for a 12 inch wreath.

 

I used Russian Ash leaves (3-6").

 

 

Gather your supplies.

 

You will need a 12-18 inch grapevine wreath, some floral wire and cutters to make a hanging loop (or use a large paper clip), a hot glue gun and the leaves.

 

 

Fashion a hanging loop on the top - back of the wreath. Tuck in sharp ends or cut off. Alternately you can open up a paper clip so that one loop attaches around one strand of the wreath and the other is the hanging hook. Use a little hot glue to secure it tightly.

 

 

I used the back of a large cutting board for my work surface to protect my table, or you can use a heavy plastic tablecloth. I covered a smaller cutting board with aluminum foil to rest my hot glue gun.

 

 

 

To begin, simply put a little dab of hot glue onto the base of the leaf. Run it up the spine a bit.

 

 

Choose one of your large leaves.

 

Cut the stem off your leaf.

 

Place hot glue on back of leaf at the base.

 

Place your first leaf, pointing straight upwards. This should be the largest leaf of your layer. From there, place smaller leaves pointing slightly inward and outward as shown to form a small base grouping.

You will get a feel for this right away. It's most important to use your largest leaf in the center of your layer (pointing straight) and tuck the smaller leaves around. Continue around, overlapping and turning your wreath with each layer so that your main leaf is always lying straight upwards along the wreath.

 

You can fill in along the insides and outsides with small leaves after you get your base on.

 

Be sure to keep turning your wreath as you go.

 

 

I used a mix of colors in each layer, but it would look equally beautiful with all of the same hues.

 

This wreath would look very lovely done in maple or oak leaves. Perhaps with acorns or berries.

 

But I wanted to keep mine simple to accent the natural tones of my kitchen.

 

 

It only took me about an hour to create.
Gathering the leaves was done in 15 minutes on a morning walk.

 

 

Keep this wreath inside or on an enclosed porch, as any dampness will wilt the leaves.

 

If you gather your leaves now, you can have a beautiful wreath, hand crafted by you, to display for Thanksgiving.

This would also make a lovely hostess gift.

 

Happy Crafting!

Sharing with: http://repurposemylife.com/repurposed-ideas-weekly-12-2/
xx





Louder Than Words

 

 

I love waking up before the sun rises.

 

Those first rays of light warm the cold, damp landscape.

 

 

 

Causing the mist to rise.

 

 

Up, up, up it goes.

 

Did you ever wonder how clouds are formed?

 

I can map out where the rivers flow by the rising columns of mist.

 

 

This time of year, the morning sun is a rare thing. Something to be savored and enjoyed, as it is very fleeting. We are entering our rainy season here in Washington State and sunshine will be an elusive guest.

 

As it streams through my windows, it lights up my collection of blue glass.

 

 

And gives my houseplants some vitamin D. Do plants need vitamin D? I know I do, so I gather as much of it as I can, finding excuses to go outside.

 

 

Where Ling Ling is waiting for me.

 

The cats are lazy this time of year and only go out when the sun makes it's appearance.

 

But you can see it has rained during the night and the deck is very wet.

 

 

As I look out through the screen door, I can see that the fallen leaves need sweeping. The slightest breeze brings them down from the Big Leaf Maple tree that provides us shade in the summer. They spin as they fall, like magical parachutes. The tiny native Douglas Squirrels run the length of the branches to eat the winged seeds and chatter scoldingly at the cats sitting on the rail.

 

 

This tree is over 100 ft tall and feeds a lot of squirrels! It's leaves are sometimes a foot across! They are tough and leathery and if I don't rake them off my lawn, they will smother the grass. (I save them for compost)

 

I have many of these large and wonderful trees in our little forest. Although, this is the only one that grows near my lawn. The rest of the trees drop their leaves and there they stay.

 

 

Except on the driveway. This is a big job, one that I have not attempted yet. All the leaves have not fallen, so I will wait.  This takes many trips to remove all the leaves. But I enjoy the fresh air and exercise and the dogs who accompany me everywhere.

 

Working outside in the golden leaves restores my spirit.

 

It gives me time to think.

 

Of all the things that I am grateful for.

 

I live a rather Thoreau existence.

 

Busy raising a family, building a home, working, caring for aging parents, I didn't have much time for myself.

 

And now I am free of those obligations, (done lovingly) but this is sometimes a solitary life.

 

 

I am reinventing myself.

 

It is simply a bend in the road.

 

My solitary life has led me to writing. To start this blog. To write my newspaper column.

 

Sometimes I don't speak to a soul all day. It is just me and my animal companions and the wind in the trees.

 

The sun and the rain and the ancient, silent mountain range.

 

The forest and wildflowers.

 

And creatures of the wild.

 

But these things speak louder than words.

 

 

Sharing with: http://www.theviewfromrighthere.com/blog/?p=8494 

 

 

xx

Old Fashioned Apple-Raisin Hermits

 

 

Warning! These are very addicting! Sweet and moist, they will not last long. These are baked in a 13"x9" pan to feed a crowd (or freeze half for later) and are made with simple ingredients.

 

Bake these right before guests arrive and your kitchen will smell heavenly.


Apple - Raisin Hermits

Makes 24 - 2" bars

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes


Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 -1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1- 1/2 cups peeled and diced Golden Delicious apple or other soft apple (I used Gala)
3/4 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Assemble ingredients. Liberally coat a 13x9x2" baking pan with cooking spray or solid shortening; set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, blend together brown sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla until smooth.

Peel and dice apples.

Add flour mixture to egg, sugar and butter mixture, 1/3 at a time, mixing after each addition.

Batter will have the consistency of peanut butter.

Stir in diced apples and raisins.

Spread into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool completely before cutting into bars and serving.

These are even better the next day and are excellent 'keepers'. Store in the refrigerator covered, up to 1 week and freeze for up to 3 months.

But I am sure they will disappear long before then!

Enjoy!

xx