Take a Moment

Take a moment

Just a wee slice of time

Step out

Into the fall air

Feel the sun

Take a breath

Take a color

Come winter, they will be your fall reflection

Ornamental Grape - At this time of year I can't take enough photos

of it. Good thing it's right outside my door.

Happy Trails Indigo

We are missing our girl Indigo. For sixteen years she has been our bud and my shadow, side kick and occasional therapist in a "being there" sort of way. Turning eighty in cat years had her spending most of her days sleeping this last year which was fine, after all who doesn't like sweet dreams? But, a couple of big challenges with no cures befell our little octogenarian this last month. So, we did what we had to do... but don't you just hate it?

Not to be forgotten and ever the persistent soul, Indigo Kit Kit Jones is still a presence. She has been clinking her bowls, padding along the floors, occupying her place beside the computer and stealing my pillow in the night...just as if nothing had happened. Never missing a beat. Except she isn't here in person of course and I'm sure I haven't emptied any cat boxes in the time between then and now.

Indy developed a good deal of patience in the last few years after loosing her hopper. (A term my dear friend Chris invented and a malady they shared.) With that hopper on the fritz she covered far less ground. To keep her frustration to a minimum I sent her on imaginary trips which became the Indy Goes series. Indy Goes to Cambria is above. She always traveled with her trusty food bowl and that "feed me" look. During the development of each piece she would take her place on the desk and gaze at the screen. That was the journey, something to watch.

When Indigo finally decides we are OK, I suspect her future travels will take her far and wide. No trusty bowl needed, nor hunger to keep her attention from the beauty around her. Hope she works out the thumb thing and drops us a line once in awhile. Happy trails Indigo Kit Kit Jones, you are magic and greatly missed.

Coming Out of the Shadows

And I am, coming out of the shadows that is and startled to see the date of my last post. This past month has been filled with ups, busy times, a few downs and ending on what looks to be an up. Always a good thing, those ups! I didn't want to leave the house this morning without touching base here to thank the folks who have kept checking in and finding nothing new. I really appreciate it. Just need to re-find my footing on occasion.

This work week was busy, busy, busy and many of the weeks to come before the end of this year are looking similar calendar wise. But NEXT WEEK that little black book was wide open for some reason and I going to take full advantage of it by taking some time off. Nothing fancy planned. There is enough work to do around here that I could take the year off an not be caught up. But for this week I have a few doable goals and the hopes of a couple of photo drives for good measure. Or therapy, you pick the descriptor.

I do want to put the plug in for a couple of local activities going on and coming up:

...Today is FarmFest in Pierce County, WA from 10am to 4pm. Many of the local organic farms will be open to the public and are welcoming folks to come and learn about their processes. Included is another event out at the Longbranch Community Center (on the Key Peninsula) related to things FIBER. Guess where I will be first? (As I write (11:00am) handspuns and the like are vanishing before I get a chance to see them. Ackkk)

...Next Saturday will be the Donkey Creek Chum Festival in Gig Harbor running about the same hours as above. The local fishermen, the environmental community, etc will be out celebrating the return of the Salmon to Donkey Creek. This annual event is fun, well attended and a great chance to really feel the return of fall as well. I along with other local Watershed Council, Conservation District and Shellfish Partner group members will be manning (womaning actually) the Salmon Painting booth. Come down and print a tee-shirt or other items. A fun, albeit messy, time awaits you. And lots of laughs of course.

That's it for now. Time to go visit some pumpkin fields with the camera and enjoy the lovely work of local crafts women and men. Maybe even hug a Lama, who knows!

Before the Season Turns Again

As summer fades

And fall ever so slowly appears

We thank the sun for all her gifts

Yet watch and hope for the clouds

That darken the sky bringing THIS

Before leaving us with a few more glimpses

of vivid color through fall

when the seasons hues turn again.

(If you didn't already, do click on the link above.)

Okay, Okay Enough

I know, okay, okay, enough with the lavender farm.

This is it, I promise. For now anyway.

Nestled into the Landscape

More views of the lavender gardens in Sequim, WA. The clouds and wind were shifting across the grounds at a pretty high speed that afternoon. It made holding the camera steady challenging, but it filled each in-breath with lavender scent. A fine trade off.

Lavender chairs, lavender beehives and lots of large lavender rubber balls were nestled into the landscape. The wind talked, the light sparked between clouds and our hair blew high enough to make us feel tall.

Cake Top

Every once in awhile the urge to sneak a smidge of an unattended cake is ALMOST too much to take. Definitely bad form at a wedding. Even a family wedding. Glad I had age and experience in such matters holding me back when I saw this one. Still...