August 19, 2008
Summering
Have been experiencing some delicious summer days. A week ago Jan and I were invited to lunch with friend in Stevenson, where we ate, chatted awhile and then went walking in the woods surrounding their home. Within only a few blocks we traipsed through a tiny cemetery, passed through a fence and arrived at large waterfalls on Rock Creek. Right in our friends’ back yard. On the way back to their house, we stopped to pick blackberries and returned with satisfied bellies and juice running down our chins.
The next day, Jan, her parents and I cooked breakfast out, camping style, in Celilo Park, alongside the Columbia river. It was one of those rare, windless day in the Columbia Gorge, which was a miracle in itself. As if the bacon and eggs stories around the picnic table weren’t enough, the four of proceeded to raid the blackberry bushes growing the entire length of the park beside the river. Both households took about 8 quarts each home with us. Jan and I celebrated our take with a warm Blackberry Cobbler, topped with ice cream that same evening. The rest is being dolled out as fresh topping on oatmeal for breakfast, until we run out.
These past two weeks we’ve enjoyed our new heat pump. With temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s for days in a row, we stay cool inside our newly insulated and air conditioned home. This winter’s going to be a joy too, being finally rid of the old oil furnace, which drained us of hundreds of dollars a month last winter.
Yesterday we turned off even the heat pump, threw open the windows and doors and let the thunder and rain freshen up our dusty, dry end of the world. Each day brings new joy in my world. More blessings. Deeper contentment with my own soul. Things are changing in this way, since I’ve taken to meditating Jon Kabat-Zinn style for thirty minutes each morning. I also do Tai Chi for fifteen minutes and take my morning walk with the dogs. Having set my priorities straight and learned the value of centering and balancing myself, it seems easier to let the world fall into place around me. And that’s exactly what’s been happening.
PS. I finished a new purse on Sunday, using a pattern by Penny Sturges. It will be my tote bag for my trip to Idaho and California. Both coming up soon.
Summering
Have been experiencing some delicious summer days. A week ago Jan and I were invited to lunch with friend in Stevenson, where we ate, chatted awhile and then went walking in the woods surrounding their home. Within only a few blocks we traipsed through a tiny cemetery, passed through a fence and arrived at large waterfalls on Rock Creek. Right in our friends’ back yard. On the way back to their house, we stopped to pick blackberries and returned with satisfied bellies and juice running down our chins.
The next day, Jan, her parents and I cooked breakfast out, camping style, in Celilo Park, alongside the Columbia river. It was one of those rare, windless day in the Columbia Gorge, which was a miracle in itself. As if the bacon and eggs stories around the picnic table weren’t enough, the four of proceeded to raid the blackberry bushes growing the entire length of the park beside the river. Both households took about 8 quarts each home with us. Jan and I celebrated our take with a warm Blackberry Cobbler, topped with ice cream that same evening. The rest is being dolled out as fresh topping on oatmeal for breakfast, until we run out.
These past two weeks we’ve enjoyed our new heat pump. With temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s for days in a row, we stay cool inside our newly insulated and air conditioned home. This winter’s going to be a joy too, being finally rid of the old oil furnace, which drained us of hundreds of dollars a month last winter.
Yesterday we turned off even the heat pump, threw open the windows and doors and let the thunder and rain freshen up our dusty, dry end of the world. Each day brings new joy in my world. More blessings. Deeper contentment with my own soul. Things are changing in this way, since I’ve taken to meditating Jon Kabat-Zinn style for thirty minutes each morning. I also do Tai Chi for fifteen minutes and take my morning walk with the dogs. Having set my priorities straight and learned the value of centering and balancing myself, it seems easier to let the world fall into place around me. And that’s exactly what’s been happening.
PS. I finished a new purse on Sunday, using a pattern by Penny Sturges. It will be my tote bag for my trip to Idaho and California. Both coming up soon.
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