Happy Endings

Working with high school students has been one of the great joys of my life.  When I worked at the elementary level, I thought it was the best world ever...until I got too old to bend over those tiny little desks and chairs!  When I moved to a middle school, I discovered it  was not the minefield all had led me to believe.  For the most part I found the students friendly and engaging.  It was at a middle school that I first met Maria, a charming and bright Hispanic girl with a large heart and a beaming smile.  We discovered that we shared the same birthday and when I took her out for ice cream to celebrate, we began an enduring mentor/mentee relationship that, over the years, has provided both joy and despair!  

Maria's parents brought her here from Mexico, illegally, when she was just a toddler.  Somehow her parents managed to live under the radar until they were eligible for green cards, but they didn't have enough money to provide their children with cards.   When I moved to a job at the high school, I briefly lost touch with Maria until she showed up as a freshman here.  We picked up where we left off--me encouraging her, she working against tough odds to succeed.  She was working hard to do her best academically, even taking some AP classes which were quite a challenge for her...she never did take the AP tests.  I was hoping that when she graduated she would enter our local community college and continue her education.  I used every opportunity during our dinners or lunches out to encourage her along these lines.  At that time, children who had been brought to the USA by their parents illegally were not eligible for higher education.  Fortunately, that rule has been changed.  After graduation, Maria found a job and, unfortunately, began a relationship with a less-than-desirable young man which produced two children.  She struggled in the relationship, working hard to provide some semblance of normalcy for her kids.  Eventually she realized that her partner was not going to be the husband and father she had anticipated and she chose, wisely, to end that relationship.  She found good work here and eventually met and married a good man and together they moved to CA where he had been transferred.  Maria was finally able to get a visa and to enter a local community college. 

She called me today to tell me she just graduated on Monday...on the Dean's List--and that she is now working on a medical assistant certificate which she will complete in the next few weeks.  Her girls are excelling at their school and her marriage is thriving.  

Some butterflies just take longer to break out of their cocoons.

Well done, good and faithful vehicle...

Today marks the end of an era.  In 1984, just before Jessi was born, we purchased this 1981 Toyota Corolla from a local dentist.  Our only other vehicle was a Dodge Van with only two seats--driver and passenger.  Obviously that was not going to work with a new baby and carseat!  It's not your luxury model, just the basics:  5 speed, no air conditioning, nothing fancy, just reliability!

Jessi grew up in this car.  She was hauled to the pediatricians, parent/toddler classes, preschool, shopping, trips to Yakima and back and endless trips on weekends to wherever we all decided to adventure to.  Wally took over this car as "his" car when Jessi was about 13 or so.  He used it to drive back and forth to work, but we still used it for long trips.  For camping we put a carrier on the top and hauled our tent and paraphernalia with us.  

The odometer quit years ago, but we estimate is has over 300,000 miles on it.  Other "incidentals" have quit working over time:  the heater was perpetually on, the radio didn't work and the passenger side door wouldn't open so if Wally and I both rode in it, I played "Miss Daisy" and rode in the backseat.  But...it started up first time, every time, every day.  This despite the fact that the radiator leaked like a sieve requiring Wally to fill it with water every morning to get to work and every afternoon to get home.  But it still started; indeed, last year when the battery on my car gave out, his car jump started mine!  The radiator has quit holding water all together, so it's finally time to let it go to its perpetual rest.  We have donated it to World Vision who will come and pick it up with their flatbed.  They were supposed to come yesterday, but didn't make it.  Just as well, I was fighting back tears all evening anticipating watching it being hauled off.  Silly, I know, but it's been a part of our family for so long.  And I'm sad to see it go.

'Tis the Season

When Jessi was only a few years old, we purchased this Nativity set from Sears.  We wanted something that was inexpensive and that she could "play with" and set up and which could be kept in a prominent place that would not require any "don't touch that" responses from us.  It's been 25+ years and it's still in good shape.  The palm trees were given to us by Wally's Mom, Betty, and they are the perfect addition, lending an authentic desert touch.

Since then I've found a few other Nativity scenes that I've added to my "collection".  It's hard to find good ones that don't cost a fortune or aren't too big to display in a smallish house.  This was the next one I found and I don't remember where we got it.  But I like it's simplicty.

This is one of my favorites.  It was made by my dear friend, Jill, and was a Christmas gift about 10 years ago.

I had another one that I loved that Jessi made out of Fimo when she was in middle school, but she's taken that with her...  :)

This one is the most unique ones I've ever seen.  We purchased it at an import store, it's made out of stone and I can't even imagine how the crafter managed to get so much implied detail out of such a tiny object.  It measures only 1/2" by 1/2".  

If I had the ability to travel, it would be fun to collect different Nativity sets from different countries because each would come with its own cultural influence!  I love this season and all the varied ways we can keep in the forefront of our minds the reason for celebrating it!

Man vs. Squirrel

After a few modifications (due to high winds) I'm happy to report that the score for the feeder remodel is now Wally 1 - Squirrel 0 !

Early Christmas Present for All

One of my great joys in life is watching the birds at my many bird feeders.  I've always kept seed feeders, and suet feeders as well as hummingbird feeders in the back and the front of the house.  We have several Anna's Hummingbirds, which winter over in the Pacific Northwest, that have made this their year-round home so we can enjoy them regardless of the season.  

We also have a plethora of other wildlife who like to avail themselves of the buffet.  We have deer who frequent the backyard and who have broken my clothesline twice trying to get at the feeders I had hung there.  I moved them under the eave, that solved that problem.  But we also have a plethora of squirrels who have made it their mission in life to access my feeders no matter what tactic I use to thwart them.  I've tried putting pie pans over the feeders; I've tried putting frisbees over the feeders; I've tried it all...short of the pricey "domes" that you can buy at the farm stores.  This week they managed to knock it down and punch a huge hole in the side of it.  So Wally surprised me today when I got home from work with an early Christmas present...two, not just one, giant feeders that he has rigged up with an overhang so the squirrels can't hang off the roof and get to the them!  We shall see if man vs. squirrel triumphs!

Nick of Time

Our trip up to Artist's Point was timely--the road to Artist's Point was closed for the season yesterday.  It was only open for 84 days this year!  A cold front is moving in tonight and the snow level is dropping.  Our day at the farm tomorrow could be a challenge.  Now where did I put that long underwear?

The Party's Over

Wow, has it really been 10 months since I've posted anything here?  Tempis fugit!  Spring was non-existent, and summer was late in arriving, but did her best to break all records for longevity!  Today we ended the longest stretch of dry, cloudless blue-sky days I can ever remember since I moved here in 1978.  The winters of 2010 and 2011 dumped so much snow on Mt. Baker that the road to Artist's Point was never plowed.  Due to this summer's stretch of warmth and sun, the road has been plowed and the trails are snow-free, so we treked up there on Sunday to catch the last of fall's glory before the snows come again.  The wild huckleberry bushes were aflame with color and the mountains stood out in stark contrast to the clear skies. 

Fluorescent lichen !

Last light!

It's October, so it's Stoney Ridge Farm time. They are open every Thurs., Friday and Sat. in October and we are part of Saturday's work crew. This past Saturday was atypically HOT, even in shirtsleeves! Lots of families came out to enjoy the day and although it was busy, it was not crowded. We always arrive and hour early the first Saturday, so I took advantage of the opportunity to take photos sans people!

The pie building, not to be missed

The newest barn

Debbie, Derek, Lamont, Juan and Zane's home sweet home--Liz and Abbey have flown the coop!

The mini-donut shop!