~SPRING~

If you know me, you know how I get spring-fever, that it's my favorite time of year, and Easter, my favorite holiday. If you don't want to read some silly ramblings I suggest you skipp ahead now, because I'm going to tell you exactly why I love spring/Easter. (---Skip ahead now)

Easter is like Christmas, just when it is nicer outside. We still celebrate Christ's life, and the hope and salvation he offers, but we can celebrate it out in the sunshine (instead of trapped indoors like we are in prison). Easter, the time of hope, rebirth, new life, flowers, and sweet baby animals (instead of black-ice, frostbite, and blobby snowmen that melt and distort, when everything is dead). A time for new dresses and saddles (rather than wet parkas and muddy boots). We still get candy like Halloween and Christmas, but at Easter it is more often than not, chocolate (that's all we really want anyway). It is still acceptable to give gifts, but rather than being forced by society and commercialism, they can be gifts from the heart. People don't go into debt, and we can still enjoy the time together just as much. The food (a least in my family) is always just as good, but is enjoyed without somehow gaining those10lbs. I mean, don't get me wrong, Christmas is great! What else would get us through those dark oppressive mid-winter days? We need all the cheer we can get that time of year, we make the best of it, but to me, it's a place holder - a pacifier, until the real season for celebrating comes along. I appreciate winter, and Christmas, but mostly because those dark cold days make spring that much brighter and warmer.

(---Begin reading here) I decided to make some little Easter treats to take to some friends (visiting teaching too). I sprouted wheat in paper cups and put a plastic egg with an Easter scripture and some chocolates inside. They came out great so I made a few to place around our apartment too. The cats loved it, they munched on the grass while I munched the chocolate.

In the spring I always love it when the violets come out, they are one of the first tings to bloom here, and they remind me so much of Nan and when we lived with her. I have some violets that I got from Aunt Judy's yard growing in a pot and put a few blooms in one of Nan's little vases to help ward off the last of my S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder/winter blues) during the rainy spring days. I was surprised how much it helped.

Crazy Cat Lady

Ok, I am just going to be the crazy cat lady you all know I am, and post all my cat pictures in one post. Fritz is the orange tabby, Marsh is the gray tabby.

 

Pictures from Christmas Season 2012

This last Christmas was a wonderful one. I had planned ahead, so all the shopping was done way ahead of time removing most of my holiday stress. A visit to the temple on the 11th was also a good way to start the holiday.

We were able to pick up the perfect tree at the lot on the corner from us at a good price, bring it home and decorate it and the house all in one evening. I think this is the cat's favorite time of year!

This year, since I was somehow ahead on my holiday to-do list, I decided to try stringing cranberries, something I have wanted to do since I was a kid. (BUCKET LIST!)

Of course I had some furry help with this project.

Each year I try to work on my photography skills and take a picture of J and I for our Christmas cards. I thought it would be neat to take one in front of our tree this year. It was also nice and cozy inside, and last year I drug J out in the cold for our picture. Problem was, the lighting stunk, the angle made the tree look small, and the cats kept getting in the way. I quickly realized it was not going to work so we took one last silly one and gave up the idea.

You can still see Marsh's tail in front of J's arm.

J was a good sport and said he would go with me over to the park and let me mess with my camera. It was actually a pretty nice day, and I got a few good shots.

Leta's Visit 11/24

From time to time Leta comes down and visits for a weekend, and I love it! We always have fun even if we are just doing something mundane, and this time was no different. She was here November 22-24th and since J had to work on Thanksgiving, it was great that she could come so I wasn't alone. Before J left for work at 8 we had dinner, we ate lots of pie, turkey, stuffing, jello, veggies and more. I made pie, and Leta brought more, so we were thoroughly stuffed and had plenty of leftovers for the weekend.

On her way out of town, Leta and I drove up the Colombia River Gorge. As always, it was beautiful! We took these pictures at Multnomah Falls, a 620 foot waterfall that is said to be the tallest in the state of Oregon and the second tallest year-round waterfall in the US.

On my way home I stopped off at some view points along the river.

Looking East, up the river.

Looking West, down river.

I watched a balled eagle chase and dive at this heron. It was obvious which was more athletic. 

Thanks for driving down Leta, and thank you J for spotting her flat tire. (She was able to get it fixed for free at Les Schwab Tire just down the street on her way out of town.)

Fall Photos

I have made my self a tradition, in the fall I go for walks. I try to make time to enjoy the colors, smells, and the last of the good weather, trying to draw it all in and store it up to get me through winter. I always take a lot of pictures because it is a way for me to slow down, really look, and enjoy the beauty of the moment. My favorite time of year is spring, but I also love fall and look forward to my walks when I can reflect on all that has happened that year. As I walk I try to think about and come to peace with everything before jumping into the busy Christmas season and the new year. Here are a few of my pictures from those walks in October 2012.

September 19, 2012

On the 19th we spent the day hiking to and around waterfalls on the Lewis River. These were the most unique and beautiful falls I have ever seen. I took a lot of pictures that day, and don't know which to post and hate weeding through pictures, so I am just going to post a bunch.

It's hard to tell, but this water was very deep and very clear. We were able to see trout swimming at the bottom of the pools.