Okay, not wordless and certainly not Wednesday. The grey day we’ve had made me want to be back on the hill in Budapest (actually in Pest), drinking tea with honey.  Or really anywhere drinking tea with honey – but traveling would certainly be good too.

FOR TODAY… from Ali’s Daybook (written around Noon on Nov 17)

Outside my window… I see bags of leaves (in the paper/mulch-able bags) lined along the sidewalk and evidence of a somewhat unusual northwest breeze – which explains the cooler temps today

I am thinking… about how life has stood still in so many ways for the past few months, and I really need to re-engage – starting with picking up the mess that is my house

I am thankful for… the community to which I belong – we have held each other up and allowed each other to crumble as needed and turned around and picked each other up again.  I do not see that this cycle will end soon but it will lessen as the days continue and life continues

I am wearing… my work at home uniform – jeans and a tee shirt, socks (the weather’s getting colder), and my slippers (I wore hard shoes yesterday!)

I am remembering… my friend Jeff, his family, the joy and sadness of this past weekend

I am going… no where until FedEx arrives! YES, another delivery from Apple!! A wireless remote.  Not sure why I need it, but I’m sure I’ll figure that out later

I am reading… still working on My Life in France by Julia Child (I read painfully slowly and am easily distracted), The Year of Living Biblically – there’s a small book group at church – very low key, very my style

I am hoping… that we made the right decision to not go north for Thanksgiving

On my mind… I need to pick up my camera again.  In the last two weeks, I put a lot of things down and they need to be picked up (not the least of which is my house but whatever)

Noticing that… I really don’t like the shorter daylight hours.  Really messes me up when it’s lighter later, I forget to stop working – you know, work until the sun goes down

Pondering these words… “Be still and know that I am God”

From the kitchen… I made the “famous” Newcomers Dinner Salad for a dinner last night with neighbors.  Got to meet new ones and have fun with ones I’ve know for a while.  It was a celebration of the years the elder member of the townhouse has lived here – she’s the last original owner – been here about 40 years.  She is moving to Goodwin House in December which will be great for her – no more laundry two flights down and the other challenges of living in a three level house.  We will miss her, but the move it good for her.

Around the house… the cleaning lady is here – talking on her cell phone and dusting and vacuuming- more talking than dusting right now.  Maybe we need a law about that – no cell phone while dustin and cleaning my house.  I guess I can make that law, it’s my house

One of my favorite things~ making my coffee in the morning.  It was imported from Seattle, hand carried by a dear friend who asked, “Is it really that much better?”  To which I responded, “I just really like it.”

From my picture journal…

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Here ’s a picture of the final harvest from the garden:DSC_1387

The cherry tomatoes are  turning from green to yellow/orange and the pepper in the middle turned completely red.  Nature is kinda cool sometimes.

Outside my window the street is pretty empty, being a work day at around Noon:30.  The leaves on the tree across the street are starting to turn – there’s some dark red near the top and a little orange too

I am thinking… that this has seemed like a very long week

I am thankful for… my life, my friends, my family – especially seeing my “birthday buddy” yesterday – safely back from a year in Afghanistan – truly a sight for sore eyes

From the kitchen… nothing so far today – coffee was from *$s (I was busy running errands), maybe making lunch soon

I am wearing… my work at home uniform – jeans with a hole in them, socks (getting chilly), t-shirt and a jean shirt (Boston Red Sox 2004 World Champions – oh well, maybe next year again!)

I am creating… nothing much right now, but I am taking an online class about digital scrapbooking, journaling, saving memories and telling stories – much fun

I am going… to work the rest of the afternoon

I am reading… Julia Child’s “My Life in France” and “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”

I am hoping… for many brighter tomorrows for my friend who is valiantly battling cancer and for those who care for him daily

I am hearing… light traffic sounds and the occasional airplane

Around the house… the cats are sound asleep (maybe this is why they like to run all night?!?)

One of my favorite things… Sharpie pens! They are new and awesome! I let someone borrow one and they remarked, “Wow, these are so nice, I’d go out and buy them”

A few plans for the rest of the week… I hope to do some yard work over the weekend, the backyard needs to be “put to bed” for the winter, do a little shopping with mum and hopefully a little quiet time to begin planning something I’ve been thinking about for about two years

A picture to share

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Iwo Jima Memorial, October 4, 2009 – Harvest Moon

July 4, 2009 – 4:53AM on the Keystone to Seattle ferry.

My favourite place on earth, my favourite mountain (Mt Rainer), not really my favourite hour of the day.

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A couple of views of an amazing fabric store on Vashon Island.  The colours were amazing as were the number of patterns!

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There were rows and rows (and rows) of fabric. 

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Puppies!!

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Veggie patterned fabric anyone?  I didn’t even know I needed this!

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More puppies!  Did you know I want one!  Yup, I do – but they have to be walked.  Outside.  Even on nasty, rainy, cold nights like tonight.  I don’t want to do that.  So, maybe (probably) no puppy for me.  Also, E could not come over every other day to feed and scoop the litter box.  I mean, she could, but I’m sure I wouldn’t want to come back home and it wouldn’t be nice for her to come in here either!

just listen…

I bought a Halloween costume for the cats.  Yes, the cats.  I only bought one because, well, I don’t think they need two. They probably don’t need one – but it really wasn’t about need.

Gracie tried it on first…

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Then Basil tried it on, well, sort of…

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DSC_0865 part two,

DSC_0875 close up of part one again…

He never wore both part at the same time…

I’m sure they are plotting my demise.

edited: Gracie is staring at me right now (I’m kinda worried).

1. Heating pad on neck. “Crick” is much better but still feel it a little.

2. Jon Schmidt’s Winter Serenade on iPod – fav “go to sleep” music. A must hear for all – “Pachebel meets U2.”  AWESOME!

3. Prayers for Jen and Chris who got married today.  May their future be bright and filled with love.

4. Prayers for my neighbors who re really struggling with their teenager.  Very difficult for all and very sad to witness.

5, Hooray for Sunday being Founder’s Day at church and the Feast Day for St. Michael and all the Angels (means the full white frontal can stay on the altar another week!!)!!  YAY!

Borrowed the idea of “five” from E.  Looks like a busy Fall, might use this more often.

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