Cecil, What Is It about those Puddles?

Cecil has a porcelain water bowl, a water fountain, and the only water he likes comes from the puddles and dishes underneath the plants outside,  Why is that?

End of March Pinkworks

This was a crazy day here in the great northwest.  When the keeper left for her office this morning, it was rain-snowing and then it rained incessantly all morning.  She said it was like Aberdeen.  Bu when she came home in the later afternoon, the cherry trees planted across the street not too many years ago loomed up out of the dreariness like big pink explosions.

A Teary Farewell

After a morning of goodbyes and photo ops they  all bade farewell and headed to all points on the map. The  great niece, her husband, and children  could  get back to their neat home, which now needed much attention. The keeper headed to the lovely PDX train station and made her way home to us with lots of stories. We think she is very happy that she went.

The Great Nephews

 Baby Eva's brothers are very smart.  One is into reading, the other into pre-algebra. They almost beat their great aunts and uncles in the Apples to Apples tournament.  However,  their grandmother and their father tied. The keeper did not mention where she landed, but we think it wasn't close to the top.

Done

The Great Niece finally conked out after she saw the giraffes. So did her uncles, aunts, grandparents and parents.It was time for all to go home. Later, her grandfather was found taking his nap in the den.

Blue Noses

Aunt Mel and the keeper had very cold noses.

Drummers

Eva is a drummer.  The drums were the most engaging section of the zoo for her. She has drums at home from Ethiopia which she plays with great gusto. Aunt Mel isn't too bad herself.

Happy Birthday, Packy!

Packy was the first Asian Elephant born in the US 50 years ago.  The keeper and her siblings remembered his birth and remembered sending their coins in to help build a new elephant habitat.  He was quite the darling. Now is is looking a little less frisky.

The Zoo

They all spent Monday at the Zoo.  The animal were great but it was even more fun watching the grand nieces discovering the fish, the tortoises, and the giraffes.

The Nephew

The  keeper's very artistic nephew brought the great niece ( aka Shirley Temple) and his significant other. Such three-way loveliness.  The keeper missed their time at Cannon Beach.

The Grand Niece Hostess

We have a great niece and she hosted the gathering for the family.  She is normally a very neat person.  This gathering challenged her rage for order, but she bore it well. 

Upgrade

The keeper reported that she got an upgrade at the hotel.  This meant she got way more space than her sister, who did not feel it was fair.  Some things don't ever change.

Hayden Island

She caught a shot of her old riding trails on Hayden Island.  Now, there are no more horses out there but she always pays homage to the area.  It has grown much wilder without the horses and riders.

Good Memories

The keeper finally got her camera to work again and  sent us this photo of her home town train station. It has a certain charm, we think.

Hidden

What is wonderful about the train is that it takes a route through what is invisible to the eye from the regular roads. The train has been passing hidden settlements, tucked in the woods, of moss covered old trailers and shacks with laundry hanging heavy on the lines, smoke emanating from trash barrels, old cars and trucks stashed in the trees next to mounds of fallen branches and other detritus. Although not as stunning as eagles and Puget Sound, it is fascinating in its invisibility. Who lives there?

Eagles!!!!!

Ok, no photos yet but the keeper is reporting to us from the train to PDX. She just passed ten trees along the river in which each had huge nests and eagles perching on the top branches. She thinks it was a bit north of Tacoma.

It's Spring

She told us she racked up hundreds of miles between our house and downtown and Sammamish and Kirkland and Bellevue and Issaquah and on and on.  We understand that she was utterly grateful that the flat tire  happened at the QFC in our neighborhood and that an amazing kind young man parked next to her  hauled out his mini air compressor and filled her tire and that the  auto shop nearby repaired it in time for her to get to a Board meeting on time downtown.  We are grateful that kindness still abides in our neighborhood.
We are also grateful that while she is gone her car will be getting new tires.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Why? Isn't tomorrow spring?

Farewell and Godspeed, Medardo!

Medardo originally came to Seattle seeking political asylum from his country where he was a radio announcer and was labeled traitor with a price on his head for his support of Christian communities and social justice.  After 21 years of seeking asylum here his case was denied and now is he leaving.  He provided great ministry here but hopes he can continue this in his country of origin.  He will see his family for the first time in 21 years.

Flying Tygers

When the keeper came home from her little walk on Friday, she told us about Flying Tigers in the trees. we know she has gotten into birds lately, since now we have a bird book and we have to listen now to a CD of NW bird songs. By the way do you know how annoying it is to listen to birds locked up in that little speaker? Alice was drooling and trying to jump at it.  But I digress.  Back to the flying tigers. A neighbor several blocks away hung a whole zoo from the branches of their backyard trees. perhaps that's why all the birds are visiting our house this year.

Nursery Update

It may be too cold outside to plant anything but our little nursery is doing well.  Yesterday the keeper came home with bigger trays and real dirt and started transplanting a lot of shoots into bigger spaces.  Our floors are covered with trays of growing things. Even the pansies have started.  The foxgloves are out of  control and the leeks are leggy.  We have a whole flat of baby tomato plants if we don't harm them inside. So it may be snowing outside, but Theodore Roethke would be proud of us.

Cherry Blossoms in Snow

We couldn't wait for the keeper to get home from her teaching gig at SU so we could go out and romp in the snow. She got home, we went out and came right back in covered with flakes and with very cold paws. We are ready to play on warm grass in the fallen cherry blossoms.  We hope this happens soon. We thought the groundhog didn't see his shadow.

Back to Leschi

We waved good bye as he keeper left for a dinner at one of her old stomping places down in Leschi. The other night she hung out with two distinguished theologians but they never mentioned Tillich or Rahner.  Mostly they laughed a lot about all kinds of ecclesiastical realities. She didn't bring us any salmon, though.

The Western Lights

We were all excited about the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights on Wednesday.  We didn't get to see them since we didn't get out all day or night.  The keeper didn't either, though she was out both all day and night.  But she did catch a lovely sunset from the top of the hill leading into Kenmore that evening.

For Auld Times Sake

Yes, they headed to the Sorrento for happy hour and stayed for dinner.  It was a great reunion of old friends.
We still got to eat the leftover salmon. Someday we will all retire and write a book, they said.

The Arrival of the Queen of Theology

We have a house guest.  She is very nice, and the keeper said that had we been born earlier we would have seen a lot more of her.  She just received tenure at Boston College so she is making her Victory tour in Seattle this week.  we like her a lot, as does the keeper. On top of that we get to eat all the leftover salmon.

Aerie

Unlike us, the keeper is always keeping her eye out for eagles.  The other day she saw two on her way to the office. But today was exceptional.  She was driving  along the Snoqualmie River and looked up and almost drove off the road when she spied the huge eagles' nest high in the trees over the river.

Liturgical Ambience

She liked the very simple, yet tasteful way they are dressing the tiny sanctuary.

March Forth!

The keeper left us early and headed to Carnation for Spanish Mass.  The community only has Mass in Spanish once each month, so sometimes they have to compress rituals.  Today, after Mass they had the option of receiving ashes if they missed the English service for Ash  Wednesday.

Like a Lamb...

The keeper made us come inside late this afternoon.  She had to leave for the Cathedral.  She arrived early enough to take in a new temporary art installation, a sculpture a la southern Mexico which holds all 14 stations of the cross.  Although she said she heard some people who didn't like its primitive quality, she really liked it because it evokes Isaiah's sense of the Suffering Servant, and of the abused and nameless poor who suffer the tyranny of violence and injustice everyday.  How could we not agree with her?

Hope for the Church

Despite all the ruckus in the institutional church these days, if we follow the keeper's reading material and conversations correctly, true nature is never spent. The little yellow heads of the crocuses are bursting up around the cathedral and waiting to brighten the hearts of all who enter.

First Cabrini Student for 12-13

At the Cabrini Board meeting on Wednesday ( yes, we did have to wait to eat until 9 PM because the keeper didn't get home till then, thank you for asking.) Sr. Charlotte, the present  Chair of the Board, signed up to take the Cabrini Training Program for next year. Here she is signing the application form.

The Remedy is Working

Aren't I adorable? 

I am catching up on a lot of sleep and both Cecil and the keeper say I am really angelic when I sleep.