Welcome Michelangel!

Michelangel was welcomed into the community of faith this morning with a lovely circle of family, two wonderful brothers, padrinos, and friends.

Strange Theology

The keeper left us this morning to attend a baptism at  another church. She brought us back this photo of the crucifix hanging over the sanctuary.  She couldn't figure out if Jesus was sliding back down to earth, jumping for joy at the goalpost, or starting a dive.  She also commented that he has no wounds.

Pink Dogwood and Standing with the Sisters

While walking, the keeper came across a very full pink dogwood tree. She told us she suddenly remembered her 6th grade teacher, Sr. Andrea, who once spring came, covered every available wall space with butcher paper and led them in a project of painting the walls with pink dogwood branches.  This teacher seemed to really like pink dogwood.  And her students really liked her, so they labored for days transforming the doors, the walls, the boards into a pink storm.

On the Road to Compostela

 Sigh.  It was a beautiful afternoon, whether walking or snoozing on the deck. Sigh.

On the Road to Compostela

The keeper came home from the office after an afternoon of translating someone's statements about torture, and really needed to walk.  So we got to go out and take the sun and do a little walking (don't tell her though).  She did a big 4 mile sweep through the neighborhood down to the Lake. Everyone was out. But these neighbors seem to be having some problems. The yard used to be so well tended. Now the lawn is very high weeds. But the rose blooms midst the chaos, though.  We wish them well, whatever is going on.

The Littlest Intern's Last Official Visit

The internship ended last month, we hear. But the big intern and the little one were so involved that they stuck around for a whole extra month.  The keeper was very happy. But today, they all had a final session to tie things up and say nice things.  The littlest intern showed off his photogenic personality and his new ability to crawl when lured by an I Phone. We notice that he propels himself with his elbows now, since he hasn't yet figured out how his legs might be useful. He was still in utero when the internship started.

Camino Seattle

We understand that the keeper and dozens of others are virtually walking to Compostela for the next six weeks.  She has set a lofty goal of almost 30 miles per week, and she has offered Cecil a harness and leash so he can accompany her and get his stamps.  After about a half-block, he balks, not quite up to the challenge. we are encouraging her to walk with others but she seems happy to walk alone. We think she is becoming more reclusive with age.

The Mystery of the Purloined Ticket

She was trying to return home to us, her eyes still dilated by that odd eye doctor. She tried to save time in the parking garage by using the ticket machine on the main floor.  Bad choice. The machine ate the ticket. This required a call to security who never came, but Trudy from Pharmacy, who had no need to help, wrote a note to the Parking Garage attendant on her business card, asking them to allow the keeper out of the garage.  It worked.  The attendant told her this was far too common an experience. Moral:  pay the attendant at the GHC garage; avoid the ticket machines.

Opthomological Artistic Taste

The keeper's eye doctor has a very rare sense of humor.  On one side of the consulting room are all of his impressive degrees, and on the other, a Toilets of the World calendar. He allowed the keeper to bring home a photo to show us. She said there were no months with litter boxes on them.

Ofelia, Maria, and the Bishop

A lovely ending to a good weekend!

Everyone wants to come back and they want Bishop Sevilla there too!

Call from Rome

Before the Final Blessing, the Bishop received a papal call from Rome, wishing all a great week.

The Retreatants

The keeper had done a fair amount of recruiting for the retreat, so many friends attended.

Late Gloaming, Palisades

After sunset and after the reconciliation service, everyone headed to the dining room or to their rooms with views to gasp and gaze at the fading light.

This is Gray

It was so very gray yesterday at the Palisades.
But it changed so quickly into something quite beautiful.

Miracle

Wow!  What a difference an hour makes!

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Silver

Why is it that Seattle people all seem to drive silver vehicles? Do they want to match the sky?

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Mass with Bishop Sevilla

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What a lovely man. The keeper is assisting him and all gathered this weekend. Mostly she adjusts microphones and finds Spanish lectionaries, white board markers, and extra pillows for people.

More Rainy Beauties

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The Rain at the Palisades

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The rain down south makes the roses all the more beautiful!

Curious George on Retreat with Bishop Sevilla

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The Keeper's View at Palisades

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The Evening Walk

We got to go outside on this most incredible day once the keeper came home from her office.

Why she would work on a day as beautiful as this one is a mystery to us, but we think it has something to do with our expensive cat food. Anyway, she got home at a decent hour, had no night meetings, and went for a long walk so we could hang out on the deck and other places we won't tell her about.  She came back so excited about the roses and the dogwoods, not ours, but our avid gardener-neighbors.  We are happy that she is happy.

Hot Stone Massage

Yesterday the keeper used some gift certificates for a spa.  She came home pretty mellow. Cecil let us know today that he doesn't need gift certificates.  He can find a hot stone massage in the driveway anytime it is sunny and warm and the keeper lets him out. He draws the line at having his claws painted.  He is clearly into being the rugged male feline.

Too Beautiful

Today the keeper had a second day off and we got to spend some good time outside once it warmed up.  We napped but she worked in the yard, planting tomatoes, bulbs, and weeding.

The great treat was finding that while she had been running everywhere else the peonies were blooming with great style.  So many were weighed down by the rain she cut them and brought them into the house.  Our house smells like heaven right now.

Morning Sit In

This morning Alice decided to take matters into her own paws.  When the keeper reached for the I Pad to accompany her for breakfast, Alice made herself very comfortable resting on it.  Alice and I have been talking about how the keeper may need a time out from starting her day off reading ncronline. We kept her away from it for about 1/2 hour until Alice got off task and took a nap.

Bravo!

The Women's Justice Circle took a bow and learned that because of their hard work the school district will present the same workshop this Fall with their help. Bravo!

The Littlest Intern

The Littlest Intern showed up to show his support and to make more friends. He should run for office.

The Press

The secular press showed up and photographed and filmed for the Spanish language TV stations.

The Presentation

The crowd gathered and wept with the video testimonials and engaged the three expert panelists with questions, including one from the youth about what happens if your teachers or your family is the bully?

Prophetic Mothers

The Women in the Circle spoke to the  gathered assembly about their processes of investigation, their research findings, and the backgrounds of the three panelists.  These women had never spoken in public before and have not finished their elementary education.  We hear they were stunning.

Prophets of a Horrific Reality

The percentage of reported bullying  by grade level in Washington State Public Schools:  6th Grade- 31%; 8th Grade-27%; 10th Grade-23%; 12th Grade-15%.

The Gallery

The gallery was graphic and real, and the children proudly had signed their names.