Light

Some evening light this week

St. Joseph got a thorough scrubbing and glowed. 

Dark

They took the one night homeless count this week in King County. It's up 19%!

and it doesn't include people sleeping in their cars or in some kind of shelter. And it was only the ones they could find outside. 

Friday Night in Barcelona

She had felt bad that she forgot to RSVP to a big event last night. I didn't.

I was thinking she would stay home with me. Nope. She went out with a friend for tapas and raciones, and recounted memories of Barcelona nights and days. 

Amen!

I couldn't wait to show her the cover of the magazine that was waiting for her when she got home last night. I thought she would be pleased.  I wasn't disappointed.

Wolf Moon

La bella luna is lupine. And very beautiful.

Sky, Lake, Hills

The walk this afternoon was chilly, but worth every step and view in the crisp air.

Already!

The Camelia and the Daphne are getting ready to make a welcome splash.

Luna

And she was equally enchanting later as the clouds opened to let us have another glimpse of her high in the sky.

Bella Bella Luna!

  

Before the keeper went out for dinner tonight she let me come out with her to see the moon.

You will have to admit, la luna was very very beautiful as she climbed into the night sky.

          

                                

Great Light

And to top off an eyeful of a day!

Heart Stopping Beauty

From Sheridan Heights

From the dock at Sheridan Beach

At restored Lyon Creek

At Lyon Creek as it finds Lake Washington

Fauna Great and Small

She spied two eagles perched over all the traffic on the Burke Gilman Trail and Sheridan Beach. 

Closer to home, it was spotted poultry.

Flora

Today we spent the day at home together, except when she headed out for her very long walk.

She returned wearing the fragrance of wet leaves and heather,

witch hazel,

and our own planter boxes.

Why She Did Not Spend This Afternoon with Me, Either.

Well, it wasn't the drone that kept her away this afternoon.

She went to Brooklyn. 

The movie.

It was very good and everyone should see it.  About the Irish, about love, about immigrants, about leaving home, building new lives, and all the pain and loss and surprise you can imagine.

A Drone Event

The Cathedral had a film crew inside  today. After Mass she stumbled upon the crew with a drone filming high over the Cathedral.

One monitored the GPS, the other, the filming.

The rest were quite impressed both at the images and as the drone came to a perfect landing.

Steps of Mercy

At. St. Joe's in Seattle they have created banners for the Year of Mercy which 

greet all coming and going to and from the parking lot.

Poverty Workshop

So much for the long lazy weekend with the Keeper.

Yesterday she was up at dawn (and yes, I was left behind alone again)  and headed out to help with the Poverty workshop where every one becomes a member of a poor family trying to survive for a month.  The month is broken up into 4 fifteen minute weeks. This time the keeper was a case manager. There was so much paper work than in the month's time she only was able to help 7 families.

She was so tired after being so non-helpful she came home and left me again for the gym.

Hanging Out with Talulah

It would be nice to have a restaurant named after me. And have my portrait gracing the entryway, but it is not my lot to preside over a festive eatery.

Tonight the keeper was a little late coming home.  I understand it was a post funeral reception dinner at Talulah's. (see above)

They tasted lamb and kale salad



Pinot and kale chips

Kale and ricotta gnude.


Nothing came home with my name on it, though.  I had the usual stuff out of a can.

This Giver Knows How to Wrap!

Last night I had to eat a little later again.  She went out to have her last Christmas event with her friend, who by the way, really can wrap. She liked all of that very fine paper as well from deMedici . Ming. Oh so tasteful.

Winter Flora

The flowering cherry was a little impatient to get going this year.

And even the great Witch Hazel got a little ahead of herself. 

Caminata

The caminata started a little later. because of the de-lighting ceremonies.

But she was still able to behold the cascades and their snowy blankets.

She came back bearing fragrances of woodsmoke, neighbors' dogs, and cold air, with a hint of gunpowder due to the fireworks set off by the neighbors because the Seahawks got very lucky this afternoon.

Winter Figs and Hips

There are other fruits which waited as well.

Winter Apple

The neighbor's apple tree still has one who is resisting winter as much as we are.

It reminds us of David Whyte's poem, " Winter Apple".

Let the apple ripen 

on the branch

beyond your need 

to take it down.

Let the coolness 

of autumn 

and the breathing, 

blowing wind 

test its adherence 

to endurance, 

let the others fall.

Wait longer 

than you would, 

go against yourself, 

find the pale nobility 

of quiet that ripening 

demands…

Last Eve of Christmastime

Last night was the last evening we had all of our lights on.

This afternoon I supervised the keeper as she took down all the lights in the front yard and turned off the backyard timers. Sad.  All that light gave me company when she was out.

A Night to Learn about Refugees

She stayed out late the other night because she said she went to a presentation on the tragic refugees situation, especially with those coming from Syria, Iraq. She said she was ready to open our little cottage to the women and children right now.  Syria as a country has been leveled. But at the rate our country is stupidly debating  whether to trust foreigners, they may never get this far.She doesn't speak Arabic or any useful Mideastern tongue either.