Why We Love Living Here

This morning the keeper presided at a funeral on Queen Anne Hill. It went well, we hear. When she came home she left us for a long walk to the lake where she just beheld beautiful sights in the chilly sun.  We were happy to stay inside and behold the squirrels and little birds fighting over the suet from our bedroom window perches. Mount Rainier was mysteriously wrapped in blue.

Later she headed downtown to the Cathedral for Epiphany.  She almost was late because she wanted to stop and sigh at the sun setting  and the sights of the city wrapped in gold and purples. But made it she did, and she was so happy to hear words about the undocumented, the poor, the migrants. It was a very lovely liturgy, she said. She has missed seeing her 5:30 crowd.

In Full Bloom for Epiphany!

While Walking Over a Bridge

McAleer Creek was rushing today, bringing down the blue of the clear afternoon sky.

Winter Fruit

She knew it was blooming long before she saw it. The scent of witch hazel wafted up the hill and greeted her as she descended. What a welcome fragrance even in such a mild winter.

Upstart Winter

The keeper is committed to walking and thinking these early days of winter before she begins her new work. The afternoon was perfect for a 90 minute paseo down to the lake. The finches are out feasting, the streets are quiet even though school is not in session, and people her age are also out walking. It seems the winter cherry trees will blossom soon and the lilac, camellia and rhodies are gearing up. As Denise tells us, "So much is in bud."

More Blooms

The Paper Whites are slowly blooming, and its still Christmastime, so they are right on schedule!

A New Year Visit With Reverend Mother

We stayed home yet again and were grateful for a chance to sleep after our wild doings last night.  On the other hand, the keeper left for yes, church, again. She was reading. After Church she met her friend MKD and they drove to West Seattle to visit the Reverend Mother who was in rare form. After 90 minutes of laughing and relaxing, they headed for home. But first they had to pose with the stuffed reindeer greeting everyone in the lobby.  There was a debate about whether this was a moose, a caribou, or a reindeer, but they learned that a reindeer is part of the caribou family, and in fact, this is a reindeer. We are happy that she didn't bring him home.