Day Four...

This is the truck I am able to use to get to down the hill - thank goodness for it, because Michael is still having to go to school. The chains on the back tires make an amazing difference. We have left Priscilla's car at the bottom of the hill (not that we had any choice) and are using that to get around.

The deer protection nets look like snuggle blankets for the trees.
It's pretty weird to have this snow for so long. However, after watching the news this morning I have resolved to change my whiny attitude and be thankful it's not much worse.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Same scene as The Blah Day, but a slightly different look!

For those of you who know my aversion to this fluffy stuff, you may be surprised that I feel fine about life now. Maybe it was the "two steps forward, slide one back" walk up the hill because even the truck couldn't make it up the first steep corner. Yes, even with Todd at the wheel. Maybe there's more blood pumping to my brain.

Today the snow went away and blue sky appeared. Kind of pretty, if I do say so.

I hate snow. Really.

When we finally got back up the hill the power was out. Sure, why not? No heat, no light, no toilet filling, no refrigeration, no cooking...that kind of power outage. A phone call confirmed that there was no power in sight because many people were indeed without power in many parts of the west coast. K. Then we settled into the situation, and wound up being a little disappointed when the lights came on 5 hours later. It was kind of fun "roughing it" with quiet (really quiiiiiiet), and candles. And cooking fabulous burgers over a camp stove, courtesy of Todd's super-human qualities.

But we did decide to get a wood stove!

Gray Day Blahs

Some days like this are delightful, snuggle in with a cup of tea and read days. Not this day. This is a gloomy, maybe life will have meaning again someday day. Here's a picture of it outside.

It's cold and wet and no amout of mental getting a grip seems to be doing the trick.

Still, there are hopeful signs. I am getting laundry done, which means I'm not immobilized.

And I'm blogging, which means I'm not withdrawn.

Maybe lonely, bored and without much to look forward to is the issue. Yesterday I learned that the church is having a children's choir for Easter, so I won't have a choir project to do.

I guess I was hoping.

Yet there are seeds to plant starting this week and see how we do raising them in the new greenhouse this spring. How can that feel gloomy? It manages to today, but probably tomorrow everything will look better, more interesting and brighter.

A Rebel's "Poetry Thursday" Post

To begin with, Thursday was CRAZY. You don't want to hear about it except to say WAHOO - FAIRMOUNT HOUSE IS RENTED! regarding a portion of it.

So I didn't post a poem on Thursday.

Being the observant type, I noticed that Meg really didn't either. She posted a quote from a children's book. It was as profound as some poems, but definitely prose.

So, I'm posting Thursday's poem on Friday, and it is not a poem. It is a quote from the book "The Princess Bride", which is quite different from the movie while detracting nothing from it, and is a must-read for Princess Bride afficianados.

Buttercup looked at Westley. "You all right? I was worried about you back on the bed there. Your eyes rolled up in your head and everything."

"I suppose I was dying again, so I asked the Lord of Permanent Affection for the strength to live the day. Clearly, the answer came in the affirmative."

"I didn't know there was such a Fellow," Buttercup said.

"Neither did I, in truth, but if He didn't exist, I didn't much want to either."

Certainly not as profound as Meg's or as lyrical as Priscilla's, nor indeed as inspiring as Laura's, but I enjoyed it anyway. I hope you enjoy it also.

More proof, and home

Looking south from the lighthouse.

(Of course, the three pictures of Todd that were actually taken will never appear in the blogosphere.)

Snuggled into my couch spot with my book in my jammies - aaaahhhh!
Of course, Michael decided after we got home that he did in fact want to go to the costume party that night. He was assigned the costume of Phoebus from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and we think he looked pretty darn good! Pris and I made a pretty good team getting a costume made in about a half hour. And he had a great time. (Three of his friends went in the assigned costumes of Peter Pan, Prince Philip and The Prince.)

Proof

The view north from our all-time favorite restaurant, Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay, Saturday lunch.

Sunset Friday.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
I think even Todd felt short.
The lens from the inside, over 130 years old, still functioning.
Did I mention 110 steps up?

I Love the Beach

I really do. With no agenda this time, no specific reason to get away, somehow I just sat and looked at the water a lot. I watched the waves in different lights, and at several points along the beach. I watched bald eagles sitting in trees for a long time. I drank coffee (Kaladi's, ground at home and hauled along, also half 'n' half) with my feet up, sitting wrapped in a hotel bedspread, looking at the waves forever. It was very refreshing. And contemplative.

I thought I needed to read while I was away. And I read the whole of "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Lencioni. But what I really needed to do was look at the ocean.

Two criterion for every restaurant at the beach: -Gourmet cuisine. -Overlooking the ocean. Sunrise, sunset.

Walked up 110 steps to the lens of the lighthouse at Yaquina Head. Wonderful. http://nwcoast.com/lighthouses/oregon/yaquinahead.asp

And we saw "The Bucket List". We both really liked it, a fairly rare occurance. But we were both affected by it in quite different ways. Beautifully acted and touching.
http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-bucket-list/27000/main

The DUH point was forgetting my digital camera at home. I bought a single use and hope they can put them on a cd at Fred Meyer tomorrow. If so I'll post some pictures. It was beautiful.

Thursday Poetry

Every morning lean thine arms awhile
Upon the window-sill of heaven
And gaze upon thy Lord,
Then, with vision in thy heart,
Turn strong to meet thy day.
Thomas Blake

I have to leave my poem tonight because my impetuous husband wants to take me to the beach to our favorite hotel tomorrow for a couple of nights. Woo-Hoo! Maybe pictures to share soon!

Spring Arrives Softly

This was the best part of Todd's and my loooong drive for business yesterday.

Riverdance!

For Poetry Thursday I'll pass on a bit from the Riverdance Souvenir Programme from last night. I guess I'll have to share a few because they're short. Please, if any of you can, see this show, just for the joy. www.riverdance.com

* * *
Cry of an infant
heartbeat of the world
Storm against ship
heartbeat of the world
Heel against floor and wave upon shore
Heartbeat of the world

* * *
Over the roof tops the music calling
The air familiar but not our own
Like something out of a story book
Somebody dancing in the
memory of snow

* * *
In dance and song
we gift and mourn our children
They carry us over the ocean
in dance and song
Out of the night we come
Out of the sea
On a new shore lights blaze in the dawn
Heal their hearts - feed their souls
Their lives can be golden if your love enfolds

* * *
Where the river foams and surges to the sea
silver figures rise to find me,
wise and as daring
following the heart's cry


* * *
Thunder and lightening batter the rocks
The winds howl and great storms break on the forest
We will not go down
We will not be beaten down like grain


Riverdance was wonderful. The perfect anniversary gift for Todd and me to give each other.

Poetry Thursday

When I was a senior in h.s. our choir sang this poem as a song for graduation. I've always liked it.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Somehow, at this time of year, past choices are calling me.

Enchanted

Would you believe that my manly man took me to see http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/enchanted/ last night? I loved it - must see it again. And even Todd said he enjoyed it.

New Year's Eve Traditions

What would New Year's Eve be without wiring the Christmas tree(s) with leftover 4th of July fireworks and paper cups of gasoline and tossing on a match?

BEEEG flames - maybe 30 feet high this year? 40?