What The World Eats

Peter Menzel features fifteen families throughout the world in the book "Hungry Planet" - what they ate and how much it cost. Photo gallery here... (this book raises a lot of questions - locally grown, cost of packaging and transport, and nutritional value.)
(Thanks to Child of Africa for the link.)

It's All Good! An Update!

We were desperate to find the puppy a home, and we found him one! Veronica, one of Ruhiyyih's friends, read her post, and contacted a friend who has been wanting a pit bull. He was able to adopt the dog! He just adores him, and plans to call Taraz so he can see the dog again - with his new family!

I've Got Good News and Bad News

The good news is that my neurologist could find no evidence of multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis from the MRIs and blood tests, so he ruled these out. He also ruled out a stroke. He isn't sure what causes the vision disturbances I have, but figures it is related to the hardening of the arteries to the eyes, low blood-pressure, and some cholesterol build-up in the arteries....in other words, conditions related to aging, not disease. (Had I listened to my sister, Bonnie, who told me this, I could have saved myself about $900.00.) Well, needless to say, I'm pleased with the news.

The bad news is that we took the pit bull pup to the Humane Society, where they will hold him for 3 - 5 days, with the hope that the real owners will reclaim him. Not likely, if he was abandoned. I waited to see where he would be placed, and who his kennel mates would be. Fortunately, he was placed with another docile, small dog. Taraz and I will visit him on Taraz's lunch-break, to see if he has been claimed, and I'll go again on Friday. I haven't a shred of hope here - the Humane Society will not place pit bulls, the liability is too great.

Ruhiyyih and I were in touch all day trying to get through this. She'd e-mail me from work, I'd e-mail her back, we were boo-hooing all day:

me: Ruhiyyih, I added two more photos of Taraz's pup, to Flitzy. Just for you! I'll be taking him to the pound today, after breakfast. Snif.

Ruhiyyih: Oh thank you mama!!! Can't you wait a leetle while...see if someone will take him? HE is sosooooososoos sweet...just look at him all curled up on Taraz' lap!!! He does not look like a pit bull! Snif Snif.

me (later): I just took him down, and the Humane Society will keep him 3 - 5 days, to see if the owner will re-claim him; otherwise, they just 'put them down', as they cannot assume liability with placement. Just too many bad stories, the attendant said. Snif. I waited until he was placed in a kennel, with another really shy, quiet dog who was much smaller. I felt this was good, and I spoke to him and reassured him. Pretty soon all the other dogs were barking at him, and he started barking BACK! High pitched bark, defending himself! Poor little thing - that was only the second time I heard him bark. He is such a good little pup. They said he was only 5 months old. I'll be going back, probably every day, to see if he has been claimed. I gotta go have a cuppa coffee and perk up my spirits.

Ruhiyyih: Taraz was meant to have that dog. They should move to Montana, live off the fat of the land, and enjoy that pup. I am so sad. Poor lil pup never asked to be born in the first place! And to be abandoned like that! It is so wrong. Oh Mama go back and get him. I think you made a huge mistake!

me: I really thought that dog was Taraz's, too, Ruhiyyih! They just fit, same color, same temperament. It was really HARD to let go of this dog. But, Megan said that any kind of trauma done to this type of dog sets them up later in life to be 'unpredictable'. They also cannot have a dog where they live. Most rentals don't want dogs ruining the carpet and yard. Where they are, they don't really have a backyard to keep the dog in. Really, we went over so much. But, the bottom line is "not this kind of dog". I still stand by that, sorry as it is. Boo Hoo. I just loved that little pup!!!!!!!!!!! When I went out this morning, he started to jump and play, livening up. God. Why don't people just take care of their dogs, and never let this kind of thing happen. It was real tough.

Ruhiyyih: WHAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Mwah mwah... It is like when you took the bunnies to Point Defiance Park!

me: Isn't it amazing, how attached we get to our animals.....and, remember when I lost my bunnies, chickens and goats all in one day?

Ruhiyyih: Yeah, I remember you boo hoo'd the whole day and then you were over it. Everyone here has a dog. Instead of kids they have a dog. Makes me want a dog instead of a husband.

I just sat down and shook my head. What an ordeal. I was feeling very much 'on the outs' here, when I received an e-mail from my brother-in-law, Oldeupher. I was sure not ready for the ending. But, I had a good laugh. Thank God for a good joke:

Four brothers left home for college. They became successful doctors and lawyers and prospered. Some years later, they chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who lived far away in another city.

The first said, "I had a big house built for Mama."

The second said, "I had a hundred thousand dollar theater built in the house."

The third said, "I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her."

The fourth said, "You know how Mamma loved reading the Bible and you know she can't read anymore because her sight is failing. SO, I met this preacher who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire bible. It took twenty preachers 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years to the church, but it was worth it. Mamma just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed.

After the holidays Mom sent out her 'Thank You' notes. She wrote:

"Milton , the house you built is so huge I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

"Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home; I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

"Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same."

"Dearest Bob, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you."

Luv Ya... Mama

Poor Little Puppy

I've been baby-sitting an abandoned pup, for my son. He found the little guy, a 7-month old red-nosed pit bull, tied to a fence in a front yard. Someone had put him there, and abandoned him. Taraz heard him barking for 45 minutes and went out to investigate.

Taraz contacted the owner of the house, who told him that it wasn't his, and encouraged Taraz to take him to the pound. Taraz took him home instead. Megan went to the store and bought some cans of dog food and a raw-hide bone, and have been caring for him until they know what to do.

George and I went over to check the little guy out - he was sure exhausted, and slept in Taraz's lap, even snoring while we visited. He is sure cute, and I could tell that Taraz would love to have this dog.

Taraz called Animal Control Services, but they just take the dog to the Humane Society. Once the Humane Society gets a pit bull they euthanize them rather than put them up for adoption. They are too difficult to place, and have a dangerous reputation. I told Taraz that if they kept the puppy, he would have to go through some serious discipline and training, as this type of dog can be unpredictable and dangerous. Some home-owner insurance companies will not insure a house if there is a pit bull as a pet.

You'd never know that by watching this pup, though. He is so gentle, with a very compliant disposition. I walked him, took his food bowl away, played with him, to see his temperament. Just very sweet, and playful like a typical pup. He's still so young, he squats when he pees. When I took care of him here - because Megan and Taraz both work - I sat out on the patio with him, and he slept on the sofa while I read. He played with an old shoe, followed me around the yard, but didn't act like a nuisance in any way. Didn't dig in the yard, but did enjoy pulling my garden hose as I dragged it through my flowerbeds.
Oh, the dilemma, of what to do for this little pup. Taraz has a neighbor who will check with some friends who have pit bulls, and if Taraz or Megan can't place him, he'll probably go to the Humane Society. That is an option that none of us want. We're hoping for the best - that he'll find a good home.

Seep Lakes - Columbia Wildlife Preserve

It is dusk, the sun is almost down over the canyon. We have two lakes to ourselves in the Seep Lakes area near the Columbia Wildlife Preserve. It is so remote here that camping is free. No services, no water, no outhouses. No neighbors. Nothing except the sounds of hawks, an occasional wren, and the wind.
We arrived at the bluffs overlooking Katy and Janet Lakes after exploring the surrounding areas, many of which are wildlife refuges. A number of these sites either weren't picturesque, were littered with shotgun shells and broken beer-bottles, or didn't have good hiking nearby. We turned down six campsites before we found the remote Katy Lake. I'd told George I just wanted something with a great view - canoe access wasn't necessary as we could always drive to a nearby lake. The bluffs overlooking Katy Lake were perfect.

While George set up the tent, I got my cooking station going - propane burner, dry food containers, drinking water, and my coolers. I do all my cooking sitting down, swiveling around in a tight little area. At this location I had to block the wind with containers, so the propane wouldn't go out. We had ravioli with fresh parmesan cheese, buttered French bread and a salad. This salad contains spinach, onion, carrots, cucumber, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, apples, cherries, dried cranberries and crushed nuts. We took a hike after this 'early dinner', at 4:30, and walked almost completely around Katy Lake in the lower valley. This area is quite sublime, very peaceful, and has an easy trail. There are trails all around these lakes, and the bluffs offer many delightful vantage-points. (Our car is that slight bump on the bluff over George's head!)
One thing about pitching a tent on the top of a bluff - you'll get wind. George had to anchor our tent down with ropes. He brought along some reading material for a training session that he has next week at Harborview Medical Center, the PCIT: Parent-Child Interaction Training. While he was reading, I explored some of the nearby bluffs, the rock formations, sage and flowers. This is an extremely dry area - no campfires are allowed from May until October.
I fixed fried potatoes, bacon and sausage, mushrooms and eggs for breakfast. Then we packed up camp and drove to Sage Lake for a canoe paddle. This little lake extends into another one at the end, with a narrow shallow area between the two. Sage Lake is down in a low basin, so was not affected by the wind. We paddled for about an hour then portaged the canoe up the bank to our van.

We arrived back in Tacoma about 5:30 on Sunday - the weather there had been in the mid-50's, and it had been in the high 70's in eastern Washington, with clear sunny skies. What a difference 20 degrees can make - we had two days of sunshine, and a chance to view the beauty of the Milky Way.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

If you saw the movie "The Story of the Weeping Camel" you'll enjoy this movie, "The Cave of the Yellow Dog". It is filmed in Mongolia, using a real family who tell the story.

The children are utterly charming and sweet, the tone gentle. It is a simple story about a little girl who finds a wild dog, keeps it, then has to give it up. A universal, poignant theme.

The film almost has a documentary-style texture, covering everyday tasks such as cheese-making, fuel-gathering, the taking down of the yurt, and the tender parenting style. If you want to be swept away by the beauty of the Mongolian plateaus and enjoy a sweet family story, this is a good film for the weekend.

I've spent the past week cleaning our camping gear and working out in my garden, putting in a few more shrubs; weeding, mowing, and edging. We've had simply delightful weather here - sunny, warm, with a slight breeze. With those conditions, I just want to be outside, not sitting at the computer!

When I wasn't working, I was reading out on my patio. Someone in the neighborhood had their windows open, and the sounds of their 'meditation tape' wafted over into my yard. A few chimes. Piano, flute. Just heavenly. But, come evening, the 'Mr' arrived, and he played some heavy Rap. Not especially pleasant. The hummingbirds have arrived, visiting all the blooms - and I'm pleased to admit that bees are in the yard but not visiting the old nest under the patio.

My head has been filled with the images of our last trip over to Eastern Washington. I filmed quite a bit of it, and play it every day. I'm enjoying that 'state of being' that one gets when one is living out in the country. I don't want to lose it. It puts so much into perspective. I like the impact of wide open places, the drama of exploring new territory, and the simplicity of camping. It causes a multitude of appreciations when I return home.

This past week has been an ordeal for a Minneapolis family, though. They had planned a family vacation up on Mt. Rainier. The father, Jeff Graves, who arrived early and was hiking alone, died on a hike along the steep 3.6-mile Eagle Peak Trail in the Park. After hiking the trail he ran into trouble on his way down. Visability was poor and the trail was covered with snow in some areas. The wands that mark the trail could have been blown over. He lost his way, zig-zagging through real rough terrain. The rangers think he slipped on wet rocks, falling 200 feet to his death.

There are always hidden dangers when hiking unfamiliar country. When we were hiking last weekend, following a stream down a mountain, I told George not to step on any wet rocks. I recall reading about hikers who fell to their deaths in Glacier Park, that all it takes is one careless step, to lose balance and fall. Also, the weather can suddenly change. It can be gorgeous and sunny, and suddenly the wind will come up, with rain clouds and lightening. When the sun started heading down over the canyon walls last weekend, I bushwacked a quick retreat to the trailhead.

Up in Glacier Park you've got to be aware of grizzlies. I recently received an e-mail from a hiking party who encountered one (with a cub) on the trail. They waited it out for several hours, to see what the bear would do. They made lots of noise, and that grizzley showed no concern, just kept browsing along the trail and on the hillside. That can be dangerous. The bear was not afraid of humans. Not a place to be hiking alone!

"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!"

We spent the weekend camping at Quincy Lakes in the Columbia Basin Reclamation Area. It is about a two and a half hour drive over Snoqualmie Pass, across the great Columbia River, and deep into the vast scab-lands of eastern Washington.

This desert region is my favorite part of Washington state - dry, vast, and remote.This time of year it is starting to heat up - temps were around 80 degrees compared to the 57 degrees in Tacoma. When the weatherman predicted showers and overcast skies for the weekend in western Washington, we headed east. No doubt this will be our last trip over to eastern Washington until next fall, when the temperatures go down. Otherwise, we are looking at camping in 90 degree weather.

I had hoped that we'd get a pretty little site on a lake with easy canoe access, and we found the perfect spot. George pitched the tent in a vast expanse of wild baby's breath, and the fresh sweet scent was heavenly! I made coffee and headed up the cliffs directly behind our tent. The view was nice - if you love vista. Sagebrush, dry balsam root, volcanic rock. We had a weekend of adventure ahead of us - two canoe paddles and three hikes. We were here to explore country, and to possibly find a camping site large enough to accommodate another family gathering in the fall. We hiked along the Dusty Lake Trail and then down into a lush moraine, where rocky mountain-sides had been ground down by water thousands of years ago. We hiked throughout this valley for about an hour.

I took the lead on the way back to the trail-head, really pushing it, because 4:30 in this country can mean that the sun goes down over the canyon and the temps plummet fast. It may feel like 80 degrees during the day, but come evening, you'll be looking for a warm jacket.

The bird-life was abundant - meadowlarks, coots, and other shorebirds. Because we'd camped so close to the shoreline, we were on top of a bird that calls out at night - and, all his friends would answer. It sounded like a bunch of bawling cattle in a feedlot. (I thought for sure it was a bullfrog, but George says it is a bird that nests deep in the reeds, perhaps the American Bittern.)

We awoke at dawn and I made coffee. We headed out onto the lake, and I spent the early morning video-taping our glide. The water was absolutely peaceful, not like the day before when both of us had to paddle to steady the canoe. The best time for filming bird-sounds is very early morning, and my video is rich with them. At one point, George burst out into the song, "Oh What A Beautiful Morning!". There were other campers way across the lake, and I'm sure his melody accompanied their morning coffee around the campfire.

While George built the fire, I made a Father's Day breakfast - pineapple-buttermilk pancakes and egg-Swiss cheese-bacon on a sourdough muffin. These pancakes are sweet and flavorful: The pineapple is sliced thin, cooked over the skillet, then the batter is added on top. To make the egg-on-a-muffin, slice the muffins, fry the tops, then place the cheese on top. Remove them to a hot tin, covered, and place over the fire. Fry up the bacon and mix up the egg batter with finely chopped green onion and seasoned pepper. Make little omelets. After everything is cooked, assemble into little sandwiches.

We went back onto the Dusty Lake Trail for several hours of exploring on Sunday. This is really dramatic country, isolated, yet with trails that have been used by hikers exploring the region. We found this old volcanic vent deep in the hillside. People had hauled a plastic tarp down into it, and probably used it as a camping shelter. The volcanic pumice was so crumbly and porous that it could be peeled from the surface of the cave. You sure couldn't get me to go down in there!

We hiked down to this spectacular overlook, following a stream. This hike was about two hours, an easy climb back up, with the sounds of meadowlarks the entire way.

There were nettles when we bush-whacked through some of these glades. George was wearing shorts, so he was stung on the legs. This little glade was in a sinkhole, and had a profusion of little plants along the stream. Someone had placed a sturdy wooden plank across the stream, so we didn't get our boots wet.

New Toy In China

For a fee, you can spin and float for about 10 minutes......(thanks to Tim. From the Flickr album of Peter and Jolie).

Bee All You Can Be

In this post my son mentioned how much gardening I did when I was raising my kids. We'd just moved over to Tacoma from Montana when I rented 4 community garden plots from the city in an effort to suppliment our meals with healthy vegetables from the garden. In those days we were so poor that it was a good way to get good nutrition into my family without having to spend a fortune at the grocery store.

We had dozens of varieties of vegetables and herbs, and I really had fun. I'd get up at 6:00 for coffee, then head over to the plots about four blocks away. I'd work until 10:30, then come home, shower and go to work. I'd get off work at 8:00 p.m., then go over again for an hour to water the garden.

During my twenty-five years of gardening I rarely used chemicals of any kind on my plants - mainly because they were so expensive. I learned to condition the soil very carefully, to rotate crops, to mulch and compost. With thorough proceedures, and abundant attention, I was able to have outstanding produce. It was a tremendous amount of work, and I'm glad that I did it.

I was able to teach many of the other gardeners in the Community Garden Program many of my secrets, and they began to have good results. A goodly number of them were immigrants from the Ukraine, and they had to learn the hard way that soil is different in this part of the world. It was necessary to dig growing berms to make the soil high, and to provide a trough for the spring rains which are deadly to root crops like onions, beets, parsnips, and the like. They will rot before the ground dries out.

The Ukranian immigrants also had to learn to rotate crops, and to avoid walking on the soil so it doesn't get compacted. This is best done by walking in the trenches that once held the rain-water. During the summer I showed other gardeners how to chop all the greenery from their garden, and compost it underfoot in the trenches. In the autumn leaves were brought in and composted, to apply as a top-dressing in winter.

We learned so many tricks to get good yields, and we kept our plots 'clean' to avoid disease. In all those years we had only one gardener 'go beserk' with Roundup, tainting the soil of his plot so nothing grew the entire summer.

So, you can imagine the dilemma, when I had to buy a bug killer to kill the little nest of bumble bees that are under our patio. In this post I mentioned how I'd enjoyed watching them, as I read out in my patio. I was simply fascinated at their industry...their integrity! I had even resorted to talking to a few. In one of my comments on Ruhiyyih's blog, I wrote:

"I've made friends with all the little bees zooming into a nest under our patio, and although I must somehow 'remove them', I've enjoyed watching them while I read. They have such distinctive patterns and predictabilities. But, yesterday one of them altered his pattern, cleaning himself on the pavement rather than going into the nest. I bent down to watch him, and told him he was not pulling his fair share of the labor. He kept stalling. I thought something might be wrong with him, so I decided to do an investigation. I picked up a stick, and slid it under him, and examined him (while he examined the stick). I concluded that he just got distracted - isn't that just like a male! So, I told him 'breaktime is over', and you know what? He flew off! Headed right around the corner of the house, up into his usual pattern."

Our phonecalls during the day and in the evening (she lives in Washington D.C.) had taken on a tone of seriousnes. We started exchanging e-mails, with daily updates! How was I going to take care of this bee business! Will I survive?

I e-mailed her back today with this grim news: RE: How did it go?

"SNIF......SNIF. I dusted when it was dark, along the entire length of the pavement, as these bees have several entrances. Within a few minutes "Harry" came stumbling out, dusting himself off and rubbing his 'widdle feet' against his abdomen. Surely he was fighting for his last bee-breath, overly worried about his visit on the morrow in the clover. Oh the horror of it all. No more honeysuckle on 8th Avenue, no more pollen for his little Queen. This agitated little dance, which I saw by the light glinting off the back porch, was beyond my ability to bear. I just quietly shook my head in sadness. To build a little home in a place where you are not wanted...if only I could have waved a little red flag, to caution them to move to a better place."

Now, I've got to pour pebbles all along the ditch where their entrance was, so other bees will not decide to live there. But, you know, I miss them already! (image: LB Designs, Inc.)

Ruhi classes have resumed as of last week, with George as one of our tutors for Book One, Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. He's just jumpin' for joy! Pictured here are Myong, Renee, and Al. George has given them a little gift, a book-marker with quotes from the writing of the Baha'i Faith.

We served tea, then George asked, "What needs to be in place to make our class special?" Replies: Sharing. Different points of view. Time to process (go slow). Time for review and questions.

There are many benefits to the Ruhi program, which is intended to answer the question "How can the betterment of the world be accomplished?" Unity of thought and intention after a period of consultation is what ultimately shapes a strong, cohesive spirit, or core of spiritual energy. We see this actually develop throughout the process of the Ruhi sequences. By the end of the courses we feel a greater sense of community. We have come to really know one another. Myong, Renee and Al have just become acquainted with the Baha'is. They said, at the end of the evening, "Lets do a pot-luck one of these days!" That's the spirit!

Surprises In The Comment Section

I've spent several hours today going through the comments in my archives. When I reformatted my blog, I lost my Haloscan comments. Blogger only had a few comments per month, and these remained on my blog. I noticed that spammers had found my blog and flooded the posts with highly objectionable spam. So, I've installed the word verification gadget, with the hope of discouraging spam. I really hesitated to install this initially, as I can hardly figure out the letters myself, and didn't want to pose a nuisance to visitors.

As I was deleting spam, I came across a May 2006 post about Darfur, to which my son left a comment. Time must have gone by, maybe days, and so I missed seeing the comment. What a surprise and delight to see this appreciative comment by my son Rue:

" Hi Mom, Today I had my speech class at Toastmasters. One of the functions of Toastmasters is a part where they do Table Topics. During Table Topics a person is called on randomly with a speech topic and is asked to give a speech on that topic without any warning. This forces a person to think quickly on their feet, and organize their thoughts.The topic today was a Mothers Day theme and I was called on. An earlier topic had been gardening, so the first thing that came to mind was:

“After our family moved here to Washington from Kalispell, Montana, money was tight. My mom signed up and got a community garden plot that was about 4 blocks from our house."
"Everyday my mom would walk down to her plot with her wagon of tools and she grew tons and tons of vegetables."
"We didn’t have a lot back then, but we always had healthy fruits and vegetables and home-cooked prepared food was always available."
"My mom gardened at that plot for a few years when our family needed it the most." "She still uses those gardening skills in her backyard, where the next generation, my daughter, has gotten to taste the fruits of her labors as well."
"Now as child, I didn’t understand everything that was going on, but as an adult now and having been through similar circumstances, I appreciate what was done.”
Thanks Momma!

From Hyderabad To Tacoma

Our weekend guest, Wintergreen, is a New Zealand blogger that George met online many months ago upon her return from Pakistan. She had been teaching 'The Pink Kit for Positive Birth', a resource that teaches the skills for positive birthing experiences. Wintergreen collaborated with a Baha'i Social Economic Development (SED) project in Pakistan. Her own non-profit organization is called Common Knowledge Trust.

Wintergreen wrote on her blog: "All the visits I am making now are organized through the Baha’i community in Sindh Province in the South of Pakistan. I have discovered many Baha’i do ‘pioneering’ work in villages. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Baha’i can not convert or proselytize their religion. They may discuss the Baha’i Faith when people ask them ‘what religion are you?’ So, discussing Baha’i must come from a conversation brought about by the other person. Baha’i has other values:"

• Service
• Respect for all religions and Prophets.
• Living within the political system of the country where you reside.
• World Peace
• Equality of women and men
• Oneness of Mankind
• Independent investigation of Truth
• Harmony of Religion and Science
• Relinquishing of Prejudice
• Universal Education
• Spiritual solution to economic problems
• World Commonwealth

. . . . .

Through their e-mails, George and Wintergreen arranged a 3 day visit, primarily to discuss the Faith, of which she knows only a little. She wanted to know more, and possibly attend any Baha'i community events.

So, we picked her up at the train station Friday afternoon, had dinner, then went to our delegate's report from the 2007 Baha'i National Convention. Dr. Christopher Gilbert, Executive Director of the Northwest Center for Ethics Training and Development and a business professor at Tacoma Community College, was our delegate. (Second from right in photo). As with most Convention Reports, there was a table filled with information, and I pulled out a presentation on Health for Humanity, which partners with local institutions around the world, providing health development assistance to communities in need. This was exactly the type of networking that Wintergreen was looking for.

The Baha'is of Gig Harbor hosted Wintergreen at one of their monthly firesides. She gave a presentation on the basic child-birth skills that she teaches in developing countries. Here, Wintergreen is teaching a young woman some of those skills.

We also had the opportunity to meet Leila and Shaun, and members of their families. Leila and Shaun have recently moved to Seattle from Haifa, Israel, where they spent 3 years serving at the World Center of the Baha'i Faith. I came to know Leila (Bottom right corner, next to Shaun) about a year ago, when I started reading her blog, Love From Leila. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever imagine meeting another blogger - and here I was meeting two of our internet friends in one weekend! And both of them spent time in New Zealand.... I thought the world was surely shrinking, bringing such wonderful people to my little corner of the world.

Sunday morning, the Olsen's hosted a Devotional Meeting, and Wintergreen got a chance to hear Baha'i prayers and a story from the life of Baha'u'llah. Here, Mauricio is singing a prayer.

The Olsen's served a waffle and sausage brunch following the devotions, and then we took Wintergreen for a canoe paddle on Square Lake. She had done some canoing before, so didn't feel a bit of panic when large gusts of wind started pushing us across the lake. She just hunkered down and followed George's directions. All three of us got that canoe to head in the right direction.

We took a long hike through theTheler Wetlands after the paddle. It too was windy, but many parts of the wetlands were sheltered. This trail went through a bit of forest, then through the wide open marshland draining out of Puget Sound. The wind blew, the sunshine was warm, and George and Wintergreen fine-tuned their conversation about religion, service to humanity, and the musings of what lay ahead. We headed home, and Taraz and Rahmat came for dinner. We played family videos that Taraz has recently made of our camping trip.

From here, Wintergreen heads up to Vancouver, then eventually to Vienna, Austria. She is a woman who has made herself at home in every corner of the world - Asia, Africa, South America. I couldn't help but wonder, how she felt about our small corner of it. We were especially glad that we had an opportunity to share it. During the visit, she said that one of our cats came up to her room every night. From time to time the cat would touch Wintergreen's cheek with her little nose, then press her paw on Wintergreen's shoulder. They became quick friends.

A River of Flowers - The Black River

We managed to do a long paddle on the Black River on the weekend, and it couldn't have been more gorgeous. About 80 degrees out, very little wind, and brilliant sunshine and color.

Portions of this river are protected by the Nature Conservancy. It has a lowland lake as its main source of fresh water, rather than snowmelt. As it widens it meanders through a vast swamp before becoming free-flowing, eventually emptying into the Chehalis River southwest of Olympia. The swaying aquatic plants here are about 25 feet long, with just the tips out of the water. I think it is some kind of wild lobelia, very fragrant.

The dense shoreline represents one of the most extensive riparian environments in Western Washington. There are mixed stands of red alder, Oregon ash , Pacific ninebark, and dogwood and willow. The shoreline was vibrant with the sounds of birds. These nesting houses were hung on trees near the water.

Lily pads line the river in many places. We noticed that most of the blooms were yellow, but found groups of orange ones like these.

We paddled for several hours - or, I should say that George did. The warmth of the sun, the songs of birds, and the gentle flow of the water made me feel so sleepy that I scooted off my seat and layed down. While George paddled, I watched the trees overhead glide by. It was so peaceful and heavenly.
As we returned to our 'put-in point' there were kids, dogs, and kayakers. Everyone was getting into the water.

Taraz made this video , taken on our Sun Lakes camping trip. Now you can see why we purchased a propane insert for our fireplace.....

Cluster 19 Celebration - Tacoma/Pierce County

There was much to celebrate at our Cluster Reflection Meeting, with news about the many study circles, devotional meetings, children's classes and junior youth groups operating within the Tacoma area. Since there is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith, the Baha'is take on the responsibility of sharing the teachings of Baha'u'llah, with support from community members. Once someone has shown an interest in the Faith, they can choose any number of programs to enhance their study of the teachings, offer a devotional program in their home, or promote fellowship within Baha'i community life.

This group presented a play written by Karen Smith, "One People, One Problem, One Solution" based on the document by the Universal House of Justice, "One Common Faith". The play had two primary voices, that of the East and that of the West, showing the subtle differences of thought and perspective that permeate these cultures.

The West began by saying, "I am the dominating force of the world. What I do and what I have is important to the world." The East responded gently, with the words, "I am Asia. I am Africa. I am the cradle of civilization and religion."

As the play continues each side shares their strengths and concerns, of how to grow and prosper. The East refers back to its spiritual traditions, and says, "Begin again from the past. A vast literature to which all religious cultures have contributed records the experience of transcendence reported by generations of seekers. No other force in the world has ever inspired so many to such heights of heroism, self-sacrifice, discipline and artistic expression. Anyone who is serious in their quest for spiritual truth will find an answering voice in the Upanishads, Psalms, or the Qu'ran. The words of the Buddha and Jesus still touch hearts and transcend Reality today. "

The West counters with the thoughts, "Those antiquated systems don't fit today's daily moral decisions a soul must make as an active member of society. Individuals now have authority when they vote, women want equality with men! Then, there is stem cell research, nuclear energy, ecological and environmental issues as well. These and countless other inescapable choices that must be made have no answer in either old contentious religion, or modernity."

With the sharing of concerns, the East offers a final solution, "We must come to understand each other. We must come to know the issues involved. We must consider the spiritual needs of our neighbors. All faiths call upon their believers to meditate, to ponder and to reflect. Let us do so now."

The children read the story of the Martyrdom of the Bab in Tabriz. This story is quite poignant, as when the Bab was tied to the wall to be executed, and the 750 rifles shot their round, the Bab was nowhere to be found! The smoke cleared, and the officials found the Bab in his room, giving some last moment instructions. He said to the onlooking crowd, "The day will come when you will understand who I am; that day I shall no longer be with you." Then, he walked back to the execution wall.
At the end of the meeting everyone waited in suspense for a special tribute to all of the Baha'is who completed the sequences of the Ruhi Study Circles. Developed by the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, the Ruhi Study Circles offer reflections on the life of the spirit, with materials used around the world by Bahá'í communities in an effort to foster constructive personal and community transformation.

"By learning about our spiritual reality and our individual role in the progress of society, we can better understand our purpose in life and the way to improve our own lives and the lives of those around us." ~ Ruhi workbook

A beautiful scroll with everyone's name was unfurled. This scroll will be sent to the World Center of our Faith in Haifa, Israel. Just as Tim carried the scroll to the front of the room, a shaft of sunlight glinted briefly over Debbie's shoulder to all of the names on the scroll. What a blessing and delight, a most powerful and wonderful ending to our evening!

Cat-napping on the Back Porch

When George isn't using the seats to his van, he stores them here, on the patio. I cover them with a soft comforter and place a few pillows around. Mornings, I sit with my coffee, and address my 'to do' list. This week it was to plant shrubs along the south-facing fence. It took 3 days to do it - to prepare the soil, visit the nursery, and put them into the ground. I finished the project on Saturday.

My hope is to attract more birds into the yard, but so far all I have are a few bees visiting a hive under the patio floor. They really aren't a nuisance - yet - and the cats and I have gotten acquainted with them, watching their flight patterns and their little dances. They talk to one another that way, with fanciful steps and twirls, and have proven to be most industrious, never sleeping like Mordred and me.

I know I should get rid of them, as their hive will most certainly become a nuisance when we hold Ruhi classes out on the patio this summer. I'm afraid someone will get stung. But, I'm stalling. It is a horror to contemplate. I can't imagine dusting their front entrance. They'd track that in to the queen. I don't want to vacuum them up as they zoom in from the honeysuckle. Not only would that look strange to my neighbors, but I can just imagine them all buzzing inside my vacuum, waiting to get me when I'm sleeping.

When we were camping at Lake Wenatchee my sister asked me if I'd like to travel to Italy with her and our cousin next summer. I thought of all the tourists, the lines, the congestion, and replied that the best that life could give me is right here, camping with all my kids at Lake Wenatchee: Cooking good food, sleeping under the stars, hiking mountain trails, and canoeing still water.

When we arrived home and started preparations for George's birthday party, our neighbor Beth brought over Blood Orange Soda. I think this is about as close to Italy as I will be getting. However, I've spent years drawing little French and Italian villages and the courtyards on the Adriatic coastline. It is the old way of life that enchants me about this part of the world. I think it is swiftly vanishing.

This has been a busy week, with several more birthday gatherings. Taraz, Megan, and Rahmat came over last night to show their video of the trip. It is a collaboration of images edited by Rahmat, and put to music by Taraz. They made a copy for me, and I will add mine to the mix tomorrow. Annie, Taraz, and Ruhiyyih have their posts up now, savoring what they particularly enjoyed. Annie has a video up on her blog, Earthen Vessel - my favorite part is Annie's giggling while she is filming!

I'll finish out my post with just a few left-over images that I want to include here for 'memory purposes' so they don't get over-looked. This is an image of Ruhiyyih as we sat out in my backyard having coffee, just moments before she left Tacoma. I was fascinated by all the little dots on her cheeks, from the holes in her straw hat.

We celebrated George's birthday by watching videos. He set up his DJ equip- ment in the livingroom - huge (ugly) speakers pounded the house and Ruhiyyih and Daisy danced. Annie joined in, and they tried to pull me into it, but I only cheered them on. I'll provide Kathy Hall's Flicker album for this set, as Ruhiyyih was too animated to pick out just one photo!

Our friend Jamie and his brother Mike came over for an early breakfast. George did the cooking, and just I let the guys visit. I was tired, still in my robe and PJ's with morning coffee...I still needed time to 'wake up'. But, I have to laugh. Jamie comes over every Wednesday evening to visit, and I'm always in my robe and PJ's then, too. I think he's seen me only once wearing street clothes, and that was when we bumped into each other shopping at Fred Meyers. He's a big guy, with a long ponytail down his back, and he can have an opinion about everything!

Both these fellas are profes- sional photo- graphers. Mike does landscapes and Jamie does social commen- tary and trends.

This shot of me was taken in the late afternoon, right before dinner by Annie. Buddy, my daughter Laurel's dog, had been playing basketball with the kids. They'd tormented him for so long that when he finally got a chance to bounce the ball up in the air he tore it to shreds instead. Then, there was a hand-combat contest by Taraz and Rahmat on this log, to see who would fall into the water. Annie has a video of these antics on her blog, as well as portions of an early morning canoe glide. It perfectly captures the sounds of birds in the early morning.

Megan took this last one, of George and I canoeing through the reeds, which were just a few inches high. Come July, they will be several feet high, and the red-winged blackbirds will be singing through them. (Megan has used a filter on this shot.) That is sure 'my kind of water'!