Megan And Taraz - Ready For Marriage

Megan and Taraz have asked George and I for consent for marriage. This is one of the laws of the Baha'i Faith. This is a proceedure that promotes unity and support. It sets a foundation of respect and collaboration within the family dynamic. Even if one is in their 40's, one still approaches one's parents with that request.

As difficult as marriage can be, it is the next step upward in adulthood. The guidelines of our Faith indicate that one must "exercise the utmost care to become thoroughly acquainted with the character of the other, that the binding covenant between them may be a tie that will endure forever." This they do through service within their Baha'i community, and by participating at social gatherings like Baha'i summer schools and study circles.

Megan and Taraz met with us, and we discussed their relationship, their goals, and what they find endearing and meaningful about each other. George then asked questions about Megan's upbringing and family relationships. He pointed out areas of strength and weakness in Taraz, and described the challenges of living with someone with Taraz's temperment and disposition.

In other words, George wanted to ask the essential questions that do not remain buried, so that he will have done his part to point out any obstacles beforehand. There is wisdom in knowing what some of the issues may be, before one embarks on the journey. I was very impressed with the careful considerations, the thoughtfulness and genuine concern everyone feels for one another.

I believe that Megan and Taraz will become loving companions and help-mates. Both are courteous and soft-spoken, loving and kind. I had very little to say or ask (especially since George covered most everything), but I did say that Taraz has always been especially sensitive to the well being of his Mom, doing everything to bring me comfort, to validate my interests, and to honor my feelings. And, the way a son treats his mother is often the way he will treat his wife.

Taraz also knows that what I love most in his Dad is his sense of humor - the ability to make me laugh. It is the little playful banter, the silly dumb jokes, the puns, that have made George so endearing to me.

And, Taraz has this ridiculous play, too. When it was time to say some prayers, I started with a prayer that began with, "O my God! Let the outpourings of Thy bounty and blessings descend upon (our) homes.....". George started his prayer with something like: "These are servants attracted in Thy days by the fragrances of Thy holiness, enkindled with the flame burning in Thy holy tree, responding to Thy voice, uttering Thy praise....". And then Taraz, with feigned seriouness, read, "O my Lord, I dedicate that which is in my womb unto Thee. Then cause it to be a praiseworthy child in thy Kingdom and a fortunate one by Thy favor and Thy generosity..."

Yes, his humor can verge on irreverance - but, hey, it's all a matter of timing. Someday, Megan and Taraz may very well be reading that prayer, just like I did 25 years ago when I was carrying Taraz. Every good thing goes full circle, bringing life to its fullest expression.

Megan's parents, Kevin and Therese, have given their consent, and blessing, too. We are delighted, and look forward to a wedding in September.

His First Year As T-Man

When your son talks about getting married, you think about how time flies. Why, it seems like just......yesterday........when I was holding him, and watching him grow up. I went through some of my old photo albums, reminiscing.

I took this photo of Taraz when he was about 8 months old....today, he still has a fondness for hats!

And this is an intense discussion with his Dad. As I recall, Taraz sucked his thumb until he was 6, and it was calloused from all that wear and tear.

Morning Chores - For The Birds

I've got oat seed that I feed the birds. Mixed with sunflower seeds and other grains....for the big birds, like the Stellar Jays. Oh, and my peas are up, doin' real good.

I'll be thinning out that lettuce soon. I deliberately plant it framing the squash, because when the zuchinni gets huge, the lettuce has gone to seed, and the ground then gets spaded up.

Cilantro is over on the left. Now-a-days, there's always thinning-out to do....I just transplant some seedlings to a holding bed, to use as filler when the spinach dies down.

Bringing History Alive

When my son Taraz was about 10, we worked on a medieval village, with a castle, for a extra-credit project for his class.

He knew I loved constructing little dwellings, and so he gave me all the specifications - it had to have a castle with turrets, a moat with a drawbridge, fields with sheep, a church, mill, houses, and it had to be walled in, like a little city.

I got busy collecting cardboard, balsawood, sandpaper, old carpeting, and tons of organic stuff from the forest. Like pinecones, squash tendrils, dried flowers and seeds.

I got out my glue gun, and we worked (me primarily) for an entire day putting this village together. I used some references from the library as a guide, and we discussed the Middle Ages in Europe as we glued cardboard together, as the village was taking shape. The people, and their lives were very different from our own.

"House" by Albert Lorenz, covers the richness of the Middle Ages. A book I've often read to my grand-daughter, it says: The end of the Middle Ages in Europe was an exciting time to be alive. You can see it in the art of a painter like Pieter Brueghel, rich in color and action and passion. Here, in a peasant cottage in Flanders in the mid-sixteenth century, an extended family (including three generations and unmarried collateral relations) shares its space with as many useful animals as the household can afford. A midday meal is in progress. Filth and grunge rule, but it's a lusty and vibrant life for the healthy. The hearth with its bubbling stockpot serves both for cooking and for heating, and a good thing too, since there's no glass in the window to keep out the weather. "

I enjoyed details like this, when I was reading to my grand-daughter. She was learning about how other people lived long ago, and I was enjoying sharing books with her. "House" was one of my favorites.

In this book, the word "house" is used in the broadest possible way: a house is any structure built by human beings to live in for a time. This meaning embraces traditional houses but offers far more than that, seeking to convey some flavor of the amazing diversity of human culture across time and space, whether it is houses built for comfort, ones that afford the thinnest margin of survival in a hostile environment, or houses that segregate groups from the larger society.

Another enjoyable book is "Wonderful Houses Around the World", by Yoshio Komatsu. Just wonderful photos of adaptation and survival.

Of course, the Medieval Village Taraz and I created got highly rated at school, with an A+ for a grade, and it occupied our front porch for a long time, where the squirrels and mice nibbled at the acorns and seeds. Within a short time, our village was mashed to smithereens by cats sitting on the hayfields. The cotton swabs (sheep) were hauled away for mice nests, and the turrets toppled. I'm glad I remembered to take a photo before our village met its demise.

Color Illusions

Hey, if you enjoy optical illusions, Wohba has a great little image of Mt. Reynolds, in Glacier!

Update on Laurel and Mehran

This is my daughter, Laurel, at a family gathering in our home some months back. She called to let me know that her husband, Mehran, has returned home from his visit to his parents in Iran. His trip was both a pleasure and an ordeal, as Mehran was tending to arrangements for his ailing father, who has brain cancer.

Mehran was able to console his family, and to share in many delightful family gatherings, with food, dancing, and music, as is the custom in Iran. He was able to videotape his elderly grandmother, his sisters, and significant moments during his stay. These he had planned to share with all of us when he returned home.

But, while he was there, someone broke into his room, and stole all the videotapes, his clothing, identification, and even his wedding ring, which he had taken off. (It has a Baha'i symbol on the top, and he didn't feel safe wearing it.) As this happened on the last day of his stay, he had to fly home without even a suitcase, without a change of clothing. Nothing, but the clothes on his back, his passport, and his plane ticket. He figures these weren't stolen because he was wearing them in a special body pack. Unfortunately, $800.00 was also stolen.

Baha'is are not given any human rights in Iran. They are considered infidels, and are denied due process of law. We are grateful he is home safely, and plan to visit Laurel and Mehran, to hear of his trip. But, what a shame, to loose those precious videotapes, and all the memories contained therein. I know he was eager to share them with us.

Details In My Yard

I've posted a few photos below, just to show some of the details in my backyard. I like old wood, curled paint, old tools. Shown are details from the cabin I built for my grand-daughter, and from the old garage. These days, I've spent most of my time out in my garden, or puttering in the yard. It's an indulgent life......

Inside The Little Cabin Window

The Old Garage

It Has Seen Better Days

Old Man's Digging Fork

Squash Tendril

Mortar On The Cabin

Brunch, Anyone?

Salad, fried potatoes, and cornbread with butter and honey.

Just A Little of This 'N' That

I sat out in the patio with my morning coffee, just enjoying the early morning mist in the trees, and the call of robins and chicadees.

I spent about 6 hours working out there yesterday, mostly working my compost pile, and piling it into my garden trenches.

I build compost all summer by throwing all organic matter into trenches and decomposing it right there, alongside plants. I picked this habit up when I noticed that the plants that were the most happy lived in the compost pile.

I layer partly decomposed grass, straw, and leaves over the top of my growing berms, as a mulch, so there is a rich habitat. It reduces weed-growth and holds in moisture, so weeding and watering are kept to a minimum.

I've seen too many 'sterile looking' gardens, where the surface of the soil is so weed-free and smooth that the plants don't thrive.....I believe the 'community' of intensive gardening, with all kinds of mixtures next to one another, promotes vigorous plants. It's like they talk to one another, and set up defenses together. One type of plant will repell insects that will hurt another type. You learn these relationships, and pretty soon you'll build growing beds that thrive.

We've got our projects planned for today. George is going to paint the walls in his study. I'll calk the little windows in there, then he'll put up some shelves for all his books.

I'm also going to load up the van with all the collected junk we've put out behind the garage, and take it to the dump - mostly old boards, tires, chain-link, bricks and broken garden pots.

I've noticed that whenever you collect junk, the bindweed will find it, and pretty soon the roots will find a way over into my garden. This blossom will be a 'white morning glory'.

So, I've got some work ahead of me today - George will help me get this stuff to the dump.

While I'm working, I'll have time to think about our Ruhi class, the study classes we've held here for 3 years. We like to serve lite refreshments and tea, and I've got to bake something.

We served this chocolate-strawberry cake, from Sheri's, awhile back.

The Ruhi Class is a two hour class, one of the three core activities of Baha'i Community life - Ruhi study circles, devotional gatherings, and children's classes. In this last photo, taken last Sunday, Wynne is presenting a bouquet of flowers to the winner of a contest - memorizing quotations. Tim and Barry were tied for first place, and Tim took the flowers home.

George - Sunday Morning

Twas nippy - used the fireplace to take off the chill. He's got his 'projects' today, but first there is always the Sunday paper.

On The Prowl For Hummingbirds

The last two days I've spent most of my time out in the yard, mowing, edging, and working in the garden. When its time for a break, I sit right here, and have a cup of coffee.

This is Pandora, and she was in a most playful mood, prancing, twisting, and cavorting in mid-air at anything that circled over her head. I watched her leap, then dash after a long awaited summer delight - the hummingbirds!

While I savored my coffee, I watched the little hummers visit the Columbine, the California Poppies, the Lantana and Snap-dragons. They zoomed into the deep center of each for a brief hello, then dashed to the next color, the next fragrance - all the while hovering just out of reach of Pandora.

I decided to create a post showing the hummer's destinations. And Blogger is spitting out posts that include more than one picture, acting very contrary this week,so, I'll give just an individual glance down Hummingbird Lane. Lets see what she found....

My Favorite Colors, Too

Purple Columbine

Lantana Burst - Patriot Cherry