WSU has a Pet Memorial

WSU sent us a letter and brochure about their Pet Memorial Program in the College of Veterinary Medicine because our vet on Queen Anne had made a donation in Pepper's name. I was so touched at the time that I'm getting all weepy again thinking about it. I just sent them a photo of Pepper and a little blurb about him to join the other beloved pets that are memorialized on their website. Here's the link:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/PetMemorial/Default.aspx

Unfinished Painting and Pre-holiday Musings

Two hours of sifting and sorting through notes from previous Thanksgivings, making shopping lists and detailing those items that must be transported from the Seattle house (having breakfast at the same time), then looking for the cranberry relish recipe that used to be on the cranberry bag and researching the perfect method for roasting the turkey -- whew!  I just want to get back to my paintings now.  The painting is going well, especially the last thing I did last night -- loosely brushing in the beginnings of trees against a luminous background.  This sort of effect tends to get lost as the painting gets finished.  This time will be different! (I hope.)  

Now, if I can just tear myself away from this comfy couch with the view of birds on the suet, hummingbirds at their feeder and the soft light on the Sound, I might get some work done before it's time to get ready for my 2 o'clock shift at the gallery.  Oh, today the Dish Network is sending out a repair man.  We have "drift" and no TV since Thursday night.  We miss trouble free cable TV.  Comcast is getting closer but hasn't reached our road yet.  This is a very slight and really inconsequential flaw in "country living" and the only one I can think of so far.  Even heating with a wood stove, lots of work, is satisfying.  Yesterday we went up in the woods and sawed up parts of a big tree, maybe a wild cherry, that had been down maybe since last year. We hauled out four wheelbarrow loads of fire wood.  It really was enjoyable working in the woods in the fresh air.

7:15 am

8:15 am
Originally uploaded by JuliMil

High rise buildings of downtown Seattle outflanked by Mt. Rainier, seen from our deck this morning. I was out there in my bathrobe watching the light changes and when the hummingbirds started coming to the feeder their iridescent colors and red patches were brilliant. Didn't get any good photos, though, in the dim light.

We are So Screwed

This came from a friend in Canada.  The damage done by Bush and his buddies these last days of his regime is truly criminal.  Just the thought gives me a stomach ache.


Quote of the Week:

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

Thomas Jefferson 1802

Garden of Mystery

What is this that came up in my garden?  Does anyone care to venture a guess?

And this?

Big clue below:

Here's the envelope the seeds came in.  I can identify the kale, two kinds of lettuce and mizuna, so that leaves "corn salad" and Tah Tsai mustards.  Maybe I should look at google images.

Young Maple

Snapped on the return trip from the Long Beach Peninsula at a rest stop on I-5

Pak Choi or Bok Choy?

Pak Choi or Bok Choy?
Originally uploaded by JuliMil

Anyone know the difference?

It's November and I have an abundance of this in my still-growing garden. Kept an eye on the weather all day and dashed out just before dark to pick a big bag full for Jacob and some (too much!) for myself.