Gathering Beauty....

Along the fence lines, driving or walking, I often find myself wishing I was carrying clippers and a large bag.  Dead twigs, pinecones, rose hips, winter beauty is everywhere--especially along fence lines.  This week,  both with and without clippers, I have been gathering some of the beauty for Christmas centerpieces and, if I have enough, a winter wreath.  With several vases of dried and drying hydrangeas around the house and bundles of summer lavendar, I'm looking forward to a week of being creative.  

Wild Trees....

Sunshine.  Mountains.  What month is this?  Saturday we gathered with my Hilarious Twin and a handful of friends and headed up into the foothills--way, way up past the 4,000 foot level where snow and harsh conditions would usually deter December Christmas tree hunters in 'city cars' like our little Matrix.  It was a spectacular day, and while we came prepared with boots, shovels, and two 4 wheel drive vehicles, we instead encountered sunshine, meadows, mountain views and coats left in the car as we marveled at the warmish, winter temperatures.  This was our fourth foray into the woods with a $5 tree tag to hunt for a wild Christmas tree.  The forays have not happened in consecutive years but have included the same handful of people.  In past years we've had fun-but-ever-so-slightly-harrowing snow adventures.  This day, however, was a sunfest with the kids playing in the woods, jousting with sticks, and roasting weinies over the roadside fire.  

Gathering exquisite little pinecones.

One special aspect of the day involved the kids brought along by some dear friends.  These friends quietly go about their lives in a nurturing and serving fashion.  They met while serving in a local outreach to street youth and they have gone overseas to work with a ministry that deals with the plight of the blind in a third world country.  In their quiet way they brought along three kids, two of whom they mentor, who have been adopted and raised out of the foster care system.  The third belongs to a mother they have befriended who is rising above her substance abuse and is seeking to build a stable life.  Through their quiet ways I see ones who love their neighbor, the widow, the orphan, and I am challenged and reminded of how deeply and profoundly blessed I am. 

High Desert Thanksgiving.....

The forecast here for the upcoming week....'dry' and foggy.  Actually, that will translate to a quiet dripping in the early morning and a muffled sleepiness that I will have a hard time shaking off.  Maybe the effects of the fog will be lessened, however, just by reflecting on our high desert Thanksgiving.

Ten riding with El Professor's dad, Grandpa Cowboy

We headed out the day before Thanksgiving Day to El Professor's childhood home way, way out in the Oregon High Desert.  

As we traveled up into the mountains we drove out of the valley fog.  The entire weekend was a Glorious Vitamin D Fest!

Looking out and beyond the ranch where El Professor grew up.

Over the long weekend we were partakers in Thanksgiving dinners #2 and #3, one with El Professor's dad/wife, and one with his mom/husband.  Both were shared with El Professor's brother and family.  The weekend took on the form of a wonderful mini vacation with good food, good company, sunny hikes, and horseback riding. 

 

One afternoon we hiked with El Professor's brother and family in the hills overlooking the desert plateau.  We experienced the high point where the radio towers are located and where summer hang gliders flock to launch out over the plateau floor to ride the updrafts.  

I am a city girl, not big city, but city nonetheless.  Still, I love this isolated, ultra rural place.   A place where you still find a nativity scene set up on the courthouse lawn...

....and black Friday isn't exactly a bustling scene.   No one was trampled, and I would imagine the only people in the stores at 4 a.m. were a few scattered stock crews at the tiny Safeway grocery....  

....where the theatre is open three nights a week, the tickets are about the same price as the matinee prices in our city, and you can sit in the balcony if you want to.  The only stadium seats, however, are at the fairgrounds where the rodeo is held each Labor Day weekend. 

I think I'll print this photo and hang it on the fridge so that all week long, as the pea soup fog lingers, I'll remember that only a week ago we were squinting in the sun.  

First of Three.....

Today dawned foggy, drippy, cold.   For us it was a day to celebrate the first of three planned Thanksgiving dinners.  We have what I like to refer to as 'three fully functioning sets of grandparents', and today we were off to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with my parents, some 60 miles north of our home.  Between here and there is my one of my favorite places, an orchard, I first started visiting regularly nearly 20 years ago when I was a young school teacher taking 'city kids' into the surrounding country to visit a farm and pick a pumpkin.  I've been making regular pilgrimages ever since, only now I stop in with my own kids several times each season.  We decided to stop in and load up on some apples to take with us as gifts for El Professor's family later this week at Thanksgiving dinners two and three.  His family lives several hours away in a tiny community in the high desert--not the kind of place where orchards abound.  My mother in law bemoans the produce selection at the grocery there (it is pretty pathetic, I must admit) so we like to bring some of the bounty of our valley with us when we go to visit.  

The November fog and gray was heavy on the orchard.....

...where treasure awaits.  Fujis.  Fuji galore.

(All orchard photos were taken by Thirteen)

We picked three bags of Fujis in the early chill.  

We arrived at the warm house where I grew up.  El Professor helped my dad hang the outdoor Christmas lights, although my folks don't plan to turn them on for another week.  Thirteen and I helped bring Christmas boxes down from the attic.  Over dinner we reflected on things for which we are thankful.  Last year at this time, my dad couldn't stand and could barely walk. His mobility and improved health is something for which we are very thankful.  

My mom set the table with my grandmother's china. 

From a chilly but beloved orchard to the warm place where I grew up.  It was a wonderful first of three Thanksgivings.  

 We have much to be thankful for.  

A Heavy Thing....

I am so very grieved about this accident,  yet I am so thankful that Maricel and Wilder are still with us.  So....very......thankful.

It's back.....

My iMac has returned and Apple footed the bill!  After a communication hiccup between the Mac Store and Apple in the 'who's paying for this' game, 'Preston The Magnificent' of Apple Computer came through for us and made sure our computer was fixed without our paying a dime.  Thank goodness!  The warranty had expired but the dang computer was spendy and ought not to have broken 17 months out of the chute.  A one inch band of LED was whiting out vertically about a third of the way from the right edge of the screen.  The bummer of an 'all in one' is that when the screen has such a problem you have to take in the whole computer.  Still, I'm very thankful Apple made good on a 'known issue' and took care of the problem.  

I love my Mac.  And now I love the company, too.

Empty desk top......

My iMac is in the shop!  It has been interesting to have the computer gone all week.  In preparing for the 5th/6th grade 'Masters' class I teach, I had to do things 'the old fashioned way' and use a copy machine.  I am so spoiled by the ability to print out whatever I need, whenever I need it. Hopefully, the computer will be back sometime this week.  In the meantime, the desk top looks so empty.....  The good news???  Apple is fixing it FOR FREE.  There was a bit of a hiccup between Apple and the Mac Store techie guys in getting that 'FOR FREE' repair cleared up, but the dots seem to have been connected.  Now, if those guys would just get on with it!!