Withywindle Wanderers

Today each Ady did something wonderful, in their own eyes. Eowyn and Cosette went to the fair with Nana and Bucca. On our way, we read about Angelina Ballerina, who dreamed ALL winter about going to the fair. And at last... Bens spent his today at home, cosily reading and writing and thinking and philosophising, which he rather enjoys! And I hiked high into the Cascade mountains, discovering the amazing Blanca Lake. The trees were enormous. At 5000 feet, alpine meadows, fresh air, birdsong, wildflowers and blueberries sated my senses. I was thinking about love, and desiring to love with more concern for those I am loving and less concern and fear about myself. At the very moment this thought materialised in my mind, Blanca Lake appeared around a bend in the path. Its blue-green is irridescent from glacial till trickling down from the Columbia Glacier. The worn, rocky mountain peaks were so ancient and connected to the earth's core. They inspired me to sing an old hymn at the top of...

'Twas lovely seeing Sam and Becca. I don't know when next I'll see any of my siblings or my parents, or my nephews. Hopefully not too far off!! I am thankful to see dear Bens, Eowyn and Cosette every day!!!! I love this pic Becca took of Sam and I soaking in the delicious Maine sunset.

I'm really thankful for the wonderful girlfriends I have in Seattle. This week has been one of celebrating them: Shakespeare in the park with Arenda (that's the sun setting over Puget Sound afterwards! Eowyn wants to be Sylvia, in Two Gentlemen of Verona, and posed as her all the way home!), wine in the jacuzzi with Katie, Korean deliciosities with Lisa, champagne and shrimp with Karen, biking to the zoo with Mary, singing to celebrate the assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary with Jeannie, and hiking to Talapus Lake with Diana and Nathalie! I'm feeling exceedingly thankful to have such wonderful women in my life! And to those of you I didn't get to see this week, a toast to you!