Sunday Salon, Oct. 6th

Mt. Rainier, as viewed from the window of the GKHS Library, Graham, Washington on 10/4/13

Weather: gorgeous. The earlier part of the week was overcast and wet but on Friday the sun broke through and we had a glorious Fall day. Yesterday Don and I worked in the yard for an hour or so planting Crane cabbages for decoration and bulbs in hopes that Spring will come again.

Crane cabbages look a little like something Dr. Seuss would draw.

The photo of Mt Rainier was taken from my library window Friday afternoon. I forwarded it to Don at work bragging about how lucky I was to have such an idyllic view from my work-space. He sent the following photo back. It is the view from his workplace window. I win! Ha! Then my daughter Carly jumped in to the conversation, "Yes, but does your view include the sound of chickens?" She can also see Mt. Rainier from her apartment in Seattle (much smaller, further away) but her neighbors are urban farmers and have chickens. So her view has an auditory component.

View out Don's workplace window, Oct. 4, 2013

For the past two weeks my library clerk has been out of work with a bad back. By Thursday this week I was completely out of gas doing the job of two people (which should really be the job of at least two and half people.)  Get well, Sharon! Thankfully, it was a quiet day in the library Friday allowing me time to catch up on a ton of half done tasks that had been piling up.  Here is a special shout-out to my daughter, Rita, who volunteered two days of her time to help me out.  Thank you, sweetie.

After work Friday a few of us gals from work went to a wine-tasting party at the Rainier View Winery owned by one of our colleagues and friend, Joleigh and her husband. We had so much fun and the wine is spectacular. My favorites: the sparkling riesling, the raspberry (with a chocolate, of course), and the marionberry. I admit I got a bit tipsy. If you are visiting the Seattle-area, I highly recommend a trip out to the winery for a tasting. Thanks Gahee for organizing it and for the yummy salads.

Rainier View Winery

Books read this week:

• Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick...a Mock Printz selection. Seven stories told about true love that lasts over centuries. Very creative. Review soon to follow.
• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway...read my review, a compare/contrast with previous reviews here.

Currently reading:

• Far Far Away by Tom McNeal...I'm completely charmed by this partial fairy tale. Audiobook.
• Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler...a memoir by a young gay man whose was raised in an extremely rigid Christian home.

A blast from the past: I saw a quote from the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach this week and posted it on Facebook. For some reason my friends and I were REALLY into this book when we were in high school. After my post a friend sent me the link to the YouTube video below with music by Neil Diamond. Enjoy!



The sermon series at church this month is from the Old Testament book, Exodus. Today's scripture really inspires me: Exodus 14: 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” After the service we went out to brunch with my cousin, his wife, and daughter at The Original Pancake House. I confess that we talked more about football than church but it was very fun. Thanks Anne, Steve, and Erin!

Must run and take the dog for a walk. The weather is too beautiful to miss.

What are you doing today?