Nature Walk

We took the car out for a test drive to Silver Springs Campground, thinking the snow would be gone.
Wrong.
A campsite we reserved is blocked by a huge fallen tree. Let's hope it's clear by August in time for our family camp-out.
On the way home we stopped at Federation Forest. What a lovely experience. Moss covered just about everything.  We walked  a trail to and along the river.  A Canada goose stood on the edge of the grass looking out at the water. It looked very lonesome.
 After we started walking and saw all the droppings of geese and deer we realized this was a popular hang-out.

On the way home  Joe got a photo of Skookum Falls  from the car window.

Great Music for Great Cathedral

I was avoiding anything to do with the Royal Wedding but accidentally turned on the news in time to see a re-play.  When I heard " I was glad" by Parry,  as the couple walked down the aisle, I was filled with emotion and sang along with the choirs.

I have nothing!

No story, no party, no special family moment.  I've been out  digging dandelions and I'm trying to find a reason to work in the house.
On the positive side, the weather is perfect for outdoor work.   I filled  a wheelbarrow full of weeds and feel good about that, plus it is interesting to see what plants the deer enjoy.

Tomorrow we're taking a day off. We're driving to Silver Springs National Forest Campground to look over the sites for our family campout.

I'm listening to the end of the Mariners game. If they win, I'm going back out to work.

Come on Detroit, you can do it.

I guess not.  Mariners win...This is the first time they have swept the Lions since 2003. 

Back to work.

Easter Services...A Joyful Challenge!

Each year I enjoy participating in  the Holy Week services.  I feel very fortunate to be part of such a great choir.
However,I guess I'm just not holy enough to enjoy the length of some of the services.

The reading of the Passion is always difficult for me because the readers are bland.
I feel evil saying this but I am being truthful.

 I love singing the music of Holy Thursday and Good Friday and was
  inspired by the high notes of Rebekah Gilmore and "Were You There"sung by K. Weld.

The Easter Vigil is one of my favorite services but the length lessens the joy.

The two masses on Sunday were a breeze. The music was creative and challenging to sing. I loved it.



Since few people read my blog I feel free to speak my mind. Hope I haven't offended anyone.

Lawyer/Sawyer = MudMeg

Just received note from  Meagan. She has passed the test to become a ...B-Level Certified Crosscut Sawyer.
"This is for bucking ( i.e. tree is on the ground).
That means I can lead a team for trees up to 24 inches without supervision. Be afraid!"

Even though I'm her Mother-in Law I feel no fear, only pride.

Way to go, Meagan!

Night Visitor

Last night we had a doe in our backyard.  Joe went outside to fetch some wood for the fire and there she was, sitting on the grass. 
I looked around today to see what she had for dinner and several plants were topped including my favorite group of trillium.
We seem to like the same type of wildflower for different reasons.

Mother Goose

This  goose who has a nest in the hollow of a tree at Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.

NISQUALLY WILDLIFE REFUGE

A great place to take a walk, relax and enjoy the scenery.
Birds we were able to identify include:
Canada Geese
Great Blue Heron
Egret
Robin and juvenile...looked through 5 books until I found information on robin with white markings on back.
Of course, it is a juvenile.  All these years of looking at flocks of robins and I'm just catching on. How observant!
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle...Juvenile
Yellow legs (Sandpiper family)
Solitary Sandpiper 
Mallards
Seagulls
Marsh Wren
Common Loon

That's it for now.  Too bad I don't belong to Audubon. We saw a group waiting for a certain bird that they
study. Listening to them talk about birds is like listening to our choir director speak about composers etc.
Usually, way beyond my understanding. Still, I appreciate the information.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER.......and so on.

Joe and I drove to  Nisqually Refuge this afternoon. It's about 44 miles from our home.  If it were closer I'd walk there every day.
As we approached the entrance hundreds of geese flew over us. We parked the car near a tree and I spotted a marsh wren.  We walked all the way to the end of the walk ( 4 mile round trip) and were fortunate to see many birds. I'll have a list later.

On our way back to the car I spotted a bird fly into the hollow of a tree. I told Joe to turn on his camera but by the time we arrived it was out of sight. I thought it might have been an owl but finally it peeked out  and it was a goose. I should have know as another goose (probably the father) was patiently waiting near the tree.

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

The Christmas Angels arrived today and really helped  out.   The team known as J.M.D.I. or James,Meagan Dylan and Ian MacKenzie gave us a fantastic gift of manual labor
.
I had a difficult time getting a photo that would show the volume of the  wood pile. It consists of three rows of winter warmth. Probably several cords of wood.

Joe was responsible for the pile of logs before the log splitter.  Some of the logs were quite large and had some stubborn areas making them difficult to cut. I helped roll a few out of the woods after Joe cut them and it was not easy. Joe got on his hands and knees to push some of them to the cutting area. I actually got on my knees for a couple of them but quickly chose to do other work.

Before the wood splitting, they helped Joe put up the scaffolding for a future painting project.

Since Meagan began volunteering for the Forestry Service she is like a convert to a religion. She loves being out of her office and at one with nature.
Everyone worked hard and would've made us feel a little guilty (especially me who used the time to dig out dandelions and a few plants for Meagan) except for the fact that this is their idea, and we need and appreciate the help. Plus, we are helping them earn their rightful place in heaven!



We also had a great visit.
After team MacKenzie left , Joe  and I walked out to look, once again, at the wood pile. It is a thing of beauty.

BILLY ELLIOT......THE MUSICAL

Three hours of unbelievable talent and energy.  The experience was like a great journey to another country. So much to absorb in such a short time, not fully appreciated until you're in the quiet of your home thinking about what you've witnessed.  
Liz, Joe and I attended the performance Sunday after mass. What a thrill to watch the artists work so hard to put on this show.
One of the interesting facts is that many of the persons were not your typical thin as a rail performers.
The story is true, the Billy Elliot character is fiction.  The story of the strike in Northern England would have been difficult to watch without Billy.
No need to tell the story as there is a book and a movie.

The encore number was fantastic with all the coal miners, children who played less than talented dancers, and other characters doing a tap number,  getting a chance to show their true talents.

The language was rough.
How much fun for the youngsters to get paid for saying all the forbidden words.

Another Beatitude?

I've often been asked why/how I sing for funerals.   This card was given to me by a family who lost their mother.

Mt. St. Helen' Volcano Victims "Celebration of Life" May 31 1980

On Saturday May 17, Day Karr took his two sons Day Andrew, and Michael Murray on a camping trip to one of their favorite campsites about 5 miles from Mt. St. Helens.  May 18 the mountain erupted.


Barbara Karr a teacher and mother of the two boys, planned the service for May 31.

When I heard her plans I asked Father Stevens why I was needed. He said, "I need you to keep some semblance of order".

Before the service:

Miracle of Life
You knew me before I was born
Irish Blessing
I am the Resurrection.

Classmates of the children sang "Rainbow Connection" with guitar.

During the  Communion  and  Meditation  recordings were played..One was the sound of whales ,as one of the children loved whales.

The church was completely filled with friends and family.

I was honored  to be part of this celebration of life.

Save or Toss?

Every so often I decide that I'm leaving too much stuff for our family to sort through when I take my leave.
I found a container full of notes received from people, after I sang for a family wedding or funeral. Some are pretty routine and some are very thoughtful and kind. How do you throw away something that gives you a feeling of worth.
I have separated them according to year....that about it.

Some of my memories are vivid and need no paper. My very first wedding was at St. Anthony Church in Renton. The family were friends of my Dad from The Pike Place Market. When I finished singing I was heading towards the door to make a quick exit when I heard this booming voice yell across the church, "Hey, Tony,
you got five bucks for the kid? "  I wanted to crawl in a hole, but I took the money and never forgot the moment.

More later.