Give thanks for the little things

To say our Thanksgiving was low-key would be an understatement. I was scheduled to work (newspapers still come out on holidays you know) so we got the word out to everyone that we couldn't host dinner.

And we didn't. As it turned out, another reporter offered to work for me so I was home Thanksgiving. But we'd already 'canceled' the holiday so we played it cool. Travis joined us for dinner (lasagna and salad) along with his girlfriend Ashley and Jess was there.

It was  lovely blue sky day. We went down to the senior center to help serve the free Thanksgiving dinner but they were awash in volunteers. So we kicked back, played games and went for a walk.

And Kristin came to visit the weekend before, which was awesome, holiday or not. 

Farewell Granny-Gran

Peggy Miller, in her drill team days

  We lost Brian's grandmother Peggy this fall. It was not sudden but very sad nonetheless. She was an amazing woman, bright, funny and so kind. We were able to see Peggy just a couple of weeks before she died and so appreciated those last hours.

We traveled to Yakima for the service, Brian was pallbearer (Josh planned to come but fell ill), and Jess was able to attend. Some seldom (sometimes never) seen relatives were there along with many familiar faces. Aunt B came from Arizona, Uncle Clay from South Carolina and Peggy's brother from California.

Aunt B and Mom-Nancy at the service

 

Leah and Aunt Lana

"The prize of all too precious you"

 Yes, October 18 measured 10 years of marriage and we celebrated with a long weekend in Ashland, site of one our most romantic dating-era getaways. We toured Southern Oregon University, shopped downtown, walked in the park and best of all -- attended two Shakespeare Festival shows! And we did a backstage tour with a OSF stage manager guide; she was so great we couldn't wait to get home and tell Jess we had found a perfect career for her.

Diamond Lake, on the roadtrip to Ashland

"Art Car" at the university

Brian enjoying his anniversary gift

Our 'retro' roadside motel in Ashland

"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love."

Jump into the Troutehole -- the water's fine

So, October brought our 10th anniversary ,which I used as an excuse to do something bold and un-me like.  I'd been thinking about a (real) tattoo for some time -- my only other one being very small, and now, very faded.

I wanted something very unique (not like last time when I inadvertently picked a common image) and without over-thinking it decided to use my love of northwest Indian art as inspiration for a Troutehole-themed tattoo.

Brian was perplexed at first, then tickled (I think) but mostly for me it was an exercise in personality expansion.

Don't be so afraid, little girl. Take a risk once in a while.

It's a (cider) party!!!

 Yes, here is Jessica, in her senior picture glory. She asked for her portrait 'session' to take place on the family's farm in Methow Valley and since we were traveling there for a cider press -- well, it all worked out for the best. It was a fun photo shoot, the weather was temperate and there are so many fun backdrops. She seemed happy with the outcome anyway.

 It was a small cider press this year, seems like we're moving in that direction. Just B and I, and Jess, along with Leah and Michael and Shiori. No extras this year. Aunt Diane and Uncle Rick came for the last day, more to socialize than anything else. But we got homemade chili from Jann and plenty of time to b.s. around the wood stove in the shop, beer in hand.

 We picked on one of the Zahn's orchards again this year. Funny how from year to year we do different things, depending on so many factors: what weekend we chose, what's ripe, what got hit by bugs etc.. We gleaned this year, after the pickers were done at the Zahn's, which was an interesting experience. This was the first time I'd picked in a large orchard of old-fashioned apple trees, instead of the dwarfs, or on the home place, which is only a few trees. Glad I didn't have to climb the ladders -- I hate that.