With a much appreciated exception in the vaccuum department, it's good to know that all is still right with my universe. In the brief months we call 2011, I've had brand-new-dishwasher woes, tossed into the garbage the coffee maker Santa brought us for Christmas, and am currently enjoying our new toaster.
Back to our regularly-scheduled PNW spring weather after a truly glorious weekend. With a sick kid lying in the next room, I watch our poor hens scurry out from under one shelter or another for a quick bite before diving under cover once again.
Some days it's especially good to be a human with a refrigerator.
What is it about a sunny day and the end of the week that just screams "share this moment with friends!"? Dunno.
But we did, and we're glad. Today was a triple, maybe quadruple wammy, with Earth Day, Good Friday, the first truly brilliantly sunny day we can remember, and of course, the surprise appearance of our newest addition. (Mama and young one doing great so far, by the way)
Bliss.
So how to improve on perfection? Make sure you spread the day far and wide across those you know and love. Luckily, our pals Judith and Terry were game to nibble our weekly pedestrian Friday Pizza and Movie night fare of clumsy sort of homemade pizza and admittedly yummy Cioppino concocted last night - so no one went hungry and all got to bask in the warmth of a true spring day while our boys attempted to stump the grown-ups on riddles (easily accomplished) and outdo each other on the silliness scale (no comment).
But, most of all we shared stories of the day, the week, and the times. And celebrated our friendship with a little wine and a fair amount of mediocre but at least honest and handmade food.
The perfect ending to the perfect day. I thank the universe for friends that are willing to drop by and settle in when the moment calls.
You're the best.
Death, birth, renewal. Where there is sadness, joy. Where there is grief, life.
A surprise lamb, come what seems a whole month early - but healthy and beautiful.
Just this moment, right now. It's all perfect.
On this Earth Day, this Good Friday, this prelude to Easter, we are blessed.
Our whole family knows better than to get attached to the livestock - especially after the losses of the past couple years. But, discovering our "leader" sheep - matriarch of the flock and hand-tamed - had died yesterday afternoon came as a blow to us all. She was fine, and then she was gone.
Pictured above almost a year ago to the day, Blackberry feasting after giving birth to her last lamb.
Good-bye mama.
Thanks.
I can't seem to bring myself to rein in the weather blabber. Dylan and I are hunkered down in our respective cozy places this afternoon while the gray skies cry.
But, yesterday. Yesterday! O blessed yellow orb - we basked in your glow for a second straight uninterrupted day in a row! I think I even got a little sunburned. Felt great.
Just a couple days of Vitamin D and happiness shining down on us and ours, and the spring blues crawl back under the couch to join the dust bunnies again for a while. Plus, after a day in the garden, I can gaze from the warmth of my couch and see today's showers as the life-giving force they are, envisioning my little starts drinking in their first sips from nature's hose.
Grow little guy, grow!
A couple of years ago, the US Supreme Court decided that corporations could in many respects enjoy the same legal privileges as United States citizens. The most important part of that decision was that it opened the door for corporations to funnel essentially unlimited money into our elections...anonymously.
It took but a single election cycle to illustrate what unlimited corporate money in the political process would wrought. Completely unqualified candidates, plucked out of nowhere, to run on radical agendas with corporate-financed and polished messages, while career public servants who've served the interests of the American people on both sides of the aisle found themselves underfunded and out of luck.
And just hours ago, the US government shutdown held hostage by these newly-elected extremists was narrowly averted. For now.
But the other day, I discovered perhaps a less disheartening but more curious consequence of the Court's Citizen's United ruling: The rise of the corporate biography.
Now, maybe this exciting genre of literary journalism has always been around and it's just never caught my eye before. But, within the span of a few days, I was confronted with 2 thrilling tales of the little companies that could - and did - against all odds. I am preparing my heart to be warmed.Last week, my son filmed a project 
at Seattle's Museum of Flight. We decided to join and as a part of membership packet were handed Character and Characters: The Spirit of Alaska Airlines.
Yesterday, I stopped in at my favorite Starbucks only to discover that our homegrown coffee monolith, too, has a poignant tale of rags to riches to share with us. CEO Howard Shultz offers us Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul.
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure both AA and Starbucks have fascinating histories - there is a pioneer spirit here in the upper left hand corner that persists even today and permeates our culture. Neither transforming a small wilderness plane operation into a successful and fiercely brand loyal airline nor convincing the entire globe that they simply are not paying enough for their morning cup of coffee are not inconsequential feats.
But I recall the day, not too far in the distant past, when we cozied up with a good book about Teddy Roosevelt, Lewis & Clark, or Amelia Earhart. Often, people did heroic - or insane - things because the commercial interests at the time paid them to do it. But, the story - the story was about the person, or people, and the funding context was secondary, at best. It's a little tough for me to get my hero worship in full swing for Starbucks. Still...
Maybe there's something in here for me after all...
Stop Sign Farm Inc: Changing The World One Egg At A Time
Hello - Random House?
