Need I Say More?

Camp Tibbits Winter Style. And tomorrow we go cross country skiing.

Still Not Complaining

One Day Later

I don't know about our little buds, but I sure want to go out and play. We've had flakes, slush, hail, rain and more flakes. So beautiful. We followed the snow plow to the market and stocked up as this is supposed to last a few days. I haven't lived in a snowy climate since I was six years old. I can remember walking down the slippery sidewalks all bundled up in so many layers I couldn't even bend. I am loving this but I don't have kids to shuttle or dogs to walk or even a commute to work. So, at this point I welcome a snow day. We'll just keep those noses to the window  and stare in even more wonder.

I'm not complaining but....

Waiting for Spring

Like little children wanting to play, our quince cuttings seem to be peering out the window in anticipation. And so are we.

We're off to the Garden Show on Friday for inspiration, and can't wait to get this yard in bloom. But it looks like we'll have to be a bit more patient. The weather forecast is for rain/snow showers and cold, cold temps for the rest of the week.

I'm already in three layers most of the time. I don't think I'll be able to bend if I have to add another one. We're starting our fires a little earlier in the day to keep ourselves toasty. I've gotten pretty good at poking around the embers to stir up some flames. (I think there is a metaphor there somewhere.)

Oh well, in the meantime, the quince and I will push our noses to the window and look out in wonder.

writing retreat

Well, that's my excuse anyway. I retreated from writing this past week. Not to say I didn't have anything to say. (That will be the day.) But, I started to feel a little too compelled to write and that's when it starts to sound contrived to me. So, I'm back from hiatus...for at least today.

What I/we did spend the week doing was continue to explore this amazing community. We're dipping our toes in here and there. The more we dip the deeper the well we're discovering.

We began our volunteer gig at The Commons. We're bookies. No, we're not taking bets, there'd be no faster way to lose money than to hand it over to us. We're not crooks but our few adventures in gambling made the house that much richer in record time. We are called bookies by our lovely volunteer leader, Sue. She is a former middle school teacher and principal and managed to retire with her sanity and energy intact. She is also very organized and came up with a system to deal with the donation, pricing, and selling of used books. I'm happy because I've always had a fantasy of owning a bookstore. This way I can do it without the worry of staying in business. My only worry is that I'll end up spending too much money on books that I just "have to own." But, I promise to use self control as much as possible. Thank goodness the wonderful Langley library is just a few doors away.

We did alot more last week and I promise to catch up before I skip ahead to Current Events.

It does feel good to hit the Publish Post button, so I will be back tomorrow. Promise.

Bird Talk

There is a morning radio feature that we love. It's called Bird Note and each day we hear a little information/trivia about birds. It usually starts with the bird call of the featured subject. It's pretty cool and really makes us focus on the wonderful NW birds.

We have many tall, old (ish) growth trees in our backyard. There is one that the ravens really love to land on, make a few caws and move on.  I missed it but Tim told me that two humungous eagles decided to make a pit stop there for lunch today. He said he heard a giant racket and wasn't even sure what it was. We know the ravens have a variety of calls but these were definitely not ravens. He looked out and spotted the eagles. They were really going at it. Not necessarily in a bad way, but they were definitely fully engaged in some sort of avian negotiations. I'm wondering if there is some nesting situation going on. We'll have to keep our eyes and ears open for updates.

Yesterday I started a piece on trying to duplicate in words the sounds of individual birds. I wish I could replicate the correct vowel and consonant and pronounciation of the sounds that come from our winged friends. I can't even name the various species but I sure wish I could reproduce the sounds into letters. I'll just have to keep listening to the birds talk. It sure beats the news.

a walk on the wild side

Oh how we love our Wednesdays.

Once again the sun shone for us. That's four in a row. We're not taking it for granted, but have come to expect it. Our day off from our days off.

And today was a stunner, for sure.

We haven't crossed over to the other side (aka America aka the mainland) since we've been back.

But I read an article about the Winter Garden at the Seattle Arboretum and couldn't resist.

So I googled a good restaurant, made a list of supplies

and off we went.

We arrived in no time, having visited the Japanese Gardens last fall,we knew our route.

This time, we arrived to frosty grounds with sunlight peaking through the trees.

The witch hazel barely in bloom, the helebores had seen their day.

Thank goodness the crocus were perky.

And then the light on the paper bark tree stopped us in our tracks.

Isn't it amazing what the backdrop of sunlight can do?

We messed around taking a few pictures of ourselves but realized our glow couldn't equal that of our surroundings.

And that's okay with us.

what a difference a day makes

Okay, okay. I know. Patience is a virtue and hopefully I will acquire some...might not be in this lifetime but we'll see.

Received an email from the director of our local community non-profit, all age, happening center this morning. By noon we'd met in person and filled in a calendar with dates. Yahoo. I will be conducting my first mini-workshop on the Island. Three Saturdays in March. I'm happy. It's a start. The foot is in the door. The pen is in the hand. The ink will soon be on the paper.

Okay, Whidbey Island get ready to write. Mrs. Tibbits is in da house.

And the other good news is I won't be writing any whiny blahg posts for at least a week...I promise.

nothing to say and nothing to say

Hating to steal a line from the classic, "I Hate Mondays," in the fear/hope I'll be wrong and will  have a good one a week from today. But...this is the second one in a row that I've ended the day on a "wrong side of the bed" note. Last week it was due to too much fun on the weekend but this week....hmmmm....perhaps due to a "rude awakening."(Hey, that should have been the title to today's blahg.)

But then again I would have been happy for a rude awakening ala phone ringing. Even a rejection call would be welcome at this point. I'll take the rationale, excuse, reason, etc. that my services aren't needed or I won't be hired. Or...You've been out of the work force too long, we've found someone more qualified, we aren't expanding after all, there isn't sufficient interest, the budget's been cut...ANYTHING. 

It takes about ten minutes to compose a one size fits all rejection letter, one minute more to insert the recipient's name and address, and two seconds to hit the SEND button.

Okay, that's it. I feel better already. No more rant. It's almost time for House.

This Place is So Civilized

Well, I've no longer got the blues when it's time to grocery shop. I love our local markets. Even though we won't have a farmer's market until May, I'm able to find amazing produce around here. One of my favorite places to shop is the Star Store in Langley. Where else can you find cheap avocados (Hass for 59 cents each!) any time of the year, leopard skin panties, kitchen gadgets, cute scarves, great priced wine, crab cakes, and fake nose glasses all under one roof? It is pretty packed in there. You really can't help but run into someone (whether you know them or not) as you peruse the aisles. The merchandiser gets an A+ for displaying goods. And the prices aren't bad. I mentioned the avocados because we used to live right in the middle of avocado land in CA. I never paid under a dollar for one, esp. Hass. Very cool. The store has a smaller branch just down the street from our house. I took Fifi there when she came to visit a few years ago. As we were waiting patiently for our cream puffs at the deli counter, she remarked aloud, "I didn't know this island was so civilized." I think she envisioned us living ala Gilligan's Island because our cell service was so spotty it was hard to have phone conversations without being cut off mid sentence. Anyway, she was quite impressed.

The Star Store isn't necessarily convenient for filling the grocery cart, but it's a great place to run in for a few fun items. There is a new store I'm crazy about for the big shopping expeditions...The Goose Community Market. But, you'll just have to wait to hear about that place. I'm done shopping for the day.

Mrs. Grandma

Today was my first day of volunteering in my sweet, Sophia's classroom. I am so lucky to have a granddaughter in the 5th grade...they are some of my favorite people on the planet. The elementary school enthusiasm is still there coupled with a bit of sophistication ,I can be my wise-ass (albeit toned-down) self, and they already know how to hold a pencil. My little group was pure delight. I didn't have to give "the look" even once. If anyone needs a demonstration of "the look," my daughter does a mean imitation. I'm sure there are probably a few former students who still see it in recurring nightmares now and then.

 I didn't get to have Sophia in the group, but that was just as well. If I'd bombed it would have made her social standing slip a notch or two,I'm sure. I guess I passed the test as the kids asked if they could meet with me again next time. They either had a good time or really hate math which was the alternate activity. In any event, it feels good to be back in the saddle. And one hour a week is just about perfect for me. I looked around the classroom and wondered how I ever did it. I cannot think of a profession I respect more than teaching. As far as I am concerned, teachers are the rock stars of the universe.  I was very grateful to get my American Idol return ticket today. Thanks kids, see you next week.

too blah to blahg

I don't know what happened this morning, but woke up with the semi-serious blahs. But they didn't last too long. After a little jaunt to the library and the local nursery all was back in balance. Then we took a magnificent walk on Maxwelton Beach this afternoon. I was bemoaning (yes, I can bemoan with the best of them) that I really miss living somewhere walkable. That was the greatest thing about Claremont. I could be in the Village in five minutes. Library, post office, cafes, movie theater...all within walking distance. We don't have that luxury at our home on the island. We've got woods to walk if we so desire but seeking the sun is a priorty when one lives in the woods. So when the sun shines our deal is to hop in the car and find a walk.

Today's walk along the beach was sublime. By the time we finished I realized what an extraordinary gift we have right here. Rocks and shells and driftwood, the sounds of waves lapping on shoreline pebbles, eagles and herons roosting on pier posts, scoters and shorebirds we don't know what to call, the Olympics in the distance, and sun on our faces. This works, we'll take it, a perfect cure for the blahs.

The Joy of S...

Sleeping, the joy of sleeping. A good night's sleep is better than just about anything I can think of these days. I love to go to sleep almost as much as I love to wake up in the morning.

We bought a new mattress recently. Our old one had ten years or more of tosses and turns and curling ups and many, many dreams. We switched to a memory foam type mattress. The first night was interesting. When they say it molds to your body type, I didn't know what they meant. I figured it out right away. You lay down and that's it. Plunk and sink. You don't toss and turn because you can't. It would require lifting your body, turning and replunking. Hmmmm. We soon realized a little softness was needed on the surface. So I ordered a nice topper that's seems to have done the trick. I no longer feel like I'm laying on a dense marshmallow without the give. Tossing and turning are no longer an issue. I do it just like the old days.

About once a month I actually sleep through the night and don't open my eyes until 5 or 6 in the morning. Tim teases me because I get into bed around 9ish and am usually snoring (so he says) by 10. Ten or so hours later I'm ready to face the world. What he doesn't realize (because he's snoring away,) is that I've watched the clock from 1 to 2 and sometimes 3 in the morning. I've come to call it "horizontal meditation." When I'm not working on ideas during that awake period, I think about nothingness. It's really quite nice. I've gotten pretty good at it. I like nothing. Really, alot.

And then before I know it, it's 7:30 in the morning and time to rise and shine. But not before one more roll over. Just one more.

Too Much of a Good Thing

It's been so much fun to play in the kitchen since we've been back. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to open a drawer and recognize the contents. I'm not exactly a frequent Sur la Table shopper, but I've got enough gadgets to get the job done. Plus eating off our own plates makes every meal a comfort dish. Ahhhh...the nesting instinct is in high gear around here. Tim plays in the garden while I play in the kitchen.

Yesterday I played with phyllo for the first time. I'm not a baker. My desserts may taste okay but they are never pretty. I'm not a measurer. I prefer the "little of this and little of that and a bit more of this," strategy when I cook. So that makes it tricky to create elegant desserts. I've always been intimidated by puff pastry and phyllo. You have to keep it at the perfect temperature, the paper thin layers way too delicate for my patience level. But this recipe I found in an old Bon Apetit for B'stilla, a Morrocan chicken pie was irresistable. I love the aroma of cinnamon and onions and spices...so exotic.

We'd invited our good pals, Barbie and Mike, over for a Sunday nt. supper. I warned Barbie I was trying out a new recipe so we could end up eating cheese and crackers and drinking wine in the event of disaster. I got up early, finished my coffee, waved bye-bye to Tim, and got to work. The ingredients called for exotic spices, chicken, phyllo, almonds, raisins, cilantro...and butter. Lots of butter. An entire stick of butter. That is more butter than I have consumed collectively since I got my cholesterol wake up call last winter. What the heck. If Paula Deen's survived this long, what's a stick of butter?  The entire operation went smoothly. It was actually fun to peel the parchment thin layers of dough apart. When I was finished assembling the main course I had left over scraps of phyllo. Couldn't let that go to waste (instead it went to waist.) So, I scrounged some chocolate chips, dried cranberries and more butter. It looked just as ugly as any other dessert I'd ever made but it sure smelled good.

Our pals showed up. We drank the wine, noshed on appetizers and sat down to dinner. It was delicious. Usually when I prepare the meal, I cannot really taste it. But last night was an exception. The pastry was light but crispy, the almonds added a subtle crunch, and the flavors...oooh la la. Every last bit was finished. There would be no left overs from this meal. We adjourned for after dinner sips and shared the ugly, patchwork dessert. More deliciousness. Before we knew it the evening had come to an end. Time for bed.

It wasn't long before I was tossing and turning and gripping and burning. I don't know how Paula does it...she must pop Pepcids like M&Ms. It was a long night and this morning I was very happy to remember there were no leftovers to face today. Bye bye butter. See you in another lifetime.

I'll Get Back to You (and other assorted lies.)

I think it is safe to say Tim and I have spread the word. "We're here, Whidbey Island. Put us to work." Yeah, yeah, I know it's only been a couple of weeks. It's not like we've sent out hundreds of resumes (2 each)or pounded the pavement (driven to Langley and Freeland twice) or hired a head hunter (checked out Craigslist) or any other desperate measures (bought suits) but we are trying to let the lovely island folks know we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

In addition to applying for some part time teaching positions at the Community College level, I've put together a three week Life Story writing workshop. So far it's been met with great enthusiasm, "This is perfect," and promises of "We'll be in touch right away." At least people are polite. I like the yes before the no attitudes. But I'm starting to feel a little bit like I'm doing business in Japan... nods of agreements, smiles and other polite responses. But that doesn't necessarily mean yes we want you. They are just nice people who don't want to hurt your feelings. And I suppose that is what I am encountering here on Whidbey.

I guess I can get used to the niceness.It may take a while but in the meantime (no pun intended) if you say you're going to call, please do. I can take it, really I can.

In the meantime, I'll just keep on blahging.

Classified Information

Tim is going on his first "free estimate" call for the new business today. No telling what will come of it. He will probably encounter all sorts of interesting people and circumstances in this little business. I'll be excited to hear all about the trash and treasures on this island. But, I may have to torture him for the info. One promise he is making to potential clients is discretion. I guess it makes sense that people don't want their dirty laundry spilled. It wouldn't be fair to name names would it? Not even initials?  The skeletons in the closet will have to stay there...unless it is time for them to go, along with the rest of the detritus we somehow collect over time. I'm sure some treasures will be discovered. Maybe Antique Roadhouse possibilities...or Pawn Stars (yes, "pawn.") At the very least he will become very good friends with the folks at Island Recycle.

So, I will use restraint when he gets back. I will not torture for tidbits or reports of hoarding egg cartons and cabbage patch dolls. I won't, I won't, I won't. Except I really have one burning question.

Does everyone else have a collection of plastic storage containers in their kitchen cabinets with lids that don't fit, or are we the only ones?

Let There Be Light

The sun is peeking through the trees...Papa and Mama Bear will emerge from their winter hibernation to enjoy the rays streaming through the trees.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed the short days and dark, dark nights. It has given me a good excuse to sleep in, curl up with a book, enjoy an afternoon cup of tea,  and ponder what ever it is I'm supposed to be pondering. I am proud to say I haven't complained once and we've been here for almost two whole weeks. But, this tease of sunshine may change all of that. That old you don't know what you've got till it's gone thing may set in soon...by tomorrow or the next day...it's supposed to rain.

In the meantime, let the sun shine in.

That Could Be Me

Yesterday, as I was sitting in my comfy chair while working away at my Sunday Times crossword puzzle, I listened to a news report on the Royal Wedding. It seems collectibles are being sold at such a quick pace it is impossible to keep up with the demand.

"Who buys that stuff?" I pondered aloud.
"People who don't leave their houses," Tim replied.
"Oh, you mean people like me?"

I looked down and realized I was wearing the same outfit from the day before...oversized sweater and stretched out sweat pants. Very attractive.

I hadn't stepped foot outside for two whole days. I hadn't done that since I ditched school and was afraid to go out in case someone saw me. Luckily I was the teacher so I didn't have to forge a note. I don't think I even opened the front door yesterday. I looked out the window quite a bit and even snapped an "arty" shot with my Blackberry from the vantage of my comfy chair.

Got a call during the day from a woman who was coming by to dig up some of our unwanted ferns, etc.
"It's cold and wet out there. Are you sure you want to come today?'
"That's why I'm wearing rain gear,"she replied.

Oh yeah, that's what's hanging in my hall closet. Along with the Uggs and Boggs and other assorted footwear. I guess I should be brave and venture outdoors today.

But first I need to find one of those British Waging sites. I think I need to place a bet or two. What are the odds of rain for the April nuptials in London?

Out of the Closet

That is the name I wanted to call Tim's new business but being a master of restraint, I came up with "Tim Tibbits - Community Organizer (one household at a time.) Inspired by the book, Sell, Keep or Toss,Tim is running a small business that helps people get rid of clutter, organize estates, get ready to move or just simplify their lives. Now, you could follow our example and move every other week to shed belongings or you could stay put and downsize...which is probably a saner way to live. (Hopefully we'll finally discover that concept.) After spending eleven days cleaning out detritus at his mom's house a couple of summers ago, we've decided we're really doing our kids a favor by reducing our cargo before we can't do it ourselves. Plus one man's trash is another man's treasure, right? Tim took a mediation course last year. The skills could come in handy when it's time to decide what to keep or not. His handyman experience should also be put to use with the business. He's even willing (make that anxious) to tackle gardens and landscapes that are overgrown and need of cleaning up. He'd probably love to work outdoors more than in someone's closet, but you never know what he'll discover. Our rule going in is that no matter how tempting an item is that a customer has decided to part with, it cannot come home with him. No matter what, no matter what, no matter what. Unless of course it's a ...

TGIF

We've been back for a week and haven't even once thought about moving (he he.) Actually it's been a great week of accomplishments ala Tibbits. Picked up WA plates for the car, found reasonable (relatively) health insurance, started a business for Tim (details will follow as promised,) completed more job applications, got a landline, got rid of cable box, cleaned out the garage, baked cookies (major accomplishment,) and discovered a new leak in the roof. Not bad for the first week of island living.    

And the best news...the kids are due back today. Monica and family have been traveling since mid-December. We met in Austin for Christmas then they continued East while we headed West. Now we'll all be Northwest. Yahoo.

Hope to do some "latte-ing" with friends this weekend. And perhaps catch some live entertainment in lively Langley. Then again, we may just curl up with a book and play a round or two of Banana Grams. Yup, we're living la vida loca and loving it.

Recycle - At Your Own Risk

One of the joys of living on the island is being able to visit a local recycling facility. Being the adventurers that we are, we ventured to the Coupeville facility yesterday. We had some hazardous waste and a few other items not welcome at the Bayview or Freeland places. Tim and Mike have been working hard at emptying one of the garages. Most of the stuff in there is left over from the Crispin days...long past usable dates, very toxic and just providing clutter. So we loaded up our trusty Prius with our own recyclables, stuff from Mike and the toxic haul from days long past.

Entering a recycle facility on the island is always an interesting experience. Almost everyone knows the routine and is usually in a hurry. So, parking is a very strategic enterprise. Don't want to be in anyone's way if possible but also don't want to have to be too heavily laden while finding the correct bin. Sure enough as soon as we thought we found a good spot, the recycle domanatrix was there to redirect us. I have to say the women who work at our island recycle centers all seem to share similar personality traits. They must have been made to wear frilly dresses and eat everything from their plates when they were little. And now it's their turn for revenge. "Excuse me, where may I dump these magazines?" "OVER THERE WHERE IT SAYS MAGAZINES." From then on we were followed relentlessly. Obviously we had never recycled before so had to be schooled on everything...at very close range. I would turn around from the CARDBOARD bin and she'd be standing one inch from my face. When I discovered some packing peanuts in one of the boxes, all you know what broke loose. "THOSE ARE GARBAGE. WE DON'T TAKE GARBAGE." And without missing a beat she shook some AA batteries in Tim's face. "DON'T EVER, EVER TRY TO DUMP THESE HERE." He wasn't and he surely never will. When we finally managed to escape we wondered to ourselves what she must be like after work. I pictured her curled up in feet in pajamas with her tabby on her lap, venting about all the ignorant people she had to correct all day. I think she really likes her job.

And then...it was time for Hazardous Materials. We were afraid, very afraid. Who could top Miss Recycling? We wound our way through gates and special lanes and were finally at the assigned location. The place looked a bit like a scene from Mad Max or Brazil. Not a place you'd light a match, for sure.  There we met John (I knew this by his patch which was sewed just a bit crookedly on his giant coveralls.) Terry Gilliam, where ever you are, you need to cast John in your next film. His sly grin and gangly gait were a welcome sight after the feral hiss of "you know who." Perhaps the toxic chemicals created a constant high, who knows. He was helpful and cheerful and even offered to take our GARBAGE. He and Tim chatted as they sorted all manners of toxic chemicals. Nothing was rejected.

We left with an empty car and smiles.

Sunshine = Day off

The light is filtering through the trees. It is a crisp, clear sunshiny January day. We worked hard yesterday with applications (so far one rejection and one request for more info.) We went public with Tim's new business project. Thank you, Drewslist. What a great service. I'll describe it in detail later but today is my day off (as opposed to all the unofficial days off as of late.) Bye, bye gotta fly.

Spam - alot

I've noticed a sudden increase in our spam box. It could be due to my exploration of online teaching job possibilities. It is hard to tell which sites are legit so I'm poking around a bit before I complete any applications or send out my resume.  I'm also checking out doing some online editing. From some of the junk mail titles we receive I think I'd have fun teaching ESL to those in the business of making our sex life "more eksiting". "Make your lady happy with Vigara for your peenus, very big." Come on if you're going to write it, you better know how to spell it. I've had plenty of experience with graphic language. I used to teach Middle School and let me tell you it is quite a place behind those frenemy lines. Eighth grade girls can be lethal. I used to intercept notes being passed in class. Phew, they were something. Every once in a while I'd circle the spelling errors with red ink and leave them on the writer's desk the next day. That was fun. Anyway back to my job idea. Perhaps we could barter...pills for grammar. Goodness knows we have "4 or more hours," to kill these days. But wait, we don't have a doctor on Whidbey yet. Better get to work on that today.

Explain Any Breaks

Spent part of yesterday downloading and completing job applications. Yes, we want jobs. Well, let me correct that, we need jobs. Not full time...just some part time stuff. I'm envisioning Tim as a crossing guard ala Albert Brooks in Lost in America. But that probably won't happen as I haven't seen any crossing guards on the island. He may apply to be an asst. soccer coach at the high school(must keep him running around as much as possible.) Plus he's got a small business idea in the planning stages. More on that later. I'd like to get the writing workshops going again. It's seems there is already a plethora of writers and want to be writers on this island so I'll have to find my niche. I'm filling out an application for a teaching position at Skagit Valley College in Clinton. I cringed when I had to fill in my birthdate. I put AD after the year so it wouldn't look so bad. I was a bit stumped when I was instructed to explain the gaps in employment while between jobs. Hmmm...where to begin? It's been over seven years since I worked full time. In the time since, I've had a little part time job in a library and have done some freelance writing gigs. Anybody have some creative input on this? We both wish we could just volunteer around the island. And, we will as soon as we get settled. Today we are off to Whidbey Telecom for a landline. We need to be ready when those job offers start coming in...

Two boomers seek Happily Ever After (before The End.)

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Thank you, Lao-Tzu, after putting on more than 6,000 miles on our Prius over the course of the last two months, we don't have the energy for one more single step. Our travels over the last year have included a move to Claremont, CA, a flight to Nicaragua, a road trip to Tucson, a summer trip to the Oregon Coast, a flight to Maui to celebrate our 20th, a move from Claremont to Whidbey Island and finally a two month road trip to Austin, TX and back, via a few states and family visits in between. Are we road weary? Yup. But we're also excited to start the next chapter. We plan to stay put (yeah, right) and establish ourselves on Whidbey. So, unbuckle your seat belts and comment away as Les and Tim settle in.