1 Ben has strep, so I took him to the doctor, then out on a run on our old running route, all bundled up.
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3 This is where Sam learned to walk.
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7 A very bizarre pantry raid for dinner. SPAM alfredo. But fairly edible!
8 Sam is into making WHOPPER PIE!
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10 Screen saver - I want to go THERE!
11 Trying to get a picture of Emmy.
12 This is AFTER a ride. She was freaked out by the rain on the roof.
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15 Here is what she looks like after a scary ride. I had a couple very challenging ones with the heavy rain, but they are fun if I keep my head in the right space, trying to work with her, let her feel free to move, not confining her too much, but yet managing her. A lot like trying to raise kids...talk about an adrenaline rush.
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17 Some shots from out on my runs.
18 Holly berries.
19 Embers left in the morning.
20 Keeping boys occupied in line while waiting to go in for a hockey game and seeing the Stanley Cup!
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24 We waited in line TWICE! First picture was blurry.
25 Some memorabilia on the way...
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28 Can you believe we got to see it!?
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30 Waiting in line a second time for a more clear picture. I've called Dave down from the game to join me for the picture now...
31 And here we go!
32 This one is better. Only 90 minutes of waiting.
33 A good birthday present to give to Dave ;)
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35 On that big monitor it said HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!
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39 Coach Brett.
40 More hockey families :)
41 This guy up above looks like The Dude from The Big Lebowski :)
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51 Staying at a hotel before an early game the next day. I'm staying in a room with Sam and Eli.
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58 Christmas ornaments.
59 Ones I made years ago in Hawaii. I always enjoy finding them.
60 An umbrella handle :)
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62 Rainy days are for standing and hanging around.
63 My workspace.
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68 Reviving a starter neglected for months.
69 Bubbles starting to form.
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73 Another very scary ride for Emmy - rain on the roof caused her to be so nervous that she manured 8 or more times! Such a mess!
74 Color improving.
75 I keep feeding it flour and water...
76 Can't see the peach peaks down Day Road, but it was beautiful.
77 Yes, Wheat is still with us! Being handfed, and not laying!
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79 Checking to see what comes out - fecal matter can tell you how much she's eating and how well she's processing it. Looks ok to me, but it's not very big.
80 This deer turned around when it saw me...
81 And came OUT of the woods toward me!
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84 Then walked across the road to our driveway!
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86 And went for a little stroll down our driveway!
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88 Hockey game in Tacoma...
89 Coach Darrel warming up water to make a mouthguard fit. The things the coaches do for us!
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93 Cheering section!
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95 A sketch I did of Wheat :)
96 Working and working on this madrona.
97 Finally having to go at it another way.
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99 Perhaps this is what caused all the trouble!
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102 Whew. Hard work but worth it.
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108 Maple twigs harvested a couple years ago make for good kindling.
109 Boy Christmas wish lists. This is Ben's.
110 And Sam's.
111 Flat bread - yeasts not active enough yet.
112 But it's a good learning opportunity for the kids! I sent this in to school - Ben's teacher likes to work with starter, too.
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114 Tire chains, in prep for our big trip to Mazama!
115 I installed this. Not hard! I'm ready!
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118 More wood splitting by headlamp.
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120 Made for the coaches :)
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122 A few eggs. Not a lot, but enough for us and a couple customers.
123 Neat stump.
124 Ribollita soup...being made for our trip to the snow. So we'll have lunch and dinner to share.
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126 Ben opening his Christmas Eve present!
127 And now Sam...Magic cards!
128 Thank you, Gramma!
129 We're finally home from Mazama (see folder above for story) after a 12 hour slog over Stevens Pass. It's time to wrap presents!! Seriously? It's 11pm!!!
130 OMG.
131 Ok! In the bathroom working...the elves...
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135 Some old sketches I did when I was 14. Mom gave me a portfolio I'd saved - as one of my Christmas presents this year. I enjoyed seeing these again. I do like charcoal.
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137 Riding Emmy after a week off. She was none too pleased with the outing at first, but after a few bucks loosened us both up, we had a grand time.
138 Silly movie...
139 Thanks, Em!
140 Looking toward home with happiness.
141 Mom took a bunch of shots of the boys for grandparents to enjoy.
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146 Dave's amazing dinner!
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149 Actually at last dinner in Mazama, but these are some last-minute additions from mom's camera. Nice shots of the boys.
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156 Reading project this year...recommendations from my mom, from her dad.
157 Frost and snow all over the island!
158 I had some serious Narnia time with this young buck, who had more of a grizzly face. Like one of those hybrid animals in legends? I followed him up on this tiny escarpment. He seemed to beckon me.
159 But he did not seem to like my company much. When he turned to face me head on and looked like he might charge, I decided to go. This after I showed him my whole face and smiled! (I took my scarf off my mouth.)
160 As proof of Narnia, I also saw Aslan.
161 After the run. Some women pay a LOT of money for this look. Dave doesn't agree. He says the "look" isn't quite there...I think I look glamorous.
162 This goalie bag is as big as our goalie!
163 Sam is in the kitchen making brownies.
164 OMG. He considers this clean.
165 I'm trying to find the dipstick for the transmission fluid.
166 Manual out, headlamp on, climbing up on grill, peering in, hanging literally down in the engine. Still can't find it.
167 It should be right - THERE! I finally drove over to our mechanic and guess what. Just guess. THERE IS NO DIPSTICK on a manual transmission. The guys had a nice laugh.
168 Water under the footbridge on a run.
169 Wheat getting some nice quiet time for a dust bath.
170 Funny. She doesn't eat earthworms unless she finds them...HERSELF. Rather like someone who hunted for a dipstick.
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172 All of them having a nice time.
173 Squirt PeeWee dropin.
174 The kids manage themselves on the ice. One of them is acting as ref.
175 It was fun to watch them play pond hockey.
176 Ben is the ref in this one.
177 Wheat continues to enjoy hand feeding. Who's the dummy? Better not let my friend Ben know which one she is.
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179 Frost is gorgeous.
180 Starter getting healthier.
181 Can't wait for hockey camp in Victoria this summer! This is the shirt they gave me. Almost time for registration.
182 Anniversary day - 14 years! These guys come out and perch where Dave can see them. Just a reminder in case he forgets that he married me 14 years ago.
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184 Anniversary bike adventure. It's only 19 degrees out.
185 Are we nuts?
186 Nice husband.
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188 When it's cold, it's very clear.
189 I haven't seen the mountains beyond Seattle quite this nicely.
190 Ok...it's COLD can we go?!
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193 Trying some selfies.
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196 I wrote this in the bathroom, but someone didn't see it before he left.
197 On our way home. Many stops. I'm buzzed. Biking uphill shoots beer straight to my brain. And I'm half Dave's size. The last time we did this...
198 I jumped up and said "CATCH ME!" as I tried to hug him like a tree frog I'd seen on a nature show. He didn't catch me.
199 I landed on my arse.
200 So just hoping we both get home ok.
201 After all, we have kids now.
202 We have to be responsible.
203 So...we must celebrate Scottish style with a chicken wire fire.
204 Thanks to Caden for watching our boys, and for helping move this flaming fireball!
205 See the movie link from the 1/1/16 blog post for the full idea.
206 So pretty out! I'm taking Emmy out for a ride.
207 Even shit looks pretty, don't it?
208 I met Roger and Phoebe on the trail.
209 And have a kind invite to ride along on his wife's mule any time!
210 Sweet!
211 Some fierce ice on these leaves.
212 It was a great ride both in the arena (once Emmy got over being annoyed and rearing).
213 My friend Bye on Jaeger - also out for a New Year's Day ride.
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216 As a final anniversary present, I'm looking for the rest of our treasure boxes that we store keepsakes in all year, then seal up on the 31st. We never dug out the old ones when we moved in. So - I'm spelunking in the loft, wondering what mouse might jump in my mouth!
217 This is where I was. There's 18" of space to crawl around. Dave put a talking scary dude up there (Halloween decor) and as I slithered across it, he hollered into my pelvis in his low, weird voice "what do you waaaant?"
