Our classroom started out the year with the IMA Olympics. The weather was a perfect 80 degrees and sunny. The students designed flags to represent their tables in preparation for the games. After an opening ceremony, the games began. The exciting competition included disc golf, 'blindfold' and 'old clothes' relays. The climax of the games was the 'water cup relay' where tables leaders held empty bottles on their heads while table members tried to fill them with dixie cupfuls. Otter pops and music closed the games. The afternoon went a long way in building teamwork and camaraderie, which we trust will pay off in the classroom. Check out more pics at the 'classroom blog.'
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Calvin is off
On Saturday, Calvin embarked on his college voyage aboard the Trinity Western vessel. We spent most of Saturday and Sunday in various orientation meetings. Calvin is excited to be in the international dorm. He has a Chinese roommate and is surrounded by students from a variety of countries. Esther and I were again impressed with how great an institution Trinity Western has become. The school is quickly distinguishing itself among Canadian Universities and maintains a strong evangelical perspective. Seeing our last child off to college is one of life's big transitions, and Esther did not survive it without shedding some tears. We spent the remainder of the Labor Day weekend with family in Lynden. My siblings and I made the painful decision to move my mother to the next level of care. It is hard to watch her continual mental confusion and uncharacteristic aggressive behavior. Monday was spent with the Eide clan at the cabin. We were able to get our granddaughter fix before starting back to school.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Leaders Hike Mt. Townsend
Today Don and I took our classroom leaders on a hike. These students were with us last year and will also be with us this year. They are chosen for their proven responsibility and cooperativeness. They will help us manage the 60 fourth and fifth graders in our classroom this year. We climbed Mt. Townsend on the north end of the Olympics. It is a formidable hike for these kids and they all made it. It is four steep miles up to the top (3000 ft.), and four more aching miles back to the trailhead. The morning weather didn't look very promising, but it was partially sunny by the time we were at the trailhead and we had sun the whole trip. We are looking forward to a great year with these leaders.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
guests from Norway
dinner with Ingvar and Svanhild from Norway (Esther's cousin)
Originally uploaded by Southworth Sailor
In other news - Esther and I are back to work and are realizing that our days with Calvin at home are dwindling down.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
a family cruise
Our original hiking plans for the day got postponed, and my family surprised me by all wanting to join me in sailing this afternoon. The wind had just shifted to a north breeze of 10-15 kt; so conditions were perfect. We had all the wind we needed with the main and working jib. The extra ballast contributed to a stable ride. We had an enjoyable sunny sail around Blake Island and were home for Papa Murphys pizza for supper.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Staying cool on the Sound
I spent a 'cool' day on the Puget Sound today. Esther and the boys went school clothes shopping and I enjoyed the day on my sailboat. The wind was brisk in the morning so I got an early start. I tacked up the Sound under a reefed mainsail as it was gusty. By noon, I raised it to full sail and got to really enjoy the stable windward ability of the boat. If it was a hot day, I didn't notice as I wore my sweatshirt most of the day. I cruised by Alkai Point and crossed Elliot Bay to Magnolia bluffs before turning around to ride the tide and wind back home. The wind died at the south end of Blake Island so I putted in the last half mile.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
San Juan Island - Day 4
Our final day on the island started with Esther and my ‘Ada’ time, as she is bright and lively at the crack of dawn, while her parents want to enjoy the lazy morning. After packing up, the girls went to Roche Harbor for window shopping and the boys played another round of disc golf which ended in a sudden death between Markus and Bjorn. We ate lunch in Friday Harbor and visited the whale museum before boarding the scenic evening ferry back to Anacortes. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather and we are thankful for a wonderful family getaway.
San Juan Island - Day 3
Another relaxing start to the morning including blueberry pancakes and a walk with Ada brought us to a morning stroll through nearby Roche Harbor. The rest of them dragged me onto a tour of a $4 million stink pot. There is a unique sculpture park where we quickly toured before lunch. After lunch it was hard to stir the napping and sleeping masses to a hike up Young Mountain for a great view of the western San Juans and beyond. While the girls prepared fajitias, the boys went for a round at a nearby disc golf, where Calvin took the honors. We ended the day with Shakespeare Under the Stars ‘As You Like It’ at nearby Roche Harbor. The play was well done and enjoyed by all including Ada.
San Juan Island - Day 2
A slow relaxing start to the day brought us to a tour of English Camp (i.e. Pig War) True to British style, the camp was an oasis of civilization on the outskirts of the western frontier. After a lunch and nap back at the cabin, we stopped at Lime Kiln Park, a park that is famous for its whale sightings. Our intention was to walk the loop and move on to the next destination. However, shortly after we got there, a super pod of Orcas came right passed us. What a spectacular sight as no less than 50 Orca paraded in front of us, some less than 20 yards away! We later discovered how fortunate we were as records show that there are about 60 sightings a year from this spot. The rest of the day paled in comparison to our whale watching, but we took a quick tour of American Camp and Cattle Point before heading back to the cabin for seafood fettuccini.
San Juan Island - Day 1
We got up early so that we could get in line at Anacortes for an 11 am ferry to Friday Harbor. The San Juans greeted us with typical gray skies, but displayed their charm non-the-less. Arriving in Friday Harbor, we had fried seafood lunch and browsed the town before checking out our cabin. Westcott Woods cabin is a very unique rustic structure nestled in the woods above Westcott Bay. The original cabin was constructed in the 70’s with recycled lumber. Some newer additions attempt to maintain the rustic theme. The bookshelves are filled with classic literature, which made our literary fans happy. The evening was spent enjoying the surroundings and cozy cabin.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Now - About That Boat
I have waited to give much detail about my 'new' sailboat until I was actually using it. It took me about a month to clean her up a little and get a mooring ready for her. Well, she's been in the water for about a week, and I have had the opportunity to sail her a couple of times, albeit in light wind. I really like the boat. I think it is just the upgrade to get Esther on the water more often, and take a few more cruises. The Montgomery 17 is 17' long (duh!) and about 7' wide. She weighs 1600 lbs. including 600 lbs. of ballast (weight underneath to keep it upright) This particular boat came with 5 sails, though I can only use two at a time. Each of the 4 'headsails' are for different wind conditions, from light air to storm. The rigging is much more sophisticated than my last boat, and I am 'learning the ropes' as I go. I am very grateful to have her, and I look forward to many years of nautical pleasure.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Navigation System or Compass?
Today I preached at our church, so much of my spare time this past week was spent in preparation. My topic was decision making and I used the new Navigation System and the classic compass as object lessons. I likened a Nav System to discerning 'God's Will' through 'signs.' - just looking for the next direction point on the screen. I tried to point out that this strategy is not supported by Scripture, and could really be viewed as a form of divination. In contrast, the Bible outlines a set of guidelines for decision making that is like the points of a compass. Scriptural Wisdom, Good Advice, Providential Circumstances and Prayer are the cardinal points in the decision making compass. I kind of gave the Nav System a bad rap in the analogy; so I guess I better not get one for a while:)
Sunday, August 02, 2009
A Hot Week in Lynden
Esther and I spent most of the hot spell this week in Lynden. It was quite eventful as Bjorn and Jenny celebrated their second anniversary and Esther her " !? "-second birthday. We got to spend a lot of time with Ada, even babysitting overnight as Bjorn and Jenny were at the cabin. I spent three days scraping, priming and painting the barge trim of the house and repairing a few window sills. On one hot afternoon, I was able to give my mom a ride to Birch Bay in our air conditioned van. Her apartment was very hot, but she wasn't complaining. We were also able to share some great meals with Mike and Marti and John and Kay. Brea was the only teenage/young adult on the compound as everyone else was gone. We made it home for Calvin's short break from camp duty on Saturday, celebrating his birthday a little late.
Monday, July 27, 2009
local recreation
Esther and I had an active weekend doing a couple of recreational day trips. On Saturday, we dusted off the canoe and paddled to Blake Island, hiking around the Island and taking supper on the spit. While hiking we noticed the sky clouding up, and by the time we started back in the canoe, a storm was brewing. Fortunately, we were paddling with the wind and we made a quick passage back to Southworth. After seeing Calvin off to camp early Sunday afternoon, we decided to find a bike trail to explore. Given the heat, we wanted something shady. We found just the ticket with the Woodard Bay trail in North Thurston. Almost the entire trail was in the shade. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be our favorite, but it was just right for a hot afternoon.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sis in Southworth
My sister Ellen stopped by for a day in Southworth on her way up to Lynden. She drove up from Sacramento in her new Mitsubishi Eclipse. We enjoyed hearing about her recent trip to a Hillcrest reunion (our childhood African boarding school) Ellen also gave us an update on our Chicago relatives. Jack and Sue also dropped by for lunch on their way home from a week in Sequim.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Markus' Birthday
Twenty-two and counting. Having had an eventful weekend with friends at a cabin near Arlington, and last week at the Shakespeare Festival, Markus chose to have a lay low birthday today. We did go to Spiros for supper and had the customary oreo ice cream for dessert.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Ashland and Shakespeare
We had a great week in Southern Oregon. The performances at the Shakespeare Festival were great. I think that I enjoyed 'Much Ado About Nothing' a little better than 'Henry VIII' I understood more of the lines. But both were good. We had better seats for 'Much Ado'; so that may have made a difference. I feel like i just took a crash refresher course in Shakespeare and English history as I read a lot of background material this past week. The bummer of the trip was when Esther lost her camera in Ashland. She must have set it down somewhere in a shop. After scouring the town for an hour, we gave up. Consequently, we don't have any pictures of Ashland. The theater didn't allow any photography, so all our pictures were of the town. The weather was very hot; so it was uncomfortable during the day, but just right at 8:30 pm - show time. We managed to squeeze a disgolf game in one morning at a primitive course with poles and tin cans. On the way home, we went to Crater Lake which was beautiful. The temperature was just right and the lake was an amazing blue color. This weekend Markus and Calvin are both with friends, so Esther and I are alone.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Off to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Some parents get dragged to monster truck rallies or rock concerts to connect with their sons; we get to attend Elizabethan theaters to watch Shakespeare plays. Calvin and Markus, along with Esther and I will spend the next few days in Ashland, Oregon at the Shakespeare Festival. We have tickets for 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Henry VIII.' Markus read Much Ado this past quarter in a Shakespeare class, so he can keep us from becoming too confused. We leave early tomorrow to make the evening play, but not without a stop at Powell's Books in Portland.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
ladies in lavender
My apologies for the interruption in blog service. You might have experienced difficulty accessing the site this week. My domain URL expired and Bjorn had to patch me up again.
Jenny and Ada have been in Southworth the last few days as there is a wedding nearby that Jenny and Bjorn are attending. Yesterday, we went to Sequim for an early lavender bash. (The festival isn't until next weekend.) I rode my bike on the discovery trail, while Jenny, Esther and Ada searched for blooming lavender. Ada did a great job of humoring her farmor by pretending that she enjoyed the lavender. She is growing so fast; she amazes her grandparents with her intelligence and athleticism. On a different note, Calvin returned from a week at Miracle Ranch where he was trained as a counselor. He will work at the camp for a couple of weeks this summer.
Jenny and Ada have been in Southworth the last few days as there is a wedding nearby that Jenny and Bjorn are attending. Yesterday, we went to Sequim for an early lavender bash. (The festival isn't until next weekend.) I rode my bike on the discovery trail, while Jenny, Esther and Ada searched for blooming lavender. Ada did a great job of humoring her farmor by pretending that she enjoyed the lavender. She is growing so fast; she amazes her grandparents with her intelligence and athleticism. On a different note, Calvin returned from a week at Miracle Ranch where he was trained as a counselor. He will work at the camp for a couple of weeks this summer.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Hurricane Hill
We took a family hike on the Fourth. We didn't want a long hike, because we wanted to catch the Paul Olson bash in the evening. Hurricane Ridge is a bit of a drive, but it puts you in the high country before you even start hiking. We enjoyed a leisurely walk up to Hurricane Hill (about 3 miles round trip) Conditions were fantastic and the views were great. The Ridge was packed with tourists, every other party was speaking a different language. It always amazes me how many out of state tourists visit Olympic National Park. I am told that it is in the top five national parks in the country for annual visitors. The Olson party in the evening had an added musical dimension as there was a continuous concert all afternoon and evening.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Esther in Lynden
While the boys and I poured cement and redid roofs, Esther enjoyed a week in Lynden. She relished her time with all of the family, but especially her Ada time. The two of them did a lot of napping together and taking walks on the compound. Esther went up with Sherri Nelson who also got to spend time with her Lynden connection (Rob and Julie).
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
concrete flat work
Of all the facets of residential construction, concrete work is one of my least favorite. But my neighborhood employer wants cement, and lots of it; so it's time to break out the knee pads, gloves and trowel. Markus and Calvin helped me pour four yards of concrete today. They moved it the 30 yards from the cement truck to the pad by wheel barrel. I supervised and made sure it got in the right place! Then the back challenging work of trowelling began. The slab ended up looking half way decent. Tomorrow, it's up on the roof of the rental to tear off shakes. Evenings are killing me, with sunny skies and great wind; and an anxious sailboat in the driveway. But I have to finish up some fix up details on the boat before trying her out.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
You did what?!!!
My adventure this past week might seem a little foolhardy. Driving a sixteen year old truck with 200k for 3500 miles to pick up a 30 year old boat and trailer would to some people seem like sheer stupidity; which is what I did feel at times. Leaving Saturday morning and returning Wednesday night, I drove to Carlsbad, New Mexico to buy a boat. You would think that there would be plenty of boats in the Puget Sound, that such action was unnecessary. But the lack of availability of this particular boat on the used market for a decent price convinced me to go for it. More about the boat will follow in future blogs. I purchased the boat from a Urologist who sailed it in a bathtub -- reservoir for the last ten years. The condition of the trailer made me very apprehensive about the return trip. I had the bearings repacked and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, though both tires had plenty of tread, they blew up in the heat of the road: one near Gallup, NM and the other near Baker City, OR. Other adventures of the trip included having my cell phone stolen at a rest area, being three cars behind a head-on collision with 2 fatalities, and having my mast break loose on I-5, forty miles from home. Needless to say, I am very THANKFUL to be safely at home in Southworth with my prize boat in the driveway.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Calvin's College Computer
It is a Bulthuis tradition to send their sons off to college, armed with the latest Mac laptop. Ever since Bjorn received his first MacBook Pro, Calvin has been anticipating the day when he would get his own Mac laptop. Well, the day has finally arrived! We snuck past the long line of iPhone buyers today to snag a 15" unibody MacBook Pro, as well as a free iPod Touch (college student promotion) from the Apple Store in University Village. Calvin is all smiles tonight as he is probably the envy of his brothers, since every three years you can get more Mac for your parent's buck.
Missing Mary
The end of our year at Sidney Glen Elementary ended on a sad note. One of our teachers died on the second to the last day of school. She was working on Wednesday and past away on Friday. She had been battling internal organ ailments for some time and fell unconscious of Thursday. Mary served as a Title 1 teacher, working with small groups of struggling learners. She had a tender and gracious heart that was full of love for her students. She always reminded me of my two Chicago aunts, Helen and Ella. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a tender heart of sympathy. Mary was at Sidney Glen when it began and she will be missed greatly in the years to come.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
biking with nieces
First day of summer break. Kay brought Kelsea, Bria and Lisbeth (from Norway) down to Southworth and we went on a bike ride from the Gig Harbor park n ride, across the Narrows and down to Ruston Way. We stopped to see Anna and Sovann's house remodeling process (digging a garage/basement under the house), then met up with Anna and Lucy in Old Town. We did have a pedal malfunction with one of the Greenwood bikes, but Anna was able to lend us hers to finish up the Ruston Way leg. Esther was disappointed she couldn't join us because of work, but enjoyed the evening as Anna came to join us all for supper.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
The Graduates
Big weekend! Calvin's graduation was Friday night. The Greenwood clan came down to celebrate with us. The ceremony in the Tacoma Dome was fairly short considering the near 600 graduates. Josh gave one of the speeches and did a great job. Saturday was a joint party with Alicia's and Josh's families. Bjorn, Jenny and Ada spent the weekend and Ada said that she loved being with her grandparents in Southworth. Sunday was the Biker Barbecue at Harper and we got a chance to show off our granddaughter. Monday morning Calvin and Corbin go with the Harper graduates on a week long houseboat trip to Lake Shasta.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Goodbye Blue Wing
Tonight I sold my faithful friend, 'Blue Wing' It really wasn't impulsive. I have been wanting to get a different boat for several years, but it's hard to buy when you have two boats already sitting in your yard. Now I have a good reason to buy a new one! Still, I am feeling a little 'seller's remorse' as she has been a great boat to me. She taught me a lot about sailing. She gave me eleven and a half years of inexpensive enjoyable sailing experiences. One consolation is that the new owner is a young man nearby who will probably want some sailing company at times.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Neah Bay Camp out
While Calvin and Esther were busy with the Prom details, I was with my class at Neah Bay. It was the largest group yet - 28 students and 24 adults. We were thankful for good weather and the tide was very low for our Shi Shi Beach hike, great for exploring tide pools and sea caves. The large group made it a somewhat less cohesive than earlier years, and I ran a little short on food; but everyone had a good time. The drive was extra long this year because the Hood Canal bridge is closed. (five hours each way)
Bulthuis tops Prom honors
I know it's hard to imagine, but a Bulthuis took the honors at the Prom Dance. Saturday was the South Kitsap Prom. Calvin's date was Nicole Patmos. They joined Josh and Alicia and another couple on a visit to Benihana in Seattle. The dance was in Bremerton. Calvin was voted as Prom King and his friend Alicia was voted Prom Queen. They had the first dance. Imagine that! Calvin and friends ended their exciting day at our house. Friday was also a special night as Calvin was honored at the Scottish Rite lodge with a dinner and $1500 scholarship.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Laurel's Night
This past Thursday, Calvin and his fellow scholars were honored at the South Kitsap Honor Society Laurel's Night. Calvin received a Rotary and Scottish Rite Scholarship as well as being recognized as part of the top ten GPA of the class. His hard work and strong study habits are producing pay back. Congratulations, Calvin. We are proud parents.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
Today was Esther's first GRANDmother's Day. Though this was our first weekend away from Ada, the little granddaughter was often in Esther's mind. Markus came home to help celebrate the day; and though the weather wasn't as nice as predicted, we went on a family outing to Hanesville.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Calvin's College Choice
The above title is a little ironic as Calvin's best friend Josh has made a 'Calvin College choice.' Calvin Bulthuis has made his decision for college next year. He 'threw a curve ball' at us in the last couple of weeks. Though he had not applied earlier to TWU, as he had to Westmont, Biola and Gordon, it was a school that he was considering. With sights still set on International Christian University - Japan in 2010, Calvin feels that a year at Trinity would be a good introduction to the college experience. The school has an emphasis in linguistics and a strong international feel compared to the other colleges he has considered. We of course are thrilled as he will be close to home and able to touch base with Bjorn on campus and the Lynden clan whenever he wants. Trinity is a great school and if Calvin's Japan plans change, he is in a great place to make other choices.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Greenwood County Fair
The rain held off (sort of) for Ada Lynn Bulthuis' baby shower. Actually, we were very fortunate as the heavy clouds held their peace until just after the last guests made their way home. Great Aunties, Marti and Kay put on a wonderful gathering with a county fair theme. "Greenwood' is the historic name of the neighborhood where the Eide compound near Lynden is located. The 'County Fair' included fresh squeezed lemonade, kettle corn, corn dogs, homemade pie and ice cream. Younger guests got to enjoy a petting zoo and hay stacks. The more limber guests competed in a diaper diving competition. Family and friends from as far away as Oregon, South Dakota and Alberta helped celebrate the event. Ada was oblivious of the whole scene as she was willingly handed off from guest to guest. A big thank you to all for your presence and presents. - homophone :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
post WASL doldrums
'Doldrums' - 'a period of inactivity or a state of stagnation' The last two weeks have been filled with WASL testing. Our fourth and fifth graders have been buffeted with waves of reading, math, writing and science tests. It is always an emotional let down after testing. Both teachers and students subconsciously work to prepare for this high stakes testing. When it is over, there seems to be an energy burnout on the part of all involved. The problem is there are still six weeks of school left! It takes a little time for the breezes of motivation to pick up and get us sailing through the last sea of learning for the year.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ada Lynn
We have been enjoying our new granddaughter today. She came home from the hospital to the busy Eide compound. She is making the adjustment to all the family noise (though I guess she's been hearing it muffled for the past few months) By the way, I'll give you a little background on the name. Bjorn originally liked the name because one of the first mathematicians to be credited with writing computer language was Ada Lovelace. Also, the Norwegian pronunciation of 'Eide' is the 'Ada'. Lynn was Jenny's mother's name and Jenny's middle name; and 'Lynn-den' is her first home.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
She Arrived!
Ada Lynn Bulthuis was born at 6:15 pm tonight! Jenny and Ada are healthy and happy. Bjorn is a proud daddy. Esther is crying her way up to St. Joseph's hospital in Bellingham where 24 years ago she gave birth to Bjorn. Calvin and I will join the party tomorrow night. Pictures are sure to follow, so keep posted.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
a granddaughter is imminent
'Imminent' - 'threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending'. Though our granddaughter has been around for awhile, she is about to introduce herself to the world. The due date is April 20, and all systems appear to be go on the launch pad. The bedroom is painted, the diapers are ready, Jenny is on leave and Esther's bags are packed. It is so fitting that as the winter weather is finally breaking into spring, a new life will break into the Bulthuis family. We are so thankful for Jenny's good health and prenatal mothering. She is already a great mom! I don't think Bjorn will know what hit him. Esther is already enjoying her 'granny' status, and I am starting to get use to the idea. Anyway, we are all very excited and we would appreciate a prayer or two for the safe and healthy arrival.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Goodbye Boston
This morning we left Provincetown for a leisurely drive back up/down? the Cape back to Boston. We took the scenic route through small communities established four hundred years ago. Today is a bright sunny day and Spring is trying to spring but there is a cold wet week ahead for New England. We are awaiting our six hour flight back to Seattle. So I guess that it is goodbye to Boston, at least for the time being.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
the Cape
We headed south for our final excursion of the trip. One of the places that we wanted to see while here was Cape Cod. The Cape is often the setting for articles in Esther's 'Coastal Living' browsing, and Falmouth, Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay are regulars in small boat sailing lore. On our way to the Cape, we stopped in Plymouth and got the Pilgrim scoop. We also explored Falmouth and Hyannis among other spots as we made our way to the 'lower cape' Much of the Cape is shut down for the off season which makes it nice for getting around. But there are enough things open to keep it from feeling like a ghost town. Tonight we are staying at the end of the Cape near the first landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown. To catch some local flavor we ate at a Portuguese restaurant as there is an historical presence of the fishermen here.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Reconnecting with old friends
While attending Denver Seminary in the 80's our best friends were Terry and Kathie Sharbaugh. Terry and I would debate theology over tennis and Kathie and Esther would stroll their little boys, Bjorn and Ben around Sloan Lake. After seminary Terry accepted a position at a church in New Hampshire (I applied too, but he beat me out in the interview phase) They have four children, the youngest who like Calvin will be leaving for college next year. They as well as we are still living in the place moved to from seminary. Terry pastors the Durham Evangelical Church. It was great catching up on each other's lives. Their oldest son Ben attended Gordon College, so we got a little of the inside scoop.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Exploring Cape Ann
Cape Ann is the neglected sister to the arrogant Cape Cod. Guarding the northern post of Massachusetts Bay with her historic Port of Gloucester and picturesque seaport of Rockport, she easily occupied a day of Bulthuis exploration and enjoyment. The weather was mild with some sun. The vegetation is still in winter hibernation with ground water still unable to penetrate the yet frozen undersoil. The landscape still has its beauty with rocky outcrops amid conifer forests. Tourist season is still months away, so there were no crowds to fight. Esther's favorite spot of the day was Rockport and Bearskin Neck Peninsula packed with quaint gift shops and fishing sheds. Peter's spot was the Essex shipyard. Calvin's was Halibut Point with the granite rocks and pounding surf.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Gordon College
Today was the visit day at Gordon College. We spent the entire day at the school: taking tours, visiting chapel and a class, and meeting with a linguistic professor and other personnel. The campus is beautiful with many new and impressive buildings. The remote wooded setting beside a lake is quite a contrast from the suburban sprawl of nearby communities. The chapel is a huge traditional structure complete with pews, but the student led worship very contemporary. We had a great conversation with the linguistic professor who was very encouraging and engaging. One disadvantage of visiting these colleges is that I wish I were 18 again and do it all over again! Tonight we picked up Brian Bulthuis from the airport and brought him to his downtown hotel and spent a little time catching up. He will be finishing Columbia University in New York next month and came to Boston this week for a job interview. Today was a cold gray day. Maybe tomorrow will be nice.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Boston in the Brightness
What a difference a day can make in New England weather. Though still chilly, the day was filled with sunshine. Perfect conditions for a trip downtown and a walk on the Freedom Trail. This self-guided tour takes you through most of the historical sites in the city - meeting halls, churches and cemeteries-all surrounded by sky-scrapers. It has been particularly interesting to me as my students have been learning this month about the Revolutionary War, and I am able to visit the sites which we are currently studying. We climbed the 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument and enjoyed a beautiful 360 of the area. We were not able to board the USS Constitution, but viewed the museum. After some pastries at Mikes on Hanover St. we checked out the 'Garden' and North Station. The place was packed with Bruins fans as there was a hockey game tonight. We ended the day with brick-oven pizza and seafood pasta at Antico Formo on Salem St.
A Wet Welcome to New England
We were all raring to go at 7:30 am as we stepped off our red-eye special at Logan Airport. Our welcome by the shuttle driver included a warning that there are Dunkin Donuts on every corner--Indeed there are! though we passed about 20 of them up to find the familiar McDs for a start to our soggy day. Maybe Boston wanted to welcome some Northwesterners with a cold wet day. We meandered up the back roads in our rental car (all roads in New England meander) to the Salem area and took a drive-by gander at Gordon College. We were allowed a morning check-in at our motel, then headed to Lexington and Concord for some history lessons. We dashed out of the car at each site to catch a glimpse before we got soaked. Calvin was particularly interested as the Concord area is rich in literary history. On our way home we stopped at Harvard and strolled the grounds and checked out the bookstore. The day was topped off with a trip to Legal Seafoods, a New England classic.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Yet another Bulthuis Bike
In an effort to outfit my biking partner for an exciting season of bike path cycling, I found a women's hybrid on Craigslist that fits her to a T. Esther is tickled with the brown leather seat and handgrips, the low step frame and the foam green color. It's a Trek 7000 wsd which retails for $360, but we got last year's model for $175. She will be all ready to hit the bike paths with me this spring and summer. It sure would be nice if we could have some consistent spring weather. Markus came home today as he will have his spring break this coming week.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Happy Birthday Jenny
Saturday was Jenny's birthday, so Esther and I went up to Lynden to help celebrate. Esther hosted a birthday dinner of scallop linguini for the Eide clan, complete with a leaning layered cake. During the afternoon, we went baby accessory browsing in Bellingham and then checked out an Eide Homes job site that has an amazing view of the the Nooksack and Frasier Valleys. Even though it was Jenny's birthday, you would have thought it was Bjorn's as he relished the arrival of his new bike which we had brought up with us. Jenny is looking 'great with child' and as healthy as a horse (no similarities intended - it's an idiom!) We are all looking forward with anticipation to next month's arrival of a baby girl.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Parenting Penny
For the past couple of days, we have been babysitting John and Sugar's dog, Penny. She is a well-behaved Schnauzer who although not stealing our hearts, did leave us tonight with some regret in our affections. The only time she seemed to bark was each time the ferry unloaded. The second night we got smart and put her kennel in Markus' bedroom where she couldn't hear the ferry. Our cat Oscar is glad to be rid of the neurotic canine and have the house back to himself.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
a cold test ride on Bjorn's new bike
This past week I played broker for Bjorn as he bought a bike off of craigslist. Since the owner was in Tacoma, I got to play middleman. Prior to deliver to Lynden next weekend, I decided to take a test ride to Manchester, albeit 37 degrees. The bike is a very light single speed/fixed gear reversible hub, which means uphill pedaling is a bear and downhill becomes a coast ride (at least in single speed. I'm not sure what happens in fixed gear. Maybe you spread your legs and let the pedals spin!) It's great on the flats since the bike is so light. It would appear that the bike will work well for Bjorn in the flat Nooksack Valley, but it would be a killer for my hilly work commute.
Monday, March 02, 2009
The letter he's been working for
Over the last year, Calvin has been diligently pursuing the possibility of going to college in Japan. He has researched, tested and made the necessary applications; all without prompting from his nervous parents. Today, he was rewarded with a package from Tokyo informing him of his acceptance into International Christian University. While the decision to go or not is still a ways from finality, today was a milestone in the process. He is still strongly considering Gordon College in Massachusetts, as well as Westmont and Biola in California. All of which have already accepted him. Please pray for Calvin as he makes this very important decision in the months ahead. Pray for his parents also, that they will give him wise counsel and not allow their protectionary instincts to interfere.
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