The dismal rain of Saturday morning reflected the mood of Greenwood. After a joyful family Thanksgiving, the inevitable death of a long-loved pony hung over the compound like the drizzly clouds. 'Little Bit' was given to Marika twelve years ago. Little did we know that his presence would spark an equestrian explosion on the Eide compound. It wasn't long before Little Bit's hooves could not compete with Marika's riding fever. More proficient horses were added to the family, but Little Bit held prominence in the affections of his owner. He was lovingly cared for in his retirement. At thirty-eight, he had outlived many of his peers, and had a good life, as ponies go. But time had taken it's toll on Little Bit's hooves and his feet were in constant pain. It was an agonizing family decision to put him out of his misery. Before the vet put him to sleep, it was decided that Ada needed to have her first 'horse ride'. She was all over the hairy mane and was not her usual photogenic self. After the grim deed was done, we consoled ourselves with a family trip to Ikea and a 3D Imax experience of 'A Christmas Carol' On the brighter side of the weekend, there were hours of good family time and visits with the Kangs, Peakes and Haehnels.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sleepy in Southworth
I was going to entitle this post: 'blogless in Southworth', as it has been a few weeks since the last post. For some reason I couldn't come up with anything blog worthy; which is not to say that anything on this site is 'blog worthy.' Anyway, Esther and I did have some excitement yesterday as we found a replacement for our bed of 32 years, which was actually Esther's for 45 years or so. It was her grandmother's bed set, and seemed a bit of an antique and good enough. (not that we didn't replace the mattresses a few times) Esther has been keeping an eye on craigslist canopy beds for some time, and so it was inevitable that she would eventually find one and negotiate a dutchman price. We drove to Bellevue and even rented a trailer to bring the prize home. Although we've prided ourselves in being content with a full size bed all these years, a 50 year old wife with hot flashes makes me appreciate the extra few inches a queen size supplies. (Some nights a king wouldn't be big enough). Well, our new bed sleeps well and I can only hope we'll still be around to enjoy this one for 32 more years!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Grandma Shower
Esther was given a few surprises this weekend. Her friends had planned a surprise 'grandma shower' on Sunday, with Ada and Jenny coming for an unannounced visit. But as the time approached, the thought of only seeing Ada and Jenny for a couple of hours seemed too much to bear; so on Saturday, Bjorn, Jenny and Ada came for an 'unplanned' visit. The shower was a big surprise for 'Farmor,' and she had a blast as they told stories and presented gifts for grandma's stock pile of granddaughter equipment. Meanwhile, as the ladies partied, Bjorn helped me haul out my boat and mooring system for the winter. We had a beautiful afternoon for our endeavor on the water, and were successful on all accounts.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Project Doubtfire
Don's curly locks will be disappearing this weekend; but not before the girls in our class had a chance for 'Project Doubtfire.' In preparation for the harvest carnival Friday night, the girls bought supplies for a 'makeover' of Mr. Moore into 'Ms. Moore' Don played along as they fussed over attire, accessories and make-up. The result was pretty impressive, but He makes a pretty ugly woman
Monday, October 26, 2009
moving mom
Dealing with the transitions of aging parents is one of those inevitables of life that is neither enjoyable nor easy. This past weekend my siblings and I joined hands and moved my confused mother to an apartment with greater assistance. Though her body is as strong as an ox, her mind is weak, and she has become a threat to others as well as herself. Her new home will provide her with increasing care as she slips slowly away. It is a pathetic reality that loved ones must helplessly stand by and watch. There are some comforts that accompany this condition. The simple things of life bring great pleasure: a peppermint candy or a ride in the country bring raving accolades – “I love this” or “I am so thankful.” Mom is also quite vocal about her faith and reports visits from Jesus. Her devotional, always turned to the correct date, must be read dozens of times a day, each time a fresh experience. Though the weekend was difficult, it was enjoyable to spend time with both of our families as well as Calvin. Esther had the unexpected opportunity to get together with her high school friends.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Lutefisk anyone?
You can't be around Norwegians too long before the subject of lutefisk comes up. For all the talk and fuss, you would think it was a weekly event. Instead, it is an annual ritual, usually in the late fall or December. The proud Scandinavians don their Norwegian sweaters, gather in halls and gymnasiums around the country, and pig out on traditional foods, all the while swapping stories of recipes and family history. Saturday afternoon, Esther and I joined the newlyweds, Frank and Sherri Carlson for the annual pilgrimage at First Lutheran in Poulsbo. Sherri was introduced to the delicacy for the first time, with negative results. By now I have acquired a tolerable enjoyment of the fish jello, as long as there is plenty of melted butter and cream sauce on it. The famous dish is supplemented with potatoes, meatballs, lefsa, salad, krumkake and lots of coffee. Esther and Frank were in their glory of course, while Sherri and I acquiesced to the hoopla. We brought our happy spouses back to the Carlson big screen where we watched the Husky game and allowed Dennis Erickson and the sun devils to put a damper on our evening.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Connecting with College Sons
Calvin came home from Trinity Western this weekend since it is Canadian Thanksgiving. He is having a great time, busy with friends and enjoying his studies. He admitted that he missed us, though. We went to Seattle this afternoon to meet with Markus and go to his church: Quest Church. Pastor Eugene Cho is a passionate and articulate speaker, and we enjoy his sermons very much. The collegian brothers enjoyed sharing their academic joys and challenges.
Monday, October 05, 2009
annual pilgrimage to the Bavarian village
Rather than an overnighter this year, Esther and I made a quick day trip over to Leavenworth. Our late reservation habit ensured no vacancy at an acceptable BandB. (a small hazard for the spontaneous) The day was beautiful with plenty of sunshine and mild temperature. The autumn colors were only just beginning to reveal themselves. We spent several hours shopping and eating in town and then took a drive and walk up Icicle Creek canyon. On our way home we hit a serious traffic back up between Index and Gold Bar, waiting an hour for things to finally start moving again after Sultan. We met up with Markus for a late evening snack as we passed through Seattle.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Jenny gets her 'sail'
Jenny finally got in a good sail. For the past few years she has been waiting for a good Southworth sail. She has been out on the boat a few times, but the wind has never been too cooperative. This weekend provided the conditions for a perfect sail. Bjorn got to skipper his dad's new boat for the first time as well. I repaired the rudder this week after an adventurous mishap last weekend, and the boat handled well. After saying a goodbye to Markus on Friday night, Esther and I had twelve hours of empty nest before Bjorn, Jenny and Ada came for a visit. Jenny and Ada had just flown in from Georgia for a visit with Jenny's sister Jill and new baby Jackson. it was good to hear about the two young mothers comparing notes. Esther and I got our 'Ada fix' this weekend. But now it's time for the real empty nest.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
final hike of the season
After two disappointing rain checks, we finally had gorgeous weather to go hiking with Keven and Martha. Hurricane Ridge put us in the high country; and after a picnic lunch, we took the Mount Angeles saddle trail for great views of the Olympics and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I also talked the others into driving the eight mile one way dirt road out to Obstruction Point. The drive, while somewhat precarious for the passengers, provided panoramic views of the valleys and peaks. It was great to catch up with Keven and Martha and enjoy the beauty of PNW.
Friday, September 11, 2009
IMA Olympics
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.'
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.
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