The year is winding down, which means the holidays are on the horizon. Everyone is swinging into action preparing for parties and celebrations. For the first time in memory we didn't cut a fresh Christmas tree in Montana. This year's tree came from Washington's Mt. Baker / Snoqualmie National Forest. We cut an 18 ft (5.5 m) tree. We 'shrimped' it down to 14 ft (4.25 m) and in the garage put on 1200 lights. Then, we unpacked the Grinch sculptures from last year and assembled the whole tableau.
The Grinch Grabbing Lights From Our Balcony Tree
News & Notes
The Grinch Grabbing The Lights won the People's Choice Award, Best Overall Display in the annual Blue Ridge outdoor lighting competition. The Grinch may have failed to steal Christmas, but he took the prize.
Tomoko's Uncle Yo was visiting from Tokyo. We rendezvoused in Vancouver for a delightful brunch at the Stanley Park Tea House. It was wonderful to see him again and get caught up on all the news from Japan.
L, J and Uncle Yo
Our friends Ken and Shelley joined us in Vancouver for a relaxing weekend of hanging out. As a result BC's oyster supply really took a hit!
We joined Ken and Shelley and their daughter Carrie Burr for US Thanksgiving. Carrie also included Courtney Pelavinis, and together the two women produced a delightfully unconventional dinner of spicy Thai curry seafood stew. It was delicious, and should become a national Thanksgiving standard in our view.
Courtney, J, Shelley, Carrie, Ken
Courtney is the Ballard High School Choral Director, and a week later we went to her holiday concert in which her choruses and the orchestra combined to deliver a terrific performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.
Then, a few days later, Ken gave us a gorgeous stained glass window that he made depicting Iceland's volcanic activity, including molten lava, 'cured' lava, ice, snow, and steam. It's a super great gift that will remind us of that amazing land with each sunrise!
The Art and The Artist
On the winter solstice we stopped in at the Pacific Bonsai Museum for a walk in their miniature forest. The path was lighted with luminaria, but most trees were not in light. It was strictly a B.Y.O.F. affair. Bring Your Own Flashlight. The trees are always wonderful, in sun or LED.
L's cousin John Robert Whatley stopped by Vancouver on business. We spent an enjoyable Sunday afternoon sightseeing at Stanley Park's Totem Poles, and catching up on family news.
JR Whatley, J and L
