Up and Down the Stairs

Part of the town of Wallace, Idaho is built on a hill.

So, in order to help the residents go up and down the hills, Wallace built staircases up and down the side of the hill.  They have recently redone some of the stairs, and on Saturday, I traveled with April #1 to check them and, and climb up and down the staircases.

I have seen these stairs ever since I started working in Wallace in the summers, and I have always wanted to explore them, and had it on my list of things to do this summer.  So one more thing off my list has been accomplished.

 Seventh and Olive

  Seventh and Olive

  Seventh and Olive

 Seventh and Maple

Seventh and Pearl

 Seventh and Pearl

 Signage at Fifth and Bank Street

 Still working on stairs at Fourth and Bank St.

 Another sign at Fifth and Bank St.

 My friend April #2 is married to a relative of this Kiebert fellow

mentioned in this news article on this sign.  Her husband grew up in Wallace.

 April #1 descending and counting the stairs at Fifth and Bank Street.

 Beautiful View of Wallace

 Public Stairs

Fifth at Elm

Back on Course



Charting Our Course



 

Today April #1 and I met for lunch and got some things in our lives back on course.
Ever since the beginning of August, things got a little off course for both of us.

This time wandering out to sea was okay, but it felt good today to get some things back to the course we had charted at the beginning of summer.

*We got caught up on what had been happening in our lives.

*We set a time for our Creative Masterminds Group to meet and what we would give them as an assignment and other fun creative exercises to do as we meet.

*We shared about the two projects we both have in our lives that we want to get done tomorrow.  We are getting back together on Saturday to check on each other's progress. 

*We both enjoyed a three cheese grilled sandwich with huckleberries in the middle, and watermelon gazpacho soup at the Fainting Goat in Wallace.  Both were delicious.  And we both had a cappuccino.  April deviated from our "sameness" by ordering a cup of tea, too.  I'd already had some Earl Gray before we met for lunch, so I guess it all evened out...ha! ha!

*Plans were made for Labor Day Weekend, including a hike up to a mountain lake (our physical challenge, as I like to call it) and then dinner with our families on Labor Day.

For me, it was a great time of motivation, and making plans, and setting a course for what lies ahead.  It is good to have an accountability partner to meet with on a regular basis.  We enjoy getting together and sharing ideas, and creativity, and keeping one another on track.

Iris Orego was an Italian/English writer who turned her estate into a safe house for orphaned chidren, Jewish refugees, and P.O.W.'s during World War II.  I love this quote she says about Friendship.  It goes so well with what happened between April and I today.

Friendship---any close friendship---is so various, made up of so many strands; companionship, the sharing of laughter, common work and common tastes.

Post #1000: Today's Circle of Women

I have had a wonderful time this summer connecting with various women in my life.

These connections have happened with family members, far away friends, old friends, new friends, and people I have just met.

They have happened behind a movie camera, around a campfire, while creating items with slabs of clay, on a trail, around a table, or sitting in my backyard.

Today was no exception.  Today I got to spend the afternoon with four wonderful women as we sat around a table in a cozy cabin on Coeur d'Alene Lake, and I listened to the stories they told.  Times like this are so priceless.

One woman had been a medical missionary in Burma and Thailand. 

Another woman had been a military wife, and had been stationed in Saudi Arabia.

One of the women has known me all my life.  She was probably one of my first babysitters when I was little.  We learned a lot about the area between Kellogg and the Harrison area driving to and from the lake today.

And the fourth woman was a new friend, who happened to be an old friend of the person who hosted the luncheon today.  We enjoyed talking to one another about gardening.

We held hands and our hostess blessed our time together and gave thanks to God for friendship.

One of the women in our midst was waiting to hear news about her sister, who was probably in her final hours.

The cabin we gathered was a place of comfort.  A place where family often gathers for fun, relaxation, and comfort.  This has been going on at this place for over 50 years.  It had a nice feel....you knew you were in a place filled with love.

Each time I am with a circle of women, my life is enriched.  I hear stories.  I see other ways of looking at life.  I do not take these times for granted, because they are times of learning....times of growing....times of loving.

Take time to gather with others.  Take time to listen.  Take time to learn.  Take time to love.

The Magical Moon

When I was growing up here in Kellogg, and the temperature in my upstairs bedroom would be too hot, we would drag mattresses up from the basement and get our sleeping bags and sleep out in the backyard.

Last night, I decided to do that again.  It wasn't because it was too hot in my bedroom.  It was because I wanted to enjoy the Super Moon and the Perseid Meteor Shower. 

So Paul put a tarp on the grass in our backyard, and went down into our basement and drug three mattresses upstairs.  We put sheets on the mattresses and some warm blankets, and Paul, Zoe and I snuggled into a night of sleeping under the stars.

It was fun watching the sky, and basking in the glow of the moon.  I kept missing the falling stars, though. Zoe saw some.  Paul saw some.  I kept looking in the wrong place.

Around 1 p.m., I knew I needed an additional blanket, so I went inside and got a sleeping bag.  I unzipped it and put it over me, and then I was nice and warm.  At this point, the moon was right over me, shining down.  And, I finally saw a shooting star!!

I find it interesting what pops into my head while enjoying the peaceful, moon-filled backyard last night.  Often my thoughts went to the children in the Mid-East.  Children who have never experienced the peace and quiet of a safe backyard to look up at the moon and the stars, without the fear of bombs going off in the distance, or close to wear they live.

It was also a night full of prayer.  It is easy to talk to God while basking in the glow of a Super Moon, and looking at a sky full of stars.  And I took time to listen as well.  I kept asking God how I could help with a certain situation.  And the answer I heard on that starry, starry night....keep praying.

There is something magical about basking in moonglow.  Songs are written about it.  Books have scenes set in the moonlight.  I remember reading a book to my girls about bears dancing in the moonlight.  Last night was that kind of night.  I wouldn't have been surprised to see bears dancing in my backyard.

Around 3 p.m., I was awakened by the sound of two cats yowling at one another. (It would have been better if they had been dancing.)  Then our dogs, who were kenneled up inside, started barking.  I clapped my hands and tried to scare the cats.  They momentarily stopped, then started up again.  Paul woke up and went to investigate.  It was two neighbor cats who had come into our yard to have a stand off.  (I was thankful none of our four cats were the guilty parties.)  Paul scared them off, and the rest of the night was spent in peaceful slumber.

When I woke up this morning, I felt rested and I didn't want to get up.  But Coco needed to be to work at 7 a.m., so I got up to make sure she was up.

As I have shared a few times, I have felt tired lately, lacking in energy.  Well, the sleep in the moonlight must have energized me, because today I felt the best I have in about 10 days.  I had energy and worked on some projects around the house, and felt really good. 

 

I see the moon, and the moon sees me....

God Bless the moon, and God Bless Me!!

Happy Harry Potter Land Birthday Molly!!

Earlier this summer I received this text from my 23 year old daughter Molly:

"For my birthday I would like a trip to Orlando, Florida to Harry Potter Land.  Thanks!"

Well,  a trip to Orlando was not in the budget this summer, but we got creative and decided to celebrate Molly's 24th birthday today with a Harry Potter theme....make it like she was actually in Orlando, Florida.  (I'm sure she never even knew the difference).

When she arrived at our house this afternoon, a special letter and wand was awaiting for her to read.  It was a letter the "party planners" wrote to her (her sisters Zoe and Coco, and her cousin Karlie) telling her she had been accepted into the Hogwarts School of Wizardry, but she had to go on the Portkey Scavenger Hunt first.  Her companions were Hagrid (aka her boyfriend Kai) and Molly Weasley (aka, me her mother).  She received her first clue and off we went to find the first Portkey, a punctured football.  Molly found it on the old road to Smelterville.

An empty can at Sunnyside Elementary.

An old boot at the Sunshine Mine Memorial.

A blackened kettle at Kellogg Middle School.

The Tri-Wizard Cup at Brewed Awakening Coffee Stand in Pinehurst, plus she received a free birthday drink.

A hair brush at Kellogg Pet Medical Center.

Vodemort at the Norberg Air Compressor in uptown Kellogg, behind where our house use to be up on McKinley Avenue.

A bent hanger at Kellogg High School.

An old newspaper at the Hill Street Depot.

And an old tire at Madame Woolum's house (aka Grandma Mary's house).

After finding the clue in the old tire, Molly and Kai played a game of Wizarding Chess.

Oh no, another wizard arrived with wand in hand!!

Molly and her dad with their wands.

Arriving at "Hogwarts" and having the Sorting Hat put her in Griffindor!!

She looked in a reflection in a mirror and found the Sorcerer's Stone.

 

We all took our O.W.L.'s.  Coco had the "best grade".

 

 

 

Present time!!

 

 

An English feast for dinner organized by sister Zoe.

Our own game of Quidditch after dinner. Team Hufflepuff (Mom and Dad) vs. Team Griffindor (Molly and Kai).

Grandma Mary could throw in the "Snitch" at any time to make the game more interesting.

Griffindor wins!!

Birthday cake time, with a delicious cake baked by Cousin Karlie!!

Then we gathered around the fire and Zoe asked us Harry Potter trivia questions.

I am so thankful I have a daughter who says as we start the scavenger hunt, "We are combining two of my favorite things...finding clues like Nancy Drew and Harry Potter."

We had a fun time creating our own Harry Potter Land for Molly, and helping her celebrate her 24th birthday!!  Maybe someday she will make it to Orlando and the real Harry Potter Land.....but I have a feeling it will pale in comparison to what she experienced today!!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, sweet, talented,big-hearted daughter who God blessed us with 24 years ago today in Glendive, Montana.  May you have a blessed year ahead!!

It's A Wrap!!

Those were the words I heard tonight as the movie, "Across Bank Street: The Last Witch" finished filming on location in Wallace, Idaho.

I am playing Pemphredo, The Last Witch.

These last two nights have been interesting shooting at The Jameson restaurant.  Wednesday I did a dance scene, and Thursday night involved filming outside.  The temperature Wednesday night was very warm, and sweat kept running down my face.  The temperature Thursday night dropped below 60 degrees, plus it was a little breezy, so the exterior shots made the  and film crew very cold.  I stayed inside most of the time, trying to stay awake, so the cold didn't bother me much.  But the poor kids in the scene were very cold!!!

 

Film making is a very interesting process.  Next week I will go in and do some voice overs for a scene, then our director Nancy Hanks will start editing and putting together a rough cut of  the movie.  The final product will probably be done around Christmas.

 

 

Everyone involved with the movie was really great to work with, and I met some really wonderful people.  I can't wait until I see the finished product!!

Slowing Down During The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

August arrived, and brought me to a halt.

It told me to slow down.  It told me to take it easy.  Rest.  Nap.  Calm your mind.

Well, I shouldn't blame it all on August.  My body was in cahoots with August, too.

So, for about a week, I slowed down.  I napped.  I rested.  I calmed my mind.

It reminded me of the Nat King Cole song, "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer".

                         

translated from English to English

 

August can be lazy.

 

August can be hazy.  Our August has been hazy, because of the fires burning in the area.

 

August can be crazy.

 

It is hot.  It is dry.  Temperatures rise.  The light outside is harsh.

 

You long for a cool drink of water, and a cool place to sit and be calm and rest.

 

August says, "Soon life will be back to full force.  Use your time in August to slow down.  Spend time with loved ones who will soon be gone.  Linger.  Dawdle.  Keep your speed to a minimum.  Give in when you eyes get heavy, and you need to rest.  Rejuvenate."

 

Don't worry if everything on your list doesn't get accomplished.  That is okay.  It will eventually get done.

 

For now, take advantage of August.

 

A time to slow down.

Images of a Retreat

This past weekend my friend April #1 and I traveled to my sister Christy's house in Kettle Falls, Washington for a retreat.  Here are some images of our weekend.

 

Beautiful rose.

Shelby loves it when I come to visit.

April enjoyed sharing stories.

Our wonderful hosts.

Overlooking Lake Roosevelt.

View from the back deck

Sunflower

Beautiful sky

View from back deck

More beautiful sky

The changing light

I love the colors in the sky

Even different light

Lighted clouds

Our Barbie companions traveled to Kettle Falls as well.

Power Outage

As I retreated as my sister's house over the weekend, a storm came in Saturday afternoon, with wind, rain, hail, thunder and lightening.  All of a sudden, the house went dark.  There was a power outage.

The lack of electricity was not the only power outage going on at my sister's last weekend.

I was having a bit of a power outage myself.

Maybe it was the heat.

Maybe it was time to just sit and relax.

Whatever caused the power outage in my life, I took full advantage of it.

I had some plans of some creative work to do over the weekend, and planning and scheming with my friend.

None of that happened.

But there was a lot of visiting, talking, laughing, and sharing of stories.

Despite the darkness in the house and surrounding area, light was shown on the relationship I have with my sister and friend as stories were told, and feelings were shared.

Often during dark times, beautiful things emerge.  For example, after the storm, this is what the sky looked like behind my sister's house.  It was absolutely beautiful.

The same thing happens in our lives.  Storms come, we have no power, we may be a bit uncomfortable and some of our comforts taken away, but in the end, we find the beauty in the whole experience.  The air smells fresh.  The sky clears.  Sometimes there is damage, but eventually it gets cleaned up, and order is returned.

I'm thankful for the power outage this past weekend.  It made for a unique retreat experience and some time to just relax, and enjoy the company of my sister and my friend.

Fog

Thank goodness.

Because this past weekend, I felt like I was in a fog.

Do you ever have those times in your life when you just can't focus?

It is almost as if you need to just sit and be.

A friend of mine and I went on a retreat to my sister's house this last weekend.  We had all kinds of plans to get some creative work done.

None of it happened.

I sat a lot on the couch, or the chair on the deck.

I talked.  I dozed.  I took some photos.  But mostly, I just sat and observed.

Sometimes we need those times of rest.  We need to listen to our mind, body and soul when they tell us this retreat was not for action.  This retreat was for rest.

Then the fog will eventually lift, and the clarity will come.