WORD SOUP 2015

During the past week, members of Field's End Writers' Community's Core Team met with programming staff of the Kitsap Regional Library. We have a vibrant, welcoming library system here in Kitsap County, and the staff is simply superb. Field's End is a committee of the Bainbridge Public Library (upon whose board I serve), and the Bainbridge Public Library is a part of Kitsap Regional Library, so we are able to share programming resources and information. We are working on new kinds of collaboration, and it is tremendously exciting. I love our libraries!
 
One of these collaborative events is coming up in May: I am going to teach WORD SOUP in the Poulsbo Branch of KRL. Last year, I taught WORD SOUP for Field's End at the Bainbridge Public Library, and this year, KRL Poulsbo has graciously invited me to teach it here. If you are an aspiring writer, a former writer, or a "blocked" writer, we'd love to have you join us for this fun, easy-going yet motivating series. We will meet each Tuesday evening in May from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. in the West Reading Room of the Poulsbo Library. It's free and all are welcome, but space is limited, so if you'd like to join us, please register at (360)779-2915.

WORD SOUP - Field's End

I have exciting news: 

I'm going to lead a four-week workshop for beginning writers called
"Word Soup"
for Field's End Writers' Community 
on Bainbridge Island.
We're calling it "Word Soup" because it is going to combine all kinds of good things (in the tradition of "Stone Soup") in order to make a flavorful, delicious, tantalizing offering to inspire and feed your writers' soul.

If you have been wanting to write, but haven't started...
If you've started writing, but stopped...
If you've suffered an artistic injury...
If the critics (internal or external) have been holding you back...
If you want to meet other aspiring/beginning writers and share the encouragement of safe community...
If you want to look at writing "outside of the box," then please go to www.fieldsend.org and sign up!

The dates are: May 15 & 22, June 5 & 12, 2014.
We'll meet at the Bainbridge Public Library on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:00 P.M. for a brown bag dinner - please B.Y.O.B.B. (Bring Your Own Brown Bag). - This part is optional, and will help us all relax and develop community.
The workshop will begin at 7:00 and end at 8:30 P.M.

The first session is free; the total cost is only $60 for the following three workshops. Scholarships are available, so don't let cost stop you! If you know someone who might enjoy this workshop, please share! Registration is HERE.

Panda and the True Value of Camp

You might have noticed a new blog on my sidebar, called Kathryn Panda Bradley. It is a blog about someone I met at Camp Goodtimes West. Everyone on staff has a Camp Name, and that is how they are known by all of the campers and other staff. Panda is the Camp Goodtimes name of Kathryn Bradley.

Photo of Panda by Paul Dudley Photography

She had cancer when she was young, so she first attended Camp Goodtimes as a camper when she was a child. Later, she became a staff member, along with her brother, who is known to all as Loop.
I don't know either Panda or Loop very closely, but I know them from the various times I've volunteered at camp or on Da Boata (by the way, my Camp name is Truffle). Both of them are warm, friendly, humorous, open, kind and likely to be dressed very crazily, as is normal for camp. I recall a brief but meaningful conversation I had with Panda one day last summer.

Panda had a recurrence of cancer, and she has been in treatment. Recently, she moved home on hospice care. My heart has been with her family, as we have walked the hospice path with our own daughter. I just received word that Panda passed away this morning.

Why am I telling you this? Because it made me realize anew that the impact of Camp Goodtimes goes beyond what I understood when our children attended in the summer of 2007. It is much more than a week of fun and craziness which helps children who have cancer (and their siblings) realize what cancer cannot take from them...it goes far beyond that. Camp creates an extended family of people who really and truly care about each camper and staff member, forever. Not just for fun, but in sickness and in health, in remission and in relapse, until death and afterward. I know this, because I have felt this love and caring directed toward our family when Katie died, and I have seen it come alongside other children and their families when they are dying. It's not just about the Goodtimes - though there are plenty of those. It's about caring for people who touch your life briefly, yet touch your heart for all time.

Katie and friends at Camp Goodtimes, 2007

It may be part of the reason why Katie asked us to scatter her ashes there.

To Panda and her family, to Codi and her family, to Gloria and her family, to every Camp Goodtimes camper, staffer and his/her family: you will always be loved and remembered by your Camp Goodtimes family. I am so thankful that we joined that family in June of 2007! Though it means suffering grief alongside other families (like ours) when a staffer or camper passes away, it also means that no one has to suffer alone...and that is worth it. It is also a reason for gratitude, and a good reason to support this camp.

Katie at Camp Goodtimes, 2007

Whether you are a fan of the American Cancer Society or not, giving directly to Camp Goodtimes is more than a good investment; it is a gift that lasts forever in the hearts of children and their families. It creates community, and opportunity for love and happiness when people need it the most. Please consider supporting Camp Goodtimes West - visit this website to find out how you can do it.

And to Panda, Loop and family:  I send love and prayers for comfort in your hearts.

So Much Fun

I made a craft last week. I haven't done anything like this, or this messy (not counting cooking - I'm a very messy cook) in a long time. It was so much fun!

I had been waiting for weeks to try it - saved the link from Meg's whatever blog, bought the supplies, assembled them, and finally, found time to do it. It felt satisfying in an "other part of the brain" way. I've been so busy with words for the past months that it was lovely to immerse myself in pure color.

Here is a link to the instructions, in case you want to make one of your own, or share it with someone else. If you haven't visited Meg's blog before, you might want to spend a little time searching and reading. She is fun, inspiring, kind and REAL.

We went to a couple of parties this weekend. Our neighbors have a backyard that has been lovingly planned and executed; they have a sort of "outdoor living room" concept, with patio, hot tub, different levels and areas to gather. The crown jewel of their back yard is the new "bug hut," a gorgeous, one-room solid-wood building with screens for windows, a wine rack, stereo and propane heater inside. It's a writer's dream. They also have the best fire pit I have ever seen:  it is made from one-half of a buoy - probably four to six feet in diameter, and two or three feet deep. It's more like a cauldron.

Examples of buoys I'm describing (wikipedia image)

We had chili, snacks and beverages, and sat out under the stars around the fire. Did I mention that the temperature was below freezing? Yes, there was frost on the ground, but plenty of warmth - including food, friendship and conversation - by the fire.

Last night was the birthday of one of our Camp Goodtimes friends, Chad (a.k.a. Putt Putt). Chad's girlfriend Ann Marie hosted about 20 of us for delicious, homemade pasta, meatballs and sauce - two kinds! - at her mother's home. It was fun to meet more of their friends, visit with our Camp buddies, eat, drink and celebrate a wonderful, generous man whose heart is huge. Happy Birthday, Putt Putt!

Now I am making soup and getting ready for the carpet cleaners to arrive tomorrow - HOORAY! - we need them.

From East Coast Karen

This morning's devotional said: "The Wisdom of Solomon tells us that 'love is stronger than death' (Song of Songs 8:6)." This poem states it in a different way:

"Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you,
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone,
wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow,
laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Pray smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort,
without the trace of a shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
it is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity,
why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you
somewhere very near
just around the corner.
All is well." - Christina Georgina Rossetti 1830 - 1894

My friend, "Karen East," of From Paradise to Plan B , posted the poem above for one of her friends. It is so beautiful, and speaks so deeply to me of what I believe is the intention (or voice) of our beloved ones who have gone before us, that I had to share it here. Thank you & much love to you, Karen!

On the bow of DA BOATA, staff & campers catch french fries thrown from friends and fans who are at Red Robin, on the pier.

Today is "National Cancer Sucks Day," which (of course) coincides with the Camp Goodtimes cruise, also known as "DA BOATA." David and I will be helping on board, assisting with arts, crafts and wherever an extra pair of hands is needed by the campers, all of whom are cancer patients, former cancer patients, and their siblings. It's going to be a day of fun, silliness, friendship and JOY. There will be music, dancing, singing, a buffet lunch, french-fry throwing & catching, and all kinds of general craziness.

Cancer sucks...but it doesn't have to spoil everyone's fun, and Camp Goodtimes is a place to see that fact in action. As the song says, "Celebrate good times - come on!"

It Was a Beautiful Weekend on Puget Sound...

...including warm temperatures, several beautiful walks on the beach, in town and on country roads...

South Beach flowers, with West Seattle
& WA State ferry in the background

* a video interview with our friend, Carin Towne, and her team (More Dust Than Digital) for the Ben Towne Foundation 's event in September
* a visit to a local wooden boat event
* a date at the Harbour House Pub
* a visit with the grandparents
* relaxing "down time"

Relaxing on the deck with a cold soda, a view of boats on the Sound,
eagles and the delicious smell of salt air

* the deck furniture is back on the deck!
* summer is coming, after a long, gray, wet winter!

I hope your weekend was beautiful and full of delights.

20th Anniversary Weekend: Victoria, B.C.



A great beer - the view from our room -
the view from the breakfast table - new shoes & rose petals
- fun architecture - our walking map

Gregg & I had a wonderful time on our weekend in Victoria.
We walked all over town, watched the Swiftsure sailboats depart, saw bike races, ate well, drank well, rested well, shopped a little, laughed until it hurt and enjoyed being alone together.

We got up early on Friday morning (5:30!) and drove for an hour and a half, in order to catch the early sailing of the M.V. Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria. Around us were a number of sailors with gear bags, going to meet their vessels. They were on their way to participate in the Swiftsure sailing race (I've written about this in years past; it's always on Memorial Day weekend, which is the weekend of our marriage).

When we arrived in Victoria after an hour and a half of sailing on the ferry, we stood in line with others to go through customs. After answering the agent's questions about our reason for visiting Canada, and our plans, we were allowed to head out of the building and over to our hotel. We were going to leave our bag with the concierge until check-in time, but happily, they were ready for us early. We dropped off our bag and freshened up, before heading back out to start exploring the city on foot. Discovering places on foot is one of my favorite things to do, and even though we've been to Victoria many times over the past 20 years, we are still finding new restaurants, parks, shops and sights. I love that city - I could happily live there, if only our health care systems were willing to swap services.

We think we could live very happily in a place like this floating house...
just smaller!



We walked up to Fort Street, where there are antique and furniture shops, as well as some great restaurants. One of my favorites is a Japanese restaurant called Sen Zushi, and I had been dreaming of eating there again. We stepped into its quiet ambience and enjoyed a slow meal of the freshest sushi, miso soup and lots of green tea. We then stopped in a bakery to buy a couple of treats to take with us for dessert. We also stopped to buy a 6-pack of delicious apple cider, one of the great alternatives to beer in Canada.

Walking around the waterfront is always a pleasure. We love to see the boats in the marina preparing for the next day's start. There are several different classes of sailboat in the Swiftsure, and several races, but they all start on Saturday morning.

After a rest, we walked back up to Fort Street to enjoy dinner at Cafe Brio. Their speciality is fresh, local ingredients, superb tastes, two portion sizes, beautiful presentation and a romantic - yet friendly - atmosphere. Local paintings line the walls, and the art-deco light fixtures give off a soft, warm glow. Our dinner was delicious, and it was fun to be surrounded by a variety of people, including a courting couple, as well as a jolly group of sailboat racers, eating heartily and preparing for the morrow. All told, we walked about 6 miles on Friday.

On Saturday, we got up early enough to enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the dining room of our hotel. One of the many reasons we like this hotel is that the dining room overlooks the harbor with huge windows. On Swiftsure race day, it is a great pleasure to eat while the boats pour out of the harbor on their way to the start at Ogden Point. After breakfast, we started our walk along the waterfront to Beacon Hill Park, which affords fabulous views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. The sailboats gathered at the starting point, created a glorious sight.

After the sailing race commenced, we found that we were walking along the path of a cycling race. The Tour de Victoria was taking place on Dallas Road and beyond, so we saw some of the cyclists whizzing past. Ryder Hesjedal, a Tour de France contender, is a local boy, and he was inaugurating a new cycling event in town over the weekend. There was a lot of excitement around him and the events.

Sign observed in a holistic medical office window on our walk.

We walked a looooong way on Saturday - 10 miles in all! Highlights included shoreline, parks, beautiful Craftsman-style and Victorian cottages, gardens in bloom, a neighborhood farmers' market and our favorite coffee shop for a cup of java. Mid-afternoon, we stopped for an appetizer, beer (for Gregg) and cider (for me) at the Irish Times Pub. We had planned to eat dinner there, but by 8:00 p.m., the line of people waiting to get in was still out the door and into the street, so we gave up on that idea, and moved on to a fabulous little place called Ferris' Oyster Bar & Grill. It was a perfect dinner for both of us: a burger for Gregg, halibut for me, yam fries and salad for both.

We toured an historic building that is being converted into studio-condominiums, but decided that they were too small to consider, even for the future as empty-nesters.

On Sunday, we got up and ate breakfast, again enjoying a windowside table and the view of the harbor. We then packed up, checked out, left our things with the concierge and walked around the other side of the harbor to a neighborhood we haven't explored yet: West Bay. It was a lovely walk.

Along the way, we discovered this driftwood sculpture

We don't normally check in with the Tourist InfoCentre, because we know where we want to go in Victoria, but I was looking for a map with distances on it. They had a wonderful walking/running map, which showed a number of new routes, distances and time to allow. This walk was one of them, and we ended up going about 6.5 miles that day, before boarding the M.V. Coho again and heading for home. Walking so much is great for taking any guilt out of eating and drinking well on vacation - actually, it's great at home, as well!

Finally, for Maribeth, who does not like my new shoes. They were super-comfortable until the last couple of miles of the trip. For brand-new shoes to go that far, comfortably (without socks!) speaks well of their quality. And you may not believe this, but I received lots of compliments on them!

For Maribeth:
we thought of you in many places!

The week preceding this little get-away had been chock-full of writing deadlines and filming. After such an intense week, I needed to let go of the story of Katie's illness and focus on the present. We were given a warm welcome, and even treated to chocolate-dipped strawberries "on the house" as an anniversary treat from our hotel. Canadians are fabulous: friendly, kind, open, and interesting. I love the way I feel when visiting their country. Gregg and I had a superb vacation, and came home feeling truly rested and refreshed.

Happy Birthday and Julie & Julia

We had my in-laws over for dinner on Saturday night. My mother-in-law just turned 89 (father-in-law achieved this milestone last August, when we were in Canada). Happily, my sister-in-law Linda (treasurer of Katie's Comforters Guild) and her husband Bill joined us, so we had a nice little party of six.

The night before this, on Friday, I went to a "Julie & Julia" dinner party - a tribute to Julia Child and her impact in bringing French cuisine to America - ladies only. You may recall that I hosted last year's event; this year, it was at the home of our friend, Julie.

Heidi & Julie

I have to say, there is nothing like a wonderful group of women, gathered together in the spirit of fun, fellowship and food.

 

When I saw the beautiful table that Julie had set for us, I thought, "Only a group of women would do this for each other." I just don't see guys appreciating all of this.



Men out there - am I wrong? Please tell me if I am, and I will retract that!

Our hostess, Julie, with Cami, Suzanne, Heidi, Denise, Kay, Pam, Heather & me

I made Brie en Croute, accompanied by pears, apples and crackers (both sweet and savory). We also had onion & anchovy tarts, cheese tarts, onion soup, salade Nicoise, beef tenderloin with mushrooms, roasted acorn squash, sorbet bombe and chocolate tart - and lots and lots of wine: champagne, sparkling, white, blush, red & dessert. There was MUCH laughter and loud talking. It got progressively louder and more raucous as the evening and festivities went on. 

Unflattering, but the camera doesn't lie...

 We planned ahead and had designated drivers; everyone got home safely.

Thank you, Julie (& Julia, for inspiring us)!

Photos courtesy of Julie

Something Meaty, Something Fluffy

Meaty: If you haven't ever checked out the website

www.shalomplace.com , please do. It's not flashy, but it's meaty, in the spiritual sense. I love their daily devotional called

"A Daily Spiritual Seed." You can sign up to receive it by scrolling down the sidebar (to the right) and clicking on the picture of the wheat.

Fluffy: If you are a mystery-lover, and haven't yet seen the new Sherlock Holmes series on Masterpiece Mystery, oh my goodness, you are in for a treat. You can find out more about Sherlock by clicking on his name, and following the link. I'm hooked.

Soapbox moment re:Retirement Home Halloween

I have to share this link with you: http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/11/small-town-halloween/ .
If you haven't discovered the Pioneer Woman's blog yet, you are in for a treat. Her "true-life-novelette," called "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" is reason enough, as are her photographs chronicling her everyday life raising a family on a cattle ranch. And then there is her cookery and homeschooling ideas.

But in her posting about Halloween this year, she made me think about something new: Halloween in a retirement home.

Her small town's retirement home opened its doors to trick-or-treaters. Go to the posting and look at the photos, please.

Why doesn't every retirement home do this? I loved the idea, and the smiles on the residents' faces tell the value of the it.

All right, I'm stepping off of my soapbox right now.

Happy Halloween!

As David said, when he was a little boy,

"Happy Marine!"

(Happy Halloween)

to you and your family.

I hope it's a fun (and safe) day for everyone.

A Visit and A Beach Walk

That little furry rascal wouldn't come in at bedtime last night; he woke us up at 3:30 this morning, MEOWING incessantly at our window! RASCAL!

 ‎"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air & the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life."

-John Burroughs

Gregg & I tend to do a lot of walking in nature when we have free time. We're not mountaineers by any means, but we love to find new places to explore, preferably involving a beach. Today, we took a beach walk in a place he's never visited, and I haven't seen since my youth-group days. It was one of those fall days when the weather was alternating between showers and sun - hot and cold. We dressed for both, and drove south. When we arrived at the state park, we left the car and took a short hike through the lush green woods to the beach.

There was a quiet span of pebbled beach, an island and a sailboat in the background. We walked for a while, and saw some huge, beautiful homes and gardens.

I found heart-shaped rocks; here's one:

and then I noticed a jellyfish in nearly the same shape, nearby:

Weird for a jellyfish, yes?

My love.

After we had hiked back to the car, we went to a pub, had a bit of refreshment and watched part of the local football game. It was tied when we left; we didn't stay for the end. We took a short walk around the marina and downtown Gig Harbor. It is a charming, small town.

Errands and shopping took us to dinner time, when we stopped into a favorite spot to share a salad and have a beer. Then we came home, and called David. He's doing well - so we're happy!

Maribeth was here for a few days this week. She was very busy with her kids, but spent a few nights here with us. It's always wonderful to see her!

Our new favorite red wine: 14 Hands "Hot to Trot."

There was a classic wooden boat show in our town this weekend. Some beautiful boats cruised by our house. Here's an example:

I have a new, little part-time job: creating and maintaining the facebook page for our neighbors' restaurants. If you're on facebook, look for Burrata Bistro & Paella Bar! I'll be updating regularly.

Award Season

No, not the TV kind of award; Blog awards!

My dear friend Diane Walker of Contemplative Photography (and many other creative endeavors) gave me two lovely blogging awards the other day. She wrote:

The intent in passing on these acknowledgments is simple: to express my admiration and appreciation for your fine and always interesting writing, the time you take to acknowledge and respond to followers' comments, and the community you help create, encourage, and nurture all over the Web.

The "rules", such as they are, follow, as well as images of the badges, which you can "grab" and upload to your own pages, if you like. You may award both accolades to the same group of people or one to one group and the other to a different group, or mix them up; the choice is yours.

The Versatile Blogger Award

► Acknowledge the award and thank and link back to the person bestowing it. A good way to do this is through a post such as this.

Thank you, Diane!

► Pass on the award to 15 other bloggers:

Suz

Elizabeth

Kay

ChiTown Girl

Robin

Karen

Mary P.

Mary

deb

Allegra

Rebecca

Laura
Jason
Caron

Renee (posthumous)

► Let the new recipients know you've selected them. Optional:
► Share seven things about yourself that your readers or followers might not know. (See "Seven Bits," below.)
► Post the badge to your blog.
Seven Bits:

1. I collect Native American glass beads, found on beaches near my home. I've been collecting them since I was a little girl.

2. I was once so fluent in the French language that I began to dream in it.
3. My French is very rusty now, but I would like to become fluent again, and learn to speak Italian.

4. I would like to live in Europe or England some day - not forever, but for a while.

5. I would like to live on Vancouver Island some day - not forever, but for a while.

6. I would like to write for a living (keep writing, and get paid for it).

7. I have a degree in Fine Art (watercolor painting, to be exact), cum laude, but I'm not a good painter, and wish I had double-majored in interior design and English. (I don't spend a lot of time regretting this, however, and am thankful beyond words for my education!)

One Lovely Blog Award: I received this one from another blogger, some time ago (see the sidebar), so I will not re-post it, but I send thanks to Diane for her kindness.

Congratulations to the new recipients! If you aren't a regular reader of their blogs, please go and  visit!

A Cat in a Kayak

"A Cat in a Kayak" is the title of one of our favorite children's books, written by one of my favorite authors, Maria Coffey. I've mentioned Maria and her husband, Dag Goering before, because Gregg and I love their books. We met them in May of this year, when we were in Victoria for our anniversary.

It's HOT here today, so we took the kayaks out for a ride. Gregg and I went about 2 miles first, and then I came in, so that David could take my kayak and go with Gregg. (They have a lot more stamina than I have, so they go farther.) The two of them crossed over to Bainbridge Island, paddled along the shore, and came home.

Liger was on the beach, meowing, when we went out and when we returned.

He likes boats.

We assumed he wanted to take a ride, so we let him sit in the cockpit.

He liked it...

...until some folks walked by with a very enthusiastic golden retriever, OFF leash. The golden decided to come and play in the water, too.

Liger decided it was time to hide.

The golden retriever and his owners walked on by, and Liger decided it was time to get out of the boat.

He got a bit ahead of David...

...misjudged the distance, and took a little dip.

The walk of shame.

Don't worry about him - he's fine! I dried him off, and he gave himself a bath.

Maria and Dag, we are thinking of you.