The Neighborhood

This rhododendron is the pride and joy of our neighborhood. The story goes that its relative, located about 1/2 block away, was taken from a cutting of the same "parent" plant. Here is the sister:

Every year, we watch for the first buds and blossoms on both of these beauty queens. Every year, their daily progress is a joy to behold. The color, shape and size of each blossom is truly extraordinary. Each one is like a bouquet in itself.

We recently gathered to honor a couple of beloved neighbors who are moving. Happily, they are staying in our town - only moving a few miles away. Melanie, (the wife) is our "neighborhood watch" captain, and on this occasion, we thanked her for her diligent work and presented her with a magic wand in recognition of all she has accomplished. There are always lots of jokes about Gladys Kravitz as we participate in the neighborhood watch, but truly, there hasn't been any of that kind of nosiness or busybody behavior, and a very positive tone has been set by Melanie.

An example of what great people she and her husband are: several months ago, they invited friends to help them pack up their enormous wine cellar, offering to provide pizza and salad as dinner for the movers. When we showed up to help, they generously gave us all the wine that we could carry out. Many cases of wine were given away in kindness, and with a great sense of surprise and fun!

At the going-away party, it was suggested that we gather for a group photo under the rhododendrons. I thought that was a lovely idea, but the spring rains have made that impossible for this year - the moment of best bloom has passed. The good news is that there is always next year - those rhodies are here to stay.

Dessert table, with a book for everyone to sign for the guests of honor

The party was a delightful potluck - a great opportunity to catch up with all of our neighbors. In addition to food, we brought a pitcher of Mint Juleps, in honor of the fact that it was the day of the Kentucky Derby. What fun to see those who had never tasted a Julep enjoying their first sip! Thanks to Janis and David for hosting!

A few more floral pleasures from our neighborhood:

I love the spaces where flowers spring up, the wild ones alongside of domestic: iris, roses, buttercups, forget-me-nots and others (unknown to me), growing by the roadside are a treat for the eyes.

What's Been Happening

This post contains a little bit of what's been happening here, lately...
David has begun working at his summer job, taking new responsibilities as part of the boats' crew. I've been getting up to make breakfast for him before he goes to catch the ferry to Seattle and on to work.

Our NYC Cosmopolitan magazine-editor friend, Anna, returned to Seattle to give two book readings. The one in Poulsbo at Liberty Bay Books was so much fun; Anna gave us a real look at the world of N.Y. publishing. We had so many questions that she didn't even have time to read from her book!

After the book event, we hosted a little party here so that Anna's local friends could gather, catch up with her and celebrate her success. Of course, I forgot to take any photos. Fortunately, Paul Dudley came (fresh from shooting a wedding, with his son Miles) and took this shot of Leslie, Shelli, me and Anna (holding her new book, "Wrecked"):

Pretty great stuff, considering we're a group of people who met through a camp for children who have cancer. This is not a depressing crowd!

Gregg is now working with suppliers from Spain and France. He is going to hand off the Italian work package, but still covers that when others are traveling or on vacation. He loves working with overseas suppliers and traveling to their plants.

I am sending out information about my book to nursing schools all across the country. I'm also working to shepherd the DVDs through the last few "gates" so that we can edit them further. The next step will be to share them with other hospitals and groups who want to/need to learn about family-centered care.

David worked overnight this weekend (a graduation cruise), and kind-hearted Laura and Tom invited him to "crash" at their house when he got off work at 3:00 A.M. (there is no ferry service at that hour). He never did go to sleep; Tom got up at 4:30 and they went golfing at dawn! Then they took the ferry & came over here for lunch; David went to bed after we ate, and slept for about 16 hours. Tom, Laura, Gregg and I went to the Harbour House Pub to raise a glass in honor of Laura's father, Moe Drabowsky (Sunday was the anniversary of his passing).

Due to mobile phone issues, I am now on my fourth Droid 3 this year. Each one has had a problem with one thing:  the camera, the keyboard, the opening/closing mechanism. Fortunately, this one seems to be okay. I've been testing the camera on each phone, and here are some of the results, tweaked (for fun) in Picasa:

Native Americans launching a canoe on the beach near our home

Latte insisted on taking a walk with us.
He went 1/2 mile and started panting like a dog,
so we turned around, and I carried him most of the way home.

We planted some new lavender.
There has been so much rain here that everything is growing like crazy.

I love playing with these photo filters.

Neighbors' roses make a nice contrast against their shed.

Maribeth made a lightning-fast visit to Poulsbo after her daughter's graduation from college. Taylor has accepted a job at Seattle Children's Hospital after graduating cum laude from Seattle U., and we couldn't be happier for her. After one day & night here (complete with our favorite Thai take-out dinner and a visit with Gregg, David and the cats), MB has returned to the city, and will be on her way back to Kansas tomorrow. It's always wonderful to sit on our couch and talk into the night, and then resume the discussion in the morning over coffee in our p.j.s. God was so good to bring us together 12 years ago, and to allow us to share our lives since then. She is a treasured friend.

The coming weekend will bring a visit from blog-friends from Ohio, and Father's Day celebrations. Meanwhile, back to work on marketing "Because of Katie."

Thank you for your orders from the Pampered Chef fundraiser, Elizabeth & Karen!

While I Await the Arrival of a New Washing Machine

...here is our news:
- our 12-year old clothes-washing machine broke down (apparently, it lived longer than most)
- our yard has had its spring cleaning
- our house has had its spring cleaning
- Gregg and I washed the front windows
- the sun shone for several days before our weather reverted to "April Showers"
- we attended a fun benefit for the Seattle Children's Theater (my sister-in-law is on the board)
- we hosted a party in honor of 4 friends' birthdays (for 22 people), for which
     - I made 4 pans of lasagne
     - I baked two Chocolate Stout Cakes
- after the party, most of the crowd went to the bowling alley for Rock'N'Bowl (black lites and rock music while you bowl)
- after Rock'N'Bowl, some of the group went on to a karaoke bar (we went home to bed)

That lower-left photo is the bowling scorecard for some of the gang.
Don't you just love their names?

- my dad and I are working on marketing "Because of Katie," using custom-made postcards - dad is writing to newspapers and I am targeting nursing schools and teaching hospitals (there are 400+ in the US alone!)
- I am trying to stay OFF of facebook for a few weeks, and it is not easy. It is the preferred way for so many of my peeps to communicate (much more popular than phone or email), and I have been going through withdrawal. I am still on for messages and Guild business, so it's a little bit tricky.

I'm wearing this bracelet to help me remember to stay off of fb

I hope you have a wonderful week!

It's Almost Party Time

Thanks for these great photos, Pauley-dear (Paul Dudley Photography)!

 I am getting ready to celebrate. Paul is putting the finishing touches on our video...

there are8 reviews on the book's Amazon page...

I dropped off a HUGE (3 feet by 2 feet), beautiful photo (made by Paul Dudley Photography) of the book's cover to our local printing company, and it's being made into a display poster...

Gregg is on his way home to me from nearly two weeks in Spain and Italy...

the Zags are playing tonight...

and

Suzanne Droppert's Liberty Bay Books is hosting a book talk and book-signing event for me on Friday, March 2nd at 6:30 P.M. at

The Loft at Latitude 47.7

The link to the event page is

Here

The Loft has a relaxed, fun atmosphere and a nice menu, so you might want to have a bite to eat or a beverage there, before or after the event. The restaurant is upstairs at the marina in downtown Poulsbo, and has a great view of Liberty Bay. We'll be gathering in their private room for the event.

It's almost party time!

Happy New Year!

I hope that New Year's Eve was a fun night for you, however you spent it.

Some years, it seems best to have a quiet time at home with those closest to us. Some years, we've had a bonfire - for fun, and to symbolize what we are glad to let go of, as the year draws to a close. Some years, we feel like a party- and this year, we "got our party on" with friends, which was great fun.

Though I enjoy good food and drink, I am not a big consumer of alcohol. I didn't drink it at all until I was 40, because I grew up in a "dry" household, and because my paternal grandmother was an alcoholic, God bless her soul. It truly ruined her life and her relationships, so I have always been extremely wary of the genetic possibilities inherent in alcohol, and the sadness that my grandmother's addiction caused to those who loved her - including me.

Nana Edna was so much fun when she was sober!

Being 5'1" tall, I learned very quickly to go slowly when drinking alcohol, even wine. When I began to drink alcohol, Gregg (who has had many more years' experience with this than I) counseled me to drink a glass of water in between each glass of wine, and I do that. I stay away from hard liquor, except in fruity beverages such as daiquiris or margaritas. I'm low-key about it, but I do have a glass of wine or a beer most evenings.

On New Year's Eve, I followed my "rules" and drank a lot of water; between each glass of champagne, I re-hydrated. I ate dinner and snacks to keep a balance of food and drink in my system. During the party we sang, danced, talked, watched the kids set off fireworks, ate, drank, took photos, laughed and talked some more. When we left for home around 1:30, David was our designated driver. We took Tums and rehydrated when we arrived at home. In short, we did it all responsibly...yet I still spent part of the night lying on the bathroom floor! I guess even the best of intentions can get derailed at a good party.

The only funny thing about this is the fact that, as I lay on the floor, waiting for the nausea to pass, I did two things. I prayed for others who I know are having REAL health issues right now, especially offering my (stupidly, self-induced) suffering up for a particular few, and for Katie, in respect for their REAL suffering. The second thing I did - avoiding any and all thoughts of food - was to muse upon what I could write about the experience. You know that you're a writer when, in the throes of nausea, you think about what you're going to write the next day!

Happy, healthy New Year to you!