Sibling Assignment #198: Autumn Rituals With Mom

I gave the following assignment:  " The one year anniversary of Mom's Celebration of Life

happened recently. Reflect on life with our mother." You can find sister Carol's post is here
and brother Bill's post here

Whether it was when I lived in Kettle Falls or when I moved next door, we had a autumn ritutual
every year at Mom's house. It was that week-end when we "put her gardens to bed" for winter.
We tried to schedule it when Carol and Paul could join us if possible. I always enjoyed this week-end.
It was in October when I was ready to take a week-end off from schoolwork. It was usually sunny, but cold.

Mom always had her list of tasks that needed done. We all usually knew what to do. We empties plant pots, deadheaded spent flowers, cut back perennials, added to the compost bin, and raked leaves. I loved the smells of the rich dirt in her raised beds, wet leaves in a pile, and the remaining aroma of lavendar and dill.

When Mom was able she was right there with us helping with the tasks. Later, she used her ATV walker and kept up with us. Later she stayed in the house, but watched from the kitchen window. All of us worked hard, but it was a labor of love. We all felt a sense of accomplishment when the day was over. With sore muscles, tired feet, and dirty hands we sat on the deck and looked over what we completed.

The best part of the day was the meal Mom prepared at the end of the day. Wine was uncorked, cold beer was opened, and Mom usually had a homey comfort meal that satisfied our hunger. Mom was such a good cook and on those days I think we were also treated to apple crisp or some other fall dessert favorite.

We live next door now and do the same rituals, but it is not the same. We rest more, we don't have Mom montioring our progress, and we don't have as delicious of a meal at the end of the day. This is one of the many reasons I miss Mom in the season of autumn.

Sibling Assignment #197: KHS Homecoming: GAA, Driving Teachers' Cars, and Going to the Bar

Bill gave this assignment. "When we were in high school, we had Homecoming every fall. Write about
something you recall about one of your three high school homecomings whether it’s a football game,

a dance, a pep rally/bonfire, or anything else." You can find sister Carol's post is here and brother Bill's post
is here.

Girls only had one sport when I was in high school in the early seventies. We just had track. To give us atheletic experiences, we had GAA ( Girl's Athletic Association). We met at the football field or the gym on Thursday nights and played flag football, basketball, and other competitive games. Another activity GAA participated in was running the concession stand at football and basketball games. The money earned provided money for some fun field trips and other things. Mrs. H was our advisor and I was president of the organization my senior year.

Back in the day we were allowed to do many things that would make a school board and principal shutter today. First, we were given permission to drive teachers' cars and do it during the school day. They gave out "town passes". If Kenton needed to get the school newspaper up to the Kellogg Evening News to get printed, he drove Mrs. Faraca's car. If Mrs. H. left something at home, she let a girl that was her TA drive and get it.

As president of GAA one of my big duties during football season was to help set up the concession stand before games. I don't know why, but we got ice from the bowling alley up the hill from Teeter's Field. I took Mrs. H's car which had coolers inside and drove up to the bowling alley. I got the ice in the bar, so there was Mrs. Callahan or Bill Kramer waiting to fill my coolers with ice. Then off I went to drive her car inside the football field to the concession stand. The concession stand was a big money maker and I think we only sold fountain pop, popcorn, and candy.

I still played in the pep band, marched on the field during halftime, wished I was a cheerleader, yearned to be Homecoming Queen, yelled my head off as part of Pep Club, and maybe even watched the game. When the game ended I played "Alma Mater" with the Pep Band while everyone around me swayed side to side singing the verses loudly. Back then lots of alumni did return home also, so it was fun to look around and see former cheerleaders, football players, and drill team members that I idolized in my youth.

I must have had much more energy back then, because next I helped clean up the consession stand and loaded up the empty coolers for another game and headed to the Northwest Medals for a dance.

I don't know what was worse back in the fall of '72: driving a teacher's car or going to the bar to get ice. We were trusted back then. We all survived. All the teachers' cars survived. It was just different back in the day.

The Shed Notebook: I Shall Focus on Photographs

Kellogg High School

Another favorite quote from "Daily Peace, 365 Days of Renewal".

"When words become unclear,
I shall focus on photographs.
When images become inadequate,
I shall be content with silence."
- Ansel Adams

Today I focused on photographs, revisiting older ones. It brought me peace.

Spokane River

Riverfront Park

Mission Slough Sunset

spring Columbine

favorite rose

The Shed Notebook: My Love for Fall Leaves

When I posted a album of pictures the other day of trees in my hometown friends that grew up with me commented on how beautiful it is in Kellogg now, but how it wasn't always true. We lived under a gray fog of smelter smoke growing up. It stunted the growth of many trees. That has all changed now.

When I moved to Martin Creek I wanted to have a collection of trees that provided variety in fall leaves.  I researched all types of trees and selected colors based on their fall color. As those trees grew my love for photographing fall leaves began. I was struck by the uniqueness and beauty of each tree as late September arrived and the leaves began to turn. It wasn't just the leaves at my house, but everywhere.

Now I plan driving trips just to study the leaves through the lens of my camera. I don't have to go very far to find breathtakingly beautiful fall colors.  I picked a few of my favorite images below.  Each illustrates the unique beauty of fall leaves. Take time tomorrow and look closely at some fall leaves. Take some pictures and preserve the memory of their beauty.

"Autumn that year painted the countryside in vivid shades of scarlet, saffron, and russet, and the days were clear and crisp under harvest skies." — Sharon Kay Penman