Oh,What A Beautiful Morning!

I haven't always been a morning person. I fell into the night owl category for years. I remember watching David Letterman’s Top Ten List, reading a novel until after midnight, and often staying out late with friends or family. I don’t know if it is age, my environment, or adjusting to my mate’s sleeping patterns, but I have become a morning person. Now I appreciate and embrace morning. Some days I don’t even need to set the alarm. Between the sun rising above the mountain across the lake, the dogs stirring, and the smell of coffee as the automatic timer kicks it on- it is easy now to get up early. Being outdoors is a guilty pleasure in the morning. As the weather continues to warm up all I need is a hot cup of coffee, a sweatshirt for warmth, and brown crocs to keep my feet dry. I enjoy the melodies of birds and the gentle sound of chimes as I tour the gardens. Morning is a time for thoughtful meditation and prayer. It is also my time to put down words to paper. Fresh ideas, fresh air, and fresh coffee work well for me. Yes, I have given up those late night habits (most of the time). I do miss Dave and midnight conversations with friends. Weekdays I still need to shift gears and organize myself for work in the morning. Before I do that I pause, look at the sky, and give thanks for the beauty of the earth.

"The Slowed Evening Is Carried In Prayer"

Cliffs and rock formations are common in the Inland Empire, especially around rivers and lakes. Traveling home at the end of the my teaching day these natural forms of beauty shelter me from wind and sun. The words of William Stafford were perfect for describing these breathtaking rock walls. I agree with him- "the slowed evening is carried in prayer. "

Vespers

As the living pass, they bow

till they imitate stones.

In the steep mountains then

those millions remind us:

every fist the wind has

loses against those faces.

And at the end of the day

when every rock on the west

claims a fragment of sun,

a last bird comes, wing and

then wing over the valley

and over the valley, and home,

Till unbound by our past we sing

wherever we go, ready or not,

stillness above and below, the slowed

evening carried in prayer toward the end.

You know who you are:

This is for you, my friend.

William Stafford

Dinner Waiting After a Hectic Day: Slow-Cooker Enchiladas

A few years ago a local caterer prepared a special dinner at school. This was the main dish. As soon as all of us took one bite of this yummy dish, we were asking her for the recipe. I always like slow-cooker recipes that I can leave all day to cook on their own. This one is great to double when a crowd is coming. Enjoy.

Slow-Cooker Enchiladas

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 16 oz. can of pinto or kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained.

1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chillies, undrained

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

6 flour tortillas ( 6 or 7 inch)

In a skillet cook beef, onion and green pepper until beef is browned and veggies are tender;drain. Add the next 8 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Combine cheeses. In a 5-qt. slow cooker layer about 3/4 cup meat mixture, one tortilla and about 1/3 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or until heated through. Serve it up! 4 servings.

"Before the Eye Can Focus... Crocus"

"First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,

And now before the eye can focus

Crocus." Lilja Rogers

One thing I love about these early spring bulbs is how quickly they appear. One cold, windy day you notice some grass like leaves emerging through the bark in the garden bed. The next day you observe vivid, colorful blooms. If you are just beginning to grow spring bulbs, this is a surefire pick. I like to mass plant them, allowing them to come up in big clusters of color. I knew a guy in Spokane that naturalized them into his lawn each year. In March the front yard was always bursting with purple and yellow blooms. It was beautiful . If you haven't planted a crocus before, plan ahead in the fall. Get the bulbs in the ground then. You will reap the rewards the following spring. These lovely blooms just appeared in my garden bed.

Ten Mile Road Trip #1: Lake Beauty in the Spring

Today we took advantage of the sunny spring weather and our scenic area and took a ten mile road trip. We can leave our house and travel ten miles and see some of the most spectacular scenery in Washington. We started today driving along Lake Roosevelt. This is a view looking north along Inchelium HIghway.

This is a view of Barnaby Island looking south along Lake Roosevelt. We were intrigued with the cloud formation in the afternoon sky. This is another view of the lake from above as we headed up a country road southwest toward Lake Ellen.

When we arrived at Lake Ellen we viewed a contrast of green and white. Because of the altitude and location of this lake, it is still covered with a white layer of ice.



Soon this rock formation will become an island for swimmers and boaters to rest on while enjoying Lake Ellen. I was still amazed today that it was covered with ice. This lake has a small campground at each end and a boat launch. I hear it has good fishing, but I am not a fisherwoman so I wouldn't know. Moving west on the lake road we came up to a aspen grove. In early spring with the stark,white trunks still exposed, these trees take on a unique beauty. In a few weeks this whole landscape will change with green leaves budding out and wildflowers beginning to show their colors.Just a half mile from the lake the beaver pond is thawed and the house the beavers constructed has held up over the winter months.
Our last stop was a clearing that is safe for the dogs to explore. They ran, taking in the new smells of spring. We were disappointed we couldn't hike down to Barnaby Creek. It was also still surrounded by snow. The dogs love this spot and always perk up as we drive near. I guess it is a certain pine, moss, creek smell they always remember. It was time to go home. The dogs were tuckered out from their run and I was anxious to see the new slide show of pictures. We are blessed to live in an area where we can do a ten mile road trip and see this much spectacular beauty. I will share other ten mile trips around Lake Roosevelt throughout the seasons.

Top Ten Reasons for Doing Spring Cleaning Today

10. I have so many cleaning supplies some of them may go bad if I don't use them.
9. The dust bunnies started having babies under the bed.
8. When the ceiling fan was going it caused a freak mini-tornado.
7. We wanted to see the scores on the T.V. screen during the Oregon game. ( Go Ducks!)
6. Spring came this week...isn't that when you do spring cleaning?
5. We read we could save energy by cleaning the coils on the frig... now where are they?
4. It was time to find those muscles I haven't used since last spring cleaning.
3. We want to enjoy sunlight through the window instead of doggy nose prints.
2. Because the house needed it.
1.When done with Day One it gave me a reason to celebrate with fruit, cheese,and a glass of merlot . Wine is good for the heart, right?