A Classic at the Maui Invitational

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, my favorite men's college basketball team have been playing in the Maui Invitational the last three days. I have watched three nail-biting games as Gonzaga defeated Colorado Monday, Wisconsin yesterday, and just completed a 61-59 overtime victory against  Cincinnati to win the Maui Invitational Tournament in Hawaii for the first time. There were many great moments during these three games, but I have really loved the display of outstanding leadership and skilled playmanship of Matt Bouldin. Whew! I am glad I have some time to rest before this team plays again. As usual, Annie ran to her carrier when the game got really exciting and I was exhausted at the end.  You would have thought I played in the game!!

Over the River and Through the Wood To Home We Will Go

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the place I call home. We always love to go over the river and through the woods to Mom's house for Thanksgiving, but this year we are choosing to stay home. I am in need of a rest. I have projects that have piled up. JEJ and I want to spend quality time together. I have books to read and writing to do. I look forward to a quiet, peaceful Thanksgiving. We will have a full house for a our Thanksgiving feast that includes two dogs, five cats, and a rabbit. I am sure I will do some photohunting also! I can't wait!

She's The Greatest Star

My sister and I have quite a few things in common. We both love good coffee, Funny Girl,chocolate chip cookies, and gardening.  If you asked us to pick a song to perform onstage, each would have "I'm the Greatest Star" from Funny Girl on a short list of favorites.

Saturday when I attended Sixth Street Theater's production of Here We Sit I had the pleasure of watching my sister Silver Valley Girl perform this showstopping number very convincingly.The play consists of sixteen scenes about attending the theater.

There were many memorable parts of the play, but I have to pick my sister's rendition of this song as my favorite. Can you tell by the number of pictures I took? Bravo to the cast and crew and two thumbs up for the hilarious performances in Here We Sit.

 

Here is another scene where she is discouraging a guy from putting the moves on her in the theater.

In another scene she played a member of a community theater group gathering feedback from the audience ... and back to the showstopper!

The Promise

The promise Creator gives us
Comes with every new day,
The gift of breath, the gift of life,
Opportunities in a vast array.
How do we count our blessings,
Through the choices life can bring?
Is it through joyful lessons?
Or the fears to which we cling?
Are we learning to show gratitude,
For the victories over human pain?
By honoring the feeling choices,
We grasp the will we've regained.
Can we change our focus,
With no need to defend?
Acknowledging joy and sorrow,
Without judging foe or friend?
Tomorrow promises the fullness
Of every human way to know:
How we master each challenge
Determines our balance -
reflecting how we grow.

The Promise of Tomorrow

Jamie Sams
"Earth Medicine"

Happy Birthday Cousin Cyndi

Today is the birthday of my cousin Cyndi. We have recently been reconnected on Facebook and learned that we have quite a bit in common. I don't think I was present when the picture above was taken, but I loved looking at this picture and others of Cyndi after she was born. She was the first second cousin I had ever known. For some reason I thought this picture were taken at Moscow at Aunt May's, but Mom thinks it was taken in Orofino.

Wherever it was taken she brought joy to all our lives. Have a very happy birthday Cyndi!

Garden Ghosts

November and December before the snow settles in for the winter are the two months we notice the "garden ghosts". Margaret Roach in her book A Way to Garden used this term to describe what we leave standing after the last frost. There are garden plants that add interest to the death and afterlife of the gardens.

 a lone bean which is drying on the vine

There are also plants that will self-sow, some that will feed birds, and others that just look magical. The structures left after the harvest are also called the bones of the garden. A gardener can see a clearer picture of the design of gardens and flower beds when all that is  left is the bones.

Today I caught some images of my garden ghosts and bones as I toured right before dark.