Super Bowl Party #1

I grew up in a household where football games were front and center on the television set in the living room every week-end during the season. Then there were bowl games and more bowl games. In the earl seventies games were added to Monday night.  ESPN came after I moved away from home, but when I visited there it was with more games.

I have never been that interested in watching NFL games. There was always so much more I wanted to do on a Sunday. Before yesterday I only attended two Super Bowl parties in my adult life. One was when the Chicago Bears won in the mid-eighties, and another was in January of my first year in Inchelium. I don't even remember watching that game. I was there more to visit with new friends. 

 I don't often watch the Seahawks, but  I love following them. I  have enjoy keeping up with the season, the players, and the games so I can engage in conversations with my Seahawk fan students.  Also, I take pride in supporting a team from our state of Washington, and am inspired by The Twelfth Man. Having said all this, I am not really a band-wagoner. They are my favorite team.  I just spend Sundays in other ways. This changed the last few weeks.

We sat and watched the playoff game when the Seahawks earned their spot in the Super Bowl. It was fun to see all the excitement unfold in Seattle. As the hype began building and the recipes for Super Bowl party dishes started popping up everywhere online last week, I decided we needed to have our first Super Bowl party.

Here was the plan for the party. We would stay home.  The guest list would include myself and Everett, the dogs, and the cats. I would create a simple menu of finger foods that we could enjoy during the game that wouldn't take lots of prep time. No blue hair, green face paint, or crazy outfits.

What a Super Bowl party it was. I dug out a vintage recipe for hot broccoli dip with Fritoes. We had cold shrimp, Mom's pickled veggies, my homemade salsa, and cold beverages. 

I loved the commercials, was amazed at the game, and took a series of pictures of the dogs and cats experiencing their first Super Bowl.  We enjoyed the comfort of our own home with a fire warming the house. It was overall pretty calm and quiet. It was a perfect Sunday and we have leftovers!

I may have to plan a party again next year.

Ten Things I Love About My Mother

 Today is my mom's birthday. I wish I could be with her today, but I know she will have a lovely day without me. It is only fitting I share ten things I love about my mother today.

1. She is always finding little articles or cartoons she thinks I will like and cuts them out. She either mails them to me or keeps them in a dish on the TV until I come to visit.

2. She taught me the proper way to make a bed...even though I still can't get it she is a very patient teacher.

3. She knows how to make a fruitcake how fruitcake should be made. Her brandy soaked Christmas tradition is the best.

4. She has determination. She has modeled this character trait as long as I can remember. If a dust bunny needs to be picked up, a spill on the floor needs to be wiped, a fan needs to be dusted, plants need to be watered, a load of clothes needs to be folded, a batch of cookies needs to be prepared it doesn't matter if she hurts or is tired... it gets done.

5. She is an amazing gardener. She creates healthy compost, weeds to perfection, waters just as it should be done, deadheads like a champion, and knows when to pinch back, cut back, and harvest at just the right time and she has taught me much.

6.She knows how to cook. Mom is an old school chef. She used basic ingredients, traditional flavorings and spices, and recipes she has used for years. Nobody else has mastered meatloaf, swiss steak, potato salad, orange rolls, or navy bean soup quite like my mom.

7. She loves her family unconditionally.

8. She continues to be a learner. No internet, googling, or smartphoning for my mom. She still gets out encyclopedias, paper maps, and books from her reference collection to find out facts or reteach us something we forgot.

9.She loves to have a good time. Whether it is shopping for sales with her daughters, going out to dinner with her children, going to the theater, a basketball game, a high school concert, a tour at a winery, meeting up with high school friends, talking over the fence to a neighbor, a church tea, or a Community Concert... she loves a good time.

10. She supports good causes. She believes in giving back whether it is donation to the library in memory of a friend, clothes to the woman's center, support for breast cancer research, March of Dimes, time working for Habitat for Humanity, the Sixth Street Theater,

or providing canned food for Cosette's food drive at school.

 She has purchased cookie dough, raffle tickets, attended dinners, and made donations to support her granddaughters and their school endeavors. She is generous for good causes.

Happy Birthday Mom!  Thanks for all you have taught me. Often I am a slow learner so I know you aren't done yet.

Next Time

 This week I had a birthday. It was certainly a time to reflect the blessings in my life. As my fifties draw to an end I have some regret, but I am focusing on what has been good  in my 59 years. The last few days I have read what other writers have had to say about moving ahead in life. 


Those of you that read my blog know I love Mary Oliver. This was one poem that struck a chord with me in my recent readings. Thanks to discovering photography I think I do look at things closer and see those small things like leaves and feathers. This poem is still a good reminder.

Next Time
by Mary Oliver

Next time what I'd do is look at
the earth before saying anything. I'd stop
just before going into a house
and be an emperor for a minute
and listen better to the wind
or to the air being still.
When anyone talked to me, whether
blame or praise or just passing time,
I'd watch the face, how the mouth
has to work, and see any strain, any
sign of what lifted the voice.
And for all, I'd know more -- the earth
bracing itself and soaring, the air
finding every leaf and feather over
forest and water, and for every person
the body glowing inside the clothes
like a light.

One Word Essay: Sky

There is nothing like a winter sky. Even on a gray day the cloud formations catch the eye. A sunny sky is an extra treat. I don't know much about seasons, cloud formations, and light but I believe winter skies have a beauty all their own. Sunsets are more vivid. If we are fortunate to appreciate a sunrise, another thing of beauty. Above is a sunset in Kellogg.

Silver Mountain in Kellogg.

Along the Inchelium Highway.

A view over the roof of the house.

Gray storm clouds above our trees.

One Word Essay: Contemplation

A friend of mine sent an email today with a title "One Word Essays" With the post were a long list of words with a photo for each that exemplified that word. I loved the words and the photos. Of course, I could never just chose one photo for any them or one word essay. Today I chose contemplation The one above is my mother listening to my sister present information on Scottish Christmas traditions. She was really contemplating.

 Will I get some?

 Is there an extra hand on my body now?

Will we be BFFs forever?

Don't Follow Too Close: Photographer On Board

 I carry my camera each and every time I travel in our car or truck. I just never want to miss a shot. Unfortunately  that perfect shot often appears while I am driving.

 I try to  pull over, but sometimes I just hold up the camera and click while I am trying to concentrate on driving also. With this one, I pulled over and I am pleased I did.

I never know until I stop the car what I captured. Here are some images from recently traveling the roads around my area. I wasn't driving when I caught this one above.