Mercer Island

We recently had dinner at The Islander on Mercer Island. This is the view out the restaurant window looking east. Lake Washington is beyond the city and the trees. The Cascade Mountains are in the distance east of Lake Washington. We like Mercer Island and seriously considered living there. 

Fall Colors & Salmon

Salmon are a big part of the Pacific Northwest. On our first time out to look at salmon swimming upstream to spawn we lucked out and selected probably one of the best spots around for observation.

The Renton Library is built over the Cedar River. The entrance to the library is a bridge that makes an excellent observation deck.

This sign indicates the months each type of salmon come up the Cedar River to spawn. Sockeye and Chinook salmon appear in the river in October. A man told us these are Chinook salmon. (Although looking online, the coloring appears to be that of Sockeye salmon.)

All told there were 20 or more salmon swimming up the river and/or resting in place. Some of the females had already created redds, areas where they lay their eggs.

These salmon started their journey in the Pacific Ocean, came through Puget Sound, up a fish ladder into Lake Washington and then into the Cedar River. The people we talked with couldn't tell us how long that took and we couldn't find the information online.  Some salmon will swim miles further up the Cedar River before laying their eggs. 

Click here and here for interesting information on salmon and spawning. 

We went to the Gene Coulon Park on Lake Washington. In the picture below Joe comes out of Kidd Valley restaurant after lunch. We enjoyed looking at the water, the beautiful fall colors, and a family playing in the park. 

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Home-made wheat bread has been a staple in our home since the early 1980s. When we joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1981, we soon learned that food storage was something people were encouraged to do. Wheat was a big part of that plan. We asked what we were supposed to do with all that wheat. Bill and Geraldine Twitty invited us to their home for a breakfast and demonstration of how to use wheat. They treated us to bread, pancakes, cereal, and other treats made from wheat. Not long after that we bought a grain grinder and bread mixer from Darla Anderson. 30+ years later those machines are still going strong. 

We've enjoyed sharing the bread. Over the years the wheat bread has received rave reviews from family and friends. Eleanor Shearman, a dear friend and North Street neighbor, said the bread kept her alive into her 90s. When I made bread I looked forward to taking her a warm loaf fresh from the oven. Every time I take bread out of the oven I think of Eleanor. 

25# of wheat - half hard red wheat & half hard white wheat

The grinder makes a LOT of noise. It sounds like an airplane taking off. I use ear plugs when grinding the wheat. Since some fine flour particles escape the pan and filter, I often did the grinding in the garage at North Street. If it was too cold for that, I set up in the basement and used sheets to cover things that would be adversely affected by any fine dust. Now I'm using our garage in Kirkland. I can't start too early in the morning out of consideration for our neighbors. 

Wheat, honey, oil, yeast, salt, dough enhancer & water

6 batches of dough

 8 # of raisins

Each batch yields 16 small loaves

Some with raisins and some without

 Wrapped & bagged - 96 small loaves to the freezer

The bread freezes well and tastes great even after a few months in the freezer. Once I tried to save time and money by not wrapping the loaves before putting them in freezer bags. That wasn't enough protection. Wrapping makes for better preservation. 

The smell of freshly baked bread lingers around the house for a few days. 

"Give us this day our daily bread."

This has been our bread plate for many, many years. 

One of Joe's favorite snacks

Good for you and it tastes good too!

Tribulation -> Patience -> Experience -> Hope

"... we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 And patience, experience; and experience, hope..."    Romans 5: 3-4

I don't know that we "glory" in tribulations, but I do know we are ready, willing, and eager to learn all we can from them. Rainbows can appear during the rain and clouds of life. We do find hope in Jesus Christ, his example, and his gospel. 

Photos taken through our office window

Video Visits With Family

Most Sundays we have a video visit with family back in the Midwest. It's fun to see and talk with our grandchildren and their parents and hear about their week. Joe and one of our granddaughters enjoy having staring contests. We get to see art projects and pets and hear about soccer games and school activities. 

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We started with Skype but now use FaceTime every week. 

Gratitude & Comfort

October 12 Joe had the fifth surgery on his vocal cords since December 2005. Over the years removed cells have been identified as cancer, precancer, and severe dysplasia. This was a "no cancer, severe dysplasia" diagnosis. We are extremely grateful and relieved. Through the years tissue has been removed from both sides of his vocal cords and in the V that connects the vocal cords. 

Joe still has a voice. 

For this we are extremely grateful. 

We are thankful for good medical care in Columbus and now in Seattle. 

We are thankful for good insurance - that covers us out of Ohio. 

We are thankful for friends - your love and your prayers. 

We are thankful to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the gospel. Joe knows they are with him no matter the outcome. 

For many years the hymn "Be Still My Soul" has provided great comfort to Joe whenever he faces challenges. 

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

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Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

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Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears;

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.

Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay

From His own fulness all He takes away.

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Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

"Be Still My Soul" lyrics

Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b. 1697

translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
January 2015 video link removed; no longer available

Signs of Hope

On gray, rainy days rainbows sometimes appear

Taken from our office window

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It is possible to find beauty even during difficult times. 

Autumn Colors

These brilliantly colored trees are on our street. 

View from our window

Solemnities of Eternity & The Here and Now

Getting ready for surgery at this stage of life can be a daunting task. On the one hand, Joe says he's "been there, done that" and he knows the routine. On the other hand, we know we have to prepare for a variety of outcomes. 

We know to make sure our records are up to date including finances, living will and other such documents for medical care. We make sure we both know the passwords to all the various accounts and what's filed where. We have a checklist of sorts that we go through. 

Part of our routine for these surgeries has been discussions of "what ifs." We've had conversations about life, death, life with and without a voice - lots of hard conversations. 

At times like this it is very important to remember the big picture.  I think of the phrase the solemnities of eternity. No matter what happens here on earth, we know there is more to come. Jesus Christ has made this possible. 

One of the solemnities that gives us great perspective and comfort is our eternal marriage. When we were first married, our vows were "until death do you part." Later we were married in a temple by a person who had the authority to bind people on earth as well as in heaven - "for time and eternity." Jesus Christ speaks of this power and authority with Peter: 

         "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16: 19

An Abundance of Heroes

Erik "Electron Boy" Martin

With the help of friends in Bellevue and Seattle Erik became a hero for a day back in April 2010. He brought people together and reminded many of what's really important. Erik "Electron Boy" Martin died recently at age 14. 

There are many heroes in Erik's story

-the foster parents who fostered him and other medically fragile children

-Make-A-Wish Foundation

-All who helped Erik live his dream of being a superhero for a day

-Erik himself. He brought out the hero in many around him. 

Erik's foster father, Jeremy Martin, said people related to Erik because "it's the story of the hero's journey, struggling against all odds to make it." 

The story touched us because it reminds us how we can all be heros. We are reminded of the importance of helping others deal with their challenges. How wonderful it is to be a hero in someone's life. How wonderful it is to have a hero in our lives. 

See the complete story here. Be sure to click on the video clip to the right of the article so you can see Electron Boy in action.