Here and There

From the last few weeks

Fall here is nothing like Ohio - different kinds of trees

But every once in a while we see a beautiful maple tree 

that reminds us of how glorious fall colors can be

Christmas already???!

Pumpkins are more like it!

Michael came to our new place for lunch on our balcony.

We celebrated his birthday with 

Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, his favorite.

After 4 years of using my jerry-rigged stand-up desk, we sprang for the real thing. This fits on top of my current desk and can easily be raised and lowered so I can alternate between sitting and standing. It's a great way to work and much better for my body than sitting all the time! The "varidesk" weighs about 50 pounds. The box sat in our hall until the missionaries came over to carry it upstairs for me and take it out of the box. 

Our church sponsored a community-wide service day in conjunction with the National Day of Service and Remembrance (of 9/11) There were quite a few projects in the parks around Kirkland. For those who preferred an inside project, there was Days for Girls. We made sustainable feminine hygiene kits. Days for Girls provides education as well as hygiene kits so girls are able to stay in school during their periods. The kits are shipped all over the world to areas where disposable products aren't available and/or aren't affordable. It was like an old-fashioned quilting bee - people talked while we sewed, ironed, cut, strung ribbons, assembled kits, and so forth. 

This is the Joe we know and love - he is a man of extremes. 

When the boys were home we called him "Even-flow Joe."

Top picture - vegetarian dinner at Cafe Happy in downtown Kirkland. 

Bottom - Joe had a craving for a hamburger - not just any hamburger, but a double meat, double cheese, bacon burger from Burgermaster - an old-fashioned-car-hop-eat-in-your-car place. Of course he had to have fries and a milkshake with it!

(Posted with Joe's hearty approval :)