Webbing

Today was really swell. I did a little work in the morning before heading over to Belfair for a Jr. Ranger program. Borrowing the idea from several other sources, I led a program entitled "webbing" during which we took a nature hike. On the hike we stopped to talk about a Doug fir tree, a dead doug fir, oregon grape, soil, the birds, sunlight, and water. The trail took us to the shore, so we got to see several different environments. At each stop we paused to talk about how it related to the stop before. When we got back, I asked for something we saw on the trail. The child that answered ("Douglas Fir") held one end of a rope. Then I asked what might rely on the Doug fir. Answer, "birds for nests!" That child held a part of the rope. We continued making the web until the whole rope was used, and then illustrated what would happen if all of the earth worms disappeared. The "earthworm" tugged on her part of the rope. When others felt a tug, they started tugging, until the whole web was effected by the loss of the earthworm. It was pretty neat and I think they really started to think about how everything was interconnected.

What especially great about this program were the answers that the kids gave when I asked things like "why do plants need the sunlight?" While the adults giggled a little at the answers of 4 year old Rosie, she had it right. Continually the kids would answer things in a way that we are not used to thinking, and point out the most important parts of this web. "To live."

After, Jamie and I explored the coast of Twanoh. We then went to Belfair for a potluck with the volunteers, staff, and others. It was absolutely wonderful! They were quite welcoming of these seeming vagabonds and we had a grand time. I hopped over to watch Joel (area manager/ranger) and Steve (ranger) give a campfire program on littering, etc. It was great to see the interest in the crowd.

Returned to the potluck where others were and played some music. First time I've played for a group greater than 5, and I'm still strumming most songs. It seemed well received and was a great excuse to sing with Jamie. I have to practice!

Jamie and I went out on the pier when we got home and checked out the pilings at night. Found some ginormous (that word is for David Couch) sea stars. Fish, mussels, crabs, sea stars, sea weed, spiders, insects. Crazy environments.

Great day.


Styrofoam never decomposes.

a friday night before a thursday day

Worked at home this morning, then hiked with Jamie to practice my "interpretation." Over to Belfair for orientation and planning. This evening Jamie and I went to the drive in movie theater where we spent the first several hours waiting for dusk and people watching between paragraphs of our respective books. Finished Travels with Charley. Indiana Jones was, well, Indiana Jones. Fun indeed and now it is off to sleep; Jr. Ranger again tomorrow and then hopefully some beach exploration. There are so many projects that I want to work on! Today proved to me that I am actually learning some things out here: the plant identification is going well, but I need more stories. My Salmon research is going well and I am working on the presentation now. Quite interesting questions are brought up when one shouldn't buy farm salmon, hatchery salmon, or wild salmon...

Twigs

Today marks the first day that I am exhausted. Someone must have stepped on the twig that is me because I have snapped. I think the lack of sleep of the last two days combined with giving seven half-hour presentations to 3rd graders combined with the fact that gas is 4.05 and groceries are as expensive has driven me bonkers. Today was actually a great day. The kids were great and then Jamie and I went out for a fun dinner. After, we went to go get groceries and I realized that I had left all my grocery bags at home. For some reason the last several hours of my life have been complete and utter confusion as I oscillate between complete joy because of Jamie’s visit to complete distress over the amount of waste we as humans produce and over the utterly daunting and perhaps unavoidable prospect that we are suffocating all other life on this planet to serve our own selfish needs. Perhaps sleep is what I need to “fix” this, but it is deeper than just me being uncharacteristically upset. Everything I’m working on this summer explores how we can live in greater unity with the earth, and then I come back to my heated house in my SUV with my plastic wrappers from lunch. I actually feel sick to my stomach.

Also, if anyone knows what I am doing and where I am living come September, if they could please let me know that would be great.

But really, I’m fine and I’m enjoying the violin, and am now we are going to “jam” together. Tomorrow is another day.

Chatter

"The love of my life is here." ~ Jamie's suggestion of what I should title this blog. Worked at home in the morning, went to some elementary classes in the afternoon, and then gathered Jamie from the airport. Been quite refreshing and bizarre having a guest in what is normally my silent house. We began catching up in the car, sharing stories; talked her ear off about my job, about my life, about birds. Stopped at the canal before coming home, and then made dinner and had very fulfilling talks over pasta and tea. Many questions that I hope we will answer throughout our week of living together.

Jamie and I have known each other since we were five. We met in kindergarten over what I believe was a sandbox and what she believes was an owl puzzle. Despite this minor dispute, we continually grow together, and I am excited for our week.

Tomorrow I have 8 classroom presentations. Ahhhhh!!!

bioluminescence

Today was awesome. Got my phone fixed (for free...thank goodness), set up the internet on the state computer, and looked at Cameras. A friend and I hung out doing errands, playing guitar, and hanging out in the park. Spectacular day and now I must be to bed for Jamie comes tomorrow!

Travels with Twanoh

At 4:45 this morning, I put on some shoes and went out to the dock. Not only could I not see the top of the Olympics, but I could not see the tops of the trees across the canal. There went our hiking plans. After talking to Stacy, I found out that she found out that even the bottom trailhead was inaccessable by car, and we would have had to trudge many miles in ten feet of snow to reach where we originally wanted to start from. Hiking plans are on hold until further notice.

Instead, I watched the fog become a little brighter (sometimes this is what we like to call sunrise), listened to the birds chirp their good mornings, and found some sea stars on the pier. Then I went back, read some, and almost doubled the amount of sleep that I originally got last night.

I think I am officially in love with Steinbeck. or Charley. Probably Steinbeck.

At 6, I joined Stacy at her house and we took her dog (appropriately named Twanoh) for a run in a nearby forest. Absolutely gorgeous and a great adrenaline rush. Then she fed me (good thing too; note to self: groceries tomorrow). Over dinner, Stacy, her fiancé, and I watched Casino Royale. Great movie, especially with our side commentary relating the movie to work in Parks or Fish&Wildlife (Jason is a Game Warden). Overall great day.

Tomorrow running some errands with a coworker, and then preparing my house for Jamie!! She'll be here for a week, and then several days later Kelly (dear friend from school) is coming to visit! I will have several weeks where this house will be filled with laughter, music, and probably, if we try to cook, the fire alarm.

zoOo0oOo0oOom

Time has flown by. Today marks two weeks in Washington and was the final day of my second week of work. Bird walk early this morning that didn't result in much other than reinforcement of calls for Spotted Towhee, Wilson's Warbler, and Swainson's thrush. Spotted a Stellar's Jay chasing a squirrel around a tree which was kind of neat. Bad weather but good walk; nice people. After I led another Junior Ranger program with awesome kids. absolutely.

Spent the later afternoon making friends at a garage sale. Read in the sun, cleaned some, etc. This evening went quickly too! Now to bed because tomorrow I am to rise at 5, step outside, check the mountains. If i can see the top of the mountains, we are going hiking. I have been told there will be 10 feet of snow at the top. Nervous but excited! Hopefully tomorrow I will have tales and pictures from the summit :0)