snow on the mountain

I went hiking the other day with my son and granddaughter.  We drove up beyond the tree line and there it was...snow!!  Glorious snow.  Untouched by humans.  No tire tracks.  No mushy slushy.  Just whiteness and some rocks.   Time for play.  The afternoon sun lay low in the sky.  A tiny snowman was built and left behind for others to enjoy.  We left the snow field and drove back down the mountain.  It was dark...the trees made it so.  Then nightfall.  Life is wonderful...and beautiful.  Isn't it?
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the white frame church

Here is a picture of the church that I attended last Sunday.  It is located in the nearby town of Snoqualmie.  The historic building is a wood frame structure and is painted white.

The stained glass windows in the sanctuary are given in memory of loved ones.  The wooden beams and the hanging lanterns are very beautiful.  The sermon...well delivered.  The congregation...very welcoming.  A wonderful place to worship in a lovely historic setting.

spam cassarole

I'm not sure what made me do this but maybe I was remembering something from my childhood and I was trying to re-create a moment there.  Don't fully know.  I do remember, though, helping my Mom make spam casserole.  Very simple to make, just a few ingredients,  and I know the casserole fed all of us.  The spam was sliced and placed in rows on the bottom of a glass pyrex baking dish (light green on the outside and white on the inside) (the baking dish, not the spam).  Next, chunks of canned yams were placed (or poked) around the spam pieces.  A layer of canned pineapple (always sliced!) was arranged on top of the spam and yams.  Then--o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o yummy--a mixture of brown sugar, melted butter and a little pineapple juice was put on the top.  Then it was baked until bubbly and served hot.  wow-e-e!!  Well, that's what I remember and I just felt like it was time to make it again.  It IS colder weather now and this IS a comfort food dish perfect for a chilly evening supper.  Came out just as I expected and the left overs were good for the next few days served on a crunchy piece of toast--open face style.  Leftovers, you ask?  Why would that be?  Because no one else wanted to eat the casserole I so lovingly made!!  Just me and my spam casserole.  By myself.  They had no idea what they were missing.  Really! no idea!  wink,wink  

All Saints Day

I attended Aldersgate UMC in Bellevue on the first Sunday in November.  The service was about remembering those Saints from the church that had passed away in the last year.  The service was very moving and the candle arrangement on the center table was very thoughtfully presented.

The service was very moving and the candle arrangement on the center table was very thoughtfully presented.  As each name on the memorial role was called a bell tolled and a candle was lit.

prairie dog town

As I drove through Theodore Roosevelt National Park I came across several flat areas inhabited by prairie dogs.  They had built quite a large town with many holes dug all over the grassy area.  The prairie dogs were having a good time running everywhere and some were just standing by their burrow and eating.  The prairie dogs were a lot of fun to watch as they scurried about.  I imagined one of them was the mayor of prairie dog town, too.  I just wanted to say that.  haha  

where the buffalo roam

Look at that buffalo!!  Roaming the prairie, munching the grass and living freely.  Not bad.

the Badlands

Driving west along I-94 in North Dakota brings a wide open stretch of prairie that offers a beauty in its simplicity.  But, seemingly out of nowhere in the far western part of the state the terrain changes dramatically.  Here lies the Badlands.  Originally it was called the bad lands by both the native settlers and the people moving west because the land was too harsh for living.  It was bad land.

It is also a very beautiful land filled with layers of ancient rock formations, free roaming buffalo and other wild animals and enough peace and solitude to refresh a wanderers sole.  It inspired a president to enact conservation measures to protect these and other natural beauties for us and our posterity.  Come see the wonders of the Badlands (they're not so bad) that inspired Teddy (and me).