Good-Bye Greenwood

I am very sad today, as it was my last day at Greenwood. With the current parenting schedule of Craig having the kids every other Thursday evening through Monday morning, I couldn't justify me having to get a sitter on my Sundays with the kiddos to go volunteer all afternoon. When I told Lindsey, I started crying. I cried all the way home. I am crying right now writing this.

My farewell gift was getting to feed a baby raccoon for the first time. I think my favorites over the past year, however, were the birds. Today we had a room full of babies who needed feeding every hour. The majority were your everyday birds (house finches, house sparrows, starlings), but we did have three nestlings who were unusual Greenwood visitors - baby meadowlarks. They were adorable!

I guess not all is lost. I will stay on the volunteer newsletter that lists shifts needing help, so if a time fits my schedule, I can go in then. Hopefully, once this crappy divorce is over, I can fit Greenwood back into my life because: 1. I had no idea I'd be this upset over leaving, so I obviously love working there; and 2. it's important for Cody and Tara to see the value of being a volunteer. So, to compensate for my loss, I think I'll start hiking again. Anyone know of some good trails near Loveland?

Birthday Gifts

I've been thinking of getting myself something for my birthday. I broke my headphones last week, so that's one option.

One gift I got early was Dad's blue pull-over jacket.  (The one in the picture posted here.)  I think I wore it a couple of times last year.    It's one of the few articles of clothing that fit me when I went through them with Barbara.  Everything else was too big.

I hope I don't sound materialistic and insensitive about it.  It really does mean a lot for me to have something of Dad's.  I think it's interesting that the picture posted here was of him wearing that jacket.  It's like a little detail that somehow fell into place.  Very nice.

Thanks to everyone for remembering me on my birthday.  More and more, that is what's important.  It's the best gift there is for me.

Happy Birthday Eric!

Sorry this is a day late. I've been so busy that the days seem to run together--I've been thinking about you all week though!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday and will have an adventurous new year. Here are some pictures form my travels to inspire you:

This is a view from my jogging route when I lived in Dinguiraye, Guinea.

Local transport: yes, that is a TV on the back of the bike and it was ridden miles into the countryside and hooked up to a generator to show videos about HIV.

I spent part of most afternoons in St. Petersburg, Russia with a walk along the city canals (you actually can't avoid them) or the Neva river.

St. Petersburg was really lovely and very European, especially in the rain (does that make any sense--fleeting memories of childhood in Brussels?).

This is closer to home, but had a faraway feel. I loved the landscape and its colors around Taos, NM.

It's been a long time baby....

Hey all,

I know I have been bad recently about keeping in touch. I've just gotten so busy lately that I haven't had time to catch up. So I thought I would just write a quick update about all my goings on. I recently moved off the farm up to Asheville to be close to my friends and create more of a social life. I was getting stifled on the farm. I live in this great old house built in the 1920's with my roommate Mark. He has a really nice dog Pearl a Plothound, which is incidentally the state dog here in North Carolina. I didn't even know there was such a thing. His cat Milly terrorizes my cat, so it all works out like it should. It is the beginning of festival season and I am assisting my friend Melanie once again with her Hoop business all summer long. We went to our first festival last weekend in Wilmington along the coast. It was small but fun. Next month is when it all really starts. I have signed a contract with another hooper friend to perform at a festival called LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival). We are going to perform two nights as roaming LED hoopers and march in the Kid's Parade. It should be an experience. I just bought my first LED psi hoop. It is in the mail. It is amazing how they can squeeze 16 blinking LED lights into a thin plastic tubing. Otherwise, life goes on as normal. I hope to visit Colorado sometime in September or October, not sure what works for me yet. Hope to hear more about what's going on for everyone.

Shona

Happy Birthday Kristi!

Hope your next year brings beauty and the delicate flight of new beginnings and butterfly wings!

Update

So today Aidan went to the ENT doctor. He has to get his tonsils out. The doctor looked at them and said "Wow! Their huge!" So we plan on doing that in the next couple of months - depending. He has a hard time breathing while he sleeps, so probably the sooner the better.

Happy Birthday Mindy!

Here are some are moments of birth, growth and life that I captured at our local conservatory. I hope they bring a smile to your face and a sense of awe to your day. Have a great day and treat yourself grandly!