An Elderly Lady In A Bikini Arrived In My Mailbox Christmas Eve

Last summer, an elderly lady I know, living in an east coast state, visited a beach in Delaware. At some point I said I needed photo documentation of her at the beach in her bikini. 

The elderly lady then told me she has never, and will never, be in a bikini.

So, imagine my surprise upon opening a package sent by this elderly east coast lady, with the package arriving on Christmas Eve, morning of.

The explanatory note inside the package said "This is the closest you are ever going to see me in a bikini."

The note went on to explain that she had posed for a local artisan who handcrafts lookalike figurines with a theme chosen by the subject, as in customer.

I must say, the likeness is remarkable. The face. The overall body. I know this elderly lady is wealthy, but, I hope she did not pay a lot for this, but I do appreciate it, and so the figurine is displayed prominently in my living room...

I Did Not See A New Baby Orca Today In Puget Sound

I saw that which you see here, this morning, via the online version of the Seattle Times.

This falls into the category of things I see in a west coast news source about something I would never expect to see in a news source at my current Texas location about something like this being spotted anywhere near my current Texas location.

In nearby bodies of water, called lakes, I might see something unsettling, like a plus-sized catfish. Or a scary looking garfish.

But no orcas, also known as killer whales, which is sort of a slanderous thing to call the relatively peaceful orcas. 

If you live in the Puget Sound zone long enough, you likely will at some point encounter a pod of orcas.

I have had that experience twice. With the best one being with my mom and dad, somewhere between Anacortes and the San Juan Island called Orcas.

We were fishing for salmon, when suddenly a pod of orcas was close by. A pod of about 20, give or take an orca or two. Mom was instantly freaked out. Didn't matter that I told her they were harmless, despite their killer whale nickname.

Soon the orca pod had us surrounded. They sort of came to a stop. There were two baby orcas. One of the full-sized orcas came right up the boat, looking at us, us looking at him. Or her. The orca looked like it was smiling. Saying hello.

And then just as suddenly as they appeared, the orca pod was gone.

This orca encounter happened years before one was always armed with a camera, ready to take photos, or video, and send that which you saw out to the world.

Did not even have an old-fashioned film camera with us onboard...

More Christmas Fun From Arizona

I have been having myself a virtual Christmas visit to Arizona, of late.

This morning's email brought photo documentation of Christmas at Cade's house.  The first photo was taken in CJ, Carrisa's and Cade's backyard, I assume, since the text with the first three photos said "Christmas at CJ's."

That would be Cade's Uncle Jeremy on the left, next to Cade's Grandpa Jack, the Cade's mama, Carrisa, next to Cade's papa, CJ, with Cade's Grandma Jackie holding Cade, next to Cade's Cousin, Theo, Aunt Michele, Cousin David, Aunt Kristin with Cousin Ruby at the opposite side from Uncle Jeremy.

I do not know the name of the dog. And I did not know Jeremy has had a big growth spurt, rendering him way taller than everyone else.

I do know the name of the cat which Ruby is holding. That is Munchie. I have met Munchie a couple times.

 And here we have Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jack, with Baby Cade.

Another group of photos arrived with the text saying, "Burger Making Fun with Uncle Jack".

Apparently, Uncle Jack needed a couple burger makers, likely because the holiday had him short staffed. Uncle Jack manages several dozen McDonald's in the Phoenix area.

My favorite of Uncle Jack's McDonald's is the one in Maricopa, where I have had many a fine time sampling various McDonald's items, with my favorite always being the Filet O' Fish.

Above it appears Theo and Ruby are preparing to deliver a tray to a customer's table, under Uncle Jack's watchful direction.

Above I am guessing we are seeing Theo and Ruby on a lunch break after serving who knows how many McDonald's customers.

All this McDonald's talk has me craving a Filet O' Fish and a Cheeseburger. And Fries.

I am enjoying my virtual visit to Arizona almost as much as being there...

More Christmas Greetings From Arizona & Washington

More photos arrived on this Christmas day. Not via email. Via multiple phone text messages. 

Above, Kristin, Michele, Theo, Ruby, David, Jackie and Jack on in something called the Scottsdale Fashion Mall. Which, I guess, explains why they are all dressed so fashionably.

Earlier this Christmas day, in a blogging titled Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade, I erroneously guessed where the Tacoma-ites were staying, and where they were desert exploring.

Well, they are not staying in a hotel in Scottsdale. They are staying at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Hotel in Chandler. And their desert exploring was not on South Mountain, but instead was at a location called Sabino Pass.

I also heard from my Skagit Valley nephews today. That would be my favorite Jason nephew and my favorite Joey nephew.

A couple photos from Joey. None from Jason.

But, Jason sent a lengthy word picture, also known as a text message. On Christmas Eve Jason went to brother Joey's house for what Jason says all thought the Christmas Eve dinner was the best any had had in a long time.

I have had multiple reports that Hank Frank's mom, Monique, is a real good cook.

Also at Joey's was Joey's mom, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, Cindy, her current husband, Asher, Hank Frank's grandpa, my little brother Jake. Apparently, Hank Frank had a lot of presents to open.

For reasons I have yet to learn, Spencer Jack, who is now 16, boycotted Christmas Eve.

Above, that is Hank Frank opening another present, or playing with one he already opened.

Grandma Cindy gave Hank Frank a wheelbarrow which he instantly liked a lot. Grandpa Jake gave Hank Frank a big rope with which a swing will be installed on one of Hank Frank's trees.

The above photo was among the ones Joey texted today. It is not a Christmas photo. It is a Thanksgiving photo.

Joey's in-laws, that being Monique's parental units, live on a ranch near Helena, Montana. Like his dad, Hank Frank is good to go on a long roadtrip, but, Joey and Monique have learned if they want a break from Hank Frank's chattering an ice cream cone will keep him silent for a few miles.

The Arizona Christmas is taking place at Cousin Cade's house, in Chandler, about three miles from Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Jack's house.

Meanwhile, in Texas, I had myself a relative-free Christmas with a Mexican food themed fiesta. The highlight of which was Tamale Pie Casserole, along with Chile Cheese Rellenos and Chicken Chimichangas...

Merry Christmas Greetings From Arizona With Cousin Cade

David, Theo and Ruby flew their parental units to Arizona, which is how they are sending greetings from that state, this Christmas morning of 2023.

Well, actually the photos arrived, via email, on Christmas Eve.

Several photos follow, with the last three photos documenting the Tacoma cousins meeting their Arizona cousin, Cade, for the first time.

The text in the next two photos said simply "From Out Hotel".

Due to the wall of rock in the background, I am guessing the hotel Ruby, Theo, David, Michele and Kristin are staying in is in Scottsdale. 

I am assuming the guy with the white beard is a desert version of Santa Claus.

The text with the next two photos asked "Where in the desert Southwest?"

I would guess they are heading to the summit of South Mountain. Which is in Phoenix.

Or maybe they have driven south to Tucson, since that is Kristin's mom, Janet, on the right of Ruby, Kristin, Theo and David.

 

That looks to be Kristin's mom, Janet, after taking off her coat, next to Ruby and Theo, with a big Saguaro cactus behind them.

And now, the newest member of the Jones/Slotemaker/Weston family, Cade Weston.

That appears to be Grandpa Jack, on the couch behind Cade and Ruby, with Uncle Jeremy on another couch, on the right.

Cade sure does look a lot like his papa, Christopher, when Christopher was a baby.

And now it is Theo's turn to hold Cousin Cade.

And, the final photo is all the Tacoma-ites, except David and Kristin, on the floor, with baby Cade.

Hope y'all have a mighty fine Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas Eve From Texas To Arizona

Opened a Christmas card, sent from Arizona, today, on Christmas Eve. The card was from my second littlest sister, and family, she being the mom of nephews Chris and Jeremy, and grandma of Cade. 

The note inside the card suggested that I should have journeyed to Arizona for the Xmas fun, which includes the Tacoma Trio of David, Theo, Ruby and their parental units, with the most special guest being baby Cade.

Seems like I was just in Arizona, but it was way back in July of 2019 that I was last in the Valley of the Sun.

Getting All Shook Up In Texas On Christmas Eve

My old home zone had a Christmas Eve earthquake this morning.

4.0 on the Richter Scale. 

I have not felt the earth move since the 1990s.

There was a period of time, during that time, when multiple earthquakes shook me up, epicentered near Big Lake, only a few miles from my east Mount Vernon abode.

Those Big Lake quakes ranged between 2.0 and 3.0 on the Richter Scale. Due to being shallow quakes, with the epicenter so close, that cluster of quakes was loud, with the vibrating shaking quite noticeable.

During one of those quakes I was sitting in my living room. A room with a lot of windows, looking out at big fir trees. When the quake hit, the windows flexed and made a popping noise. The trees shook violently. 

As the windows popped and flexed, and the trees shook, I heard a cracking noise in the kitchen. When the quake ceased shaking I walked into the kitchen to discover the quake had cracked the tile floor.

Earthquakes are a bit scary, due to there being no warning, unlike other Mother Nature being angry events, like hurricanes, or tornadoes, or floods. 

Though, I have to say, while there may be a tornado siren warning a twister is in the neighborhood, it is still a scary thing, but not suddenly startling, like an earthquake. 

Since being in Texas I have experienced being near three tornadoes. I have never seen the stereotypical twister phenomenon associated with tornadoes. All I have seen is a dark, greenish wall of clouds.

Anyway, hope y'all are having yourselves a very merry Christmas Eve...

Merry Christmas Crying With Santa, Ruby, Theo & David

This is one of my all-time favorite photos.

I'd estimate this photo was taken over a decade ago.

That is Ruby and Theo being expressive on Santa's lap.

Ruby and Theo became teenagers last Sunday, hence the decade ago estimate.

Big brother, David, looks away, looking amused.

I have never eye witnessed any of the Tacoma Trio crying.

When I've been around the three they spend most of the time being funny and laughing...

Welcome To 2023's Start Of Winter In Texas

That which you see above showed up in my email this morning, from the Friends of the Tandy Hills.

A Winter Solstice Greeting.

Hiking the Tandy Hills, year-round, is one of the few things I regularly did in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that I miss.

The only hill hiking available at my current location is hiking to the summit of Mount Wichita, which is a big pile of dried-up mud, dredged years ago from Sikes Lake.

Another thing I miss from D/FW, that is not available at my current location, is Asian grocery stores. Arlington has several of those, which I frequented frequently, able always to get any ingredient I wanted or needed.

The inability of getting needed ingredients came up yesterday when I saw a recipe for something called Singapore Noodles. The photo of the Singapore Noodles made Singapore Noodles look really tasty. However, the recipe had several items I can not get here, starting with the noodles needed.

I have not been to D/FW since prior to COVID. Maybe I should go on a long drive and get me some special Asian noodles, among other things...

Birds Of Different Feathers Flocking Together Today At Sikes Lake

Birds of different feathers, flocking together today at Sikes Lake, roosting on the collapsing coffer dam.

The white birds appear to be seagulls, hundreds of miles from the nearest sea.

The black feathered birds were geese. But in the photo documentation sort of look like penguins.

It was almost cold enough for penguins today. The temperature in the 40s, requiring a couple layers of outer wear.

Post Library Visit To Lucy Park Contemplating Mistletoe Harvesting

This third Monday morning of the last month of 2023 I had to go to the library to refresh my reading material supply.

Time flies so fast, seems like I was just at the library, but it was over three weeks ago. Today's checked out books will be due to be returned next year, in early January.

Since I was in the neighborhood, after leaving the library I headed to Lucy Park for some nature communing via a fast walk around the former Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

I say former jungle because due to the leaves no longer being in many of the trees, it no longer looks like a green jungle.

The leaves may be gone, but some of the trees sport a different type of foliage.

Mistletoe.

Which is what you see being a parasite on the above tree.

It was years ago, in Arlington's Veterans Park, I learned those blobs of green were mistletoe. A pair of women were up on ladders, picking off the green blobs and putting them in a sack. I asked what they were doing and was told they were harvesting mistletoe.

I Googled to see if I could learn why the mistletoe parasite is known as the kissing plant....

Why is mistletoe the kissing plant?

In the Norse culture, the Mistletoe plant was a sign of love and peace. The story goes that the goddess, Figg lost her son, the god Baldur, to an arrow made of mistletoe. After his death, she vowed that Mistletoe would kiss anyone who passed beneath so long as it was never again used as a weapon.

Okay, that really did not make a lot of sense...

Mountain Rainier Looming Large Over The Skagit Flats

I saw that which you see here, on Facebook, a look at Mount Rainier from the Skagit Flats. The Mountain is about 100 miles south of the Skagit Flats.

I have seen Mount Rainier from the Skagit Flats, on a clear, smog-free day. The view you see here makes Mount Rainier look like it looms large, above the Skagit Flats.

That is due to this being a zoomed view of Mount Rainier. In reality, to the naked eye, from the Skagit Flats Mount Rainier is just a small bump on the horizon.

So many photos of Mount Rainier do that camera zoom thing, making The Mountain look bigger and closer. Thus when tourists visit Washington for the first time expecting to see Mount Rainier looming large, like it is hovering over Seattle and Tacoma, when it really does not look like that.

Even so, it is still a rather cool thing to see whilst on the Skagit Flats, looking south to the Mount Rainier volcano, looking east at the Mount Baker volcano, which is way closer than Mount Rainier.

I have not seen a real mountain this decade, not since I was in Arizona in 2019 have I seen a mountain...

Happy 42nd Birthday To Linda Lou From The Blue Lagoon Of Sikes Lake

Yesterday, due to rain, my endorphin inducing aerobic walking location was Walmart.

Today, on this third Saturday of the last month of 2023, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for a fast walk around the lake.

As you can see via the view of the Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake, the rain clouds have gone, replaced by a clear blue sky.

The retreated clouds left cold air in their wake, hence a slightly chilly outdoor experience today.

Today marks the 42nd birthday of Linda Lou.

Linda Lou and I have been friends since first grade. 

It is a well known fact that I calculate a person's age by adding their chronological age to how old they look to how old they act, and divide by three.

I have not seen Linda Lou in person since October of 2018, when she flew south to Arizona to spend a few days with me in an Airbnb in Sun Lakes. We had ourselves a mighty fine time...

With Theo & Ruby & Mama Michele In Disneyland

Last night a new Where in the World email arrived in my inbox. With the subject line being "Where in the World Part 2."

I knew the twins were going to Disneyland, again, part of their happy birthday week, with Theo and Ruby's birthday being next Sunday, December 17, the day they become teenagers.

The photos which came in the email had one-line descriptive text, above all the photos, which had me guessing what text matched which photo.

The text matching the above photo was easy to discern...

"Pit stop between soccer camp and Disneyland."

I knew Ruby was in Southern California to attend some sort of soccer camp. I do not know if Theo also went to this soccer camp.

The text I think I correctly matched with the above photo...

"Inside Millenium Falcon ride."

There was no text which seemed to match the above photo, but I think I can guess that the trio is standing in front of the Millenium Falcon, in the Star Wars section of Disneyland.

This is the only one of the photos I thought must maybe match the following text...

"On a spinning car of the Ferris wheel. Only ride I’ve ever been in where they provide barf bags. It’s something."

In this photo I think the twins have left Disneyland and are in Disney California. The following is the only text I thought might match this photo...

"Radiator Springs. Amazing ride based on the Cars movies."

I am fairly certain the above photo is also from Disney California, with the following text explaining what I maybe be looking at...

"Backside of the Grizzly River raft ride."

Two lines of text I could not figure out matched any photo, those text lines being "After riding Grizzly River 3 times in a row" and "Big Thunder."

It has been almost three decades since I have been to Disneyland. Christmas day of 1994. That was a fun day, but exhausting, staying in the park til closing time.

Mount Rainier Is Back Fully Clothed In White

Saw that which you see here, via Miss Chris, on Facebook.

At the Chris and Sheila vantage point at their previous home in Kent, a suburb south of Seattle, they had no direct view of The Mountain, also known as Mount Rainier.

At the new Knappson location, a smart home they built in Lacey, a suburb of Olympia, Chris and Sheila have a direct look at The Mountain.

Just a short time ago The Mountain had lost most of its white covering. Glaciers were melting away.

The Mountain looked naked.

But now, in mid-December, The Mountain is back being totally covered in white, thanks to a couple Atmospheric Rivers dumping a lot of water on Western Washington, which arrives in frozen form at the higher elevations.

At my current location we do not get any precipitation from Atmospheric Rivers. However, rain is in the forecast for later today.

But there are no higher elevations for hundreds of miles, which would get snow covered by incoming rain...

Nightly Walmart Swarm Of Thousands Of Blackbirds

Alfred Hitchcock Birds night, again, at my least favorite local Walmart. Thousands of these devils fly about, as the sun sets, looking for a roosting location. The photo does zero justice to how bizarre this is.

Thousands of what I have been told are blackbirds, roosting on every tree, on every building. Filling the sky. 

It is like a dystopian nightmare of bird weirdness.

Til I was corrected by a self-proclaimed ornithologist, I thought these birds were grackles.

I have been seeing this blackbird swarm at Walmart, and neighboring stores, for about a month. And that first experience with the blackbird invasion was a doozy. I drove onto the Walmart parking lot, immediately startled by seeing so many birds, in the air, in trees, on the pavement, on the building's edge, lined up like sentinels doing guard duty.

I parked, opened the door to find myself startled by two extremely loud explosions across the street.

Explosions with fireballs.

I quickly assumed the birds had somehow shorted out a transformer. Or two.

And then walking towards the Walmart entry I saw the store was dark. The exploding transformers had knocked out Walmart's power. Oddly, the stores on the side of the street where the transformers exploded, still had power.

Why do these birds choose to roost each night at Walmart, and Walmart's neighbors, like ALDI and Home Depot? Where do the birds go during the day? Why don't they choose to nightly roost at a less congested by humans location, like Lucy Park, or Lake Wichita Park?

It is quite perplexing...

Merry Christmas From Joey, Monique and Hank Frank

 A Christmas card arrived in my mailbox yesterday. The first one to arrive at that location this year.

The Christmas card was from Hank Frank, his Mama Monique, and my Favorite Joey Nephew.

Hank Frank is now five years old.

I do not know if Hank Frank is already going to school.

I do know Hank Frank is already driving a motorized vehicle, which he drives next door over to visit his Grandpa Jake most every morning, to watch cartoons.

Hank Frank, his parental units, and Grandpa Jake, live on the Skagit Flats, near Roozengarde, which is Ground Zero during the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

I thought for sure I would have met Hank Frank by now. But, COVID intervened, and post COVID something always seems to come up that prevents a trek to the Pacific Northwest.

Maybe this upcoming Summer I will make my way to my old home zone...

Where In The World Are Michele & Theo?

Incoming email this second Sunday morning of the last month of 2023.

The email included the photo you see here, and a subject line of "Where in the World".

Well.

In the photo we can see that is my little sister, Michele, with my favorite Theo nephew.

Behind Michele and Theo that looks to be the body of water known as the Pacific Ocean.

I am fairly certain that is the Pacific Ocean, though one rarely sees that particular ocean so smooth and wave-free.

The only pier I am aware of, reaching out into the ocean, such as that which we see at the upper left, is the Santa Monica pier in Southern California.

But there may be many other piers sticking out into the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. I do not recollect any piers sticking out into the Pacific Ocean on the Washington or Oregon Pacific coasts.

So, whilst we guess where in the world Michele and Theo are, we can not help but wonder where Kristen, Ruby and David are...

Breezy Balmy December Friday Walk Around Beautiful Sikes Lake

 On this second Friday of the final month of 2023, it was back to Midwestern State University I ventured, for a salubrious walk around Sikes Lake, joining throngs of others doing the same.

The locals were out in droves due to the perfect weather conditions. Temperature in the 70s, with a steady wind blowing in the 20-mph range, with gusts into the 40-mph range.

I do not know what the wind speed's windchill effect made those 70 some degrees really feel like. What I do know is the outer world felt extremely pleasant today.

In today's photo documentation you are at the east end of Sikes Lake, looking west. You can see the wind is making waves on the lake. Not quite big enough for surfing, but enough wave action to keep the water birds, the geese, duck and seagulls, grounded.

Today will be the last warm day for awhile. A cold front blows in tomorrow...

Dry Lucy Park Visit While My Old Home Zone Floods

Since I was in the neighborhood, getting drugs from a licensed drug dealer, after that deal was done I drove to Lucy Park for some high speed walking through the former Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

Now with most of the jungle-like foliage laying on the ground.

As you can see, it is yet one more clear blue sky day at my location in North Texas. Predicted to get heated into the 70s today.

Meanwhile, back in my old home zone of Washington, what used to be called a Pineapple Express, but is now called an Atmospheric River, dropped a record breaking amount of water, sending the Western Washington rivers into flood mode.

The Texas town I used to live in, Fort Worth, way back when this century began, started up something called the Trinity River Vision. Purported to be a flood control plan to control floods in an area that had not flooded since the 1950s, due to flood containing levees built way back then.

The Trinity River Vision was also touted as an economic development plan, converting an industrial wasteland in a commercial/residential area. With canals.

In all that time, over two decades, all that can be seen of Fort Worth's myopic vision is three little freeway overpass-like bridges, built over dry land, hoping one day to have a cement lined ditch dug under them, creating an imaginary island.

It took seven years to build those pitiful bridges over dry land.

Meanwhile, over a decade after the Trinity River Vision started trying to be seen, the town I lived in before moving to Texas, had what amounted to being a Skagit River Vision, building a waterfront boardwalk type attraction on the banks of the Skagit River as it passes through downtown Mount Vernon.

The Skagit River Vision included an actual vitally needed flood control component, a flood wall which could easily be put in place by a couple people when the Skagit goes into flood mode, which is happening right now.

The Skagit River Vision's flood control wall was put up yesterday.

Fort Worth is a relatively poor town, not able to pay for its sad vision itself, instead relying on federal funds. The whole operation turned into an embarrassing malfunctioning boondoggle which continues to boondoggle along, well into its third decade.

I believe Mount Vernon paid for its Skagit River Vision itself, you know, the way towns wearing their Big City Pants do.

Upon first exposure it was hard to understand the Texas way of doing things. I've been here long enough now that I am sort of used to it...

Tuesday Walkaround Sikes Lake With Colorful Cypress Tree

It was back to Sikes Lake I ventured on this first Tuesday of the last month of 2023.

I believe that colorfully colored tree, you see above, with two geese floating on the lake, is a Cypress tree.

I'm not much of a botanist, but I think I am correct in thinking this is a Cypress.

A couple days ago, at Lucy Park, I saw multiple instances of this colorful Cypress fall foliage. 

Cypress trees come in many variations, with many having needle-like, evergreen foliage and seed cones. The needle-like, evergreen foliage falls off, eventually, unlike other Coniferous trees. The Cypress behaves more like a Deciduous tree.

Today is being yet one more pleasantly temperatured North Texas December day, warmed into the 60s.

Walking The Lake Wichita Park Flats

If I remember correctly, lately I have made mention of the fact that my location in North Texas is extremely flat. No mountains, over even hills, making a dent on the horizon.

The vast flat space you see in the photo is a view looking east across the vast flats of Lake Wichita Park.

This was my high-speed walking endorphin acquisition go to location on this 4th day of December. The temperature slightly cooler than yesterday, somewhere in the 50s. 

I looked at the long range forecast this morning, into the middle of January. No deep freeze is currently predicted. How can the weather gurus possibly forecast way into the middle of January?

I've only got a few more pounds to lose before I am ready to visit a tropical paradise...

Sunday In Lucy Park With No Leaves

On this first Sunday of the last month of 2023, it was back to Lucy Park I drove for some blue sky nature communing.

I had not been to Lucy Park since late the previous month. At that point in time the area I refer to as the Lucy Park backwoods Jungle, was still jungle-like, with leaves in the trees.

A few nights below freezing in recent days has removed most of the leaves from the trees.

With 20 days til the arrival of Winter, it was time for the trees to lose their leaves, what with Fall falling fast.

The air today was heated to a perfect temperature for enjoying the outer world. 

60 degrees...

Homesick For Washington Mountains, Flats & Swans

Saw this, this Saturday afternoon, on the second day of December 2023. The Facebook page is titled Life in Northwest Washington.

The caption says, "I think this pretty much sums up Skagit Valley farmland".

Photos like this always seem to make me a bit homesick.

That is the Mount Baker volcano hovering above the Skagit Valley.

I think those are trumpeter swans in the foreground. A lot of those big birds arrive in the valley this time of year.

The location where those birds are roosting looks to be in what are known as the Skagit Flats. I think my Favorite Nephews, Jason and Joey, and Grand Nephew Hank Frank's orchard and houses are to the right of the view here.

Jason does not live in the house he bought next door to Joey's. Jason lives in Mount Vernon, up that slight hill you see in the lower middle of the photo.

Hank Frank's Grandpa Jake is currently living in the house Jason bought next to Joey's. Hank Frank drives his electric tractor over to Grandpa Jake's every morning to watch cartoons. A mini-road was made for Hank Frank's transit purposes.

It is the flood plain of the Skagit River which is known as the Skagit Flats.

Most of Western Washington is not flat.

Where I currently live, in North Texas, the landscape is pretty much flat. But, I've never heard it referred to as the Texas Flats. Or the Red River Flats. Or the Wichita Flats.

Which seems odd, since it is really super flat for miles and miles in any direction...

My 2023 Christmas Decorating Is Completed

On this first Saturday of the last month of 2023 I completed my Christmas decorating in record breaking time.

That is what you see photo documented.

The Christmas camel was made by my Grandma Vera, back in the previous century. Granda Vera is my mom's mom.

The Christmas stocking was crocheted by my Grandma Slotemaker. Grandma Slotemaker is my dad's mom.

In years past I have had trouble remembering where I stored my Christmas decorations. I have solved this problem by writing a note telling me where I stored the Christmas decorations. So, now, all I have to do is remember where I put the note telling me where I stored the Christmas decorations.

In all the years I have been in charge of Christmas decorating, I have never had a Christmas tree.

Christmas trees always seemed absurd to me. When I lived with my parental units and siblings I recollect every year's Christmas tree installation was a big production. Sometimes it would involve getting a tree cutting permit and driving to a designated Christmas tree cutting area in the Cascade mountains. That was actually a bit fun.

For a couple years my mom succumbed to the aluminum Christmas tree fad. That involved assembling the tree by sticking aluminum limbs into holes on the center pole. Then stringing lights, making for a hideous display of reflective color. With an aluminum Christmas tree there was no need to hang tinsel on the limbs. There was already enough shiny glittering silver.

Thirty more days and the holiday season comes to its New Year's Day end....

Microsoft OneDrive Remembers Me In My Birthday Suit

Once again, a Microsoft OneDrive memory arrived in my email that I don't actually remember.

How could I?

I probably was not even talking or walking when this photo was taken.

What I glean from seeing this photo of me in my birthday suit, is even way back then I had a perky little butt and was a smiling little gigglemugger.

I do know this photo was taken in Eugene, Oregon, the town I was born in.

I also know that my mom and dad mailed this photo to my Lynden grandparental units, as in Grandma Vera and Grandpa Porter.

I heard many times about the fact that when Grandpa Porter saw this photo he quickly wired money to Eugene, with instructions to buy that boy some clothes.

I do not remember what clothes may have resulted. I was way too young to remember anything...

Microsoft Remembering The Slotemaker, Jones, Hershberger, Barry Cousins

Another interesting photo showed up today in my email, one of those daily emails from Microsoft's One Drive, showing my memories from this particular day, which I usually do not remember.

The memory we see here would have come from the 1960s, towards the end of the decade. The photo was likely taken at my grandma's house in Lynden. These would all be grandma's grandkids, the Slotemaker, Jones, Barry, Hershberger cousins.

That would be me on the far left. Sitting next to me, behind two little kids, is my sister, Nancy. Cousin Scott is the next big cousin, in the middle, on Scott's left is my little brother, Jake. The next full sized person is Scott's little sister, cousin Linda. The little blonde girl next to cousin Linda is my little sister, Jackie, much later to become the mother of Christopher and Jeremy and grandma of Cade.

Three of the little cousins are my cousins from Australia, the Hershbergers, on one of their visits back to America. On the right side of sister Nancy, I think that is the youngest Hershberger cousin, Steve, with cousin Danny on the other side of Nancy, which I think makes that little blonde girl on Scott's right cousin Carol.

The other two little kids would be the Slotemaker cousins, Sheryl to the left of brother Jake, and cousin Jeff in front of cousin Linda.

Two more cousins were added a few years after this photo was taken. Those being my little sister, Michele, and Jeff and Sheryl's little brother, cousin Mike.

A Visit With David, Theo & Ruby In Tacoma

I emailed David, Theo and Ruby's Mama Michele yesterday, after someone made mention of the fact I had not made mention of the Tacoma Trio in quite a while. Hence emailing my baby sister yesterday.

After that return emails had me seeing oodles of photos, along with explanatory text.

It likely does not need to be explained that that photo above is David, Theo & Ruby's Halloween Trick or Treating gang, in front of their Tacoma house.

The explanatory text for the above was...

Ruby and Theo spent 3 nights at the Mount Rainier Institute last month. Camping, hiking, sciencing up near the mountain. They loved it. Ruby spends her free time walking the dogs and playing a lot of soccer. She also made her middle school junior varsity volleyball team, so she’s been practicing that too.

The explanatory text explaining what Theo is doing above...

Theo has been enjoying taking pics on walks, playing the sax, ice hockey and practicing for New Year's Eve.

Upon first reading the explanatory text I thought it was the saxophone Theo was practicing for New Year's Eve. Then, upon second thought I realized this was referring to the above photo.

That #13 would be Theo in his hockey uniform.

And then we come to David, with the explanatory text explaining.....

David broke his leg skateboarding last month, had to have surgery. He gets his cast off tomorrow..

David now goes to Tacoma's Stadium High School, where, apparently he has been hobbling along on crutches, til today, when the cast comes off his leg.

Way back in summer of 2004 I stayed a month in an apartment overlooking Stadium High School. It is an impressive building, sort of built on a cliff, with the football field featuring a steep natural bowl making a large section of the stadium's bleachers. 

The Wikipedia article about Tacoma's Stadium High School, has some good photos illustrating why I said it is an impressive building. There is also a photo of the football stadium.