Working Hard

Hello all. We are doing well here in K-Falls. Both Amy and I are working hard on our novels. Take a look, if you haven't already.

Also today, Randy, Isaac, Zoe, and I went down to the Daily Bagel. We had some coffee and pastries. It is always nice to sit down there and enjoy a cup of coffee.

We are going to be in a craft show! It will be at the fair grounds on the 3rd and 4th of December. I am working hard on that, and on Randy and Sandy's benches, and a screen door for another client, and we are trying to get the gas installed. Plus running and writing: I am busy! Not too busy to post on my blog, it would seem. Great. Now I have guilt that I am not in the shop. I will head there shortly.

Did I say we are also getting ready for Thanksgiving? We sent out invitations this morning. If you didn't get one, its because we forgot! If we missed anyone and you would like to come, we would like to have you. Just let us know. And, if you are coming from out of town, we have places to sleep.

Finally, I added AWADs A Word A Day and Quote a day on the sidebar. Some people have had to scroll all the way to the bottom of the blog in order to see the sidebar items. If they don't appear at the top, then look for them at the bottom.

Take care everyone. I'm going to get to work.

Snowy day

We woke up to more snow. It is so nice. Then it snowed all day. It was pretty wet, so not much accumliated, but now that it has cooled off, it is still snowing and no we have about three inches. I like it. Oh no! I just remembered that our sled is over at Mimi and Papa's house so we can't go sledding tomorrow.

The novel is going well.

First Snow

Well, winter is upon us: this morning as we arose and Amy started to get dressed, she exclaimed: "It snowed last night!" I stared out the window, shocked and excited. I think that I love winter, but fall is my favorite season because of the anticipation of winter (the fall colors are nice, too). Not too long now and we can go skiing. We have to find (or make) a pair of skis for Zoe, and build our pulk (a sled that she can sit on and that I can pull behind while I ski). It used to be downhill skiing, but now we are cross country skiers all the way. In the old days (specifically the high school days) I would get out my skis try them on in the living room on the carpet, then tune them up and have them ready to go by the end of September. These days I eagerly await the first storm up on the pass. We don't need a lot of snow before we can get out and enjoy the cold: it only takes six inches and we can go all day)

On other fronts, running is going well. Yesterday, Zoe and I ran down to Shasta and back, about four and a half miles. Today we are running out to Mimi and Papa's. Zoe will stay with Papa and then I will run home, stopping off at KU for a few pick-ups on the track.

Writing is going well. 4000 words in two days is quite a lot and a bit of a shock to the system. Amy and I were talking after our writing session that in some ways it would be better if it were National Novel Writing Two Months. Writing would become more of a habit and less of a mad dash once a year. A thousand words a day seems much more manageable. I suppose that if I can just take a couple of days off after November is over, and then set a goal of writing or re-writing then I could do it, just like running. We'll see.

Cheers!

All Saints Day

Happy All Saints Day, everyone. Halloween was a great success, at least Zoe didn't cry when she had to go and trick-or-treat. She made a wonderful Fairy Princess with her hat from Ashland, her dress from Erika's wedding, and her wand from her dad's lathe.

Last year, she would jump at the chance to hand out candy, but this year she wasn't as sure. I think that she thought too much about it: it was something to be pondered, not jumped into with both feet. As for the Trick-Or-Treating part, I took her out to Mima's work (Mazama High School) where she was showed off for awhile, then over to Oma's house for a fruit roll-up and some candy, then to the library for a goody bag. When they arrived back at our house (with Papa) Amy and I took Zoe to the neighbors for a little more candy. It went pretty well, though usually she forgot to say "Trick or Treat". She did remember to say "Thank You", though, so that was good.

For dinner we had Pumpkin Tureen (cheesey, oniony, goodness baked in a whole pumpkin, a volunteer that grew up at our place), and pop-overs. It was very festive, and very tasty.

Today begins the first day of the rest of our novels: NaNoWriMo is upon us. This evening we will start the writing: 1600 words a night. It is easier than you think, and if you have any inclination at all, you should give it a try. The trick is to just start typing and not even think about what you are writing. I am going to try to upload each day's writing on the Words blog (link at right). I will check it for spelling, but don't expect perfect grammar!

Wish us luck.

Our Week So Far

We ended (or started, depending on your perspective) our week as we often do at the Klamath Grill. We sure enjoy going down to see all the people and have some good greasy food. Usually I have the chicken fried steak, Zoe has pancakes and eggs, and Amy has either biscuits and gravy or pancakes, or an omelet. If you haven't been, you should go. The staff is friendly and the prices are right.
Monday we had dinner with Bill, Vanessa, and William. We cooked soup and home made bread, Challah, made with lots of butter and eggs. Mmm, it is so good and rich.

Tuesday Zoe and I did not go over the hill for vegetables because the season is over. We were a little lost the whole day, not knowing exactly what to do with ourselves. Wednesday I didn't feel that great. I am wore out from not getting as many calories since Amy became pregnant: no beer for anyone, just to be fair, you know. So, I took a nap and ate much food (not at the same time). Today I feel better.

Also, I made a spoon and a box on the lathe.

Cheers!

The Saga of Scarecrow

Once upon a time it was Library Day. On Library Day, Jeff and his lovely daughter Zoe would go to the Klamath Country Library, Klamath Falls City Branch, and hear stories and sing songs at Story Time. Also, they would do crafts (not "craps" as Zoe would say; finally her dad convinced her that it is "crafts"; "Not crap," she would later say, "crafts." Finally, her dad would think).

The Ides of October had fallen, and the library summoned. On this day they sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (Knees, and Toes)", and "Old MacDonald (Had a Farm)". Also they heard stories about scaredy cats, farm animals and falling leaves. The craft, most difficult craft ever, was to be scarecrows. After an admonition from the librarian that Zoe should be doing the (most difficult) craft (ever), her dad finished. It stood five inches at the shoulder, then straw hat looking more like a sombrero. They carefully carried it around the library while collecting videos and books. The spoke to a reference librarian, a rare occurrence, because they could not find anything on plumbing natural gas.

Finally, natural gas bookless, they left.

Upon exiting the library they found that the wind stormed from the south, across Lake Euwana. Man did it stink. Autumn leaves swirled with dust and weed seeds as they carefully put the scarecrow in the stroller. They made their way to one planning department, and then another before securing a permit to install a gas line in the house, and made their way home.

When they arrived home, the scarecrow was missing.

Zoe's dad thought that he would not say anything in the vain hope that she would not notice. But, as the reference librarian had left a message saying that she had found a book, he decided that they would return to the library and secure another craft packet. Before they left, they read a story about going to camp. Along the way back to the library, they stopped and searched for the missing scarecrow, but without luck. The librarians were happy to provide another scarecrow craft packet. The book about gas line plumbing was retrieved and, as they made their way home, Zoe's dad dreaded the thought of making another scarecrow. They returned home, had lunch, and tackled the craft. It proved easier the second time around.

On an unrelated note, see the picture above at right of Nana and Zoe reading last weekend.

New Shoes

I bought new shoes! I am excited to have something different. I had been running on Brooks Adrenaline for a number of years (almost since the day that we moved to Klamath Falls). But the latest edition, 5, just really didn't do it for me. They broke down way too fast and never felt that good. So, I did some shopping around town and finally found the Saucony Regulate at Big 5. I didn't know anything about them, but they felt good on my feet, they seem like they will wear for a long time, and they were on sale. I have run on them twice and think that they may be my new shoe. I am going to buy another pair today, if they still have any in my size out at Big 5.


Speaking of running, yesterday we had a great workout at Moore Park. We warmed up, then did a pyramid: 30 seconds, 45, 60, 90, 60, 45, 30, then three steep hills at 20 seconds each. My legs were pretty much like jelly when we were done. Zoe didn't get to go for this run, though I couldn't have pushed her up the hill anyway. Instead, she spent the afternoon with Papa.

Tomorrow we will be in Ashland for the State of Jefferson Cross Country Meet