So it has begun, another year of the Ranger season.  A new coach, a somewhat new team, new parents, a new way of doing things.  What am I to expect? She played a tournament with her team, then was sent up to play with the next team up. She loved it. She loved the players, she loved the experience, she loved the coaching. She new some people and met others. It was nice to not have to do anything for it. I wasn't the manager, I was just a sideline parent and it was refreshing. I watched her play and took photos of her, not the team. I like taking photos of the team, but every once in a while I like taking photos of just my kid. It was fun to watch them connect four or five passes together. It was fun watching her play in a center defender position. It was fun to see the team really connect, work together and win. Yep, I have to say that it was fun to win. We've done the losing bit and there is a lot to learn when you lose but it is fun to win. I am hoping that her current team can come along and work together like this other team did. I am hoping that as parents we don't get caught up in vying for a spot on other teams. I am hoping that we can become friends on and off the pitch that it ends up being fun and competitive.  Only time will tell. Oh and this team took 2nd place in the tournament.

 Lummi Island is a very short ferry ride from us yet we don't take advantage of it. On Lona's birthday, we loaded up the bikes, borrowed one for Isaac, and headed out to the ferry dock. We took the truck across, parked it right away and headed out on our bikes. I am not in shape for bike riding. The kids just took off and I took my time taking photos and trying to bike up the very small hills on the western part of the island.  At one point I sent John ahead to catch up to the kids, thinking we could stop at one of the beach access spots and rest but they were down the road moving fast. The island is a contradiction of environments. part of it looks like the Pacific Northwest with, lush green grass, cedar trees, black berry bushes, and the Sound, The other part of it looks like rural Montana with old wooden buildings, dry sparse grass and barbwire fencing. Then we came across an all island garage sale.  We were on bikes, I could have stayed and wandered and shopped. It looked wonderful.  Next year? Maybe? John and the boys persuaded us to continue down the road and we quickly returned to the start of the beginning of trip and to top it off with ice cream bars. It's the little adventures that make up our time as a family and create the memories that knit us together.

Turning 14. The last child in our house to do so. At fourteen she is bold and confident. When asked if she had any body image issues, her response was "doesn't everyone?" Yet she's OK with it. Boyfriend: what's the point? It's more fun to hang out with a group of people. She has plans: two kinds. The fun kind and the the realistic kind.  Her fun plans are to travel in a VW bus with dogs named Yo and Dude and puppies and a cat and a surf board. Her realistic plan, live in a two story smallish house, be an orthodontist by way of the Air Force and own a dog.  Why get married? It's too scary to put your heart out there. Loves playing soccer and her ukulele. She decorated her room with a tapestry, photos, and a string of white lights. Spends her money on sweat shirts and T-shirts. Mows lawns for her job. Her motto at the moment is on a sweatshirt; "I love naps, Netflix, and long walks to the refrigerator." She wants to be a salutatorian from high school. She went on a mission trip to Oakland California and loved every minute of it and wants to have our youth group do something similar. The books she reads are the popular post apocalypse books such as The Hunger Games, Scorch Trials and Legend.  She wants a record player and likes to listen to 21 Pilots.  She likes to paint her nails but wears her hair in a ponytail most of the time and it is long, very long. If there is fun to be had, she wants to be in the middle of it and she's grateful when we do activities.

They stand tall against the wooden back fence, branches bending down with their heavy load of bright red juicy fruit.  I wander to the back, reach my hand up and select one of these lovelies. Placing it my mouth, I bite down and immediately flavor explodes.  I nibble around the pit and spit it out, reaching up once more for another bite.  Cherries must be nature's candy.

The title of the book drew me in and made promises to me, touched me and quite literally forced the purchase of it without looking at a single page. The cover connected to me with the graphics. I needed it.  I hadn't even touched it, just seen it.  One click and it was purchased. While waiting I dreamed of the small adventures I would have with the book, the introspection, the thoughts that it would pull from deep inside my mind. Who would I share it with? Would I feel connected? Would I learn about myself, my art? It arrived and immediately I torn into it. Eager. The first few pages I understood, I had studied already but the heart of the book, would it live up to it's promises? The photos were inspiring, yet I wanted more, I wanted questions, I wanted something that would force me to look hard and ponder. I set up a time with three other gals and we met at my house.  We talked about the book, I had already decided that Tenant Lake would be our destination. The chapter would be "A Walk in Nature". It suggested things like getting on your knees and shoot from down low, or look for harmony in shapes. However I wanted some introspection such as why did I take that photo? What drew me to capture that scene? What was I searching for in the photo? We arrived and I quickly struck out on my own, wandering, trying to find something that would inspire me.  Some days it works, and some days it IS work.  I liked the lavender, thyme and cattails, also the wispy cotton and spider webs on the ends of the branches.  The ridges of the wooden posts with moss being highlighted by the harsh sun begged to photographed. Quietly I photographed the delicate hairs and large eyes of the dragonfly, seeing the vibrant colors of blue, green and black. They all felt forced, like I was trying too hard to be in nature. Looking back on the photos, I feel like connection.  They are nice but I that is.  I realize I like purple in nature but not inside and definitely not on me. I like gates, particularly iron gates but I'm not a fan of western or modern gates. Bugs are not my thing either, though they are amazing. Bridges suggest a crossing to another place and I probably love it the most out of this whole series.  While taking these photos though I was reminded of two other books, "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Tommy's Adventure" a golden book.  So connections were made but not the way I thought.  "Shooting with Soul" is still inspiring but different than I thought. I'm not throwing it out, I'm just thinking about it in a different light.

When I was little there was a house across the road from ours.  I remember one night there was a party. I must have been three or four at the time. Large paper lanterns were suspended from the large deciduous tree next to the patio. The shutters of the house were open and music came from inside.  Outside, people were wandering, talking, laughing, eating appetizers and drinking wine. It was all intoxicating and almost magical.  Ever since I've been trying to recreate the beauty of that backyard.  This year I've strung lights in our paperbark maple and through our wisteria.  I just have to plug in the lights and it transports me back all those years ago to the backyard party of our neighbors.

How is it that we've been here for 15 years and have never done this hike? Oh, we've hiked to Oyster Dome just from Chuckanut Drive and not from Samish Overlook.  Job and I had driven to Samish Overlook about a month back to check it out for the first time ever. So when our friends came to town, it made sense to do this hike.  You start out with a beautiful view of the San Juans overlooking Skagit County.  Since we drove to the Overlook, we had already gained a lot of elevation so the first part of the trail is relatively flat. We meandered through old growth forest, taking in pine and moss covered logs, ferns a plenty and some wild flowers. Towards the end of the trail there is  little more elevation gain but doable, especially since they've redone the trail and made more switchbacks. We took in the beautiful scenery at the top and posing for photos.  This is a great hike, winter or summer.  Note:  Lona and Sydney were a little ways ahead of us and turned onto the regular trail that led down to Chuckanut.  They reached the bench before realizing that they should have stayed to the left at the juncture.  A little phone call and Job running to them and all was good.  They got to the car just as it started to rain.

 There is something about sitting around the table, laughing and competing and teasing that bonds people together. Some of our favorite games are sequence and Settlers of Catan. These two games are hilarious when played with a large group. Sometime, I laugh so hard that I start crying. I can't tell you what we laughed about but I just remember how much fun we have.

 John has a friend from college with whom he has kept in touch. I've gotten to know his wife and now our kids are getting to know each other. We all hung out a few years ago while in Montana and ever since then, the kids have kept in touch. Lucas and Sydney are twins and they get along with Job and Lona so well.  When we learned that they were coming out to visit the kids got so excited!  We met up with them in Seattle for the day and toured the Science Museum and Pike's Place Market.  Each time, it is like a vacation for me. We just don't get to Seattle for fun often.  Usually it's soccer or doctors and we try to cram some fun in but not just to be a tourist.  The museum was our first stop and it allowed the kids to get reacquainted while doing activities. They could let their guard down and just be who they are not who they think they should be.  I loved watching these four kids interact with each other, with parents, with the different stations and be fascinated.
I think Pike's Place Market is a study in people.  At one point there were about 6 of us strangers all remarking that we were MSU Bobcat alumni.  We all came together at one point at the same time and someone remarked on another person's MSU apparel.  I can't even remember who and then we were all saying, I'm from there too.  There was even someone from my hometown there although I didn't know them.  Truly we live in a small world.  We stood under the sign for the original Starbucks but were not going to stand in line for a moca.  We tried ginger beer and ate gelato and pain au chocolat. We posed for photos and took photos and listened to music and paid street buskers for their creativity. And we walked and walked and walked and it was great! I could go to Pike's Place Market every year and not have it get old but it's better sharing it with friends.  I see something new everytime and everytime it is different.