White Christmas

"I'am dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten, and children listen, to hear sleigh bells in the snow. I'am dreaming of a white christmas, with every christmas card I write, may your days be merry and bright, and may all your christmas be white!" Those lyrics penned by Irvine Berlin bring back some of my strongest childhood memories of Christmas. A few weeks back, my sister Penny treated my mother Billy Jean and I to the play White Christmas at the 5th Ave. theatre in Seattle. We made a girls night out of it, dinner at the union street grill, and walk down the city block to the theatre, and then we started dreaming! The costumes were awesome, as well as, the music, and acting. At the conclusion of the musical the snow started falling on the audience! Thank you Penny for the lovely evening, and I hope that your Christmas's are merry and bright!

The painter within

When I was in my early teens, my aunt Madeline who is an accomplished artist taught me how to tole paint. My brief intro into the world of painting left me yearning for more. Thirty seven years later that yearning has had a chance to take root. After a quick two hour errand to Michaels craft store I happened to come across a class in progress. The ladies were painting and it looked like they were having fun. Well I signed up for the next class, and after hounding all of my neighbors for their Michael and Joanne 50% off coupons, purchased my supplies. The pictures are my first projects. My teacher Loretta is so much fun, and really helps us with our painting.

The knitting projects in my baskets at home have some stiff competition!

Snow days

The snowstorm here was wild! It took a couple of weeks before all of the snow went away. The damage was kept to a minimum here at Keelerkai, just a broken seal on our big kitchen picture window,our poor neighbors did not fare so well. They had broken pipes and major flooding. Hawaii is sounding better and better all the time, however, you can't beat the beauty of freshly fallen snow.

This one's for Janice

After much encouragement, I have been urged to post. So much has happened since my last post. A job, snow and wind storms, painting classes! And yes, now the holidazes are upon us. Life is good, even while you are trying to figure out the next phase of your life!

For my friend Pablo Prado

You see Pablo, I do love cats. The picture is of my beloved Cocoa (aka Modie). He lived to be 17 years old and is no longer with us. I have not had the desire to replace his huge kitty paws in this household as his spirit is still all over this place. We love this cat immensely, he was the best. When he wanted a drink, he would go to the bathroom, sit on the counter until we turned on the water faucet for him. No bowl for this kid! Only fresh would do. Then on hot days he would sleep in the sink, or was he just waiting on us to give him a drink? We were graced to have Modie for as long as we did, and he will always hold a special place in our hearts. Missing your motor Modie Mo!

UW Crane Trip

This was the goal, but the winds picked up and we had to be satisfied with exploring the area. which we had no problem doing.





So instead of exploring the treetops, we went sub-terrainian. This is Ape Cave. Ape Cave is 12,810 feet long-- that's almost 2-1/2 miles long! It is the longest intact lava tube in the United States, and the second longest in the world.
Ape Cave lava tube, which formed in one of these basalt flows ... (Cave Basalt flows about 2,000 years ago) ... is the longest lava tube (12,810 feet or 3.9 kilometers) in the conterminous United States (similar tubes are found in Oregon, California, and Idaho) and one of the longest in the world. The cave was constructed by a pahoehoe flow that crusted over; soon after, the molten lava on the inside drained away, leaving the outer crust in place. Lava stalactites and stalagmites and flow marks can be seen on the walls and floor of the cave. Lava stalactites, conical or cylindrical deposits of lava that hang from the ceiling of a tube, are formed by dripping; stalagmites are similar in shape and are formed on the floor of the tube by the accumulation of drips from the ceiling. Some time later, a sandy lahar flowed into the cave, possibly in A.D. 1480 or 1482 because the deposit contains white pumice granules that resemble W tephra.

views from Washington

Here are a few views from Washington. The first two are from Mt Saint Helens blast zone. The Envc. club went to the UW canopy crane and got to explore St. Helens instead

Living large in Ecuador

Life is great when you can explore some of the worlds last unspoiled places. This picture was taken off the coast of Ecuador.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread ~ Alexander Pope, from "Essay on Criticism"

My Furry Family

Well it would not be fair to introduce you to my family and not talk about my scalely, furry family. Lindon and I share our household with two dogs and a fish. Stuart the fish is a beautiful blue ~ red beta. I have had Stuart for three years now, and he was named by a young patient of Lindons. Now for the furry part. Brodie is a Blue Healer, and is 8 years old. He has been the easiest dog I have ever had. Intelligent, loyal, and after 6pm gets a little tweaky. Some little glitch in the hardware! He goes everywhere with us (except when we get on a plane), and has become the therapy dog at the clinic. Only once in Brodies life has he ever been out of eyesight when we he is with us, and that was when he went after his little baby sister Ruby Rae Keeler(Parsons Russell Terrier). Ruby wanted to follow a couple who were walking down our road to the beach! Sure enough an hour later here comes Brodie with no Ruby! It was too much fun for her to stay on the beach.

Ruby will be two years old in May. We got her from Posey Canyon Creek Kennels. Ruby is my dear companion and I love her to pieces. We have not been able to train as much as I would like, however, when I am done with school that will change. She comes with me to school, then when it is to hot in the car she goes to Doggy day care. Ruby is excited to see her friends in the morning, then by the time I go to pick her up, she is like a pogo stick! Take me home, take me home! Or it's more like, I get a cookie, I get a cookie! Yes, I will admit, she works me for the cookies, and is quite good at it! The first picture is when Ruby was an innocent four month old bundle of cuteness. The second picture is what she has turned into. A Huntress! No big suprise there huh! She loves to chase the squirrel that eats the bird food. The third picture is her attempt to constantly go a little higher in the tree each time. It's been fun watching her figure out how she can egg her way up a little higher. I wonder if she ever dreams of having thumbs?

My Family Continued

We are a big family, so this is a continuation. Top picture is my sister Penny, husband David, and daughter Jessica. I am so blessed to have such a great sister in my life. Next, is our newest family member Jasmine. She is such a firecracker this one. We just love her to pieces.

This is my brother Jake and my Mom. he is rolling his eyes because we were teasing him "Jake is Mom's favorite!" Hey, what are sisters for?

My Family

I have a wonderful family. We are all diverse, creative, hardworking, and caring people. They are all so important to me and the light of my life.
The first two pictures are of my Children, Jason and his girlfriend Samlouay, and then there is my daughter Leah Jean.

This is my mother Billy Jean, and my niece Jessica. My pretty and favorite ladies!

Cool Guys! Brother David, Husband Lindy, Cool Lou (Mom's boyfriend), and my good looking son Jason. Their futures so bright they goota wear shades!

Weekend Camp Trip To Moran State Park

Weekend Camp Trip To Moran

This last weekend the Environmental Club (which I am president of) took a trip out to Moran State Park. We helped with their spring cleanup. One of the task was peeling logs. This was the first time I have ever used a spud and peeling knife. The experience felt like a chapter out of the pioneers of the west! My hats off to all of those hardy individuals who were able to construct homes out of raw materials. The second half of the day was clearing four miles of trails after winter storms.

On Sunday we got to go out to Sucia Island and look at fossils.

Picture of me with Lindon

This is a picture of me with Lindon. Can you guess what we are smiling about?