Things Spotted

Here is a picture from 30 years ago showing Uncle Matty and Uncle Andrew with Super Soaker squirt guns.

What better way to celebrate a warm October day than a squirt gun fight, featuring re-released versions of the Super Soakers.

Boookie sipping an Americano at a cafe.

Seimi and Eejee warming up for the Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets was a low-key affair for us this year, coming at the end of a busy day of homeschool, but we pulled out Chrismas Corn Chowder and the Hobbit Wife made challah, served with honey and fresh rosemary from Grampz's farm.

Spotted in the driveway doing some fall cleaning.

Spotted downstairs was this LEGO creation.

Spotted in the backyard was a family of raccoons.

Spotted, but not captured in the photo, was a coyote. A pack recently moved into the park downhill from our house and they make themselves known every evening. We are a sometimes noisy pack ourselves and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between raucus Eejee and Seimi laughter downstairs and coyotes down in the park.

Desk Work

The Mayor and Ela have been talking for a long time about a secretary desk and as the end of summer approached, the Mayor set out to build the design per Ela's specifications. 

We decided to build the desk out of pine and then stain it, so the Mayor started with boards of various widths and joined them up as needed to create the pieces.

The Mayor and Ela working on the glue-up of the case for the desk.

Progress on the desk.

The Mayor gluing up the main desk door panel. The weights were in place to maintain the stability of the panel during gluing.

Desk pieces set out and ready for staining.

Completed desk in Ela's room. 

The classic books on top of the desk were gifts from GranDma Ane.

Off to School

As the end of summer approaches, everyone has been looking forward to the start of school. Here is Harry the raccoon looking out the window early one morning, wishing he could go to raccoon school.

Harry settled for sneaking into the Mayor's backpack for a trip to downtown Seattle.

This year, between all the hobbitlings, they are taking nine classes through Homeschool Connections. Here they are all lined up for the first day of Monday school.

Seimi and Eejee in the designated meet-up spot after class, next to the raccoons.

Boookie diligently at work on his caligraphy.

Start of Term Feast

Labor Day dawned to a beautiful sunrise rainbow.

School supplies had already been purchased.

Owls and Brucey the Bat assembled for the feast preparations.

Blackberry and raspberry cobbler, made with berries picked fresh by hobbitlings.

The feast spread out and ready to enjoy.

Animal companions assembled to celebrate along with their humans.

Hobbitling students ready to tuck in.

Slainte!

Boookie was sorted as a Junior this year.

Ela was sorted as a "Softy"

Seimi was sorted into sixth grade.

Eejee was sorted into third grade.

Hooray for the start of school!

Perspective Ravine - Ten Years Ago

It was ten years ago today that the Mayor was rescued after falling and breaking his leg and ankle while backpacking in Olympic National Park. Over time, the Mayor realized that photos were scattered in various places, so here are some photos that weren't previously posted.

Looking upstream to where the fall was arrested by a clump of bushes.

The camp where the Mayor stayed for five days, awaiting rescue.

Park rangers cresting the hill, after the Mayor was located by a search helicopter.

Coast Guard rescue helicopter hovering overhead.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer being lowered down. The Mayor was airlifted out in a basket.

The Mayor with the park rangers that headed up the search and rescue effort.

The Mayor with the Coast Guard helicopter crew.

In Matthew 12:11, Jesus said, "Is there a person here who, finding one of your lambs fallen into a ravine, wouldn't, even though it was a Sabbath, pull it out?" It was a Wednesday, not a Sabbath, but the Mayor was one of those lambs.

Moclips

We took a trip to the Washington coast to spend time with family in Moclips.

A lot of family - 20 people in total.

It was wonderful to hang out - there are quite a few more family members than the last time we did this back in 2011.

Here is Cousin M assembling his first LEGO set with the help of Papa, Seimi and Eejee

The boy cousins spent literally hours wrestling on the couches.

The girl cousins being beautiful and princess-y. We celebrated Cousin B's birthday, but Cousin H wasn't left out and she got some matching presents.

Lots of hang-out time over meals and games

As well as time at the beach

Boookie teaching Cousin M how to use a katana

Cousin M attacking the ground.

Playing "Rocket League with Feet"

Eejee and Cousin B

Family!