Harlequin Ducks at the Elwha River

harlequin ducks
more harlequin ducks


My hike this past weekend. I had to drive back Tuesday, because I remembered I left sausages in a plastic bag in the river.
I drove at 2;30 to Edmonds for the ferry, a 30 min drive, to take a 20 min. Ferry ride, to drive over 60 miles, to hike 1.7 miles, to find an empty bag with the bottom eaten out of it. Some creature had a feast.
Then I hiked a trail for another 2 or so miles, drove over 60 miles to the ferry, took a 20 minutes ferry ride, drove 30 minutes, and I was home again . All in all a very productive day.
And I have the ducks to prove it, here at the Elwha are the harlequin ducks that made my day pro duct ive.

Music on my blog, and interactive fun ...

I have installed music on my blog, to hear it, don't hold your curser down, it plays automatically.
Also there are interactive items in my sidebar to fool around with, A duck that eats bread, a rabbit that eats a carrot and hops, a hamster that will run in his treadmill..more, scrol down down to the bottom for more interactive fun stuff, Kids will especially love it, and just maybe the kid in you!

Have fun, I did!

"Auroville Today" Post, found in a link at, In and Out of Consciousness.

A beautiful Gift Economy Emerges....

March 2006

Filling bellies… touching hearts…
- Priya Sundaravalli
The new Indus Valley café at Bharat Nivas experiments with a novel idea of sharing


It's an unusual ‘Indian' zen at Bharat Nivas. Giant terracotta pots slumber besides black bamboo screens, and granite grinding stones sit amidst the grey-pebbled ground. A tree rustles, stippling shadows over the sprawling courtyard sprinkled with tables of blue-orange Athangudi tiles. A lilting Urdu melody streams out its love-laden notes as the aromas of an Indian kitchen curl out with the afternoon breeze.

The Indus Valley café made its debut in Auroville on 1st January 2006 ; one more addition to the growing list of eateries in Auroville. What is unusual about this one is its policy on pricing – there is none! “If you like, you contribute for the next person who may eat after you,” says Dhruv, one of the creators of the space. “Actually we hope that Aurovilians will contribute in other ways – like cooking, serving and even eating here occasionally.”

This unusual concept he says is not as novel as it appears to be. He explains that ancient India did not have the concept of selling food. “To put a price on food was considered vulgar. Food was always an offering – a basic amenity. Even now if you are travelling or visiting someone, people would offer and share food with you even if they didn't know you.”

The concept of the Indus Valley café unfolded gradually. “The Kalakendra building was initially planned to be a restaurant,” explains Dhruv. “But over the years, it morphed into an art centre and gallery. And to have a café to complement an art gallery was irresistible!”

With almost 15 eateries now in Auroville, isn't yet another one unnecessary? “Not at all,” he answers. “The International Zone has no such facility and there is a need in this area; especially with some exhibition or the other going on here or at the Tibetan pavilion, performances at the auditorium, or other activities happening constantly at Bharat Nivas.”

Serving simple home-style vegetarian Indian food with a daily lunch buffet, the café caters to a niche market. “The menu does not compete with other restaurants in Auroville,” says Dhruv. Food is prepared by Geetha, an Aurovilian from the Kutch area of Gujarat who specializes in Gujarati food, and Maharaj Ganpath from Rajasthan. “Maharaj is the title bestowed to highly respected chefs.”
On the economics of the experiment, Dhruv believes that it is too early to comment. “We have had people who have given a couple of hundred rupees for a cup of tea; we also have people who contribute according to the approximate material value of food… and then we have people who are supporting us even if they don't come regularly. We know that somewhere the idea shakes people up; even we find it difficult to detach our minds from evaluating the food that is consumed in terms of money. And that will take some time. But as an idea, people tell us it is very close to what Auroville should be!”

Auroville Today

Sidebars, not salad bars!

As you might notice if you scroll down my page, over there on the left..>>>>>>>>my sidebar, has Grown.

Things do that in springtime!

I must have included something for everyone. I have adopted pets for my kids, (all kids) if you click on these, and play around with them, they do tricks; eat, hop, etc.

I have clouds raining, butterflies flying, cats reading (my stories)..more and more, right down to the very very corner bottom of my blog. (take a peek) And play around while you're at it. It's a great stress reducer. Take a break here, spring break!

Link to me and send me your blog address to be entered in the race for "brilliant blog" of the week! See in sidebar for this weeks winner, it might be you, just click on "brilliant blog" in the sidebar.

And don't forget to prepare for Easter on the 16th...new life is! We are That! Boil eggs and decorate too, get the markers out and let the kids really have fun!



Relax awhile doing something mindless. Sidebars are fun!

Daffodils

Daffs from LaConner WA.


Daffodils

Found, transformed and left to find..a new home

I was at Whidbey Island the other day, and found a clay deposit there, so I made this mini tea set and left it for some child to find, and take home.

Tulip Time in Washington

Almost..I was out last weekend, only the daffs were up. Tulip time is just ahead, and Easter too.Tulip Fields in LaConner WA

Today, April 4th, would have been my little brothers birthday

Had not someone decided to take his life when he was 17.

Max, was a beautful boy, 6'4" tall, not fully grown yet. Brown hair, brown eyes, beautiful softened features. Very kind, very very loving. Perfect.

Our Mother died when he was 12. I was 23.

He was my half brother. His father left him, then. Eventually he came to live with me, my husband and young family.

It has been many years now, but I find in trying to write this that I still have not come to terms with his death, and I cannot bear to think of him, because it breaks my heart. Literally my heart is so overcome when I think of him, I can't bear it. After all these years, it is no different.

He died in October, towards the end of October that fateful year so long ago.

Two months later, my older brother, Danny, took his own life. It was more than he could bear, along with a marriage failing and other losses.

I couldn't believe this happened to us, it was something to read about in the paper, not to happen to a family like "ours." Right?

More death followed. I stop here, I can't speak of anymore. The unspeakable.

I am already wanting to back out of this post. I do try to keep this blog lighter than what life has been. I try.

Maybe I just have to post this today. Maybe I can manage to take this step, but I can go no further.

You will have to forgive me for hiding. Some pain, never dies, and can't be told.

I celebrate you anyway Max, I always do. Your life, I hope was the last you had to live, and I hope you are free and complete
in loves arms, divine bliss. This is my birthday wish for your.

Isn't this beautiful? Anahit on flickr painted it! entitled,"musicc"

musicc
Originally uploaded by anahit.

It was so beautiful I had to blog it.
I would love to have this painting on my wall!

Ducks Take Off

Today's catch, two mallards ( male female) take off at LaConner this afternoon.
Background field of snow geese, but no really great shots, but might blog one later...ok, here they are: