Rain Guage

 This year there has been 14 feet of rain at the lodge--18 inches less than the record.

Christmas Eve

Tug enjoying a fire

Tug is enjoying a roaring fire tonight.

Christmas Party

Years ago I attended the the television station's Christmas party where my father worked in San Jose with my two sons, Josh and Cobb, their mother, and my father and step-mother.  There were perhaps forty children, with at least twice that number of parents and grandparents in attendance.

Hocus Pocus the clown entertained the kids with magic tricks and clowning around.  There was singing and other merriment, and then it came time to hand out the forty or so presents the company provided to the children.  Each present had a name on it, as they were gender and age specific.  Two young teenage girls dressed as elves had the task of grabbing a present from under the tree, calling out the name, and handing the present to the each child.  The kids would then take their gift up on the stage and gleefully tear off the wrapping and begin playing with their new toy.

We were sitting fairly near the back of the room, and it wasn't too long before Josh's name was called.  We were happy to watch him run up to the elves, be handed a present, and scramble up on the stage.

More names were called, and more names still.  As the children and parents vacated the seats in front of us, our family moved forward, nearer and nearer to the tree.  I would look at Cobb every once in awhile, and I could see the anticipation on his face, and his eagerness to hear his name called.

More children's names were called, and by this time, the stage was crowded with excited children playing or noisily unwrapping their presents.

Eventually, we found ourselves at the very front of the hall, next to the Christmas tree, with Cobb being the last child.  An elf picked up the last present under the tree, read the label, turned to my patient son and exclaimed:

"You must be Cobb!"

Christmas Lights

I started putting lights around my front door a few years ago.  It really adds cheer to a dark and dreary time of the year.

Art by Stan Hammer

Work of an artist I admire from a showing in Port Angeles.

Drum cover by Daniel Adolfsson

Sam Ewing

Young reporter Sam Ewing interviewing California Governor (and later Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court) Earl Warren.

Happy Hanukkah

Joseph Roulin

In Arle, Joseph Roulin befriended Vincent, and in the movie 'Lust for Life' at least*, helped secure the rental of the yellow house, which he shared for a time with Paul Gauguin, and in which he famously painted his bedroom. 

Relying on his brother Theo for income, Vincent couldn't afford models to paint.  Thankfully, Joseph Roulin was happy to sit for him.  

Vincent painted the entire family.

Wife Augustine

Joseph and Augustine's 17 year old son Armand

Eleven year old Camille

Four month old Marcelle

*One of my favorite movies is 'Lust for Life'--a biography of Vincent Van Gogh.

A resident of Arle who knew Vincent remarked that Kirk Douglas looked very much like the artist.

Progress of the Soul after Death

 The progress of man's spirit in the divine world, after the severance of its connection with the body of dust, is through the bounty and grace of the Lord alone, or through the intercession and the sincere prayers of other human souls, or through the charities and important good works which are performed in its name. -- Abdu'l-Baha 

Cats and Cows

CATS AND COWS

It's a SHE!

This is how Anna, my Russian tutor,  told me whether she's expecting a boy or a girl.

Alex Honnold Compilation 2014

Bellhop

Bellhop at La Playa Hotel in 1966