GOD JUL

The church bells ringing tonight for Jul (Christmas), as in Yule Log, comes from pre-christianity and is celebrated the 24th by eating pinnekjøtt, salted lamb ribs.......we made BBQ baby back ribs, and dancing around the christmas tree.

Authentic pepperkaker from IKEA, Chrismas Tulips, Homemade egg nog (only store that had it was sold out), Nisse, a gnome like santa, and mushrooms, Julegrøt - a warm porridge that Norweigans leave out for Nisse.

Elfin Lakes

Last weekend Three of my friends and I went up to BC to visit Cam.  We hiked a trail in Garibaldi National Park up near Whistler called Elfin Lakes.  After a foggy snowshoe hike through the woods we emerged into the most beautiful clear sky crowned with mountains.  After much celebration we arrived at a cabin at the end of the trail.  The cabin holds about 40 people a night but there were only about 20 that night.  We woke in the morning to candied bacon cooked in beer.  It was ^peak^ needless to say.

A Walk in the Woods

 Maddi and I along with a group of friends went on a hike to some natural hot springs.  Unfortunately the springs where currently overrun by nudists...  (only in oregon).  The guys did get in for a bit (thanks for the speedo Caleb) then we hiked around in the mossy woods.  I had a Saul type conversion experience as well... no its just that we don't get much sun so I had to take the chance to bronze up.  

just doing my homework... another fall at trinity

to become the animal you are inside

sometimes you have to fall in leaves

or serenade starbucks 

or get dirty pulling logs out of the forest,

making some sweet furniture from doug fir felled to save rare oak meadows

Reed Thanksgiving dinner in Tulsa

Mary, David, Marcia and Sarah seated at the Thanksgiving 

feast served on Grandma's china and consumed with her classic 

silverware.  Mary selected the glassware, napkins, tablecloth; 

Hal cooked the turkey and fixin's with superb help from Mary 

and Sarah; and we each enjoyed the food, fellowship and a Packer win!

Newport Beach

Weekend getaway trip to Newport beach.  Enjoyed the frigid rain and wind of the oregon coast.  Hung out with Maddi and some friends of hers from Coeur d'Alene who were in for the weekend.

Fall along the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas

The bronze color of the cypress needles contrast with the green leaves of oaks, willows and populars still clinging to their autotrophic machinery in the last vestiges of the autumn sunlight