something hard

Every time I think I have a handle on life, I am wrong.

I went to my Dad's mid August.  That was good.  I was there for about ten days with Koda Bear.  We did not do anything exceptional.

We hung out with my Dad.  We whacked weeds on the mountain.  My Dad and the Bear cut a fallen tree away.  Which for a 91 year old and an 8 year old was interesting to watch.  We walked.

Koda Bear and I walked a lot on the Centennial Trail out of Snohomish.  It is a rails to trails walk so it is fairly flat and straight.  Koda Bear used the razor a lot.

Then there was the day I said "Why don't we try the walk that was snowed in last time?"  That was a hard walk.  It took about two hours longer then advertised but Koda Bear was tired on the way down.  The knee I twisted in June was not feeling very good either.  We were just trying to not fall down on the way back.

On the way up to Excelsior Pass, it was up the whole way.  When we were almost at the top there were beautiful fields of flowers and the views were spectacular.  But about five hundred feet from the top, I had to stop.  I needed to rest, drink, and eat.  Which we did.  We made the pass.

Absolutely gorgeous views.  

We kept telling each other when we do something hard, crazy is not that much harder.  This was classified as a difficult hike.  It was really not a hard hike in terms of being technical.  It was just up the whole way.

I was not really ready to come back.  Koda Bear went both ways.  And since I have been back, the Tall Short Person and Koda Bear have both started school.  Koda Bear is being home schooled because the school district did not come out with a good plan and he had pneumonia last year.  I have expanded my role with Serenity Knives to more farmer's markets, more sharpening, and learning how to make resin scales for handles.  I am still making face masks.

I have started spinning again.  Trying to find some time to crochet.  Not much sewing other then face masks because face masks.  I am watching the plums to see when they ripen so I can make jam from them.  Watching figs too.  Observing plants for ideas of what to use for printing.  I signed up for an online course about eucalyptus as dye and I have no idea when I will get to play.  I work a lot of part days. 

Life seems busier then it was before.  Out of control even.  Then last week we were wondering if Laura was coming our way.  I still react to helicopters after Harvey so I was not looking forward to that.  It has been an interesting year.  I do not really need a routine but I would like some calm and slowing of the season.  Oh well.  That is not going to happen!  Though this space does feel like a sanctuary for the first time.  I do not guarantee I will be here more but I will continue to come back to it.