Saturday, August 30, 2008

Maria Cantwell


Maria Cantwell (Washington State's US Senator) hiked intoday with Karen Haine's brother and a few others. Karen and Paul have wanted her to visit for awhile. She only spent one night but I was lucky enough to meet her and have my picture taken with her. Holden is new and fresh each and every day.

Friday, August 29, 2008

I Like Pictures Best

The view from our bedroom window.

This is the view from out livingroom window.


I take a walk in the morning to warm up and stretch. This is the river sauna.

Bears, Bears, Bears





The cool spring, late in coming summer and the now seemingly early fall has played havoc with the berries and other “bear food”. This summer the village is having a huge bear problem. They are everywhere and trying to get into everything. When we got off the boat there was a lanky young bear lad calmly striding just behind a group of unknowing folk waiting for the boat.

Our first morning, at 6 am I heard a shout and fast footsteps and by the time I got to the bedroom window, I just caught a young woman chasing a young bear up the hill. It was like she was shooing a stray dog out of the yard.

This morning on my morning walk I spied this on by the compost and later in the day chases the cutest young cub out of the village. He was so cute!! I really like bears.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Two Tired Neslunds

Two tired Neslund's are finally settled into our new "diggs" at Holden Village. After a family lunch out, our son, Matt, drove us up to Field's Point (where we catch the boat) on Tuesday. We all hung out at the dock picking blackberries until we could no longer put off what had to be done... He left us to fend for ourselves. Our good freinds Marvin and Nancy gave us dinner, wine and good company at the Holden Lake house. Art and I walked back to the Holden B & B to spend our last night in the "real world". As we walked back we both came to the realization that we had no way to leave if we decided to make a last minute run for it. (Matt took the car home to Ellensburg). As familiar as I am with Holden, I was very surprised at how this was a huge step for the both of us.

The next day we got up early, had a great breakfast and I was standing outside with my luggage as Marvin pulled up to take us down to the boat. Luckily for us many Holden people were traveling up with us and soon we were feeling a part of the village; even before we got there.

We are now all moved in and settled. Our place is perfect except for the double bed, which is smaller than we have at home. It is the biggest size that will make it up the stairs. Just think of us all cuddled up in our snowy chalet at night.

We have discovered that we can get WiFi in our living room if I stand at the window, which is a blessing that I don't have to trek to another building to read and do email. We miss everyone but we ae having a blast so far.

Joan

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Washing Raisins, what is that??

The name of our blog is odd, we know. It was quite a struggle to come up with a good name for the blog that documents our year at Holden Village.

One of my favorite authors is Henry J. Nouwen, a catholic priest He has written several books on on spirituality. Late in the '70's he took a seven month stay at the Trappist Abbey of the Genesee in upstate New York. He kept a diary which he later published into a book, The Genesee Diary: Report from a Trappist Monastery. His task while in the monastery was to wash raisins. Nouwen struggled with this task; he felt that his skills could be better used, but in the end he found that this simple act of service brought about growth and time for meditation.

We hope that our year of "simple service" at Holden can bring such gifts and growth into our life as well.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Do it once in your life...

If you ever have a chance to move, leave a long standing job or even as we are, leave for a year... DO IT!! We have been overwhelmed with people stopping by or calling to wish us well. This is all a little bit like the Jimmy Stewart movie, "Its a Wonderful Life". People from our past have been coming through town just to wish us well. I was even interviewed for the newspaper on my taking a year off.

Leaving or making a big change gives the people in your life a chance to share their thoughts and feelings with you. People care and often watch your life but without change they never have the chance to express their thoughts. It is a little bit like attending your own funeral. My heart has been so warmed by those at work and others who stop to wish us well. All of this has made my desire to come back grow. I do enjoy my job and my life in Ellensburg. Our choices of a small town with a small house are proving to be very smart in these more difficult economic times.

On the other hand, please remember to express your thoughts as others leave or move on in your life. Your simple words can truly change a life. Care and concern are fuel for the heart.

Home Alone

Art, Matt and the dog have gone to the Oregon coast to visit friends. It is supposed to be 80 degrees at the beach today (over 100 here). Art can't remember being at the beach in such wonderful weather. When you work 6 days a week for 40 years in the summer, I guess getting to the beach just is not on the list of fun things to do. I am so glad he can enjoy this time of water, family, friends and relaxation.

I am home alone for the first time that I can remember. We have always counted the dogs as actual family members here, so being home alone with dogs never counted as real aloneness. The truth is that the cat is home too, but as some of you know, she has never really counted in my book. Although she would defend me more than any dog if I needed it. I have seen her chase dogs out of the yard and send college students screaming. But that is another story.

As our date to move to Holden approaches I am feeling more and more out of sorts. Packing and leaving is more difficult than I had ever dreamed and yet I know that it will be the best thing we have ever done.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Art's Retirement Party

Art retired on Thursday and on Saturday evening we had a party.
Art was very happy to be retired.



















Lots of good friends came...












He opened lots of cards...


He had a wonderful time.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Art is Retired

Yesterday was Art's last day of work at Twin City Foods in Ellensburg. He had been struggling all week with this new phase of his life, but on the day of retirement he was fine. He did not know that several of his friends were coming to town to stand outside of his work as he walked out the door that last time. Both of our sons, Matt (just fresh home from Holden) and Tracy were here to join the fun as well.

By 4:30, the time he was to get off of work, we had about a dozen people assembled outside the door. As workers filed outside of the plant they would look at the group of us and give us the strangest look, then they would remember Art and a shy smile would form as they moved on out of the door.

Art who is never the first one out the door, was still inside as more and more people gathered to see his exit. I turned around to see three of his bosses were standing behind us. They had noticed us outside and came to join in.

Finally he comes out and we all cheer. He is all smiles and joy. We had beer in the car but decided to go to our house to drink it. Everyone moved to our back yard to enjoy a celebratory drink with Art, his family and friends.

About 6pm we ventured to the Tav for dinner. I was so tired that I could hardly converse much over dinner. This week of cleaning, packing, working, painting, company and retirement has worn me out.

We are down to 3 more weeks until we move to Holden.