Foamhenge

The village awoke this morning to evidence of an alien occupation. We have no idea who or why.

Hair Cut

Andrew has been a boarding student at Holden this year. He has been a fantastic person to get to know and spend time with. Since Holden is such an accepting community, he decided to not cut his hair at all this year. As you can see he has wonderful curls.

The other day Andrew honored me with the request to be the one who cut his hair before he left. Tonight is the high school play and next weekend graduation. As you can see we had quite a gallery of onlookers with opinions.

He looks fantastic!!!!!!! (Note, the smiling young man behind the house; he douses me with a squirt gun as soon as I am finished.)

Holden Prom - Pride and Prejudice

Each year the Holden school holds its annual prom. This years theme was Pride and Prejudice, which in Holden's terms meant "Anything Goes". The Village Center was decorated and we all waited with excitement for the evening to begin.

Art looked dashing.

Dave and Mary Sather (Dave is the high school teacher here at Holden) were in full theme attire.
Olaf, our one and only kindergartner, took looked stunningly and took it all with his usual seriousness.

Here is the entire school posing for a picture.

Our business and public works directors had a blast.

As you can see, it was a rags to riches affair.

Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan is Holden's highway to the world. All that travels here is brought up on a boat on the lake. Many Holden staffers tend to sleep on the boat to pass the time, but we tend to forget how beautiful this gateway lake to the Cascades can be. Lake Chelan is a very clean lake; offering views deep into its rocky bottom. The clean green tint always looks so inviting for a swim but the lake is way too cold for swimming most of the year.

Our summer boat is the Lady 2, the largest boat on the lake, capable of carrying 350 passengers. The trip from Field's Point to Lucerne takes about 2.5 hours; offering tourists plenty of time to sit out on the decks and take pictures.

Along the shores, Lake Chelan has many summer cabins on its shores which are accessible only by boat. The Lady 2 can pull right up to the banks and drop off hikers or residents as needed. To get a ride out, all one needs to do is wave a flag and the boat will stop.

After about two hours on the boat we spy Domke Mountain up lake. Domke is the site of the forest fire two summers ago and also cradles a wonderful lake in its basin. Domke is a very popular fishing lake and a great spot for hikers.

My favorite part of the trip up lake is when we are finally ashore and the boat continues on towards Stehekin. The boat in the distance reminds me of how totally alone in the wilderness we are, with no way to leave or contact the outside world. This is the moment that makes me feel the strongest.

More Pugnatious Hummingbirds

I promise this is my last post about hummingbirds. They are the noisiest, most obnoxious birds I have ever seen. They are constantly fighting outside our window. The comotion is worst just before dark; when it is hard to take a good picture Right now I have about 40 of these rascals buzzing outside our window, making such a racket that I sometimes think they have broken through the screen and somehow gotten into our living room. They buzz just like bees and add a chirping to it. They threaten each other constantly with physical poking pushing. If we ever let the feeder go dry, they bang on the window for more. What will they do when we are out tomorrow?

Random Pictures

My new camera is here and I am still tweaking it to have pictures as I like them. We are mid-way into our third May Youth Weekend, with 220 high schoolers here. The sun is out and all is good

Utilities Coffee House

My new camera has not arrived yet and so I am using photos that Paul Haines, our public works director, took at last night's "Utilities Sponsored Event" coffeehouse. Our utilities people, see Marc, Nancy and Daniel below, put on the most fantastic and fun evenings for us all. Last night's coffeehouse was an affair to remember.

As soon as we entered Koinania, we were served cookies, coffee and punch. Each table had candles and tablecloths. After a period of chowing down and visiting the acts began. I can't begin to share the talent that this village has. We had juggling acts, original music sung, incredible violin playing and of course Art got in the act.

He and Paul H. did the funniest two man comedy act that I have ever seen and they did it in tuxedos.

Above, Annalisa, in her dress, is teaching us how to do this complicated Rugby play. I feel out of my chair laughing.

The final act was my favorite. I have discovered that I have a love for appalachian music. The three musicians above, Carol, Angela and Rolf, will forever have me in their audience. They are truly fantastic.

A Night in Lucerne - Part Three - Camping

What can I say? I am still in awe of where I am. We camped at Refrigerator Harbor and it was beautiful. For a reality check, please know that it is 38 degrees out and snowing right now. My camera broke after these shots, I will wait to post until my new one arrives.

A Night in Lucerne - Part Two - A Walk With 2 Deer

As I hunted for Morel mushrooms in the Domke Mt. burn area on Saturday, I suddenly looked up and two deer were on the rise ahead of me. All three of us were foraging for food; slowly working our way through the burnt trees.

The deer never ran away, they seemed totally comfortable with me and my presence. At times we were within ten feet of one another. We walked, moving slowly looking for our food. The three of us were together for about 30 minutes. Each of us aware and yet so at peace.

A yell from Art broke up our unit. Art was bouncing on a burnt log and spied me as I was working my way towards the road. He is so cute at times.