Odd Shot scanned

Do you notice what is odd?

So, if this card is not needed, why did they send it to us?


I imagine it is part of the paperwork reduction act.


If you have an Odd Shot this week, please share it on your blog. Post your link here and leave a comment. Visit others with Odd Shot posts.

Sunday's Psalm--31st Sunday of Ordinary time

 In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,

nor are my eyes haughty;

I busy not myself with great things,

nor with things too sublime for me.

In you, Lord,

I have found my peace.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.

Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.

In you, Lord,

I have found my peace.

O Israel,

hope in the LORD,

both now and forever.

In you, Lord,

I have found my peace.

from Psalm 131

Psalm Challenge at Athens Daily

Reflecting in the Arboretun

Besides the fall colors and October roses I have been posting at my photo blog--365--our stroll through the Yakima Arboretum was an opportunity to reflect.

The best place to look for reflections is the Japanese Garden. 

But the geese in the central pond also contributed. 

And this is my contribution to Weekend Reflections. Thanks, James, for inspiring us.

So we switched the channel over...

...while watching a high suspense drama last night to check the score. 7-4 late in the seventh inning. Well, no reason not to go back to our drama.

So we missed the World Series drama. St. Louis wins 10-9 after being one pitch away from a loss at least twice.

Must have been time for a lesson not to give up.

We attended a college football game like that when the kids were at WSU. A few minutes to go in the game and fans were getting up to avoid the parking lot jam. After all, Arizona State was up on Wazzu by more than two touchdowns. It was all over but the shouting.

Wonder about those who were just outside the stadium when the shouting started--Wazzu won that game by a point or two (I'll never understand football--American football--scoring, so don't ask how they did it.) What were they thinking about then?

I wonder if any St. Louis fans left in disgust in the seventh.

This is obviously not the sky and stadium in St. Louis last night, but a shot during a Mariners game we attended in June.

It works for a baseball themed  Friday Skywatch--I've missed quite a bit of that game lately, too.

ABC Revisiting O

ABC Wednesday, I am revisitng places we have been. We have reached the letter O and here is the Olympic Sculpture Park, an installation of the Seattle Art Museum.





Grandson Benjie is checking out one of the giant eyeballs, which also serve as benches. The Olympic Sculpture Park is near the waterfront, and with the right conditions, has a view beyond the Man and Boy fountains to the Olympic Mountains.

At this angle, this piece reminds me of a Haida whale image. I think I have a similar one on a textile from Alaska.

The Sculpture Garden has some notable neighbors.

The giant typewriter eraser can be seen from Highway 99.

It's a fun place to visit. ... even if you are only almost four.

We visited the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle in May of this year.

You can visit its website.

ABC Wednesday, Round 9

It's a...????

Saw two or three of these on our stroll through the Arboretum last week. This one had been set on a bench in the Rose Garden. The others were also obviously not in their original locations, so I have no ide what it might grow on. Any ideas? Even ideas as to how to search for it in a search engine? Weird fruit just doesn't seem like it would turn up anything accurate in the image search.



For Odd Shots on Monday-- Using image search, I did find an answer here, but I don't know how she found it. With her identification you can read more about it on Wikipedia, or research the name further.

Sunday's Psalm--30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, O LORD,

my strength,

 O LORD,

my rock,

my fortress,

my deliverer.

I love you,

Lord, my strength.

My God,

my rock of refuge,

my shield,

the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold!

Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The LORD lives and
blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

from Psalm 18

Check out other psalms illustrated by visiting Robert at Daily Athens.
The Challenge has reached Psalm 31.

Photos: Stac Pollaidh, Scottish Highlands
Mono Lake, California
Sun Lakes in the Coulee Country of Washington
Yosemite, California

ABC Revisiting N

If you have visited my blog over any period of time you will know that I am a fan of the National Parks. I have not only visited many of the National Parks of the American West, but can also claim parks in six other countries. So today for ABC Wednesday I will revisit a few of these

National Parks.

Cruising on Lake Periyar at Periyar National Park and Tiger Preserve in India. We did not see any tigers, but we did get a peek at some elephants, wild boar, cormorants, and had to keep our hotel windows closed to avoid being visited by the monkeys.

On our visit to the UK the summer of 2010, we hiked along Hadrian's Wall in Northumbria National Park.

Rock climbing is the focus activity at the Stolby National Park in Siberia, Russia.

Cruise ships come close to the calving glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.

Half Dome is the icon of Yosemite National Park in California.

Historic sites like Scotty's Castle in Death Valley National Park are preserved for the ages by the park service.



These are only a few of the sites I could post. The National Parks label below the post will take you to others of my National Park visits. Although unable to participate this summer because of my husband's illness, we have been National Park Volunteers for the last six or seven years. Support your National Parks wherever you are and the work done there to preserve our heritage.
ABC Wednesday--N

Ketchup--Blog Action Day--Odd Shot Monday

Okay, this truly might be an odd combination of themes and topics and harking back to old stories, but Blog Action Day-October 16, 2011- has the theme of food, ketchup relates to food and has at times been considered to actually BE more of a food than it is (think, school lunch vegetable), and this is an odd little ketchup bottle that was one of two reminders recently of this old Odd Shot story, as well as a piece to make a point about food--and what's the deal with all the ways to spell ketchup/catsup anyway?

Well, as in the Odd Shot story linked above --I can wait while you read it--I was again taking a picture of a ketchup bottle a few weeks ago, and then, more recently, we were having lunch in Yakima after hubby's chemo and I saw that same friend through the window and thought of the original ketchup bottle, this ketchup bottle, and chuckled. There was no ketchup on our table! That didn't deter Ernie, who brought me one and asked if I had my camera with me.

But back to the tiny ketchup bottle.

On our visit to the Bay Area we traveled on the ferry to San Francisco to enjoy their incredible Farmers Market. Relishing the thought of making something wonderful with all this luscious local fresh food. And eventually we did. But in the meantime, we had to get back to our son's home by ferry. This stretched into an adventure, because the ferry would not dock at the Farmer's Market until much later, so we would need to walk the length of the Embarcadero to the ferry stop many piers away to catch the next one.  

There were many distractions and it was a distance, and I was watching hubby's energy level as we fell farther and farther behind the younger generation.  Finally I called a halt. We have to stop and eat. Maybe we will catch the ferry or maybe a later one. It is time to initiate Plan B. So we started checking the menus on each restaurant as we passed by. You know something? If you are in a touristy part of town, you are going to see touristy prices at the restaurants. Next decision--we are going to eat HERE! The younger generation were shocked at the prices but I saw some soup that was semi-reasonable, so the older generation prevailed.

Now, the tiny ketchup bottle is part of this. Cloth napkins, an elegant view, waiters who didn't exactly hover but were always aware of any need. Those were part of the luxury. Benjie's $12 PBJ was part of the luxury. Sometimes you just have to go for the luxury, but

What a waste!!!

There! I've said it. Why does "luxury" in dining have to include tiny individual ketchup bottles and other similar waste? Why is it that dining out in "luxury" can be so much less satisfying than a cheap burger with good friends? I am trying to think of a time when we had a luxury meal which was not in some way disappointing. I think our most satisfactory "luxury" meals are actually those we do over a campfire.

So next time we go for a luxury meal, let's think something simple and elegant and classic and inexpensive and spend some of the extra sharing with the local food bank or Feed the Hungry or other similar cause. Our quilt group (and others) have a challenge going of making placemats which will  be given out through Meals on Wheels to add a touch of "luxury" to the lives of shut-ins.

Food for thought!

I won't add a linky today. If you have an Odd Shot, please leave a link in the comments. If you have something to say about food and Blog Action Day, please do the same. And enjoy your meal today--dine well, but simply, and think of those who can't.

Sunday's Psalm--29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Give the Lord glory and honor.


Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.


Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.



Give the Lord glory and honor.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.

Give the Lord glory and honor.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.

Give the Lord glory and honor.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.

Give the Lord glory and honor.

from Psalm 96

Alaska Native Center dancers, Muir Woods, Grove of the Patriarch trail, view from Lake Tipsoo

Look for other Psalms linked at Daily Athens for Robert's Psalm Challenge.

ABC Revisiting M

When we visited Russia in 1998, we spent the first day in Moscow, then returned there for a few days after time in Siberia and St. Petersburg.

This ABC round I am revisiting memorable places we have been. The gingerbread  look of St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is one of the memorable sights in revisiting
Moscow.

We arrived in Moscow near midnight after a five hour delay and a twelve hour bumpy flight.
Our flight to Siberia was late the next day, so we had a day to visit the capital---on our own.

We walked.

All day.

All over Moscow.

When you are on your own in a strange city with a vocabulary of a couple dozen words and everything written in an unfamiliar alphabet, you hesitate to try to get on a bus or subway--even if you have a guidebook with directions.

So we walked. ..

...and walked...

...and walked.

The Moscow River and the new cathedral nearing completion when we were there. We were wondering what it was--it ws not in our guidebook published two years earlier. We took a boat cruise on the river, but not till we had returned to Moscow at the end of our trip.

On that second time in the city, we lodged in a homestay. Our hostess helped us plot out our routes on the subway map. By this time I could sound out the Cyrillic letters and we were a little more confidant in not getting lost. Well, my husband and son were confidant. They assumed that I knew what I was doing. I didn't. But you could get a lot farther around the city on the subway than you could on foot. And our lodging was quite a distance out of the center.

One exciting moment occurred when we were on our way somewhere--I don't remember where. I do know that we saw the Bolshoi Theater and KGB headquarters that day. We went down into the subway with a plan to catch a train to the next spot on our itinerary. The train came. The doors to the car opened. I got on. The doors closed. That was quick---really quick---really really quick.

Husband and son were still standing open mouthed on the platform as I stood open mouthed watching them slip rapidly away as the train sped on its way. I got out at the next station. Fortunately, common sense and logic prevailed and the next train disgorged the two of them, having reasoned that this was the best way to be reunited.  

Kremlin Walls

There are seven churches within the Kremlin walls. Gold onion domes everywhere.

The subway scare was probably the most exciting thing that happened to us in Moscow. At least until the airport, where, after fearing that  the flight was overbooked and we would be bumped off--we found instead that we had been bumped to first class for our twelve hour flight home.

Bumpy flight to bumped flight. But that's a tale for another time.

You will find ABC Wednesday here. Thanks Denise, for another fine round of ABCs.

And so for the pets that stuck around...

Once the pup who wanted nothing to do with it was recaptured, the Blessing of the Pets continued. It takes place around the feast of St. Francis of Asissi, well known as an animal lover. Our pets are dedicated to our companionship and enjoyment.

It ws the first time I had seen a fish at the Blessing.



This bunny was also a first.

Turtles usually come in a box. This one brought a hat.



Graciela brought the only kitty this year.
Fr. Jaime's cat took off for parts unknown before the celebration.

Largest pet this year. Last year there was a pony.

I'm bored.



Okay, Jazz. Don't bite Fr. Jaime.

 What do you think, Chiquita? Is he a new friend?

Odd Shot--The Chase

Okay, the picture isn't terribly odd, but when one tiny chihuahua took off yesterday, apparently having decided that the blessing of pets was not for him, the chase was on.


Several children and half a dozen other dogs took off to round him up. He was returned to the rectory lawn and his owner took greater care to hang on to his leash as the ceremony continued.

Sunday's Psalm--28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul.

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

 I fear no evil;

for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

You spread the table before me

in the sight of my foes;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

from Psalm 23

Photos:

young Dall Sheep cross the river at Denali National Park, Alaska

hiking in the Muir Woods, California

Silver Falls, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

Dall Sheep ram, Denali (Doesn't he look like he plans to stay right there for all the days of his life?)

Visit other Psalms on Sundays in Robert's challenge at Athens Daily.

The challenge is in its 29th week so most will be illustrating Psalm 29.

 (I continue my commitment of posting the Psalm from the Sunday liturgy.)