Birds!

We had a lot of high winds a couple of weeks ago, and afterwards our lawn was covered with tree branches and a few birds' nests. We were worried about the hawks who live in our backyard, but they are still up there.


The first night that Jesse and I were in St. Lucia, years ago, I asked him in the middle of the night to turn off the radio. I thought someone had messed up the alarm, and big band music was playing in the middle of the night. We laugh about that, because it was birds. (Lee, look away!) I've been reminded of that a lot here, because there are so many birds. I see orioles, robins, and cardinals every day, all over the place!

the goodness is real

Last weekend, four awesome people were engaged, and one cherished baby, Alexa Ann Stewart, was born. I am so happy today, to be a part of the wellspring, of life moving in the right direction. I am so blessed to know these wonderful people.

Today I was able to use the bad experiences that Jesse and I have come through to help a couple who embodies so many Good things to me. I've been thinking about it for the past couple of hours. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to be away from the tough times that Jesse and I have come through, but I am seeing now, in a new way, how much I've learned, and that that the bad experiences have been a way for us to find the freedom to love more fully. In the pulverizing force of life, the husk falls away. I am very happy that I was able to share some experiences with another couple, and that they found them of use.

After attending that last basketball game, I got some tickets for the next round, and was pretty shocked to find myself sitting in the first row, at half court. I was sitting right behind the sportscasters! Doris Burke was just a few feet in front of me. I hope she enjoyed all my yelling.

The last weekend, Jesse and I went to the mountains. Asheville is a beautiful tiny city, with anything you could want, surrounded by mountains. There are lots of artists' communities there, particularly for metalworking.



I think Asheville has what I love about both New Hampshire and Cambridge, with a freedom I haven't found in either place. It's entirely unpretentious, yet everything is of great quality (and totally delicious!!!). One of their tiny breweries has live music every night. Another one shows movies for $2. It would be the perfect place for Mueller Bros Karaoke!

Jesse and I got to do a lot of hiking in the mountains, close to where "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed. Jesse played in the waterfall!



And I played on the rocks!

I am scheming right now to figure out when we can go again. I want to hike even farther out and up. It's only a 3- hour drive, so we can leave on a friday evening, and get there in time for dinner. Another wonderful thing -- Asheville is known for their spectacular fireworks, and they try to have them 6-8 times each year. I am very excited to see that!