First some photos of Idaho, as promised:
And my cousins, Dick and Nancy D'Archangel:
Now, continuing with yesterday:
The wooded areas around here look like a tropical rain forest, only it's not tropical. In fact, it's been kinda chilly since I got here. But so beautiful.
I woke up about 5:30 this morning - still on Mountain Time, I guess - and let Remy out. I thought about going back to bed, but then I didn't feel all that tired. I got myself a cup of tea and got on FB for a while. Dick and Nancy had an all-day basket-weaving event, so I had thought maybe I'd bike around a bit and get to know the area. When the day dawned chilly, wet, and windy, I decided to learn to make a basket.
We arrived at the Cowling Creek Center about 9:15 to prepare for the basket weaving, all-day event. Dick and Nancy and I moved chairs, set up tables, and Nancy put coils of cedar into the downstairs bathtub to continue soaking. Both of them had baskets they had begun at another meeting. I was starting from scratch. People arrived in ones and twos, and I was introduced to Marilyn (called Marty), Eric & Tina, Snookie, Bill, another Marilyn (who arrived later), Richard, and Tom. The first group brought lots of doughnuts and apple fritters, and some of the later arrivals (as well as some of the earlier ones) brought lunch offerings.
Marty was starting a new basket, so I sat next to her, and she helped me get started. I had never done this before, but I often felt as though it had similarities to making a potholder or some aspects of sewing or knitting. I learned early on to keep all materials wet, as all have a tendency to break -- just snap right off -- if you don't.
Here's my basket, as I was working:
Here's Bill's basket, as he was working, just for perspective:
I wish I had a picture of Bill's finished basket to show you, as our baskets were similar in size and basic shape (mine was fairly shapeless when finished, although Marilyn was going to take it home and shape it using sand or rice). Bill has been doing this for a while, and he's generally accepted as having a gift for it.
This is me with Marilyn and my finished basket:
In the middle of the session, we had lunch. Snookie had made some unbelievable clam chowder, which I indulged in as much as I could while still making sure that everybody else got some. I also had Nancy's excellent salad, and the inside of Tom's strawberry-rhubarb pie. There followed a meeting of the council that runs the activities of the Center. I just kept working on my basket and listening in. There's a canoe gathering coming up at the end of July, and this group was planning who would paddle and who would support, as well as some other activities.
When weaving was done, I cleaned up my spot, did some lunch dishes, and then Dick and I went for a walk around the grounds that the Center occupies. Over the years, people have been working to repopulate the area with chum salmon, and a rough hatchery exist on the property, as well as a number of trails through the forest. Remy and I agreed that it felt good to stretch our legs and backs after sitting and weaving all day.
By the time everyone had gone and the place was put to rights, we didn't have much time before Lilia's (one of Dick and Nancy's granddaughters) dance recital. We hurried back to their place, changed clothes, grabbed some (delicious) food at their favorite Thai restaurant, and made it to the school auditorium in plenty of time.
I've been to a lot of dance recitals, and in many ways this one was fairly typical; but whether because it's been a few years, or because of excellence, this one was particularly enjoyable. The lovely Lilia was in two numbers. Others featured an ensemble of auditioned dancers. Beginning dancers' choreography is the same from coast to coast, I decided. The program included 29 separate numbers and ran just about 2 hours, including intermission, so I think it is reasonable to say that it was very well organized and run. I saw one of the best-choreographed tumbling numbers ever, and many other enjoyable pieces.
We had taken two cars to dinner and the recital, because the recital didn't seem like a very good place for Remy, so he stayed in my car. He survived, but he ate most of a small bag of Stella & Chewy's dog food. After the recital, Nancy and I stopped for a few groceries, and when we got home we finished up her wonderful salad from lunchtime.
I think I'm officially on Pacific Time, since I went to bed about 10:30 and got up at 6:30 today, instead of 5:30. I was going to go to Starbucks this morning to do this, but Dick put me on his WiFi hotspot, and everything seems to be working.
It is lovely being with family. I enjoyed seeing the dance recital so much last night. It was great to see what a confident, lovely girl Lilia is, even though I didn't get to see Katie who, I assume, must have been backstage.
It looks like another cool, rainy day today, so I'm not sure what Dick and I will do. Nancy has a plan to bake all day, in preparation for an event Tuesday evening. If it's not rainy, I may bike around a bit. It's very pretty and relaxing here. Ahhhhh.
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