Puppen

As a child and young teenager, I would play with dolls. I would make up stories and act them out with my dolls. The older I got, the more intricate the stories became. I would spend hours in my room, alone, away from my younger brothers, playing with my dolls. It was a wonderful time, that seem to go by so quickly, I'd always have to pause the episodes to come to dinner or practice piano. Dolls were very special to me, and I loved collecting clothes and accessories for them, and creating dwellings for them.

Last weekend, I was reminded of my connection with dolls, as I made my first doll. I knew that handmade dolls were expensive for a reason, but now I really understand the struggles they entail. Major sewing was involved. For one who has never used a sewing machine, it was a bit frustrating. Once you get going with the pedal, it just goes on a train wreck sometime. I had to re thread the needle at least a dozen times. The curves are really tricky, especially when they're small and sharp, as they were from the pattern. We cut the skin/flesh colored fabric from a simple doll pattern given to us, making two of each shape.

After pinning the pieces together, I sewed them together using the sewing machine. The stuffing part was easy. I used the eraser side of the pencil to stuff the cotton into the arms and legs. I did the face using embroidery threads, although I could have added buttons. The hair was done sewing one strand at a time on in rows and making sure each was securely tied down.

At the end of the second day of the workshop, we all had a circle discussion to introduce our dolls. During the entire workshop we were observing and learning ways to use dolls and doll making techniques in a therapeutic process. For some, making a doll brought back childhood memories, for others adult experiences. I made a doll of my good friend Bonnie, who died a tragic death about 4 years ago. The domestic violence that she experienced was revealed only a week before she was violently stabbed to death by her husband. Even though it's been 4 years, it's still hard to believe that she's gone. I will never forget her, but I made this doll because I really miss her. This doll is Bonnie the way I knew her, always happy and laughing. Her spirit still lives on. As I was making her, I mentioned to the instructor that she needed to have glasses, because Bonnie always had reading glasses held around her neck by a string of beads. A kind lady in the class offered me two different pairs of doll reading glasses that she had randomly found at a garage sale. What a coincidence, or maybe it was meant to be. Whichever it was, it was wonderful.

Above is a photo of all the dolls. Many of them are still works in progress. Bonnie is front row, far left.

104 degrees in Seattle!

I have never thought 80 degrees at 10pm felt as good as it does tonight. The past few days have been brutally hot here in Seattle. Yesterday as I left work at 3:30pm it was 98, about 30 minutes after arriving at home, it was 104! Really, really f***in' hot. I had to stop for gas on my way home, as I pulled into the gas station I noticed a mini-van pulling in, with both side doors open to get a breeze inside.

Along Rainier Ave. there were at least two electric buses that had broken down.

I was sweating in the shade, and the school where the summer camp is that I have been working at, NO AC. The kids knew better than to give hugs in such weather. They resorted to spraying us with the hose and throwing water on us. It was so refreshing.

So, July, 29 2009 was 104 degrees, which broke the record set back in 1971 for the same date it was 95.

I have to admit I did enjoy the intensity that such weather brings to a laid back town like Seattle. Road rage galore and people were actually snapping at each other! My car stalled about 10 times in a matter of 20 minutes, I think it was just too much stress on the engine running the AC.

On Tuesday, we took the kids to Carkeek park and one other kindergartner boy and I were the only brave souls to jump in the ICE cold Puget Sound water. I'd have to guess it was around 45-50 degrees. The ice plunge felt marvelous in the heat.

Below is a photo of my band on our hottest photo shoot yet.

The Light Rail Opens!

Seattle has a train!!! Woohooo. It's called "the Light Rail" and it runs by electricity above the train, the way some of the electric buses in Seattle run. It's also on a track and goes through a tunnel. The route right now is from Tukwila to Westlake Center in Downtown Seattle. Despite the crowds, lines and confusion, I decided to take it downtown today. It was free for all passengers. Normally it will cost between $1.50-$2.50 depend on how far you travel. It's also based on the honor system, so no ticket is taken when you get on the train, but controllers can ask to see your ticket. It is much smoother than the bus and the EL train in Chicago, but is not yet super quick to get downtown. Supposedly, four bicycles per car are allowed. I didn't even attempt to try it today, it would've been impossible with all the people. It's great to have better/more options for public transportation in Seattle, even though waiting 3o minutes for the Light Rail did remind me of waiting for a ride at Disney World or Six Flags. Seattle is on it's way to becoming a 21st century city.

Longest days on the west coast.

So, I feel as though I've been slacking on the updating of my blog lately. After coming back from Chicago in early May, I feel as though the spring rush has taken over and is finally beginning to subside.

Today was the last day of kindergarten at the EEU(Experimental Education Unit), tomorrow will be graduation, but teaching is over. I'm so proud of all of the kids in my class, they have worked incredibly hard all year and I will miss them dearly. This evening "The Burrs", the old time string band I am in, played for the kids' end of the year BBQ. As we played tunes, they danced around us in circles in the grass. The kids reminded me of myself at their age; running around while my mother her fiddle.

Below is a photo of "The Burrs" playing at a Wallingford block party this past weekend. It was actually an Alley Party with a garage stage set up. Afterwards we all went out for Mexican Food and then waited in line for about 45 minutes for ice cream. It was worth it, hand churned, homemade fresh waffle cones and incredible flavors. I had salty carmel and ginger. Mmmm.

Later that weekend I went on a hike with a new friend of mine. We hiked up to Goat Lake, near Darrington in Mt. Baker National Forest. It was beautiful, but no goats, only faint traces of goat hair and what looked(to us) like goat droppings. After the hike I gave my first driving lesson, fun stuff. It's much more entertaining than I thought it would be. Below is a photo from Goat Lake.

I'm in the moving process again. Going to be house sitting until mid October at various places throughout south Seattle. Today has been a day of packing and listening to Hollow Earth Radio show, a friend of mine was doing a 2 hour special on the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. Moving is an invigorating yet tiring process. It's good to be moving on, but it's alot of lifting and exertion. Not paying rent till the Fall is quite a nice concept though.

On Saturday I'm off to the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes up in Port Townsend, which is on the Olympic Peninsula. Banjo workshops, square dancing, jamming till sunrise and camping! Woohoo...summer is looking good.

Spring Visit from Germany

Miriam and I at the Hen House.
Julia, Miriam & Brigid at Gasworks park.

A few weeks ago my friends from Germany; Julia and Miriam came to visit me in Seattle. It was Miriam's first time in the States and Julia's first time in Seattle(she visited me a few times when I was living in Chicago). They arrived on a grey, overcast Friday afternoon, welcome to Seattle.

Fremont Troll(above)

We did many things in Seattle together; visited Pike Market, did the Seattle Underground Tour among other things. They even got to sample my favorite Seattle donuts, Top Pot. As I do with most visitors who come to Seattle, I took them to Gas Works park and to see the Fremont Troll under the Aurora bridge.

Later that week we decided to drive around the Olympic Peninsula. First we caught the Bainbridge Island Ferry out of downtown Seattle. It's about a 35 minute ferry ride. From there we drove through Poulsbo, then over the Hood Canal Bridge onto the peninsula. We were determined to drive around it in a counter-clockwise fashion, in one day. On the west side of the peninsula there are some beautiful beaches, including the one below called La Push. It was almost desolate and very foggy. We were not able to see very far into the ocean. Only the large rocks in the foreground were visible. It was extremely windy and wet, a typical pacific northwest beach.

Below is a downtown photograph of Vancouver, BC. We spent three days trekking around the cold and wet Canadian city. I visited the main art museum there and was really disappointed. I figured that Vancouver being such a metropolitan city would have an extensive art collection on display. They had a minimal rotating exhibit that was not inspiring, I think I spent less than 2 hours there. For those of you who know me, this is a pretty short time for me to spend looking at art. We ate some of the best, cheapest sushi in one of the many Japanese restaurants there and also made it to an Irish Pub for a hot toddy, where on the television the NHL ice hockey game was being shown.

On their last day in Seattle, the sun was shining and the it was about 80 degrees. We decided to spend some time at Seward Park sitting in the sun and icing our feet in the cold water of Lake Washington.

Julia and Miriam did quite of bit of jumping that day on our backyard trampoline.