Pocket Full of Stones

Golden Oyster Mushrooms

2009-08-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting Jen from The Mushroomery out of Lebanon, Oregon at the First Annual Next Step Recycled Arts Fair. To say that Jen is passionate about mushrooms may be some what of an understatement. She had bunches of gorgeous mushrooms for sale at very reasonable prices. I was admiring them with wonder and a fair amount of delight until I spied a curious bag filled with

Have you heard about Carol?

2009-08-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

She is shouting from her Fabric of Life boutique rooftop about issues that are important to her. Carol Schillios has gone up on the roof to live in a tent in Edmonds, Washington until she raises 1 Million Dollars for the Fabric of Life Foundation. Carol created the foundation to help young women in developing countries go from beggar to businesswomen. She promises that every dollar given to the

On the McKenzie River with Zeke

2009-07-01T23:21:00.001-07:00

First, apologies to all for taking an extended unannounced break from Pocket Full of Stones. Life happened. You may have noticed that I've been quite busy launching and building That's So Northwest - Northwest Community CU's blog and Social Media extravaganza. If you haven't popped in over there, it's worth the click. Lots of fun, variety and a heck of a great group of people speaking their

Down Home Cookin' - Papa's Soul Kitchen - Eugene, Oregon

2009-06-15T23:25:00.001-07:00

This is not diet food. This is serious down home food. Not that I've ever lived in or near the South. But I have traveled there and every once in a great while get to cravin' some hush puppies, black eyed peas and fried okra. mmm hmm. Meet Papa's Soul Kitchen. The other night, N. and I were looking for some reasonably priced eats and were weary of our regular dining establishments. We were

How to have a bang up doggie Birthday Party. Or, Zeke turns 4!

2009-06-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

On June 14, 2009, Zeke turned 4! Hard to believe how our sweet little pup has grown up. I've always said fourth birthday's are a good time to do something you've never done before. Like say, go on a bike ride which from Zeke's perspective was more like going on a run while attached to a bloody leash as his parents were riding their bikes. It was a big moment and he was a little nervous at first.

And he's off...

2009-06-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

N. got a bike today. It's a hybrid built for road and path. It can commute and take on a Triathalon. Perfect. Oh, and it's a lovely shade of blue. He is riding it home from Paul's Bicycle Way of life right now.Look close, I told you I was going to start braiding his hair in two braids. Nice.

My New Band Love

2009-06-13T00:36:00.001-07:00

I fell head over heals instantly! Ghostland Observatory. Sad, Sad City Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City (Official Music Video) - The best bloopers are here Dancing to Vibrate ...its ok, N. is in love too. Ghostland Observatory, my new house cleaning/exercise music. Oh, and I am going to start braiding N's hair in two braids. Oh yes I am!

Walkies- this time it's about the dog.

2009-06-12T22:33:00.001-07:00

Zeke and Bono met for the first time one day this week for early AM Walkies. As previously mentioned, Bono is a Great Dane. Very sweet and sensitive and accustomed to walking on a leash. Zeke is not. We have trained him to walk with us sans leash, so walking on a bike path, (what mom? seriously no running? where's the ball? can I take a quick swim in the river? pretty puleeeaaase?) on a leash

Quilting Weekend

2009-06-08T19:58:00.001-07:00

Maybe I should say, piecing weekend. I've had the fabric in the closet and the idea/pattern in my head for ... oh... 6 years or so now. After all that time, it's a relief to say that I started and finished the top of the first quilt I've made to keep (aside from my wedding quilt) this weekend! My brain has more room for ideas now too! The concept of the quilt was to play with color and texture

Look How My Garden Grows!

2009-06-08T13:31:00.001-07:00

Hello Green Things... we love eating you! Please ignore the long grass...I was busy quilting this weekend and N. was out of town working on Sundance land. Say...is that? Why yes, yes it is a baby broccoli crown. And for a little color... orange begonia's. (Please continue to ignore the tall grass. Thank you.) More orange...gerbera's, moss roses and something else I forgot the

Moving moving moving, get those feet a'moving...

2009-06-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

Today began my official training for the Butte to Butte WALK with my prego girlfriend Candice. It may actually be the only time in our lives that we can walk together as she is a super fit runner, slowed down only by her brewing baby girl. I am so excited! It's a nice way to support each other in health and get a little extra girl time in. Oh and Bono (he does have all 4 paws, but he is a GREAT

Heritage Gorgeous

2009-05-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

That gorgeous Peony brings my heart delight!For several years now, it has lived in it's pot, carefully tended by me and my nostalgia. Never blooming, but I've remained ever hopeful. You see, that peony is from the ranch my Grandparents lived on for over 50 years. The place were my Dad grew up and I learned how to ride horseback. The endless miles of field and hours on end spent with Grandpa

All I can say is he's a charmer, a Snake Charmer.

2009-05-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

If you are new to Malachi's story, you can read more here and here. Today, the pictures are worth a million words.

Reflections on Gratitude, Perspective and Living in the Moment.

2009-05-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

Since hearing the NPR story about the crossing of Martha Mason, I've been doing some serious thinking about gratitude, perspective and how to better live in my moment. Martha crossed on May 4, 2009 a month before her 72nd birthday. She spent nearly 61 years of her life in an iron lung, the result of contracting polio at the age of 11. She told her doctors that she would do more than live her

Snake Season Has Officially Begun

2009-05-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

We go through the same thing every year. This sweet, fluffy, handsome creature....Somehow manages to charm these into our house to keep him company. By somehow, I mean we have no idea how he does it. By charm, I mean he has a way with slimy, slithery things like slugs, snakes and earthworms.Wherein I am forced to deal with them. Which means I take them away from Malachi (and return them to the

A bit on Malachi, our Goofy, Giant Buddha.

2009-05-14T19:41:00.001-07:00

From the floor, Malachi can stand up on his hind legs and tap me on the shoulder with his paw as I sit at the computer. It's slightly disconcerting when he does that from behind while I am focused on my work. He can also stand on his hind legs and reach up on the kitchen counter to fish around for food or whatever he is after, which is most often unseen to the human eye.From tip of his nose to

Freedom!

2009-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

No, I am not starting a new protest or getting my activist hat on (though brace yourself, it may be coming!) - I just freed the ladybugs that had been living in my refrigerator. They are sooooo happy in the garden (anything is better than a refrigerator if you happen to be a ladybug I'd imagine)!

Lately, I've Been Talking to my Basil

2009-05-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

I swear I have been trying to get my garden planted. I am finally caught up to where I should have been a few weeks ago... the peas and broccoli and greens are in the ground. I grew weary of waiting for the sun, and planted in the rain. Which wasn't that bad, Zeke and I just got soaked. Nothing a hot shower couldn't quickly resolve. I have not yet applied my nematodes (soil temp should be 55

New Beginnings

2009-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Time to dig in the dirt and invest in fresh produce - right outside my kitchen door. Totally local. Now all I have to do is figure out a way to keep my darling dog, Zeke from picking the perfectly ripened tomatoes off the vine before I do. There is still plenty of time to figure out that strategic plan.There will be - Tomatoes... several kinds. We love our tomatoes (we trained Zeke with Sweet 100

Forgotten, Restored. The Maya Nut Revolution.

2009-04-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Recently, I came across this article about the Maya Nut and how it is changing lives. At one time, the Maya Nut was an staple food for the Mayan people, providing high levels of important nutrients such as protein, calcium, fiber, iron, zinc and vitamins A, B, C, and E. Today, in the rainforests where the Maya Nut tree grows, people are going hungry. They have forgotten about the nut, and don't

Dolphin Bubbles

2009-04-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Things are a little busy around here lately. I have always loved blowing bubbles. Something so simple and yet never fails to bring a smile to my face. Happy Earth day from me ... and the dolphins.

These times, they are a-changing.

2009-04-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

He proved that the media paradigm is changing. One man's voice has the potential of being equally if not more powerful, sought after and valued than a massive media corporation. And the whole event is making headway for a good cause - Malaria No More. So far, Aston Kutcher @aplusk, Ryan Seacrest @ ryanseacrestand CNN @CNNbrk have donated 10,000 mosquito nets each. Oprah @oprah is donating 20,000

That's So Northwest

2009-04-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

After about 3 years of talk. 2 years of strategy. 1 year of planning, and months of design and writing effort, I am pleased to announce that TODAY we finally flipped the switch and That's So Northwest is live!That's So Northwest is another blog I write for. It's powered by Northwest Community Credit Union and I am pleased as punch... proud in a way words can't describe... and thrilled to pieces

It's Sunday.

2009-04-05T14:40:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning at 9:30 in a panic because I had obviously over slept and was late late late for work. I started flying around - trying to get ready for my Monday in record time. N. was late too. "Come on honey, it's time to get up - we're late for work." He rolled over and said, "shhhh Thea. It's Sunday come back to bed." Wait... WHAT!??? I ran to the nearest computer - not even the

The Day I Barked in Public (or My Life Keeps Me Humble).

2009-03-31T20:38:00.001-07:00

To tell this story, I need to set the stage a bit. N. and I exercise at a local gym. We recently decided that we wanted to learn how to swim... I could swim to save my life, but I could not swim a 'proper' stroke. And I certainly could not do the whole submerge your face in the water and breathe under your arm thing. In fact, learning to swim is on my 38 list - 38 things to do before I