And Again Kidman

Nice indeed. The book of this is on sale on his site currently, and only available directly from Andrew. Like his last release, 'Lost In The Ether', 'Single' is limited to 1000 copies and will be amazing. Coastalwatch interview here.

The Waiting Game...Being Emotionally Prepared to Hear from and Leave for College

As of now, the majority of students have applied to at least one college, and many will hear decisions in the next couple of weeks. The waiting game can be extremely nerve-wracking and happens during senior year, which is already stressful all around. At the beginning, students scramble to complete their applications while balancing busy extracurricular and academic schedules. They worry about their choice of college essay topic, their list of schools, and whether or not their applications have arrived safely in the admissions offices. As second semester begins, though, most of the applications are out, midterm grades are finalized, and a period of waiting ensues. Many schools will not send out decisions until April, and so students wait, in a state of uncertainty about the vast next step of their lives.

There is so much activity and so many stressors during senior year that we sometimes forget that it is a crucial period of transition, not only for students, but for parents and families as well. As graduation approaches, there are many conflicting emotions at play. For students, it is certainly an exciting time, but also a continuous reminder that they will soon leave behind their high school, their friends, and their families in order to graduate to the next phase of their lives. It is a time filled with uncertainty and ambiguity. Students may not realize that their parents are also experiencing a great deal of conflicting emotions, as they prepare to see their child off into a new environment.  Whether a student is moving away to college or living at home, graduation from high school is a huge symbolic move towards adulthood.

Both students and parents are reminded that it is perfectly normal to see emotional ups and downs during this time. There may be some shifting in the dynamics of the relationship between parent and child, as they both prepare for the student to take on new roles.

In conclusion, some advice: Parents, trust in the work that you have done in raising your child to be an independent, competent decision maker. Be open to dialogue with your child, and don’t hesitate to bring these issues up for discussion. Students, remember that it is totally acceptable to be experiencing a range of different emotions. Graduating from high school is exciting, daunting, joyous, and saddening all at the same time. You are always welcome to contact your counselor for any advice you may need.

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

festive christmas doors

Just a little Christmas inspiration for your front door….

If you want to pin a picture to Pinterest, 
please pin from the original source.
For source info, click here.  

ciao! Fabiana

Skyline

This large multi-unit residential project was proposed several years ago, but was delayed by the economy.  Now things are underway again, with one of the first steps being the innovative log-crib erosion control structure.

I'm  not quite sure what to make of this project - I can't think of anything like it on the Sound. It's an improvement over the seawalls farther east - in large part because it doesn't project as far onto the beach - but it will be interesting to see how it does over time.

For some more history on this area:
Skyline:  April 2006

And to see what Flounder Bay has become, check out the view from above:
AERIAL VIEW

Camano Island State Park

The best use for a big deep-seated landslide on Puget Sound is probably a forest.  The next best use may be a relatively low-intensity public park.  The northern day-use area at Camano Island State Park sits on a mid-slope bench, the contents of which began their jerky movement to the Sound hundreds or thousands of years ago.  The uneven surface of the picnic area and the offsets in the parking lot suggest nothing has changed.

The head scarp is a high steep, forested slope that rises above the parking lot.  Big drain pipes convey water from the land above (part of which is the park entrance road, but other parts of which are private homes) down to the bench, where hopefully it then gets captured and sent to the beach.  Water is, after all, the grease on which these slides move, and the simplest way to slow their movement is to keep the water out.  Of course, even that may be far from simple.  The bench often slopes landward, making natural drainage tough, and slide movement can break pipes or otherwise disrupt drainage.  And often the water is deeper groundwater, which doesn't lend itself to easy solutions.

These big slides often have portions that are more susceptible to movement than others - often, but not always, due to past or present drainage problems.  The most active portion of this slide is the outside lane of the road down the bluff -- if it expands, access to the day-use area may become a lot more difficult.  Or a lot more expensive.

But again, better a park.  All too often, developers covet these benches for rows of million-dollar homes, and the developer is long gone by the time the foundations start cracking and the septic tank slides past the patio.

AERIAL VIEW

Other Big Landslides:
Perkins Lane, Seattle
Ledgewood Beach, Whidbey Island
Camano Head, Camano Island
Discovery Park, Seattle
Kopachuck State Park, Gig Harbor
Turnagain Heights, Anchorage
Termination Point, Hood Canal

KIdman

More from our favourite Aussie farm boy. The Parmenter influenced single will, I believe, be headed to a very happy Mexican. Andrew's been shaping boards at quite a clip for someone who considers himself a bit of a dabbler at the task. There's about no chance of getting one from him for Christmas though, so a good alternate option would be a copy of 'Way Of The Bird', his book co-produced with Andy Davis. $25, shipping included. Order at info @ foamandfunction once again. Awesome, I've just realized this is post 500. Thanks for looking and all the support.

the table is all set...

.... and now I'm off to make my pies.  This year I am making traditional pumpkin pie and Sweet Potato Chiffon Pie. Recipe found here for Emeril's Sweet Potato Chiffon Pie.  It's my hubby's favorite!

I made simple printed napkin rings and added a little bling

The center of the table features a variety of my favorite Fall items 

I love these two flower arrangements from Trader Joe's

This table cloth is a curtain panel from Target.
I wanted a graphic pattern to set off the white china.

That sweet pumpkin in the center was just baked to make my pies!

A beautiful variety of flowers and colors in this arrangement.

The pumpkin has now been replaced my  little vintage Tom Turkey

The Wedgwood china is my in-laws' wedding china.
It's so pretty and is cherished by us all.   

Do you like the pops of orange?

A simple piece of burlap anchors the center of the table

Lovely Autumn colors

I hope Claudia will be pleased, tee hee!

We are ready for the feast!

Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving.

ciao! Fabiana