May Held More than Meets the Eye

May held a choir performance at the University of Portland. She sang her heart out.

 There was a lovely trip to the sea to soak up some Sunday sun.

There was a Mother's Day Safe Families hosting for two young brothers,

and we continue to ponder what we are growing in our garden, and upon the hilltop we call home.

May is birthday month around here for many people we love!

He even got Baked Alaska this year!

And there was a little Salt and Straw after visiting the Land Rover Research and Development Facility in Portland recently.

There's not much to say about the R & D: they hid all the fun stuff. However, they were gracious to host a group of us for dinner, a chat, a tour, and driving the simulator- which is all the kids wanted to do anyway! The kids are counting this as the STEM event of the month.

We were blessed to spend this past weekend over at Smith Rocks - with what I think may well have been the rest of Oregon  romping around!

That's been our May. Mostly.

I've been working through an American Literature course which I'm finding fascinating.

Now, if we could just finish up one student's hybrid home schooling and another's classroom studies. Grammar be gone! Summer arrive!

I'm writing as I have time, and was a finalist here: NW Perspectives Essay. Must get my act in gear and get back to Thomas Nuttall's story.

The articles below have asked a lot of questions of me as we try and engage in our community.  Safe Families and school situations in town are ever reminding me we need to offer and receive constructive dialogue. We must find a way to and through conversations that speak love and leave room for many to experience solutions for their needs.

Nicholas Kristof: The Liberal Blind Spot  We could all use to hear what he has to say.

Marijuana and the increase in fatal road crashes: not a coincidence. There's de-criminalization, and then there's what we have done in Oregon and WA and now must live with. Let's be clear: we are not dealing with the pot of the 60's. We are dealing with something that is more akin to heroin.

The THC content is very high in today's pot. Oregon grows some of the highest THC content in the nation, and the new extraction process is dangerous and scary. We must educate parents and kids today about what they are facing.

This recent New York Times article on Dabbing is an important read. After taking a recent drug and alcohol class, my eyes have been opened. I'm seeing the merchandise, branding, and advertising for this stuff everywhere in Oregon. 

Let us live wisely in our times, and let us live with love.

New summer adventures await!

Blessings,
Kim

Wordless Wednesday, Well Not Really

     We are up to our ears in school, soccer, art, FLL robotics, and now chemistry classes, but as October passes, the fall schedule shall settle down. Right now, we are soaking up warm fall days and lots of learning.

   I'm writing, but not here much. A lovely writer friend deposited a book in my hand about Thomas Nuttall that I'm delving into. I'm grateful for this hard to obtain reference book on his life. I've no more excuses for procrastination station!

    Pictures are from Smith Rocks while on a less than 24 hour birthday bash adventure. I managed to get myself up Misery Ridge on Sunday morning; it's been a while. Monday was great, but Tuesday I felt the burn and ache!

  Oh! I must share. I have a new favorite CD by The von Trapps! We were blessed to catch them in a free concert last Friday in Portland before chemistry class, and then a sister-in-law's delicious dinner under the stars.

   Love their stuff! Yes, they are related to those Von Trapps!