Artists, Somehow They Keep Showing Up and I Know Not From Where They Have Come

The gkids spent the weekend with us and it coincided with a Tacoma visit of Barb's favorite children's  author, Eric Carle.  Saturday, Barb and Jane, age 5, coordinated to produce a piece representative of the art in Carle's book, 10 Little Rubber Ducks.  Barb had used Carle's art techniques in her kindergarten classes and Jane readily jumped into the medium.  Sunday afternoon, after church, Barb and Jane stood in line for over an hour at the Tacoma Art Museum to meet Carle.  On approaching his table Jane handed Carle her artwork.  Carle responded to Jane, "Do you want me to keep this, or do you want this back."  Jane was ready to give it to him but Carle  offered to give it back.  Carle responded, "Well, this piece deserves an A+."  He then applied the A+, he signed it, and returned it to Jane.  A family heirloom created...

Saturday afternoon with GrandB creating the artwork.

The finished product from 10 Little Rubber Ducks



Waiting in line to meet the author

Jane hands her artwork to Eric Carle.

The signed product



After a long respite...

Wow.  It has been a while since I have blogged.  So let me try to make it up one chapter at a time.

The Aune Christmas here was mid January.  All were healthy and we had 4 days of sharing, love, and a Seattle vs Atlanta (Ben and Penny) playoff game.

Jensen wanted Uncle Ben to know that Jensen was in "Beast Mode".

Ben and the boys reading books.

It has been a good year.....apparently.

The first hat for the "first".

Jane, as the only "grand" daughter usually gets some really grand clothes from Ben and Penny.

Jane and Penny love games.

Seahawks score.  Can we win vs Atlanta?

Mexican train after the game.

The next eve at Kari's and Eric's.

Girl time.  Early morning after sleepover, Jane combing Penny's hair.

It was truly a different atmosphere to meet mid January but it afforded family, time, experience and wonderful memories.  Thus it exhibited the traits of Christmas.

Aune Grandchild 4

Kari and Eric are due on June 20.  We are so excited with the news and equally excited that Kari feels so healthy as she glows with the blessing growing inside her.

Kari and Eric informing Ben and Penny via Facetime...showing them the ultrasound from five weeks ago.

To inform Nathan, Cailyn and kids, Kari and Eric had made a puzzle of the ultrasound.

Jane was quite taken back, not sure how to react after she had put the puzzle together.

Tragedy

I am so moved by the events in Connecticut that I feel I must respond.  This blog is normally the reporting of family history and experiences .  As a retired elementary principal who loved his job and the adults and children that I was privileged to work with, I am devastated by sporadic gun violence in our society.    I own two guns and enjoyed hunting until my ankles made it difficult for me to walk.  One is a  12 gauge shotgun designed for hunting upland birds.  It can carry up to 3 shells.  The other is a 22 rifle which carries one shell and is designed for killing varmints, squirrels, rats, etc....

I have never understood  the power needs of one who feels he must own a "people killer".  Guns and ammunition, designed for military and law enforcement, are now available to the public since 2004 and the sales have been astronomical, especially since the election of President Obama.  The yearning for vicarious power and authority, implicit in the design and intention of the assault weapons, has reached fever pitch in some segments of our society.  The secondary result, as demonstrated in Sandy Hook, is that one maladjusted or disgruntled person can access weapons, some which can spend in excess of 100 rounds before reloading and can be fired as fast as one can  move his finger.   That person can enter very vulnerable settings such as shopping malls and schools to inflict incredible carnage.

I applaud Sen Manchin, Democrat from West Virginia who spoke out today for a ban on assault weapons.  Much can be said, but more must be done.  The NRA, right wing talk radio and TV, and extreme elements of the Republican party have defended assault weapon ownership as  a second amendment right.   Yes, I believe in the second amendment but I am a stronger believer in the first commandment.  When one straps on the elements of what he sees as power, then goes out to play god, then, as a society, we must step up and work to change our culture.

Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure;  nothing more bondage than too much liberty.
 Benjamin Franklin

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power.  James Madison

Celebrated Tradition

Each year Barb organizes a lefsa baking activity and the process has changed over the decades.  Now it involves Kari and Cailyn (both of whom have brought their own flair to the event) and granddaughter Jane, who will hopefully carry forth the tradition.   Jensen added his own "flair" to the process, one which his development oriented retired kindergarten-teacher-grandmother described as a "tactile (kinesthetic) experience."

They actually have two griddles baking.

The taste test.

 Jane loves to help GramB and mom cook, especially baking.

It has been a fun day.

Jensen awakes from his nap and brings his cars to the table.

When the baking is completed, Jensen takes over the left over flour.

Jane begins to form a snow landscape.

Jensen sat there for close to an hour, moving the "snowbanks" and plowing roads.

Time

Kari and Eric picked us up at the airport at 9:30 a.m.  We flew all night and I hardly slept.  Part of it was the confined quarters of the airplane seat but most of it was the flood of memories that kept replaying in my mind.  We had two weeks in Maui and we can use the typical response, "We had a wonderful time."

Time.  What a precious commodity.  How do we spend it?  I watched parts of two football games after we arrived home today.  How valuable was that time spent?  I took a long nap.  That time was very valuable.

Vacations can be a lot of work, risk, and expense.  Especially given the large group we had, differences in plans, schedules, interests, and attitudes can cause some friction.  But the element of time and the experiences that fill that time can be very rewarding and endearing.

Time

Time to explore the high ways

and the by ways.

Time to dine out alone

and dine out together.

Time to watch the sunset

or take a sunset swim.

Time to stand in line

and meet interesting people.  Ann and Bryce grew up in Liverpool England and John Lennon was a classmate of Bryce's.

Time for reading

or gazing at unique flowers

or animals.

Time for cousins,

sisters,

and son and dad.

Time to play freely

or play by the rules

or to make a big splash.

Time to learn from dad

or learn from others.

Time to try new things.

Time to do things together.

Time to gather

and time for Jane to take a picture of Jensen with GramB's camera.

Time.   Fun.

Last Night in Maui

Since the winds were light, we headed to the north part of the island again.  The views were spectacular.  We ended up back at Kapalua Bay and spend the p.m. snorkeling and hanging out on the beach.  Barb had scheduled a special dinner for us on our last night here.   Dukes is situated right on the beach and the food and setting were magnificent.

On the north coast near Honokohau

Above Honolua Bay

Our table at Duke's as the sun was setting.

The sunset from our table,

We leave tomorrow but not until late.  We try to schedule late flights as we get another day at our destination.