tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36155237681309570782024-03-05T11:09:06.552-06:00Stacey Mayer, ArtistSeattle-born artist now living in Texasstaceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-16378091508695589702022-05-12T01:53:00.007-05:002022-10-08T01:13:27.282-05:00Artist Stacey Mayer NFTs on SportCashOne<h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.staceymayer.com" target="_blank">Artist Stacey Mayer Sporting NFTs</a></h3><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/_WrveZ8QF2A" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_WrveZ8QF2A/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Find my NFTs and artworks via <a href="https://pico.link/awhitehorse">https://pico.link/awhitehorse</a></span><br /><br /><b>Several of my NFTs</b> have found new homes since I started to create them at the end of December 2021. It's exciting to share my artwork in a new way, and I'm fortunate to be a member of this international community and work with other NFT artists from around the world.<br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.twitter.com/awhitehorse">Follow me on Twitter</a></b> and discover my new digital collectible artworks as soon as they're created. Each is ready to print from high-quality files. Some NFTs will also include <a href="https://www.awhitehorse.com" target="_blank">original coloring pages</a> with the NFT. It's a great time to share your creative talents with the world.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-11893009555622479392013-04-03T16:31:00.004-05:002022-10-08T00:00:07.868-05:00Seattle Rains Remembered<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</span>My husband, Phil, brought home a memo</b><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from work, the Owner of the company he was employed with was asking for help in the home office during upcoming staff vacations. Was I interested? "If I could work in downtown Seattle again for a couple of weeks, sure!" </span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4806915514636785" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4806915514636785"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Metro bus rolled</b> past many old friends in the dark morning. Even in the rainy dawn, I spot favorite restaurants I visited with friends, many years past. Some of the older buildings are sporting “facelifts”, but I still know them. </span></span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4806915514636785"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My former SeaFirst co-worker's faces</b> come to mind; John, Brigid, Barry, and Wanda; we spent our days researching stock dividends, and processing bond trades, in the trust department. My favorite manager, “P.J.”, is always cheerful with her quick smile.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>We'd barely notice</b> the large "quilt" painting as we passed; there were only a few minutes for lunch. We weren't paid a lot, but we were dedicated employees and worked hard. Today, the painting winks at me through the glass, as the bus accelerates through the traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>There is the Seattle Library fountain</b>, where my dad and mom would read to us when we were children. Sitting together on the sun-warmed concrete bench nearby, they'd read the books chosen from the tall, downtown library stacks. Pigeons would flutter around us, and listen at our feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Later, when I worked</b> at SeaFirst, I'd often cross the street to spend my lunch near the fountain, and the resident pigeons would land near my lunch bag, familiar, and nearly tame.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>As I watch the fountain play</b> through my bus windows' glare, I recall my father, reading to us. My sisters, Martha and Randi are laughing, as we watch our little brother, David, splashing in the fountain. It makes a musical backdrop to dad’s voice. Martha and David, Mom and Dad are gone these many years, victims of a boating accident while I was still in high school at Nathan Hale.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The new Seattle City Library</b> building has moved the fountain to a place in the afternoon sun. As my bus passes by, I feel relieved. The fountain still echoes my family's voices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My feet are tired</b> from tramping up and down the streets. It feels good to walk up the steep sidewalks of University and Pike. My heart is pounding, while a cool Seattle breeze from the waterfront blows my coat open. The seagull’s cry sends me back into decades past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>How could I ever leave Seattle?</b> The horn blasts from the Bremerton ferry, and another memory stirs; pulling a blanket tightly around my siblings, we're on the upper deck, watching the green waters churn into silvery froth behind the stern. Our family would power away from the city, towards the Ozette wilderness, our annual summer destination. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Pike Place Market</b> fishmongers still sing and laugh back and forth. They'd toss a huge salmon to dad, and he could still snatch it out of the air, glistening with freshness. He never missed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My mom's high heels</b>, clicked along the purple glass tiles on the sidewalk, my hand clasped tightly in hers, held above my head, as she'd hurry to catch a bus. Her black hair shone, my strawberry blond curls bouncing on my neck. I tried to make my legs longer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I brought my daughters to view Seattle</b> from the top of the Smith Tower. My oldest child, Shannon, held onto her little sister's stroller, we ride the same elevator I rode with my mother when she showed me the "World’s Fair” city when I was small. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Phil and I would</b> spend a day going to Pioneer Square, grab a streetcar back up Alaskan Way, walk up the stairs to the Market, and catch the Monorail back to the Center. There's still a crowd in front of Pier 54. During childhood visits to Ivar's, he'd personally sing us a song, then ask, “How was dinner tonight?” </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My dad was the organist</b> for the University Congregational Church, and after playing for the Choir’s Christmas Midnight Service, we’d drive downtown to see The Bon Marche's Christmas Star. The streets would be empty, as the Christmas windows played carols for our idling car, full of drowsy children. We’d fall asleep, just before Mom and Dad turned for home.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Today my calves ache as I reach for more files</b> to put away. I haven't done this much speed-walking on Seattle’s forty-five-degree hills for years. The phone rings only occasionally, most everyone in the office is on vacation this week and next.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I think of winter memories from the distant past</b>; mom’s spare change spent on Frango chocolates for each of us. Once she fastened a live, small, bright green anole lizard, from Woolworth's to my coat collar with a red ribbon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each droplet of Seattle rain spills another memory. I snug up my coat, and wrap my scarf around my neck, waiting for the bus. Seagulls circle above, calling after me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My brief holiday season fill-in at the Dexter Avenue office is done</b>. Childhood memories of sitting with my big sister, Una, on the steps of the Seattle Public Library, and later bike trips by ferry to Bainbridge, with college friends, briefly shine through the fog of passing years.</div>
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<i>Seattle memories, held in cement, glass, and water</i>.</div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">My Seattle.</span></div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<a href="http://www.awhitehorse.com/component/content/article/243-because-of-seraphim.html" target="_blank">Stacey Mayer
Webmaster, http://www.awhitehorse.com</a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0Seattle, WA, USA47.6062095 -122.332070847.2636925 -122.9775178 47.9487265 -121.68662379999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-67346399893228200992012-01-26T21:43:00.001-06:002022-10-07T23:58:06.737-05:00Adopted; Reese, the Camano Kitty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Adopting My Camano Kitty</b></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWRSeNACsTgnWK9VrzP003rD0Ftzu97LX6P0K4a-zX_cU01pwfr0rldUGF6Qp5S0FaUqXXa-Rm1NsoBXuuOy0TbUnSmrPiOeJvLtbqb6Dh5vMbdAFWg1ONgc_W4eAd2HZY7rzGfLpbxuO/s320/reese_spot_on_bed4.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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We have a new member</b> of the family. We adopted a seven-year-old orange tabby cat from the great folks at the <a href="http://www.camanoanimalshelter.com/" target="_blank">Camano Island Shelter,</a> in mid - December 2012. We're glad to share Reese's story with everyone. He's an interesting,
thoughtful cat. Very respectful, and he doesn't take anything for granted.
He gets along with our other cats well, even eating right
beside them. It was as if they knew Reese was coming!<br />
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Reese was brought</b> into the <a href="http://www.camanoanimalshelter.com/" target="_blank">Camano Island Shelter</a> in late summer, and since he was a
stray, he has no known history or habits to share. He was tentative at first; loud
noises or play would startle him. He watched us a lot. We gave him some
space; meaning, we'd "moosh" our faces into his soft belly, at least five or
six times a day, although we wanted to kiss him much more. <br />
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We would pet him</b> when he was comfortable, in a spot of his own
choosing. Soon, we found him sitting on the couch right by my husband,
Phil, every evening. When our adult daughters sat down, he'd sit beside
them, and was glad to be petted, but when their Dad came home, he'd end
up on his chest, face to face. Dad was grinning broadly at having his
"own kitty".<br />
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As Reese expressed</b> his preference for Dad more, we noticed he was
now walking down the hall ahead of us at bedtime, as soon as "his
person" had turned off the computer, or TV. He was watching and
learning. Smart cat. <br />
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One day, he was</b> on the end of our bed, "his spot", early Sunday
morning. Phil returned from the kitchen with a bowl of milk and cereal.
Quickly, Reese walked up to Phil's chest, begging for the milk within
seconds. Well, there's a reaction! We'd tried to feed him treats before,
but he'd even ignored salmon skins. The milk in the cereal bowl! That
was just what he wanted. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ_-rPR9Rh4/TyIcTvvLlSI/AAAAhttp://www.camanoanimalshelter.com/01_adopt.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiLOcChG9RPF7zu6IML5hWqwij90EL_7HsGuO2ajyyWFYls8Qi_SUht0OstAPy2KYx19e1x2iEFKsF0t3vu3y-jmsrKX9GmPDnH-CRDZOygB2IfD_nTm7mRxFqM-ck0-GNyRSWX5fEleG/s320/reese_milk4.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>He's responding</b> to words now, like "milk", and calling, "Reese, big kitty",
earns a quick flick of the ear. "Mooshing" his plush, apricot/white tummy, and
telling him how beautiful he is, inspires great purring. <br /><br /><b>We're delighted</b>
to discover his devotion to my husband, Phil. Reese was ready to
choose his forever person, and watching the trust grow between them is
wonderful. <br /><br /><b>He accepts our </b>cuddling and "kissing" by pointing his nose
high in the air, so we may scratch his chin, first. He is generously
loved by all of us and gives it back easily.<br />
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Thank you</b>, <a href="http://www.camanoanimalshelter.com/" target="_blank">Camano Shelter</a>, for helping us find our wonderful Reese. See the <a href="http://www.camanoanimalshelter.com/01_adopt.html" target="_blank">CASA website</a> to find your forever friend, or call, <span class="style2">360.387.1902.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0198 N Can Ku Rd, Camano Island, WA 98282, USA48.2110502 -122.482105248.2084047 -122.48704070000001 48.2136957 -122.4771697tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-90169402931603636592010-07-08T13:59:00.006-05:002022-10-07T23:05:46.416-05:00Memorial: Birthday of Martha JuliRae Rank<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="zemanta-img-attribution" sizcache="8" sizset="1" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b>The sun has finally</b> arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and families are crowding the local </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ozette Lake, Clallam County, Washington</td></tr>
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Washington beaches and waterways. I listen to the news of recent swimming accidents, and I remember losing my family on the water during an especially beautiful summer.<br />
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My little sister</b>, Martha JulieRay Rank would have been 59 years old this <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Independence Day (United States)">Fourth of July</a>, 2022. She drowned at the tender age of 10, at </span><a href="http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/lake-ozette.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Ozette Lake, Clallam County</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> on July 11, 1973, with my family; Dad, Robert Ray Rank, (44,) Mom, Joyce Merilyn (Black) Rank, (44), and brother, David Alan Rank, (8). <i>She, and my Dad, were never found. </i><br /><br /><b>As the 50th anniversary</b> of their passing nears, I remember them with fondness and sadness. I wasn't able to share their lives into my own adulthood or with my four daughters. They lost a set of grandparents, aunts and an uncle I know my daughters would have treasured.<br />
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Cold water drownings</b> are a fact in the Pacific Northwest. The outdoor temperature may have quickly risen past 85, but </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Snohomish County</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> lakes, rivers, and streams of Washington State are still quite cold. Every time I hear news of another family's possible loss, it brings my family's accident back as if it was yesterday. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia" rel="wikipedia" title="Hypothermia">Hypothermia</a> is an equal opportunity killer. <br /><br /><b>Sure, sometimes the victim</b> is brought back with fast medical intervention; but not always. I listen to the radio and hope that at least today's news feature family will be able to find their lost loved one. With the lakes so cold, and the waters traveling fast on the rivers, it's often difficult to find the body. It's bad enough they are gone, but to never find your loved one, is a special kind of sadness.<br />
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When you visit</b> one of our wonderful parks or recreation area, please take care. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Read up on where you're going, and scope out what others had to say about the location</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. Be aware the water is always colder than your body can handle, past a certain point. Hike, swim, and visit parks and wilderness areas as a group. Wear a simple whistle. Leave a note in your car, telling everyone where you're going. Keep your cell phone charged, even if it's left in the car. <br /><br /><b>But more important</b> than anything else; be prepared with a short talk before you go. Discuss your family's preparations. <i>Let your family know that you love them.</i><br />
<br /><b>
Please make a will</b> before you go on an extended vacation; just write it into your travel budget. Our family died intestate, (no will,) and with my father's body never found, adopted and step-children left behind, plus a few properties, the lasting legal mess was *awful*. <br /><br /><b>Consider taking an hour</b> or two with a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">trusted legal adviser</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, to make sure you <i>never</i> leave your family in that position. Leave them tangible proof of your enduring love and concern. You'll sleep better, knowing this all-important detail is settled.<br />
<br /><b>
Enjoy our overdue</b> summer sun, but remember; that because our local cold waters are so beautiful, they can sometimes cause tragedy even when used with respect.<br />
<br /><b>
I'll be thinking of you out there.</b><br />
<br /><a href="https://www.staceymayer.com" target="_blank">Stacey Mayer</a><br />
<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Update: June 2012 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">An
internet miracle! Readers have contacted me about their past
connection to Martha, and my Rank family. Two of Martha's classmates
from Sacajawea Elementary, Seattle, WA, and two of my Dad's music
students called or emailed to share their memories, and memorabilia. I'm so grateful! This reaches back in time thirty-seven to fifty years, connecting me with
those who knew and loved my lost family members. Thank you for
your contact. <a href="http://www.awhitehorse.com/" target="_blank">Emails are welcome</a>. <br /><br />More about Stacey's art and family - <br /></span></span><br /><a href="http://ABeautifulHorse.com">ABeautifulHorse.com</a> - Stacey Mayer NFTs<br /><a href="http://AWhiteHorse.com">AWhiteHorse.com</a> - Online Coloring Books<br /><a href="http://AWhiteHorse.net">AWhiteHorse.net</a> - Local Brazos County<br /><a href="https://StaceyMayer.com" target="_blank">StaceyMayer.com</a> - My Artwork & Family</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><a href="http://www.lawfirms.com/lawyers/james-t-hendry-pllc/james-hendry"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></a></b><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com118637 Hoko-ozette Rd, CLALLAM BAY, WA 98326, USA48.128532088233911 -124.6314382553100648.127207088233909 -124.63390575531005 48.129857088233912 -124.62897075531006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-34191717936353242522010-07-04T03:06:00.013-05:002022-10-08T01:08:42.703-05:00Darrington; Gateway to the North Cascades<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYzLiEDuV0v_qUB8dg4yp5h-sS-D1RKhXtxlVQaa0lfb0eA39UVKMDZyznWrPTxOORHQGRCO5DFNMUqLIsNVt_QtGy0tG-wvBHpueQ0TnoR9Okn1z7TdxupuD5DgRVChR4M9r42KlXUyn/s1600/steelheadmug_150x150_Front.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b style="text-align: left;"></b></a><h3><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.arlingtondarrington.com" target="_blank">A Trip to ArlingtonDarrington.com</a></b></h3><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3-uPSE4MtchhcS7dMcB3W1kylKU4QGn2j_r_I8DGvzFaZI-Qtk2Z56iRTLk1bBsNBXEg2qPi2yczOFhx2mlXxKTHMBS3SRKfEDW9v6056dcuy2AsOaxFkqwg45U7jwi-cQoheZqXHGNb5RBYPzXQlC4iE1e8P5gPBJExg6OKWc7nRpImA4UP1-wh/s649/awhitehorse_cafepress.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Darrington from Old School Park" border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3-uPSE4MtchhcS7dMcB3W1kylKU4QGn2j_r_I8DGvzFaZI-Qtk2Z56iRTLk1bBsNBXEg2qPi2yczOFhx2mlXxKTHMBS3SRKfEDW9v6056dcuy2AsOaxFkqwg45U7jwi-cQoheZqXHGNb5RBYPzXQlC4iE1e8P5gPBJExg6OKWc7nRpImA4UP1-wh/s16000/awhitehorse_cafepress.png" title="White Horse MT from Old School Park Copyright Stacey Mayer" /></a></div><b>Darrington, Washington</b> is home to the beautiful White Horse Mountain, rising 6,850
ft (2,088 m). Rising dramatically from the valley floor, this
glacier-rimmed mountain features brilliant waterfalls, wildflowers, and
abundant wildlife. <br /><br /><b>Darrington's valley</b> is a favorite hiker's and
photographer's weekend destination just northeast of the
Seattle-Everett metro area on Washington State's SR-530, along the north
fork of the Stillaguamish River. It's right in the center of one of
Snohomish County's most beautiful scenic drives, the Mountain Loop Highway.<br /><br /><b>From
incredible</b> scenery to down-home culture, Darrington is a unique
community. Growing from their "Tar Heel" heritage, one of the best parts
of the town of Darrington is the many Grandparents that live near their
grandchildren. They may even be the "golden" ingredient of Darrington.<br /><br /><b>After
any typical</b> school day, it's just as common to see Grandparents pick up
the kids, as parents. Very few children are without extended Darrington
and Sauk-Suiattle Tribe and family members to come and take them home.<br /><br /><b>Since
my own</b> grandparents had all passed on by the time I was 20 years old, I wasn't
blessed with many years to learn from mine. Oddly enough, the Mayers,
Blacks, Hamblins, Greens, Shanahans, Brooks, and several other dear family
names from Darrington all appear in my close-in family ancestry, too.<br /><br /><b>What
are the odds?</b> My own little Shannon, with her pale curly red hair, and fair skin, looked so much like Mrs. Shanahan's family, that she stopped
us in front of her garden gate one morning to remark upon it. That day,
I didn't know the lady's last name.<br /><br /><b>A few weeks later</b>, we were
able to share amazement over my original grandmother's maiden name was the same as hers, "Shanahan", from Minnesota. This was how my daughter was given
her Christian name. Shared roots! Two faces; one eight, and
one in her eighties, smiled at each other - like mirrors. Same nose.
Same proportions. Same Irish eyes. They just knew.<br /><br /><b>Darrington's
active Grandparents</b> volunteer at the churches, put on monthly lunches
that are the envy of the entire west coast, and after they come to
school and pick up their grandkids, spend hours at the library, help
plan local events, and create endless canned goods and perfection
challenging quilts. Darrington's grandparents take the time to listen
and spend time with their extended family.<br /><br /><b>Grandparents teach</b> their
children how to tie flies, pick beans, and piece quilts. Grandparents
gather blueberries and make jams and jellies with their kids and
grandkids. Cousins are around every corner, and so's the plentiful good food.<br /><br /><b>Parents
work hard</b> at the mill, the schools, or local businesses. Most families
are working near the valley, in the hills, or down below. The families
stay close as long as they can; by choice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZM5tu7aQD_gvVEvLDHKRKScolEHC_uU8Ra1y9TSds2eELai0BCNVqxHP7JD118Wd3zsl3XbQJJhXxIlbvzgKTyyelPQt6EJhdDvupRWHrP2jLrvNEUMPLN_7x_dEjiDIiMjTQtBBz62TU0QaJrn5F3uoZ9muTKVVKlCblMCLtzp3Wz_yqZvDixfl/s1214/20140531_130227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1214" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZM5tu7aQD_gvVEvLDHKRKScolEHC_uU8Ra1y9TSds2eELai0BCNVqxHP7JD118Wd3zsl3XbQJJhXxIlbvzgKTyyelPQt6EJhdDvupRWHrP2jLrvNEUMPLN_7x_dEjiDIiMjTQtBBz62TU0QaJrn5F3uoZ9muTKVVKlCblMCLtzp3Wz_yqZvDixfl/s320/20140531_130227.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><b>When you have</b> an
opportunity to live or visit the small community situated in the shadow of White Horse Mountain, do it. There
is a"golden tradition" living in the town of Darrington. Their love of family, Bluegrass music, and the true, "do unto others" attitude, will touch your life
forever. <br /><br /><b>It'll be just as easy</b> as catching wild steelhead in the
Stillaguamish River but will last in your belly and your heart a lot
longer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-30377973222941311342010-05-09T01:04:00.003-05:002022-10-08T00:47:30.284-05:00Happy Mother's Day 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZp0tYC6KXTBuEIOuU7m8oS0IPgYN8VYHfgW-dNGijDVhKfS3F0Uu67aj9LJ7GF4rSj0PGzVFvjNOaMzNnmByJWIGWDm6ePy23O7nnoe9udKQVyPNd-xLXsUJHdTX0aHZUwqpMv-DePUR_KL5ajTp58kFFf3UA_aoynyI3uKbOZH8hNANdmbp3n4m/s576/2010-04-18_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="May's Rhododendrons" border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZp0tYC6KXTBuEIOuU7m8oS0IPgYN8VYHfgW-dNGijDVhKfS3F0Uu67aj9LJ7GF4rSj0PGzVFvjNOaMzNnmByJWIGWDm6ePy23O7nnoe9udKQVyPNd-xLXsUJHdTX0aHZUwqpMv-DePUR_KL5ajTp58kFFf3UA_aoynyI3uKbOZH8hNANdmbp3n4m/w300-h400/2010-04-18_8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>Family Day at the Horse Show</b></span></h3><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>We're going to help</b> at the Mother's Day Fund Raiser at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">PeopleHelpingHorses.org</span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> in <a href="https://www.arlingtondarrington.com" target="_blank">Arlington, WA</a> for the day. There are some marvelous people involved in this organization, and we're happy to support their great cause.</span></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br /><b>We met several</b> wonderful horse owners and admirers from the Pilchuck Tree Farm area at the March show, and you can read more about what we're up to on the pages of </span><a href="http://awhitehorse.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">AWhiteHorse.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>We'll bring our</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> booth display, as Phil and Shannon are making chocolate cupcakes, orange cupcakes, mini chocolate truffle tartlets, and truffle-topped brownies to bring and offer as additional fundraisers. We've pulled out the stops to help make a few extra dollars for the horses.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>To keep in touch</b> with what we're up to, see the main page at </span><a href="http://awhitehorse.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">AWhiteHorse.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> and be sure to download our new cell phone app, "AWhiteHorse", from the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Android Market</span><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">.<br /><br /><b>Currently, you'll find </b>us volunteering for the <a href="https://www.BVHorseShows.org">BVHorseShows.org</a> in Bryan, Texas. Bring your family and some lawn chairs and enjoy the day with us.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-81704607326219078792009-10-21T05:01:00.001-05:002022-10-08T00:18:25.796-05:00Halloween Past<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPY-LVlW_4RBXh1Dpuv0-leh8x18ntRpLwbHFL5s3EZtkEKl_6SGenFPbytXuiN2uT4SzRFnDRgGkNfSPqrVZoPn5vNpaMG3Oazf8iCRkK7XK5WeHibX6-F5J24Klo3CAebnMx_dBh3Sr/s1600-h/mykids2~5.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPY-LVlW_4RBXh1Dpuv0-leh8x18ntRpLwbHFL5s3EZtkEKl_6SGenFPbytXuiN2uT4SzRFnDRgGkNfSPqrVZoPn5vNpaMG3Oazf8iCRkK7XK5WeHibX6-F5J24Klo3CAebnMx_dBh3Sr/s200/mykids2~5.JPG" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Autumn at Country Village</b></h3><b><br />I was cleaning</b> up my AWH hard drive, and what did I find? Dozens of great Mayer family pictures I thought had been lost. <br /><br /><b>Here is one of the best</b>; all my girls at Country Village in Bothell, WA, some years ago. I will ask them and we'll try to figure out exactly what year it was. <br /><br /><b>Country Village of Bothell</b> was one of the girl's favorite destinations. The best outings always included Charleene, too!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-80718753922002400102009-10-20T18:05:00.002-05:002022-10-08T00:21:01.489-05:00Family Time with Frannie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Shopping with Frannie</span></h3><span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><br /><b>My dark red-headed</b> daughter, Francesca, has come over to visit! Yippee! Now that we live in town, we don't get to see our beloved daughter enough. <br /><br /><b>The house filled</b> with laughter, as all of us, listened to her current stories. Our four daughters are unusually close to each other, and when one of them is away from us for any length of time, she's truly missed.<br /><br /><b>We spent a wonderful day</b> together, catching up with our extended family's news, shopping for birthdays, and planning menus for the holidays. <br /><br /><b>We can't wait till</b> we are all together again!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.comEverett, WA, USA47.9789848 -122.202079447.8089198 -122.5179364 48.1490498 -121.88622240000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-46340485500249633082009-10-19T14:32:00.083-05:002022-10-07T22:58:41.926-05:00Collaborating with Lorraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2><a href="https://www.snohomish-homes.com" target="_blank">Snohomish County Real Estate Guide</a></h2></div><img alt="White Horse Mountain" border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFOuxc1E9CPTSvpumMJ3aW7mPruDklvJmY9rjyMOYnnIdz100jLvmkuukrMx3T38kYR683gALv1Qe67rKmPKz_dKntSyF24J9J84O3UMCDOWNRKWlodLz4LdWjoDE9vDt-eWqDUTMuq8D/w400-h286/whitehorsessm15.jpg" title="White Horse Mountain 6840 ft" width="400" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>I have enjoyed editing</b> my local real estate guide, <a href="https://www.snohomish-homes.com/">Snohomish-Homes.com™</a> </span>with a dear friend of mine, Lorraine Smith, over the years. Lorraine spent several years representing primarily equine properties of King, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties, of Washington State.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /><b>Lorraine and I</b> both attended "Bellingham RainCamp", a workshop presented by the <a href="https://www.activerain.com/">ActiveRain.com</a> network in 2009. It was a high-quality, intense learning experience we enthusiastically recommend to real estate agents and professionals. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.ActiveRain.com" target="_blank">ActiveRain.com</a>, a Keller-Williams</b> platform for real estate bloggers, enables you to share original blogs and invaluable information in an easy-to-follow format, to help you achieve your property sales goals with less stress and duplication of effort.<br /><br /><b>You'll read blogs</b> from other agents from across the United States, and you'll be able to search through their extensive collection of helpful topics to find other bloggers to follow and learn from.<br /><br /><b>I've enjoyed being</b> a part of <a href="http://ActiveRain.com">ActiveRain.com</a> over the years, and I continue to learn invaluable things from their collection of friendly real estate professionals.<br /><br /><b>Lorraine and I</b> have now relocated to Texas, but we still enjoy sharing stories and photographs from our lifetimes spent in the Pacific Northwest. We both enjoy posting to her new gardening site, <a href="http://DreamscapeFarms.com">DreamscapeFarms.com</a>™.<br /><br /><i>Check it out!</i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-74944907153654644982009-10-05T15:50:00.001-05:002022-10-08T00:12:02.958-05:00Shannon's Birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-SRPufAcT7jRcAxtnS6qcc9NS7PLyz3m9kky42KXWFHbt2uVOCx5MNCJJqQhTOpIe45MSx_Bnt27IAUEObHr-vRmcTkZq55bU1Uv0fY5yD_eVo4CQRanxQPP5eXiAj3c0mO5mYr2DE_k/s1600-h/2009-08-21+15.22.00.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-SRPufAcT7jRcAxtnS6qcc9NS7PLyz3m9kky42KXWFHbt2uVOCx5MNCJJqQhTOpIe45MSx_Bnt27IAUEObHr-vRmcTkZq55bU1Uv0fY5yD_eVo4CQRanxQPP5eXiAj3c0mO5mYr2DE_k/s320/2009-08-21+15.22.00.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>An Ozette October</b></h3><b>It was LDS Semi-Annual Conference</b> yesterday, and our daughters all came together to celebrate Shannon's 28th Birthday. She's a wonderful big sister and we love her dearly. <br /><br /><b>Cassandra and Dave</b> drove up, (they now live in Olympia,) and Francesca came from Marysville, too. <br /><br /><b>We laughed together</b> a lot and looked at our family pictures posted on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/awhitehorse/">Flicker</a>, and videos on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/ssmayer">YouTube</a> from our Ozette Lake weekend.<br />
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The Ozette wood pile</b> is now called, "Josh's Wood Pile", in loving memory of Joshua Stroud, December 12, 1986 - April 24, 2011. We pray this sweet young man may rest in peace until we see each other again.<br /><br /><b>Josh spent a whole day</b> chopping wood for the cabin and so enjoyed it. He also went fishing with Jory, paddling the canoe all over, and they caught a bunch of Northern Pike Minnows. We'll treasure our fond memories of him.<br />
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It was wonderful</b> to have everyone together for a few hours Sunday. As the girls grow older, we treasure our time together. I usually have Sunday off, and we do our best to do something together as a family.<br />
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Kathleen is already lobbying</b> for another trip to Ozette soon. She's also hoping we can go during a big rain and wind storm. Amazing. <br /><br /><b>When I was young</b>, we used to go up to the lake every school holiday, even in winter, and so she's grown up hearing about the exciting storms up at the Lake. She wants to hike the trail to <a href="http://www.kaleberg.com/portangeles/alava/index.html">Cape Alava and Sand Point</a>. She's definitely a die-hard camper!<br />
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Dad has the last half</b> of his Scouting's Wood Badge training session coming up this weekend. My girls laugh at some of the feeble fire-starting attempts they've watched on "Survivor". These girls are great campers and can easily start a fire, or make a campfire meal, without any trouble. <br /><br /><b>They may wear pink</b>, paint with pink, or even choose it as a favorite color, but they never, "act pink". You say "tent", and they start packing.<br /><br /><b>We'll all meet again someday</b> on the shores of Ozette. We still have campfires to light, storms to watch, and more stories to tell.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615523768130957078.post-60363351819392485302009-09-22T21:10:00.002-05:002022-10-08T00:15:03.081-05:00Working Towards Wood Badge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8weD9CnJUByv4oXRLNgvlkZcc3fllf7wtWkeXBoEcPTv48td4oeOA-PcOqEyByaZT2oxTTos-WDhRu3D75L7nsSE9wKg-tKT5WMFwQ5BVcfxN1rHZ_kRLJ7rUneIYcgHTaHs0F_YupqhK/s1600-h/1philonoldspruce.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8weD9CnJUByv4oXRLNgvlkZcc3fllf7wtWkeXBoEcPTv48td4oeOA-PcOqEyByaZT2oxTTos-WDhRu3D75L7nsSE9wKg-tKT5WMFwQ5BVcfxN1rHZ_kRLJ7rUneIYcgHTaHs0F_YupqhK/s320/1philonoldspruce.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Our Thirty-Third Anniversary</b></h3><b>My husband, Phil</b>, has been gone for a few days working on the first part of his <i>BSA Wood Badge</i>. This is something he's looked forward to for many years. <br /><br /><b>Even though</b> it fell on our thirty-third anniversary, I was happy to have him participate in this important training. He has come home full of good stories, and with a sparkle in his eye. <br /><br /><b>We look forward</b> to sharing his pictures.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Stacey is the webmaster and artist of www.awhitehorse.com, the free online coloring book site. Her contemporary art site is www.staceymayer.com</div>staceymayerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14800123413017558860noreply@blogger.com0