Karen and ice cream scooping!

Last night after a beautiful musical vespers, I had the honor (duty) of scooping ice cream for the longest line of people--I wish you could have seen it! Ice cream stained clothes-exhausted and sore! Good thing I can't eat much of that stuff! I'll post a picture when I do it again on Saturday!

Night!


Karen

Music peope and the most awesome dishteam ever!

Happy Tuesday! Fun day! The weather is hot, our children were funny, and I had my very first dish duty today! We had veggie lasagna and got to clean every dish in the village! 2 long and hot hours in the dish room! If you know me, you would be proud! I even got a bunch of water poured over my head-the 4-6 year olds loved it They grinned at me all day when they saw me! :)

Dish duty: thank you Joan for making a yukki job fun! We sang songs and were silly and totally exhausted! Then on to vespers! I continue to meet a ton of people and every one is so kind and nice! It is sadder every day to see people

Young children, hot weather, hard work!

Whew! It is hot and humid here at Holden this week! An air conditioned room, (or even one with a fan!) sound heavenly! Thankfully it cools down at night so we all sleep well!

Narnia ha18 4-6 year olds today! Where do they get their energy? I'm tired! We hiked to the hobbit house in the woods. It is literally a tree trunk carved into a house. Really well done! Still getting to play for worship and have been singing in the choir! A retired St. Olaf prof is directing and he is marvelous. I've learned so much about vocal music and technique this past week! Jane Lien from Central Lutheran in Minneapolis is the other musician and brings great variety to worship! Last night we had a global worship eucharist service. It was packed!

The food is great we had an excellent veggie stir fry tonight --yum! I miss you all!
Take care!

Karen

Narnia-Day 1

Narnia-

At Holden that means children's programming for kids from age 0-10. Today I got to be with the 4-6 year olds. I have not been this tired in a long time! We went on a 2 mile hike to the field and did art projects, played, read a story, and the things one does with a big group of young kids! They have soooo much energy! Needless to say I'm bonetired!

I played flute last night and will play again tomorrow night for the Holden Service. It was fun to add something to worship! Next week I'll get to do some clarinet!

The sheer beauty of Holden is magical. I've never been in the mountains like this. It is very remote yet, there are people around all the time! I've met so many people and all of them are friendly and interesting! The sense of community here is solid and the real life families I've seen are outstanding!
Every child I've met is polite and sweet and wonderful! It gives me hope to see so many like this. Holden is not very diverse, I haven't seen this many blond, blue eyed children since Luther! Many do come from Minnesota!

The weekend will be relaxing and then Monday it's on to real life Holden with garbology, ice cream scooping, and dishes! Hard work! Yet, I love it here! Take care all!


Karen

I MADE IT!!!! FINALLY!

HELLO! I made it! I kept thinking it couldn't get better! It did! As tired (exhausted) and hot and tired as I was yesterday-I couldn't stop to rest!

The boat ride:

I had checked out pictures and was amazed at the beauty of the Lake Chelan area! It kept changing every step of the journey. Every person met was friendly and genuine! The scenery...there's nothing to say but --WOW. I sat back on the back of the boat and simply watched for a long time. I stayed out almost the entire boat ride....I couldn't keep my eyes off the scenery! It's really overwhelming...then again,,,I could have been really tired, but it kept me going!

We stopped at our Landing , Lucern, and Honey, the yellow school bus was waiting for us!
They loaded our luggage and loaded us up and we drove for 45 minutes through steep and beautiful switchbacks up to Holden Village. Then, in the clearing ahead, there it is...Holden Village. They stpped the bus to give us a chance to hear the important things about this area....forest fire, safe hiking, etc....then we drove forward to a large group of people excited for our arrival.....it was great to know Linda from Luther and I picked out Maren right away, because she had a welcome sign for me! It turns out that we are roomates! Awesome! Maren is considerate, kind, funny and I'm looking forward to getting to know her better!

Lunch was very simple, brown rice, yet, it was filling! They send the proceeds out once a week to some hunger organization. Then it was orientation and volunteer meeting. Very helpful and again, everyone is so kind and takes time to say hello!

Railroad Creek is right by here so I went exploring and wadeing...the water is really cold and was so wonderful after such a hot day! Last night was a spinach dish-I didn't think I qould like it-it was awesome! Again, very filling!

They end the day with Vespers and it was quite good even though I was falling asleep! Last night , I went to bed around nine and woke up at 7:30 am! Think I was a little tired??

I'm so thankful to be here! I really love this place! I feel like I m at camp with awesome people! I start Narnia Friday because today is a special Jubilee Celebration! It should be fun and interesting! Take care!

Karen

Majestic, beautiful...indescribable scenery

Are you familiar with the hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth? Today was a day that enchanted me with the natural beauty of our world! After sending much of today in Seattle, I took the Amtrak Empire and we traveled right next to Puget Sound for about 45 minutes! I could see the Olympic mountains, the beginnings of the San Juan Islands and water. How can a picture ever do justice to such amazing sights? It simply can not.

Oh, wait, after the Puget Sound area we begin to go to the Cascades...this is my backyard for the whole summer! I've never been to a big mountain before and I was mesmerized for the entire train ride! I wish we could have stopped many times for pictures...the scenery changes as we traveled and when I got off the train in Wenatchee it was even more humid than Urbana...who would have thought?! Did you know that Wenatchee is famous for the Washington Apples that we eat!? It even smells like apples from the train. I met a really sweet woman on the train and she gave me a ride my hotel......I know....don't take rides from strangers! I met her on the train and she was genuine and has children and it saved me the hassle of the taxi! I promise not to make a habit out of this! The people in Washington have been so friendly and nice!

Tonight I am staying at a Super 8 in Wenatchee and catch a link bus at 6:30am to reach the boat that goes to Holden Village. This is really happening! I know I am WAY OUT OF my comfort zone here and it will be such a learning experience both physically and spiritually! Wish me luck, say a prayer, and even grin as you think about Karen in the mountains! I know I do!

By the way, Beth you were an amazing tour guide! The restaurant today was outstanding..I could have looked out the window all day! You came up with one incredible sightseeing activity after another! Thanks so much ...lets do it again! I really enjoyed spending time with you and CJ

Off to bed for an early wake up call! Not sure when I'll get on again!

Peace

Seattle!

Seattle!

What an incredible town! Thanks Beth for showing me so many things! This was a perfect day! We went through the Pike's Peak Market Place-the colors, smells, throwing fish, and the artsy atmosphere are so fun! I had my very first latte from the original Starbucks and two fantastic meals. Dinner was on fisherman's pier at a popular seafood restaurant! So, I had Teriaki Chicken! It was yummy! (I dislike seafood!)

The Duck Tour was fun! Totally cheesy and silly while providing snippets of info about various sites in Seattle! It was fun!

The scenery here changes frequently! I can see the mountains in the background but not clearly because of the haze! I did get a hazy glimpse of Rainier! The Olympic Mountains were clearer, but just a bit! I can see what draws so many people to live here! No humidity and the fantastic scenery!

I have to add what a joy it was to be with Beth and CJ! Cj is only 6 weeks and was astounding! Such a sweet, content and happy baby! Beth is a super 1st time mom! We had some funny moments with her today!

Tomorrow, we'll be doing some sightseeing again and then I board the Amtrak going through the Cascade Mountains and Stevens Pass. It's supposed to be beautiful!

On a side note, I was in such a big panic to get everything together and out of the house yesterday that I left the garage door wide open to my house! I thought that I left the front door unlocked.....thanks Janet for checking it! When she came to my house to check, my brother Kenny opened the door and replied, oh, she locked the door but she forgot to close the garage!
He enjoyed that one! He called to tell me and he was amused! The joys of middle age!

I'll post tomorrow night again, but am not sure when the opportunity will arise at Holden. Enjoy a couple pictures from today! If you've never been here, you should plan a visit...incredible!

Hello! Finally....packed and checked in and waiting for my flight to La...then Seattle. I'll get there around 11:45 pm. It was a major and crazy few days! Packing and preparing to be gone for a while and doing all the crazy errands one needs to run when you know there's not a Walmart or Target around the corner!

I conned Pastor Bob into doing the Holden Service last night! THANKS! It was a fun service to play and went well in the new chapel! Today I played flute in church...sometimes I worry about my lack of common life sense! It was fun and went pretty well for no rehearsal or decent warm-up!

I am so excited for Holden and scared to death. A month can be a LONG time! I'll post a couple pictures from Seattle as I visit there! It should be a blast!

Ok---here we go!

Peace,

Karen

2 weeks until Holden!

It's coming! Only 2 weeks and then I get to leave for Washington! Am I ready? Is all the prep for school done? (NO! :) ) Do I know how I'm getting to Chelan and then back to Seattle-nope! Guess I have a few things to figure out yet! I do have some awesome shoes and water safe keen sandals! I am finally getting my house in better order! I need to get the music stuff ready and make sure I have enough clarinet reeds-somehow, I don't think they will sell them in the Holden Village store!
I get to visit Seattle for a couple days and am thrilled that my hotel points were able to be used! I think transportation is decent and I may be able to get away without renting a car! I think I'm going to the famous market and hopefully the sea shore! I have a feeling that it will be by a tour like the Ducks! Those are fun and you get to see a decent amount in a short time!
It's back to work here! Hopefully, I'll be able to get some things done so I can have some "guilt-free" time before I leave! I wouldn't bet on it!!