Buy Nothing Day

Join us for this wonderful annual celebration: Buy Nothing Day!

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Relax,
sleep in,
avoid the stores,
contemplate simplicity,
spend time with family and friends.

Enjoy the day.

One-Car Family

Goodbye, RAV4.

Hello, Xtracycles!

Well, it only took us three seasons - spring, summer, and fall - to decide that we no longer needed our second car. So we said goodbye to the RAV, and we're doing just fine with our one other car and our bikes. We haven't really driven the second car for months, so we thought it was time to let it go.

It's easy to cycle in the summer, but we wanted to test our resolve during the colder, rainier months of autumn. We still love it. There are plenty of days when it's clear or just a little rainy. We bundle up a bit more and pedal on our merry way. We're also learning to enjoy bus rides along the many routes available to us all around town. Next fun challenge: snow!

Hooray for no more insurance, gas, and repair and maintenance for an extra vehicle! Hooray for cool autumn days, riding along streets with pretty fallen leaves, warm clothes, and rain gear!

Life is good.

Important Uses for a Dining Room Table

Planning and adjusting parts of the bass neck

Rough-cut bass body lined up with the neck

Fort Worden

Last month, we went to Fort Worden for the weekend with a small group of homeschooling friends. We had fun exploring the forts, the trails, and the beaches of Port Townsend. A friend took this cool picture of Ben.

Northwest Harvest

We love volunteering at the Northwest Harvest food warehouse with our Seattle Homeschool Group. We have been helping there every month or two for the past couple years. We're never quite sure what foods we'll be helping with on any given day, but it's always lots of fun. This month we helped sort and pack about 4,000 lbs of soups and tortillas, and 1,000 pounds of coffee. These items will be distributed to area food banks all across Washington state. As you can see, the teens are all clustered together, working side by side. The parents are there too, just at the other end of the tables. We all enjoy working and chatting together.

Here they're sorting and scooping coffee into smaller bags.

A few of them finished early and are waiting for their next task.

Yes We Can

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place
where all things are possible;
who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time;
who still questions the power of our democracy,
tonight is your answer."
President-Elect Barack Obama