Celebrate!

May 7, 2009 by Naomi.

This is really about May 7. I simply got home too late to get it on JAM before ten pm which means that by the time it gets to the server and back it is tomorrow.

Work had to be done before any form of party. Sixty third grade students came from McGee Elementary school in Pasco for our fabulous environmental learning stations. They experienced leaves from the native plant area to the water’s edge, invertebrates from the water and mud, birds on the wing and in the water, life of the Wanapum Peoples in a most unlikely canvas covered teepee, and the full gamete of creatures with backbones. The wind whipped up froth on the pond and dust around the corners of the Discovery Center. Shannon, Deb, Mary (Cooke), Kathrin, Thomas and I did the honors with a new volunteer, Donna, shadowing to see what our fun was all about.

After the kids waved exuberant goodbyes, another slab of cement was calling to be subjected to the footprints of wildlife that would run across or land on the north side of the administration building. So we stomped those skunk, mice, eagles, herons and deer. Actually the process requires dusting the forms with powder, spacing them biologically correctly, then using a maul to set them. Then the washup. Can’t put the foots away dirty.

Our Swiss volunteers, Kathrin and Thomas, treated us to strawberries and Swiss cream. That was their thankyou for having the wonderful experience of volunteering at the Refuge for 5 weeks. They photographed us and the USFW staff who could pull the telephones out of their ears long enough for the treat.

Home for a couple of hours during which I pulled weeds out of my driveway and chopped vegetables for the stone soup to go to the pot luck at the Tri-Cities Democrat meeting tomorrow night. I was unsuccessful at getting a nap regardless of how long I tried. Then it was off to a swanky restaurant to give the Swiss a taste of the Pacific Northwest — chowder and huckleberries. I had a shrimp cocktail. And white Kiona wine. Kathrin turned 30 a few days ago so that was also part of the celebration. I feel like I partied all day. Couldn’t be all the rich food I ate. Of course not.

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