Pumpkin faces

This is the replica of my face, with glasses.


Lets see, I'm in the very back holding the pumpkin above my head, and Abby... she's in the lower right with a black vest. This is the picture where everyone mimics the face of their pumpkin. The picture is easier to see on Taylor's blog post (fourth picture down).


If you look closely, you'll notice that Mario (from Mario Brothers) made an appearance. Apparently Tim looks like Mario.

Went for a walk at WWU

If you live in Western Washington, then you know that days like today are a rare gift. We had blue skies, 60-degree temperatures and the leaves on the trees are in full color. You just don't get weather like this very often in late October. Abby and I decided to get out and enjoy the evening sun and fall colors. We went to Sehome Hill and Western's campus. The colors were amazing.

This is the tower that is atop Sehome Hill. It's three stories tall and provides a view of Bellingham Bay, San Juan islands, city of Bellingham, Mount Baker, Whatcom County and parts of southern British Columbia.

This is part of what we could see from the top of the tower.

Us at the top of the tower.

We walked across Western's campus for memory sake. For the last 3 or 4 years Abby and I have visited the campus in the fall to enjoy the beautiful trees. Each year we also walk through the library to see all the stressed out students studying. Then we high five each other and celebrate over the fact that we're done with school and no longer have homework, papers and tests to worry about. LIFE IS GOOD!

Picking and carving pumpkins

Every year, for the last three years, Taylor and Mindy Swedberg have hosted an annual Harvest Party. Rather than celebrate Halloween, we celebrate fall and the end of harvest season. We meet at a local farm with friends to enjoy animals, corn mazes, hay rides, fresh apple cider, pumpkins and gourds.

After the farm, we head to the Swedbergs for food (mainly chili), drinks and deserts. Everyone brings a pumpkin with them and we carve them. When we're done carving, we take a group picture where everyone has to mimic the face on their pumpkin. It's a fantastic tradition.

Here's a video of the group carving pumpkins and piling the guts on the table.

Playing in the leaves

Today is the 2008 Make a Difference Day. We decided to help make a difference by getting together with our bible study group and cleaning up a local park. We shoveled and spread bark-mulch and cleaned and cleared areas to plant trees. It was a beautiful morning to get out and help care for our community. Plus it was a great way to bond with the other couples in our group. We had a great time. Here are a few pictures we took after we were done working.

From left to right - Jeff Savage (wife Heather and son Kellen left early), Daniel and Hollie Funderburk, Jarret and Lara Speith, and Abby and Dustin Terpening.

And here are some candids that I cropped out of the originals.

Vintage coke

I just cracked open a 25-year old bottle of Coca-cola. Guess what? It was still carbonated. I can't believe it was still carbonated after 25 years. That's unbelievable. Then I tasted it. It was not good. If I'm sick tomorrow, you'll know why. I think my stomach hurts. Don't tell Abby.

What am I doing with a 25-year old bottle of coke? I found it in my parents garage when I was in high school. At that time it wasn't that old. It was cool looking, so I used it to decorate my room. Then I took it to college with me. After I got married, it came with me. I was finally in the perfect mood to do something with it - get rid of it.

Caught a 30-pounder

Yes, I/we caught a 3o-pounder. We were... well; how do I put this, hoping for a fish. Instead, we caught a seal. Sure put up a good fight though. Best action we had all day.


While we didn't get skunked, it was a pretty rough fishing day. We pulled in several "shakers" (salmon that are too small to keep), one rock fish, the seal and a sun-starfish from the bottom. Beyond that, it was a gorgeous fall day for fishing. The company was good too.

What happened to the seal? We reeled it in, netted it, used pliers to pull the hooks out and then releashed the pup. No harm, no foul.

Gone Fishin'

If you need me, I'll be salmon fishing on Saturday with my father. I hope to catch the big one.