Backyard Birds

 Karen Garofalo has taken many fine photographs of the many kinds of birds that visit our backyard bird feeders and bird bath.

We took care of our daughter's two
brown dogs for a week.

South Puget Sound Travel Day Three

We both continued to struggle overnight with coughing, sinus pain, tiredness, aches and other cold sypmptoms.  We gathered our belongings and left for Vancouver early in the morning.  

When we got home we both were feeling quite ill.  We tested and found that we both had the COVID 19 Flu virus.  

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Weyhauser Rhododendron Garden and Pacific Bonsai Garden

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

Over the past three decades, Karen and I have stayed overnight, dined and/or played
at numerous Indian Resorts and Casinos in Washington and Oregon:

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Shelton/Kamilche,
Little Skookum Inlet, Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound WA;

Ilani in La Center WA; Wildhorse in Pendelton OR;
Seven Feathers, Canyonville OR; Northern Quest, Spokane, WA:

Legends, Yakima WA; Spirit Mountain, Grand Ronde OR:
Mill, Coos Bay OR; Chinook Winds, Lincoln City OR.

South Puget Sound Travel Day Two

Today, we began with breakfast at Bloundie's in Shelton.  Drove up to Potlach and Hoodsport along the Hood Canal. Visited the Skokomish Indian Museum and Cultural Center.  Drove around the area and enjoyed the scenery. Beautiful clear day at Potlach State Park.  I watched 10 people digging for clams.

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

South Puget Sound Travel Day One

Today Karen and I drove north from Vancouver up to Olympia, Washington.  We took a drive around the Olympia City area, enjoyed lunch at Anthony's Homeport Olympia restaurant in the Bud Inlet, a drive around Shelton, a visit the Squaxin Island Museum, Library and Research Center, and then check into our hotel room at the Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche. 

Unfortunately, I was under the weather with a cold, sinus pain, coughing, and fatigue.  I needed to rest and sleep all afternoon and evening.

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Library, and Research Center, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

Harmonica Playing

I have owned various harmonicas since my childhood days.  

I have enjoyed playing various harmonicas by myself.

I have used various books, CDs, MP3s, charts, and online learing resources to learn 
how to play the harmonica.

I now focus for 30 to 60 minutes each day in learning and practicing with a harmonica.

Serious harmonica hobbyists, players, listeners, students, enthusiasts,
learners, and musical pleasure seekers can get OCD about this music.

Purchasing good quality harmonicas in differest Keys, books, CDs, MP3s, online resources, online video instruction (Luke), and paying for a personal harmonica instructor can be costly for serious intermediate harmonica students and lifetime enthusiasts.

Good education and ongoing learning are essential for steady improvement and more fun.

My Musical Mission

Listening to all kinds of music over a lifetime.
Enjoying the pleasures of music over a lifetime.
Seeking positive, uplifiting, spiritual, and mysical experiences via music.
Enjoying playing the harmonica.
Sharing good sounds with others.
Encouraging and supporting musicians.

My Musical Goals

Playing the harmonica daily.
Learning how to play better chords on the harmonica.
Learning how to play harmonica rythmic patterns better.
Listening to harmonica music.
Learning some harmonica musical theory each week.
Learning to interpret standard musical score notation for a harmonica.
Learning how to play easy popular tunes. 

My Musical Objectives

May- June 2024

Study The Idiot's Guide to Harmonica Playing for 30 minutes each day.
Attend an online class at Harmonica.com with Luke twice each week.

Playing, Jamming, Learning, and Practicing with various harmonicas:
Hohner Crosover Marine Band  Key of C
Seydel Sohne 1847  Key of Low C

Learning how to play 5 simple folk music tunes properly all the way through.

Since January, 2024, I have been using a Hohner Crossover Marine Band Key of C and a Seydel Sohne 1847 Key of Low C for daily practice, learning the chords on the C Key harmonica, learning the hole notes and playing single notes more clearly.  Most basic instruction books for the harmonic focus of using a diatonic harmonic in the Key of C. 

Maggie Newman and Tai Chi Chuan

Professor Cheng Man-c'hing performed his 37 Form in around 8 minutes in the video clip we have of him.  Ms. Newman slows down the performance in this video clip to nearly 18 minutes.

Maggie Newman performing the Professor Cheng Man-c'hing 37 Movements Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style Form:

Here is a recent photo of Ms. Newman on ther 100th birthday.  Congratulations!

Are Things as Such as They Are?

"If you understand, things are such as they are;
If you don't understand, things are such as they are."|
-  Zen Master Gensha

If you don't understand, things are changing.
If you understand, things are changing.
Impermanence is the permanent condition.
-  Mike Garofalo, Cuttings

Hail to the Mothers

Happy Mother's Day to All the Mothers in the World
Past, Present, and Future

The following picture was taken in 1977.  From left to right:  Karen Eubanks Garofalo (my wife) , Alicia June Garofalo (my daughter) , and Bertha June Garofalo (my mother).  My mother was born in 1921 and died in 1994. 

The following photograph was taken in 2012.  From left to right:  Katelyn Alice Flinn (my grandaughter), Alicia June Garofalo Flinn, and Katelyn Alice Flinn (my granddaughter).  

The following photograph was taken in 1946.  From left to right: Michael James Garofalo (my father), Michael Peter Garofalo (me), and my mother, Bertha June Garofalo. 

Rock Me Mamma

I think the lyrics for the country western song titled Wagon Wheel was written by Ketch Secor of the Old Crow Medicine Show Band and Bob Dylan.

Here is an campy adult version of Wagon Wheel by the Old Crow Medicine Show.

Here is a version of Wagon Wheel by Darious Rucker:

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Chapter 62

Dao De Jing, Laozi
Chapter 62  

"Tao is the secret guardian of all things.
It enriches the good man and portends the evildoer.
Its counsel is always in season; its benevolence is always in demand.
Even those who are not good it does not forsake.
Therefore, when the Emperor takes his throne and appoints his nobles, he who comes before him bearing the insignia of a prince and escorted by a mounted retinue is not to be compared with one who humbly presents this Tao.
For why did the ancients hold it in such esteem?
Was it not because it could be had without much seeking, and because by means of it man might escape from sin?
For this it was esteemed the greatest thing in the world."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 62  

"Tao is the source of all things, the treasure of good men, and the sustainer of bad men.
Therefore at the enthronement of an emperor and the appointment of the three ministers, better still than those who present jewels followed by horses, is the one who sitting presents propounds this Tao.
Why did the ancients prize this Tao?
Was it not because it could be attained by seeking and thus the sinners could be freed?
For this reason, it has become the most valuable thing in the world.
Good words will procure one honour; good deeds will get one credit."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 62  

"Tao is the hidden refuge of all things,

To the good man his richest treasure brings,

And to the bad in guardianship it clings.

Its beautiful words buy honor by their use,

Its noble deeds lift people from abuse,

And even the bad, are they from it cut loose?

So when the emperor, chosen to his throne,

Appoints three great ones, by high titles known,

If one of these should come to him, alone,

Holding the jade-screen, with four homes fleet,

He would be less than one on lowly seat

Who could the lessons of the Tao repeat.

Why did the ancients prize this Tao so much?

Was it not because it answered every touch,

And that the sin-bound, even, escaped thereby?

So it is most prized of all beneath the sky."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 62


道者萬物之奧.
 善人之寶.
 不善人之所保.
 美言可以市.
 尊行可以加人.
 人之不善, 何棄之有.
 故立天子置三公, 雖有拱璧以先駟馬.
 不如坐進此道.
 古之所以貴此道者何.
 不曰以求得, 有罪以免耶.
 故為天下貴.
 -  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 62    

dao zhe wan wu zhi ao. 
shan ren zhi bao.
bu shan ren zhi suo bao.
mei yan ke yi shi.
zun xing ke yi jia ren.
ren zhi bu shan, he qi zhi you.
gu li tian zi zhi san gong, sui you gong bi yi xian si ma. 
bu ru zuo jin ci dao.
gu zhi suo yi gui ci dao zhe he?
bu jue yi qiu de, you zui yi mian ye.
gu wei tian xia gui.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 62 

"He who has the Tao is the refuge of all beings.
He is the treasure of the good man,
He is the support of the man who is not good.
Beautiful words through Tao gain power,
Man, by following it gains steadfastness in action,
But, by the evil man, its possession is ignored.
The Son of Heaven sits enthroned,
His three Ministers are appointed.
One carries inj his hand a tablet of jade:
Another is followed by a mounted retinue,
But the one who is most values sits quietly, and offers as his gift this Tao.
How was the Tao prized by men of Old?
Daily they sought for it.
They found it, hid within the Self.
It gives a way of escape to the guilty.
Therefore it is prized by all men."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 62  


"El Tao es el Depósito oculto de todas las cosas.
Es un tesoro para la persona honrada, es una salvaguardia del error.
Una buena palabra encontrará su propio mercado.
Una buena obra puede servir como regalo para otro.
Que un hombre haya errado el buen camino no es razón pra ser apartado.
Por ello, en la Entronización de un Emperador, o en el nobramiento de tres ministros,
     deja a los demás ofrecer sus discos de jade, precediendo a sus cuadrillas de caballos.
Es mejor para ti ofrecer el Tao sin mover los pies.
Por qué los antiquos apreciaban el Tao?
No es porque, en virtud del mismo, el que busca encuentra, y la culpa es olvidada?
Por esto es un tesoro inigualable para el mundo."
-  Translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón from the John C. H. Wu English translation, 1993, Capítulo 62  


"The Way is the myriad creatures’ refuge.
It is that which the good extend,
And that which defends the bad.
Eloquent words can win promotion.
Eloquent actions can elevate.
Even if a person is bad, should one reject them?
When the ruler is installed
And the three great ministers appointed,
Though jade disks
And four-horse teams are offered,
It’s better to grant the gift of the Way
Without stirring from one’s place.
Why was the Way valued of old?
Was it not said it brought achievement,
And mitigated the punishment of the guilty.
So it was prized by the realm."
-  Translated by A.S. Kline, 2003, Chapter 62  

Chapter 62 of the Tao Te Ching

Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching

English Language Translators' Index

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Selected Reading List 

 

Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 4

 Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 4

Day  4    Thursday, May 9th

I loaded my car and emptied the yurt/cabin. 

I drove home safely from Dosewallips to Vancouver.  Clear skies and warmer.
Little traffic until reaching Shelton.

Here are some more photographs of my campground and Dosewallips River area.

Vancouver WA  110 miles north to Olympia

Olympia WA  23 miles north to Shelton

Shelton WA  41 miles north to Brinnon

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport WA

Liliwalup

Hamma Hamma

Duckabuch

Brinnon WA

Dosewallips State Park WA  39 miles north to Port Townsend

Dosewallips SP Images  13 miles north to Quilcene

Dosewallips SP Campground

Dosewallips River Images

Dosewallips Oyster and Clam Harvesting

Quilcene

Dabob Bay

Port Townsend  215 miles south to Vancouver

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 7 am, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  Campfire chats and a little practice sharing.

The best book I used to study general travel options for the Hood Canal
for my trip in May 2024 was:
Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame.
Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Books I have found useful in my study of the Native American People of Olympic National Park (fournded in 1938) include:

Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame. Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Images of America: Hood Canal.  By Michael Fredson. Arcadia, 2007.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula|: Who We Are.  By the Olympic Prninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2015.  This book covers S'Kallam, Skokomish Twana, Sqaxin, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah Native Americans in the area. 

The Olympic Peninsula. By Ericka Chickowski.  Moon, 2009.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  By Allan and Elizabeth May.  Longstreet, 2000.

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 6 pm, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Images from the Internet

Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 3

 Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 3

Day 3

I drove north to Quilcene.  Stopped at the University of Washington Kinkaid Shellfish Labaratory at Point Whitney.  Drove out to the Marina in Quilcene.  Drove 5 miles up a single lane gravel road to the top of Mt. Walker.  Gas in Quilcene.  Shopped at Whitney's Gardens and Nursery in Brinnon: many Rhodys in bloom. Dinner at Halfway House: 8 breaded Hama Hama oysters dinner.

Here are some of my photos of the area:

Vancouver WA  110 miles north to Olympia

Olympia WA  23 miles north to Shelton

Shelton WA  41 miles north to Brinnon

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport WA

Liliwalup

Hamma Hamma

Duckabuch

Brinnon WA

Dosewallips State Park WA  39 miles north to Port Townsend

Dosewallips SP Images  13 miles north to Quilcene

Dosewallips SP Campground

Dosewallips River Images

Dosewallips Oyster and Clam Harvesting

Quilcene

Dabob Bay

Port Townsend  215 miles south to Vancouver

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 7 am, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  Campfire chats and a little practice sharing.

The best book I used to study general travel options for the Hood Canal
for my trip in May 2024 was:
Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame.
Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Books I have found useful in my study of the Native American People of Olympic National Park (fournded in 1938) include:

Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame. Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Images of America: Hood Canal.  By Michael Fredson. Arcadia, 2007.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula|: Who We Are.  By the Olympic Prninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2015.  This book covers S'Kallam, Skokomish Twana, Sqaxin, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah Native Americans in the area. 

The Olympic Peninsula. By Ericka Chickowski.  Moon, 2009.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  By Allan and Elizabeth May.  Longstreet, 2000.

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 6 pm, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Images from the Internet