Kay & Tim Tostengard

October 3, 2007

Kay: Check the old link

on Sept. 14 for new pictures–somehow, this link didn’t actually link up but the one from that post does!

September 30, 2007

for me on this sabbatical was the moment when I was on the train back from Iona to Glasgow–and thought about a future trip of hiking around Scotland. I couldn’t imagine anything better. Then I thought: “Kay–people come from all around the world to hike in Montana–why not hike there as well?” So I went to Mystic Lake yesterday and the mist was really in the Mystic. It was–well–mystical. The way, under the aspen, the lights would come on, it seemed. My hiking partner, Nancy and I would both look up to check whether the sun had come out–and it hadn’t . But the yellowing aspen seemed to have the sunlight inside of them, not just shining on them. Here’s a few pictures if you’ve never been up there–

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x265/kaymariet

One more fun moment of the sabbatical was seeing Van Morrison in concert in London!! We saw him at the Prince Albert Royal Hall–he played great new music sprinkled with obvious crowd favorites. Can you believe I didn’t remember to bring my camera! However, if I did, you’d see that the crowd somewhat resembled a gathering that perhaps was oriented to grandparenting or retirement planning–hard to believe the young optimistic rockers of the 70’s are, well, getting closer to their 70’s.

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September 28, 2007

Kay: New pictures from England

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x265/kaymariet/

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September 28, 2007

Kay:Working off the jet lag

by getting up at 5:30 a.m. and planning to stay up this morning. We flew in from Manchester, England on Saturday–a strange day, surreal, being in one wonderful spot in the morning and then in our own house, a half a world away, that same night.

Let me tell you about signing up to go on a walking tour–check out the walking bit! We didn’t walk, we practically took off at a run on these uphill climbs! The Lake District for me conjured up visions of strolling across fields ala Elizabeth Bennett in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. But no! The Lake District has terrain something like we find in the mountains around us in Montana. Now with a poet leading the pack, again, I thought there would be the expectation to stop and smell the roses–no again! Partly constrained by the limits of daylight, we had a strict schedule. The group split into two basically, with the big league hikers taking those high roads and the others doing more modest, but not easy hikes. I stayed with the big leaguers, the slowest in the bunch, but got in some great hiking–with the added bonus that I could take the pictures of the group far ahead of me. Experiencially for me, I had to face some of my perfectionistic ways that have kept me from even trying if I thought I’d spend so much time in the back.

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September 14, 2007

Pictures from Italy

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x265/kaymariet/

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September 14, 2007

Kay: I’m hoping to get some new pictures

into the blog today. I sat in Italy and wrote a long blog entry and it disappeared before it hit the blog–my rental euros were gone so–no update from Italy. But today, at Darryl and Linda Thompson’s flat in London, I hope I can catch up.

Our luggage did arrive on Saturday; we went to Florence to the airport hoping to find out where it had gone and actually saw one piece in the office behind the Lost and Found officer. It was like finding a lost dog, I was so excited. The other pieces were tracked to a van headed for Volterra. So reunited with our stuff, we trekked into Florence to see some of the art and sites I’ve read about for years through literature, theology and art history. There’s a way in which I have to convince myself I’m there–looking at some art, for example–for me it isn’t immediately magical but to think of all the people who have stood where you are standing, to imagine the wars that have taken place on these sites, or to picture the people who have held the objects now on exhibit before you–that is amazing.

Volterra, Italy is a place where Etruscans settled, so there are exhibits of Etruscan art and funerary objects. It is true that our beliefs really manifest themselves at death–and it comes through in the objects we use for a funeral. So we got to peer into that in Volettra.

We got to go to a wine tasting festivel in Greve in Chiati–a terrific beautiful drive up to the spot left me a bit car sick but the fantastic chianti quite revived me. There was a folk parade there–I’m sure I didn’t understand all of what it was being conveyed until the men dressed as grapes came by. The next group of men dressed as wine bottles was also unmistakeable even to me. There weren’t too many Americans there so Tim and I sat awhile and tried to figure out just from sight what nationality the passersby were. The two most distinctive tip offs are: shoes, and men’s pants. European women wear high heels even for festivals, or if not high heels, strappy, lightweight footwear. Wearing my Keens, I felt like I had big inner tubes strapped to my feet. As to men’s pants, the general rule is, if they are mustard yellow or muskmelon orange, they are not Americans and most likely not British. And have capris made it into men’s fashion in the U.S.? Watch out–that’s coming up in the next few years for you men.

Cooking classes amounted to one–the plural means I took one and Tim got one–the same one but at least plural. Maronella, the owner of San Lorenzo, our teacher, only offers them on occasion. It was a bit like being a guest on a TV cooking show–we mostly watched–but did get to make ravioli and spagetti, got an apron, a cookbook, and a fabulous meal afterwards.

We’re headed for the Lake District in England tomorrow, taking the train up there. This was what I most wanted to do on sabbatical–to spend time with a group, walking in England, and spending time with David Whyte and his group. David is a poet, his wife Leslie is a life coach and we’ll see what happens. I’ve read his work, listened to several lectures he’s done, bringing poetry to bear on our work and relationships.

Now to the pics. . . .

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September 7, 2007

KAY:on an unfamiliar computer in Volterra

it is stunning here and I almost can,t believe we,re here. Our suitcases, however, are not here–they must not have believed we,d be here either. After a month in Billings, reading, studyig, getting kids to school and Annika to Missoula, we are on the last leg of the trip. I don,t know if the cooking classes are going to pull off–they are not offered every day andwe,ll have to sort that out. But we,re in Volterra today, site of ancient Etruscans, and current wineries and olive fARMS.

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August 2, 2007

Kay:We were just heading onto Hwy 35 in Mpls

when my sister called and said, “The bridge just fell into the Mississippi on Hwy 35–go a different route.” I asked if there had been people on it. It had just happened so she didn’t know anything. Wow–we all had to check in with each other because Tim, Eli, and Tim’s family was headed in that direction to go to the Minnesota Twins game. Eli got really quiet, worried, and when I came home, he gave me the picture he had drawn of what was in his mind–cars and people falling into the river. He said he was so worried about us. I was with my sister Leah and Renee, watching as the news unfolded and remembered one of the discussions we had at Iona about the nature of news in our day–that sometimes we have immediacy with with no insight–that was certainly the case on the news last night. We could see video, hear bits and pieces of what people had seen and experienced; you think that really is news. But not really, is it? What you want is not guesses, and raw emotion, but a larger picture that helps put that video, or that individual experience into a larger context, that helps you make sense of the individual experience. What a night though–I am so sad for those who are frantic with worry about loved ones who have not been found yet.

Another dramatic experience since we left–Jaspar was staying with Grama and Grampa while we were all in Europe–and being in a new setting, they had him on a long leash thing. He saw a rabbit, took off, and he is so strong and fast. When he hit the end of the lead, his head got snapped back and he got a spinal cord injury. We got word of it when the kids were already back home–and of course got two versions of how he was doing–Grama and Grampa very cautious about recovery, and kids very positive about recovery. When I walked in to the living room after getting back, he actually got up and walked across the room–pretty much collapsed at my feet but that was more movement then had been seen. The next day, Tim walked in with tennis shoes in hand, and Jaspar got so excited and desparate at the same time. So we think there’ll be a pretty good recovery. And am grateful–he’s such an athletic dog, strong and determined so we’re thinking this may end up well. Also, good thing we’re on sabbatical–he needs alot of care.

We’re heading up to my parents’ lake cabin near Alexandria, Minnesota–then back to Billings. what a long oddessey!

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July 28, 2007

Tim–End of Holy Land Tour

It’s 9 o’clock in Tel Aviv. I just swam in the Mediterranean and saw a beautiful sunset. I’m now sitting in an internet cafe trying to make some sense seeing so many holy sites in just six days.

First of all, I’ve been to the hottest place I’ve ever been–the Sea of Galilee. We spent most of Thursday around the lake in various places. It was 110 degrees and very humid. The Bible mentions the disciples being cold, but I can’t recall it ever mentions how much they and Jesus were sweating as they carried out their ministry. The Sea of Galilee, a freshwater body of water, is below sea level like the Dead Sea, and it’s heat is like nothing I’ve ever felt.

As I try to come to some conclusions about this week, several thoughts come to mind:

–1) Continue to pray for peace in the Middle East. This prayer effort has so much more urgency for me after being here. The issues seem so much more complicated and difficult. Bethlehem was the most tense place we visited by far. Our guide, being Israeli, was not allowed to go there because it is in the West Bank and under Palestinian control. We then had a Palestinian guide who described the difficult plight of the Palestinian people, 60% employment, etc. Getting from Jerusalem to Bethlehem was also interesting. We had to pass through a checkpoint in a 20-foot high concrete wall that was erected in the last several years to prevent suicide bombings.

–2) Continue to pray for the church catholic, and by that I mean church universal. As I mentioned in my last blog, a dizzying array of Christian groups have churches in Israel. Wherever people think Jesus might have done something, a church was built. Our guide admitted that these different groups don’t get along well. At the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, three different Christian expressions have a presence, the Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox, and the Ethiopian Orthodox. It is said that if a priest goes in the wrong area or even sweeps the wrong steps, he is quickly rebuked by the offended party. We do have a long way to go in our struggle for more unity.

–3) God continues to create and strengthen faith in the face of great obstacles. Despite these stumbling blocks, religious devotion in Israel is very evident and impressive. I happened to be in the country on the day the Roman destruction of the 2nd Temple (Herod’s Temple, the one frequented by Jesus) was being commemorated. On the evening of this holy day, our group was taking a night walk through the Old City of Jerusalem. When we came to the Western Wall, otherwise known as the Wailing Wall, it was an amazing sight. Thousands of Orthodox Jews, all dressed in black, were streaming to and from the wall for prayers at 10:30 p.m. at night. There were women, children, whole families running to the wall to pray. This is only one instance of many that suggests the faith and devotion of God’s people.

Tomorrow I fly back to London, meet up with Kay late tomorrow night, see Darryl and Linda Thompson on Monday and then back to Minneapolis and kids on Tuesday. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Blessings to you all.

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July 28, 2007

Kay: Here’s the picture album

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x265/kaymariet/

I’m getting better at this, but haven’t figured out how to put these photos in chronological order.

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Kay: Check the old link

Kay: A new development

Kay: New pictures from England

Kay:Working off the jet lag

Pictures from Italy

Kay: I’m hoping to get some new pictures

KAY:on an unfamiliar computer in Volterra

Kay:We were just heading onto Hwy 35 in Mpls

Tim–End of Holy Land Tour

Kay: Here’s the picture album