January 21-27

2014 registration is underway!

Shortly after our return flight from Sydney landed, the 2014 program catalog began arriving in US mail boxes.  On Wednesday we traveled to Vancouver to send the catalog to the 500+ Canadian households on our mail list. And on Sunday we went live with a new and considerably improved online registration system. In the first 24 hours of availability, over 40 registrations have already been received for our upcoming programs and work parties.

The new registration program was designed in collaboration with a local business (SmallDogNet Solutions) and with the generous financial support of Helen Bee & Carl de Boor.

We are very happy with the new system, but also recognize that as it becomes operational there are likely to be a few bumps along the way to full implementation. Your feedback on how well the online registration process works for you is welcome. So hurry on over to the Indralaya website and give it a try!

Winter can be Harsh

While we were away, one of the resident deer died under a small madrona tree near the stone table below the dining hall. It is not unusual for one or more deer to succumb during the winter months. The body has now been moved to a quiet place in the woods.

the old skylight provides some rain shelter

The December cold snap seems to have killed a number of worker bees too, though the hive as a whole seems to be doing fine. 

the piece of wood to the right reduces the size of the hive opening

Every morning there are a few dead bees that have been pushed out of the hive onto the front stoop. Honey stores seem sufficient to see the bees through to Spring, which must not be so far away as the crocuses are already beginning to poke up through the earth.

Signs of Spring