Independence Day in the Mountains

In our effort to squeeze in as many camping trips as possible during the sunny months, we went camping over Fourth of July. Really, the holiday was very accommodating to fall on a Friday to give us a three day weekend. We escaped to the mountains away from the crowds and the noise. Up to where showers are optional and housework is minimal.

We drove up to the Icicle Creek area outside of Leavenworth, WA. And since one of the friends we went with had spent a summer backpacking the area, he knew all the secrets. Such as where to camp to avoid the masses of generators and crowds and stereos of the normal campgrounds, yet still on a creek for water. We’re really starting to get very attached to the blessing of a 4runner that allows us to use out-of-the-way-not-a-campground sites. Ryan has almost won me over to an additional 2 inches of lift. Almost. But then I try to get into it in a pencil skirt and all bets are off.

We hiked to Stuart Lake one day. It was longer, buggier, and colder than we expected; and as beautiful and worth every minute as we’d hoped.

Ryan took a nap break.

Andrew fishing a Nalgene out of the lake.

Portland

I get to see my best friends from college about once a year. Distance and busy families and everyday lives and crazy schedules get in the way. So I was pretty excited about meeting everyone in Portland for a weekend. Some folks were running the Portland marathon, and others, such as us Chaneys, were more excited about the morning coffee.

We didn’t remember to take very many pictures, we were too busy with friends.

Here’s all of us non-marathoners hanging out with the babyand a box of Voodoo Donuts.

This guy finished in 2 hours and 41 minutes.

We did a lot of hanging around and waiting.

Finishers!!!

An Autumn Wedding Shower

One of the ladies in our church is getting married this next month, and I threw her a shower this last weekend.  Because of her incredible sweet friendliness to many many people, my tiny house wasn’t going to cut it for size.  So I took over my parent’s home for an afternoon. Her wedding colors are orange and blue, so we grabbed those and added a little autumnal flare.

Half of the room gathered for gift-opening.

Apple Cheddar Gruyere Maple Tarts (recipe forthcoming) along with Roasted Pear Scones and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins it was a nicely fall-ish menu. And because of the rain and cold outside, we drank pot after pot of coffee with them.

Defying the gloomy weather outside with flowers and candles. (Thank you Krystal for helping me draw a ampersand.
Most. Difficult. Character. Ever.)

The bride with her mom and sister.

With some of her wonderful friends turned in-laws.

A Whale Watching of Sorts

Today we had grand plans of spending the afternoon in Woodinville Wine Country, enjoying lunch and wine-tasting in Seattle’s backyard.  That is until a friend mentioned to us at church this morning that a 70ish foot Fin Whale had washed up on the beach of park about 30 minutes South of Seattle. Heck, yes, we’ll join the trip down to see it.  How often do you get to see a whale up close and personal? And the second largest species of whale at that?

The story goes something along the lines of the whale was struck by a ship (signs of bruising) and floated around and finally washed up in this park.  An estimated 15-20 feet of it’s tail is missing, but still an impressive animal!  It floated in overnight on Friday.  When we arrived on Sunday afternoon, Scientists had already cut the eyeballs out for studying, which was disappointing, but the rest of the massive incredible creature lay stretched out in the sun and sand to see and touch and examine.  As long as you didn’t stand downwind of it, it was fascinating.

Inside it’s mouth.  Most of it’s baleen where still intact. It felt very much like they say it does: a thick, overgrown, toenail.

Long ‘snout’, with that center ridge up to the blow hole.  You know all those pictures and drawing you see in your science books? I forget those pictures, but I’ll never forget this.

The back had been damaged.  It was missing backbone and muscle, so it didn’t have the graceful lines of a healthy fin whale.

The ridged part on the side is what expands several times larger to take in a huge mouthful of seawater to strain for food.

On to flying a kite.

Ryan tried to pass on a love of skipping stones.  That might have to wait a few years with this one, but he certainly loved the splashing.

Happy Birthday from Lady Grantham

A good friend of ours turned 30 over the weekend, and since she loves themes, we threw a Downton Abbey style wine tasting party.

Grace and I made wine charms from wine corks (idea courtesy of Yvette!)

The wine was labeled by playing cards.

We had guests from upstairs and downstairs.

Maybe we were Sibyl and Branson??

Christmas and New Years

 

 

 

Yes, I know I’m late on these. This season was pretty quiet for us, which was nice.  We two days off at Christmas, and took the time to visit National Geographic’s King Tut exhibit that is in town.  I love Egyptian history so I was pretty excited.  the collection of artifacts was amazing, standing in the room thinking about the folks who made this have been dead for thousands of years and some of it is still in semi-pristine condition.  But here’s the actual holidays:

Christmas we spent the morning at home and then went up to my parent’s, where Grace was waiting very patiently to open presents.

Homemade Eggnog to start the day

Dad mixed us some pomegranate martinis with dinner.

New Year’s Eve we spent with good friends, fondue, and lots of games.  The guys played the most confusing game ever.  The girls had a 90’s dance party in the kitchen.

The tiniest party guest.

Visiting the Snow

I did a very brave thing last week.  I spent my first night since marriage away from Ryan.  As I walked out the door I almost turned around and stayed home.  But this was an opportunity to see the snow!  A friend of mine is getting married right before New Year’s, and her bachlorette in Cle Elum, right across the pass.  And in spite of barely sleeping because Ryan wasn’t there, it was wonderful!

This is post hot tub and running around the house barefoot in bathing suits in two feet of snow.  The hot shower felt good.

Icicles around every window.

The bride and her sisters.

Our First Grown-up Christmas Card

Oreo-ish Cookies

I took a huge platter of these to a gathering the other evening.  I had forgotten how delicious they are.  This post is for a friend who demands it…and you don’t deny an adorably eight months pregnant lady.  I found some pictures lurking on my camera from months ago when I made them before and put it up as quickly as possible.

I can’t take the credit for the recipe.  It is adjusted only very slightly from it’s original on SmittenKitchen.  (I make then less sweet and more salty) Let me assure you it is worth making.  I make these when the occasion calls for a dessert that is slightly more impressive than drop cookies, but not formal. And for people who appreciate food and won’t say “Oh no, no carbs or dessert for me.”

Surprisingly quick to make, these go together start to finish in about an hour and are incredibly addictive.  So don’t make them unless you have plans of dispensing with them.  The not-so-sweet cookie combines perfectly with the vanilla-ey and sugary filling.

Cookies:

1 1/4 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

Put all the ingredients into a Food Processor (or KitchenAid or bowl-and-a-spoon).  Stir it until combined. (Dough will be a little grainy)

Roll into grape sized balls, and flatten them slightly before placing on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes.  Remove to a cooling rack.

Filling:

1/2 cup butter

2 cup powdered sugar

1 generous tsp of real vanilla (don’t even think about using imitation, it’s what makes the cookie)

Spread a dollop of filling on a cookie, top with another and gently press to seal.

Quilts

It’s that time of year when I spend some quality time with tea and tissues.  This year is nicer than most because I’m sitting on my front step in the autumn sunshine watching Ryan clean up the front shrub beds.  Since this makes me think of cozy things I thought I’d take the oppurtunity to show you the many beautiful quilts we’ve been blessed with.  Even if Ryan and I aren’t really “quilt people”  there’s something about the amount of time a person has to put into a quilt that makes it an extra special gift.  I’ll tell you about them in chronological order.

First the one that the ladies at church made as a wedding gift.  They found the most beautiful collection of vintage blocks at an estate sale and finished it off with some modern touches.  A couple smart ones knew how much I love recycled vintage, it’s perfect.

Most of the squares and sewn completely by hand in tiny neat stitches.  It’s an amazing testimony to an out-dated dose of patience someone put into it.  My friends finished a few of the blocks on a machine and put it together with that amazing polka dot backing!

Look at all the cute vintage cotton prints!

For Christmas we received a comforter my Grandmother and her friends quilted by hand.  It’s a king sized comforter in an intricate scalloped pattern, another testimony of the patience that generation has with hand work.  This picture gives a poor taste of the stiches that cover the piece.  I don’t have the physical space in my tiny house to have it out and used yet. 

The most recent addition is from Ryan’s mother.  It’s her first quilt and she did an incredible job!  It was pretty exciting to find it waiting on our doorstep one day last month.  The blue and yellow are so warm and homey, my favorite part is the celtic knot pattern of the quilting.

And the best part of every quilt is the time and thought and love that went into each piece!