The calendar my still say it’s summer, but it’s definitely looking (and feeling) a lot more like fall lately! The leaves are just beginning to turn, mushrooms are popping up all over, and happiest of all rain has returned. Over the course of the week, it rained more often than not, and after another hot, dry summer, I’m happy for the change. We started the week off with one last day at my parents cabin, spending a leisurely morning enjoying the peace before packing up to head home. Once we got home, it was another short but very busy work week (it’s going to be tough going back to a full 5 days!). After sleeping in Saturday morning, I made my way to Evans Creek Preserve to see if hints of fall were beginning to creep in. I went armed with a warm hat, mittens, and a new fall playlist to listen to while I walked. Much to my surprise, I still saw many signs of summer around the preserve, including a few lingering lupine blooms! In a few places though, fall was definitely making its presence known.
Read moreA Weekend in Paradise
For many years, Rainier has been a bit of a tease, tempting me from afar with her beauty on the rare crisp cloudless days of fall and winter then hiding behind a dense veil of cloud in the summer when I make the drive down to hike on her shoulder. This summer Lady Rainier broke the spell, and for two glorious days spent camping and hiking with the most wonderful group of Alpine Trails Book Club ladies for our Weekend in Paradise I basked in the mountain’s glory.
Read moreLife: Week 36
This was a short but stressful week at work, with Monday off for the Labor Day holiday and Friday off for a short anniversary vacation. Happily, the long weekend more than made up for the stress of the short work week! After much debate, Andy and I decided to spend the weekend at my parents cabin near Snoqualmie Pass. This was definitely a good choice, even if it was made mostly because we’d recently purchased a new mattress, and the old one had been siting in our living room until we could take it up to the cabin to swap it out for one of the horrendously uncomfortable ones there. Since it’s such a short drive, we decided to bring our cat with us, and it didn’t take long for him to get settled in. When I mentioned our plan to my dad, he was dubious, and bringing our cat did turn out to be a bit of a mistake, but only because now I’ll feel terrible any time we go to the cabin without bringing him along!
Read moreLife: Week 35
This was a tough week. Monday was a stressful scramble to get ahead at work, and the remainder of my week was spent in California for work. While I did manage to squeeze in a quick (and much needed!) visit with my sister-in-law while I was in the Bay Area, for the most part my trip was a series of busy days fill with client meeting followed by many late nights trying to stay on top of my regular day-to-day work. On two of the three nights of my time in California, I didn’t mange to tear myself away from my laptop until at least 8 PM, and by the time I boarded my flight home Friday at 8 PM, I felt a bit like I was drowning in work I’d need to catch up on come Tuesday morning (since Monday was a holiday). Happily, over the course of the weekend, I was able to forget work. Before I’d left for California, I’d hoped Andy and I would spend the long weekend backpacking, but after my exhausting travel I knew I needed a restful weekend at home. I’m still hoping to get out for one last backpacking trip before winter descends on the Cascades though!
Read moreLife: Week 34
Reaching the tail end of summer, things at work are beginning to get busier, an ominous sign for the busy season to come after Labor Day. Thankfully, the tail end of summer also meant the oppressive smoke that's plagued Puget Sound over the past weeks has finally begun to lift, and I took full advantage of the improved air quality with several walks around Redmond. This time of year, the Powerline Trail smells so strongly of ripe blackberries, you almost get a sugar rush from the air. Among the more exciting developments at home this week, Andy finally completed our new queen size bed frame, so we have a new bed! So far I've slept terribly on it, but I'm hoping I just need some time for the memory foam to break in. Andy absolutely loves the new mattress, so I'd feel terrible if we had to swap it out for something more expensive on my account.
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