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.
Read moreLife: Week 33
After weeks of hot weather, and many fires burning in Eastern Washington and British Columbia, this week, Puget Sound was beset by smoke. The week started off ominously with our flight home being delayed because smoke at SeaTac Airport was reducing the number of planes that could safely land, and throughout the week, the smoke thickened. By Thursday, it was bad enough to give me a cough and burning eyes after only a short walk to get the mail. Thankfully, Friday morning, we woke to clear skies apparently just in time for the August Alpine Trails Book Club backpacking trip.
Read moreLife: Week 32
Week two of smoky, hot, stifling weather. If I was feeling ready for fall before, now I'm practically ready to move to the southern hemisphere for legitimate winter! After letting the poor air quality keep me indoors most of last week, I finally gave up and decided that I needed to get outside, weather be damned. I had a busy weekend, so I didn't make it out for any hikes, but taking a short walk in the afternoon a few times over the week was about all I could handle with the smoke. Finally, Saturday night we got some rain to clear out the smoke and restore the mountain views I'd missed so much!
Read moreLife: Week 31
I am so ready for fall - cool weather, colorful leaves, soup, sweaters, and rain! This week started off nicely enough - we'd had plans for a trip over the weekend and both had Monday off work, but we wound up cancelling the plans and instead had a quiet day off close to home. We went for a short hike on a new trail on Squak Mountain, then had lunch accompanied by a few drinks in Issaquah. As we drove south to the trailhead, Mt Rainier could clearly be seen off in the distance, and since the trail description specifically mentioned a good view of Rainier, I was surprised when we reached our destination but were unable to find the mountain. By Monday evening, a haze of smoke from the fires British Columbia had settled in, a haze which only seemed to get worse throughout the week. Combined with the oppressive heat (at least to this wimpy PNW native) consistently in the 90s, the smoke has meant a lot of time spent indoors over the week. I am so ready for fall - cool weather, colorful leaves, soup, sweaters, and rain! This week started off nicely enough - we'd had plans for a trip over the weekend and both had Monday off work, but we wound up cancelling the plans and instead had a quiet day off close to home. We went for a short hike on a new trail on Squak Mountain, then had lunch accompanied by a few drinks in Issaquah. As we drove south to the trailhead, Mt Rainier could clearly be seen off in the distance, and since the trail description specifically mentioned a good view of Rainier, I was surprised when we reached our destination but were unable to find the mountain. By Monday evening, a haze of smoke from the fires British Columbia had settled in, a haze which only seemed to get worse throughout the week. Combined with the oppressive heat (at least to this wimpy PNW native) consistently in the 90s, the smoke meant a lot of time spent indoors over the week.
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