This week felt like spring. So much more so than the February fake-out we usually have in the Pacific Northwest. As usual, we had a few days of delicious sunshine and warm temperatures. What made it feel more springlike was the fog, heavy rain, and gusty wind thrown into the mix. True spring in the Pacific Northwest. Now we're back to the constant flat grey skies and cooler temperatures of February, and I don't expect to see much of a change for at least a few weeks. Thankfully my office has lots of windows, so I was able to soak up the sunshine while it lasted!
Read moreKendall Peak Lakes
I've never had much of an interest in team sports. I attended a few minor league baseball games as a kid - my dad was briefly a huge fan of the Everett Aqua Sox - but that's about it. I've watched the Super Bowl a few times, always at a family member's house. Most years I hardly even know what teams are playing. However, over the past two years, Andy and I have developed an enthusiasm for the Super Bowl. Not because we're excited about watching it, but because we've learned that with everyone else at home watching the game, we can sneak away and enjoy typically crowded places in much more peaceful conditions. This year, since there was still plenty of snow in the Cascades, we headed out for some snowshoeing, hoping that this time we might actually need our snowshoes.
Read moreLife: Week 5
Another truly excellent week! I never regret getting outside - something I really need to remember for the weeks to come. The damp, chilly months of spring are always the hardest for me to get outside. My lack of motivation probably has something to do with my impatience for peak summer hiking. I always forget the often unbearable and bugs and dream of gorgeous trails still under feet of snow, then feel disappointed by the lowland trail options available early in the year. This year, I'm determined to appreciate the trails that are accessible year round for their own beauty, and to squeeze in as many snowshoe trips as I can before the snow becomes too unstable and avalanche danger too high!
Read moreEbey's Landing
I love the peaks and forests of my beloved Cascades, but sometimes, especially in the dead of winter, I need to escape to the salty, windblown air of Puget Sound. I love the snow, but winter on the coast is so rugged, stormy, and beautiful. You may have already noticed that Andy and I visit Whidbey Island a lot. For how frequently we're there, we certainly don't hike the Ebey's Landing trail often enough. The cabin we stay at it so lovely, I'm usually happy to spend an entire weekend there. On this last trip, we took friends with us, and they were just the motivation we needed to get out on an actual trail.
Read moreLife: Week 4
It was mostly a gloomy, wet week in Redmond, filled with busy days at work and lazy evenings with miscellaneous leftovers for dinner. On Friday we headed off for another long weekend at Whidbey with friends. In the rain shadow of the Olympics, it felt more like spring than winter, and we had a wonderful time cooking, drinking, chatting and taking many, many photos. Saturday, we went for a leisurely hike at Ebey's Landing. More about that beautiful trail soon!
Read more