Hello again! It's been far too long, and much has happened since my last post. Andy and I went on many hikes (which I hope to share here soon) spent at least one weekend at each of our family cabins, and most excitingly bought a house! Needless to say, the process of hunting for, buying, and moving into our first home became a rather all consuming process, so hopefully you'll forgive my disappearing act. Now, in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic I finally find myself with the time to come back to this space. After my long absence, I’m not sure there's anyone still out there reading this, but I hope that some of you will come back in time. I've missed you all.
Read moreLife: Week 22
Having lived in Washington for decades, I’ve come to expect mostly grey skies and drizzle up until the Fourth of July. Some might call it gloomy weather, but I find it comforting - perfect weather for soup, sweaters, and wool socks. As a rule, I plan for overcast weather over Memorial Day - the holiday that marks the start of summer in many other places. Over the past few years’ the chilly spring weather I’ve come to rely on has gradually vanished into an ever-expanding summer, and this year was no exception. Both Memorial Day and the week that followed were decidedly summery, with mostly sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. While the early end to the rainy season makes me worry that we’ll have a hot, dry, and smoky season to come, for the moment the mild weather has been much appreciated.
Read moreLife: Week 3
It’s been a mild winter, but this weekend, headed to my parents cabin to prepare for the January Alpine Trails Book Club, we found plenty of snow! After getting a later start than we’d hoped, we wound up venturing off in the dark, armed with headlamps to light our way in the driving snow. By the time Andy, Ingunn, and I made it to the cabin, over an inch of wet snow had accumulated on all our gear. While it took several hours to warm the cabin, we had plenty of blankets along with soup for dinner to warm us. Saturday, the temperature climbed quickly, with snow slipping from the trees in soggy clumps as we hiked out to help Ashley and her family make their way to the cabin.
Read moreLife: Week 45
My favorite season is disappearing daily, with the last leaves dropping from trees and hillsides changing from the vibrancy of fall into the muted tones of winter. This change was especially apparent up in the mountains, where Andy and I spent the weekend at my parents cabin - likely our last chance to drive in for the year. The rain that had dumped on the lowlands all week had turned to snow in the mountains, leaving the lightest wintry dusting on the peaks. The white stuff also stuck around in the shady places surrounding the cabin, making for the jarring sight of fall mushrooms sprinkled with snow. After arriving at the cabin in time to join my parents for lunch, Andy and wanted to be sure to make time for a walk before the sun disappeared behind the ridge - an early event these days! As the afternoon sun warmed the frosty ground, the world around us steamed. The swirling mist drifting over the creek and pond led us to linger on our walk, but eventually the warmth of the cabin called to us. After a dinner of rabbit stew cooked by my dad, we broke out an anniversary gift from my mom, a national parks board game that turned out to be addictive, fun, and highly competitive. Sunday morning, we stretched out our stay as much as possible, stopping at Dru Bru for lunch and a beer before the short trip home. As always, I’m already dreaming of the next free weekend I’ll have to spend relaxing in the mountains.
Read moreLife: Week 41
Astonishingly, sunshine has continued to stick around well into October, making for a truly glorious fall. I’ll take the cooler days and vibrant foliage of fall over the smoke and heat of summer any day! Over the weekend, Andy and I were roped into something neither of us were much looking forward to - family photos. Thankfully we didn’t have to get up too early, since my parents cabin isn’t terribly far away. Somehow, even though it’s October, we were all surprised by the chilly weather and spent a good part of the morning shivering between poses. As uncomfortable as the cold was, the frost and ice sparkled in the early morning light, and eventually the sun climbed high enough to reach the valley and provide some much needed warmth. Even if I had to be in front of the camera instead of behind it, it’s hard to beat a fall morning in the mountains. By the time we’d finished photos, it was early afternoon - perfect timing for Andy and I to stop at the pass for lunch and beers at Dru Bru! Since we’d both had exhausting weeks, Andy and I decided to take it easy Sunday by spending the day binge (re)watching Game of Thrones while keeping the apartment warm with a cozy fire. All around, not a bad way to spend a fall weekend!
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