After waiting impatiently for signs of spring around Puget Sound, I wound up spending the first day of the new season in central California, travelling for work. I left behind a warm, sunny Seattle that finally felt like spring and arrived in a rainy, cool Sacramento. The rain passed quickly, and the brief showers made the unfamiliar scenery feel more like home. On the trip I had several long, exhausting days, but managed to find moments to enjoy, including a fantastic restaurant walking distance from my hotel and a picnic lunch in the sunshine under some flowering fruit trees. After arriving home late Friday night, I took it easy Saturday, catching up on some reading in between much needed laundry and cleaning. After a mostly sedentary March, I finally hit the trail again on Sunday for the month’s Alpine Trails Book Club hike. Our group was smaller than it’s been in months, and it made for a laid back morning. The roaring, milky green Stillaguamish and small signs of spring (including the first trillium sighting of the year!!!) sighted along the trail were just what I needed after such a long week. Spring is coming!
Read moreLife: Week 32
Since my sister in law and her family moved to California shortly after my oldest niece was born, I've missed many birthdays, both my niece's and nephew's. I know that soon they'll both be too old to have any interest in having their boring old aunt crash their birthday party, so I've talked about making a birthday trip for years. This year, with no major plans late in the summer, Andy and I were finally able to make it down to California to attend our niece's 5th birthday party. As a happily childless adult, a 5th birthday party was an overwhelming occasion, although my sister-in-law's genius plan to rent a bounce house for the party kept most of the craziness contained. Happily, our visit was long enough that we also had time to just enjoy relaxing with family. As always, the trip made me dream of the future, when their family will be back in Washington and we can spend time together whenever we want!
Read moreLife: Week 42
When work gives you the opportunity to go to the Bay Area and extend the trip into a long weekend spent with family that you don't get to see nearly often enough, obviously you take it! Leaving behind some seriously rainy fall weather, midweek I headed down to San Francisco for a meeting, most of which I missed because of a ridiculously delayed flight. After the meeting I spent a few hours trying to finish my entire workload for the day, then headed east for a wonderful weekend with family. There were plenty of hugs, games to play, and many, many books to read. On Saturday, while the kids were napping, my sister-in-law and I made macarons, and they turned out to be some of the best I've ever made. As always, my visit wasn't nearly long enough, but I'm so glad that my work gave me the opportunity to squeeze in a short visit!
Read moreLife: Week 49
It may still technically be fall, but it's certainly feeling like winter! Lately, most days we've had frost that lingers well into the afternoon. We even had snow at home on Thursday, although I was in Oakland for work at the time. It was a busy trip with very little time for sightseeing, but I did manage to find time for coffee at my favorite Oakland coffee roaster. After spending most of the week away from home, I was looking forward to getting home early enough to have time to unwind from the trip before bed. Unfortunately, my flight was delayed for over 3 hours for no obvious reason. It was beyond frustrating to have end up stuck at the airport for such a long time. Thankfully I had a good book with me, and after getting some dinner - a long with a very large drink - I found a quiet place to read while waiting for my flight to finally leave.
Read moreLife: Week 44
I'm still in shock over the results of the election yesterday, but I can talk about that later. For now, I'd like to share the wonderful week I just spent with my family and try to focus on how lucky I am to have so many positive things in my life.
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