With warm temperatures, sunshine, and the smell of late winter flowers dominating the last days of January, I had given up hope of seeing any lowland snow this winter. Naturally, this meant that just a few days into February, temperatures plummeted and a snowy wonderland descended on the Seattle area! I couldn’t have been more surprised, or delighted, as fat, soggy flakes began to fall on Sunday afternoon. Andy and I were out for a late lunch at Bellevue Brewing when the snow arrived, and the few people not at home watching the Super Bowl all clustered at the windows, phones in hand to document the snow. Happily, we made it home early enough for me to dash out to the Powerline Trail, meeting a friend and her family for a slow ramble through the transformed landscape. After such a warm, sunny winter so far, it’s such a relief to finally get a little snow!
Read moreLife: Week 1
I started 2019 on the couch, armed with soup and juice, attempting to fight off a nasty cold. While it wasn’t the best start to the year, thankfully I’m now fully recovered. Even with my cold, I managed to make it through my three-day work week and by the weekend, was even up to a long walk in Paradise Valley. Thank goodness too, since an epic windstorm Saturday night meant we spent Sunday without power and it’s no fun being stuck at home sick without electricity to watch movies and cartoons! A long walk in the chilly, muddy woods was exactly what I needed to get out of my post-holiday gloom. All things considered, 2019 is off to a good start!
Read moreLife: Week 8
February has felt deceptively spring-loaded this year, so naturally for the last week for the month winter reasserted itself. Over the course of the week it snowed 3, maybe 4 times. Obviously I lost count. Each time it snowed just enough to mask everything in a sparkling dusting of white, but by late afternoon any trace of the snow had melted away. During the week, I managed to make it out for a few walks around the neighborhood and along the Powerline Trail to enjoy the temporary winter as it melted.
Read moreMargaret's Way
Something magical happens on the trail in the rain. With distant views obscured by mist and cloud, the world becomes smaller. Instead of landscapes of jagged, snow-capped peaks, your views are of moss and bark, puddles and branches. Sound is literally dampened by the weather, with the drip-drumming of the rain on your trusty rain jacket as a persistent soundtrack. Unless you're not wearing a rain jacket, but if you're out hiking in the PNW in January, I very much hope you are!
Read moreLife: Week 4
This was a week of wet & stormy weather. Andy and I started the week by leaving behind the snowy peace of my parent's cabin. Returning to real-life after the hygge atmosphere of a cabin is always hard, so I was thankful for my shortened work week. I also appreciated the loaf of pulla left over from our weekend - a much tastier way to ease into my morning than my typical breakfast of coffee and a hard boiled egg. Because of the novelty of our new espresso machine, I've been drinking too many lattes, so this week, I started drinking more tea. I love a good latte, but hadn't realized how much I missed my morning cup of tea. I think for me a latte is better as an occasional treat rather than an everyday drink.
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