Ah-guest 2013 part1

My daughter said that this year August is Ah-guest.
Rightfully so... the first part we were blessed with a visit from my brother-in-law all the way from the east side of the USA.

Most of the activities were done by my hubby and I chose to stay home for most of it. A whirlwind visit to Mt Rainier, visits to Pikes Place, downtown Seattle landmarks and tours etc... I am just not a high activity person and "once is enough" when it comes to city things. It also saves us a bit of cash for our next guests in 3 days arrival, and allowed Hubby and his brother some brotherly bonding time without having a wife to drag along. I know I appreciate sister time when I can get it.

I did join in in some things that I had been wanting to do or would do again (nature stuff of course). A first time visit to Mt St Helen's, a trip to the coast (been several times but who doesn't enjoy the coast?), and another visit to Northwest Trek (which turned out even better than the 1st time). And on his last nite here, we got to finally have the 1st campfire cook-out of the summer! I know, a bit late but, we've been kinda busy this summer. It was so nice to have him visit and hope he can come again another summer.

Time for a travel review...

Mt St Helens National Monument, Washington, USA

If you only have a day and it is your 1st time... Go to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
This is only 5 miles from the crater and right smack dab in the blast zone. From here you can visit the center, watch films, read survivor stories, hear Ranger talks and go on Ranger guided hikes. This is THE premiere vantage point and learning opportunity for a day trip. Oh, and you can hike to Mt Adams from here (more than a day trip by the way).

It is not as easy to drive around this mountain as it is Mt Rainier. Mt. St. Helen's , although a smaller park, has a huge protective zone! This means you have to drive back out and all the way around to get to each of the other areas of the park from Johnston Ridge. Making for a 3 hour drive to the next section from Johnston Ridge, not including scenic stops along the way. And, you will want to stop. Along the road there are several vantage points and historic information from both the park and commercial ventures (much of the mountain was logged in the 1980's). A few commercial stops along 504 are the Forest Learning Center at mile marker 33 and the edge of the blast zone viewpoint and bridge around milepost 29 - the Hoffstadt Creek bridge and lookout point.

This area of St Helen's is amazing. It is fairly windy and the views are great (for now) because of the lack of old growth forest that was here merely 30 years ago. What a great opportunity we have here in the USA to be able to witness such a vast geologic history! We have old growth forest and ancient canyons to new-birth and re-birth of Earth like St Helen's.

Ocean City State Park, Washington

Ocean City is OK. If you are camping, by all means get a pass and go to the park. But, if you are going for a day trip to the beach... go south of the park down 115 onto Ocean Shores Blvd. into the town of Ocean Shores, visit some shops maybe and just drive onto the beach from one of the 2 access drives (Please know how to drive on the beach people!! We saw way too many people sink their vehicles and get stuck. Geesh! - Use some level of common sense.)
Now, it is not a pristine beach by any means. That's what you get when vehicles are allowed. There was an oily sheen on the "sweet spot" of the beach and who knows what other vehicular fluids and pollutants. There was also the pre-composted product from the business end of the horses (which is way cleaner than what the vehicles leave behind but the gross factor is still there). Considering the volume of humans, the beach was fairly litter-free which was the biggest, and most pleasant surprise.
Anyways.. pack a picnic lunch (don't litter you slobs), kites, a change of clean clothes, SUNSCREEN, and whatever else like... beach toys a shade tent to sleep under, wet-suits for boarding (the water is cold all the time) and just have some beachy fun.

Northwest Trek, Pierce County, WA

The 1st time I went was in the late spring and it was good. Now it is late summer here and it was even better. I want to go again in the fall for the Elk Rut and in the winter when all the undergrowth is gone and get a new perspective of the wildlife.

A collage of the little guys...

from left to right and top to bottom...



Virginia Opossum - recent introduction to Washington in about the 1980's.

Beaver

Skunk

Badger

Porcupine

Fisher
















Carnivores... from left to right and top to bottom...

Grizzly bear - sleepy bear.   Grey Wolf.   Black Bear!!!!   Bob cat - here kitty kitty.   Coyote - mangy mutt.

Birds...  from left to right and top to bottom...

Golden Eagle, Barn Owl, Bald Eagle, Snowy Owl, Crow

Herbivores / the Big Game Boys... from left to right and top to bottom...

Moose (one year old), Bison (very old), Bighorn Sheep, Caribou, Roosevelt Elk

Un-cluttering the files 2012 into 2013

In the effort to continue my "spring cleaning" I am going through my overcrowded photo files and decided to blog them. Mainly because I was going to do it anyways but it (like so many other things) was put on the back burner.

In addition to the holiday scramble, I have decided to make hoop row covers and build a potting bench for the garden. I am frustrated with the super long winters here and am looking forward to trying to beat nature and be able to grow peppers and tomatoes with success as well as make the most from the "mild" winters here. 

Can one OD on  Fresh PNW Bing Cherries?

Diego, the neighbors' Alpaca says "m".

Panoramas

view of Mt Rainier from my "office" window (only available in the winter).

Seattle space needle view

A cold, short visit to Mowich Lake, Mt Rainier

Christmas of 2012

I got a chance to play with my new camera. Before I had to sent it back to Nikon for repair and missed out on shooting the folks while they were here :-(

Around the block.

neighbor dog joins us on a walk

neighbor horse joins us on a walk

father and daughter on a walk

Around the house.

garden in early summer

We welcome my 2nd  Niece into the world!!!!

Birth of my beautiful neice #2

Sabrina makes us a cake for our 10th aniversary

Had some cold cold weather (at least for here).

Anything below freezing is pretty cold here.
Some days the clouds were low and the fog was frozen in the air - that is pretty cool.


Overall, It has been another crazy, fun year. Everyone is healthy (once again). We still love it here. The rainy season was a bit much this year for me because it started so early and was sooooo cold. But, there have been breaks recently and it is still cool but not unbearably anymore.

For 2013, I am hoping (and working super hard) to get Poultry Playground in the black this year. 
Getting an early start on the garden - hoping to fill the new deepfreezer to the top, and have to buy more canning supplies.
Looking forward to shaping the Japanese garden.
And, getting some remodeling done on the interior (that 30 year old furnace is killing us on electric bills).

first attempt at a portrait of my daughter

Till next time...

Memorial Day Weekend 2012 & Grove of the Patriarchs

It started out with a Friday off for Hubby. We worked on the deck Friday and half of Saturday.

Saturday afternoon, we did yard maintenance.
Sunday we planted trees and set mole traps. Went to see a movie.

Observed owl babies on the west side of the property that evening.

I need to add better pictures and video from Mark.







Monday we went to check out the Packwood Flea Market. Supposedly the biggest in the State. Not impressed. It was like an overpriced garage sale. There were a few folks that had specialty items but not many. It was one of those things like the SeaFair - you go just to check it out and then never go again.
We dined at a place called Cliff Droppers. They serve burgers and shakes, fries and beer. It was nothing super special. Good burgers, ore-ida  tasting fries - which are good but, I prefer homemade-style if I am out to eat. Shakes were YUM! Service was fantastic! Decor is ski-tastic. I would give it a 4 out of 5 and would recommend it.

We tried our luck to see if we could go back home via Mt Rainier National Park. Most passes are still closed till June. We got conflicting messages as the Park website stated all except Chinook were open, the roadsigns said most were closed and chains were still needed. Well, only Chinook was closed and chains were not needed on the Stevens Canyon/Longmire roads were clear.  Looks like the park website is the best info. So, that is the way we went.


We visited the Grove of the Patriarchs this time. 

lichen @ the Grove of Patriarchs

Salmon-berry bud @ Grove of Patriarchs

Grove of the Patriarchs

This trail is moderately easy. It is not handicap accessible. It is about 1.5 miles long. There are some stairs, inclines and a suspension footbridge. The cedar loop trail on the island is a raised boardwalk with seating. There are informational signs along the way.

This is a nice light hike for those who are able of all ages.

my kid on boardwalk in front of Big cedar @ Grove of Patriarchs

Suspension foot bridge to the cedar Loop Trail

The Grove of the Patriarchs is a beautiful, ethereal place to visit. 

On the way out We took the South road through Paradise and Longmire.

The roads were still lined with waterfalls but, this time there were more and they were on full force. We passed a cliff of mud and rock and our stomachs flipped when we heard a strange rock-slide noise.

There were huge slabs of rock that had come loose that had not been there last year.

Through the higher elevations we encountered massive snow packs. With the rain and mass, we were both quite nervous through Paradise area.

Paintbrushes @ Stevens Canyon

Reflection Lake May 2012

We drove past Reflection Lake. Click here to see Reflection Lake in Late August of 2011. Here it is late May 2012. Just got the road because the snowbank is about 7 feet high. Rainier would be to the left out the passengers window.

On the south side of the mountain

Waterfall near Longmire

 It was a beautiful and peaceful drive as any campers that were there for the weekend were mostly packed away and headed home.
  

skunk cabbage near Longmire

 Some of these photos and others not seen here will be made available in my shop. Click links on page to go directly to my Etsy or Zazzle shops.



This Memorial Day we remember and honor all the people who died in service to defending the United States of America. Without their sacrifice and dedication to keeping our nation free and defended, these beautiful parks may not have been preserved for generations from all over the Earth to experience. The beauty and preservation of these National Parks stand as an honor to the lives past. present and future, that were sacrificed to make our lives free and safe.

To the Beach! Saturday 10 September 2011

Last week-end we decided to take off to the coast. This time (if you remember reading previously about our failed attempt to circumvent the OP (Olympic Peninsula)) we planned it out. What could we do in one day? We decided on the beach since it was probably the last nice weekend before the rainy season (in the upper 80's and clear skies).

 
Kalaloch was perfect for a day-trip because it was "beachy" and there was a lodge, gas, and short trail.

It took 3 hours from our house to get there. We stopped at the ranger station for some advice before having lunch in our van. 

 

We took a walk on the beach and played on the logs (the old ones high on shore - not the ones in the surf). By the way, it is COLD on the beach! We wore shorts and t-shirts while the rangers come out in pants, long-sleves, and fleece jackets and hats. I guess we still have not learned that this is the PacNW and the weather is different in different places. Check the destination weather, even if it is only a few minutes away. Duh! We already know the it can be sunny at work and totally raining at home.

Enjoyed a Ranger talk about the whales and birds and whatever else caught our fancy. 

Took a walk on the Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail. The trail is about 45 minutes in a loop. Fairly easy gravel path with a minor 40 ft elevation change which seems to be mainly in a section where you go up and down a primitive stairway along the creek. The scenery is ethereal. Fallen trees create mini worlds of vegetation and shelter. Moss hangs from branches where sunlight peeks gently through to reveal glimpses of red huckleberries and fern. The trail is dodgy in some parts because the boardwalk was moist and slick or boards were loose and in need of repair. It can get tricky in a few parts as to witch direction so just stay on the boardwalk or gravel and you will do fine. Afterall it is just a loop.

 
Then it was time to head back. We stopped at the Ranch house BBQ place along the way.

Over-all, it was not worth the 6 hours drive. We have resigned to the conclusion that if we are going to do the OP, we will have to plan a weekend of it in order to truly enjoy it.

Up at Sunrise

Up at sunrise yesterday morning to try again at getting to Sunrise at Mt Rainier.

Mt Rainier from Sunrise Nature Trail

Oddly, I didn't have a problem getting up early, I even drove. My daughter, on the other hand, thought she might want to go another time. 

It was a peaceful and beautiful drive in the early morning. It takes about 1-1.5 hours from our house to get there.

Mt Rainier and Cascades from a lookout on the Sunrise Rd.

Erigeron peregrinus  (mountain daisy) & yarrow

We stopped at just about every pull-out and view-point along the road into Sunrise (mainly to let people pass us as I was going about 20mph).

 

The night before, we made and packed lunches, snacks and water, placed out the binoculars and camera for the morning. As we stepped out of the van at a look-out on Sunrise Rd, we realized we forgot sunscreen and insect repellent as the swarms of mosquitoes honed-in and planned a strategic attack. 

We would have liked to stay longer as there was a trail, flowers and great views of the Cascades. We could even see a great view of Mt Adams this morning!

Chipmunk at Sunrise Visitor Center

Lupinus latifolius (Lupines / bluebonnets)

When we pulled into the Sunrise parking lot it was not even half-full. The weather was sunny and warm.

We still had an hour before the gift shop and interpretive center opened so we took one of the easy hikes up the Sunrise Nature Trail (if you want to call a 300 ft elevation change in less than a mile easy). The wildflowers* are amazing and so were the views.

Castilleja parviflora (Magenta Paintbrush)

I can get my central Texas "fix" by observing the sub-alpine  "Bluebonnets" and Paintbrushes here in Mt Rainier National Park.

 

For some odd reason, I have Julie Andrews pictured in my head with arms out-stretched in a blue frock.

 

Emmons Glacier view

We unanimously opted to have lunch in the van instead of the beautiful picnic area to avoid the insects.

After lunch we visited the interpretive center and took a short (and easier 1/2 mile round trip) hike down slope to the Emmons Vista Overlooks for a view of the Glacier and rock-slide.

Emmons Vista (one of the overlooks).

Upon exiting Sunrise, the parking lot was packed and there was a waiting line to enter the park. Coming back down the mountain, we noticed that there were parts on the road that had recent rock-slides  that were not there on the way up.

Overall, we spent 4 hours in the Sunrise section of the park.

We learned that hiking shoes are probably better than tennies and always come prepared. So...

Our plan for the winter is to get the proper hiking supplies, keep them in the backpacks and plan hiking day-trips for next year.

Till next time...