tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29116689465734301302024-03-05T01:32:38.672-08:00Amber AndaA Seattleite on the move, in and out of the cityAmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-54688552790195287482018-03-07T22:17:00.000-08:002018-03-11T21:34:05.280-07:00Happy Birthday, Brother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today is Joe's birthday; he turns 27. He got hit by a car when he was 14, so this is the last year that he will have spent more of his life without a traumatic brain injury than with one.</div>
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Friends who I haven't seen in awhile will often ask me how my brother is doing. I always appreciate the question, though sometimes it's hard to know how to answer. There is no benchmark or control variable to measure against. Compared to what the neurologists said in 2005 when he was in a coma, when they warned that he might not wake up, when they said the might never recognize us or walk or talk again, he's doing great.</div>
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I'm so proud of him, and our family, for advocating for his healing and helping him live as normal of a life as possible. He works two part-time jobs which keep him active and responsible. He has gradually learned how to be more socially appropriate, and genuinely cares about people's feelings. </div>
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But he still has frequent seizures, which makes him more vulnerable than any adult deserves. He stays close to home and will probably never drive a car. He walks a lot and takes the bus. He can often feel seizures coming 30 seconds to a few minutes in advance, and that lead time often gives him a chance to call for help or get in a safer position. </div>
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Joe at a cousin's wedding, Sept 2017</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He had a particularly upsetting seizure after buying new shoes at Big 5. He was alone, and planned to take the bus home. He woke up at the bus stop barefoot and didn't remember what had happened after leaving the store. He was carrying a shoe box with his old shoes, and a neighbor just happened to drive by and see Joe. The neighbor took him back to the store, and the store associate assured them that Joe had worn his new shoes out of the store. There is no explanation for or reason why Joe would have taken off his new shoes. The only thing we can think of is that they were stolen off his feet during or right after his seizure.</span></div>
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The worse thing that has happened in many years was this past fall when Joe was riding his bike alone along the Burke-Gilman trail in Kenmore, on the north end of Lake Washington. We assume he had a seizure while riding, because he was found on the side of the trail, face-down in a pile of soft soil and dead leaves. A passerby, who must have found him immediately and apparently not breathing, called the paramedics and performed CPR until the ambulance arrived. When they arrived, Joe had no heartbeat and they difibrillated his heart. It restarted, but they were concerned about his airways filled with soil and intubated and sedated him. </div>
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In the hospital they ran all sorts of tests to see if his brain or other organs had been damaged due to the lack of oxygen from the time his heart was stopped. Miraculously, he seemed completely unscathed. He had to stay overnight as they needed to make sure he could breathe on his own. It also took many attempts to bring him out from sedation and extubate, as every time he'd start to regain some consciousness, he'd try to pull the tube out himself. Finally, he was awake and breathing on his own. It was only minutes later, in a scratchy voice, that he started hitting on the nurse. We knew that we was going to be just fine.<br />
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Caring for someone with a medical condition is a good reminder of a general life lesson: constantly assess how things are working and adjust as needed. Needless to say, Joe is no longer allowed to ride a bike alone. My parents don't want to discourage the independence, physical activity, and sheer enjoyment of him riding a bike, so now they organize a mentor to always ride with him.<br />
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Joe is a kind and humorous young man who makes the best of his situation. He loves any funny greeting cards, stickers, and t-shirts. He likes putting barbecue sauce on all of his food. He writes himself little handwritten notes everywhere and sets himself reminders on his phone. He likes hanging out with his nieces and nephews, even when he has to ask, "Whose kid is that again?" His brain may have been injured, but his heart is big and strong.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-8314157926660384002017-10-13T21:31:00.000-07:002017-10-17T17:24:52.591-07:00Finally, Enchantments in FallIt's been several years coming, but I finally made it to the Enchantments during larch season. The Enchantments are a spectacular area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the central Cascades that are so popular that there is a lottery months in advance to get overnight permits. Since so many people don't get permits (I've tried unsuccessfully for years), it's common to visit the area as an 18-mile day hike. While that's a hefty hike for many people, especially with 5000 feet of elevation gain, that is not the only limiting factor. There are often fires in the area that cause trail closures, or early season storms that affect accessibility.<br />
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Larches are a rare deciduous conifer, meaning they make cones and look like evergreen trees, but their needles actually turn orange and fall off in the autumn. The contrast of the yellow/orange foliage in the alpine environment of white rocks and blue lakes is absolutely stunning. But it's a narrow window of a few weeks when the larches are at their peak before they drop their needles, adding to the tricky timing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larches!</td></tr>
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Exactly four years ago to the day, I wrote about <a href="https://amberanda.blogspot.com/2013/10/enchant-me-enchant-me-not.html">trying to go in 2013</a>. I made it in 2014 in early September, with the intention of going back for the larches. But then in 2015 and 2016 I was doing research for a hiking book and didn't do any hikes that weren't for my book. Behold, by 2017 my schedule had freed up enough that it was possible!<br />
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However, last Saturday when I was planning to go with some friends, the weather was not cooperating, with forecasts of snow and high winds. Instead, I saw a weather window on Tuesday before more snow showers rolled in Tuesday night, and decided to take it! I knew the route and I was fine hiking it alone, envisioning a solitary day of getting lost in thought.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map from <a href="http://www.niffgurd.com/mark/parks/washington/alpinelakes/enchantments/content.html">here</a></td></tr>
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One of the other challenges of doing the whole through-hike is that it's a point-to-point route, so it works best to do with friends, bring two cars, and do a car shuttle between the trailheads. Above you can see a rough map of the red trail starting on the left, going up to Lake Colchuck (starting the blue line), ascending the steep Aasgard (aka Colchuck) Pass, passing by numerous high-country lakes the Enchantments Core, and then dropping back down for a loooooong descent from Snow Lakes back to Icicle Creek Road.<br />
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Since I was by myself, I decided to wait at the Snow Lakes trailhead for any kind souls already doing a car shuttle, and get a ride to the upper trailhead. I arrived at 5:30 a.m. and waited with hot coffee, listening to Ranchero music on the radio, trying to stay alert. I didn't see anyone for an hour, but finally at 6:30, two cars pulled up.<br />
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It was two local men from Wenatchee and one of the guy's two daughters, in their late teens/early twenties. They let me squeeze in as we bumped our way up toward the upper trailhead. Once there, we met two other hikers who were just getting on the trail.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving Colchuck Lake</td></tr>
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We all played leap frog as we ascended the first few miles, basically hiking the same pace and passing each other as we took breaks. By the time we came out of the trees and reached the breathtaking Colchuck Lake, we all took a snack break in the same spot and decided to head up Aasgard Pass together. I could have done it alone if needed, but it just felt safer to be around other people. We picked our way around the rim of the lake over the snow-covered boulders, put on traction devices, and made our way steadily up toward 7,840 feet.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the route to Asgard Pass</td></tr>
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The seven of us ended up hiking together the whole way. It was a great impromptu group and nice to have buddies for such a long day. We lucked out with the weather for this time of year--a bit of grey, snow showers, and wind, but for the most part had comfortably cool temps and even some blue skies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Colchuck as we make our way up Aasgard Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty waterfalls as it snows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the descent toward Snow Lakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group stopped for a snack break</td></tr>
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The end of the day was lovely, with golden evening light illuminating bands of larch in the distance. We were still hiking out as darkness fell, and all switched on our headlamps. We finally made it back to the Snow Lakes trailhead around 8:30, exhausted and very content.</div>
AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-28568557316011391452017-09-22T20:05:00.000-07:002017-10-15T20:37:01.972-07:00#SummerFeelsHappy equinox! As summer comes to a close, I want to share my theme of the season: #SummerFeels. I made a point to relish any activity that felt quintessentially summery and to dive headlong into whatever would maximize #SummerFeels. Here are some of my faves:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwx8ermpNfJ7j7OZoSXJ7FxPtP4yjpN135A-wcM7aB7fZyeC-g5R-PSTSEGkoPLJaC6-u1-arFjAsuAyyxPnxXog3HFaUwyzPRnP8P1I9jy-gD838B0WvJoF1pu5rKX12gIdsx9J5oVw/s1600/DSC05855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwx8ermpNfJ7j7OZoSXJ7FxPtP4yjpN135A-wcM7aB7fZyeC-g5R-PSTSEGkoPLJaC6-u1-arFjAsuAyyxPnxXog3HFaUwyzPRnP8P1I9jy-gD838B0WvJoF1pu5rKX12gIdsx9J5oVw/s320/DSC05855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw my bees thriving in their hive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDWo9iHIasRakMaOihsOjVBziCRzzjktf1LHQj_rnTXOzLqBw27OjdCt_yCFVhmiyYIXUSqF7RAtExqYj-1gVDtVBgVlDLAbuJ_-Lv7WTzUnPTfoe0gUKBUEoNjoyjMAU5rSgunn0bYw/s1600/DSC05858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDWo9iHIasRakMaOihsOjVBziCRzzjktf1LHQj_rnTXOzLqBw27OjdCt_yCFVhmiyYIXUSqF7RAtExqYj-1gVDtVBgVlDLAbuJ_-Lv7WTzUnPTfoe0gUKBUEoNjoyjMAU5rSgunn0bYw/s320/DSC05858.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Harvested backyard red currant and raspberries</div>
<div>
and made a drinking shrub</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swam and paddleboarded in the Clackamas River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD4pSl6BqI3qnRxt6jEDPSzy1T0VK_2wN3k3frrxJO33Zb8ebu8GPV98eLfiqlxsFXNi04ni_ONmksGXbFJTQdTsHMi8TkUghsq5Y0AobrZY65rHnk7PhHG0_AJB3gYDCSXVzMQC-BT4/s1600/DSC05904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD4pSl6BqI3qnRxt6jEDPSzy1T0VK_2wN3k3frrxJO33Zb8ebu8GPV98eLfiqlxsFXNi04ni_ONmksGXbFJTQdTsHMi8TkUghsq5Y0AobrZY65rHnk7PhHG0_AJB3gYDCSXVzMQC-BT4/s320/DSC05904.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swam with family in my parents' pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hung out with nieces eating popsicles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FhWsjkqGLuTSbUiTblkXp8sxr0pqi8G8DYn-KARGn6vGFkfcWxpkaWHbDR35NH86i6kpDD_mHojN5FCt9RAhvsSLapnNTzPy4Dfh5YXhAXarsNJBwyNyPvkRSI3fwH0A1rt8pLVqQoc/s1600/DSC05944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FhWsjkqGLuTSbUiTblkXp8sxr0pqi8G8DYn-KARGn6vGFkfcWxpkaWHbDR35NH86i6kpDD_mHojN5FCt9RAhvsSLapnNTzPy4Dfh5YXhAXarsNJBwyNyPvkRSI3fwH0A1rt8pLVqQoc/s320/DSC05944.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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Drank beer after hiking, chilled in the </div>
<div>
ice of a semi-frozen alpine lake</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKpIWWaTzxNIOrVgcD_pxdih2Zpo-w5IkcB4hfPCQqSWZDAF8tuGDA0lUVb8vXguMpQ5W8wTVgQ_n7k3kXMXRUPg6fH98B2fCAUX2NmInOv8YyoFh0rNQXioBk4STg7mX4R-Lt4lxYP4/s1600/DSC05957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKpIWWaTzxNIOrVgcD_pxdih2Zpo-w5IkcB4hfPCQqSWZDAF8tuGDA0lUVb8vXguMpQ5W8wTVgQ_n7k3kXMXRUPg6fH98B2fCAUX2NmInOv8YyoFh0rNQXioBk4STg7mX4R-Lt4lxYP4/s320/DSC05957.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went climbing in the North Cascades</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1UoQtExRQlc4mZE-m7GQfYQnTWk4KZn6KSH2wfVilCClyciaUiWWxBucWxatcV1M96To9yAO1LhQJqrE7tf_fW5KUg5Ia498zeluMLcWkMh1sGvsuA8iCORPvt4Bb8Lz9nlhTUnhcf8/s1600/DSC05968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1UoQtExRQlc4mZE-m7GQfYQnTWk4KZn6KSH2wfVilCClyciaUiWWxBucWxatcV1M96To9yAO1LhQJqrE7tf_fW5KUg5Ia498zeluMLcWkMh1sGvsuA8iCORPvt4Bb8Lz9nlhTUnhcf8/s320/DSC05968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descended snow fields in the smoky sunlight</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Tf1m9wZgSylSYwErfpOmx5q3Xg-UEHp7Gk_DXDchH451o4vodZiF17ZZzMqbfWxY8kW-U41gIpEh-GBlw_UPjIcyxln9gO-KkYe2Y51OP6WDlhhm0YY8wUWAOdRstNYi2hU9YsSTzGM/s1600/DSC05981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Tf1m9wZgSylSYwErfpOmx5q3Xg-UEHp7Gk_DXDchH451o4vodZiF17ZZzMqbfWxY8kW-U41gIpEh-GBlw_UPjIcyxln9gO-KkYe2Y51OP6WDlhhm0YY8wUWAOdRstNYi2hU9YsSTzGM/s320/DSC05981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvested backyard hops and helped brew fresh-hopped beer</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfaSQXsSS2DMix75K9-mxWUNtP5jKRu-doNhdWyan1G3a6JIttqd7JR5fcMDDn-f_vIuqlg0xrtKzidR_gZRRQGP9mHJY0yeq7g9MJynQ6X0fRf83Q4De-lcNKysIkbAew1jSTTEYht0/s1600/DSC05984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfaSQXsSS2DMix75K9-mxWUNtP5jKRu-doNhdWyan1G3a6JIttqd7JR5fcMDDn-f_vIuqlg0xrtKzidR_gZRRQGP9mHJY0yeq7g9MJynQ6X0fRf83Q4De-lcNKysIkbAew1jSTTEYht0/s320/DSC05984.JPG" width="320" /></a><u> </u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37keeYRSBCvyTMskJjVX6Faw7jV1nSK7XL2kIs_CcDuj3EH1a-eFT6GcjECRSBvxW_EyP3bg4b1i8cLfcl1YRwhtEgaLCQzX-XsYcJDWF_wIoMEkzl_StvNmD9n1d1SdudNsQyw3SFIc/s1600/DSC05988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37keeYRSBCvyTMskJjVX6Faw7jV1nSK7XL2kIs_CcDuj3EH1a-eFT6GcjECRSBvxW_EyP3bg4b1i8cLfcl1YRwhtEgaLCQzX-XsYcJDWF_wIoMEkzl_StvNmD9n1d1SdudNsQyw3SFIc/s320/DSC05988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watched the sun rise over Mount Hood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3J539N6aNtTYsskBUdHSIltt0tCiCFTF-MLWTmR279HHAVziV_B_P-5Yr2h-WsN-wi33XxxDsPN9QiZKKLtFzRTrdGfAZjJkURTQHbqJrkYtCbJSCLKTt29tfYKy4Cs9TxCAiNfd160/s1600/DSC06026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3J539N6aNtTYsskBUdHSIltt0tCiCFTF-MLWTmR279HHAVziV_B_P-5Yr2h-WsN-wi33XxxDsPN9QiZKKLtFzRTrdGfAZjJkURTQHbqJrkYtCbJSCLKTt29tfYKy4Cs9TxCAiNfd160/s320/DSC06026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiked at Mount Adams</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LlR0UFsytKfL_Zjxntz-kVHPJpM4hHi9V7HGHyD40v-8hcVZEMCsb0w7OvX5FHTg7nBp6Wao2-fCX0OopGSAISF2aR8MyDXh9vHbu66LocaLwIPZAcZmKrsZGewdXmYRmxlv9r9HGUY/s1600/DSC06042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LlR0UFsytKfL_Zjxntz-kVHPJpM4hHi9V7HGHyD40v-8hcVZEMCsb0w7OvX5FHTg7nBp6Wao2-fCX0OopGSAISF2aR8MyDXh9vHbu66LocaLwIPZAcZmKrsZGewdXmYRmxlv9r9HGUY/s320/DSC06042.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Ate salsa Gabi made from her homegrown </div>
<div>
tomatoes, onions, and peppers</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ayCXAM2V7jsBZZ8wqqG2CJWIbB3RIttuQ9PH4kNzOInnODKN-QYlcW5Ut_PZVakYegIe69a95gdQ90-jXd0XhOtch7jaA5_Fv8kWrw3NumqycFEt_5UHrGgmA3Wjog2lDPC0h5zt9Nw/s1600/DSC06052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ayCXAM2V7jsBZZ8wqqG2CJWIbB3RIttuQ9PH4kNzOInnODKN-QYlcW5Ut_PZVakYegIe69a95gdQ90-jXd0XhOtch7jaA5_Fv8kWrw3NumqycFEt_5UHrGgmA3Wjog2lDPC0h5zt9Nw/s320/DSC06052.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled corn!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgmTH5ejf8xYBMWqF0kcka8wkfYQaCPRupnKZECtOOGyoECS5DsSkAMmhrdAGwnlScxFIFvtK_fhNDueJtE99EejAWSAvIw4RuQPGVbnoQtoSlliwUCPlXPWO2FL_vXPtFQl2eif74I8/s1600/DSC06061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgmTH5ejf8xYBMWqF0kcka8wkfYQaCPRupnKZECtOOGyoECS5DsSkAMmhrdAGwnlScxFIFvtK_fhNDueJtE99EejAWSAvIw4RuQPGVbnoQtoSlliwUCPlXPWO2FL_vXPtFQl2eif74I8/s320/DSC06061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbed trees</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuUG9kIQpc1V35eqLNl98fYih2lg9b1P_fjdW_6jt_FaK2juRWcFvMRXfxazoFa8Em3REwTf9kntSgPPSOXlJbcDpIWebAGpkhF3X22pnycY5u27x7IEuajJFrqQOreGl68qt7KFJYCk/s1600/DSC06075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuUG9kIQpc1V35eqLNl98fYih2lg9b1P_fjdW_6jt_FaK2juRWcFvMRXfxazoFa8Em3REwTf9kntSgPPSOXlJbcDpIWebAGpkhF3X22pnycY5u27x7IEuajJFrqQOreGl68qt7KFJYCk/s320/DSC06075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBQ!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG8KOCkgCus0sASnXoKVcSVx_Zk_aCTaG_XuRJvUblcHhy5F5Ctc46plDUsXleYykqTthLMWhIo87mpxp_NIpO7j5TdEcrUqsrhf7LLEs3XfJmn4QC-8qp7hhpmK4GC3OmEafMDNJDyM/s1600/DSC06097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG8KOCkgCus0sASnXoKVcSVx_Zk_aCTaG_XuRJvUblcHhy5F5Ctc46plDUsXleYykqTthLMWhIo87mpxp_NIpO7j5TdEcrUqsrhf7LLEs3XfJmn4QC-8qp7hhpmK4GC3OmEafMDNJDyM/s320/DSC06097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watched the total solar eclipse from the Path of Totality</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxmr0OPW2Ov53dGW037lcxFu49XfyvOHPx6UeFaE8FkJLOdDWs8HiNpFnu8LsgO9FFEn72DSKvYbD8hzktJb4qWhvNfVzBOoGh3HmPJZidMJs5Q6k0IzFmSg7wGWeOoN_GzxuS25t_SA/s1600/DSC06099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxmr0OPW2Ov53dGW037lcxFu49XfyvOHPx6UeFaE8FkJLOdDWs8HiNpFnu8LsgO9FFEn72DSKvYbD8hzktJb4qWhvNfVzBOoGh3HmPJZidMJs5Q6k0IzFmSg7wGWeOoN_GzxuS25t_SA/s320/DSC06099.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYM0SpKs0a1PlurYBMzsRiRE7rOt5AT7BdgEHPpPAKgUsce1qcT4g3CIp4uccHIRWioXHPHg7MT5n7AELHHqULw8Aa_jut7jI-w02F18yB_0lEMe-zmhjF45JrN6VFAyutBhfLblhVeU/s1600/DSC06109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYM0SpKs0a1PlurYBMzsRiRE7rOt5AT7BdgEHPpPAKgUsce1qcT4g3CIp4uccHIRWioXHPHg7MT5n7AELHHqULw8Aa_jut7jI-w02F18yB_0lEMe-zmhjF45JrN6VFAyutBhfLblhVeU/s320/DSC06109.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Rode bikes around Vashon Island and </div>
<div>
played in driftwood forts on the beach</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDU0rckwotCgiO5YuoWQNTMJDkREXWisVXuQyVWg6nG1h9W9WOTgkVS6_uTu7Sjqe_sRJuvnLBG38A4xMZUzL8mJjvpK65tZl3PGLxoC40T7lNLXGzPZFe-FhDMyqQVJhFymvjYATaQ8/s320/DSC06120.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ate cabin breakfast of pancakes with wild-foraged huckleberries</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9ww1N7_sVx9FF3_z22B2jTrB3QCa1lwcI7zNgVrwLoFoUYoQkr2CFWHY-cz-JKxYrVXVTcqT9gLBbawJEVt93fTFloFuAdIo-4ZgtmiJdh3XvkBqpWOPev3yGWlZ7WCeqKycaJFN3Q/s1600/DSC06127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ9ww1N7_sVx9FF3_z22B2jTrB3QCa1lwcI7zNgVrwLoFoUYoQkr2CFWHY-cz-JKxYrVXVTcqT9gLBbawJEVt93fTFloFuAdIo-4ZgtmiJdh3XvkBqpWOPev3yGWlZ7WCeqKycaJFN3Q/s320/DSC06127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swam in little-visited Idaho rivers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFr4ykOA8-v6t-HLa8Gv74sURY66e39lqRUNn0wWMUflmn1D2ReEURj9ES5VOMSg_glL7Q4i4bNIBv56FRR1VfJ0Z63um1GA2y8-Yt5RvWpqxvAOQ1bZeV164pmRMYBBaabG9lmXLTzk/s1600/DSC06141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFr4ykOA8-v6t-HLa8Gv74sURY66e39lqRUNn0wWMUflmn1D2ReEURj9ES5VOMSg_glL7Q4i4bNIBv56FRR1VfJ0Z63um1GA2y8-Yt5RvWpqxvAOQ1bZeV164pmRMYBBaabG9lmXLTzk/s320/DSC06141.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learned to fly fish</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqrpgQTCAhwkV1iPwKdDtD5c5lxzv3DuOGCcOTthLOfwrg4nLsV3a9lGLTe5tGT-CUrSe8_UFBuH9CBsZPJURBPYYeLCqYlbXkGEdSgCfskulh5WJPY82JrKC-32rUBgkmhv5u7wCauo/s1600/DSC06148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqrpgQTCAhwkV1iPwKdDtD5c5lxzv3DuOGCcOTthLOfwrg4nLsV3a9lGLTe5tGT-CUrSe8_UFBuH9CBsZPJURBPYYeLCqYlbXkGEdSgCfskulh5WJPY82JrKC-32rUBgkmhv5u7wCauo/s320/DSC06148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught fish to eat for dinner</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM8BfHto9lnro7I0-QPg_SEu2vwyya5p9-jtBJjtwM_-CAN-4btiR5Ik0YDYULryh1LnTedy-kMYMkSA6FfHLHRKC6Q7oCwgmbRJkIp97kZaZbmI_r3jokNmiMBjEVznbfu_rNA_Wc7g/s1600/DSC06163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijM8BfHto9lnro7I0-QPg_SEu2vwyya5p9-jtBJjtwM_-CAN-4btiR5Ik0YDYULryh1LnTedy-kMYMkSA6FfHLHRKC6Q7oCwgmbRJkIp97kZaZbmI_r3jokNmiMBjEVznbfu_rNA_Wc7g/s320/DSC06163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed the car to the brim</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_e9YoadCc9k1G1Myzmqh-TqeS29-sEN92PG15YR9WkGVnOkBtTShbNNVaYLKz5RpGtUlZiO3wNKhAm9tHAdEPGGNhrc0eW8cXscckXhHbFh8r3HJdPzJin3f9NaV2hRYK6nak-K7M1g/s1600/DSC06202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_e9YoadCc9k1G1Myzmqh-TqeS29-sEN92PG15YR9WkGVnOkBtTShbNNVaYLKz5RpGtUlZiO3wNKhAm9tHAdEPGGNhrc0eW8cXscckXhHbFh8r3HJdPzJin3f9NaV2hRYK6nak-K7M1g/s320/DSC06202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swam in mountain lakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v-t3uqcvpi_VG0euGKaxWMwpXOP-Fqq1vtaER1QGuyGL2Okq3OnPtfeyDgGVO46_jlcPjrDBNYIVvbMclW95Brf-HPPHOQSRt7hjevX2j3XKCQo5Mek0vv77Hnayt6mVvQgmoMLqC3Y/s1600/IMG_1835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v-t3uqcvpi_VG0euGKaxWMwpXOP-Fqq1vtaER1QGuyGL2Okq3OnPtfeyDgGVO46_jlcPjrDBNYIVvbMclW95Brf-HPPHOQSRt7hjevX2j3XKCQo5Mek0vv77Hnayt6mVvQgmoMLqC3Y/s320/IMG_1835.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvested and ate forest blueberries</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-10872795265011555992017-09-12T19:18:00.000-07:002017-10-15T19:41:28.529-07:00Bike MS: Deception Pass Classic 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My quads are nicely sore and my heart is full from joining last weekend's Bike MS event. It was my first-ever organized bike ride, and first time doing a physical activity as part of a fundraiser. </div>
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Bike MS happens all over the county throughout the year, to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and services for people living with the disease. The ride in western Washington starts in Mount Vernon, goes to Anacortes, over the Deception Pass bridge, and back for a pretty, semi-rural route.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHH3PO6oMK3P-t9cgHxkA48TQfwzYTNfBvhLeya6785eMwmR5N2BtUXEUiXPQT1mIUwHsOf9HKyrku_b8DUXv9VWNOeq5j0yn0vunmrGjyC3m8VEvhxnsF7yoCO3U_MIHsnzlcs60YBs/s1600/37030941421_84996ca1eb_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHH3PO6oMK3P-t9cgHxkA48TQfwzYTNfBvhLeya6785eMwmR5N2BtUXEUiXPQT1mIUwHsOf9HKyrku_b8DUXv9VWNOeq5j0yn0vunmrGjyC3m8VEvhxnsF7yoCO3U_MIHsnzlcs60YBs/s400/37030941421_84996ca1eb_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to ride<br />
<i>(All photos by Stacy R)</i></td></tr>
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For more details, check out the <a href="http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/WASBikeEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=28273">Bike MS: Deception Pass Classic 2017</a> website. Here's more details from the site: </div>
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<i>Bike MS: Deception Pass Classic is an unforgettable, two-day journey through Skagit, Whatcom and Island Counties that will take you farther than you’ve ever gone before. What makes this ride so special? As many as 2,000 riders will cruise along scenic figure-eight courses with a start and finish at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. Full meals, generous amenities, stunning landscapes, fully stocked rest stops and spirited festivities are all included.</i><br />
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<i>Your participation will drive MS research forward faster, and deliver services to those who face the challenges of MS every day so they can live their best lives.</i><br />
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I joined as part of a team that my work organized. We had around 20 riders, including current employees, partners, former employees, friends, and family members. Our office manager organized the team, and set up a great team tent for us. A designer from our Creative team had designed our awesome jerseys which we wore proudly, and ended up winning the Best Jersey award that evening!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUsbjlWDjtPda88cdzwrcqGcDZccKWe03uutTB0KCDAerFudXCvwmUNlcG4JXngFAL_YfOKnYhMxQ2reN1vFccnxRG589F-T_N7fDereRuSltC1hoN8000izq9aOpi-O9tG4auCSJVAw/s1600/37030943481_6ef37d2d73_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUsbjlWDjtPda88cdzwrcqGcDZccKWe03uutTB0KCDAerFudXCvwmUNlcG4JXngFAL_YfOKnYhMxQ2reN1vFccnxRG589F-T_N7fDereRuSltC1hoN8000izq9aOpi-O9tG4auCSJVAw/s400/37030943481_6ef37d2d73_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group before the ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiss9gGPLDs1FPnv5Nqk-Z-VfwsdP57EsNs19mxpPhRqWlsuPPWSihOImlqQN3MhYYefTCCtMlbbRNaAjhGkUXaqn4tmkZWCFSSpJVGMfE6Sp33MCDbs7i1F3OU_7TWFl1evmuIBJCoA/s1600/37173107615_ede0762265_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiss9gGPLDs1FPnv5Nqk-Z-VfwsdP57EsNs19mxpPhRqWlsuPPWSihOImlqQN3MhYYefTCCtMlbbRNaAjhGkUXaqn4tmkZWCFSSpJVGMfE6Sp33MCDbs7i1F3OU_7TWFl1evmuIBJCoA/s400/37173107615_ede0762265_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining up at the start line</td></tr>
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The ride always takes place in the first half of September, so it's usually pretty warm. But this year, it felt like fall with cool temps, wind, and consistent rain. While riding, I wasn't too cold, but when I stopped at a rest area, I would get chilly. It was incentive to get back on the bike and keep going!</div>
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One of the great things about the ride is that you can pick your distance. On the first day, the options are 22, 59, 80, and 100 miles, so it really has something for every ability level. We had some team members ride the high end and low end, but the majority of us found the sweet spot at 59 miles. It was long enough to be challenging and push us, but short enough that a relatively fit person didn't have to do much (or any) training. We stuck together as a group, naturally spreading out and then waiting up at view points or rest stops. It was a fantastic feeling of camaraderie and a shared goal.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznKIczAJZRSWL9VNmlM83l_VzbAL1o08d2PKZeo3_kkhguyjGT8C_55CByAUTRbdm9si9VKcy2WRx_8A5oG4hibierxEJXOmo9UuhlARvgVxoiSdZ_AuBgD3MD2rgg5oc_-HcTzoZAkU/s1600/37030941771_116fc16eb1_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznKIczAJZRSWL9VNmlM83l_VzbAL1o08d2PKZeo3_kkhguyjGT8C_55CByAUTRbdm9si9VKcy2WRx_8A5oG4hibierxEJXOmo9UuhlARvgVxoiSdZ_AuBgD3MD2rgg5oc_-HcTzoZAkU/s400/37030941771_116fc16eb1_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza and champagne after the ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6an5s1cufYhDL_Zw2cED1eD9qHgABVeRZYDZ7O4hzmAoY6m_NSwI1lMuUgC6qJs7F8ImNy3MzegIr00Wx1DHiTLK8bYeKaquE5KioyU9OP8_f2V7z16HPYuSiBINqV4pVG2X3cW5TJe4/s1600/36336403114_abda062eb7_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6an5s1cufYhDL_Zw2cED1eD9qHgABVeRZYDZ7O4hzmAoY6m_NSwI1lMuUgC6qJs7F8ImNy3MzegIr00Wx1DHiTLK8bYeKaquE5KioyU9OP8_f2V7z16HPYuSiBINqV4pVG2X3cW5TJe4/s400/36336403114_abda062eb7_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah... we were pretty tired</td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>I already know that I want to do the ride next year. We had an amazing team and exceeded our fundraising goal of $12,000, and it will be exciting to see what 2018 will hold.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-77506796862451293162017-07-13T21:59:00.000-07:002017-07-17T22:02:56.476-07:00San Juan 4th of July: Stuart Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My family has a long tradition of holding a big family gathering on Stuart Island in the San Juans for the Fourth of July. I haven't been able to make it out there for the past five years due to general summer zaniness, and trying to get to the mountains as much as possible. For example, last year I was <a href="https://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/07/glacier-peak-climbing-attempt.html">attempting to summit Glacier Peak</a>. </div>
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But this year was the right time to spent a long weekend out there with family and it was just what I needed. I got to hang with both my sisters, their husband and three kids, and a ton of extended family. It was just what the doctor ordered.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC5F3DYo43p8kPd438fJsKHifNGPW_XPGosdhG6imR7ygAqyabhPNrAkSEImjb_jwut_FKXztJcgFx2YhLXy2Kva2k_Mg13YC_cBwIjN0blbDLwmi8gDLPdoZe2jxceuCuEGO5TaM264/s1600/DSC05763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxC5F3DYo43p8kPd438fJsKHifNGPW_XPGosdhG6imR7ygAqyabhPNrAkSEImjb_jwut_FKXztJcgFx2YhLXy2Kva2k_Mg13YC_cBwIjN0blbDLwmi8gDLPdoZe2jxceuCuEGO5TaM264/s400/DSC05763.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two nieces: my oldest niece and her younger sister</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs3egIVCp779-o98J0BUQuojN21zmHK3nyI24cl8u3jsdTqf0gUdjGhNLx51U9r8MUxxwGaj1Hw0DUzF4kSbfGymhNoOcgZAy5yAjK6JFoqr7wmB8ybOBTukgKLrVoKJwzwy6d4HD_hI/s1600/DSC05768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs3egIVCp779-o98J0BUQuojN21zmHK3nyI24cl8u3jsdTqf0gUdjGhNLx51U9r8MUxxwGaj1Hw0DUzF4kSbfGymhNoOcgZAy5yAjK6JFoqr7wmB8ybOBTukgKLrVoKJwzwy6d4HD_hI/s400/DSC05768.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrived at the island just as the sun was setting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCq_3pzVsNTKY05NHHtapGZE7ms1UHiYny-MxRQNk5soyqGTFRpQLfzvZbHlZiZ5dFU6gdwMewfUQgbNmrJL7o0atqp6pKJqfQfLWpIz7GM15Zb0PSEmI_F79GnMnkpFMbKpbPD_YsKbw/s1600/DSC05772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCq_3pzVsNTKY05NHHtapGZE7ms1UHiYny-MxRQNk5soyqGTFRpQLfzvZbHlZiZ5dFU6gdwMewfUQgbNmrJL7o0atqp6pKJqfQfLWpIz7GM15Zb0PSEmI_F79GnMnkpFMbKpbPD_YsKbw/s400/DSC05772.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New tradition for 4th of July weekend: outdoor family movie on the barn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y8ZBs2MI3t-70Z07XE-sw5FYU4pFfN8PqqUzunXl3h_5H2bp_F-rJNEwwAJp5UwNcqQaRhlx8P0VFIFKBIvTH48Pg-z1ovAafK22jnT_mbEYlhN8wTkLL0LPK0Izl5cw7DTpoIM7I70/s1600/DSC05778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y8ZBs2MI3t-70Z07XE-sw5FYU4pFfN8PqqUzunXl3h_5H2bp_F-rJNEwwAJp5UwNcqQaRhlx8P0VFIFKBIvTH48Pg-z1ovAafK22jnT_mbEYlhN8wTkLL0LPK0Izl5cw7DTpoIM7I70/s400/DSC05778.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family picnic: Salmon BBQ/potluck and badminton tournament</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOarLhGioIjK-5DhX8yuk_XGWs1qXC4P1YoUZdxDeoEdojUwfxOzYoo59vRvP_mBTsf_GYtZfjb3TKVUY8HtyF-lk5L_ZLFfMMdngBpWDSF8FcxY0o5K1l621FK0tuh0g43kB7JvHyDo/s1600/DSC05784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOarLhGioIjK-5DhX8yuk_XGWs1qXC4P1YoUZdxDeoEdojUwfxOzYoo59vRvP_mBTsf_GYtZfjb3TKVUY8HtyF-lk5L_ZLFfMMdngBpWDSF8FcxY0o5K1l621FK0tuh0g43kB7JvHyDo/s400/DSC05784.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two nieces in their 4th of July dresses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtxqyG05L9OpALBJgrD3iVwxpdxXzoUoXLKwlwydEOc4EvoNGeYH-sEik61wMCYFKOfLZxmD-ZVv8D-OBPbLkredhOc51Qrq58LoxEWEbDGJbjVnF2LDrSXg4nyCxPGWAzdP1XGUUwMY/s1600/DSC05786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtxqyG05L9OpALBJgrD3iVwxpdxXzoUoXLKwlwydEOc4EvoNGeYH-sEik61wMCYFKOfLZxmD-ZVv8D-OBPbLkredhOc51Qrq58LoxEWEbDGJbjVnF2LDrSXg4nyCxPGWAzdP1XGUUwMY/s400/DSC05786.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niece discovers I'm ticklish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VrLdtxsGGPbjWedtYnEocK9MNdaoaTG73z67qu8VMyGCQrkJcJ3hai35yqZvIXpLiji2TfnilMGUZOsHpB_ihKyyMeds095f4WuYD9xvyYAF9dc84fCQfjYIECtE-B24A56ljIecY9k/s1600/DSC05795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VrLdtxsGGPbjWedtYnEocK9MNdaoaTG73z67qu8VMyGCQrkJcJ3hai35yqZvIXpLiji2TfnilMGUZOsHpB_ihKyyMeds095f4WuYD9xvyYAF9dc84fCQfjYIECtE-B24A56ljIecY9k/s400/DSC05795.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoor activity after all the sun and playing outside:<br />Bingo tournament</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KrMAD2da97AqSY1qBWbAEMa3jEHA8JDsw9Ym6RMG49_Uib4ekxLTPrEf4ITEwtKvUk7TmHwckEyaHHNLtDazIZaqH8CtXflWNZXeENBDaTPDDrHD4YaW2M920AWHDtUw_X3iq-tzJzk/s1600/DSC05813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KrMAD2da97AqSY1qBWbAEMa3jEHA8JDsw9Ym6RMG49_Uib4ekxLTPrEf4ITEwtKvUk7TmHwckEyaHHNLtDazIZaqH8CtXflWNZXeENBDaTPDDrHD4YaW2M920AWHDtUw_X3iq-tzJzk/s400/DSC05813.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging on the bluffs and rocks of Turn Point. <br />We spotted humpback whales!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLEA4ROh4EljpyREOoaUj2CcHZaX41h7Al9LJnlHFHfd0nnQGxuvDMgqIlyqK1Sf7ABY5__WKu8zHTzM2nzpOzfhSWxW7hFel4Avts7qji5476ryVjThE1V0lFBGBoZCsnLqvkp2grD8/s1600/DSC05820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLEA4ROh4EljpyREOoaUj2CcHZaX41h7Al9LJnlHFHfd0nnQGxuvDMgqIlyqK1Sf7ABY5__WKu8zHTzM2nzpOzfhSWxW7hFel4Avts7qji5476ryVjThE1V0lFBGBoZCsnLqvkp2grD8/s400/DSC05820.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monday evening: the kiddos soak the last of the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8VIZWrGwKFSEAX0eJDTWWw6hik1iLayrCuc9IuHyQvUd6mdLDJzQQWf_tEQiAz3LkohuV37Bpagdh1iX1R-UKUKhZ-HBYeUM5CXU2RDhIQ5_6VWgv_PR7Xq362H2zzDihN-Y6OI8J7I/s1600/DSC05828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8VIZWrGwKFSEAX0eJDTWWw6hik1iLayrCuc9IuHyQvUd6mdLDJzQQWf_tEQiAz3LkohuV37Bpagdh1iX1R-UKUKhZ-HBYeUM5CXU2RDhIQ5_6VWgv_PR7Xq362H2zzDihN-Y6OI8J7I/s400/DSC05828.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonfire and hot dog roast</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoNrfdNgsGWlS3Kjh5qhjnjMrcSyQKklPBR69w4pUKM4pz0prctmnxOHWy69MpampphU2zWP-hpzVSjYJ_90OXg9w7bQKTns9XKFIp-lsSgNQGUmzzIiRou_7fJKre170ZWRx8E8adso/s1600/DSC05836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoNrfdNgsGWlS3Kjh5qhjnjMrcSyQKklPBR69w4pUKM4pz0prctmnxOHWy69MpampphU2zWP-hpzVSjYJ_90OXg9w7bQKTns9XKFIp-lsSgNQGUmzzIiRou_7fJKre170ZWRx8E8adso/s320/DSC05836.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My auntie with her great-nieces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyjmZkMw7IF6HYJmV_aJcVGFBr_c-7YdKCbbBTrNkVCLtc-JELJ0oRw9IunEMliVPUDncMpYT2aWC-50jxUMPbzdSfxXq59iWHglZiUfS1VDUaXLm9sxYimqcQ7anwRKEfd3J8IcixqU/s1600/DSC05838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyjmZkMw7IF6HYJmV_aJcVGFBr_c-7YdKCbbBTrNkVCLtc-JELJ0oRw9IunEMliVPUDncMpYT2aWC-50jxUMPbzdSfxXq59iWHglZiUfS1VDUaXLm9sxYimqcQ7anwRKEfd3J8IcixqU/s400/DSC05838.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught the sunrise over the bay, around 5 a.m.</td></tr>
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I hope you had a fun, safe, and relaxing Fourth!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-30258536815679589572017-06-05T22:49:00.000-07:002017-06-12T22:50:53.397-07:00A Spring RoundupThis spring has been a whirlwind. A blur. A slog. I have been heads-down in front of the computer every weekend writing my first book, after being heads-down in front of the computer during the week writing for my day job. I feel like I have finally emerged from a word-cave, and it turns out there were some bright spots in the spring.<br />
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In March, I went to my first conference since high school, and the first one I've been to for editing. The <a href="https://aceseditors.org/">ACES Society for Editing</a> held its national conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, this year, and I got to spend two nonstop nerdy days learnings, talking, and breathing editing. There was some eating and drinking in there too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppnGiPp4-W_ZjXQWWwWxyg9xQitg1N61Yn8DQ6MFa42925JuzbNePokTN6GlH3cHLQ7L51zDRK5A26vEZa_OuVMzyFreQ4lEEihn2dGgU8TKqThYR-bVpiX0pPDAsRtQ8j1TU344BldA/s1600/DSC05564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppnGiPp4-W_ZjXQWWwWxyg9xQitg1N61Yn8DQ6MFa42925JuzbNePokTN6GlH3cHLQ7L51zDRK5A26vEZa_OuVMzyFreQ4lEEihn2dGgU8TKqThYR-bVpiX0pPDAsRtQ8j1TU344BldA/s400/DSC05564.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poolside editor happy hour</td></tr>
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While I was in Florida, I got to visit my dad north of Tampa who I haven't seen in three years (!!!). We had a blast, dad style. That means letting me sleep in, drinking lots of coffee together, spending time with family, and going for motorcycle rides.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr8_jdD7WILLWo5Bm520J6RYOO9ZS9ziwvMJoeNFvzng9X5zXfw73yuJ7Ls4G_2jFEf-WqZIJIUR6VTjx6hW4ezgLbCwVSc3TNJU5hpNZEkTAiNAUsAaUqtmtObFTfOGBt2b9-LtVyWA/s1600/IMG_3730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr8_jdD7WILLWo5Bm520J6RYOO9ZS9ziwvMJoeNFvzng9X5zXfw73yuJ7Ls4G_2jFEf-WqZIJIUR6VTjx6hW4ezgLbCwVSc3TNJU5hpNZEkTAiNAUsAaUqtmtObFTfOGBt2b9-LtVyWA/s400/IMG_3730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I took another special ride too---in a 1935 Boeing Stearman biplane over the Land o' Lakes area. It was a beautiful plane and a pretty awesome experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Z-yrdxH6ikhingI9ElRHSpWywUU-4vKjVLFRNtcoZW_xRx6B3hrlaz0oTJkECoO1RhZajCrjn4QyXAdSb3CmCmLBU6N-tArccoYs_oUWc46YpcQblOykOy_XLAeZl9gjvrSKDvSUvs/s1600/DSC05579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Z-yrdxH6ikhingI9ElRHSpWywUU-4vKjVLFRNtcoZW_xRx6B3hrlaz0oTJkECoO1RhZajCrjn4QyXAdSb3CmCmLBU6N-tArccoYs_oUWc46YpcQblOykOy_XLAeZl9gjvrSKDvSUvs/s400/DSC05579.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Another day, we went to the Rainbow River and went kayaking. We saw a ton of birds, ducklings, a swimming snake, and turtles and capped off the afternoon with a nice lunch.<br />
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My birthday was in early April, and I celebrated with my family and "birthday twin": my mom's best friend who I share a birthday with. She and my mom lived together when they were both pregnant at the same time, and she was there when I was born on her birthday in a little house in Wallingford. A month later, she gave birth to her son the day after my mom's birthday.<br />
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The following weekend I also had a birthday brunch, and amazingly, two of my dear friends happened to be in town from California and Texas, respectively. Seeing them was pretty much the best gift I could imagine.<br />
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Later in April on a rare weekend when I took a break from the book, I headed out to the Olympic Peninsula. I camped in the rain, hiked in the sun, tromped in the snow, watched the sun set over the Pacific, and dug razor clams.<br />
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I am so, so ready for summer, and for not sitting in front of the computer all the time. What are you excited for this summer?</div>
AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-25872564211683343632017-02-11T09:29:00.000-08:002017-02-12T21:28:44.765-08:00Beyond Austin: Lockhart, TexasOne of my best friends escaped the grey Seattle weather moved to Austin six years ago. I have visited her four times since then, including the first time in 2011, her wedding in 2016, and a <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/11/thankful-for-texas-road-tripping-and-20.html">road trip to West Texas</a>. Austin is awesome, but as the most rapidly growing city in the United States, traffic is getting predictably worse and the cost of living is rising far faster than income.<br />
<br />
Turns out there are a lot of great small towns outside Austin that still have fast and easy access to the city. Last year my friend and her husband decided to buy a home in Lockhart, a small town 30 miles south of Austin. Lockhart is the self-proclaimed barbeque capital of Texas with several well-known, long-established joints in town. As this article, <a href="http://texashighways.com/food-drink/item/8266-lockhart-turns-the-key">Lockhart Turns the Key</a> claims, Lockhart is up-and-coming for more than its barbeque. I visited my friend a few weeks ago to do a writing retreat (more on that later) and here's what I found. <br />
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<b>Barbeque:</b><br />
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Due to friends recommending this place, and the fact that it's in <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/bizarre-foods/video/andrew-s-top-5-austin">Top 5 Austin</a> from the Travel Channel and this <a href="http://www.followmefoodie.com/2010/08/lockhart-texas-%E2%80%93-smitty%E2%80%99s-market-best-texas-bbq/">Foodie Post</a> about Smitty's Market, we had to go there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsbwbl32qAin6Cg9iXlWih6qOzr8GNbEXTMUae7VySXW0MW0H3XotFaymPKxj4ZZ6oHHYF4qfLpsYyBI6zU5p-kgOnPuRWeEMcGdo3ZCAO1C7LrwYEbnSh98dwhWrJXbaW3zgiuNRyoU/s1600/DSC05502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsbwbl32qAin6Cg9iXlWih6qOzr8GNbEXTMUae7VySXW0MW0H3XotFaymPKxj4ZZ6oHHYF4qfLpsYyBI6zU5p-kgOnPuRWeEMcGdo3ZCAO1C7LrwYEbnSh98dwhWrJXbaW3zgiuNRyoU/s320/DSC05502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx6H4PhcIcbZFynUhDPU_PGX3j2zw1e7TH73RCP3hhyphenhyphen0JhISTsF8WL9v64WpCAlO9WY7DuSa5Vipu49fgxx-OAzzkXcWe0b2qhGZG1f1c-UPW9MzWahaHuxEoRCJk_HSO3fMt45dWJns/s1600/DSC05508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx6H4PhcIcbZFynUhDPU_PGX3j2zw1e7TH73RCP3hhyphenhyphen0JhISTsF8WL9v64WpCAlO9WY7DuSa5Vipu49fgxx-OAzzkXcWe0b2qhGZG1f1c-UPW9MzWahaHuxEoRCJk_HSO3fMt45dWJns/s320/DSC05508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmKI1d6MSo49ALJTTBk13GIFxxiorsWmoJFmvoAhW8g6LtvTicY6Y6gY90w5tCi-1FUHk4pp09ihdSY-uHJFYSDHtdimWfPzy-t65Ov32RJhmbEAQ8dppKJy8-iTxlJo0XGZu24XTTdI/s1600/DSC05509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmKI1d6MSo49ALJTTBk13GIFxxiorsWmoJFmvoAhW8g6LtvTicY6Y6gY90w5tCi-1FUHk4pp09ihdSY-uHJFYSDHtdimWfPzy-t65Ov32RJhmbEAQ8dppKJy8-iTxlJo0XGZu24XTTdI/s320/DSC05509.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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You walk in to the back first, and all the meat is cooking over old school grills with wood fires. It feels like you've stepped into a medieval market. You pick whatever weight and whatever assortment you want of brisket (lean or fat), ribs, and sausage, and then they wrap it in brown butcher paper plus paper for each person. From there, you jump forward 700 years and enter a brightly lit, 1950s-feeling cafeteria where you order your drinks and side dishes (potato salad, beans, pickles, coleslaw, and bread) separately. I'm no expert on Texas barbeque but it was pretty ridiculously delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB2UK8xhnoKo3pG6HL9Kti5fcuXhGi0P3AWvCx-8X0C-eUZ78BIGj-n_FVP-bmbeo5K2dDxmFOeMib3MM-0cJxJtTk_CGxsNstj_wDT1rMpMrR6RiIjS58jlhvAHtBKRXZ0b53TrNxcs/s1600/DSC05510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB2UK8xhnoKo3pG6HL9Kti5fcuXhGi0P3AWvCx-8X0C-eUZ78BIGj-n_FVP-bmbeo5K2dDxmFOeMib3MM-0cJxJtTk_CGxsNstj_wDT1rMpMrR6RiIjS58jlhvAHtBKRXZ0b53TrNxcs/s320/DSC05510.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxcnoS8xpiWgr4SwdSZdaCaDLXgnlCAa5JBSq1NrY2tgYyYO0loKlfCBVI3iOPDW0KO2aAAZ8U9yiXee5UFnolvwPet3OEKhSAuSUuGTQn-3onbRfJ0I9gdda-6Yx2a79yBm2ValZv-o/s1600/DSC05512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxcnoS8xpiWgr4SwdSZdaCaDLXgnlCAa5JBSq1NrY2tgYyYO0loKlfCBVI3iOPDW0KO2aAAZ8U9yiXee5UFnolvwPet3OEKhSAuSUuGTQn-3onbRfJ0I9gdda-6Yx2a79yBm2ValZv-o/s320/DSC05512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Lockhart on the big screen:</b> </div>
<br />
Randomly, a lot of movies and TV shows have had scenes shot in Lockhart.<br />
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Courthouse in the background, used in the 1993 film,</div>
<div>
<i>What's Eating Gilbert Grape?</i></div>
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Here's a partial list of more recent films, snagged from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhart,_Texas">Lockhart Wikipedia</a> page.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmWoX1wwuDt497pXzHNTP_Zacj4CxwhyphenhyphenEgPdan5sW6CuTgVfz0VHKdgLB8afH-l3lc-mauJGzycQDkt7ZCUK4om0yFAApsG5sx8SWSyCuhkH_B4nMXklyYIfay-Q_2oSLN_TY5QtKeRU/s1600/Lockhart+movies+column+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmWoX1wwuDt497pXzHNTP_Zacj4CxwhyphenhyphenEgPdan5sW6CuTgVfz0VHKdgLB8afH-l3lc-mauJGzycQDkt7ZCUK4om0yFAApsG5sx8SWSyCuhkH_B4nMXklyYIfay-Q_2oSLN_TY5QtKeRU/s400/Lockhart+movies+column+1.JPG" width="177" /></a></div>
<b>It's just cute:</b><br />
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<br />
There is a lot of other charm to the town, like a great little coffee shop, a handful of good restaurants, shops, and bars. The city center is very walkable, and on a Wednesday night we noticed live music in two different venues--pretty impressive nightlife for a town of this size. There are a lot of empty storefronts but I don't think it will take long for tenants to come in and new businesses to crop up. There is a beautiful old library from the late 1890s, which is the longest continually operated library in Texas. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eugene Clark Library</td></tr>
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Pecan trees are really common and you find </div>
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pecans on the streets and sidewalks</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
It's a sweet town and I predict that it will be radically different in 10 years as more and more people more there from Austin and beyond.
AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-56685269052013440042016-12-31T12:46:00.000-08:002017-01-08T12:51:28.801-08:00Top 10 of 2016It's been quite a year. A lot happened, but it turns out that my 2016 Top 10 is pretty similar to <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-top-10-of-2015.html">my 2015 countdown</a>. The highlights are still outdoor excursions, weddings, hanging with family, and writing.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Texas adventures</b><br />
In January I decided to visit my friend Lindsey in Austin in March/April to celebrate our birthdays together. Two days after I bought my ticket, her boyfriend proposed to her and they planned a June wedding. So I ended up going to Texas twice!<br />
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Our <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/11/thankful-for-texas-road-tripping-and-20.html">spring birthday road trip to West Texas</a> was amazing. We had a blast and got great weather, mostly in the high 60s and low 70s, with a few sprinklings of rain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsey and I in Big Bend National Park </td></tr>
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The weather didn't cooperate so well when I went back for the wedding the first week of June. The area around Austin had been experiencing terrible spring flooding and the wedding day was no exception. The pretty venue at an old mill was right on a river that rose swift and brown in the torrential rain, and the ceremony was moved indoors.<br />
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But the rain did not dampen anyone's spirits, and it was still a warm day and raucous celebration.<br />
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<br />
<b>9. Birthday hike</b><br />
In April I organized a group hike for my birthday with my mom, a few siblings, and some friends. It was my first time hiking with my nieces and nephews--aged 7, 3, 2.5, 1, and in utero. It was slow going, but really fun and short enough to be reasonable. If you're looking for a short but steep walk off Highway 2 suitable for dogs and little ones, check out <a href="http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/heybrook-lookout">Heybrook lookout</a>.<br />
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The whole posse:10 adults, a 7 year old, </div>
<div>
3 kids under 3, and one in utero at 8 months</div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>8. The birth of Faith</b><br />
One of the absolute highlights of my year was witnessing childbirth for my first time when my younger sister had her third daughter. It was an amazing experience, especially since mama and baby were healthy and it was a short, uncomplicated labor. Little Faith even decided to come out on a weekend, so I didn't have to go to work a zombie the next day after being up all night for the 4 a.m. delivery.<br />
<br />
Later in the year I started watching the BBC 1950s period medical drama "Call the Midwife." It's about nurse midwives in London's east end, and in season 2 episode 1, this line stood out to me: <i>Birth was, and will always be, the most commonplace of miracles, an event at once familiar and phenomenal, timeless and immediate, briefly making angels of us all.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faith, a few hours after being born (May 2016)</td></tr>
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The newborn with her oldest sister </div>
<div>
and a tired dad in the background</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faith at five months, a super <br />
happy, healthy, chunky baby.</td></tr>
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<b>7. Snoqualmie farm wedding</b><br />
One thing I love about weddings is that they are similar but different in ways that lets the couple's personalities and values shines through. One of the more unique, truly-theirs weddings I've ever been to was in June when my friends Rowan and Nate got hitched. It was at her family's farm property in Snoqualmie, Washington, and so full of intention, from the very first moment we arrived and got to pick our party favor: a ceramic mug handmade by the bride, to use for the night and take home. Next to the cup table was the drink table with ice, gin, seltzer water, and your choice of an array of homemade kombuchas in glass gallon jars to mix with, many of which had been brewed with ingredients grown on the farm. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mugs for the wedding all handmade by the bride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
The groom; four of us who met in college on a semester of <br />
backpacking in California; and our illustrious instructor</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_HJF9RsbIX1KJwZSAzxyyp-U1O_eLs8x8Dwv1rKUgEI8xqcSXd4jkppa3Wv20XUotushPfGEwaMBSB6aWzBNH2eIzTTzRDoFPuf4uv7ccif-1NiVQ4FDSzdDwhtFhsQUvnq29BLXVhM/s1600/DSC02993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_HJF9RsbIX1KJwZSAzxyyp-U1O_eLs8x8Dwv1rKUgEI8xqcSXd4jkppa3Wv20XUotushPfGEwaMBSB6aWzBNH2eIzTTzRDoFPuf4uv7ccif-1NiVQ4FDSzdDwhtFhsQUvnq29BLXVhM/s400/DSC02993.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speeches and toasts, in the greenhouse</td></tr>
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The ceremony was in a field, and the reception was in the yard woven between barn, the house, and greenhouses. Dinner was delicious burgers of beef raised on the property (vegan quinoa patty option, too) with a dizzying assortment of home-canned and pickled condiments and accoutrements. The first dance was a square dance with all the guests, complete with a skilled caller and live string music. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>6. Taking the month of August off of work</b><br />
It's hard to even know where to start with this one. First of all, I'm so, so grateful that I have a job that allowed me to take this extended vacation. Second, you can read more about <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/08/this-digital-content-writer-goes-analog.html">before the month</a> and <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/09/an-outdoor-offline-august_2.html">after the month</a>. I traveled all over the Cascades, drove hundreds of miles of forest service road, and did a ton of hiking and backpacking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKscjMlKLe0A-SDZLktq8tXg1gFtdXqT1c49SYOPa50QTtGtrK7N3bO6E5hE5dEIkJ9J5XeD7ZNtl0SKN65QzSgo-x96nEnFAXjUyUfLgQvsk5r1j420wpHCXnLgSkXe66DWrS7F1EZ0/s1600/DSC03142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKscjMlKLe0A-SDZLktq8tXg1gFtdXqT1c49SYOPa50QTtGtrK7N3bO6E5hE5dEIkJ9J5XeD7ZNtl0SKN65QzSgo-x96nEnFAXjUyUfLgQvsk5r1j420wpHCXnLgSkXe66DWrS7F1EZ0/s400/DSC03142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving east on Highway 20 toward Okanogan at 6 a.m.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Cascades hiking</td></tr>
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<b>5. Hiking with Mom</b><br />
In August during the month off, my mom and I went to <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/hidden-lake-lookout">Hidden Lake Lookout</a> for our third-annual mother-daughter backpacking trip. She is such a trooper: she's nearly 60, only backpacks once a year, and is up for anything. This year, even though the hike was relatively short, it was a lot of elevation gain and also requires crossing snow and scrambling on rocks.<br />
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We hiked in to a mile below the fire lookout to set up camp. It was a stunningly beautiful evening and we had a clear view west and watched the sky change color around Mount Baker.<br />
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In the morning we headed up to the fire lookout, passing Hidden Lake on the way.<br />
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<b>4. Hiking with my oldest niece</b><br />
I taught high school students back in 2006 and I really love that age group. My oldest niece is now 15 and a half, and just a joy to hang out with, hilarious and curious and so engaged with the world around her. She lives in Bellingham and I see her fairly often at family gatherings, but have hardly ever spent a full day hanging out, just her and me. I had a hike I wanted to do down the Mount Baker highway, and invited her along since it's close to where she lives and she was on summer break. We had a blast.<br />
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It was a short hike, but certainly not easy. It's steep and shadeless, and the day we went was well into the 80s. We stopped often to catch our breath and drink water, and it was all the more rewarding when we made it to the 1930s fire lookout at the summit, with sweeping views of the North Cascades all around.<br />
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<b>3. California Coast Wedding</b><br />
In September I went to Mendocino county to <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-quick-trip-to-mendocino-county-ca.html">visit a friend and attend a wedding</a>. I flew into Santa Rosa (just north of the Bay in Sonoma County) and stayed with a dear friend in Ukiah, who moved to down there from Seattle about five years ago. We went to a mutual friend's wedding together on the Menocino Coast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine tasting on the way to the coast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the wedding: stunning coastline, even in the fog</td></tr>
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<b>2. October Seattle Wedding</b><br />
In October, I went to a super local wedding of a college friend. It was a lovely ceremony in South Seattle on a sunny fall day, and a fantastic reunion of college friends who came from all over the U.S. to be there. <br />
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<b>1. Writing a book and taking writing retreats</b><br />
I am writing my first book and have devoted almost every weekend since October to writing. I sometimes work from home or coffee shops in Seattle, but I also love getting out of town to have a secluded place to focus, away from the dishes in the sink or other home projects.<br />
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Writing retreat: friend's place on a lake outside Olympia.</div>
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He graciously let me stay while he was out of town for a month.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friend's lakeside cabin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Rainier from the cabin</td></tr>
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Cheers to 2017, to more of what you already know you love, and the joys you have yet to discover. Happy New Year!
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AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-29455121524474974892016-11-24T15:24:00.000-08:002016-11-25T15:39:39.054-08:00Thankful for Texas Road Tripping and 20 Years of FriendshipLindsey's birthday is two days before mine in early April, and we celebrated together all through high school and college, starting when we were 14. We've lived in different cities ever since 2005 so it's been more rare to be together, but this year we realized that we were coming up on 20 years of friendship. <br />
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"Did you know there are mountains in West Texas?" Lindsey asked. And just like that, a joint birthday road trip was born. I flew down to her place in Austin in late March, and we signed off from work, loaded up the car with provisions, and took off driving west on open road for hundreds of miles.<br />
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Our destination was <a href="https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm">Big Bend National Park</a> which borders Mexico in West Texas. Never heard of it? I hadn't either. That's probably because (according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park">Wikipedia</a>) "Big Bend is one of the largest, most remote, and least-visited national parks in the lower 48 United States. In recent years, only 300,000–350,000 visitors have entered the park annually."</div>
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It makes sense that it's not heavily visited because it's not really near anything. It's a haul from any direction to get there, but it's easy to spot on a map. See the <i>big bend</i> in the Rio Grande with the green park around it?</div>
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On our way to Big Bend, we stopped for a night in the desert art town of Marfa. It's a one-of-a-kind place that's hard to describe, but this fascinating, in-depth <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/07/inside-marfa-artists-donald-judd">Vanity Fair article</a> from 2012 is a good start. The sub-title says: <i>The tiny West Texas border town of Marfa is 200 miles from anywhere, but after the late minimalist artist Donald Judd acquired dozens of its buildings, filling them with everything from Rembrandts to light sculptures, art-world pioneers and pilgrims made it their playground. Sean Wilsey and Daphne Beal channel the mix of tumbleweeds, talent, and iconoclasm that is key to Marfa’s mystique.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFKYOWLlGlm714dwIxGLoo-TMXeHnBkASNlI_h8E-N-QZl9rupeTlZzfm3Sk5sTXLwgmPxwTRm0pawjGLVUGEfGbfQ9zGfBbWaEoP1iIe2V9gK3VWYkjUxoLQKPJ3EGgCl1nwIxklhVY/s1600/DSC01992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFKYOWLlGlm714dwIxGLoo-TMXeHnBkASNlI_h8E-N-QZl9rupeTlZzfm3Sk5sTXLwgmPxwTRm0pawjGLVUGEfGbfQ9zGfBbWaEoP1iIe2V9gK3VWYkjUxoLQKPJ3EGgCl1nwIxklhVY/s400/DSC01992.jpg" width="266" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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We drank cocktails in the courtyard of a fancy bar, happy to stretch our legs in the warm afternoon sun after the 450-mile drive. We walked around town and checked out some art before grabbing dinner. When night hit, we drove nine miles out of town to try to see the <a href="http://www.visitmarfa.com/lights.php#.WCTDao-cHIU">Marfa lights</a>, unexplained orbs of light that have been seen in that area since the 1800s. There is an official viewing area and we saw them, balls of yellow and red in the dark desert, rising up from the ground and disappearing. Lindsey found it underwhelming but I thought it was crazy.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train tracks in Marfa, Texas</td></tr>
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It rained that night but cleared up by late the next morning. We veered south, stopping in the mining ghost town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terlingua,_Texas">Terlingua</a> just outside the national park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruins in Terlingua</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCqcxlqbfjJk4cN-aaVbD-d_sHXUWXaErhlzXb5d9C19LvIxgqlkh-SjcY_itsbwLGDCZ-siG4kxyVR89BDVFVEQoJFT-Nr_y0A2oWrbjMtPCwI3H7ShI6s7s7noi_DFMMnij9bqkpSo/s1600/DSC02046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCqcxlqbfjJk4cN-aaVbD-d_sHXUWXaErhlzXb5d9C19LvIxgqlkh-SjcY_itsbwLGDCZ-siG4kxyVR89BDVFVEQoJFT-Nr_y0A2oWrbjMtPCwI3H7ShI6s7s7noi_DFMMnij9bqkpSo/s400/DSC02046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Then we made it to Big Bend! It's<i> </i>the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States and the only national park with a whole mountain range (the Chisos) inside.<br />
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We drove to the Chisos Basin, a bowl valley that is a gateway to the heart of the mountain range, and backpacked in a few miles. The next day, we hiked up to Emory Peak, the highest point in the park at 7,825 feet. It's the 13th highest peak in the state and the most prominent peak in Texas.<i><br /></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Emory Peak trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Emory Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking out of our campsite</td></tr>
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The next day we drove to the far southeastern corner of the park to check out a hot spring right on the Rio Grande. Or rather, <i>in</i> the Rio Grande. There are rocks sectioning off the hot pool, and the water surface is probably two feet above the river, but you're essentially sitting in the river with Mexico 20 feet away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural hot spring in the Rio Grande</td></tr>
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We had a lot of time together in the car to talk, nap, watch scenery whiz by, and listen to music. We mostly listened to Texan singer/songwriters, but also had to play <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVtskhcGOtc">Car</a> by Built to Spill in homage to a drive Lindsey and I took in 2000 to the Lake Wenatchee area right after graduating high school. <br />
<br />
<i>You get the car</i><br />
<i>I'll get the night off</i><br />
<i>You'll get the chance</i><br />
<i>to take the world apart</i><br />
<i>and figure out </i><br />
<i>how it works.</i><br />
<i>Don't let me know </i><br />
<i>what you find out.</i><br />
<br />
We talked about the last 20 years, especially the last 5<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">—</span>where we are now and all the things we couldn't have predicted for ourselves or for friends and family. There had been many hardships, like dealing with heartbreak, career struggles, traumatic brain injury, cancer, miscarriage, divorce. And there had also been so much beauty and joy. Lindsey was getting married in a few months, and had found a home in the unlikely state of Texas. Friends were starting families and businesses and buying homes and going to grad school. I had done a lot of things professionally and personally that I was passionate about and that made me really happy. We both worked at jobs that we enjoyed and where our skills were put to use and appreciated. <br />
<br />
It was serendipitous that a good mutual friend called in the first hour of our road trip, just was we were getting into the heart of the hill country outside of Austin. We put him on speaker phone and he told us big news: after years of writing in his spare time, looking for a literary agent, and sending his book to publishers, he had just gotten his first book deal from a major publisher. And not just for the one book, but a sequel that wasn't even written yet. Lindsey and I both got teary immediately, and I had to make an extra effort to focus on the road, grinning and bleary-eyed and feeling overwhelmingly proud of him. We had believed in him, and it was like an affirmation of so many other things: love the heck out of your friends and keep trusting in what you know to be true and don't get discouraged as you plunge into the unknown. <span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></span>It was a reminder that the good will come, even if it takes years and wrenching disappointments and strength you didn't know you had. <span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into Mexico at the Chihuahua Mountains </td></tr>
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It was pretty much the best birthday ever. Cheers to another 20 years of friendship, and countless other things to be grateful for.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-38816123480878218092016-10-12T23:20:00.000-07:002016-10-13T16:42:42.921-07:00A Quick Trip to Mendocino County, CAIn September I spent a long weekend in California to visit a friend and attend a mutual friend's wedding together. On Friday I flew into Santa Rosa, just north of the Bay area, an airport experience that I highly recommend. <br />
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At Sea-Tac you walk onto the tarmac to board, which goes really fast since you can board on the front or back of the aircraft. Your "carry-on" goes onto a cart on the side of the plane to get loaded underneath, since the overhead bins are tiny. Then there is complimentary beer and wine. When I asked the flight attendant if there was Wi-Fi, she smiled sympathetically and said, "Um, no, hon." The time from when the plane touched down in Santa Rosa to me being outside in the pickup area was about six minutes.<br />
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Eli picked me up and we drove through the golden hills of Mendocino county to her house in the little city of Ukiah. On Saturday morning we had some time before the wedding, so Eli took me hiking near Lake Mendocino in the pleasant late-summer heat.<br />
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Eli and her husband are commercial bee keepers and sell their honey locally. We stopped by the farmer's market and I got to see their vendor's booth.<br />
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Then we hit the road to drive to the tiny coastal town of Elk. <br />
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On the way to the coast we drove through Anderson Valley, which is know for its pinot noir grapes. I wanted to stop at <a href="https://avbc.com/">Anderson Valley Brewing Company</a> because I really love their sour beers that get distributed up north, but unfortunately we didn't have time. We did have time to stop to taste some pinot noirs, which I especially appreciated since Eli was five months pregnant and not drinking.<br />
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It's a good friend who takes you wine</div>
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tasting when she's not even drinking</div>
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After Anderson Valley, we drove through an awe-inspiring forest of Redwoods along the Navarro River. It was clear, hot, and sunny, probably in the 80s. As soon as we crossed the river to pick up Highway 1, we definitively entered a coastal micro-climate; it was thick fog and the temperature dropped about 25 degrees. The ceremony was on a small hill above a barn right on the coast, and it should have had a stunning view of the ocean. It was completely foggy but incredibly beautiful in a mysterious, ambient way.<br />
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The bride walked down the aisle to a Talking Heads song, and the ceremony was heartfelt and lovely. The reception was in a big wooden barn, complete with vintage furniture, a big fire pit, yard games, and signature cocktails.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlTXgPpTmgbn41VNF0-cR-lA_Ejtkx_z0-ScsaQqCGO718xaLJdb5c3xWzL3G9UU7mMFMN4vXNxDrMUymEjdWLKnz97mLEmc0ogVvgKD7z1LF2w5UH811u68sfTwiN-P8Ao-7VsZzlsk/s1600/DSC04889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlTXgPpTmgbn41VNF0-cR-lA_Ejtkx_z0-ScsaQqCGO718xaLJdb5c3xWzL3G9UU7mMFMN4vXNxDrMUymEjdWLKnz97mLEmc0ogVvgKD7z1LF2w5UH811u68sfTwiN-P8Ao-7VsZzlsk/s400/DSC04889.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Eli: awesome friend and fabulous +1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD86DGK2PK04H52P9Nt_Sgk9QgF2UMQDmFl8MzJFs-1t0qHKwltqshAxEEwyKSZSXGu02hZc7hMdYNNaZkpMo1BLdFbwvMAnI3MSb7dTz1DkCBX6P6vM4gekEY4i_5f9Ab08CzOOAYgPk/s1600/DSC04893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD86DGK2PK04H52P9Nt_Sgk9QgF2UMQDmFl8MzJFs-1t0qHKwltqshAxEEwyKSZSXGu02hZc7hMdYNNaZkpMo1BLdFbwvMAnI3MSb7dTz1DkCBX6P6vM4gekEY4i_5f9Ab08CzOOAYgPk/s400/DSC04893.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends and family giving toasts</td></tr>
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The next day we stopped for breakfast at <a href="http://queeniesroadhousecafe.com/">Queenie's Roadhouse</a>, and I ate possibly the best huevos rancheros of my life. Then we ventured up the coast to explore the town of Mendocino. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoTFNSo6EpeONIk_nutS1cx8icFYj2DA24-mnLy4_xMnLom3F1X5osbJFdu3ctcggQA-R8v8vaOjohZLtPIQssBp2O_Wl7GnRhct89nF8Ht8FEgNomYKyK3Zb-RuF9uaOv7ikNxwnSEs/s1600/DSC04898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoTFNSo6EpeONIk_nutS1cx8icFYj2DA24-mnLy4_xMnLom3F1X5osbJFdu3ctcggQA-R8v8vaOjohZLtPIQssBp2O_Wl7GnRhct89nF8Ht8FEgNomYKyK3Zb-RuF9uaOv7ikNxwnSEs/s400/DSC04898.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It was still foggy, so we drank hot chocolate, checked out cute shops with local goods, wandered around the headlands over the beach, and then drove back to Ukiah... where it was as hot and sunny as we had left it. We had a mellow, post-wedding recovery day of hanging out. I read on the deck and ate fresh figs off their tree while Eli's husband harvested grapes from the yard. Then Eli whipped up a delicious dinner and I got ready to fly home on Monday.<br />
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Big congrats to Adam and Ashley, and big thanks to Eli for the wonderful visit!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-76564718410823627052016-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:002016-10-03T22:28:42.497-07:00An Olympics Trek: Dodger Point Fire Lookout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last weekend I headed out to the Olympic Peninsula in search of one of the most remote fire lookouts in Washington and the only one remaining in Olympic National Park. Here's how the pre-planning went:</div>
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<b>Me, in June:</b> I want to get out to Dodger Point later this summer!</div>
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<b>Ranger:</b> Cool! But there was a road washout on the road in that is impassible to cars. You have to park about six miles before the trailhead and either walk in or bike in.</div>
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<b>Me, in August:</b> Cool! I'll plan to take three days total and bike in to the trailhead before starting the 14-mile backpack.</div>
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<b>Ranger:</b> Actually, they just started repairing the road, so now it's completely closed to all public access until October.</div>
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<b>Me:</b> ...</div>
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<b>Ranger, in September:</b> Now the road is only being repaired on weekdays, and is open to foot traffic on Saturdays and Sundays.</div>
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<b>Me, to two friends:</b> Hey, you want to cover 40 miles in two days to get to this lookout?</div>
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<b>Friends:</b> We're gluttons for punishment. Sure!</div>
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So that's how Max, Gretchen, and I ended up loading three mountain bikes onto Max's tiny Scion xA before catching a Friday night ferry to Kingston. We stopped at my friend's house in Port Angeles to borrow a bear canister, and he and his partner graciously invited us in for a late dinner. We feasted on tacos, homebrew, and homemade cider before stopping by the Wilderness Information Center to self-issue backcountry permits. We needed to get an early start and wouldn't be able to get to the WIC during business hours. By the time we set up camp, it was nearly midnight.</div>
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Early Saturday morning we drove to the Madison Falls trailhead (where the road closure began) and hopped on our bikes. The first mile and half is flat along the paved Olympic Hot Springs Road, but then we turned onto the Whiskey Bend forest service road and begin climbing up, up, up on the gravel.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB0x1zuZ82KrGXH96R4z5Ubs9S0TZiQ2bi1auoCOse6WETwIsdto1coOyDZC0mUpaULl2Q6nzhcfAm46EEMF61qbdmV_zlWowREdapKhGfFYtB7TpQQIWxbZ28zjLGkvJ_YYWtSxj1xU/s1600/DSC04912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCB0x1zuZ82KrGXH96R4z5Ubs9S0TZiQ2bi1auoCOse6WETwIsdto1coOyDZC0mUpaULl2Q6nzhcfAm46EEMF61qbdmV_zlWowREdapKhGfFYtB7TpQQIWxbZ28zjLGkvJ_YYWtSxj1xU/s320/DSC04912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking in with packs on the Elwha River Road</td></tr>
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It was a tiring but pleasant ride to the completely empty Whiskey Bend trailhead. We ate some snacks and locked up our bikes before starting the next leg of the trip. The trail runs high above the Elwha for a few miles before dropping you down to a large suspension bridge to cross the river. Then the gradual but steady climb begins, around 5000 feet over the next 10 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovZwfGsfPytpw1Bbn4wfTUMVzCTRJX7HJSIQxxY0RE2BvB8Asj_VqxddHfGZkayFJNYeX69Md4HwPZbvvfs97y7pxGf8ikQNvhB-ENdytyG8GAOCJIv1akvy-j8PEXY8z0w3zw_Bh2lQ/s1600/DSC04955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovZwfGsfPytpw1Bbn4wfTUMVzCTRJX7HJSIQxxY0RE2BvB8Asj_VqxddHfGZkayFJNYeX69Md4HwPZbvvfs97y7pxGf8ikQNvhB-ENdytyG8GAOCJIv1akvy-j8PEXY8z0w3zw_Bh2lQ/s320/DSC04955.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Elwha before the<br />
climb up to Long Ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3DX1-qKVy9dpKQSLcsZrAwJb13pea3L_SXnjlJR5a7DxS1nPZ6UaLElFh9s0kf0Ovw983w-YMH3JpMsk5nHCiR_QuAdDQe2EFyzVFv03-OlpR38v2uMbEqeRJNWcAq5WKLz6oTjQCGY/s1600/DSC04960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3DX1-qKVy9dpKQSLcsZrAwJb13pea3L_SXnjlJR5a7DxS1nPZ6UaLElFh9s0kf0Ovw983w-YMH3JpMsk5nHCiR_QuAdDQe2EFyzVFv03-OlpR38v2uMbEqeRJNWcAq5WKLz6oTjQCGY/s320/DSC04960.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking up through the trees and the mist</td></tr>
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The forest is lovely, but it's looooong way through the trees. We occasionally caught glimpses to the east of Hurricane Ridge, and could even see the road. The trail was in decent condition, but there was a bit of debris and blowdowns to contend with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k3U0oDIDeNnh2_7zd8RYG0aMiwlId4QYBzpyaaAZCTT7tNOKMprywJAmi7taEqh3XThZbYXwOtHIKSBNo1O71GAtQjOJa5mc_7PcL2fsqNZwOF2pPG9fMYTy4PJtuVyPlhNn627DM8s/s320/DSC04943.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing over a big cedar that<br />
smashed a little bridge</td></tr>
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The long trail of switchbacks made it all the more rewarding when we finally broke out into the clearing of subalpine meadows. It was cloudy, but the clouds were high enough that we had great views of surrounding mountains, and it was a very comfortable temperature. We could see Mount Olympus, the Bailey Range, and numerous glaciers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2fF95XJViUHFd-2J2AmN5YEddNvWxzYZCss01vfkYQV2ZUyh_CJ_8roYtsGqzSC_p3XLF-a0kkq72SFE1tb-BdtCjqixTXxRHLrl6Y5IeGkXbcO9vwYd-fYtFIcucHJPF265u1KRdXw/s1600/DSC04988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2fF95XJViUHFd-2J2AmN5YEddNvWxzYZCss01vfkYQV2ZUyh_CJ_8roYtsGqzSC_p3XLF-a0kkq72SFE1tb-BdtCjqixTXxRHLrl6Y5IeGkXbcO9vwYd-fYtFIcucHJPF265u1KRdXw/s320/DSC04988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the views from the subalpine slopes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupSUb9oRHzFkSwgEa2vZyo79rsvvv_0ki1y7fIHs1lULH9wrGlkBZiIi1p6W4mASYQlkdZ1LABVfHsENzB9IGIsimow-xZD5tdx5SdDao3-jczZFEIiiLdsPTarnpsKmHhS_byu3JFm0/s1600/DSC04990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupSUb9oRHzFkSwgEa2vZyo79rsvvv_0ki1y7fIHs1lULH9wrGlkBZiIi1p6W4mASYQlkdZ1LABVfHsENzB9IGIsimow-xZD5tdx5SdDao3-jczZFEIiiLdsPTarnpsKmHhS_byu3JFm0/s320/DSC04990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reaching our destination: Dodger Point lookout!</td></tr>
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We made it to the lookout at 5750 feet in the early evening. It is closed to the public and used on an as-needed basis by the park service. We relished the view from top, sipped whiskey, and watched the clouds hint at pink before descending back a half mile to set up camp and make dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITKxlOgmosMUJM7GWnTaS3tDpnDFF7pVhPtWePtybdfUWv1EcYxTF2bxYyVMh5JTsjE1hTbWHSzgMNNYTlyua7mX0I9kS2Li2aq-Y1_wGo-PcLYMCKqbDxbXzyOogF5c5280ETynKlkY/s1600/DSC05029.ARW" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITKxlOgmosMUJM7GWnTaS3tDpnDFF7pVhPtWePtybdfUWv1EcYxTF2bxYyVMh5JTsjE1hTbWHSzgMNNYTlyua7mX0I9kS2Li2aq-Y1_wGo-PcLYMCKqbDxbXzyOogF5c5280ETynKlkY/s320/DSC05029.ARW" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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It rained on and off during the night, and we awoke to a thick fog. I was so happy that we had gotten nice views the day before. We fueled up on coffee, refilled water, and layered up to tromp through the wet, dense salal and blueberry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllskIIPLiuP0_TGpPbbbhdeFCaNlVvuZuGoSKewXocSYUCLzek5KAYpwX9tyOXwJLmGOWeB9hkEf2kCGh2iMX_Phs0mzrlLUsUbE7F1OxWZ2sdq2yolMR1RVilBK1KroFLf6RjkKJcho/s1600/DSC05046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllskIIPLiuP0_TGpPbbbhdeFCaNlVvuZuGoSKewXocSYUCLzek5KAYpwX9tyOXwJLmGOWeB9hkEf2kCGh2iMX_Phs0mzrlLUsUbE7F1OxWZ2sdq2yolMR1RVilBK1KroFLf6RjkKJcho/s320/DSC05046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the hike out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRnwRpS6OWM2e9tjz00NH7gINdr5KPCaMkMbdsdD7LPkw3IDQC-j8YunetQtBf9KQuwCaxVGCziVxWXz_D2XSgXa1PHuE2DicDp3ceQgcZ4wkzAyWYCta6gVIRWf4Iu7qZ4n03-7EW4M/s1600/DSC05048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRnwRpS6OWM2e9tjz00NH7gINdr5KPCaMkMbdsdD7LPkw3IDQC-j8YunetQtBf9KQuwCaxVGCziVxWXz_D2XSgXa1PHuE2DicDp3ceQgcZ4wkzAyWYCta6gVIRWf4Iu7qZ4n03-7EW4M/s320/DSC05048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mist in the Long Creek valley</td></tr>
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It got steadily warmer and drier all morning, and by lunch time we were sitting in patches of hot sun, drying out our socks. In the last few miles of trail there is a small loop hike option, so we took the section that we hadn't taken on the way in. It passed by a couple homesteader cabins from the turn of the century. They are a little grimy but sturdy and in good condition. And the highlight? You can barely see it, but in front of this cabin is an apple tree. It had little apples on it and I enjoyed one with delight, as it's not often you get to eat decades old apples from a historic homestead in the middle of a national park. And with not a single other person to be seen. We hadn't passed anyone in two days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sUlFoILP4M_F3q7o1sGe2bqQYxjcESwNvzZYNxvVHlXlp9SQW4oNDDS_nvrvRcdv4T8c-cuVbCs-WNGnApRX-wgNG_pt7HgcnRagLwnOUr6rCd6ru3z0b-dx4ZiSf8RkR0v5T2e8kMU/s1600/DSC05070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sUlFoILP4M_F3q7o1sGe2bqQYxjcESwNvzZYNxvVHlXlp9SQW4oNDDS_nvrvRcdv4T8c-cuVbCs-WNGnApRX-wgNG_pt7HgcnRagLwnOUr6rCd6ru3z0b-dx4ZiSf8RkR0v5T2e8kMU/s320/DSC05070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn of the century homesteader cabin</td></tr>
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We thoroughly enjoyed the downhill of the bike ride out, though on the slightest bit of uphill, my quads were screaming. We made it back to the car in one piece, and stopped on the way to the ferry to wolf down dinner. I wish we had been able to spend more time there, and just soak in that part of the Olympic backcountry without having to hike out immediately. It was a ton of ground to cover in just over 48 hours, and I hobbled up my stairs and into a hot shower in contented exhaustion.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-5592042728001822242016-09-02T20:26:00.000-07:002016-09-15T20:29:05.046-07:00An Outdoor, Offline August<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had the privilege and pleasure of taking the month of August off from my day job to finish a bunch of hiking research for a side project that I'm working on. It was productive, exhausting, and a total blast. I did some day hikes and a handful of two- and three-day backpacking trips. In northern Washington I went west to Orcas Island and east as far as Tonasket, as far south as the Columbia River, and many spots in between.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nA0csU1UzygPoN07H3FBA0YGa6yImjsCpy7RQ2AtCMOu7h5CNV1Tw0KEPLhbo4n0gQppMafzc_2LvRzSLaSG4wofoNaDUrXmLj82Q-yAlicSJBlTNa0SXwJE6DrXAkbYj0TVIHrHwto/s1600/DSC03604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nA0csU1UzygPoN07H3FBA0YGa6yImjsCpy7RQ2AtCMOu7h5CNV1Tw0KEPLhbo4n0gQppMafzc_2LvRzSLaSG4wofoNaDUrXmLj82Q-yAlicSJBlTNa0SXwJE6DrXAkbYj0TVIHrHwto/s320/DSC03604.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-day trip up the Suiattle River to Miner's Ridge,<br />
with views of Glacier Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Yo3YmHk7C5GNCsO6JVyP4Rpk3x9N13_PvIcndOXgvvXjSJgCkORxfFhe-bCumV4g3hUxwYH6apsaPBtFZX8buOhz_gKy-iRYCzz-GGgA7Tmqn3UTe1P2Pr2fbByOEfDvSIGQy948Qc/s1600/DSC03748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6Yo3YmHk7C5GNCsO6JVyP4Rpk3x9N13_PvIcndOXgvvXjSJgCkORxfFhe-bCumV4g3hUxwYH6apsaPBtFZX8buOhz_gKy-iRYCzz-GGgA7Tmqn3UTe1P2Pr2fbByOEfDvSIGQy948Qc/s320/DSC03748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted many grouse, especially in eastern Washington</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpa-FqWqwUe0aY4Lj5WsCwm1OU-5wqdjJw0Bvo7qxsMoIOYJHYMUzDR6XVR9KjJOujAqRCbFWwLgdoCFNKHloWx23zLMua3u_7xJQ-6Rp5FsrZbmjw74rEiFh9UQ13nksz-hQR2O0U-n8/s1600/DSC03830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpa-FqWqwUe0aY4Lj5WsCwm1OU-5wqdjJw0Bvo7qxsMoIOYJHYMUzDR6XVR9KjJOujAqRCbFWwLgdoCFNKHloWx23zLMua3u_7xJQ-6Rp5FsrZbmjw74rEiFh9UQ13nksz-hQR2O0U-n8/s320/DSC03830.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went over the Entiat River Valley for my first time.<br />
So pretty over there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw1UdweXj-cdoCsGC4sCIpEkWjagCiGuMwWDgwcl2lBoMAiRTpWIAK0TCdl5f9CqadgHfPedGuniET-OKaH6kntm3BQktgJuAVZSZ8q84HE2Dpx2YzJoms2ZOpcYfYcUwXrLNEPd4kqA/s1600/DSC03911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw1UdweXj-cdoCsGC4sCIpEkWjagCiGuMwWDgwcl2lBoMAiRTpWIAK0TCdl5f9CqadgHfPedGuniET-OKaH6kntm3BQktgJuAVZSZ8q84HE2Dpx2YzJoms2ZOpcYfYcUwXrLNEPd4kqA/s320/DSC03911.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I hiked solo, and sometimes with friends.<br />
Did an overnight and two day hikes with Alice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8UTmQKRChFYt3YoWUD_MUuGLJuf9FMe2187GiWsK8MgLJS02_o0nO_nqcaHxcrvVHZj6GJ_ngSKvbbdQSSwlI4gdU36mFkiHs6rDySa3u7GGD_6-HoZY4YshofrMtDbqQf-hgqmzDmc/s1600/DSC04050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8UTmQKRChFYt3YoWUD_MUuGLJuf9FMe2187GiWsK8MgLJS02_o0nO_nqcaHxcrvVHZj6GJ_ngSKvbbdQSSwlI4gdU36mFkiHs6rDySa3u7GGD_6-HoZY4YshofrMtDbqQf-hgqmzDmc/s320/DSC04050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Monument 83 in the Pasayten Wilderness</td></tr>
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On the days in between hiking, I came back to Seattle to do laundry, grocery shop, eat a big salad, repack, and catch up on city life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGFdvDb8QfyxyJTelbVq_Bt4nIbqewh4bVcHPRfjbahLHuWH_ynqGCxwWzzXTbiv96FdewY2KeE9paOthf5kB7YLfCjEmdkwm5dyTx_c5vRFCfIZ-UWhmFEKlOa530DOY-F1bg9SyZy0/s1600/DSC04059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGFdvDb8QfyxyJTelbVq_Bt4nIbqewh4bVcHPRfjbahLHuWH_ynqGCxwWzzXTbiv96FdewY2KeE9paOthf5kB7YLfCjEmdkwm5dyTx_c5vRFCfIZ-UWhmFEKlOa530DOY-F1bg9SyZy0/s320/DSC04059.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to hang with a couple of<br />
my sweet little nieces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhBKZwro_2nplHk-FB0jLZRPs4PqrJSPi3nWjNjI4k8ZBqJcGovEIRqi6BVZadpIOjRhkqQeuNJh_xqUDnK8mWQeD5l8Q-JRw-HB9oHYLaFU9WK1I7slnokrdnopQ8Rj1mqMn530wWpo/s1600/DSC03538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhBKZwro_2nplHk-FB0jLZRPs4PqrJSPi3nWjNjI4k8ZBqJcGovEIRqi6BVZadpIOjRhkqQeuNJh_xqUDnK8mWQeD5l8Q-JRw-HB9oHYLaFU9WK1I7slnokrdnopQ8Rj1mqMn530wWpo/s320/DSC03538.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elliot Bay sail boat race with friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVYdprna_Wd13A5CZsGr7N9BBEuxFZr8sVH5tGKaM7eLv7WrxUPFTT0duE1hFZHE_MsUG7gpvGU2Ql7y2fwWUDoyIUGm59BRmryL0v6g3Dh-k4RBxa8jrfcDuv1NHhNgB5DMFByaN38/s1600/DSC04294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQVYdprna_Wd13A5CZsGr7N9BBEuxFZr8sVH5tGKaM7eLv7WrxUPFTT0duE1hFZHE_MsUG7gpvGU2Ql7y2fwWUDoyIUGm59BRmryL0v6g3Dh-k4RBxa8jrfcDuv1NHhNgB5DMFByaN38/s320/DSC04294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work team building event--sailing cruise!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScFmsb0MzwXbYg_F0yjWOcm5mD5ecGIbZ04VOQicbXPI7vCdIG_w-OSd1xfKQTmS68Z8cphj-PWEnhj5-yuS3CkxsyLnwwCgmlz5yOyjtFSz1TenH8AQ5dBV90P_i1go2x3rR-rdb6gY/s1600/DSC04301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScFmsb0MzwXbYg_F0yjWOcm5mD5ecGIbZ04VOQicbXPI7vCdIG_w-OSd1xfKQTmS68Z8cphj-PWEnhj5-yuS3CkxsyLnwwCgmlz5yOyjtFSz1TenH8AQ5dBV90P_i1go2x3rR-rdb6gY/s320/DSC04301.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swam in Lake Washington on a<br />
warm night as the sun set, then<br />
watched the moon rise over the water.</td></tr>
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I'm sad that the month of playing outside is over, but I'm slowly getting used to the idea of fall being here. Happy September!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-34504928127240334952016-08-05T21:25:00.000-07:002018-07-12T22:53:33.701-07:00This Digital Content Writer Goes AnalogI love my job as a digital content marketing writer. It's been more than two and a half years, and I'm grateful every day to go to the office, dive into the work, be around brilliant coworkers, and challenge myself.<br />
<br />
But all my work happens online: case studies, infographics, e-books. It's rare that anything gets printed. My whole day involves being inside a building and looking at a computer screen. I gaze briefly out the window at the wind rustling the trees, the waves on Puget Sound, the burning sunsets<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">—</span>and then return to my screen. My brain thrives on the research and writing, but my body wants to interact with something more concrete and organic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkpgOyOwjqgdQZUB4TTIlw-rtogy65dKhroDNkH4BS1CkMxJnzBD3IwsncuvGwJDk5DV3W3fw93gtc_NnofyZn3mxFuoDK0wpLCLGbD7tCTn76-6MM_N0ODWrgNhh8jV5JGlsDT2hQpw/s1600/no+devices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkpgOyOwjqgdQZUB4TTIlw-rtogy65dKhroDNkH4BS1CkMxJnzBD3IwsncuvGwJDk5DV3W3fw93gtc_NnofyZn3mxFuoDK0wpLCLGbD7tCTn76-6MM_N0ODWrgNhh8jV5JGlsDT2hQpw/s320/no+devices.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.cookcountycourt.org/HOME/CellPhoneElectronicDeviceBan.aspx">here</a></td></tr>
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Friends, I'm taking a break from my regular digital world to work on a side project that involves a lot of hiking. I'm signing off for a few weeks to spent time in the Cascade mountains, be outside, quiet my mind, and thoroughly tire out my body.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDsXGMoI21hEvD6b6VgcjmY0a_NVx-v69XNX74jv4WgjYebYqPJuMIaBWu7voJvYrPghJAZIGiVmCPMldmDXmza7x-jLJeovX7cIlvf_QMUDjqCsnrXtUVNV9e1QnomJ-xH-Wyp1qAUA/s1600/DSC02596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDsXGMoI21hEvD6b6VgcjmY0a_NVx-v69XNX74jv4WgjYebYqPJuMIaBWu7voJvYrPghJAZIGiVmCPMldmDXmza7x-jLJeovX7cIlvf_QMUDjqCsnrXtUVNV9e1QnomJ-xH-Wyp1qAUA/s320/DSC02596.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this little dish. Thanks, Tena!</td></tr>
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I'm looking forward to thinking about trails, plants, and wildlife instead of the typical jargon of technology marking. The only gated content I'll consider is when there is a physical gate, blocking a forest service road. My integrated solution will be mixing my packets of Via and hot chocolate. The only bandwidth I'll ponder is the thickness of my backpack straps. <br />
<br />
I will continually optimize my strategy for navigating scree fields. My real-time data analysis will include looking around at, you know, everything I can see right there in real time. My powerful tool for improving decision-making will be checking the weather forecast. My legacy solution will be my old tent that I've been meaning to upgrade for years. My centralizing of data will be putting maps and a compass in the same Ziploc bag. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiLpNqOnUfDWNOzPv4tn5-KHSObvL8hvfPZTwatrlG9JwquD6GAoqeir88io4ULGQzH-jYxEgBi7fYo6SUqRzmktMbPsKPhjP9m9-og2GPLqtWRGdvQHVbFjinXyRWZ7fTVzHdQ63Gcw/s1600/Post-it+note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiLpNqOnUfDWNOzPv4tn5-KHSObvL8hvfPZTwatrlG9JwquD6GAoqeir88io4ULGQzH-jYxEgBi7fYo6SUqRzmktMbPsKPhjP9m9-og2GPLqtWRGdvQHVbFjinXyRWZ7fTVzHdQ63Gcw/s320/Post-it+note.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye message from coworker. Thanks, Mia!</td></tr>
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I will be filled with glee over the intuitive and user-friendly interface of my backpack. The only dashboard view will be the one in my car. My workflow steps will involve a boot hitting a dirt trail. I will marvel at the seamless intereroperation of my pocket rocket stove and its gas canister. The only cloud storage that matters will be the amount of moisture in the ones overhead. And the only omnichannel solution I'll leverage is to capture a vista with my eyeballs, binoculars, <i>and</i> camera.<br />
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<img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y6Sx63pXroEEyl4d020NsJtVlj5Y9cmM-_JPr7uZ0A4IUfv09Ws2YRwDqnZmK-rfq9mBtu2HxE8LFfOy1aYXdJkXi0q108RCjjLrKTPZLOYUUTZ8Ffk2S05TQRshF-2SngAVmqSVkBA/s320/Image+lake+on+Miner%2527s+Ridge.jpg" width="320" /></div>
I'll take notes on paper, sing instead of listening to digital music player, and wake up with the sunrise instead of an alarm. I hope you have a fabulous and fun August, and do whatever feels summery and relaxing to you. Catch you on the flipside!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-48169363241532243232016-07-27T08:45:00.000-07:002016-07-29T08:50:26.726-07:00Methow Valley: Hiking and Visiting an EarthshipI was 18 the first time I went to the Methow Valley, and it was also my first time hiking in the North Cascades and staying in an Earthship home. I went back a couple times in college, and earlier in July had the chance to go again. I packed a three-day weekend to the brim, starting with hiking by myself near Mazama, Winthrop, and Okanogan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I2obQ2ZVMNwMv5JHvAfobmeNeiO261KHOWQajofhkXiv09WOa1IyV-zsgA74B9ASfs6N-GqvLiiXrQ1tDjYvnxbL2q6I0PLSd8F-6RJaWN6QX8qkpqPnIQ2e7uHMMkPfMWas-CQT49Q/s1600/DSC03098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I2obQ2ZVMNwMv5JHvAfobmeNeiO261KHOWQajofhkXiv09WOa1IyV-zsgA74B9ASfs6N-GqvLiiXrQ1tDjYvnxbL2q6I0PLSd8F-6RJaWN6QX8qkpqPnIQ2e7uHMMkPfMWas-CQT49Q/s320/DSC03098.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Butte fire lookout near Winthrop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytFEmUQH7oq2BcWNKu2mcXiJWn6HzpZ3XCdfaGWO2Z3BOL9j335Es-9o7gyIm8HgiDyybbjqVdeQKZg8E1804D51l8PHqOkgNZm-CihzPe2dCzfNDSBmPoc6qif6SCa7vcHvGZ6gq_zI/s1600/DSC03103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytFEmUQH7oq2BcWNKu2mcXiJWn6HzpZ3XCdfaGWO2Z3BOL9j335Es-9o7gyIm8HgiDyybbjqVdeQKZg8E1804D51l8PHqOkgNZm-CihzPe2dCzfNDSBmPoc6qif6SCa7vcHvGZ6gq_zI/s320/DSC03103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking views</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3cZwW-n6Hejg3YAOhrFfwfMsjx1H9R9fgKJXXhjFTl28ZPSSZUyABsP5ybqX-eoy0Ayu9ZbfHFjU4Evfl9tse8pOfxb2l2tOEI4ejkLTWxHj-ttHt3By0KJ_N2oN8-PQhLM-0Nxf43I/s1600/DSC03139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3cZwW-n6Hejg3YAOhrFfwfMsjx1H9R9fgKJXXhjFTl28ZPSSZUyABsP5ybqX-eoy0Ayu9ZbfHFjU4Evfl9tse8pOfxb2l2tOEI4ejkLTWxHj-ttHt3By0KJ_N2oN8-PQhLM-0Nxf43I/s320/DSC03139.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woke up to a double rainbow while camping, around 5:30 a.m.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZFclDGcgdadmrRMTYunKFj3e6NWamr-IoqU9EmUaVXQSw5f6Y9ITnC80a-jE-8C0hGe3LZCRvlc1cT5W9SDa0iuYIlxSav9U0qcTIrQ7qLN15c6d8Y-BrhLFRyIieBIc8ijltH6uxsM/s1600/DSC03142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZFclDGcgdadmrRMTYunKFj3e6NWamr-IoqU9EmUaVXQSw5f6Y9ITnC80a-jE-8C0hGe3LZCRvlc1cT5W9SDa0iuYIlxSav9U0qcTIrQ7qLN15c6d8Y-BrhLFRyIieBIc8ijltH6uxsM/s320/DSC03142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning light driving east on Highway 20</td></tr>
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Hiking in the Okanogan National Forest is different from being on the west side of the mountains because there is a lot of grazing cattle. I would see a black mass in the trees and think it was a black bear, only to realize it was a cow. I also saw a ton of deer on the forest service roads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Xog7M_xBpHwmD4IT9gQf2JKjfqAqBz5KBKJBLqDveOtfZB4nHKuVfqB-ZhyphenhyphentBVLIIs8P4cDGmhyphenhyphentV8K2-1GHFNTuPUNWXi3ybAbrLY9SCixWEIHnONWw2EBBaL36JRszyu3K_Pa0tY/s1600/DSC03144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Xog7M_xBpHwmD4IT9gQf2JKjfqAqBz5KBKJBLqDveOtfZB4nHKuVfqB-ZhyphenhyphentBVLIIs8P4cDGmhyphenhyphentV8K2-1GHFNTuPUNWXi3ybAbrLY9SCixWEIHnONWw2EBBaL36JRszyu3K_Pa0tY/s320/DSC03144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Part two of the trip was meeting up with my dear friend Lindsey to visit her family friends at their Earthship home near Carlton, in the southeastern part of the Methow, where she took me when I was 18. What's an Earthship, you ask? It's a type of sustainable, green building that is partially built from recycled materials, uses passive solar, uses its own greywater, among many other things. Check out <br />
<a href="http://www.earthship.com/">www.earthship.com</a>. The website talks about Earthship homes addressing these five areas:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Water:</b> From the sky (rain & snow melt). Uses it four times.</i><br />
<i><b>Electricity:</b> From the sun and the wind stored in batteries and supplied to your electrical outlets via a prepackaged power system.</i><br />
<i><b>Sewage Treatment:</b> Indoor and outdoor treatment cells contain, use and reuse all household sewage (greywater and blackwater). Use any kind of flush toilet.</i><br />
<i><b>Comfort in Any Climate:</b> From only the sun and the earth. Maintain comfortable temperatures all year with no fossil fuels.</i><br />
<i><b>Food:</b> Healthy and free, grown from interior and exterior botanical cells. All plants are highly functional and play a direct role in taking care of you.</i><br />
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In front of the Earthship entrance </div>
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with Lindsey in 2003</div>
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Staying at the beautiful, off-grid home with awesome hosts as a high school student was very influential for me. It was a springboard that got me interested in sustainability, permaculture, green buildings, and farming when I got to college.<br />
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Lindsey now lives in Austin, so it was doubly great to see her in the Methow. We hung out on the shady patio, drank wine, read, ate veggies from the garden, and slept in the yard near the chickens.<br />
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Big thanks to our hosts for having us!<i><br /></i></div>
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</i>AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-55483924770822999482016-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:002016-07-09T10:37:06.010-07:00Glacier Peak Climbing AttemptI've wanted to climb Glacier Peak ever since <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-week-on-pacific-crest-trail.html">spending six days hiking through Glacier Peak Wilderness</a> on section K of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) two summers ago. I got up close to the western flank of the 10,541-foot volcano and got to marvel at its imposing presence and shimmering glaciers. Fast forward a couple years, and the opportunity opened up to join a rope team with four awesome folks who I met through the <a href="https://washingtonalpineclub.org/">Washington Alpine Club</a> basic climbing class.<br />
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I am in relatively good shape, but I haven't done any mountaineering or big backpacking trips recently, so I spent the month of June in pretty focused training for the climb. First, I cut out all wheat, sugar, and alcohol from my diet to maximize whole foods, veggies, and protein. I continued going to my gym workout classes at <a href="http://www.2p0fit.com/">2.0</a> and also started doing some pack training with a heavy backpack on day hikes and on stairs.<br />
<br />
Glacier Peak is Washington's hidden volcano. Even though it's just 240 feet lower than Mount Baker, most Seattleites couldn't tell you where the mountain is. That's because it's the most remote volcano in the state and the only one that is not visible from a highway. That also means that it's considered more difficult (though less technical) to summit than Mount Rainer, simply because it's such a long and exhausting approach to get there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.washingtonstatesearch.com/Washington_maps/Major_Washington_State_Volcanoes.html">here</a></td></tr>
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We did a good bit of group prep for the climb: two in-person meetings, a massive gear/logistics/emergency contacts shared spreadsheet, talking to other friends who have climbed, and checking weather and trip reports online. We planned to go over the fourth of July so that we'd have a three-day weekend without taking time off work. We checked multiple weather websites on Friday morning, and they varied a lot, from pretty much clear to cloudy, windy, and 40% chance of rain on Sunday. The forecast was iffy, but not terrible. We decided we'd rather go and know for sure what the conditions were than to not go based on speculation.</div>
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Sweet note from coworker who came to bid me </div>
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farewell when I was away from my desk</div>
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We left Saturday morning from Sloan Creek trailhead, hiking the flat trail along the North Fork Sauk River. After several miles, the trail started to climb, and we emerged from the trees into the hot summer sun as the trail switchbacked up and up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TjZGEGHnrj-fRPBrxsCK1SOcYy2tKTHObx34xi3OvC5Ot74Oh2EB0Jb8VYho1IxTJ0ulNq_ZRm788VwYD3lXS3lpzs_nYkctWnP4htykLJFHUSZJOKsPdHTqeqcVFDyOb7i3HFAOLlU/s1600/DSC03040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TjZGEGHnrj-fRPBrxsCK1SOcYy2tKTHObx34xi3OvC5Ot74Oh2EB0Jb8VYho1IxTJ0ulNq_ZRm788VwYD3lXS3lpzs_nYkctWnP4htykLJFHUSZJOKsPdHTqeqcVFDyOb7i3HFAOLlU/s320/DSC03040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resting at White Pass</td></tr>
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The trail joined the PCT briefly on a beautiful traverse before depositing us the White Pass junction, now 8.6 miles from the trailhead and 4,000 feet higher. From here we split from the PCT, continued traversing, and hit many snow patches on the way. We made it to right before the White Chuck Glacier and decided to stop for the day. We found a beautiful campsite and running water, so it was the perfect place to stop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1tJUXdv7B7b86G0HXP9pWmG6_LARHhhCi21hRJOPZhnGAv6nfCjrtEF0V_GpMkJQbaEHbRO7eSUekRJMRMQqMiK04H3jQHhZ6DOEYTLGHiK_n5fQxu_3otr51XcNpNA-xLCnZ8Fh1iA/s1600/DSC03047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1tJUXdv7B7b86G0HXP9pWmG6_LARHhhCi21hRJOPZhnGAv6nfCjrtEF0V_GpMkJQbaEHbRO7eSUekRJMRMQqMiK04H3jQHhZ6DOEYTLGHiK_n5fQxu_3otr51XcNpNA-xLCnZ8Fh1iA/s320/DSC03047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYUwygb07V5VDei_97TsyrB1QGugwbTPb0T0TdbTDeJuvn4sEHs1vadbN82VcFNTESAywsEUxOEGSsTga1tRoBw5cCcaTM6tpYnwzYcM65l2dfDnLZCpMcdezTUHO8FLbN8LhcDJyS34/s1600/DSC03046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYUwygb07V5VDei_97TsyrB1QGugwbTPb0T0TdbTDeJuvn4sEHs1vadbN82VcFNTESAywsEUxOEGSsTga1tRoBw5cCcaTM6tpYnwzYcM65l2dfDnLZCpMcdezTUHO8FLbN8LhcDJyS34/s320/DSC03046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking up from camp: Can you see the mountain goat?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TCI4DTgMtsNGG18Lpuuku7Oo9jcQDOUqBFyb8OzhQ71V-GTHfNEj-j6Vk9hWM3ehaXHb7sUqjQIbrvJoE8shvYhzvXvxCeuFD1PEgdhlpehIagoAHyJbCglrd731jPqvcq7cU5xV2lc/s1600/DSC03049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TCI4DTgMtsNGG18Lpuuku7Oo9jcQDOUqBFyb8OzhQ71V-GTHfNEj-j6Vk9hWM3ehaXHb7sUqjQIbrvJoE8shvYhzvXvxCeuFD1PEgdhlpehIagoAHyJbCglrd731jPqvcq7cU5xV2lc/s320/DSC03049.jpg" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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It was a gorgeous evening. Later, as we ate dinner and drank tea, some clouds began to roll in. We made a game plan for the next day: what time we would wake up, how long we would need to summit and return, what our bad weather limits were, what our turnaround time would be, etc.<br />
<br />
I woke up many times during the night to huge gusts of wind. When the alarm went off at 4 a.m. we looked out the tent door to find complete white-out and howling wind. Then it started to rain. We decided to try again at 6 a.m. to see if anything changed. It continued to rain and wrack the tents with 40 mph gusts until after 10 a.m. Hannah braved the weather and finally left the tent to heat water for breakfast. By that point it was far too late to start the summit attempt.<br />
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We were all disappointed, but had known this was a possibility. We laughed at how we thought we were going to have a grueling day on little sleep, but instead we got more sleep than we had in years and felt super rested as we hung out drinking coffee in our sleeping bags. Unfortunately we could not stay an extra day because of having to be back to work on Tuesday, so there was nothing left to do but hike out. As morning turned to afternoon and we packed up camp, it was still pretty windy but cleared up a little. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marmot says hello. One of countless many that we saw.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSltkTKRyc7SV1GXxOGfGW-mMTvcVyanzAiZHTgAqx3Fkb8Cjp8TZgDr-sZFNr2x347I5SxxVa9LWaPKEGPZDgZ1hKEk97bQn3DgDzDfOFzrlp8D4lR8UTOlksNvH2UG9zBDVVOLh5Jg/s1600/DSC03061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSltkTKRyc7SV1GXxOGfGW-mMTvcVyanzAiZHTgAqx3Fkb8Cjp8TZgDr-sZFNr2x347I5SxxVa9LWaPKEGPZDgZ1hKEk97bQn3DgDzDfOFzrlp8D4lR8UTOlksNvH2UG9zBDVVOLh5Jg/s320/DSC03061.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The weather was a let down, especially because it had been so nice right before and right after we were supposed to summit. But we stayed realistic about the possibility of bad weather, and we put safety first. We kept positive attitudes, had a blast being in the backcountry together, got a great workout, and still practiced some mountaineering skills. And Glacier Peak will still be there in 2017.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcKCqLu0Gvzmwi5PfFLPLKndmqMUeUEZ-hvxYwKHrRoZMt7Xjqpn093zA7mwuIBHFvSiH16s_W455IWlg3blIlWunBXx6opEvHHTKOpoxQ2vnLKS8D_9TOrhwEXjn_nQauL8GBPKaKyQ/s1600/DSC03057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcKCqLu0Gvzmwi5PfFLPLKndmqMUeUEZ-hvxYwKHrRoZMt7Xjqpn093zA7mwuIBHFvSiH16s_W455IWlg3blIlWunBXx6opEvHHTKOpoxQ2vnLKS8D_9TOrhwEXjn_nQauL8GBPKaKyQ/s320/DSC03057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-86903961545084165572016-06-22T12:03:00.000-07:002016-07-01T07:35:28.877-07:00The Longest SpringSeattle has the longest meteorological spring in the country! So says atmospheric science professor Cliff Mass <a href="http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2016/02/seattle-and-western-washington-has.html">in a recent blog</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>Astronomical spring is, of course, the three month period from March 20/21 to June 20/21. But meteorological/biological spring can greatly differ from astronomical spring. I like to tell folks that typically spring begins in western Washington the third week in February (let's say Feb. 25th) and ends in mid-July (local meteorologists like to use July 13th).</i><br />
<br />
I love celebrating the summer solstice, but as a Seattle native, it always felt like summer reliably started right after the fourth of July. Here are some highlights to say farewell to the longest spring and hello to summer—whenever it may start for you.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYyoZGqHEG0nlRzym04SUb7NVsVnlZ_sUbRbeI5v7PG715IwkW-SDOkc-rvbN1YCfMTOr1O7JHAuOBGFDPi76rHssZS1exCHr5TNrDOwS4fQ-5bspBih0umUy3OKDqKg4ZH5GXM9RJGc/s1600/20160305_152113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYyoZGqHEG0nlRzym04SUb7NVsVnlZ_sUbRbeI5v7PG715IwkW-SDOkc-rvbN1YCfMTOr1O7JHAuOBGFDPi76rHssZS1exCHr5TNrDOwS4fQ-5bspBih0umUy3OKDqKg4ZH5GXM9RJGc/s320/20160305_152113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Razor clamming on the Washington coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BpXTh7WJGkzG7qzpiKyzMH6jT5kg9rzid1vMWqcACVrKshfLhLpEsPES-2crLvGvsTaCr2_4znZ8i6bqyLQwWeON2q4UBY1qhSKPXg11OEfVsI4FnEZh8Yel4fzS85463U2muhRgxdg/s1600/20160417_170715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BpXTh7WJGkzG7qzpiKyzMH6jT5kg9rzid1vMWqcACVrKshfLhLpEsPES-2crLvGvsTaCr2_4znZ8i6bqyLQwWeON2q4UBY1qhSKPXg11OEfVsI4FnEZh8Yel4fzS85463U2muhRgxdg/s320/20160417_170715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing in Puget Sound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPk8ZlQmECoCJIYnETFxzZpSdsdMHtwMuK1bvLV2C3OhI76XcZ5iTiUMM3RVid1q9T8PUmBFZorMBzfCmkhpNxHBmetPTNL7y4e5kudee3FFOs499WUQ5B1A5o4O3qbgR9jkjykgkv1l8/s1600/20160507_201426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPk8ZlQmECoCJIYnETFxzZpSdsdMHtwMuK1bvLV2C3OhI76XcZ5iTiUMM3RVid1q9T8PUmBFZorMBzfCmkhpNxHBmetPTNL7y4e5kudee3FFOs499WUQ5B1A5o4O3qbgR9jkjykgkv1l8/s320/20160507_201426.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Carkeek Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JzdDBhMbacGb6tS_CiU6fuAubxg8at_sE2aWfI6x34fg_mWoVhqAqob6dkU_HylS1pynfS2boyXoJq99jFwlXTBdm5Y6Ym49730Q0oG2rwv1VKBn-qjYwQd6nJB5LhqdQss_io0lfXo/s1600/DSC01967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JzdDBhMbacGb6tS_CiU6fuAubxg8at_sE2aWfI6x34fg_mWoVhqAqob6dkU_HylS1pynfS2boyXoJq99jFwlXTBdm5Y6Ym49730Q0oG2rwv1VKBn-qjYwQd6nJB5LhqdQss_io0lfXo/s320/DSC01967.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nephew at Easter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bw6nmB8tss3TF98ABxE_uDpws2h7Fjoo5OwLX4HE7jDPFXrFFpqi35vLTXuYhNm3sKz1upJQGq1rfurN1KWzmYGffR_0XevaIX3zuapGNW5d5ZnI2lDHfDA4E0KxFwR8pWF-v-IXrxY/s1600/DSC02038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bw6nmB8tss3TF98ABxE_uDpws2h7Fjoo5OwLX4HE7jDPFXrFFpqi35vLTXuYhNm3sKz1upJQGq1rfurN1KWzmYGffR_0XevaIX3zuapGNW5d5ZnI2lDHfDA4E0KxFwR8pWF-v-IXrxY/s320/DSC02038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in the ghost town of Terlingua, Texas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWoa_7hVsbIENADV6vW3XtrCOi-CXQJ9m-dngh4CGu6xIr-mGWTX1tTG3RtvtpigJrzaDI4M6UCDeD5f2oBY5pxzdUK4XMmDRoGABP_s6589CTQZ6o7JhzDuquNzsd7d0KRuGkLz4hXA/s1600/DSC02052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWoa_7hVsbIENADV6vW3XtrCOi-CXQJ9m-dngh4CGu6xIr-mGWTX1tTG3RtvtpigJrzaDI4M6UCDeD5f2oBY5pxzdUK4XMmDRoGABP_s6589CTQZ6o7JhzDuquNzsd7d0KRuGkLz4hXA/s320/DSC02052.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road trip to Big Bend National Park, Texas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooJF6UIDVQpYSHqo1zBDAYe66prupL1QaUD3JNfqOCno6oLiXvEmSPgJ1G8L1r6h2MqHqiXoSp8btjcZpo9kQ8LFhFgS04RCcSJEI0c1XuykFxUT0yS9gFxjHPUg9LA3K68Aag4wMEB8/s1600/DSC02148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooJF6UIDVQpYSHqo1zBDAYe66prupL1QaUD3JNfqOCno6oLiXvEmSPgJ1G8L1r6h2MqHqiXoSp8btjcZpo9kQ8LFhFgS04RCcSJEI0c1XuykFxUT0yS9gFxjHPUg9LA3K68Aag4wMEB8/s320/DSC02148.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking with Mom and nieces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-_45ipBy7219EJbBO4MuoHLXLWnzljko4C-Qe6HpDZ3e97Pgoy1WjoSyu2mHLty9ZQESpImdbHk3ByC2iT5GbGIABsmbMQsxYEVDGMkKWHZtd2VqZ5fOzTeBBk5ZjI-RHLq2zeRqT0/s1600/DSC02231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT-_45ipBy7219EJbBO4MuoHLXLWnzljko4C-Qe6HpDZ3e97Pgoy1WjoSyu2mHLty9ZQESpImdbHk3ByC2iT5GbGIABsmbMQsxYEVDGMkKWHZtd2VqZ5fOzTeBBk5ZjI-RHLq2zeRqT0/s320/DSC02231.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping and climbing in the Tieton River Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt40rcrkMc8nXO9j9tJWGSjoBhYP0rg2RjvD7StMpSYTSyL9XGuL_MLYldJduTobpPXgoJy-1Vt7GLGRZ_DTTsNHrNwSSrtlBFP4Jk2lCc-fNRdKEBaOkToQeggxShz_7gv1JQNl8q76w/s1600/DSC02230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt40rcrkMc8nXO9j9tJWGSjoBhYP0rg2RjvD7StMpSYTSyL9XGuL_MLYldJduTobpPXgoJy-1Vt7GLGRZ_DTTsNHrNwSSrtlBFP4Jk2lCc-fNRdKEBaOkToQeggxShz_7gv1JQNl8q76w/s320/DSC02230.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing columnar basalt for my first time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLtI7QMXJCsHfBR6bkiJhmBHwj9wNXynKlpzbYI85FFTP9IQtX1sZamd03SxSCUNnBow-k4CL7OKgBeS_xjdUL8s9rKjaN5vqMIcrVgcd7tqHvs_dQAF5s3Rysi_eCkAhR049Qq66WT0/s1600/20160514_172732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLtI7QMXJCsHfBR6bkiJhmBHwj9wNXynKlpzbYI85FFTP9IQtX1sZamd03SxSCUNnBow-k4CL7OKgBeS_xjdUL8s9rKjaN5vqMIcrVgcd7tqHvs_dQAF5s3Rysi_eCkAhR049Qq66WT0/s320/20160514_172732.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View above Lake Crescent, Olympic Peninsula</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8geSgvt_kQeOB-RT6xCBs4WLtS83g3puL8HVluAmvyUX0zz-lJki01PlIyn6a3phKWk0BEwgklo-GTExQG-r86VgThDPx4U-p1BJpu9Iul333gx6ihYvlQzZNkcPAfTLyx82_HbUOx4o/s1600/DSC02235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8geSgvt_kQeOB-RT6xCBs4WLtS83g3puL8HVluAmvyUX0zz-lJki01PlIyn6a3phKWk0BEwgklo-GTExQG-r86VgThDPx4U-p1BJpu9Iul333gx6ihYvlQzZNkcPAfTLyx82_HbUOx4o/s320/DSC02235.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking up the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River <br />
for a bachelorette party at a hot spring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG0UrtgQJ7PdBwc02pel-AiuSl_YCqT3u3TJgMyNVkI1qCEmiX_ZLFv1DnFnYj1WcrECXfVrlBP5U1KodtNilOXpl3gDRZcLKTmWB84_OGJhyl0j8jB59M1BAgiUj8yZHqWc2RIULCtw/s1600/DSC02360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG0UrtgQJ7PdBwc02pel-AiuSl_YCqT3u3TJgMyNVkI1qCEmiX_ZLFv1DnFnYj1WcrECXfVrlBP5U1KodtNilOXpl3gDRZcLKTmWB84_OGJhyl0j8jB59M1BAgiUj8yZHqWc2RIULCtw/s320/DSC02360.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding my newest niece a few hours after watching her be born</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd_VYHlses0ituB82kI_bIi1wvZqWZIOqOnDZwLyLZUFkUDKxxjZv-0xfJ_e2CqZ-LWwaj8X-3IJDkbh9FihnSJoeehX6_TYRFB9OAh-0VeNAH9jvnygvyAgZKyRFbkWwxK_tAIv3gcE/s1600/DSC02440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd_VYHlses0ituB82kI_bIi1wvZqWZIOqOnDZwLyLZUFkUDKxxjZv-0xfJ_e2CqZ-LWwaj8X-3IJDkbh9FihnSJoeehX6_TYRFB9OAh-0VeNAH9jvnygvyAgZKyRFbkWwxK_tAIv3gcE/s320/DSC02440.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attending a dear friend's wedding in Texas in the midst of <br />
spring thunderstorms and flooding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX88KW4dicuHcWArw7ogsfzubL1rpNvdNcZ9a9Rrv2B32CyLHhVbwnIfH8unrPRkR2Pvk2IDv4MMy4c77ZTGBXOJYGpzsqHd1SG3h0jIQiHZPG9KwhJhSEz1TnLxUTL_0d2JEI0IHHgE/s1600/DSC02583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX88KW4dicuHcWArw7ogsfzubL1rpNvdNcZ9a9Rrv2B32CyLHhVbwnIfH8unrPRkR2Pvk2IDv4MMy4c77ZTGBXOJYGpzsqHd1SG3h0jIQiHZPG9KwhJhSEz1TnLxUTL_0d2JEI0IHHgE/s320/DSC02583.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River swimming outside Austin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a fabulous spring. Bring on summer!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-55158099632145308572016-03-07T07:57:00.000-08:002017-01-07T11:39:00.783-08:00Brother's 10 Birthdays with Brain Injury<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHhF2u9qk8qwqWBoo4S1f0ZqOwsxg1C32gaOZihCKnxUkimFj2AAq_SRg0zG5fmjhTOeOpjeT7qy4tkOwZx67p8ufXb_V-tCvSP5gGQM4GQnBFyAK5tTj7XNS6SxkMMR2zGeDSzQiGEo/s1600/IMG_1693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHhF2u9qk8qwqWBoo4S1f0ZqOwsxg1C32gaOZihCKnxUkimFj2AAq_SRg0zG5fmjhTOeOpjeT7qy4tkOwZx67p8ufXb_V-tCvSP5gGQM4GQnBFyAK5tTj7XNS6SxkMMR2zGeDSzQiGEo/s400/IMG_1693.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday, Joe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a strange thing to commemorate. But when my brother Joe turns another year older, I can't help but think back to how we almost lost him, and feel especially grateful that he's here. Today is the tenth birthday he has celebrated since getting hit by a car as a pedestrian when he was 14 and suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. A couple <i>Seattle Times</i> articles from that time are still online, like this one from two weeks after the accident: "<a href="http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20050804&slug=green04m">Young crusader struck in Shoreline</a>." At that point he was still in a coma in the Pediatric ICU at Harborview.<br />
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<i>Though Green has been upgraded from critical to serious condition, doctors don't know what his future holds.</i></div>
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<i>"Outcome is quality of life, not if you live or you die," said Dr. Randy Chesnut, director of neurotrauma at Harborview. "We know the extent of it, but we don't know the long-term consequences."</i></div>
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<i>Green isn't following commands or interacting with people, but Chesnut hopes within a year he will be able to tell the full extent of the boy's injuries.</i></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>"We can't fix the brain; now it's up to him," Chesnut said. "He'll be a different person."</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe in the PICU at Harborview, July 2005</td></tr>
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Then, one month after he was hit, he started to wake up: "<a href="http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20050820&slug=coma20m">Hit-run victim, 14, opens eyes after nearly month in coma</a>."<br />
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At that point, we had absolutely no idea what kind of recovery to expect. It was three weeks after waking up before he said his first word, and then it was months and months of rehabilitational therapies, including an intensive residential program at Children's Hospital, before he could walk or talk. Considering he had to relearn those basics during most of what would have been his freshman year of high school, it's pretty remarkable that he was able to graduate high school just a year late.<br />
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Doctors told us that with brain injuries, the most healing that happens in the first two years. My parents were diligent during that time to keep him in therapies and make as much progress as possible, and that intentionality continued long after the first couple years. Ten years later, I think he is still healing, learning, and improving.<br />
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He has come such a long way, and is extremely high functioning and independent. He is not able to live alone at this point, but takes care of himself physically, does his laundry, prepares food, and gets around by walking or bus. He is a sweet and gentle man, and still loves kids and animals as much as before his accident. He likes hanging out with his nieces and nephews, and enjoys making things with his hands, like carving the names of friends and family in wood to give as gifts.<br />
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In terms of his cognitive function, the biggest deficit is his short-term memory. Here's an example: A couple months ago we had a cold snap. I rent a mother-in-law unit from my parents (where Joe also lives), and came outside one morning on my way to work to find my car windows scraped of the frost. I looked around in confusion at the other parked cars, all with frosty windows. But mine were clear. Not knowing who did it, I sent a group text to my mom, stepdad, and Joe saying, "Thanks to whoever scraped my windows!" Joe texted back, "No problem! Have a good day." Then my mom texted me separately, "What? That was me! LOL! We'll let him think that though. :)" We were both cracking up.<br />
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But of course, issues with short-term memory cause more than amusing mix-ups. It often causes major hassles and can cost a lot of money. He might lose irreplaceable items, forget he already bought something, or not follow through with something important.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe, sister Tonya, and I at Christmas</td></tr>
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Medically, the most debilitating result of the brain injury is his seizure disorder. For patients with traumatic brain injury, it's common to have seizures in the first couple years, as the brain is healing and forming new neuropathways. For Joe, his seizures have become more and more frequent. He takes medication which definitely helps--if he misses a pill, he will almost surely have a seizure. He is incredibly conscientious about NOT missing his pills. Even if we are going to the store together at 7:30, just running down the street, he'll look at the clock and make sure, "How long will we be gone? Should I bring my 9:00 pills?" <br />
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Even with taking the medication correctly, he still has seizures, sometimes multiple times in a week. I have no idea how many seizures I've been with Joe through--maybe 30 or 40? They are incredibly common, and yet always frightening. I don't know how my parents do it. There is a constant vigilance required to be prepared and calm when something happens, but of course are always going to be taken by surprise or in a less-than-ideal circumstance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe with cousins on the Washington coast</td></tr>
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Last summer the family was at Seabrook for a cousin's wedding. The night before was a huge group dinner in the warm night air, and I had a few glasses of wine over the course of the evening. My mom had gotten tired and gone back to the house, but the rest of us were still hanging out. I came into the host's house from the deck just as Joe began having a seizure and cousins were helping lower him safely to the ground. I bolted back outside through the thick crowd to find my stepdad. By the time we got back up the stairs to Joe, he should have been coming out of the seizure, but wasn't.<br />
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Larry looked up at me, "Can you get mom and tell her to bring the car?" We didn't have cell phone service, and who knew how long it would take for the nearest ambulance to get to this unpopulated stretch of coast? If Joe needed to go to the hospital, we'd have to drive him. Suddenly feeling stone-cold sober, I took off in high-heeled boots to sprint in the dark across the deserted town of Seabrook. My mom and I drove back to the party, and thankfully the seizure had ended and Joe was stable by then. But the memory of the night is visceral for me; everything is okay until it isn't.<br />
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I used to take Joe hiking, but about half of the time he had a seizure on the trail and it was just too stressful. One time we were serveral miles back at Wallace Falls and I had no phone signal. Luckily it was a small seizure and he came out of it quickly and was able to walk shortly after. But what if it hadn't broken? What if he hadn't been able to walk out? What if he had gotten an injury as a result of a seizure? It was too much to think about.<br />
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This past New Year's Eve I was getting ready to go to a friend's wedding reception. I carefully applied makeup and twisted my hair into an updo--two things I rarely do. Appetizers and mingling were already underway and I was running late; I at least wanted to get there by 8:30 p.m. for the toast.<br />
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Just as I was about to change into a dress and heels, I heard shouting next door. It was a loud, grunting, "AH...AH! AH...AH!" I ran in my parents' house to find the front door ajar and Joe lying on the wood floor in the kitchen, seizing. Or rather, just finishing a seizure and in a very agitated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postictal_state">postictal state</a>, thrashing wildly. I sat cross-legged and put his head in my lap to protect his head from banging on the ground. I called my mom with shaking hands. It was everything I could do to keep Joe contained with one hand, and I could barely do it. "Mom, I think you should call the paramedics--I have to hang up now because I need both hands!"<br />
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Joe is a stocky, strong guy. He is about 7 inches taller than me and 70 pounds heavier. And the postictal state can bring out an almost superhuman strength. There have been times when we've called the paramedics and it's taken eight of them to get him secured to a stretcher to take him to the hospital.<br />
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It was physically everything I could do to keep him contained and safe in those minutes before the paramedics arrived. He would arch his back and kick his feet and slam me into the dishwasher, so hard that I was worried it would break the dishwasher door. His convulsive bursts were wracking my body and my lower back was aching. I knew I was okay and that he would be okay, but the violence of the constant physical assault was so shocking to my body that tears came to my eyes before I even realized it. It was scary trying to care for someone else while not knowing where the boundaries were of caring for myself.<br />
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Finally his convulsions started to slow just as I heard the sirens and saw flashing lights through the front window. After talking about Joe's condition, a paramedic looked at me and asked, "Are <i>you</i> okay?" I nodded and headed back home, my hair a mess around my shoulders, and my makeup in a black streak on my cheeks.<br />
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It's been 10 years now. We have gotten used to the new Joe. About once every six months I get an absolutely sick, sinking feeling when I think about him, indescribably angry and sad about how the accident changed him. I think about how much an average person his age might struggle to make friends, date, feel connection to others, find meaningful work, and develop an identity. And I can't even imagine how exponentially more difficult it must be for him. <br />
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But that feeling passes and I know I have to live in the moment. The accident happened, and for all the ways it has been difficult and changed our family, there is much to celebrate. Perhaps most of all, Joe is thankful for his life and still sees it as a blessing. He is grateful to be alive, even if it looks different than we may have imagined a decade ago. And I think that constitutes a very happy birthday.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-15631240872745173882016-02-14T16:25:00.000-08:002016-03-10T22:25:34.497-08:00Valentine FriendsI'm fairly neutral about Valentine's Day. For about a decade, as a floral designer, the holiday meant a frenetic seasonal rush at a flower shop. Now that those days have passed, what I end up doing is a toss up. I like that people can interpret the day however they want and do whatever sounds fun and romantic. What's wrong with a day all about love, indulgence, and showing appreciation and admiration? This year, as a single lady, I want to express my appreciation for some of my most beloved friends.<br />
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I've known Will since middle school, and we became close friends when we lived together for a year and a half in college. In those days he'd bake up a storm, and after morning classes we'd sit on the front porch together, drinking tea and eating homemade pear-cardamom bread, dissecting all of life's questions and talking for hours. <br />
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We don't have those long hours together anymore, but our friendship has evolved into something I could have never foreseen: writing and editing support. I've edited his writing projects and he has edited mine. It's pretty sweet to connect in a new way after decades of friendship and I'm so grateful to have him in my life.<br />
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I met Lindsey in high school English when I hadn't done my homework to come up with a topic proposal for History Day. I sat down by her about two minutes before the bell rang, feeling desperate. "Do you have a research idea? Can you add my name to your proposal and we'll do a partner project?" Thanks to her saying yes, we became great friends and created a rockin' dramatic presentation on Gandhi and India's independence movement that made us regional champions and took us to the state finals.<br />
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These days, Lindsey lives in Austin, but I talk to her as much as any friend in Seattle. I save my funniest, most outlandish stories from the week, with the goal of cracking her up on the phone as much as possible. She just got engaged, but is still the staunchest supporter of single ladies. "I went to look at wedding venues," she tells me. "This one at an old mill has a ton of walking trails on the river-- so many spots for my single friends to make out!"<br />
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Alex is a friend that I've barely seen throughout the past decade, but we both ended up living in the same neighborhood last year. We rebooted our friendship last summer when I took a week off to go backpacking, and all my friends were working. I has fine with going alone, but luckily Alex had some time off mid-week, and we spent three days backpacking in Mount Rainier National Park together. He was such a fun, easy-going, stellar outdoor buddy. Since then, we've started running together regularly, even early on Sunday mornings and even in the pouring winter rain. He's a great listener and strikes that wonderful balance between goofy and sincere.<br />
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Alice is my role model for being a good friend even while really busy and even in a relationship. I know it's hard to maintain close friendships in the flurry of modern, urban life, and especially in a new, exciting relationship. Many people drop off the radar, but somehow Alice is always there. She is a medical resident who often works 70-80 hours a week, and still finds time for canoe crabbing adventures, meeting at the climbing gym, making dinner together, teaching me to brew beer, or sending me random texts like, "Hey, come over for <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2016/01/swiss-chard-pancakes/">Swiss chard pancakes</a>!"<br />
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Do you have friends you love who you are especially thankful for today?AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-86553343092778728422016-01-30T16:15:00.000-08:002016-01-30T16:15:04.440-08:00My Top 10 of 2015 In 2015 I wrote less on this blog than any other year since I started it in 2007. I have good excuses: I write full time! And I am working on a side writing project! But there were great things that happened last year that I want to share--better late than never. Here's a quick rundown of some of my favorite moments.<br />
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<strong>10. Spring trip to Mexico</strong><br />
My phone disappeared while in Mexico, and I lost almost all of my photos from that trip. But otherwise it was an amazing time-- I got to volunteer for a UN food security organization in the rural mountainous region of northern Puebla, and then attend the wedding of a dear friend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church in Ahuacatlan, Sierra Norte de Puebla</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional dress wedding<br />
<i>Boda de traje tipico</i></td></tr>
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<strong>9. Visiting Denali National Park, Alaska</strong><br />
I was 100 miles back in the park, staying in a cabin, with opportunities to hike, bike, and canoe practically out the front door. Early in the week I had my first handful of grizzly bear sighting from afar, and later in the week almost walked into one. My friend and I were hiking, talking, and watching our feet, and by the time we saw the bear through the blueberry bushes, we were about 30 feet away. It was absolutely terrifying for a moment, but clearly I lived to tell the tale.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Polychrome Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare, clear view of the mountain</td></tr>
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<strong></strong><br />
<strong>8. Hanging with nieces and nephews</strong><br />
I now have 7 nieces, 3 nephews, and 2 more on the way. They are all ridiculously sweet and fun kids, from the oldest who is almost 15 to the youngest who just turned 1.<br />
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<strong>7. Sister's Wedding </strong><br />
Besides the wedding in Mexico, I went to two in Washington and one in California. The first was my older sister's in Bellingham. This one was unique because in addition to making the bouquets, it was my first time officiating! I became a "reverend" online about eight years ago, but haven't had the chance to officiate yet. It was really special for me to play that role for my sister and awesome brother-in-law.<br />
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<strong>6. Cousin's Wedding</strong><br />
The next wedding was my cousin's out at Seabrook on the Washington coast. It's basically a small manufactured village, and a great spot for big family gatherings. We walked to other relative's houses, rode bikes, went to the park, played on the beach, cooked big meals together, and generally had a blast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with nieces on the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting together the bridal bouquet. Photo by Lisa S.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thriller dance at the reception. Photo by Lisa S.</td></tr>
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<strong>5. Friend's Wedding</strong><br />
Bless California, where you can have completely outdoor weddings and dance well into the night with the addition of a light sweater. I spent three days at the wedding venue in a neat ranch-turned-resort outside of Ukiah.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor reception set up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day after the wedding to relax</td></tr>
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<strong>4. Backpacking with Mom</strong></div>
This was our second annual mother-daughter backpacking trip. For almost never having backpacked, my mom is an awesome buddy. She's easy-going, appreciative of little things, not picky, and really loves being outside. This new tradition is going to continue as long as humanly possible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Mount Baker from tarn below Park Butte</td></tr>
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<b>3. Three Fingers Lookout</b><br />
I did a lot of hiking this year, but the highlight was in October when I did Three Fingers. You know it's serious trail when you have to bike 10 miles just to get to the trailhead, then hike, cross a glacier, scramble, and climb vertical ladders.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Inur-k_Tn_LeLVbLNV0SRxkqNZqdvfgJJc1ualBac5unFpxEseGE2dzooHmE4KqVlrR3gdMjuwIWJ2KDzCFe7X0MIlbHt3-JmtJXpKKi-XLVj2BFkSPoFBJDQuHsWHAnplyNEoiVTg/s1600/DSC01582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Inur-k_Tn_LeLVbLNV0SRxkqNZqdvfgJJc1ualBac5unFpxEseGE2dzooHmE4KqVlrR3gdMjuwIWJ2KDzCFe7X0MIlbHt3-JmtJXpKKi-XLVj2BFkSPoFBJDQuHsWHAnplyNEoiVTg/s320/DSC01582.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the white speck up there on the middle peak? <br />
Yeah, that's the lookout.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi_6EJMxT7DBViRNTdyIS3F8ZJ4Avp5CWTUbC9LyZmKlXPncnKd0622ijNxCisxiXeQAvpjeFOYMUHnMHH15a9fqlS5GLxK7IZmk-70A2e69IdR7DzeW3QAxDxbaCiLzvKojpV9bdVb0/s1600/DSC01602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi_6EJMxT7DBViRNTdyIS3F8ZJ4Avp5CWTUbC9LyZmKlXPncnKd0622ijNxCisxiXeQAvpjeFOYMUHnMHH15a9fqlS5GLxK7IZmk-70A2e69IdR7DzeW3QAxDxbaCiLzvKojpV9bdVb0/s320/DSC01602.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise from the lookout.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYGhieAHr7zvMsFxmbdCZuLEjB7yPPM4OkN_FAc2cqnsW3A6RPUvKv5gQRLYjeMFE_rv7ScdMKG-QN3VwlPbwEa3uI5kcjeY0IjCfcWqQDUXcnYvJMnp6lEWPV5Rf0bUKn9kdyodU6nQ/s1600/DSC01630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYGhieAHr7zvMsFxmbdCZuLEjB7yPPM4OkN_FAc2cqnsW3A6RPUvKv5gQRLYjeMFE_rv7ScdMKG-QN3VwlPbwEa3uI5kcjeY0IjCfcWqQDUXcnYvJMnp6lEWPV5Rf0bUKn9kdyodU6nQ/s320/DSC01630.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 ladders at the end to reach the lookout.<br />
Just a 1,000 foot drop to the glacier below.</td></tr>
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<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>2. The 10-Week Challenge</strong><br />
During the fall I did a 10-week fitness program offered through a <a href="http://www.2p0fit.com/">local gym</a>. It consisted of:<br />
<br />
- Doing 50 workouts in 10 weeks<br />
- Following meal guidelines and tracking everything I ate in an online tracker, in general cutting out sugar, alcohol, fruit, and wheat<br />
- Doing fitness tests and body composition check at the beginning and end of the program<br />
<br />
It was truly life changing. I got stronger, fitter, and just felt better. I thought that I already had pretty healthy eating habits, but this took my awareness to a whole new level of committing to cooking whole foods, at home, from scratch, for every meal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEVTOiyAjJ0jFPmX69nEwbUwbLVkQDLzqptSkGSoO8eaa3Mbt5-K1_7G8SbCY2edbd9Pi3IVMV3oo5gtZMIvLKQWZI5NM47yC-1wAQ2wno-wFxezKJo2g6mljtIeEN98EiSc98wBF454/s1600/12115643_1010594822316458_8781254738900488678_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEVTOiyAjJ0jFPmX69nEwbUwbLVkQDLzqptSkGSoO8eaa3Mbt5-K1_7G8SbCY2edbd9Pi3IVMV3oo5gtZMIvLKQWZI5NM47yC-1wAQ2wno-wFxezKJo2g6mljtIeEN98EiSc98wBF454/s320/12115643_1010594822316458_8781254738900488678_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a bootcamp class</td></tr>
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<strong>1. A personal writing project</strong><br />
I have been busy writing on a side project. I'm keeping the details under wraps for now, but I'm really excited about it and excited to share later this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk8Y3fl0PpxAvOGGbiJCkFEwFkfaft3jSVk8YmM1qi2Z-n0micBgko6RuhZSvkQUMSm33CxLFusaMlRbJxPnVErjlCHzVyL_Y1ZCwcjSbk34AwAMaJ2KAHA0mMr9qKj6Sshr73SSOGF8/s1600/DSC01752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk8Y3fl0PpxAvOGGbiJCkFEwFkfaft3jSVk8YmM1qi2Z-n0micBgko6RuhZSvkQUMSm33CxLFusaMlRbJxPnVErjlCHzVyL_Y1ZCwcjSbk34AwAMaJ2KAHA0mMr9qKj6Sshr73SSOGF8/s320/DSC01752.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing retreat on San Juan Island</td></tr>
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AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-8478681562757429542015-12-30T11:22:00.003-08:002015-12-31T08:39:33.719-08:00Figgy PuddingYears back it struck me how demanding the last verse is in "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." They are adamant about getting figgy pudding and are not leaving until they get some. <br />
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Earlier in December, a coworker sent an email alerting us of traffic closures downtown due to the <a href="http://www.pikemarketseniorcenter.org/figgy-pudding/">Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition</a>. It wasn't until that moment that I consciously realized that I had no idea what figgy pudding was. Not long after, NPR echoed the thought in this article from The Salt, <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/20/460488236/oh-bring-us-some-wait-what-is-figgy-pudding"><em>'Oh, Bring Us Some ... ' Wait. What Is Figgy Pudding?</em></a><br />
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I decided it was high time I made some. While the article shares a recipe that looks pretty traditional, I wasn't excited that it called for mutton fat, raisins, lighting the cake on fire, or aging it for weeks. So I kept searching, and came across this recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/warm-sticky-figgy-pudding-recipe.html">Warm Sticky Figgy Pudding</a> and liked the look of it better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WCdLnlv9Z_7LIORiWuIsy2wTmLZlCY8nBK_DX5-Nncnwg6SB1hLxnEiAm9AHV8t4pMEvDoGF3qBS7F77tZMfdd_t9Ve6QnfxE9dirPHl4oiWMg4ZtaH47m22kI36W7FdMJLspiVigs8/s1600/Figgy+Pudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WCdLnlv9Z_7LIORiWuIsy2wTmLZlCY8nBK_DX5-Nncnwg6SB1hLxnEiAm9AHV8t4pMEvDoGF3qBS7F77tZMfdd_t9Ve6QnfxE9dirPHl4oiWMg4ZtaH47m22kI36W7FdMJLspiVigs8/s320/Figgy+Pudding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/warm-sticky-figgy-pudding-recipe.html">Food Network recipe</a></td></tr>
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I'm happy to report it was delicious. It calls for baking in ramekins which worked great, though you might be able to bake it in a cake pan and cut into squares for easier serving. It's called "pudding" in the British sense, meaning dessert, and it's really more of a sweet bread. The dates make it really moist, and it would be fabulous in a loaf pan and sliced, as you would zucchini or banana bread. <br />
<br />
But the warm sauce and whipped cream elevate it to a decadent place fit for holiday indulgence. The only adjustment I would recommend would be to half the sauce recipe. It's pretty sweet so a little bit goes a long way, and there is no way you would use all the sauce for that amount of cake. Enjoy!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-87072200636951922832015-11-30T20:30:00.000-08:002015-12-03T09:12:53.651-08:00Fall Mushroom HuntingI have always wanted to learn more about mushrooms and do my own foraging. I'm out tromping around in the woods most autumn weekends anyway, so I figure if I can find some delicious wild food, all the better. This year, that dream started to materialize when I hiked with a knowledgeable buddy and then took a class. <br />
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It started in the North Cascades. We were on a long, rainy hike when we stumbled upon a lion's mane mushroom-- huge, toothy, firm, and heavy from the downpour. It smelled like a mix of sweet cream and the forest floor. It was the size of my head and just finding one felt like a jackpot. But then we started seeing more, and couldn't resist hauling out several.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMskF9iUuyTQSCP6J-1Jx6Pd-WbPQO4xFw3wgvtVG1doPsZqPdjZIfkFSneyqs1y_KbPWZI6z08oKNzuk2nPVqYt7GaSTHRloEXD-QijP1Nl8cHTyo_25UN0y5noXLWPApp_P85E59uI/s1600/me+and+lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMskF9iUuyTQSCP6J-1Jx6Pd-WbPQO4xFw3wgvtVG1doPsZqPdjZIfkFSneyqs1y_KbPWZI6z08oKNzuk2nPVqYt7GaSTHRloEXD-QijP1Nl8cHTyo_25UN0y5noXLWPApp_P85E59uI/s320/me+and+lion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That night we cooked some of the lion's mane with dinner, adding it to lamb carnitas. The rest of the week I was on a serious mission to use them up: sautéed with bacon, added into lasagna, folded into a frittata, and simmered in Tom Kha soup.</div>
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A couple weeks later, in the central Cascades on another hike, we found chanterelles and hedgehogs. The hedgehogs don't have gills but rather little teeth under the cap. It might not come as a surprise that they are in the same family as the lion's mane with all their glorious toothiness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVJGSn2aQR328btN7Ro7GRjIiheJHcnWr02JFoC09yKieIH6b63QBkbZCTrZFH40Gu6j9t-CXj8SzwYBdnVoUqfYG63fByQUsNKkaXnAbRo_pr1-kJFl-re_gt4-onFjNPiaoUWdmBtc/s1600/chanterelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVJGSn2aQR328btN7Ro7GRjIiheJHcnWr02JFoC09yKieIH6b63QBkbZCTrZFH40Gu6j9t-CXj8SzwYBdnVoUqfYG63fByQUsNKkaXnAbRo_pr1-kJFl-re_gt4-onFjNPiaoUWdmBtc/s320/chanterelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And what better way to round out October than to go to a Halloween party and find a couple dressed as mushrooms? My ID skills are limited, but between my burgeoning familiarity and their meticulous costuming, I had no doubt: "You guys are chanterelles!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN0nIazKk1KZY9Ox9HYBhrji4G4R7DmGFh_zjC1MVoea361nqByyMLprU9FIv6XQ5wtP5lBBUlOaY3PHFGesBX9kMuYRb_KN9Z5HpqMOWKMRp2s09KwodZVo3Auu6Xr3QJ_2SJpddq6A/s1600/costumes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQN0nIazKk1KZY9Ox9HYBhrji4G4R7DmGFh_zjC1MVoea361nqByyMLprU9FIv6XQ5wtP5lBBUlOaY3PHFGesBX9kMuYRb_KN9Z5HpqMOWKMRp2s09KwodZVo3Auu6Xr3QJ_2SJpddq6A/s320/costumes.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
In November I took my mushroom studies indoors to an all-day class offered by the <a href="http://www.psms.org/index.php">Puget Sound Mycological Society</a>. Their Mushroom Hunting 101 class covered ID skills, foraging best practices, toxicology, cooking with mushrooms, and non-edible mushroom uses. It was a really comprehensive course that I would recommend to anyone. Of course, there is so much to learn that we barely scratched the surface, but I think it gave me a good foundation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkQacH99Ld3bf5NMRNQ9EKPEhzZRff1jNcFAmdocQam4XNnT7FPFEw_b4NmmWJsGIB3-NE36Su25pyeay8WPrdN2jSQDILKh1RLiAHxJDXxBBdd_IsVJoAg3aFljTD9G-w8FSP7HXyO8/s1600/table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkQacH99Ld3bf5NMRNQ9EKPEhzZRff1jNcFAmdocQam4XNnT7FPFEw_b4NmmWJsGIB3-NE36Su25pyeay8WPrdN2jSQDILKh1RLiAHxJDXxBBdd_IsVJoAg3aFljTD9G-w8FSP7HXyO8/s320/table.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge array of local mushrooms<br />
brought in by the students</td></tr>
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In the recent NY Time article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/magazine/sex-death-and-mushrooms.html?_r=0">Sex, Death and Mushrooms</a>, the author talks about finding the elusive Cauliflower mushroom. Right around the same time, my friend found one locally and shared the bounty. It looks similar in size to the lion's mane, but with thicker waves that make it resemble egg noodles or coral.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS-BtfFeNcM2P-wttsb9_LH-2bpzcg1896nqENee1AHd2K1O_Y2t-kTTizjA5BYaY2sG-ytfcSgUVAq4lde_5g2v4YRhdFJw-6Yd12irEA1idur_H57lmS5g2415FYDl_jA9rg5P5H08/s1600/Cauliflower-Mushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS-BtfFeNcM2P-wttsb9_LH-2bpzcg1896nqENee1AHd2K1O_Y2t-kTTizjA5BYaY2sG-ytfcSgUVAq4lde_5g2v4YRhdFJw-6Yd12irEA1idur_H57lmS5g2415FYDl_jA9rg5P5H08/s320/Cauliflower-Mushroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cauliflower mushroom. <em>Image from </em><a href="http://www.ramsonsandbramble.com/2013/12/the-weird-wonderful-cauliflower-mushroom.html"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></td></tr>
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I had no idea what to do with it, but a quick Google search revealed that it could indeed be treated just like egg noodles. So I followed this <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/11/cook-the-book-chilegarlic-egg-noodles.html">chili garlic egg noodles</a> recipe, sautéing the mushroom instead of boiling noodles, and ate the whole mushroom in one tasty sitting.AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-73304481099588474092015-07-30T22:30:00.000-07:002015-08-02T13:29:30.586-07:00Willing to Slow it DownIt was a busy spring. I was working full-time, going to school (evening certificate program), volunteering several places, plus I moved into a new place and went to Mexico in the same month. I love having a full life, but I don't like always being busy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging on Lake Washington</td></tr>
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I've come across articles about our cultural obsession with being busy and wearing it like a badge of honor, such <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-dannemiller/busy-is-a-sickness_b_6761264.html">Busy is a sickness</a> and <a href="http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-disease-of-being-busy/7023">Disease of being busy</a>. In the latter, author Omid Safi writes, "Tell me you remember you are still a human being, not just a human doing. Tell me you’re more than just a machine, checking off items from your to-do list. Have that conversation, that glance, that touch. Be a healing conversation, one filled with grace and presence."</div>
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Sometime I feel too much like a human doing. A big part of that was being in school, and always having classes and homework. I loved the editing certificate program, but man! it's great to be done.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCecr_Eu1C6RJ6OdHFw6ibOjV_tCK0h69w4gIPPm_O8955emqVSnvqTSTV7NveSXaWJZpWz3nDAIkz65Pg_VPiHzG4gmwXYvY55OLxc4s4L60790wsfOOq0uZZE9wRUt_dvGa1PMRbZhw/s1600/20150616_201815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCecr_Eu1C6RJ6OdHFw6ibOjV_tCK0h69w4gIPPm_O8955emqVSnvqTSTV7NveSXaWJZpWz3nDAIkz65Pg_VPiHzG4gmwXYvY55OLxc4s4L60790wsfOOq0uZZE9wRUt_dvGa1PMRbZhw/s320/20150616_201815.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade cake for our last day of editing class</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EBNWrnJPr1lDYILLEZn0IsKgu6ZyDuo8ViYWQrg6s1cWvXwvXL_GiYjuZeNz3zlIzN8UsfEuZ72UvQTbIl_W1l66Xol1rMh2yiauV_hhcMFSEy7yKYxPPicyRayKc6E0zofA5g4pZIQ/s1600/20150504_205343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EBNWrnJPr1lDYILLEZn0IsKgu6ZyDuo8ViYWQrg6s1cWvXwvXL_GiYjuZeNz3zlIzN8UsfEuZ72UvQTbIl_W1l66Xol1rMh2yiauV_hhcMFSEy7yKYxPPicyRayKc6E0zofA5g4pZIQ/s320/20150504_205343.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocktail: Rye with- wait for it- reduced Rainier beer <br />
simple syrup. Weird, but delicious.</td></tr>
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I haven't had any epic adventures yet this summer, but that's okay with me. Bigger trips are coming up (very!) soon, and so far it's been rejuvenating to have the time to hang with family, especially my nieces and nephews, cook meals from scratch, and get good sleep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJ5XqqM2tHkvyngncgI66IXmLq1cPIjqUV3vjb_QU2XwJk-7KuTrWaPY54-BsBPd3akChnAGkwjcv-fidcZgVT5mqYefyl720lK3oZW_z2AYrEIfZXTjz3ykg84HN4v8Z5rZ-IZ6ZfCE/s1600/20150623_200606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJ5XqqM2tHkvyngncgI66IXmLq1cPIjqUV3vjb_QU2XwJk-7KuTrWaPY54-BsBPd3akChnAGkwjcv-fidcZgVT5mqYefyl720lK3oZW_z2AYrEIfZXTjz3ykg84HN4v8Z5rZ-IZ6ZfCE/s320/20150623_200606.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzY43Lr0wC8EElkDmqOAzLgMFHheblZKbzvQqy8YjOk8FLXFe0NU5aIXKDyqlVcLgOf3YccpXcXiZ0Rli_N6wcwyz5d0rYWvXpsZnlSLzYnmLkKJKisQYvyTRvLcH4pQ9dCtaJULQpf8/s1600/20150711_160348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzY43Lr0wC8EElkDmqOAzLgMFHheblZKbzvQqy8YjOk8FLXFe0NU5aIXKDyqlVcLgOf3YccpXcXiZ0Rli_N6wcwyz5d0rYWvXpsZnlSLzYnmLkKJKisQYvyTRvLcH4pQ9dCtaJULQpf8/s320/20150711_160348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Don't get me wrong-- I've been doing more than just hanging out. I've been playing outside, but just trying not to over-plan or rush from one thing to another.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike ride and golden raspberries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUFzujCHC7OIC4wgQNdasdKXOfl3Araa3f13HbXQorcM6Ir1Fnf9xWfBNaAmT1jyP3UYUquVTWv1AtugxzHwPNqu_Lm_xM7S5rRuFY2Iav1r6iKlGSeQnQFTBBYZZ3vrVLkzIpibpCPk/s1600/20150606_135309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUFzujCHC7OIC4wgQNdasdKXOfl3Araa3f13HbXQorcM6Ir1Fnf9xWfBNaAmT1jyP3UYUquVTWv1AtugxzHwPNqu_Lm_xM7S5rRuFY2Iav1r6iKlGSeQnQFTBBYZZ3vrVLkzIpibpCPk/s320/20150606_135309.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown view from the Seattle Great Wheel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Mailbox Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZP-Jgt_1qFvpYesZ1Xo75sAcT5zOIIRNf6uytnQgwRV2J3-9vvEyrePDzWkBI3KFnZPW0DlKbO4w8dpdzq2IF5rkJyqsGhuhlhJxDUtZuMVJj-zmjZN7cpA92AECMaaQ8thyphenhyphenXU6c4Y/s1600/20150703_213054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZP-Jgt_1qFvpYesZ1Xo75sAcT5zOIIRNf6uytnQgwRV2J3-9vvEyrePDzWkBI3KFnZPW0DlKbO4w8dpdzq2IF5rkJyqsGhuhlhJxDUtZuMVJj-zmjZN7cpA92AECMaaQ8thyphenhyphenXU6c4Y/s320/20150703_213054.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening sailing, cider, and swimming in Lake Union</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFz4iOY5oRLlsirr1gw_81cGaG-fiiTO1ufreQVEt56648iVcHIXT1p_TcTB-ywWayRIvDpCQKbAm3vQhYF65pF1QT2tHaZsOjzHSqfQpkA5uNeNFPkf36h2T1zYVJUQeJhFcYiHR2vE/s1600/20150721_191326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFz4iOY5oRLlsirr1gw_81cGaG-fiiTO1ufreQVEt56648iVcHIXT1p_TcTB-ywWayRIvDpCQKbAm3vQhYF65pF1QT2tHaZsOjzHSqfQpkA5uNeNFPkf36h2T1zYVJUQeJhFcYiHR2vE/s320/20150721_191326.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niece helps me water my deck plants<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friend's family goats. I really want goats.</td></tr>
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How do you find the balance between exploring all the wonderful things there are to do in this world, and not overdoing it?AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-44461455174610231352015-06-21T20:40:00.003-07:002015-06-21T23:18:44.329-07:00Beacon Food Forest: 2015 So FarWhat has Seattle's <a href="http://www.beaconfoodforest.org/">Beacon Food Forest</a> been up to in the first half of 2015? A lot! We continue to maintain the trees, shrubs, and perennials already in place, and plant new annuals in the veggie beds. The monthly work parties are going strong, in addition to smaller work parties, classes, tours, and community dinners. I haven't been taking many pictures lately, but luckily a fellow volunteer has. Big thanks to Jonathan for sharing beautiful photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLkkTYb15GCMTPEQaozejZCKTEvrgPE5-fi40sxKDvgFx0X8MI1l1GO8F3GHfjAkQROzXP97puI5UqmBP1tSKnRsIWLvadzzfg79gh7MqyhVQ7nwiXwbDCfIcJBkcqU8wipyRXpNNGqI/s1600/IMG_8486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLkkTYb15GCMTPEQaozejZCKTEvrgPE5-fi40sxKDvgFx0X8MI1l1GO8F3GHfjAkQROzXP97puI5UqmBP1tSKnRsIWLvadzzfg79gh7MqyhVQ7nwiXwbDCfIcJBkcqU8wipyRXpNNGqI/s320/IMG_8486.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0072c6;"><em>www.subtledream.com</em></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing cement<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXGMz2510sDasvDLbe0v62YOZrzOZYMskPYGUBZ4XMN53K7pluHQihguw6KNUSH5m1Jnj5pZbm8IJzuyGmRofpMm81nWXWXQekUKuQk2OkYiK54zBPAVRvzlVj72SbyECpzBLDoXlX14/s1600/IMG_3796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXGMz2510sDasvDLbe0v62YOZrzOZYMskPYGUBZ4XMN53K7pluHQihguw6KNUSH5m1Jnj5pZbm8IJzuyGmRofpMm81nWXWXQekUKuQk2OkYiK54zBPAVRvzlVj72SbyECpzBLDoXlX14/s320/IMG_3796.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Releasing lady bugs<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShntWRDZPtftaocLheQs7P9ZLSkP7MCoHJvuQMuTbZdOg0wmnbhuntKDbJ7tN3UG0Njdu4i0vAx29PR_r2e4jKU0oXQn4gFgR03hZDFBjhF7QuMtpn11GxPahneAxReZgzgMscw66RHk/s1600/IMG_3843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShntWRDZPtftaocLheQs7P9ZLSkP7MCoHJvuQMuTbZdOg0wmnbhuntKDbJ7tN3UG0Njdu4i0vAx29PR_r2e4jKU0oXQn4gFgR03hZDFBjhF7QuMtpn11GxPahneAxReZgzgMscw66RHk/s320/IMG_3843.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work party morning stretch<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early spring seed exchange<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWLMNJPnX0JBikDYNElCy2ZtZ1enyR4apJYqTQK-qgxnz0-pLqVzMzQ_2VZSQa2yVu53TLOOR1Bu9q76Iy7v1OiVpY5lQgp5kMcX1bKZ8BxoTvjY9tX_mdrXgvc5twBUoxe-96TilGv4/s1600/IMG_3908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWLMNJPnX0JBikDYNElCy2ZtZ1enyR4apJYqTQK-qgxnz0-pLqVzMzQ_2VZSQa2yVu53TLOOR1Bu9q76Iy7v1OiVpY5lQgp5kMcX1bKZ8BxoTvjY9tX_mdrXgvc5twBUoxe-96TilGv4/s320/IMG_3908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watering starts<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTQa7ZR3Il_dR3BX7p1zaJyKZO_0GuOj8iKRdinHNO9Qi1tH7NRN2sSpYJfhlwKmTBvh9oKmYBeEA5Lj5Y2tFjJfxPuCU9nrm2s78h9tzURRE7EuAcwzA4Nz8b0A7kSXKI6Zh9W2Xsow/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTQa7ZR3Il_dR3BX7p1zaJyKZO_0GuOj8iKRdinHNO9Qi1tH7NRN2sSpYJfhlwKmTBvh9oKmYBeEA5Lj5Y2tFjJfxPuCU9nrm2s78h9tzURRE7EuAcwzA4Nz8b0A7kSXKI6Zh9W2Xsow/s320/IMG_3921.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me teaching a compost workshop<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoNp_Ae29RQvP1rVqVq2u3-NF6NRPjvY_tSzOtPwuWjHeXG5BPoE4fD3rzCXNfuntsU6G2kIPson68-XB1XJUWP3LWVo3AKrQ-0FenWtka08pDqHA_xwEwlLvaCUhfDiTfdJMRhOTB_Y/s1600/IMG_5307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoNp_Ae29RQvP1rVqVq2u3-NF6NRPjvY_tSzOtPwuWjHeXG5BPoE4fD3rzCXNfuntsU6G2kIPson68-XB1XJUWP3LWVo3AKrQ-0FenWtka08pDqHA_xwEwlLvaCUhfDiTfdJMRhOTB_Y/s320/IMG_5307.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making seed balls<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJZ7vJGMni7tNIbWkdwQhqHKoBw0Vc89vQodfzEFxhScsVWEtWIUQ80FdRL7eHN4cT19YyfKhrwCGgwda85BwqGr09A-f0qMJZNd3CbmrdMHdHpmE6i-KsWuMVMnYwxGXBKFz0rv3c8o/s1600/IMG_5341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJZ7vJGMni7tNIbWkdwQhqHKoBw0Vc89vQodfzEFxhScsVWEtWIUQ80FdRL7eHN4cT19YyfKhrwCGgwda85BwqGr09A-f0qMJZNd3CbmrdMHdHpmE6i-KsWuMVMnYwxGXBKFz0rv3c8o/s320/IMG_5341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring planting<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0072c6;"><em>www.subtledream.com</em></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMTA1Wb2rs1NeEGLBcooHntNn8RUMdVEtIfzJQTFziAWhbD-cXZPMAiqyGFtZ-0-nlodwgvWzYOxy4LeA-zg4Ldjs29oBlUg1DxX3mhUJ0xQAITveshhBB7N8dW3B000D9wgWZrwTe0o/s1600/IMG_6801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMTA1Wb2rs1NeEGLBcooHntNn8RUMdVEtIfzJQTFziAWhbD-cXZPMAiqyGFtZ-0-nlodwgvWzYOxy4LeA-zg4Ldjs29oBlUg1DxX3mhUJ0xQAITveshhBB7N8dW3B000D9wgWZrwTe0o/s320/IMG_6801.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chard harvest<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijL2Qe0q1NW0M2vIxpwco1FquDnYiK8Hy8EK9AxV0IPaXKkQZQhENRy4GTlw5qSlcU9hBuuR8gFlgjFH2dN6Pidufe72hROfs4XEJcg4LJ5dWYp-u0phFe21cFpIvLt6inGAebQ5sokc/s1600/IMG_7029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijL2Qe0q1NW0M2vIxpwco1FquDnYiK8Hy8EK9AxV0IPaXKkQZQhENRy4GTlw5qSlcU9hBuuR8gFlgjFH2dN6Pidufe72hROfs4XEJcg4LJ5dWYp-u0phFe21cFpIvLt6inGAebQ5sokc/s320/IMG_7029.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planting in the Common Thread garden <br />
for sharing with the local community<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ngPNzmKFjcbSpY00Ys1FZcOxTFDftiOKQDXtn2-Gv_FJzoaCYppVsjeTwR4G1Rln3Bq_6xSSlurLC_xdllZ5Bp7DFrueMdrpDNT-unocl9MbG1mC8DK2pbsD7XvVklr9ig3bSYnRf0A/s1600/IMG_7681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ngPNzmKFjcbSpY00Ys1FZcOxTFDftiOKQDXtn2-Gv_FJzoaCYppVsjeTwR4G1Rln3Bq_6xSSlurLC_xdllZ5Bp7DFrueMdrpDNT-unocl9MbG1mC8DK2pbsD7XvVklr9ig3bSYnRf0A/s320/IMG_7681.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening fire at the BFF<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PZ_hR8j0-ytgr-4DBNnU6WapRRfH8K_FueHEYIwZzPKTt-_dYbG-GGCO7NtXBDvZHVLoJ7PD83ZLo76gHs9pb0KiKqT9D7y6YuOhPXavbB5iriJYwoCrl1vqHjwMFGJ6V3hwlUCN_mw/s1600/IMG_8030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PZ_hR8j0-ytgr-4DBNnU6WapRRfH8K_FueHEYIwZzPKTt-_dYbG-GGCO7NtXBDvZHVLoJ7PD83ZLo76gHs9pb0KiKqT9D7y6YuOhPXavbB5iriJYwoCrl1vqHjwMFGJ6V3hwlUCN_mw/s320/IMG_8030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a tour of the site<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFnrA42uaz3y1aag3CYPN4wXgHjR2XKgLcRbLy0K2hdlPM9C5FIBtceVswbZtsCgi3nvd77MyyfrBAv8_olB5TRuEzD96O5hNkg5F2nE6Z3aRoZc5zpr64Uij8ZxzvUzaFEW_rQA7vVo/s1600/IMG_8435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFnrA42uaz3y1aag3CYPN4wXgHjR2XKgLcRbLy0K2hdlPM9C5FIBtceVswbZtsCgi3nvd77MyyfrBAv8_olB5TRuEzD96O5hNkg5F2nE6Z3aRoZc5zpr64Uij8ZxzvUzaFEW_rQA7vVo/s320/IMG_8435.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjikkr2Hu2hG5mRCrGGjr7u817ljqKrtsIuzg3RTVpqs61oi5I_L2XEYtodKz2Y7KAq7m7oL94WDfZW7YWGeC8Up1kypluk1oG6bK1Xw3a81wmScl9e1pm9T_6TGg99JQqcaCiHeWPcE/s1600/IMG_8552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjikkr2Hu2hG5mRCrGGjr7u817ljqKrtsIuzg3RTVpqs61oi5I_L2XEYtodKz2Y7KAq7m7oL94WDfZW7YWGeC8Up1kypluk1oG6bK1Xw3a81wmScl9e1pm9T_6TGg99JQqcaCiHeWPcE/s320/IMG_8552.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arbor entryway<br />
Photo: <em>Jonathan H. Lee // </em><a href="http://www.subtledream.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: #0072c6;">www.subtledream.com</span></em></a></td></tr>
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AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-36489885194712017982015-05-26T18:16:00.000-07:002015-06-19T21:45:47.519-07:00Memorial Day in the San JuansI think the tradition has been going on for almost 30 years. Every Memorial Day weekend, my extended family gets together on family property in the far corner of the San Juan Islands to do a spring cleaning work party. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOl5RFDTduJD4Hy23ilgB-FZ3-ND-PJbcL6QrF9HWuFmWTJpTSEcM01MljjT_j9Sv-xQNtTkzPZIAl6IqqXe_C6wF5Jf4wiEdXlByvIy0xudKgvtbBDm3lf4R2-ymStBfAGXl4yCLOls/s1600/20150522_202532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOl5RFDTduJD4Hy23ilgB-FZ3-ND-PJbcL6QrF9HWuFmWTJpTSEcM01MljjT_j9Sv-xQNtTkzPZIAl6IqqXe_C6wF5Jf4wiEdXlByvIy0xudKgvtbBDm3lf4R2-ymStBfAGXl4yCLOls/s320/20150522_202532.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids' collection of rocks and beach glass</td></tr>
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Saturday we set to work, and I was assigned to fence duty for my first time. Our crew walked the fence line to check for damage, and repair any sections of barbed wire that need it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrERcQPuBYQSk0Os5NH1sCHP3-KeSl8ETxEP1cBMXvx99CcF_T4d5BSsWe073lS_R8m-Lqri_JrlyYJ8y8v4yijvnsD4Sd4R0j0SvKUo67YmnJqNpttLGg0qFRLfQMgxv4pxpF0I4Iuo/s1600/20150523_104632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrERcQPuBYQSk0Os5NH1sCHP3-KeSl8ETxEP1cBMXvx99CcF_T4d5BSsWe073lS_R8m-Lqri_JrlyYJ8y8v4yijvnsD4Sd4R0j0SvKUo67YmnJqNpttLGg0qFRLfQMgxv4pxpF0I4Iuo/s320/20150523_104632.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZM3hu8xRlnekH-N45EVuPl4_EhcEU7cwerT7S_rTtlBNO3nK8Bj-gsGwviyd73mWcSNWgirvNOvvr6wsxruRHlsLFbjJQZhraPlqoQylvwG3nJUYNLsiSZRz0m-10mlfgy1j54fPTDk/s1600/20150523_105111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZM3hu8xRlnekH-N45EVuPl4_EhcEU7cwerT7S_rTtlBNO3nK8Bj-gsGwviyd73mWcSNWgirvNOvvr6wsxruRHlsLFbjJQZhraPlqoQylvwG3nJUYNLsiSZRz0m-10mlfgy1j54fPTDk/s320/20150523_105111.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sections of the fence needed a lot of work</td></tr>
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I also got to hang with a lot of awesome relatives, including sweet cousins, nieces, and nephews.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1Pd41gEhCb5lnKe3HKguWLU2SCC-vpOkbX1PdxuBnW4_r0a0Z2twws2oAb_M1n_40P7jgXsj0PpU1RCatNtqfxZt0hvHw78_heAF39vbjqDZ9mfZjKL4pHxSkMzXC_BYY5RNiIzy5x8/s1600/20150523_122427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1Pd41gEhCb5lnKe3HKguWLU2SCC-vpOkbX1PdxuBnW4_r0a0Z2twws2oAb_M1n_40P7jgXsj0PpU1RCatNtqfxZt0hvHw78_heAF39vbjqDZ9mfZjKL4pHxSkMzXC_BYY5RNiIzy5x8/s320/20150523_122427.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youngest nephew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_ybQBkncWaQylUNq1yZppdPSJ2uY4X-9stfRYk6nH7rshb0K1l3fj6uNDPRLKdHEAfzBWMjVu_nvly-b-GnXfu5b5Ax7CV5mStcRme-PGn5ihnEYAEMoSW12gnkUtdb8nDxW8gNlzf0/s1600/20150523_172557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_ybQBkncWaQylUNq1yZppdPSJ2uY4X-9stfRYk6nH7rshb0K1l3fj6uNDPRLKdHEAfzBWMjVu_nvly-b-GnXfu5b5Ax7CV5mStcRme-PGn5ihnEYAEMoSW12gnkUtdb8nDxW8gNlzf0/s320/20150523_172557.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldest niece, with the greatest hair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r1OpDtl_IX1Eokp8hLhRqshuAZKy9YrULidLuN1aYYcU2tacUcWNCKUpnoW__Mk-ZgmCoBRqVYP2mBEgKYstL-dOErSJXGkBHL8j2ijWMCPsK7crtIilnXnglRg5K5SOs1tnh-RXoT8/s1600/20150524_160839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r1OpDtl_IX1Eokp8hLhRqshuAZKy9YrULidLuN1aYYcU2tacUcWNCKUpnoW__Mk-ZgmCoBRqVYP2mBEgKYstL-dOErSJXGkBHL8j2ijWMCPsK7crtIilnXnglRg5K5SOs1tnh-RXoT8/s320/20150524_160839.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Juan view</td></tr>
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AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911668946573430130.post-39039623735556052202015-04-14T09:09:00.000-07:002015-06-18T22:10:49.275-07:00Big News: A Volunteer Grant to MexicoIt was during my initial HR phone screening with a recruiter from my work when I first heard about the Volunteer Vacation Grant. I couldn't believe the company offered a grant to support international volunteer work for one employee per year. It just added to the many reasons I wanted to work there.<br />
<br />
Fast forward a year and a half to last December, and I applied for the grant and got it! It is a huge honor and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to combine so many things I'm passionate about: my job, volunteering, international travel, and food.<br />
<br />
When I first thought about where I wanted to go, I considered going somewhere really far away that I had never been before. But when I was honest with myself, I just wanted to go back to where my heart was: Mexico. I've been there 3 times since 2005, and can't get enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG4RrJws3Rrlk4lNmriQo1BRSIj7WivZ4hdEuKp7q2jndqLwuBL47nU0vmJEKmmX39-pJMNBERiGZmBpk9Le8B_X3Vd2cS-5_aLh8w0sNCGO89liWyIvawmthxjvPJyA1-wvAqxxQS1s/s1600/DSC04370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG4RrJws3Rrlk4lNmriQo1BRSIj7WivZ4hdEuKp7q2jndqLwuBL47nU0vmJEKmmX39-pJMNBERiGZmBpk9Le8B_X3Vd2cS-5_aLh8w0sNCGO89liWyIvawmthxjvPJyA1-wvAqxxQS1s/s1600/DSC04370.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The last time I was in Mexico was in 2009, and I volunteered with the same organization I will be working with on this trip. <br />
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It's called <a href="http://www.pesamexico.org/">PESA</a>, which stands for Proyecto Estratégico de Seguridad Alimentaria (Strategic Food Security Project), and is a program of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.<br />
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My good friend Josafat has worked for them for nearly a decade, and is now based out of their headquarters in Mexico City. <br />
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But when I was there in 2009, he was in the small city Tlapa de Comonfort, in the southern state of Guerrero. From Tlapa he would take day trips to rural communities all over the state to help implement and evaluate food infrastructure projects.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josa and I in Tlapa de Comonfort, 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn storage, Guerrero, 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOppK5anVmTBhIwOPVpvrJ3W9GHhzGNJQfdwoedsfm8O_x2YhpbEKORv13KFB0IRme4ZfpUBG5Ku8QjWwd3QsVOe6bj4Lc2qt2fwbUQKGbFcCDBVT_LRHWdeaY3Ckf02nqIPu2RfPRhJU/s1600/DSC04444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOppK5anVmTBhIwOPVpvrJ3W9GHhzGNJQfdwoedsfm8O_x2YhpbEKORv13KFB0IRme4ZfpUBG5Ku8QjWwd3QsVOe6bj4Lc2qt2fwbUQKGbFcCDBVT_LRHWdeaY3Ckf02nqIPu2RfPRhJU/s1600/DSC04444.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping with community corn de-graining, 2009</td></tr>
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You can read more about <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2009/03/leaving-coast.html">my first time volunteering with PESA</a>, and the end of that same trip in this post <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-tortillas-and-running-up.html">Making Tortillas and Running up Pyramids</a>.<br />
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Well, I guess we are going backward chronologically. In 2007 I spent the end of my last quarter of college living with Josafat and his girlfriend, and teaching English in his grad school. They lived in Cholula, a really sweet little city on the outskirts of Puebla City. <br />
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The adjective of a person or thing from Puebla is <em>poblano,</em> and indeed, it's where the dark <em>mole poblano</em> originated. That month I did my ESL certificate teaching practicum and ate a ridiculous amount of <em>mole poblano</em>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA1KwwpwP17wqPZiPjBmqdekuDJiYI5hagPaYusAouoZYC_gYUq7_FoffztPRPP4b0f0gEqFQNf7PflbyLAX1eC3g8u0gw7VmlM2pf7WN10UT42IHp2lSFImJ7SP2Y-kezqTbkxE_K5o/s1600/DSC04622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA1KwwpwP17wqPZiPjBmqdekuDJiYI5hagPaYusAouoZYC_gYUq7_FoffztPRPP4b0f0gEqFQNf7PflbyLAX1eC3g8u0gw7VmlM2pf7WN10UT42IHp2lSFImJ7SP2Y-kezqTbkxE_K5o/s1600/DSC04622.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of smoking Popocatépetl from Cholula</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoMgdEH2a9tvvTt8kprVWYlQGt1JKZe_sEiavNl1G24KyP6dvPMC76xST7mHmqtDEiTeGdroq5MlQYR3ndJLHJvGFjRZMvN2uMuqmUzeGWrEDU1FnXZojMCTZzi6xh9UG4wodUPLRQTU/s1600/Mexico+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoMgdEH2a9tvvTt8kprVWYlQGt1JKZe_sEiavNl1G24KyP6dvPMC76xST7mHmqtDEiTeGdroq5MlQYR3ndJLHJvGFjRZMvN2uMuqmUzeGWrEDU1FnXZojMCTZzi6xh9UG4wodUPLRQTU/s1600/Mexico+023.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our front door of the <br />
cathedral atop the Pyramid of Cholula</td></tr>
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My first time in Mexico I spent 5 months in 2005. I studied abroad for a quarter at the Universad Latina de America in Morelia, Michoacan, volunteered on organic farms, studied Mayan ruins, and met my dear friend Josafat. How did I meet him anyway? Did I really get college credit for traveling? Find out in this post <a href="http://amberanda.blogspot.com/2015/01/10-years-since-mexico.html">10 Years Since Mexico</a>.<br />
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I'm leaving this week to fly into Mexico City before spending next week volunteering in rural communities. More to come!AmberAndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763489065077550597noreply@blogger.com0