Fall in Manito Park

Today, Tim, Elphaba and I decided to do our hiking a little closer to home. We walked from our apartment to Manito Park, around the Park and back. Roughly about 4.5 miles. It was so beautiful. It was about 65-70 degrees with the sun warm and cool in the shade. We walked an indirect route to the park and back so we could enjoy the huge tree lined streets and the crackle of the leaves under our feet. The smell of decomposing foliage/leaves and pine filled the air...the smell of FALL. This is my favorite season. I love the smells, the chill in the air and the things that come along with it. I took a lot of pictures today...and most of them were of leaves and trees. I picked only two...one to show that the flowers are still looking great and smell great even with the chill in the air. And the other, hopefully a small taste of the yellows and oranges. This morning we tried brunch at Vin Rouge, one of our favorite dinner spots http://www.vinrougespokane.com/Default.aspx it was really good, we started with Pumpkin pancakes...they were YUMMY! And then I had a tomato bacon and provolone omelet and Tim had a chorizo scramble...really good as well. The coffee was good too. Needless to say we won't be eating much for the rest of the day!

In other news...I am still losing weight, not as quickly as I had before, but total weight loss is 29.8 lbs (since May 15th of this year). So I am happy. I tried on a skirt in a size I haven't been in for at least a couple of years...if not longer. I was thrilled to see that it fit and I may be leaving that size behind soon!

Enjoy the FALL! Wherever you are!

Shakespeare Weekend

Last weekend, Oct. 5th-7th Tim and I drove to Ashland, OR to meet Tim's parents and see the Shakespeare Festival go to http://www.osfashland.org/ for more information. Anyway, Tim and I left Friday after work, about 5:30pm and headed to Bend, OR for the night. Then we continued through Oregon, near the Crater Lake area to I-5. Our backroads trip took us through some breaktaking countryside. And, we saw about 2-3 inches of SNOW!! It was GORGEOUS, but, did I take a picture of it? No, we were on a time schedule. We arrived in Ashland about 12:30pm on Saturday Oct. 6th. We met Tim's parents and walked around the cutest town...and there was a lot going on and the weather could not have been more perfect! We ate at a cute little lunch spot where I had some of the best seafood chowder I have ever had. Of course I can't remember the restaurant name. Anyway, we walked around some more then headed back to the hotel to get ready, rest before dinner reservations at 5:30pm and catching the show AS YOU LIKE IT at 8pm. It was great! I am definately going to return next year!!

Sunday we got up and had some breakfast in the hotel...then headed back to Spokane, WA. Tim and I drove through some breathtaking scenery on I-5 as well. And, we hit a Factory Outlet stores area and did a little shopping. Then, we stopped in Troutsdale, OR for a bite to eat at Edgefield's Black Rabbit Restaurant. This is a great place to stay as well...see http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3 Anyway, after a great meal...I pretty much fell asleep. Tim did a great job of driving...and I slept. On our way into Portland we saw a beautiful rainbow. Anyway, it was a great weekend.

Seattle Rainy Day - Sunday Sept 30th

So, Sunday we had a late start. It was really RAINING. I think this was finally some typical Seattle weather. To date my other visits have had some pretty great weather. So my sister and I decided to catch the bus and head to the Seattle Aquarium. http://www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=183&srcid=-2 We walked through Pike's Market and down the steps to the Aquarium. Once inside, we settled in to enjoy the fish. We actually touched stuff in the Tidal Pool (I only touched a starfish, my sister touched something a little more slimey). We looked at the WALL OF FISH, then headed through the exhibits. The concentration was primarily fish of the area...and then there were some tropical fish. The cutest part were the harbor seals and the sea otters. We could have watched the sea otters all day. Once we left there we climbed the steps to Pike's Market again. Then we walked around trying to decide whether to have hot chocolate or ice cream. There was a Rocky Mountain Chocolatier which had ice cream and chocolates..so we decided to eat there. The service was poor and the clerk tried to pass off magic shell for hot fudge, but the chocolate was YUMMY!! Then we walked around a little more...found a place to have a drink and some fries...then headed back to my sister's neighborhood for some stuff for dinner. We got back and fixed dinner...then watched the Sunday night premiere line up...it was great! I had so much fun!

Hiking in Seattle - Saturday Sept.29

So, I headed off to Seattle this weekend to go hiking with my sister. We decided to try our luck at Mount Si, http://www.mountsi.com/which was said to be a pretty busy trail, but great views and moderate. We set off Saturday morning after a cereal breakfast and a trip to REI to find my sister a good day pack. The day was partly sunny, but definitely looked like rain. We got to the trail and started off...definately moderate and to us (not in very good shape) a little difficult to breathe...and the trail climbed fairly quickly. It was interesting to see the many people running and walking by us as if we were standing still. We did make it to the first stopping point on the trail...roughly 1.25 miles. It was pretty, saw lots of green! Saw a banana slug...and at the point we stopped to have lunch, the overlook was gorgeous and the mountain to our left had a frosting layer of snow! It did start to rain on our way down. But, the weather was still perfect for hiking, cooler and mostly in shade. Once we got to the bottom we took a small trail near a creek...and then left to check out a closeby antique store. Then, we headed to Snoqualmie Falls...on the way we encountered a couple herd of elk...which was pretty exciting. My sister hadn't seen any yet. So, we pulled over to watch them for awhile. Then, on to the falls http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/. The Falls were gorgeous, not as tall as Mulnomouth (I can't spell this) but still, awe inspiring. We also had Flat Stanley with us. So, he got into several pictures. I need to send them to FL. Once we left the Falls, we had hiked a total of 3.25 miles of moderate to strenous (at least for us). We headed back to Seattle and on the way back my sister wanted to take me to a park with a view of the Puget Sound...and the sun was going down...what was left of it through the rain clouds! It was beautiful except for the shrieking children (although it did sound as though they were having fun). The tide was high...and there were birds. We saw several bits of crab along the shore, some shells and it was scenic. The park had some great places for kids to play, kind of looked like it was under the sea. Then it was to my sisters to shower and find a place to eat for supper. We were HUNGRY! We settled on a newer Italian restaurant down the hill http://www.asteroidcafe.com/ and it was good. Not our first choice, our first choice was Swingside Cafe...but it had an hour and a half wait...and we were hungry! Then, it was walking back up the hill and to bed. What an AWESOME day!

Sunday Sept 23rd - Hiking in Idaho

So, my sister came to visit. Tim and I had planned a hike in Idaho on Sunday, so she agreed to come along...and we also brought the dog. We did a small hike just past Wolf Creek Lodge near Marie Creek (I believe). The trail was for hikers and horses, so we had a LOT of crap to try and walk around. Eventually I think the dog got tired of walking around...so she thought she would try eating it. The day was overcast...but nice for hiking. We went up over a ridge and then down into a valley...need to go back when there is more wildflowers, I bet it is very pretty. Anyway, we all had our packs (yes, even the dog). We did about 5.5 miles...the trip over the ridge was steep on one side but had a lot of switchbacks on the other...but all in all it was a great hike. On our way back we encountered a hunter, he was hunting grouse...but looked like he was set for anything. He walked up on us as we were singing (not Tim) a yodel from Sound of Music, I am sure he thought it was all really weird! Anyway, we had fun. Didn't realize how sore we were until we tried getting out of the truck once we got home. Tim made us some FABULOUS Salmon with ginger butter sauce while Terri and I made 2 pies with the apples from Green Bluff. It was YUMMY!

Apple Picking - Saturday Sept. 22nd

So, I am behind on my blogging...isn't everyone. Well, this weekend we decided to go to Green Bluff and pick apples! It was the PERFECT fall day, sunny but cool. We headed out a little later than we wanted but stopped at several points along the way while driving in the Green Bluff area. Check it out http://www.greenbluffgrowers.com/ Anyway, we settled on some cherry cider, apple cider and tried a freshly made (while we watched) pumpkin donut (YUMMY). Then we went and picked some gala (better when they come right off the tree), jonagolds and some macintosh for pie! Then headed back home to make a pie! Well, not immediately. I went to a baby shower...then jean shopping. Yep, my jeans just aren't fitting me these days. Finally Saturday night I tried to call mom to get THE apple pie recipe. I have never really liked apple pie, except for my mom's recipe. Apples too mushy, too much cinnamon, etc. So she has this recipe from an old Gold Medal cookbook...it is perfect! Didn't get mom, but tried calling my sister instead...once she heard I was baking pie, she decided to come for a visit! Oh, and by the way, that is Flat Stanley in the picture helping us pick apples....courtesy of one of my cousins in FL!