Here, There, Everywhere

Greetings, Human.

For the second time in 9 days, we are enjoying some sunshine. Liz and I left the confines of the front range last week, bound and determined to enjoy the best of the pacific northwest for a number of days, beginning with doing the family and friends tour. We stopped for a night to see Dylan and Ann in the Boise, and even managed to sneak in a pitch or two of some nice riverside climbing. From there, we wound up to the Portland area, and stayed with multiple family members and houses, drank countless cups of coffee and enjoyed some good IPAs with friends in the city. mmm.

Moving northward to the Seattle area, we found respite with some old college friends for a few nights, watched the summer solstice parade through Fremont and took the long way around the western side of the sound by way of Olympic National Park. Stopping off for a night with some old camp friends in Olympia, we have now continued the great Northwestern tour along the Oregonian coast, visited the Tillamook cheese factory, officially tasted some Willamette Valley wine and taken in another great waterfall.

As for this moment, we are looking towards the Columbia River Gorge, the three sisters area and some time in Bend to put a bow on the state of Oregon. It hasn't been particularly nice weather-wise, but we have been completely blown away by the hospitality and love we have received from those we have imposed ourselves on and couldn't ask for more. Of course, all of the shots are over on the flickr page, but hopefully we will have even more to come in the next week or two...

Zoot Alour!

Colorado Doings

Last week was the first week of Summer. That means I am ignoring what our calendar says, as we finally kicked off summer time activities just recently. Liz wrapped up time in school and my academic calendar is filled with online classes, so to celebrate, we enjoyed some very 'Colorado' activities.

Friends from Denver came up and some from Fort Collins stayed put, and we all jumped on bikes to find our way to our favorite five (it's a wonderful problem to have) around town and parse their wares. It may be the best way to spend an afternoon, and if anyone wants to try and create a sequel later this summer, feel free to let us know.

Another very Colorado activity that we've actually never participated in is any kind of river sport. A school friend offered a trip on a raft down the Colorado River, and we kindly obliged. Suffice to say, its very easy to understand why people enjoy such frivolity - the high snow melt current made for an incredibly fast and cold afternoon, capped with lunch by the river and beer from the cooler. (though we didn't take many pictures, for fear of losing my camera)

We took the long way home the next day through Rocky Mountain, and got enjoy a (nearly) empty alpine visitors center that was still nearly snowbound even in mid June. Every other time I've been up to this part of the park it's nearly been a parking lot, so the lack of people and cars made for a leisurely Sunday drive.

Since then we've packed up and hit the road, so hopefully the next posts will include the warm green scenery of the Northwest....

Celebrations with Baked Goods and Aquatic Animals

This is a picture of 10-year-old me making a cake to celebrate my sister JoAnna coming home from the hospital. It may be the first recorded instance of me celebrating major life events by making food (though it is not the first recorded instance of my awesome hair styles throughout the last 3 decades).


Fast forward to last weekend when, with the help of some frosting-savvy cousins, I baked and decorated 100 shark cupcakes to celebrate said sister's graduation from high school.


Where to begin to celebrate JoAnna? She's been our camping buddy, fellow barrista, cat-sitter, and Settlers of Catan master. She is beautiful, hilarious, spontaneous, and loves us fiercely even when we pick on her or get too involved in her life decisions. She has watched 4 older siblings grow up and leave home and now she is the one leaving home and starting off on a new adventure. I love her dearly and can't wait to see where life takes her. Being the baby of the family the fun-loving person that she is, the older siblings rallied together to celebrate her graduation in style, with decorations, games, and a special visit from her favorite childhood animal, a SHARK!


Congrats to you, JoJo! May your next voyage be full of adventure and free of harpoons.