Cheering yourself up

Do you have ever have one of those weeks when you wake up day after day feeling just blah? In your opinion your hair looks lame, your clothes look dumpy and you are ready to sell all your belongings and start anew? Well, last week was one of those weeks for me. Instead of spending too much time posting all my belongings up on Craiglist or wallowing in self pity, Cameron ensured our evenings were spent going on long walks, eating multiple cones of ice cream and soaking up every ounce of sunshine humanly possible.

Here are some lessons I have (re)learned from the week:

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

I went on a blueberry picking kick this Summer and as a result I ended up with a large quantity of fresh berries. One day I decided to do something with them other than eat them straight out of the bowl. I found this recipe online and quickly got to work. I loved the addition of applesauce and I added a little demerara sugar on top for a little crunch.

Summer walks

Summer walks are pretty spectacular around here. We have this lovely park called Lincoln Park, just minutes away from our home. We spend countless hours going on walks, sitting on park benches while watching the ferries come and go and watching the sunset.

End of Summer baking

Summer has a tendency to pull me outdoors and make me crave simply prepared food. I shy away from baking in the warmer Summer months, so late Summer is the perfect time to make use of all this wonderful abundance of locally grown food. A couple weeks ago my friend brought over some rhubarb. I have never baked with rhubarb before and I was excited to give it a try. I came across this recipe for rhubarb crumb bars and they seemed simple enough to make.

Overnight backpacking trip: Snow Lake and Gem Lake (Part Two)

As we approached Gem Lake the clouds started to roll in, within minutes the lake was completely fogged in. I am never as acutely aware of nature as when I am hiking. The dew on the plants leaves, the clouds passing by, the new growth on the trees these are the things which consume my thoughts.

Overnight backpacking trip: Snow Lake to Gem Lake (Part One)

On the weekends we like to get out of town, it needn't be far, just a forty minute drive right up into the mountains. Sometimes, especially in the Summer we turn our hiking trips into overnighter adventures. Backcountry camping means early mornings on the trail, spectacular star filled nighttime skies and a great reminder that we can survive and be completely content on far less. The weekend was perfection, well, until I was bit on my eyelid and the whole right side of my face started to swell and my eye was stuck shut....but that my friends is another story.

Summer at Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier in August is magical. The wildflowers are in full bloom, the skies are typically bright blue, and the waterfalls add to all the wonder and amazement. The skies at Mt. Rainier are so dynamic. From one moment to the next Mt. Rainier might be out in its full glory or temporarily hidden by clouds.

Picking my way through Summer

This Summer we have been fortunate to spend a ton of time outdoors, in particular berry picking. We have been strawberry picking, raspberry picking, blackberry picking and now blueberry picking. For deliciousness factor my favorite berries to pick are raspberries, but I also appreciate the thoughtfulness of blackberries to be free and plentiful and the ease in which clusters of blueberries fall off the branches. Basically, I love all berries for different reasons.

What are your favorite berries to pick in the Summer?

Night hiking

Especially during these long days of Summer, we like to make it a habit of hiking after work at least a couple times. As the sun was starting to set behind the mountains we set out on our hike up to Snow Lake. The best part of night hiking is how busy trails often become empty and the evening light is something out of a dream.

The best weeks of Summer

The best weeks of Summer are when my nieces come to town. The three weeks they were here were high energy, non stop excitement and just plain fun.

Winding down Summer

There are still a few weeks left of Summer, so I thought it would appropriate to share some of my favorite late Summer adventures around Seattle.

Hike up Kendall Katwalk.

Snow Lake

For a girl (like myself) who loves the outdoors, Seattle is a great place to be. Within an hour we can be amongst craggy peaks, hill sides of wildflowers and the beautiful trees. Awwww, green, we just cannot get enough of you. One of our favorites is Snow Lake, if you have never been I suggest you check it out before the snow comes again.

Camping on the beach

There is something magical about camping on the beach. I think it is a combination of beautiful vistas, killer sunsets and a constant hum of waves crashing. Whenever I am camping on the beach, I think about how wonderful it would be to live on the coast.

Happy weekend!

Ice cream weather continues to hold strong around here, which means it might just be time to make more sugar cookie spoons. What is more delightful for clean up than an edible utensil?

A good reminder we could all use and a great little weekend adventure near Seattle.

Summer favorite: Hiking Granite Mountain

Hiking is just about my favorite activity on the planet. Add sunshine, blue skies and an array of wildflowers and I am pretty much in heaven. One sunny Saturday, we set out early on a hike up Granite Mountain. This eight mile (round trip) trail is pretty exposed once you come out of the trees after the first mile. The key to not overheating and being able to enjoy the trek up is to get an early start and bring lots of water.

Snoqualmie Ice Cream's Ice Cream Social

This year for our fourth annual Ice Cream Social we teamed up with Snoqualmie Ice Cream. We were spoiled with an array of unique flavors from Honey Cinnamon to French Lavender and Blueberry Cheesecake. The custards and ice creams were delicious by themselves, but just for the fun of it we offered toppings galore. There were caramels, hot fudge, sprinkles, crumbled cookies, marshmallows and fruit just to name a few.  

Strawberry Picking at Harvold's

Harvold's has been my family's long time favorite place for berry picking. Unlike many farms, they forgo the additional merchandise and instead focus solely on the berries and their quality. I remember learning how to pick berries at a very young age and eating more than my fair share of those berries while in the field. Amazingly enough, this was Cameron's very first time ever picking berries. Despite the soaring temperatures, he was driven and focus, with his head down picking I knew he meant business.

Summer list

When I think of Summer, I instantly think of ice cream, sand between my toes, spending time on the water and long days filled with sunshine.

Below you will find my top ten favorite Summer time activities in Seattle (in no particular order):

1. Kayaking off Alki Beach or on Lake Union
2. Spending a long weekend at Seabrook.
3. Backpacking in to camp by a lake.
4. Renting any type of watercraft or going out on a friend's boat.
5. Heading out of town to explore for the weekend.
6. Day hiking along I-90 corridor: Rattlesnake Ridge or Mt. Si.
7. Visiting the San Juans to go Whale Watching.
8. Intimate dinner parties in our backyard or larger soirees.
9. Evening walks to watch the sunset at Lincoln Park.
10. Spending time with my favorite girls.

Kendall Katwalk

The other day my friend and I set out on a hike. We encountered sunshine, beautiful scenery and most importantly I returned home feeling rejuvenated in a way only being outside in the woods makes me feel. It was a great day and it made me realize how I need to do this more often.

Eeking out Summer

Our week has been filled with entertaining house guests and trying to squeeze every last drop of Summer. The nights are getting shorter and I cannot help but yearn for long Summer nights and spectacular sunsets. Fall is quietly emerging in our backyard which makes me anxious to unleash my Fall wardrobe. There is something inspiring about thinking in term of layers and dressing for colder weather.

What is still left on your Summer to do list?