Welcome 2011

May this new year be full of prosperity for all out there!

Art by: Ms. Shelley Jund

poor Henry

Todd and I went camping for one night over on the Dosiewallops River.  It rained the entire time.  There was snow on the hiking trails (4").  But we made the best of it, ate, drank, and even was able to have a campfire.

But, I am not complaining.  there is over one foot of cold snow at my Grandmother's house in CT.

Lost Alaska pics

Here are a few pics from the trip to Alaska Todd and I took late November.

Here are pics of Canadian mountains as viewed from the ferry.

Here is the creek we camped by.

And here we are on a sleeting morning.

Sticky buns

Last night I started making sticky buns.  Today we'll find out how they will taste. 

Funny part is, that the elastic of my skirt gave out and as the night progressed it kept inching down.  Todd caught this pic of me in the kitchen, my hands were to dirty with sticky dough to keep the skirt up. Ha haa!

And finally the people shots

Of course one must include Henry....

And the last night we made a banana creme pie.  Cindy D dumped in the frosting some red food coloring.  It tasted great but getting past the redness would be a turn off should it be at the store.

and soem more randoms.  thanks Cindy D.  It was a great trip and I greatly enjoy looking at your perspective of the place I live in.

Cindy D's visit to the beach

Cindy D's boat shots

We went to Port Townsend to look at the boat docks.

Cindy D's visit

Cindy came up to the Pacific Northwest from the dry area of Phoenix.  We spent the first night in Seattle, toured around Pike St Market the next day and was back to the island by Saturday night.  The photos posted are all from Cindy Dulong.  They are her eyes and photographic skills.  Hitting this link FSK to see her blog.  This will take you to one of her posts and you can tour around to see the others.

Snow!!!

It is odd to experience snow on the island in November.  What an awesome November it has in regards to weather.  First lots of rain.  Second high winds that toppled large trees and had out power out for over 24 hours.  Now a snow "storm".  I put storm in quotes 'cause if I was in Idaho, it would not be of significance and the only thing any one will look at is the ski hill.

Alien meal

A few weeks ago, I was having dinner at home alone.  To treat myself I bought some stinky cheese, mussels, and a bottle of wine.  What a decadent light meal for one.  It was as easy to prepare and about 1/4 the cost of going to the Bistro.

Complacent

Don't you all think that I have become complacent in my opinion and interests in corporate corruption and the ignorance of the general public.  Call me what you may (Socialist!), but listen to the following interview, think about it, and see how you fit in to the whole health care system, what you want from the health care system, and what you are willing to do for having a basic right fulfilled for all!  Why is it that we can not have basic health care for all? cost? BS!!!

Fort Casey State Park

One of three forts along the straight.  Designed to blow the sh^& out of invading war ships.

ugh, why does blogger rotate my pics?  how can I fix it?

Blue skies

The Pacific Northwest is also known for its gray, rainy days.  Fortunately for me, we reside in the small rain shadow formed by the Olympic Mountains.  The past few days were windy and rainy, like much of the country.  Today was not that at all.  Today was sunny.  The skies were blue.  The distant mountains freshly bleached with a blanket of pure snow.  Riding the bikes into Langley, proved very rewarding.

And from a week ago, the last picture is a reminder of wonderful PNW coastal mornings.

Fungus amoungous

One of the many enjoyments of the Pacific Northwest is the variety of fungus.  Such a wonderful creation.  What one sees above the surface is it's flower, its sex organ, its fruit of labor.  Underground, the fungus is a complex web of microbia that fills the soil gaps like grout in a brick wall.  But instead of inert grout, the fungus acts as a laboratory, chemically altering the soil, both mineral and organic.

Amature Photographer, T.Buck.

Here are some pics that Todd took the past week.  He has such a good eye for details.

More wilderness

 The cold start again, this one having the wilderness sign.  Notice the snow!

 The area we hiked into.  the first lake, Ferguson Lk, is in the divit along the right ridge near the center of the photo.  yeah, I walked to the lake.  Below is a picture Todd took above the lake that we stayed at the second night, Fred's Lake.

 This is camp #2.  a sweet place it was.  The morning was so cold, the water pump was frozen and for the first time in all my camping experience, we were out of fuel.  so the boy scout stepped up, started a morning fire and we had smokey oatmeal, coffee, and warm water for the trail.

And a post would not be sufficient without Henry!