First Climb of the Season -- Mt. Pilchuck, Washington

Well, my ski buddy Adam and I had planned to do some backcountry skiing and snowboarding up at the old Mt. Pilchuck ski area last weekend, and we took off from Seattle early Saturday morning with visions of spring t-shirt skiing (it was sunny and 60 degrees last weekend). However, as we approached the parking area we noticed things looking pretty green where we expected to be linking turns. Tough sledding for sure. So we ditched the downhill gear and strapped our snowshoes onto our packs and headed up the trail -- in the summer there is a hiking trail to the summit and a fire lookout tower. About halfway up the trail we finally hit the snow, and switched to snowshoes for the final ascent. Couldn't have been a nicer day with 360 degree viewed of the Cascade mountains from Mt. Baker to Mt. Rainier from the lookout. Looks like the end of ski season means the beginning of hiking season, which is just fine with me.

I Want to be a Freedom Dancer

Nothing says "Happy Anniversary" like a 1980's cabaret/theater production! Colby and I celebrated our anniversary a little early by taking in a show with good friends this weekend. The Soft Rock Kid was full of 8o's music and dancing that followed (very loosely) a Karate Kid story line. This was such an original idea for a show - singing and dancing and jokes about the 80's. It was all I could do not to run on the stage and join the Freedom Dancers. If only I had a pair of leg warmers in my purse.

Be Mine

Valentine's Day 2010 did not disappoint. Colby hand-made this Domo Kun night light for me. Domo is my favorite Japanese monster whom we became acquainted with on our trip to Japan last spring. Our special dinner was the handcrafted sausage that you see in the previous post. This particular sausage is the Hungarian variety. It was so tasty...like authentic Hungarian goulash in the form of a sausage.

SausageFest 2010

SausageFest 2010 was a huge success -- 50 lbs of pork shoulder cut up, ground, and stuffed into casings. Italian sausage, Hungarian paprika sausage, Southwestern green chile, and British bangers. Lots of sausage and lots of beer on a 56 degree Feb. 6 day in Seattle. Couldn't be much better.

What is it?

Preparations begin for this weekend's activity. What could it be?

Game Night

Saturday was our 3rd game night with good friends Viviane & Dan and Brooke & Dave. The game of choice was Guesstures, which is basically charades.

Dave Young is acting out a very impressive "rocker" clue. I tried to capture the high kick but only got the tongue wagging air guitar.

Good times!

Fall Hiking on Mt. Baker, Washington

I like nothing more than Fall hikes in the mountains, and after a summer spent in the city teaching and working on the house every weekend, we finally got up to Mt. Baker for an 8 mile hike around the flanks of the mountain. Lots of great scenery, and a few "brisk" crossings of streams that were flowing fast with glacial meltwater. A high mountain setting at its best.