almost done

Here the girls are being helpful by painting the dog house. They also painted the 'Emmas place' sign on the kennel. Now all that is left to be done is finishing the roof on her house, landscaping a big in front of the kennel and as she gets bigger adding a couple more wire strands around the top. SO far it works great and she seems to like it. Although she tried to steal some of our items to move into there like shoes and gloves and things to make it feel a bit more like home!

Dog house

All ten posts are in! What an accomplishment that was! Then there was the matter for a dog house. So here you see the building of it and the girls being oh so helpful! -NOT!

New projects

Scott and I complain now because we are too busy so then what do we go and do? Create something new for us to do. This is a Kennel for Emma. We were just going to buy one as she will not be able to sleep in the garage all winter but for the cost to buy one we figured we can make a better and bigger one for the same cost. So here was our weekend! Scooter working the hole auger. Then Scooter again digging some out by hand. Zephy is helping me man the brush piles we burned and chopping kindling. And Emma supervising the whole show.

Wood

Here is Sheradia getting cozy by the new fire. Sheradia being silly and taping bracelets to her ears as earrings! and Emma in front of our now growing wood pile. We made three walls and are filling the middle. We estimate this amount to get us through a rather cold winter with just using the wood burner. Since this photo was taken we only have about 1/3 of the inside to fill. Also forgot to say that my favorite part of the wood stove is that the two grates at the top swivel out so you can heat water for tea or cook in a pot on it. Look forward to making winter soup on the stove!

Stove

A wood burning stove was always in the future but when our electric bill last winter was around $300 a month we decided to get the stove now. So here is Scooter cutting a hole in the roof and putting it all together. The stove is so heavy it took 3 of us to move it! So far we have only had to light it for about 3 days and it heats the house perfectly by itself. We thought we would have to supplement it with electric but I don't think we will.

Last days

The last day we hiked up to see another falls but when we got almost right up to it the trail was closed. It was a good hike for the morning and we did it in record time (well for me) so we felt good about it anyway. Then we stayed in Snowqualamie after a big dinner at Scott's favorite Famous Dave's BBQ. We were meant to be going to one of my favorite places (olive garden) but just as we turned into the parking lot Scooter spotted Dave's on the right and the car mysteriously came to an abrupt halt! The next morning we went to see Snowqualamie falls and headed toward home. Here is me looking out at the falls, the falls, and Scott catching his reflection in the camera lens. Then part way home are two lovers at the gorge. We had to stop and do this as we have one exactly the same (at this spot) hanging up at home except the couple is about 10 years younger. Thought we'll have to do this every 10 years.

camping

we camped that night again my a lake with fantastic views right from the tent window. Here I am cooking ravioli for dinner looking out at the lake. Sunset at dinner. And what do you do when the sun goes down and you get bored? -No! Not what your thinking! You figure out how to make cool designs using the camera and a flashlight.

Drift wood

While beach combing I found this piece of drift wood I wanted for my garden. Scott tried his best to drag it back to the car for me! Then we drove to the south part of the park where we found camp and hiked to the worlds biggest spruce tree and them another falls. We wanted to do one more but the trail was closed. We did find showers though so that was nice!

La Push

We then drove to the beach where we were suppose to hike 1.5 miles down the beach to the tide pools to look at the sea life in the tide pools and a large arch carved out by the surf. However it was kind of the wrong time of month do to that as the low tide at mid-day was still pretty high and once we started walking in the rocks that we would sink into we realised we may not make it down there and back in time. So we had one of my favorite days just walking down the beach between the surf and treeline beach combing for treasures. We picked up a number of rock and found some interesting items that had washed up. This photo of the old couple is one of my favorites. Dressed in there wet weather gear, gum boots and all, they splashed and danced in the sea foam for so long. It was heartwarming on this cold drizzly day to watch them just enjoy life like two kids playing in mud puddles!

Sul Duc

The next morning we broke camp and hiked into Sul Duc falls. This was a short hike and glad it was so as it was teaming with rain and it was cold! Here is Scooter at the trail head. He hid the camera bag in this coat. Looked like he was pregnant and with straps it even looked as though he had breasts-ha ha!

Tent

Here is the lake we camped next to the first night. I think it was called Quinault. It started raining and didn't stop for the rest of the weekend. We made camp, then went for a walk down by the lake. Sat and talked on the end of the dock for a while before making noodles for dinner then falling asleep to the rain on the tent. Very relaxing.

The Top

The top and looking aback the ridge again with mountains behind. As we were driving out in the car we looked back up at where we were and spotted this black bear not far from the trail. Actually people on the trail stopped to watch it as well.

First day in Olympia National Park

After that filling breakfast was rolled ourselves away stopping at a farmers market for fresh fruit and bread before heading into the Park. We drove into Hurricane Ridge and fixed sandwiches for lunch before hiking to the top (I think it was 4 miles). Wonderful hike. Here are some photos from that one. I made Scott stop to sit in that spot. I just knew it would be a good photo -ha ha! Then we stopped further up for a break and to take in the view looking out to sea in the far distance. The next one is looking back the ridge we just came from you can see the trail in the distance.

The Old Consulate

The mansion was built by a German consulate thus the name. Here are a couple shots of the parlor. The grapevine chandelier and matching stain glass window behind it was impressive. With my love for antiques (actually Scooter is really getting into it now too) I had a blast walking around looking at and touching all the furniture and things on display most were original to the house. The next morning we had time for a cup of tea on the porch swing while we read a book and took in the view you can see between the bushes. Breakfast was incredible. There was tea and coffee of course with fresh orange juice. Then the first course was homemade granola and a cup of cantaloupe and honeydew with celery seed and honey glaze over the top. Main course was scrambled eggs with hollendaise sauce, sausages, and wild rice pancakes with double butter

syrup (I had my doubts too but believe me Scott and I were promising to find that recipe as we were digging in for seconds!). Then for dessert, yes that's right we were wishing we hadn't eaten so much, was a dense frozen pumpkin bread with double cream on top. Very rich tasting indeed!

Our Nook

Our room was cozy and unhaunted (something we joked of on the way there and I have to admit when the lights went out I was half expecting for something strange to happen). As you see it had a small sitting room at one end and the bathroom had only a claw foot tub to bath in which suited us just fine! It was kind of fun hearing all the squeaky floorboards in the hallways and the banging around early in the morning from the kitchen as delightful smells wavered up to the room.