Hurray For Snow Days

Last night I experienced the first blizzard of my life. It was snowy and windy and generally blizzardy outside, and it made me feel cozy all tucked up inside my little house. It also caused all the schools and outpatient clinics to close their doors today, so Dr. H and I have an unexpected day off together. We've shoveled the walk and the driveway, and are now snuggled up inside with lots of warm drinks and movies. The temperature is hovering around 10 degrees outside, and I can't think of anywhere I would rather be than inside with my husband and cat.

Quick Update

View of Columbia Gorge

It has been a big couple of weeks. I have officially begun my term of service as an Americorp intern.  I am working at the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, and receive all my training and support from the Northwest Service Academy based at the Mount Adams Center (MAC)in Trout Lake, WA. I spent all of last week down at the MAC with the 28 other environmental interns playing games, eating, getting our paperwork done, eating, going on hikes and eating. There was certainly a ton of food there. I can't say it did much for my waist line, though it did keep my morale pretty high. Trout Lake also proved to be a particularly beautiful little town. It is nestled at the base of Mt. Adams (aka the sleeping giant), and is chock full of green pastures, wooded glades, and old-growth pine forests. On one of our hikes I saw my first spring flower, and I can't describe the hope that that brave little guy instilled in me.

brave flower

natural arch

waterfall in Columbia Gorge

I came back to a lovely weekend with Dr. H and the cat, and my very own first spring flower.

bulb

There may be a dusting of snow on the ground outside, but inside things are growing!

Snowboarding

Snowboard looking down from chairlift

View up chairlift 5

Yesterday was a gorgeous day up on Mt. Spokane. I spent the day on the bunny hill trying to figure out how to do complete turns on my board, and Dr. H and one of our friends got to go mess around on some bigger slopes. I'm a bit sore today, but nothing like I was the first time I went out. I fell significantly less and I managed to make a few complete turns. I call it a successful day! To make it even better, the clouds parted for the day to reveal a stunning view: lakes, distant snow-capped mountains, and miles and miles of snow covered pine trees. 

View from top of bunny slope

lake and distant mountains

Bottom of bunny slope

I'm now ready to venture out into other snow parks. And I am thoroughly sick of the bunny hill. So next weekend: bring it 49 degrees north!

Seattle/Puget Sound Trip

This last weekend Dr. H and I headed west into the misty lands tucked between the Olympic and Cascade mountains. We treated ourselves to a bit of a brewery tour (5 breweries in 4 days), and explored the areas outside of the city that could potentially be our next home.  Bellies stuffed with all the Pho we could eat, Dr. H, Erin and I headed north to beautiful Deception Pass.

The very next day, we piled into the car and drove a loop through a couple of the islands of the Puget Sound and fell in love with the little  town of Poulsbo.

Poulsbo is small, beachy and has all the required amenities : Mexican food, a brew pub,  and Norwegian pastries. Dr. H was in heaven.