Winter Weekend

Posted on October 21, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Spalding Church – Nez Perce NHP

Things never turn out like you plan them to… well, not every time. Sparky throwing up in my sleeping bag woke me up. I used my pants to help contain the mess. Then the rain came to block out the sun. The dogs got breakfast in Paradise – a small town in Montana before the Nez Perce NHS in Idaho. We had been here before and enjoyed returning for plenty of history and pictures.

We stopped in Clarkston, ID for lunch at Tomato Bros. and ended up staying the night. The waitress recommended the Riverport Brewing Co where we would make friends with Neil. We bought some of his homemade hot sauce and he let us have some pickled tomatoes and green beans. Nancy, our bartender, is married into the business, very friendly, and kept our popcorn bowl full.

Whitman Mission Memorial

Refreshed, we would get an early start in the morning. We returned to Whitman Mission which was worth it for all the fall colors and deer. Our next stop would be Mt Rainier – for more rainier than other parks, but also for the snow. Most of the roads were closed, but we were able to get in plenty of hiking in 29 degree weather – it was beautiful. Into Seattle for the night, we get free parking a block from the Space Needle. At the top we witness a wedding, but decide to return some other time for the $40 pasta dish – pear and gorgonzola – though with dinner the ride up would have been free, but it’s also a $35 minimum charge per guest with credit card.

Space Needle in Seattle

The sports bar across the street with an empty table had a 25 minute wait so we went around the corner to Golden Singha, a Thai place, for Thai fried rice for Caleb and pineapple fried for me – delicious and lunch for the next day. We met two couples with nine-day passes for Seattle. We would’ve loved to stay longer and explore this enormous city – our map has a zoomed in box for the entire Seattle area and another of downtown, but work is a week away and we have a long way to go. We camp at Dash Point between Seattle and the west side of Mt Rainier where we will go to see more of the park.

road into Mt Rainier

What we get is more snow and more closed roads. We see two young guys throwing snow balls at each other and a dad and daughter building a snowman. We would love to stay and get lost in the snow, but Caleb suggests heading south to Mt Saint Helen’s. We get to see a clouded rim covered in snow and the history lesson was stunning – learning about the effect this volcano had on the area 32 years ago – to houses, roads, rivers, and families over 50 miles away, and the beauty and possible hazard that it still is today. We won’t be hiking to the rim today, but we enjoy some hiking, some frogs in a lake, and getting another photographer’s hopes up when I thought I saw a bird – the most inanimate one he has ever seen.

Mount St. Helens

We want to return for snowshoeing and in the warmer season. There are no campsites on the park because of potential flooding, ash covering, and lava flow. I learned that 2-4 inches of ash can collapse a roof and when mixed with snow can turn to cement. What a powerful and changing place. Time for us to change places too. We decide to drive to the Oregon coast and it’s a great choice. We visit Fort Clatsup and imagine living in one of the spacious rooms.

tree reflecting on Lewis and Clark River

We get to temporarily follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark – what lucky and smart men they were. The park was closing soon and we wouldn’t mind being locked in, but drive to Sunset Beach instead. As we walk our way to the water we are passed by a car. Vehicles are allowed on the sand and soon we are left carless by the ocean – what a view. I want to camp here too. As we are leaving I thought I saw a tarantula in this kid’s container – photo-op! But it’s empty for catching bugs for his spider at home named Lewis. Caleb is grateful to have bypassed that moment of terror as would anyone afraid of spiders.

Caleb on Sunset Beach, OR

Caleb has chosen some back roads to get us from coast to capitol. We stop somewhere along the way to make dinner – more mac-n-cheese with olives. It seems to be a Oregon tradition to drive with your high beams on in foggy conditions and my eyes tire quickly, but stay sharp for the one raccoon brave enough to cross the road in front of me. It will be a late night, but we will be clean in a warm bed instead of smelly inside a wet tent.

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Cold Fish Construction

Posted on October 19, 2012 by TheJessicaness

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This morning was great – yogurt with strawberries and raisins for breakfast. The girls lay on the couch together with Harry on top and learned about amoebas. We said our goodbyes as soon as Jake got home. Then we went by Robert’s and then Jessi’s work – both hoping we will come back soon. Glacier National Park is three hours away and we arrive at 1:00 pm.

Part of Going To The Sun Road is closed due to construction – Avalanche to Logan’s Pass. There is no snow on the ground and no glaciers in sight, but their streams can be seen coming down the mountains. Dogs are not allowed on the trails so we go on without them. There is so much to see here and this place is nothing like I expected. We hike a few trails but will see no bears today.

We are camped at Apgar’s winter sight for the night. We are by the lake and the view is spectacular. There are fish eating and I see a small bird fishing. Mac-n-cheese with olives for dinner. The temp is 49 and I have my gloves on. We are prepared for the cold night ahead. Perhaps some star-gazing and then breakfast on the beach while we watch the sunrise.

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An Ox Does Yoga

Posted on October 18, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Caleb watched the girls this morning while I went back to sleep for a while. Then we took turns taking showers. We had a slow morning and when Jake got home we went to the store for dog food and the Staggering Ox for sandwiches – a Rabbit Habit and a Broken Heart, and brought back bread guts for the girls.

I dropped Caleb off at his dad’s at 4:30 pm, picked up Jessi from work, and we went to a yoga class together. Brian, the instructor, directed his 12 students in our breathing and positioning. I listened to his voice, the music he selected, the music from the gym below – we were on the second floor, and my thoughts.The stretches were great and different poses available for the newbie to expert level. The class was 75 minutes long – long enough to make us both hungry.

Back at home we made chicken salad with the chicken on the side and had rice chips with jalapeño hummus. Tonight’s drink of choice was lemon shandy and a peach lager – I knocked mine over. I helped with dishes, got the baby dragons dressed for bed, and then read Sammi four bedtime stories. One book had a puzzle on every other page and another had a poster with one million stars.

The dogs had another long day of playing with the girls – they got pet, dressed, chased, and fed. Sparky played fetch with lots of toys and gave the kitty his space. Both dogs behaved so well with all the opportunities not to and earned some peanut butter-cheese biscuits. We talked for a while longer not wanting the night to end knowing that we are leaving in the morning – after we watch the girls because grandpa is feeling sick.

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Squawko’s Tuesday

Posted on October 17, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Sammi burying Lyra in the dinosaur fossil site at the children’s museum

Sparky woke me at five this morning to greet the cat, Harry, at the front door and pee in the rain. Then he woke me up at six to greet the cat, Tibu, at the back door. Robert, my father in law, showed up at 6:30. He is usually the babysitter of the grandkids between their parents’ work shifts. We had pumpkin muffins and grapes for breakfast at 8:30. We got the girls dressed and waited for Jake to get home so we could take the car with child seats.

We took the girls to the Children’s Museum two miles from the house. We paid for two hours on the parking meter and lost track of time. We played grocery store, dug for dinosaur bones, went fishing, painted, made Play-Doh shapes, and played in the water area. The girls got cherries painted on their cheeks. After four hours at the museum we went to the playground behind the museum where we ran around for a bit until Lyra got her pants wet from a puddle on the slide. Lyra fell asleep on the ride home.

Lyra and Sammi painting at the children’s museum

It’s quiet time now – nap for Lyra and a possible one for Sammi – she gets alone time to read and write. Jessi, my sister-in-law, comes in the back door. She will drive Caleb and I to the store where we get chocolate mole sauce to go with squash and chard tacos, some pumpkin lager and gluten-free raspberry beer, and dessert from Dairy Queen. Sammi and Jake stayed home and made cookies while Lyra napped.

Caleb picked up his dad, Robert, for dinner and then drove him back home around 10:30 pm. Jake works an early shift and went to bed. Sammi had fallen asleep on the couch so Lyra and Jessi kept me company until Caleb got back. We had a long day and had no problem falling asleep.

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Moo Cow Monday

Posted on October 16, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Grant-Kohrs Ranch

A nice night in a heated room being half underground – out the window we saw a car bumper. PBJ for breakfast and two hours away from the hotel I realize I’m not wearing my wedding ring. I begin to freak out and am about to have a panic attack when Caleb pulls the car over going from 75 to 0 in five seconds and hands me my night bag from the trunk where I had put my ring this morning.

We near Missoula and see a sign for Grant-Kohrs Ranch near Deer Lodge where we have been to the car museum and old prison and decided to stop. A short walk under two bridges brought us to a bunch of buildings closed for inspection and repairs. We got somewhat close to some scared cows and the horses were out of reach.

Sammi wearing a pancake hat

We arrive in Missoula after 1:00 pm and enjoy rain for ten minutes. The temperature is warmer now than it was when we were here in May – I need no coat. We sit and talk with Jake and the girls – Sammi and Lyra. We were going to make pumpkin cookies, but Sammi wanted to play outside. I had fun watching her run laps around the house and I thought about joining her… But then Jessi walked up from work, reading a book, and we went inside.

Sammi had fun playing in the backyard with Sparky. She showed me her playhouse – big enough for three adults, two kids, and one dog. Lyra impressed me with how cute and smart she is. We had art time. Sammi drew pancakes, Lyra drew a dragon, Jake drew a pumpkin, and I took pictures. Jake and Caleb would make dinner – a Quiche frittata mix with beet soup – delicious! We had our choice of pineapple, figs, or tapioca pudding for dessert.

Caleb’s dinner photo

The dogs went to bed and Caleb read Sammi a bedtime story. He is now asleep himself. It has been a long day and we have more to look forward to tomorrow. It seems we might spend a few days here – cooking, eating, and talking. We also have plans for a children’s museum, a yoga class, and a corn maze. Then it will be off to Glacier NP and then west to Washington.

Lyra depetaling a flower

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