Life's a Stitch

When fall turns into spring - overnight

A direct flight from the Pacific Northwest leaving on a fall evening, arrives 14 hours later in New Zealand, but it's spring, and the calendar tells us it's two days later. Tricky thing when you cross the dateline and land in another hemisphere. C and I are on the last segment of our time as drifters before reality sets in regarding the budget and timing of our house rebuild.

We're on our way to our sixth continent, the only one remaining on my map of geocaching destinations being Antarctica. That one, so far, hasn't made my  travel dream list, but who knows?  This trip to Australia and New Zealand has been at the top of the list for many years. It's a good thing we booked non-refundable fares prior to discovering recent un-budgeted cost overruns on the house, but that's another story that I'll gladly avoid for now.

Not sure it was going to happen, for awhile there, as C was scheduled for his 2nd followup CT angiogram in the eight years post bypass surgery. Such good news - no changes in his arteries for the past five years. He's cleared for travel and we're on our way. The first stop will be a five day adventure tramping (NZ Verb: the recreational activity of going for long-distance walks in rough country) on the Queen Charlotte Track, located on New Zealand's south island. Next is a two week cruise around New Zealand, ending with four ports in Australia. 

I'll blog when I can, otherwise it's a three week break. For now, I leave you with a misty autumn painting of the Cascade mountains. It's been an exceptionally beautiful, colourful fall here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

The official wedding pictures

M & KC received their wedding proofs at the same time she received the surprise photo book that we made of the unbeknownst to them behind the scenes photo booth. Each room in the inn had a large jacuzzi tub positioned right in the middle of the bedroom. As much socializing took place in-room, the tub became overflow, so to speak, seating. As one of their friends was sitting on the edge of the tub he accidentally slipped in. A photo was snapped and thus began the wedding photo booth. KC's mom was an excellent wrangler getting people to participate throughout the weekend.

The later the night went on, the more "creative" were the pictures, 40 in all.

If you want to see more you'll have to come visit us or M&KC, laughter is guaranteed.

Now for some official proofs, thanks to Cocktail Pbotography for preserving these wonderful memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bellingham WA - an embarrassment of natural riches

The local Hotel Bellwether describes its surroundings:

The Bellingham area has an embarrassment of natural riches, and it’s all about location, location, location. In a single day it’s possible to beachcomb, wander a rainforest, take in a glacier, and still make it to town for fresh-from-the-boat seafood.

After a morning of torrential rain, it cleared enough for us to hike the rain forest, bringing back memories of our North Vancouver trails. We got deep enough into the woods for that luxurious quiet you seldom find near the city. No sounds of vehicles, planes, or even barking dogs, just total silence.

The trees were covered in their mossy coats.

The mushrooms were thriving.

Tiny ones in a stump’s notch looked like a miniature fairyland.  Notice the penny placed for scale.

Damp leaves have their own beauty. I’ve sold both my spider web/leaf paintings and I found leaf models to create new ones.

The chill of the autumn afternoon was perfect for cooking soup.

 Yellow Curry Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

3 T olive oil

2 potatoes sliced thin
2 peeled tomatoes chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 quartered onion
7 carrots
1 or 2 zucchini
1T grated fresh ginger
Curry flavour: 1t hot curry powder or 1 T mild curry powder or equivalent curry paste

2qts chicken broth

1 can coconut milk

Procedure:

Sauté veggies and spices in the olive oil until it just starts to brown.

Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until veggies are very soft.

Either blend w/ immersion blender or use a regular blender.

Add coconut milk and heat on medium low until hot enough to serve.

Makes about 4 qts.

We usually served it with scoops of cooked ancient grains.

 

 

Camp Heatherbrook

Years ago we bought a vacation condo, just over the border in the state of Washington; about 26 years ago. As per advice we received prior to purchasing a vacation property, it has not realized a substantial increase monitarily over the years, but the value has been in the experience.

It always felt like the trees lining the community of Sudden Valley's driveway served as a filter for life's burdens. Leave your troubles at the entrance and pick them up when you leave; the time in between being somewhat carefree. 

Located on Lake Whatcom, 12 miles long, there are two little beaches in our community named for their sun exposure in the morning and afternoon, AM and PM beaches. If ever asked to imagine my happy place, this was it:

The deer roam freely. When we were here shopping for a property with our realtor, he jokingly commanded "Queue the deer," and sure enough out pranced a mom with two speckled fawns. Yesterday on our walk around the smaller lake, we spotted eleven of them. 

Made up of seven units we became friends with the other owners and Camp Heatherbrook has watched as the children have grown. One unit is now on its second generation of family ownership, in turn enjoyed by their kids and grandchildren - third and fouth generations of Camp Heatherbrookers.  It's a magical place for the kids, allowing them the freedom to roam safely in nature. Our crew and the neighbours, 25 years ago:

We've assumed a variety of roles. Chuck, a former executive director of a summer camp was designated as director, and I as the relief cook at said summer camp, am the Heatherbrook cook. Time in the kitchen is enjoyable so its a role I've filled enthusiastically. Blogless Marsha's David is the property manager, extending his real role in life, and Marsha is my "disher," the camp term for sous chef and cleaner upper. She and I also fill the role of craft coordinator with our knitting and my painting, both of us currently working on shawls, Marsha, an Easy Pie Wedge shawl and me, a Drachenfels, utilizing long stashed 100% cashmere laceweight yarn.

Last week was was Blogless M's birthday, and bouillabaise was on the menu. The other Heatherbrook campers joined us for Pavlova birthday cake.

As we will soon be moving to our new house, close by, but back on the northern side of the border, the time has come to think about giving up our share in Camp Heatherbrook. A wonderful place, it might be time though, to let someone else have a chance to enjoy it.