May 31

(Work today looked like this.)

 

Happy Friday - sleep, drink, be merry!

May 30

Cupcake Royal time. It has become almost tradition to take Livs out for cupcakes on her birthday - this year was no exception. Except for the fact that they were out of almost every single cupcake (carrot cupcakes, naturally, still abounded). Cake Pops and Chai were happy alternatives.

May 29

I love this one. She came over for a bowl of chilli today, and we sat on the floor and attacked all of lifes problems with colored pens and a pros and cons list. And also tea (with coffee mate and sugar because that's the only way to drink it).

I feel like we made headway. Or at least we have a color-coded list which is almost as good.

May 28

Today is the beginning of a week and it's already Tuesday. Tuesdays mean zumba and a good nights sleep and subsequently, I love Tuesdays.

 

* * *

 

When we went to Ellensburg this last weekend, I didn't make note of our wine tasting endeavor. Mostly this was a worthy thing to bring up because Thrall & Dodge Winery has the littlest tasting room in Washington - about 97 square feet of pretty paneling and good wine!

May 27

Happiest of birthdays Livs!

My gloriously talented, funny, big hearted house mate turned 24 on the 25th...but we celebrated her today with cinnamon rolls and hash browns fried to crispy perfection.

Olivia, my dear, you are a treasured part of our community, and my life. I am glad to have you in it and I am always quite blown away by your thoughtfulness and your ability to remain true to yourself. You're pretty great.

* * *

And then it was back to Seattle to see this face. It was so missed!

May 26

 

 

We're Ellensburg-bound and so excited about it.

 

After a busy, beautiful day yesterday full of wedding love and great music (Thanks Friends and Family! You guys were incredible!) Kali and I decided a road trip and couple days with Livs in the country would be ideal. The drive down was, as always, breathtaking - miles of staggering, misty mountain views - and things cleared up right about lunch time. Just in time for wine tasting and walks and books and a nap.  

May 25

 

 

Congratulations Johanna and Lee!

 

Today was beautiful. "It is rare that people being so blatantly in love is ok," said Kali  between tears...and really, one cannot help but be happy for these two, because watching them, one knows that what they have begun is a good thing. They were married with all the joy and gravity and celebration a commitment like this deserves, and everyone there was blessed to be a part of it.

 

You two are amazing, thank you for letting me be part of your lives.

 

* * *

 

And here's my date. She's cute, no?

 

 

May 24

 

Finally tried Joule. Drinks get an A. 

 

Best part of my evening? When Kali willingly drank from the straws that had just seconds prior been in my nose. True love.

May 23

Beth, book displays, Turkish food, and travel dreaming. These things make any day a little brighter, yes?

May 22

 

This is what outside feels like today.

December in May.

 

But it's kind of cozy, you know? I made hot chocolate.

May 21

Today was sushi day with Smash and Lindsay. This wasn't our sushi (this is from another outing, but I didn't get a picture of todays goodness)...because we went to Sushi Land. My mind was blown - and so many, many plates of little nuggets of deliciousness wrapped in rice later, I decided Sushi Land gets a win. Also my girls get a win, because really, seeing them was good for my soul.

May 20

Prettiest house on the block. One day I will have wisteria growing from the eves, pink flowers in the garden,  and a green door.

May 19

Yay for lazy weekends! In light of having had a string of wonderful weekends of the traveling variety, it was nice to have a home stay. Laundry got done, things got cleaned, runs were taken, good food was eaten - and a walk around Green Lake was had. All restful and good. I am very grateful.

May 18

On my 2013 To Do list (I will never get through my bucket list unless I section things off, you see) nestled right in between Go to Sweden and Get a driving license, was Learn how to bake bread. Last year it was pie. Bread is terrifying mostly because yeast (little living organisms that bloat and die to make my bread fluffy? What nast.) but also because good bread is one of my favorite things, and making bad bread therefore, bread kneaded by my own two hands, would be that much more of a failure. However, face those fears, I did - Eschet Chayil! - and today I made Monkey Bread.

 

It is clear to me why people make it just and only for the holidays (or once every three years). It took me only about 4 hours. And this was the sped up version. However, at the end of 4 hours, we were rewarded with a delectable bunt-full of soft dough nuggets dipped lovingly one by one in butter and sugar sharing the strong bonds of caramel and frosting. I'm going to go ahead and say it was well worth it.  

 

 

It is beautimous no?

May 17

 

Happy Syttende Mai!

 

Today is the day Norway became independent and so we celebrated here in Ballard by attending the biggest Syttende Mai parade in the world outside of, duh, Oslo. With beer and paninis.

 

Markus's moms side of the family is staunch Norwegian, and so our presents and support ran deep.

May 16

 

The sky gets away with being dramatic far better than humans do. This week, it hasn't decided what it wants - so it throws tantrums of rain, and then sweetens up, before it collapses in fits of drizzle again. But it is beautiful. And overwhelming. Wonderfully so.

 

And I found anthuriums today - furled little trumpets, and wings spread - I didn't know they even grew here. They so remind me of home and a garden full of mango trees, and giant spotted leaves, and these in red and pink.

 

 

May 15

 

 

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."   

- C.S. Lewis

Sarah (in the blue) and I (in the pink) strolled today. For six years we have found depth and beauty and understanding and challenges and empathy in each others stories. Wonderful things do come of the willingness to speak, balanced by the desire to listen - I pray I continue to get better at these as the years go on. Because, really, getting to share life is a wild blessing.

May 14

Is pretty no?

I am at my desk, not at the coast, lest this picture should lead you astray. But it's from our weekend at Point No Point and I loved it. And also that beautiful views are alive and well just beyond my line of sight and my computer screen is a comfort and a joy.

May 13

Lilac season.

May 12

 

Dear Mama,

 

Thank you for being the wise, gracious, witty, true woman that you are. Thank you for teaching me what it is to stand up for what I believe in, appreciate people and the blessings I've been lavished with, for understanding the meaning of generosity and showing me what it is to have an open home. Thank you for not being afraid of adventure and raising a family on an island. Thank you for asking good questions and always having good answers. Thank you for being the funniest person I know. Thank you for living out your faith in the most tangible of ways.

 

Also thank you for always listening, always being there for us, always loving. Even when we think it's funny to make you mad. Thank you for being a role model.

 

I love you so much!

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

It was also so good to celebrate this wonderful lady. Esther, what an incredible woman you are - thank you for welcoming me into your home with such open arms and for always being so encouraging, so supportive, and so full of love towards people. Your family is incredibly blessed!

May 11

 

 

Today was an outside day - beginning with sweat and tears (just kidding, there were no tears) and ending in wine and lasagna.

 

Being forcasted to be the last nice day of our slew of nice days, Markus and I decided to hike to Rattlesnake Ledge this afternoon. After 45 minutes in the car, and a throwback CD of highschool tunes, we battled the millions of Northwesties who also decided it was imperitive to go hiking that day, and got to the top. Views were spectacular, snacks were much deserved, and we got the token "we did it!" picture as proof of our endurance (*refer to above photo for visual aid).

 

We drove to Port Orchard soon thereafter to start celebrating Mother's Day early - with a fantastic meal on the deck and a wonderful time with Peter and Esther.

 

May 10

 

Congratulations Holly and Xavi!

 

These two are adorable and it was such an honor to celebrate with them at an intimate ceremony (also attended by most of Holly's nine siblings!) in Holy and Xavi's backyard. It was short and sweet, with homade cooking and beer to follow, and was warm and true to who these two are.

 

I wish you guys all the very best and I hope you're enjoying Sun River in it's entirety!

 

May 9

No sleep = Long work day = Nap in the park with Jenni = Perfection.

No sleep = Perfection? I've never been fantastic at math or at being realistic. But I am an optimist, and I will be true to myself.

May 8

Dinner with these two this evening! Excuse the old picture, but I was so engrossed in my delicious gnocchi that I forgot to document - ah well, it's good to live in the moment and not behind a lens sometimes, no?

We drank good wine and applauded Chris's abilities in the kitchen and talked for three hours. I told Markus in the car on the way home that I was giddy (he laughed) - but really it is these kinds of friendships that make me so thankful.

May 7

Photograph by Casey MacKenzie Photography

 



So remember when Tommy and Cynthia got married? It was a long time ago - almost two years ago in fact. Anywho, they left us for a while to enjoy newly wedded bliss in Asia teaching children English in Korea. That was after a quick stop in Hawaii, or course, working on a pineapple plantation. All that goes to say, they are back. And we are so excited!

Hannah, Stephen, Markus, and I got to go up to their beautiful new appartement and enjoy pizza and stories with them - and it was so refreshing. They have been sorely missed!

Ps. Tommy makes music mixes - get the latest one on his blog Coral as a Color. He's pretty cool.

May 6

And it's back to Seattle with it's fantastic sky line and lakes and sailboats. It was nice to be gone, but it's always nice to come back to our beautiful city. Work could stay on hold for a few more days though - at least until this sun decides to take off again.

May 5

  

 

I'm not really ready to be done with the rainforest or the beaches. But here we are, Sunday already and I'm on my way back to Seattle. We hiked down to Second Beach through the ferns and greenery and came upon a beautiful little cove of beach with specacular rock outcrops and clear blue ocean and hermit crabs scuttling in a makeshift lagoon. It was almost warm enough for swimming. Maybe by August?

Look out for Prospect this summer - it's going to be a good one.

May 4

 

Truely, we live in a beautiful corner of the world. We took dinner out to the set today, and the rainforest in all it's ancient glory is just breathtaking. Thick beds of moss cover the ground and wrap around giant tree limbs, light filters in green and gold dapples through thousands of leaves, and the air is heavy and fresh at the same time, if there is such a thing.

If I were a bird, this is probably where I would live.

A scene from Prospect. It does feel other worldly, no?

 

 

May 3

Here we are, on the Olympic Peninsula, cooking for the masses and taking in the sun and the sea.

This weekend we're feeding 25 people - two vegetarians, one allergic to sprouts, another allergic to garlic, a vegan, and a lady who is kosher. And we say BRING IT.

So far we have had only one semi-catastrophe in the form of little balls of deepfried chickpeas also known as falafel also known as the devil. They are a wonderful option for those who would like to a. entirely smoke a house out, b.cause personal injury, or c.burn said house down altogether. We threw our perfectly formed little discs of perfectly seasoned mix into our perfectly simmering oil, whereupon all our perfect discs promplty dissintegrated to greese-soaked mash, onions floating sadly to the surface, as we looked morosely on.

We fixed it (flour and less oil, who knew?). There was a lot of self-congratulatary speak thereafter and everyone was fed so really, all's well that ends well. And we're making curry tonight - curry can do no wrong.

Also we went to La Push, and it is spectacular. The picture above is us standing in trunk of the most giant piece of drift wood (drift trunk? drift tree?) I have ever seen.

May 2

It's road trip time. I've been excited about this for weeks and it's finally here. Hannah and I are off to Forks (ie: The Twilight Zone) to go cook for the cast and crew of Prospect. Shep Films is going to work their magic and film a sci-fi short that's going to be nothing short of amazing, and it is such an honor to get to help out even minimally!

Josh, Clark (a champion among men for driving for a thousand hours), and I headed down the highway after work today and made it to the coast just in time for the sunset. After that it was a quick jump over to Forks, the brooding rainforest, a giant cabin, Hannie Mac, and the 40 breakfast burritoes that had to be ready for a 4 am breakfast call.

May 1

It's the first of May.

 

I walked up the street today, dappeled in morning light, and on the sidewalk was a bucket with long stemmed daisies in it, pink, white, and red. And there was a sign that said take one, Happy May Day. And I did.

 

I love this season of sun and brisk air and the smell of lilacs hanging in the air at unexpected turns.

 

* * *

 

Markus and I explored the Locks this evening - it was good to spend an evening with him, I do love his company so! We picked the very worst month to try and see fish on the fish ladder (we saw zero) but we will try again in August - apparently our odds will be better. We did pick the perfect day to take a walk and eat fish and chips however. But then again every day is a perfect day to eat fish and chips because that is always a good decision.

 

Happiest of May Days, peeps, do go out and enjoy the sun!