to the wild country

For our one year anniversary we spent a short get-a-way in an inn hidden in the mountains. For living here a year now and only being an hour and a half away from one of the greatest mountain ranges in the United States, I can't believe we haven't spent more time hiking around here. We spent the night at Freestone Inn in Mazama, Washington. It is right at the base of the North Cascades National Park. In the winter time, right outside of the Inn is where they pick up Heli-skiers to ski the Cascades. Yes, Grant's eyes I think almost popped out of his head when he heard this. It is a beautiful inn tucked away in the mountains next to a small lake. What a great place to get away from everything!

On Monday we hiked the aptly named "Cutthroat Mountain trail." It was a two mile hike in to an alpine lake followed by a three and a half mile hike up to the peak.  After a considerable effort, and twenty plus switchbacks, we reached the peak... and realized we were really only half way done with our hiking for the day...  But the view was worth the effort and the trip down was much easier than the one up.  It was a good day, and we slept well that night for sure!

{Liberty Bell Mountain}

{Side view of Liberty Bell}

{cuuuuute}

{view from our inn}

{trees}

{peaceful little alpine lake along our trail to the top of those mountains you see ahead}

{I'm pretty sure I forgot all the pain I felt getting to the top once I finally got there}

{ "Now these are mountains" }

still newlyweds

Today is our 1 year anniversary. God is good!. How awesome is He who brought the two of us together.  I thank the Lord every day for bringing me a man of strong faith and heart.  Our God has given us a home, work, families that love us and pray for our marriage constantly, friends that still care even miles away, and an unconditional love for each other that will never fade.

Thank you to everyone who has called, listened, and prayed for us our first year. It has, not so suprisingly, been an easy year one. We are blessed to have such great examples of what a Christ-centered marriage looks like.

I can't believe a year flew by! Next thing you know I'll be posting about our 5 year anniversary. And I can only imagine how much will have changed by then. A year ago I was living in California. Now I'm in Brewster. In 5 years, who knows! I'm excited for every day with Grant, no matter where we are or what we are doing. God doesn't make mistakes. I'm sure the next year He has planned for the two of us is perfectly according to His will and perfectly okay with me. Well, let me be honest, at least I'll try and be okay with it. lol

{my forever}

3pm - 3am

As many of you know, Grant has been working the night shift for cherry season. Thank goodness cherry season is finally over and I have my husband back. But apple harvest will begin soon and there is no telling what he might be doing so I probably should not hold my breath on this one.

One night Grant asked me to bring him dinner and then he'd show me around the cherry packing line. Of course I brought a camera and tried to sneak a few pictures. I already felt funny as Grant was giving me the tour and all the workers staring at this crazy lady with a camera like this was some tourist attraction. So I didn't snap too many pictures except a few quick ones, which is why they are so blurry. Apologies in advance. Grant manages a cherry packing line with his friend Jack. They have, on a good day, around 60 workers under them packing Bing cherries (other varieties too, but not Rainier cherries. Those are hand packed). Despite how many times Grant has explained how things run around there, I can't explain it. Just ask Grant. I'm sure he'd love to tell his side of it all. lol

{A small section of one packing line in the huge warehouse}

{Grant keeping track of how many bins they have}

{I don't think he was too happy with me taking pictures}

{good-bye cherries}

stop then go

I am finally back on here again. Sorry for the weeks of silence. Since the end of July, everything has been moving at warp speed. So much to do over this last month I think I am going crazy. Grant and I have made it through our entire summer working just about everyday. Good and bad. Bad because we really didn't get to enjoy a summer. Good because God has blessed us with work, unlike many americans. But there was one weekend this summer that by random miracle, I was able to get off at the winery. I  switched around shifts to get a friday, saturday, sunday, and monday off. And of all weekends, this was the one weekend I wanted to go home so badly. My best friend from growing up was having her baby shower the first week of August. We have been through just about all big events in life together and I wasn't about to miss her baby shower. AND it was my mother's birthday weekend. How perfect!

With a last minute purchase on a plane ticket, I made the whirlwind trip back home to california. Oh and on my way home to washington, my dear friend Kari just so happened to be driving up to San Francisco to visit our friend Amy that monday. Of course I joined her on the road trip to San Fran, spent some time with her and Amy, then boarded the jet plane back to Seattle. Those pictures might come in a later post.

As I stated earlier, this has been one busy summer for Grant and I. But finally things are slowing down and I have much to update you all on. For now, enjoy a few snapshots from my trip back home.

{For Mom's b-day we spent the night in Carlsbad and walked around Dana Point the next morning}

{My nephew Marcus is the cutest biggest baby ever}

{My family at Natasha's shower. Alex enjoyed playing the 'Don't Say Baby' game and collected lots of lei's. I'm pretty sure she won too}

{Yes, I even made it to the beach while I was there}

{Getting some sun at the far less crowded Bolsa Chica beach with my Dad and little sister}

{               }

{then and now}

Mummy Musing

This past week has been Vacation Bible School at our church. The theme was Egypt, Joseph's Journey from prison to palace. We had a great turn out of about 40+ kids. From playing games, making crafts, singing and learning about God's word about Joseph, it was an exciting eventful week. I was in charge of the preschool - kinder group. Oh boy is right! They kept me on my toes. Unfortunately Grant is still working the night shift so he had to miss out. He probably would have looked great in those pharoah outfits the guys were wearing. 

{mummy game}

{craft time}

{Bible Lesson}

{Get on your feet and sing time}

The children really got into the worship songs and the learning their egyptian hand motions. We all were moving our feet, praising our great and mighty God. Praying that seeds were planted in the children this week.

hello cow

  

Our neighbors consist of apple trees and cattle. Lately, I have become pretty attached to the cows. Yes I will admit, I am fond of them. Days when I am home by myself (which is pretty often) the cows are my company. When they move to a pasture a field or two over, I miss them. I realize this is probably the most pathetic post I will ever write, but I couldn't think of anything else to write. Life in Brewster is easy living. Days consist of work, eat, and sleep. Occasionally I need to run to the market or post office. With Grant working the night shifts, our days have been off. He sleeps 'til noon, eats breakfast/lunch and gets ready to go back to work at 3pm. As for me, I work at Karma Vineyards with during the day or night. Sometimes I try to wait up for Grant by watching several episodes of NCIS. (Thank you Jenelle for supplying me with weeks worth of episodes) And lets all remember, I live in Brewster.

meet 435. my neighbor.

summer berry delight

My friend Mandy from work gave me some rasberries the other day. I was excited because there was a recipe I found on one of my favorite blogs I have been wanting to make (http://www.shutterbean.com/). So I attempted to replicate it and well....it turned out pretty tasty. As an amateur cook/baker, I like recipes that are easy and quick. This was a winner.  Instead of using regular milk, I opted for soy milk so Grant could enjoy the treat. I have been making smoothies with soy milk and that seems to work for lactose intolerant tummies without too much of a change in flavor.  This is the perfect treat to a hot summer day.

 

Little Summer Berry Puddings

Makes 4
(recipe from The Canal House Cookbook, Vol. 1)

• 4 cups fresh raspberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 12 slices white bread, crusts removed
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup softly whipped cream

1.   Put the raspberries in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar over them. Shake the bowl to mix them together without crushing the berries. Set aside to macerate for half an hour.

2.   You will need four 6-8-ounce ramekins for your pudding molds. Cut a circle out of each slice of bread, using a ramekin as a template. Pour the milk into a wide dish.

3.   Working with one circle of bread at a time, quickly dip the bread into the milk until just moist but not soggy, then press it into one of the ramekins, lining the bottom. Cover the layer of bread with a generous layer of berries. Make another layer with the moistened bread and berries, then add a third circle of moistened bread. The ramekin should be filled to (or even swollen above) the rim. Layer the remaining 3 ramekins in the same fashion, using the remaining bread and berries. Spoon any juices over the top.

4.   Put the filled ramekins on a small tray or baking dish, loosely cover each one with plastic wrap or parchment paper, and set a heavy dish directly on top of them as a weight to press the layers together. (I used food cans that were wide enough and heavy enough to cover the ramekin)

5.   Refrigerate the puddings until the bread and berries have completely melded together, about 4 hours. They'll keep well in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

6.   To serve, uncover the ramekins and run a small knife around the inside edges. Invert each pudding onto a dessert plate and unmold it gently. Sprinkle the puddings with some sugar and put a nice spoonful of whipped cream on top.