Introducing the freaks of the week:
They are Egyptian Spinach, a Gold Cylindra Beet, and Ground Cherries.
I don't know what "Ground Cherries" are, but they taste kind of like really sweet tomatoes.
Any suggestions for that spinach?
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Last night's root beer float
Frozen mugs, cold root beer, and fresh vanilla ice cream on a hot summer evening.
The only thing that made it better was sharing the experience.
(P.S. Mom -- reminds me of The Good Steer!!)
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Road Trip to Crater Lake, Oregon
All of our friends that have visited Oregon told us we HAD to go to Crater Lake during our trip.
The best thing about having a rental car is that you have to pay extra to have a second driver. Know what that means? I had an entire week off of driving! This [two-hours-of-commuting-every-damn-day] girl was psyched.
Justin didn't mind doing all the driving, anyway. Although he put around 1,500 miles on the car in six days, ~90% of the driving was up and over mountains, on winding roads, alongside freezing cold creeks. It was pretty. I had to close my eyes on the scary parts ("OMG, THERE'S A CLIFF NEXT TO US"), but Justin found it fun.
The reward for the many miles was well worth it. Look at this view!!
Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States. I have probably seen fewer than 10 lakes in my entire life, so I didn't waste any time with any lame ones, just skipped right on up to the Mother Of All Lakes.
When we arrived, of course I had to bundle up with as many layers as I could find. Brrrrrrrrr! Oregon weather is downright weird.
All day long, I just kept saying, "Look how blue it is!" I did not know water could be so blue.
After taking a million pictures, we enjoyed and warm and tasty lunch of soup and sandwiches at the beautiful Crater Lake Lodge. We planned to do a hike and maybe a run after lunch, but the friendly French people at the table beside ours let us know all the trails were still closed by snow.
Fortunately, the 1-mile-straight-down-the-mountain path was open.
And I was able to touch what I think is my very first lake! (Mom? Is this true?)
MAN, it was cold. They have an 18-foot jumping ledge where people sometimes dive in. I don't generally mind cold water, but I think this would put me into shock. According to the park rangers, the temperature usually hovers right around 38 degrees.
If you're ever in Oregon, see if you can make it to Crater Lake!
The best thing about having a rental car is that you have to pay extra to have a second driver. Know what that means? I had an entire week off of driving! This [two-hours-of-commuting-every-damn-day] girl was psyched.
Justin didn't mind doing all the driving, anyway. Although he put around 1,500 miles on the car in six days, ~90% of the driving was up and over mountains, on winding roads, alongside freezing cold creeks. It was pretty. I had to close my eyes on the scary parts ("OMG, THERE'S A CLIFF NEXT TO US"), but Justin found it fun.
The reward for the many miles was well worth it. Look at this view!!
Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States. I have probably seen fewer than 10 lakes in my entire life, so I didn't waste any time with any lame ones, just skipped right on up to the Mother Of All Lakes.
When we arrived, of course I had to bundle up with as many layers as I could find. Brrrrrrrrr! Oregon weather is downright weird.
All day long, I just kept saying, "Look how blue it is!" I did not know water could be so blue.
After taking a million pictures, we enjoyed and warm and tasty lunch of soup and sandwiches at the beautiful Crater Lake Lodge. We planned to do a hike and maybe a run after lunch, but the friendly French people at the table beside ours let us know all the trails were still closed by snow.
Fortunately, the 1-mile-straight-down-the-mountain path was open.
And I was able to touch what I think is my very first lake! (Mom? Is this true?)
MAN, it was cold. They have an 18-foot jumping ledge where people sometimes dive in. I don't generally mind cold water, but I think this would put me into shock. According to the park rangers, the temperature usually hovers right around 38 degrees.
If you're ever in Oregon, see if you can make it to Crater Lake!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Pre's Trail
Last week, we spent 6 days traveling around Oregon. On waking up for our first morning in Eugene, we set out to find Pre's Trail in local Alton Baker Park.
We weren't the only ones out there for an easy morning 4-miler. Bernard Lagat was finishing up a little shake-out run of his own before competing in the 5K that night.
It was such an honor to meet such an impressive and respected distance runner. (Later in the day, we watched him finish 2nd in the 5,000 meters...... and then he showed up with his family at the restaurant where we were eating dinner :)
We wished him luck and were on our way.
The trail was lovely -- about 4 miles of bark-lined paths around ponds and through trees. Being the Olympic Trials and all, it was a pretty popular place to be.
My run was totally traumatic, as I watched a hawk violently snatch up a little baby goose out of one of the ponds. Mean bird!
Then I went too far, got lost, and had to ask a random construction worked where to go. But really, what's a good run without getting lost?
More of our trip to Oregon!
We weren't the only ones out there for an easy morning 4-miler. Bernard Lagat was finishing up a little shake-out run of his own before competing in the 5K that night.
It was such an honor to meet such an impressive and respected distance runner. (Later in the day, we watched him finish 2nd in the 5,000 meters...... and then he showed up with his family at the restaurant where we were eating dinner :)
We wished him luck and were on our way.
The trail was lovely -- about 4 miles of bark-lined paths around ponds and through trees. Being the Olympic Trials and all, it was a pretty popular place to be.
My run was totally traumatic, as I watched a hawk violently snatch up a little baby goose out of one of the ponds. Mean bird!
Then I went too far, got lost, and had to ask a random construction worked where to go. But really, what's a good run without getting lost?
More of our trip to Oregon!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Egg Sandwiches
I love egg sandwiches. Especially bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches with really crispy bacon.
Luckily our first morning in Portland, Oregon found us enjoying egg sandwiches on homemade biscuits.
They were amazing and I went on to eat bacon for the next four days. Now that's a good vacation!
More of our trip to Oregon!
Luckily our first morning in Portland, Oregon found us enjoying egg sandwiches on homemade biscuits.
They were amazing and I went on to eat bacon for the next four days. Now that's a good vacation!
Pine State Biscuits |
More of our trip to Oregon!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Pops in DuPont
Enjoying a few Summer Peach Popsicles on this 100 degree day. DuPont Farmers Market from our dear friend Brian at Pleasant Pops!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
An Atlantic sunset
Speaking of sunsets, I think the Atlantic can do a fine job keeping up with the Pacific.
In the beginning of June, we spent a long weekend at Emerald Isle with a few friends.
At the time, I was reading the book Kate Remembered, a biography of Katherine Hepburn by A. Scott Berg. It was interesting at first, but I lost interest before I finished it. I think I would enjoy it more after watching a few Katherine Hepburn movies.
On the last night, we packed up some chairs, a bottle of wine, and fishing gear (for Justin) and headed down to the ocean.
It was beautiful to watch the sun set and the moon rise. The perfect end to a great trip!
In the beginning of June, we spent a long weekend at Emerald Isle with a few friends.
At the time, I was reading the book Kate Remembered, a biography of Katherine Hepburn by A. Scott Berg. It was interesting at first, but I lost interest before I finished it. I think I would enjoy it more after watching a few Katherine Hepburn movies.
On the last night, we packed up some chairs, a bottle of wine, and fishing gear (for Justin) and headed down to the ocean.
It was beautiful to watch the sun set and the moon rise. The perfect end to a great trip!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Logging truck
In the Umpqua River Valley of Central Oregon, where logging is a huge industry.
More of our trip to Oregon!
From the front seat of our Toyota Yaris rental car!
Dinner date at The Vintage
We spent our first evening in Eugene, Oregon enjoying dinner in the front garden at The Vintage.
Crazy eyes and rosé. |
There was a funny yard sale going on across the street. A yard sale on a
Wednesday night at 7pm... guess Eugene is just a yard sale kind of
place.
I wanted to buy a little collection of heavy brass ducks that I saw for
$7, but I second-guessed the purchase and didn't get them. Now I am so
mad I didn't! It would have been the perfect souvenir from Eugene, home
of the Oregon Ducks.
Pics taken with Instagram.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A Pacific sunset
Oregon is cloudy (did you know?), so a sunset is a rare and precious thing. A few shots after dinner on the last night.
It's cold.
Monday, July 2, 2012
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