It Was Grand

Always hard to write about our trips to the PNW. Breathtaking scenery and time with family. The end.

Well not really because it's me, but in a nutshell...she laughed she cried she booked another trip. And because I'm always a glass half full kind of girl I will say that while living thousands of miles apart is a never ending tug on the heartstrings I'm so proud and grateful for the way my daughter and son-in-law are managing life with the cutest baby boy in the world. They're the sweetest little family and I love watching them grow.

Normally when we travel west my daughter waits in the cell phone lot at the airport, then pulls up to the curb to collect us. But this time we stepped off the escalator into baggage claim and were greeted in person by our little mancub's smiling face.

He smiles y'all. He is just a happy happy boy and even as I type this I feel a smile spreading across my own face all these days later. Joy is contagious.

It poured rain the first day of our visit, but the rest of our days in the PNW were filled with glorious weather. Cool but sunny, and in the great state of Washington sunny skies are everything. I honestly can't get over the beauty of this place and we enjoyed walks around the neighborhood which, when the sun shines, offer stellar views of my favorite mountain.

May I just say strollers have come a long way since my own raising-baby days. Also car seats, sleepwear, jumping apparatus, and baby food packaging. This baby boy loves his chow.

Hubs is the man of a million funny faces, sound effects, and general hijinks and has always been something of a baby whisperer. His little grandson is completely smitten.

The feeling is mutual. FYI my son-in-law had a birthday at the beginning of the month and the balloons were too entertaining to part with just yet.

Friday night hubs and I manned the fort while the 'newlyweds' had a rare date night. What a treat! For everyone! Secretly we hoped baby boy would wake up so we could snuggle him, but wouldn't you know he slept like a champion.

You might need to strap in while I explain this next picture. I live in SC and my friend L lives in Texas. We met almost fifteen years ago when we were both living in England and have remained good friends ever since. Her son who is currently living in Oregon went to high school with my daughter who is currently living in Washington, about two hours from one another. In a happy coincidence L and her hubs were visiting their son the very same week we were visiting our daughter so of course we had to make an in-person meet up happen.

There were not a lot of dining options along this section of I-5, but we found a place online and decided to chance it. Parkers Restaurant and Brewery is located just a few miles from the Mt. St. Helen's Visitors Center in Castle Rock WA and what a great find! I want to give them a shoutout because the menu was large, the food delicious, the service fantastic, and everyone we dealt with was so so very nice. We all shared desserts and the raspberry cheesecake was one of the best I've ever eaten. I hopped over to their website and apparently it's made by Tony and it's famous so there ya go.

These two thoroughly enjoyed themselves and didn't make a mess at all-ha!

 Our babies have babies.

I can't quite get over it.

Sunday afternoon we all got out for some fresh air and Vitamin D and took the mancub to a nearby park.

Did you play in a park with a view like this when you were a kid???

Those are the Olympic Mountains in the background, absolutely stunning and impossible to capture with a phone camera. Impossible for me anyway. Another operator might do better.

Daughter1 made her famous shrimp and grits for dinner Sunday evening, a favorite of my hubs and her hubs both. We were leaving early Monday and I always have to fight the blues a little starting the day before departure. This little guy is a mover and a shaker and I've told my daughter she better strap on her track shoes once he's really on the go. If he's awake he's a-movin'.

She laughed, she cried, she booked another trip.
How could she not?
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Hodgepodge A La Mode

Slowly but surely getting back in the groove here at home. More slow than sure, but that's how cross country travel always goes. In the meantime here are my answers to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. Best place you've been lately?

Here-

The Evergreen State. There will be a blog post just as soon as I get my act together in The Palmetto State. 

2. What's something you should say yes to today? Or this week? Or even this year?

Today? A cup of tea. Or a nap. Or maybe both. 

This week? Making a start on the spring cleaning. I'm feeling motivated. After my nap I mean. 

This year? More writing. 

Do I say that every year? Seems like it. 

3. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form? If so tell us how. In Western cultures the color green is typically associated with jealousy, nature, good luck, and growth. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'green'?

As far as St. Patrick's Day...some years I make corned beef and cabbage and hubs will drink a Guinness. Does that count? We've never been to a parade or party on the day. When I hear green I think spring aka nature. It's greening up here nicely and there will be plenty of yellow too. In this part of the country we accumulate pollen the way northeasterners accumulate snow. 

4. What's a product or service you love so much you'd happily be their spokesperson? Tell us what makes you such a fan.

I thought of all kinds of answers like J.W. Marriott hotels, Pimms, Ann Taylor, Minted, and England Tourism, but how about we go with something simple and delicious (see I really could be the spokesperson)-Palmetto Cheese. I used to make my own pimento cheese but this one tastes homemade and is every bit as delicious with none of the work. I could even find it in my NJ supermarket so it's not just a Southern thing. 'Palmetto Cheese...the pimento cheese with soul.'

5. March 14th is Pi Day. How are your math skills? What's the last thing you did that required math of any kind? And most importantly do you like pie? What's your favorite kind? With ice cream, whipped cream, or please hold the cream?

I'm okay at math but I think we all know words are more my thing. The last thing I did that required math was just this morning as I sorted out the checkbook and recorded receipts from our trip out west. Words are way more fun. 

And I like the second half of this question better than the first-ha! 

I do like pie, but it's hard to pick a favorite. Cherry or coconut cream would both rank high on my list. Also I don't have a list but if I did they'd be near the top. I'll have a small dollop of ice cream on the cherry and my coconut cream pie recipe is already topped with whipped cream so no need to add anything else to that.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Most of my random thoughts today relate to my trip to Washington so I think I'll save all the extra words for a Thursday blog post. See you there! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 344

This is my first day at home after a week of west coast travel which means it's entirely possible this week's Hodgepodge will reflect my jet lagged sensibilities. Answer the questions on your own blog then fly back over here tomorrow to share answers with the universe.  Here we go-

1. Best place you've been lately?

2. What's something you should say yes to today? Or this week? Or even this year?

3. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form? If so tell us how. In Western cultures the color green is typically associated with jealousy, nature, good luck, and growth. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'green'?

4. What's a product or service you love so much you'd happily be their spokesperson? Tell us what makes you such a fan.

5. March 14th is Pi Day. How are your math skills? What's the last thing you did that required math of any kind? And most importantly do you like pie? What's your favorite kind? With ice cream, whipped cream, or please hold the cream?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hodgepodge and Sweet Tea

Welcome to the last Hodgepodge of the month. Wow-that was fast! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you.

One item of business...there will not be a Wednesday Hodgepodge next week (March 7). We'll be back in action the following week (March 14th). Thanks!

Here we go-

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?

Oh wow, surely this is not 100%??? What does 100% feel like when you're a few decades past twenty? In my 20's I was almost always operating at 100%, but I am not 20 an.y.more. I'm probably somewhere around 75% right now which isn't bad, but it's not 100% that's for sure. 

What's keeping me there? Various aches and pains, middle age and the metabolism to go with, and my neck. If you're still in your 20's that last bit means absolutely nothing, but if you're post-40 you know what I'm talking about. 

2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

We have not 'done' our taxes but we have sent our organizer in to the professionals and once that icky task is completed I kind of feel like they're done. Our portion of the process is pretty much done, other than reviewing, signing, and paying.  

We haven't booked a summer holiday because we live on a lake and have a steady stream of houseguests all summer long. Actually all the company does require quite a bit of planning and coordinating dates so I have been keeping up with that. Our calendar is filling up and we're excited to see friends and family for summer fun right here at home. There's boating and swimming and cornhole and cookouts and lots and lots of porch sitting. We try our best to spend summer right here at home and get away during other seasons of the year. 

Spring Cleaning? I've started making a list of a few things I want to accomplish, but that's as far as I've gotten. As far as other tasks that need doing, there will be some yard clean up, but hubs has that covered, and we need to have the gutters cleaned so will schedule that soon. 

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?

From my post title you might be able to guess, but since sweet tea is technically a beverage let's go with another local favorite-shrimp and grits. I'm sure there are people turning up their noses here, but don't knock it til you've tried it. There are a number of variations, but this restaurant's version is definitely one of our favorites. 

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

None of the above really fit. How about 'leap for joy'? 

I might not have a summer holiday planned, but I do have a trip to see the mancub coming up soon, and that definitely qualifies.

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

hiking in shorts! In February! (I wrote about it here)
Winter Olympics on TV
perfectly pink sunrises
waterfalls
lots of time spent with a daughter in the house

6. Insert your own random thought here.

So now that the Olympics are over what's everybody watching? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 343

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with your friends and neighbors. One item of business...there will not be a Wednesday Hodgepodge next week (March 7). We'll be back in action the following week (March 14th). Thanks!

Now back to today-

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?

2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Not me. I just wear regular shorts, but I wear them in FEBRUARY!

Hubs and I have been enjoying the great outdoors this weekend and yesterday I was in shorts. In FEBRUARY! It's been crazy humid and the pollen is already making an appearance but y'all! I wore shorts! In FEBRUARY! 

Toto I don't think we're in Kansas North Jersey anymore.

There are a number of waterfalls an easy drive from us, and we're determined to get out and see as many as we can up close and personal. One is just a few minutes from the house and we pass the park entrance sign on an almost weekly basis. Every time we drive by we say, "hmmm...wonder what's up there?" On Friday we finally made the turn in to see what's what.

Even though these falls are situated within a state park vehicle parking can be wonky at the trail head. We knew this before driving in, because I always like to hop online and read travel tips before we go. Other visitors to the area said to park on the road, but it looked like we might get blocked in by hikers who had not read the parking instructions online. We decided to park at the ranger station then walked along the road to the trail head. Easy peasy. Also the ranger was very nice and gave us a couple of options for hiking.

Before heading to the trail we walked up the hill near the station to check out two historic buildings on site, The Stone Block House and The Trader's Brick House.

Following some raids by Creek Indians the State of SC had these block houses put up along the frontier and then protected by a small group of militiamen. The Brick House was a trading post established in 1795 that exchanged everything from ammunition to livestock.

Both buildings are boarded up now so you can't go inside...

...although someone thought there might be a way- ahem. Still so interesting to see and read about and imagine what the world was like a couple of hundred years ago. When we hike we're always on the lookout for an arrowhead or some other remnant of days gone by.

The hike into the falls was about a mile on a well-marked trail. The poplars are leafing out and we saw lots of lovely little trillium peeking out of the ground too.

The falls are about fifty feet in height and they're beautiful.

Since Saturday promised to be even warmer than Friday we ventured the next day to another nearby area known as Riley Moore Falls. It pays to do a little bit of research before you hike because this is not one you'd happen upon without a little bit of direction. You travel about three miles on a mostly gravel road and then we parked and walked another mile or so down a muddy road to the trail head. Note to self-that downhill road is gonna be uphill all the way back.

The trail itself is well marked and continues downward through thick woods before opening up to a wide expanse of beach and a really pretty waterfall.

Riley Moore Falls are only about twelve feet high, but they're a hundred feet wide and the beachy area makes you want to linger.

Here's my mountain goat-

He coaxed me up there and we had a picnic lunch on that highest rock.

You can tell from my smile I much prefer terra firma.

Or maybe that smile is all because the sun is shining, there's beauty in this wild world, and oh yeah...

I'm wearing shorts.
In February!

Balancing The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. We're all about keeping things friendly here on This Side Of The Pond-

1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?

My back porch. Or outdoors somewhere. There's something about being outside that shakes the cobwebs free and helps me refocus. I also enjoy reading something well written, sometimes music does it too. 

2. What's under your bed?

Absolutely nothing. Well maybe a little dust but besides that absolutely nothing. 

3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?

Since I'm answering this question at 8 o'clock in the morning none of the the options sound too appealing. I'd probably enjoy celebrating Margarita Day the most because a margarita feels celebratory. No plans for that this week, and since I made chili over the weekend I guess cooking a sweet potato is the most likely. 

4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?

I'm not really snowed under but I do have two or three things that need my attention and I guess they might qualify. Taxes spring instantly to mind. 

5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?

My morning quiet time, prayer, being on the water or really anywhere outdoors where there's some sort of natural beauty, journaling, and having my family all gathered round the table sharing a meal. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I feel like this week's Hodgepodge is a bit ho-hum, so in keeping with that theme let's talk about the weather. My daughter in Washington State laughs when I dare mention gray skies because she knows gray skies, but maybe it's because we typically have so many blue sky days that the gray seem more pronounced? 

On the bright side (because there always is one)... it's not snow. And what I really love about this time of year is that peek into spring we're given every now and then. 

Sunday for example-

Sunday was glorious and perfect for porch sitting with my people. 
Come on spring!