skis & snow

What's New?

I went skiing with my students again as a chaperone for the ski bus program. This time I felt much more comfortable and confident, and I had a much better time. I was able to do 4 runs on the Holiday lift, whereas before I only did one.

We enjoyed a weekend snow that melted before Monday morning. I know folks out East are tired of seeing snow, but I do enjoy the way it blankets the Earth and makes everything look fresh and clean. Especially when I have nowhere to go, and it doesn't interfere with my work-week.

And last, but not least, these two cuddly cats.

Currently Reading

• just finished A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
• began A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

On the Needles

My honey cowl is about 4 inches wide and I'm almost finished with the first skein of yarn. I have one more to go before I run out of yarn. I've also made progress on my mitered-corner blanket kit. One quarter panel is complete, and I'm on square 8 (out of 25) on the second quarter panel. Both of these projects are good couch knitting - nothing terribly difficult and can easily be worked on while watching a show.

Looking Forward To:

1. another four days of mid-winter break

almost there...

 

  This is what my new classroom looks like right now, before any unpacking or organizing.

What's New?
I've been doing a whole lot of nothing lately, and blaming it on a lingering cough and runny nose. I've got to step up my game, though, or when school starts I will be toast. This weekend my in-laws are coming up to Seattle to go kayaking with us on Elliot Bay, and next week I'll start operations move-into-classroom and get-classroom-ready. I tried to start this week, but the previous teacher's boxes had not been moved yet. I didn't want that to stop me from being productive, though, so I arranged the desks, sketched out a floor plan and started planning where I'll put things.

The weather changed on Wednesday and I can feel autumn pulling at the air. I told Joe that I'm ready for autumn (it's my favorite season, after all), but then realized that I have one more thing on my summer list: blueberries. With being gone to Mt Rainier, and then being sick once I got back, I have not picked blueberries. I have some blueberry baking to do, so next week I need to get up north to my favorite blueberry farm so I can solve that problem.

Currently Reading

• Mink River by Brian Doyle - I'm not even 100 pages into this book, but I love it. I was initially put-off by the style of prose, but now I'm hooked. Here's one reason I love this book: 

"Rained gently last night, just enough to wash the town clean, and then today a clean crisp fat spring day, the air redolent, the kind of green minty succulent air you'd bottle if you could and snort greedily on bleak wet January evenings when the streetlights hzzzzt on at four in the afternoon and all existence seems hopeless and sad." page 38

On the Needles
I'm still plugging along on a dishcloth. Since I'm trying to use up some leftover yarn, it's currently half purple and half magenta. I'm running low on the magenta (and I've already used up all of the purple), so it may end up with a light blue stripe at the end. Never matter, I'll put it to good use cleaning up the kitchen counters.

Looking Forward To:

1. kayaking with family

Mt. Rainier Adventures

I spent a week on Mt. Rainier as part of the "Living with a Volcano in Your Backyard" teacher program. I learned a ton of geology, and a huge lesson on mountain weather. As in, mountain weather can turn faster than you'd think. When it's storming over the Tatoosh range, and you are hiking on the mountain, it's time to book it down to the lodge. And fast. My friend and I got caught in a rain + hail + lightening + thunder storm while hiking down from Panorama Point. By the time we reached the lodge at Paradise we were both soaked through. I believe I had a bit of hypothermia (blue lips, anyone?). On the way down the trail was basically a river of mud. We also crossed an actual river (ok, it was a creek, but it was running fast), and hiked over snow. That morning we had learned about lahars, and how little water is actually required to get one moving. You can imagine the horrors that were going through our heads as we ran-hiked down the mountain. It was intense.

I also saw my first marmot, which was comical. That little guy was not even a meter off the trail, happily munching on lupine plants. He didn't care at all that we stood there, clicking away with our cameras.

I can't wait to take Joe to the mountain and show him all the new places I've been. Panorama Point, Glacier Vista, and Box Canyon are high on my list.

soaking up summer

What's New?

Last week was been a flurry of activity all relating to my new job. I resigned from my old job. I attended a 3-hour orientation for my new job that was more geared towards brand-new teachers than transfers (read: boring). I have about a million papers to fill out, sign, and return. This week I packed up my old classroom and moved into my new classroom. I had wonderful people who helped me pack up and move my things to the new school. Afterwards we celebrated at happy hour with the whole science department at what is now my old school. I will miss those people fiercely. 

While that's quite a lot on my plate, I am extremely excited about this new opportunity. I'm even excited about having to take mass transit to work (the car commute is terrible). Did you hear that? I'm excited about taking the bus! I guess I'm just excited all around. These are all good things.

Yesterday I finally made it down to Alki for a 4 mile walk. I live up a steep hill from the beach, so the return trip can be brutal for an out-of-shape person like me. Fortunately I remembered that there is a free shuttle from the water taxi that runs near my house. Problem solved.

Currently Reading

• Scatter, Adapt, Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction by Annalee Newitz (apparently this isn't the summer for light reads)
• I just finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and I haven't cried that much over a book since The Book Thief. 

On the Needles
I started some dishcloths, trying to use up my leftover cotton yarn. I have a book with 16 different dishcloth patterns. I chose an easy one to knit while distracted by the US version of Being Human. I love that show!

Looking Forward To:

1. rollerskating
2. spending a week on Mt. Rainier learning about volcanoes

my new adventure

What's New?

Last week I interviewed for a job at a K-8 environmental science school. At the end of the week I got a call offering me the position. I am now preparing to start a new adventure at a new school! This new position means that I'll get to work with a former colleage who I admire and respect, not to mention who I miss dearly. It will be great getting to work with her again, and getting to try on new things as I help bring more environmental science to my new school.

Joe and I, along with two dear friends, headed south yesterday to hike the Ape Caves at Mt. St. Helens. It was my first visit to the volcano, which was greatly overdue. I can't believe I've driven past this treasure so many times without stopping to check it out. Hiking in the caves was magical: there was complete darkness (we had headlamps and lanterns), an eerie and chilling wind, and amazing rock formations and textures. We hiked the upper caves, which is a 2+ hour hike covering 1.5 miles of boulder piles and one 8 foot high lava fall.

Currently Reading

• Scatter, Adapt, Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction by Annalee Newitz
• The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, Enlightenment, and Sitting Still by Dinty Moore - I just finished this book last night. Great read, very thought provoking while not being preach-y.

On the Needles
For the first time in months, there is nothing on the needles! I need to wash & block my Leaflet cardigan before picking up stitches to finish the collar. I think in the meantime I'll start some washcloths to use up my stash of cotton yarn. I love using my hand-made washcloths in the kitchen. Or maybe I'll make some Swiffer covers. I have some ideas for improvements to the design.

Looking Forward To:

1. new job orientation
2. camping with friends

Memorial Day Weekend

Joe and I headed out to the peninsula for a weekend getaway in sunny Sequim, WA. It ended up as a cloudy and rainy weekend, but we still had a good time. Besides exploring the sleepy town of Sequim, we stayed in a converted caboose and hiked along the Dungeness Sand Spit. The sand spit is a 5 mile hike from the base to the lighthouse at the tip. The terrain is an uneven sand/rock mixture that makes it truly a hike. We made it about halfway before realizing we'd need to turn around so that we'd make the trip back. Joe longingly held out hope that if we made it all the way to the lighthouse there would be a shuttle back. There is no shuttle.

Paradise

I can't seem to get enough of this mountain. We went up to Paradise on a Sunday, then back up to Sunrise the following Friday. It helped that park admission is valid for 7 days. Seeing that stamped on my receipt, it seemed a waste not to go back. I hope we get at least one more Mt Rainier hike in before the weather, or our schedules, get too crazy. We'll see. Maybe we'll go twice in one week. I hope so.

Sunrise

Joe and I celebrated four years of marriage by hiking around Sunrise, Mt Rainier. It was a beautiful day. I became quite enamored with all the interesting rocks, and ended up taking far too many pictures. Part of the trail was completely covered in snow, but it was a short part, so we braved it. It really helped that we were able to watch a family cross that part of the trail just up ahead of us. If they could do it, surely I could, right?

After visiting both Sunrise and Paradise a couple of times now, I think I can say with certainty that Sunrise is my favorite. It feels like you are so much higher up compared to Paradise. I think this is due partly to the fact that so many of the trails are along ridges. Besides, the Sunrise viewpoint (just before the visitor center, at the switchback on the road) has got to be one of the best views on Earth. We could easily see Mt Adams from there. It looked like someone held a mirror up to Mt Rainier. Breathtaking.

morning bikeride

Today I decided on a whim to take my bike out and explore. During the school year I regularly drive across a small bridge over the Fairmount Ravine. I've always wondered how to get down there, so this morning I looked it up. Turns out it's a beautiful ride - although it is quite steep, so I didn't pause for photos until I arrived at the bottom. From there I rode around Alki trail to Alki point and then headed back up the hill to my house. But let's be honest: I walked the bike up the big hill.

All said, it was 6.5 miles and quite an enjoyable ride. The weather was cool and cloudy. I didn't see many people until I got near the Bathhouse, which was expected.

A beautiful start to my day!

sights from my walk

Ira Spring Trail