Life of a West Coast Latvian

Happy Birthday Mom!

2011-11-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing my Mom a very happy birthday! May this next year be full of adventures and joy! Es tevi milu!

Cheers!

Lai dzīvo sveiks!

2011-11-18T07:50:00.001-08:00

_______________________Via here

93 years ago, on November 18th, 1918, the little Baltic nation of Latvija declared its independence...

I was born in Canada, raised in the States but in my heart I am a Latvian through and through. Every thing I am today is because of my culture and the influence it has had on me. I went to Latvian school as a child, was a member of the LV scouting community, danced in folk dance troupes... I have sung in Latvian song festivals, participated in Latvian Congresses, and I met my husband at Latvian summer camp. I am fluent in the language, I hum LV songs under my breath, and have friends all over the world who have been raised the same way. I have woven flower crowns to wear on my head at the summer solstice festivals, I have baked rye bread with my grandmother, and I am proud to say that I can dance a mean polka. It is what defines me and I am happy today to be a part of a culture that is so damn proud of who they are.

Dievs svetij Latviju!

Priekā!

The One that Got Away

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Loving the new Katy Perry video for "The One that Got Away"...and not only because it's a good song...the part where they're at the wedding is shot at the Latvian Center in Cali, complete with *actual LVs* dancing the polka with Katy Perry. Love love love it!

Cheers!

Vieglas smiltis...

2011-11-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

______________________ Via Latvians Online

Today, the world is an emptier place. Mirdza Paudrupe, one of my beloved childhood teachers has passed away and is at peace with the Dieviņš that she has always held near to her heart...she was a force to be reckoned with in Latvian society, a loud, in-your-face, over-zealous, patriotic, truly crazy-wonderful dame who taught hundreds of LV youth grammar (Grama-grama-gramatika, man patika gramatika!!) at the Latvian summer camp known lovingly as GVV. She was one of those rare people who truly makes their mark on the world, someone who loved what she did in life and really loved each one of her students. She influenced so many people: the young and the young at heart. She was an amazing teacher, an amazing Latvian patriot, and truly an amazing woman.

....Vieglas smiltis Paudrupes kundze...

Chanterelle, Bacon, Garlic pizza

2011-11-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

It's chanterelle season here on the coast and everyone is serving up these tasty yellow mushrooms! I've wanted to go mushroom picking for quite some time but the people around here are so secretive about their spots! One of our friends was kind enough to bring us a shopping bag full of them (Thanks Chris!). We made chanterelles with scallops, chanterelles in cream sauce, chanterelles with pasta...

...Of course I had to figure out a way to incorporate them into a pizza. And of course the pizza had to have bacon (obviously). So here is my recipe for a chanterelle, bacon, garlic pizza of goodness:

1 envelope dry yeast

2 cups warm water

1/2 tsp sugar

4 cups flour

2 tsp salt

Add 1/2 cup warm water to yeast packet and sugar and mix well. Let sit for 5 minutes until it begins to foam. Add remaining water, salt, and flour to bowl and mix well. Let rise for 2-3 hours. Split in half and flatten out onto pizza pan. Spread olive oil as your sauce over the dough. Add cut chanterelles, crumbled bacon and finely sliced roasted garlic. Shred fresh mozzarella over the top and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Voodoo

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

My parents came to visit last weekend and we met them up in Portland on Friday. It was so good to see them! We spent the night at the new McMenamins downtown and then Saturday morning we proceeded to walk all over Portland to the Saturday Market and the Farmer's Market. After all that walking, I insisted on swinging by the famous Voodoo Doughnuts because for once the line was *relatively* short. Diz got the maple bacon bar and I got the traditional voodoo doughnut complete with pretzel stabbing into the gooey red-jam center. The doughnuts were pretty good but I don't know if I'd wait hours in that line for another one. Have you ever been? What was your opinion? Cheers!

November

2011-11-01T20:16:00.001-07:00

"How cold it is! Even the lights are cold; They have put shawls of fog around them, see! What if the air should grow so dimly white; That we would lose our way along the paths; Made new by walls of moving mist receding; The more we follow. . . . What a silver night! That was our bench the time you said to me; The long new poem -- but how different now; How eerie with the curtain of the fog; Making it strange to all the friendly trees!"

- Sara Teasdale, A November Night

Cheers!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:42:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween friends! Hope you have a fabulously goulish day full of zombies, candy and costumes! (PS...like the zombie gnomes? Purchase them here!)

Cheers!

Blog love!

2011-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Huge thanks to my friend Liene who is living abroad in France (Jealous? You know I am!) with her wonderful hubby and baby boy!! She bestowed upon me the "Stylish Blogger Award" which totally made my day after such a rough week. Check out her blog "Femme au Foyer."Sirsnīgs paldies Lienei par burvīgo “blog” balvu! Sūtu tev mīlestību no rietumkrasta! Bučas!

Cheers!

Here, have some wine

2011-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

One of my friends posted this to my FB wall and I couldn't stop chuckling....sorry for the long delay in blogging, dear readers...I've been having some stress and drama associated with work and it's been putting me in a royal funk as of late. But never fear! I'll be back next week with some new stories!

Cheers!

Bicycle Template

2011-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

The ladies over at McLaughlin Designs have created this absolutely splendiferous antique bicycle template for home made gift tags! I love the old-timey look to them and I must say they really are super cute! Free download found here.

As seen on Craftgawker.

Cheers!

Glass pumpkins

2011-10-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

One of the cool things about living on the Oregon Coast is that there are glass blowing studios EVERYWHERE. It's evidently the preferred type of artistic expression around here. They pride themselves in creating gorgeous glass floats (several of which adorn my house) and other assorted blown bowls/vases. But during the Halloween/Thanksgiving season the artists expand their horizons and create amazing little glass pumpkins, each with their own individual personality. Earlier in September they hosted a fundraiser called the "Glass Pumpkin Patch" but most of the studios are still selling their mini pumpkins to the general public. I picked up the beauties seen above last weekend at two of the studios in town. I really love supporting local artists! Plus these will look fabulous on our Thanksgiving table (I'm hosting our second annual "Misfit Thanksgiving" where we host Thanksgiving dinner for the friends who can't make it back home...more on that to follow). Cheers!

Tip of the iceberg

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am loving this chic glass-scape underwater mountain range fishbowl! It's so much more elegant then your kitschy plastic plants and fluorescent pebbles. This would be a cool addition to an office desk, don't you think? Like it? Purchase it here. Cheers!

Chalk Wisdom #12

2011-10-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay friends, but my computer decided to infect itself with the blue screen of death and it wouldn't function properly after that...I took it to the compy doctor to get it fixed and it turned out my hard drive was completely shot (I think "FUCK!!!!" covers the way I was feeling about that). Thank god I backed up most of my files about 4 months ago. But I still lost a bunch of stuff I was going to post for the blog, so you'll have to be patient with me and my retarded computer for the next week or so...

Cheers!

Calories

2011-10-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

I need some cheering up...today has been a sad-news day about a favorite patient...

Cheers!

2011-10-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

I love good causes! Yesterday I participated in the local Breast Cancer Race for the Cure 10 mile bike ride with a couple of gals from work. I haven't been on a bike since undergrad in college and I was scared of oh, I don't know....falling into the bay/getting hit by a car/running into a parked car/etc (If you don't know this yet, I'm very ungraceful). But we did it! In the rain! And even though my butt was numb and my thighs were jello afterward, I felt great! We had a total of 60 participants from our small town and it was pretty neat to be involved in something bigger then oneself.

Cheers!

Yarnbombing

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

_________________________ Via Babble

Dear reader, have you heard of Yarnbombing? It's this great movement by rogue knitters and crochetters who sneak around at night and create awesome pieces of urban art. It's evidently a big thing here on the west coast, but I've never seen it! However after looking at some of these pictures I would love to come across a tree or bike rack that's been decked out in colorful yarn!

Cheers!

Diamond in the rough

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

What girl doesn't love the intense sparkle of diamonds? For as much as I love cut stones, these rough, unpolished diamond shard earrings are the perfect modern accessory. They are completely unique and truly beautiful. I want them! Like them? Purchase them here. Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #11

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume XCII)

2011-10-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

_________________________ Via Etsy

Happy Sunday all! I am blessed with one of my 4-day weekends this week! I consider them both a blessing and a curse...I love having time off to lounge and do mini projects around the house, however I hate being away from the clinic and my patients. We can't really go anywhere anyway this week because Diz is on call and his call-weeks always seem to be cursed. Oh well! We'll figure out something to do! Here are some things I'm loving this week....

Sunny packaging

Cool vintage bird print.

Urban art.

It was the best of times it was the blurst of times....

I want to make this DIY wreath...

Cheese please!

Cheers!

October

2011-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

"The sweet calm sunshine of October, now Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mold The purple oak-leaf falls; the birchen bough drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold." - William Cullen Bryant -

Happy October all! This is the time of year when I truly miss the Midwest...I love Oregon and the Northwest, however the colors and smells of autumn in Michigan make up some very fond memories of my childhood. Fall has always been my favorite season, complete with crunchy leaves, bonfires, and steaming apple cider. The picture above is from a backpacking trip I did with some girlfriends on the Manastee River back in college. What's your favorite season and why?

Cheers!

Clamming it up

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love living in the Northwest! A few nights ago Diz and I went out to hunt for our dinner....we put on our muck boots (mine were pretty and argyle) and headed out in front of our house to go clamming. The tide was low and the shore was ridiculously muddy (the type of mud that would suck you down, down, down until you're up to your knees and the gulls are laughing at you). Here are some pics from our adventures....Obviously not a clam but a big bay shrimp that was caught in the crossfire.Clam murder via white wine. It was up to Diz to commit clam murder in white wine…here is his recipe:

2 TBSP minced garlic

½ sweet onion (diced)

1 cup white wine

½ cup water

½ cup butter

salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the garlic and onions with a dash of olive oil. Once soft, add the wine so that the flavors mix. Bring to a boil. Add clams, but take care so they don’t become submerged completely. Then proceed to watch clams open up (I’m sorry but I couldn’t be in the kitchen as they were popping open…). After 5-10 minutes, remove clams and add butter and salt/pepper to the sauce. Serve over pasta or with sautéed mushrooms. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Cookies

2011-09-29T19:24:00.001-07:00

Rough day. Between the slow schedule and being me Dr. Death (3 euths today...ugh) I'm a little worn down. So here is a comic to make you smile...One of my friends posted this on Facebook today and it just made me chuckle....

Cheers!

Don't Stop

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

We were flipping through the channels the other day and I found myself caught by the song in this cute home-improvement commercial by Lowes... The song is called "Don't Stop" by Gin Wigmore.

Cheers!

New Toms!

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that I have acquired a new pair of Toms! In case you've been living under a rock the past few years, Toms Shoes is a great company that makes uber-comfy flats and they have a one-for-one movement where they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair you purchase. So you can be stylish and feel good about it too! Good stuff! My latest and greatest pair is red (I have wanted a pair of red shoes for quite some time now...so excited!). Like them? Purchase a pair here.

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #10

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume XCI)

2011-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

_________________________ Via Etsy

Happy weekend all! I am unfortunately on call, and you know the drill: Can't go anywhere or really do anything without fear of having to leave the activity midway to go answer an emergency call. This morning was a little overcast, but the sun is trying to battle its way through the fog...We had our first "winter" storm last night...high winds and lots of rain. Boo! I'm not ready to surrender summer just yet...On that note, here are some things I'm loving this week...

Yum.

The Persistence of Memory

As super heroes age...

Comfort food.

Girly pint glasses.

Too funny.

Cheers!

Vintage book

2011-09-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

When we were up in Portland, we hit up the hugely extensive labyrinth of a bookstore called Powells and I found a treasure! I have been wanting to read the Count of Monte Cristo for years now and after digging through the shelves at the store I found this 1937 hardbound copy...I love old books! Who has held them? Who has flipped through the pages before going to bed? Did this book grace the library of some professor? Did it belong to an old lady who used to be a flapper? Who made the pages dog-eared? There is so much unknown history behind books and I love the mystery of it all.... Cheers!

Punchy-punchy

2011-09-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

My artsy-crafty side has been yearning for one (or several) of the Martha Steward craft punches...I've been wanting to make some invites for Thanksgiving (yes I know it's a couple months away) and I love the way the scalloped edges look. Good news is that after my PDX trip, I have obtained some of the crafty goodness! Huzzah! I think I'm going to be punching the pattern out on anything I can get in my reach...paper, magazines, receipts, envelops..etc.Cheers!

Movie Mash-Up

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am so so so so *so* happy that CT season 2 came out on DVD (I think I purchased it the minute it was released and proceeded to do a happy dance, much to Diz's embarrassment). Of course I watched the whole thing almost immediately. And then re-watched it when Rach was over (we also got Jake hooked on the show! Score!). I'm going through withdrawals waiting for season three...so in honor of my long wait, I've been hooked on Movie Mash-Up, a game the cul-de-sac crew introduced early in the second season. You take two movie titles that share a word and then combine them into a word that describes the movie.... __________________________ Via here

Here are some examples from the show... A killer whale gives out golden tickets to see who gets his candy company.... Free Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

A fat cartoon cat gets to play catch with his dead father.... Garfield of Dreams

A crime solving dog deals with racism in Brooklyn.... Scooby Do the Right Thing

Daniel Day Lewis is a wheelchair bound artist who wants to have a high school dance even though the town preacher forbids it.... My Left Footloose

Al Gore does a power point presentation on Madonna's naked body....An Inconvenient Truth or Dare

A bunch of kids search for treasure on a deserted island and then have sex for the first time.... The Blue Lagoonies

Can you think of any? If so, let me know! It's a fabulous game!

Cheers!

Stripes

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

On my way back from Portland I had to hit up the Woodburn factory outlets...what a treasure trove of nice clothing (on the coast, we sadly lack that kind of civilized shopping). One thing I purchased was this cute little fitted off-the-shoulder stripped top. It's very French, n'est pas? I think that it will go well with a pair of tight jeans and some red lipstick. Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Razzle Dazzle

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been craving a little sparkle in my life recently and what better way to quench that need then by a new nail polish color! I'm not really allowed to wear nail polish to work ( it would chip almost instantly due to the continuous hand-washing, glove-wearing, disinfectant-using nature of my job) so I've come to terms with painting my nails only over the weekend. My new favorite color is the Revlon "Carbonite"...a glittery silver that comes out darker then the picture portrays. Perfect.

Cheers!

Favor Jewelry {Love}

2011-09-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! I want to feature the pretty new fall collection of jewelry from Favor Jewelry...these pieces are wonderfully delicate and feminine with both dramatic lines and subtle curves. I've been on a metalic kick lately and these pretty little things have my heart going pitter-patter. Here are some of my favorites... Like what you see? Purchase it here. Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #9

2011-09-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume XC)

2011-09-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

_______________________Via Etsy

Happy weekend all! I have yet another long weekend ahead of me and I plan on making the most of it! Today I went for a walk along the beach with a handful of my girlfriends, their babies and dogs...It was one of those gorgeous windless days here on the coast and once the morning fog burned off the weather was perfect! Diz and I plan on going to Portland tomorrow (he has to be there all week on a work trip...sad face!) and we will meet up with Rach and Jake for drinks. I def. want to hit up Powell's bookstore too. Here are some things I'm loving this week...

This is a pretty little necklace.

How about a grown-up birthday party idea?

I'm loving this bathroom.

In honor of the school season rapidly approaching...

The critical afro threshold.

Toilet paper roll art, yes!

Cheers!

Paper flowers

2011-09-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Craft Gawker (if you have any kind of artsy-crafty streak in you, check out the site, it's totally fabulous) the other day and stumbled across this DIY flower ball. It's not really origami because it involves glue, but hey! It's still pretty cool.DIY instructions can be found here. I'm going to attempt to make one this weekend (4-day weekend, what-what!) and we'll see how it turns out.

Cheers!

A weekend with friends

2011-09-13T00:00:00.001-07:00

This weekend Rach and her new boyfriend Jake came to visit us on the coast to enjoy some good weather, good food, and good wine. A month ago Diz and I introduced them to each other at the Portland Beer Festival, and they immediately hit it off. This weekend we decided to show them a good time and so we hit up our favorite restaurant (Arr Place), our favorite hike (Hart's Cove) and one of our favorite breweries on the Coast (Pelican Brewpub). We spent the days wandering the beach and the nights drinking good wine (and watching Cougar Town). Here are some pics from our adventures... Cheers!

Tea Towel {Love}

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

I never thought that something as mundane as a tea towel would catch my attention...but here we are! These pretty little things were created by Studio Patro and they make me want to stock up for future housewarming gifts (Wrapping them around a wine bottle and adding a pretty ribbon? Totally chic, eh?). Like them? Purchase them here. Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #8

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Paper Anniversary

2011-09-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Your one year wedding anniversary is traditionally supposed to be the "paper" anniversary...Okay...Paper? Really? WTF. What the heck could I get Diz that was meaningful-yet-not-too-sappy and made of paper? I struggled fruitlessly for weeks wondering what to do. Should I find something on Etsy? Should I assemble a photoalbum? Should I try to make something? I had no idea. Everything seemed rather lame. Finally I came to conclude that I could supplement something made of paper with something that was actually cool and something Diz wanted. My idea was to fold an origami paper elephant and then have it holding a card in it's trunk (the card was his real present...a season's ski pass). Well, about 5 rather-misshapen elephants later I created this little guy and Diz got his season's pass. Happy anniversary dearest! Cheers!

Sunset at Garezers

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

A little sunset Burka World in Garezers...it was fabulous to be back in Michigan for the long weekend. We hung out with old friends in the balmy water, drinking icy beers in the lake and watched the sun go down over the waters. It was good to see friends and family.

Cheers!

Bad Dog

2011-09-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

I'm loving these "Bad Dog" tumblers! Haven't we all been there with our pets? They can be so frustrating, but then they look at you with those big puppy-dog eyes and you gotta love them! (My ongoing battle involves trying to convince Otto that 3:00am is NOT his breakfast time despite popular belief) Like them too? Purchase them here.

Cheers!

One

2011-09-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy one year anniversay Diz! Es tevi milu!

Cheers!

Mad Men Collection

2011-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Like what you see? Purchase it here. Cheers!

Shots

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Whenever I give a vaccine to an animal, the chorus to this song replays in my head... Yes, I am a dork. Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Bacon lentil stew

2011-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

When we were at the PDX airport waiting for our flight, we stopped by a pub to grab a bite to eat and a pint. I had a deliciously savory lentil stew and the thought of it stuck with me in the back of my mind. So when we got home I whipped a trial run of bacon and lentil stew, never having done it before. My first accident was adding WAY too many lentils (I ended up scooping out about 2 cups worth). My second accident was not having enough beef broth to add to the boiling soup, so I ended up diluting with beer (which wasn't too bad). I definitely have to fine-tune the recipe but overall it was rather tasty. So here is the recipe for my lentil stew version 1.0: Ingredients:

1 cup lentils

4 cups beef broth

2 medium potatoes (diced)

1 large carrot (chopped)

2 sticks celery (chopped)

4 pieces of cooked bacon (crumbled)

Salt and pepper to taste

Dash of Tabasco sauce

Bring 4 cups of beef broth to boil. Add vegetables and lentils, reduce to simmer. Add salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce to taste. Cook for about 40-45 minutes. As broth evaporates, add beer to keep diluting the stew. Serve immediately with cornbread muffin.

Cheers!

Note: Version 2.0 included an entire package of locally made thick cut bacon. But sadly again, I reached the Critical Lentil Capacity of the stew. Damned!

Currently on my bookshelf Vol. 2

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

The idea of our book club (aka wine drinking with the girls) has somewhat fizzled, but that hasn't prevented me from reading excessively in my free time. Here are the things that are currently on my bookshelf...After telling my boss that we planned on going backpacking in the Alaskan wilderness, he recommended this well-written novel by Lynn Schooler. He is a wilderness guide living in AK who after dealing with a crumbling marriage and the death of a close friend decided to trek out into one of Alaska's most dangerous shores. In between his personal story of facing terrible weather, being stalked by a grizzly bear and self-contemplation, he enchantingly interlaces the tales of the native Tlingit Indians, trappers, hermits and ship-wrecked sailors. All in all, a pleasant surprise to read before heading out on our own Alaskan adventure.

After finishing Philippa Gregory's "The Red Queen" I had to reach for the opposite side of the Cousin's War story as told by the Lady Elizabeth Woodville, the infamously bewitching and beautiful York queen. The story tells of her rise from nothing to queen of England beginning as she catches the eye of King Edward IV as he rides by. This historical fiction is interlaced with the folklore of Melusina, an enchanting water goddess, to which Elizabeth claims relation. After Margaret Beauford's somewhat dark and sinister side of the story, this version was a refreshing breath of air.

Finally, I am yet-again rereading the HP series...I've reached Volume 5, or the Order of the Phoenix, a somewhat transitional part of the Harry Potter novels, where he is struggling to come to terms with his fate in the face of a blindly ignorant Ministry whose overall goal is to smear his name and make him suffer despite him telling the truth that Voldemort has returned to power. This is not my favorite of the HP series, but it's what I'm currently reading.

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #7

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXIX)

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

___________________________ Via Etsy

After a phenomenal trip Alaska, I find myself wishing that we could have stayed longer (if not indefinitely)...there was something about the ever-steep mountains that rose suddenly from the icy waters, and the immense landscape-carving glacial bodies that flowed to form rivers overflowing with the blood red salmon population, and the excessive wildlife which outnumbered any rude attempt at civilization that called to me. The pull was so strong that I wouldn't mind getting immersed in the wilderness for a year or two of my life. It is an unlikely pipe dream fueled by memories of rafting and bears, and mountains but you never know what the cards may deal...Here are some things I'm loving this week.

How's this for an adventure? Edge walking the CN Tower.

Latitude and Longitude wedding rings.

Hot air balloons.

A sweet idea.

Peaches and cream.

Egg shell confetti!

Cheers!

Denali: The backcountry

2011-08-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

We did an about-face at the Eielson Visitors Center after getting our fill of panoramic views and pictures and headed back to Tokelat station, which was our starting point into the backcountry. Strapping our backpacks on, and trying not to fall over due to the excessive amount of foreign weight on our bodies, we headed out along the very rocky river bed. Now, when I say rocky I don’t mean small pretty river-washed pebbles, but large, softball-to-basketball-sized ankle twisting boulders and river silt that sucks your feet in. After about 2 miles of this crap, your feet begin to feel tired, as you teeter-toter your way across the lowlands. We didn’t want to walk through the waist-high brush for fear of bears (just before getting off the bus, we spotted a grizzly in the next river bed over from our location). The weather gods were still smiling on us, and the hike in was pleasantly warm and sunny, with the occasional cotton-candy-like puffy cloud dusting the blue sky. We had to cross the water at several points, and besides suffering the occasional wet sock it wasn’t to terrible if you planned it out right at the narrow branches of the fast-flowing river. Our trekking poles were a blessing, as we used them to catapult ourselves over the frigid waters. We hiked along calling “HEY BEAR!” every so often, and having polite conversations with the non-visible creatures so not to surprise them around bends in the river or high brush (“Hey bear! What’s up? Just passing through, don’t mean to disturb you, please don’t eat us”, etc). I also sang burst of Kesha songs (because if you didn’t know: bears hate Kesha) along the way. We trekked about 5 miles, right to the fork of the Y-shaped valley where the two glaciers split off and were tuckered out. Now before you go and call us wusses for calling it quits after 5 miles, just remember that we are big hikers and can go for many more miles in the hills of Oregon when all we have is a camelback strapped to us, but with a 30+ pound pack that is strapped so tight to your body that it feels like a corset, 5 miles seems like 25. So we climbed up to a plateau that was nestled in the mountain, giving us a spectacular view of one of the glaciers (and of the surrounding valley) and set up camp. The key to backpacking in the backcountry is to remember the 100-yard equilateral triangle. Set up your camp at the top of the triangle, then 100 yards away set up your cooking site (downwind from your camp). Finally store your food in your bear canister about 100 yards away from your cooking site in the last point of the triangle. The bear canister was key…we kept everything that was scented from deodorant to lip balm in there to prevent any curious bears from sneaking up on us in the night. Dinner that night was powdered chicken curry…it actually wasn’t too bad for a “just-add-water” kind of meal. We also shared a bowl of wine (didn’t have room for mugs) that we brought along in a spiffy camping wine sac and watched the river race by far below our plateau. What we did forget to pack was a deck of cards or paperback novel, so after dinner we just sat around talking and looking at our maps. I did a crude sketch of the glacier ahead of us. And then we let the sheer exhaustion and aching muscles wash over us as we hit the hay early…but it was a rough night. Oh, we were warm enough and comfortable enough but the winds rushing down from both glacial valleys were causing our tent to flap like a hummingbird’s wings. Luckily we besides the rapid beat that our tent was drumming, we didn’t hear anything that sounded like a curious animal. The next morning we got up with the sun and crawled out of our tent to a spectacular view. It was shaping up to be another beautiful day. We squished down the tundra to our cook site and had a bowl of coffee and some powdered h’oeuvres rancheros complete with hard-yet-somehow-chewy beans. With very stiff muscles that we didn’t know we possessed, we packed up camp and headed out of our valley and back to civilization. On the trek back, we crossed paths with a pair of young yearling caribou bucks who still had fuzz on their antlers. They came up out of the river bed and spotted us, freezing to contemplate if we were a threat. We did the same. As we stared briefly at each other across the span of 20-yards or so, it was silently decided at the same time by both parties that the other was okay and after that they followed our path for a while. After making it back to Tokelat, we hitched a ride back on a bus and headed back to 49th State Brewing for a celebratory beer. Our Denali trip was coming to a close and we had to reluctantly head back to civilization the next morning, and our flight home.

Cheers!

Road trip to Denali National Park and Preserve

2011-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

We headed out early the next morning to make the long drive north to Denali…and again it was overcast and raining. Blah. We made good time however, and reached the park entrance only to be blessed by the sun gods once more (I must say, we really did luck out with the sunshine in hindsight). We hurried over to the Backcountry center and after watching a rather dated video about what to do in a bear encounter, we signed up for our permit into quadrant #10 in the park. It was a narrow glacial river valley that made a Y-shaped fork to two glaciers. We figured that we had a pretty good chance of spotting wildlife on this low-land streambed. We had lunch at the Visitor’s Center and after exploring the area a little decided to check into our cabin and start the packing tornado. I borrowed Aina’s pack and tent (we have our own but didn’t want to bring too much on the airplane). We fit everything we could into the packs, along with emergency supplies and our shiny new GPS (which turned out to be such a fun toy to have on this trip). After packing, true to our nature, we of course sniffed out the closest brewpub, a newly opened placed called 49th State Brewing….a really eclectically woodsy pub in the middle of nowhere that served amazingly tasty food but had not yet gotten the hang of mass brewing down quite yet (they had run out of their IPA that night and two nights hence once we got out of the backcountry were down to only their Stout). They had a really neat round-table old fashioned open fireplace in the middle of the restaurant. After having our fill of good food and beer, we called it an early night so we could catch the early bus into the preserve. The next morning we headed into the park (Note: if you take the bus tour into the park remember to sit on the LEFT side of the bus) on the early camper bus. On the trip in, we spotted about 4-5 bears, one of which walked directly by our bus, completely ignoring us and munching on berries that lined the sides of the unpaved road. We also saw a handful of Dahl sheep and caribou from a distance. We met a handful of other people who were also headed into #10, but we decided to go a bit further on the bus to Eielson Visitor Center to see if we could visualize Mt. McKinley (we couldn’t). Even though we couldn’t see the famous mountain, the view was awe-inspiring. Cheers!

Touching a glacier, hiking up Flat Top Mt and doing the tourist thing

2011-08-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

After our rafting trip, Aina had to go back to the real world and work the next day, so Diz and I did some exploring on our own. Our goal in the morning was to make it to the Portage glacier and see how close we could get to it. Unfortunately for us, the closest you could get was via boat, so we settled for the next-door-neighbor of the Portage glacier: The Byron glacier, which was a short hike away. This was our first experience wandering through the wilderness in AK and Diz was a little jumpy, insisting on wearing the bear bell (aka dinner bell) on his pack. We wandered along the paved path, walking parallel to the frigid glacial runoff stream until we reached the bottom snow pack of the glacier. I felt a little dumb asking Diz, but I had no idea what a glacier actually was (the images of huge icebergs drifting along the water via Titanic and Deadliest Catch were what came to mind initially). I couldn't fathom how a glacier recedes along the tops of mountains. He patiently explained to me that glaciers are tremendously heavily packed ice resting on mountains. The weight and heft of the glacier causes the rock debris wake as it "travels" (aka melts) like sandpaper across the landscape. Icebergs are the chunks of ice floating in the water and they are the result of a calving glacier. Thanks Bill Nye the Science Guy!After our adventures at the glacier, we headed back to town to have a pint at the Moose's Tooth brewery. They had a spectacular array of pizza available there and we split a pie as we were killing time, waiting for Aina to get off of work. After lunch, we wandered downtown Anchorage (4th street is the place to be for all your touristy needs) to see the sights. I fell in love with a fox fur hat, but resisted the temptation to buy it at that time...Finally Ainz got off of work and we headed to Flat Top Mountain to do some late-afternoon hiking. It was about 5-6 miles round trip and uphill it was quite the slog. Not only did it zig zag up the steep face, but the last part was a scramble up boulders. The thing that amazed me most was not the fantastic view of Anchorage spread beneath our feet but the fact that there were people in their work-casual clothes doing the hike along side us in our synthetic gear (it was as if they jumped up from the desk at their 9-5 job and headed immediately to the mountain...I love Alaska). On our way down from the top, we spotted a moose munching on the wild blueberries about 20 yards away. Crazy!After our rather strenuous hike up the mountain, we settled in for a beer or two downtown. First we hit up The Sleeping Lady brewery for dinner and drinks on their rooftop deck. My goal was to eat as much salmon as possible while I was in AK and I think I made a good dent in the salmon population while I was there (kidding, there are about a zillion salmon making the run right now). After drinks at the Sleeping Lady, we headed to the very packed Glacier Brew house for one final beer before hitting the hay and driving to Denali the next day. Cheers!

White Water Rafting and Diz losing the hearing in his right ear...

2011-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

After all the excitement with over sized mosquitoes and salmon rodeo riding, we made it with minutes to spare to the rafting place. There was a group of about 17 people who were signed up to ride the class III, IV and V rapids. More then half of the people (myself and Aina included) had never experienced white water before. The three of us had not officially committed to the class V canyon, we were going to play it by ear and if we felt comfortable enough with the first two canyons, then we could continue to the last one. Rapids are classified into 6 grades of difficulty with Class I being like flowing tap water, barely creating ripples to Class VI, which our guide described "like Niagara Falls". I'll admit that I was more then a little nervous...Gulp. First we had a 20 minute safety speech by our guide about the perils of white water and what to do when something goes wrong (like when the boat flips or you get tossed out). The most important rule was NOT to stand up, even if the water seemed shallow. Interestingly enough (in a very morbid sense), this is how most people drown, because their feet get caught in a rock and then the force of the rapids sucks them under. He was a really cool guy and unfortunately I can't remember his name. When someone in the group asked him what the stupidest question he had ever received was, he answered that someone had once asked him if the rafts were on a track like at Disney World (Um. No.)...Good stuff. The next thing we did was get zipped into our dry suits and we all had to do a swim test, paddling from one bank of the river to the other side and then into an eddy. No problemo, with the dry suit on, the water didn't feel too frigid and your core stayed nice and toasty. However, our hands were exposed and they got very cold in the glacial waters. Once we all made it to the eddy, we divided up into rafts and proceeded to head out (besides the three of us, we had a nice young couple from the South who were up in AK for an adventure vacation just like we were).

Looking back on it, the trip went by in a very exciting blur. Our guide was very chill with us, and shouted encouragement for every stroke we made. At the beginning, before we reached the first canyon (Class III) he told us to listen to everything he says even if it seemed crazy. And to demonstrate that he made us paddle straight into a boulder (Aina was a little peeved) but he got his point across. We were ready. The first canyon was wild, I got thrown across the boat into Aina, who nearly fell out but was grabbed just in time by Diz and the other young gal. After that, I got the wedging of my feet down properly and didn't have any more issues with being thrown. The most fun part was when our guide bellowed "All in!!!" and we all threw ourselves to the middle of the boat to huddle and avoid some danger and then without missing a beat, we were back on the sides, paddling as hard as we could. The different rapids all had their own death-defying names (the devil's hole, etc) and with each exhilarating rapid we got more comfortable, and our faces more soaked. Aina was screaming the whole way (there are some epically classic pictures of her yelling into Diz's ear) but by the time we finished the second canyon, she and I looked at each other and decided that we absolutely HAD to do the class V canyon. If we didn't, we would be disappointed in ourselves. Besides, the ride was exhilarating...the adrenaline pumping through your system makes everything so crystal clear.At the very end of the rapids, our guide let us slip into the water and float the rest of the way down the river...resting your head against the top of your life jacket, looking up at the robins-egg blue sky and tree tops rush by was a wonderfully peaceful way to end such a rush. It was perfect.

Looking back at our whole vacation, the white water rafting was by far my favorite part (even over the Denali back country) and I look forward to doing it again sometime in the future.

Want to try the white water experience on 6-mile? Our guides were based at the Chugach Outdoor Center. Cheers!

The Salty Dog, giant mosquitos and riding a salmon

2011-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

After a very successful sea kayaking adventure, we checked into our hotel, appropriately named Lands End, which was located at the very tip of the Homer Spit. The weather remained friendly and our view was panoramic mountains and glaciers that rose almost-too-steeply out of the water. Hungry and in desperate need of a beer, we headed for Finn's, a tiny pizza joint that was recommended by Brad (we were so enamored with our guide that whenever we found a cool location or good eatery for the remainder of our trip, we would always reference him saying that Brad would approve). To be brief, Finn's pizza was amazing...made in a wood fire on the downstairs level of the building, we sipped Alaskan beers in the solarium above the tiny kitchen and watched the sun go down over the waves. Not a bad way to end a very productive first day. But of course, after dinner we needed to visit the infamous Salty Dog Saloon...a pub whose dingy interior was plastered from wall to ceiling with dollar bills that had messages written on them...Immediately I had to jump on the bandwagon and pinned up an LV dollar bill to the rafters of the pub. We proceeded to have a good time. Poor Diz got iced by Aina (the furthest northern Icing done to an LV as far as we know). My favorite part of the Salty Dog was the local home brew served in recycled Sobe bottles...awesome. After closing down the bar, we walked back to the hotel along the water's edge. A good end to a good day. The next day, after waking up slightly hung over from the previous night's ridiculousness, we brushed our teeth outside on the porch watching the sun glance over the glaciers. We hit the road, needing to make our next appointment of white water rafting (more on that tomorrow). On the way to our next adventure we had to take some ridiculously touristy shots next to a giant mosquito and of course ride the giant saddled salmon that was stationed next to the road. The sun remained on our side during the ride to the 6-mile River...here are the pictures from our adventures... Cheers!

Hello Alaska! Let's go sea kayaking in Homer

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

So less then 24 hours after stepping off of our airplane, we met up with our dear friend Aina and all piled in our rental car to make the 4-hour drive from Anchorage to the Homer Spit. Our drive down was...wet. Like it's raining sideways wet (or as Aina claimed "It's only a mist!"). Definitely not an encouraging start to our trip, especially when we were faced with the prospect of kayaking on the choppy ocean in rain. However with constant praying to the sun gods on the drive down (and perhaps even a sacrifice or two), we were rewarded with rays of bright Alaskan sunshine peaking through the clouds as we rolled down the Kenai peninsula and into Homer. We made it just in time for our appointment and hopped aboard a little open-aired boat to get to the islands we were going to explore.We met up with our guide (Brad...who I kept wanting to call Brian for some reason) who was this great eco-hippy whose morning commute to work consists of him kayaking about a mile from his island (rough life, eh?). Brad was rather knowledgeable about the geological changes on the islands and the flora and fauna and had some good stories about drunk-kayaking and kelp salsa to boot.

As we began our journey around the island, the sun gods were still smiling on us and we saw sea otters frolicking, eagles soaring, and jellyfish...jelly-ing. Brad scooped one up out of the water and handed it to us to feel the texture (at this point Aina freaked out and chucked it back at him)

After several hours out on the water, it was time to turn in and we headed into Homer for some more adventures. But more on that tomorrow. Here are some pics from our time on the water (bless the person who invented the waterproof camera)...

Want to go sea kayaking in Homer? Our guide was from True North Kayak Adventures. Check them out here. Cheers!

We're back!

2011-08-22T10:08:00.001-07:00

Well hello there! Sorry for the long hiatus in blogging dear readers, but the Alaskan wilderness was calling to us and we had to answer.... We are officially back from our trip and I must say, it was absolutely AMAZING. Words cannot describe how wonderful it was up there, so I'll be showing you some pictures from our adventures this next week (The one above is from the Eielson visitor center in Denali).

Cheers!

New bling

2011-08-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

While we were up at the Portland Saturday Market I picked up this gorgeous little circlet that has wire wrapped pink amethyst and smoky quartz stones. I love how delicate and feminine it is! Rach picked up a set of dangly earrings from the same vendor.

Like it? Check out the rest of her selection here.

Cheers!

Summer Solstice

2011-08-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

My new favorite summer brew is this delightfully creamy and caramel-sweet beer by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. The first time I savored the taste was on our Clear Lake camping extravaganza…out of a can after a 4.5 mile hike around the lake. I was amazed that a canned beer could taste so good! The next time I had it was at the Portland Beer Festival this past weekend from the tap. And even though it was still delicious, the memory of the canned beer surpassed that of the one from the tap (amazing, eh?) Perhaps it was the association with the memorable and fabulous camping trip vs. a worn-out palate at the festival. Or maybe the stuff in the can was truly better. Either way, it’s my new brew of choice for the rest of the summer.

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #6

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXVIII)

2011-08-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

____________________________ Via Etsy

Happy weekend all! This no-Internet thing has been driving me up the wall! Still no results and I'm beginning to go a little crazy...so I'm blogging on my lunch break at work! On call this weekend, so that means no fun excursions or hikes. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is coming with our Alaska trip looming up on the horizon! Can't wait! On that note, here are some things I'm loving this week...

DIY paint swatch boxes

A hammock house? Yes please!

Marital rating scale.

You gotta Live.

You are what you eat (seriously)

Chalkboard gift tags.

Cheers!

Ugh

2011-08-04T13:04:00.001-07:00

_____________________________ Via Etsy

So. The inter-web at home has been spotty and sickly for the past 2 weeks...Diz will be able to magically fix it with his internet voodoo powers (all hail to his sorcery!) for about 20 minutes and then it fries again. Really it has been the most frustrating thing, especially because I am they type of person who ALWAYS needs to be connected online… I am constantly looking stuff up. Plus, it’s been a bit of a pain not to be blogging. Anyway, the cable company is supposedly coming out to fix the issue today (we shall see if they have magical internet voodoo powers too) and I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We shall hopefully catch up, dear reader in the morning.

Cheers!

Clear Lake

2011-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Diz, Amelia and I decided to spend the weekend camping and we drove inland to a stunning glacier fed lake, aptly named "Clear Lake." The visibility is 100% through these icy waters and a petrified forest lies preserved under the water. We did several hikes around the lake and down the Mackenzie River, explored to do some geocaching, and took the canoe out for a spin. Here are some pics from our adventures...

Pretty neat, eh? We stayed at the Coldwater Cove campground...we totally lucked out...the entrance sign said "Full" but we went to double check with the camp host and he told us that someone canceled and we got our spot! It was gorgeous...mid-80s and cloudless all weekend! Love it!

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #5

2011-07-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXVII)

2011-07-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

______________________ Via Etsy

Happy weekend all! Diz and I are heading up with a few friends to Clear Lake for some hiking, canoeing and camping! The best part is that the weather gods are going to bless us for our trip... it's supposed to be sunny and in the 80s all weekend!! Win! Here's to the good life! And here are some things I'm loving this week....

DIY birch panel walls via Martha

Everyone needs an iphone bottle opener!

Pretty necklace...

Neato rope lamp

Freebee printable party invites

I want this cavernous bedroom

Decorating with shoes

Free fonts

Cheers!

Seahorse

2011-07-22T08:44:00.001-07:00

As I was browsing through the plethora of things Etsy has to offer, I stumbled accross this cute seahorse screenprint...I love it! Like it? Purchase it here. Cheers!

{Discovery} Frieda Sophie on Etsy

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Etsy, how I love thee...I am in LOVE with these totally fabulous pieces from Frieda Sophie...they are the definition of "conversation pieces" - the perfect addition to any wardrobe to take it to the next level. I think I'm turning into a total Oregon hippy...I adore geodes, minerals, and crystals. At least I don't have dreads and I haven't become a vegan...yet. Like it? Purchase your favorite here. Cheers!

Glitter and Chutzpah

2011-07-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone has that one very special piece in their wardrobe that just screams "ridiculous." That one item that makes you cringe a little on the inside but still love it dearly for it's craziness. Whether it is a pair of over-the-top wacky sunglasses or some glitter pants (as shown below), if you can strut your stuff and hold your head high then more power to you. I like a little ridiculous every now and then...it gives you chutzpah.

Need a little ridiculous in your life? Purchase a pair here.

Cheers!

World Cup BBQ

2011-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Diz and I decided to host a World Cup BBQ deck party with a few friends, some old and some new. Honestly, the World Cup games were just an excuse to break out the new and shiny BBQ and grill up a storm...we had tuna fresh from the boat, king crab legs, a load of fresh veggies from the market and some sweet treats too...here are some pics from the event... Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #4

2011-07-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

There is a guy who wears a stunningly fluorescent yellow jacket and goes running along the bay road by our house with his sheltie dog everyday. It is standard procedure as I'm driving home from work to pass him and his dog and give them both a wide berth along the curving road. Their camaraderie has always made me smile and I always nod to them as I drive past. Rain or shine, they're out there together. Recently however, I've seen him running without his dog and it makes me wonder what has happened...did his dog tear an ACL and is resting after surgery? Has his dog been hit by a car and is recovering from traumatic injuries? Or, heaven forbid, has he had to say goodbye forever? This man is not a friend, not even an acquaintance, just a familiar face that I see everyday and I wonder and hope for the best....

Life is slippery.

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXVI)

2011-07-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

__________________________ Via Etsy

Happy weekend all! I am stuck here at work this morning and on call all weekend (blah), however I'm not letting it cramp my style too much...my MIL is coming down to visit and we're hosting a world cup BBQ. I'm hoping this rain stops soon...summer on the coast is supposed to be bright and sunny. On that note, here are some things I'm loving this week...

DIY sugar cubes

Nifty octopus brooch.

A monkey's self portrait!

Mr. and Mrs. tumblers.

Here's a great list of beliefs

This ceramic fish tile has fabulous texture!

DIY paper bag stars for your summer BBQ.

Cheers!

Ecosphere

2011-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Like it? Purchase it here. Cheers!

Life's little moments

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Diz captured this picture of me and Otto as we decided to take a nap together in the warm sunshine...I love life's simple little moments.

Cheers!

G and T

2011-07-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

I've always loved those darn cutesy sayings (You're the peanut butter to my jelly; you're the cream to my Oreo; you're the sugar to my spice; etc) and so I was happy to find this more grown-up version in the form of a handsome typography print...Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Pop rock rings

2011-07-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for agates and so I was tickled to discover these wonderfully asymmetric, gorgeously sparkly agate "pop rock" rings. Each one is unique and oh-so-lovely. They come in a whole rainbow of colors as well.

Like them? Purchase one here.

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #3

2011-07-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXV)

2011-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

_______________________ Via 100 Layer Cake

Happy weekend everyone! The weather here on the coast has been actually amazing (sunny, low 70)! It really does feel like summer is here to stay, at least for a little while. Diz and I had a lovely date night last night at one of our favorite local hidden treasure restaurants: Arr Place. It's a little place that doesn't advertise, they get their customers only by word of mouth. They don't have a big sign in front of their place either, so you have to know where you're going to find them. The food is super fresh and all gotten locally and it is run by a husband and wife team in the lower story of their home. I love little local hideouts like that one...we go for a few hours and drink our way through a couple bottles of wine and chat with the brassy wife who is the waitress. And oh. my. god. The desert is to die for. Yum. Here are some things I'm loving this week...

These webbed gloves would be perfect for the avid surfer or snorkler in your life.

Amazing book cutouts!

Beautiful paper flower tiaras.

A wall mounted terrarium!

Popsicles of all shapes and flavors.

Sexy side chignon.

DIY things to do with silk scarves.

Bark beer bottle opener.

Cheers!

Happy birthday Mem!

2011-07-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

A very happy 24th birthday to my little brother! Hopefully you have a stellar day and an even more stellar year! Es tevi milu! Cheers!

{Discovery} Cori Kindred on Etsy

2011-07-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Etsy, how I love thee...These pretty little rock collections are totally fab because not only do they have a bit of a vintage feel to them but the descriptions of each mineral is so unique (Sanguine, spiderweb, pastoral, vapor, pocket watch, feather, tornado, bumblebee, bucolic, moonlight) .Wouldn't it be the perfect gift for your amature rock collector? It would look stellar in an office or on a book shelf. Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Summer songs 2011

2011-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted one of my music playlists. Here is the one I've been grooving to most this summer...Enjoy!

Cheers!

Summer vacay

2011-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

So....Diz has officially booked our summer vacay! In August we will be heading up to the great state of Alaska to visit my dear friend Aina (maybe we will be able to see Russia from her house) who is working up in Anchorage currently. We plan on doing some rafting, camping, backpacking and perhaps seeing some wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, here is an excerpt from the Denali National Park website on what to do to avoid those large carnivores that may think you look tasty: "Ideally, you will be hiking with at least one other person, and will stay in areas where visibility is excellent - allowing you to see animals at a great distance, and avoid them when necessary. In areas of brushy or alpine tundra, you can sometimes see for miles.
However, you will likely face areas of reduced or limited visibility while day hiking. When your visibility is reduced, you should make noise, either by talking with your partner, singing, or simply shouting "Hey bear!" every few minutes."

I started busting out laughing when I got to the "Hey Bear!" part...but I'll do anything to prevent my arm from getting ripped off... Anyway, I digress. I can't wait to head up there to see the gorgeous landscape!

Cheers!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

_____________________ Via Martha

Happy 4th of July! We have had four gorgeous days here on the coast and today Diz and I are heading out to BBQ with some close friends. I'm loving this sunshine and warm weather! Though I got an uber sunburn by sitting out on our deck yesterday...Oh well!

What are you doing today? Celebrating with friends and family or just hanging out by yourself?

Cheers!

Chalk wisdom #2

2011-06-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cheers!

Apsveicu!

2011-06-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Big congrats to another great Midwest/West Coast couple...Markus and Mara!! Today they are tying the knot and I wish them all of the happiness in the world! Apsveicu jus abus! Cheers!

I have a confession to make...

2011-06-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have a minor confession to make...It makes me a little embarrassed and queasy and you may be ashamed of me....I have purchased a white denim jacket *hides face* To make matters worse (and you can totally judge me one more time) here is one of those vain self-pictures taken in a mirror to prove it: The worst part is, I actually adore it. It's comfy, it's stylish and it's functional. I've been needing a new summer coverup and this little item does the trick nicely. So feel free to judge. I'm going to strut around in it and look oh-so-retro and cool.

Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Let's go for a picnic

2011-06-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

With the sunshine and gorgeous weather, who doesn't want to pack up a meal and nosh outside? And what picnic isn't complete without a bottle of wine? I'm loving these fabulously chic picnic items! All you need is a bocce ball set and a few friends!

Like what you see? Purchase it here: 1. Picnic basket ; 2. Wine bottle holder ; 3. Wine glass holders

Cheers!

Jāņi 2011

2011-06-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Diz and I trekked up to a little town called Shelton, WA - home of the LV camp, Kursa (which lies right next door to a maximum security prison) to celebrate the Latvian summer solstice festival known as Jani. There was a small-ish group of people (about 125-150) who joined in the festivities. It was good to see people...sometimes being stuck in the OR wilderness is a little lonely. Here are some pics from our adventures:

Cheers!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful dad! Es tevi milu!

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXIV)

2011-06-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

_____________________ Via Lovely Little Things

Happy weekend all! Diz and I are heading up to WA to celebrate the Latvian summer solstice festival (Jani) with friends and family. Last year I wasn't able to go because of work (sad panda). I'm hoping the weather will stay nice for the festivities! Here are some things I'm loving this week:

I'd love to take this see-through kayak for a spin.

I *heart* camping

Love from a different angle.

Charmingly snarky.

Literary bunting.

This whiskey bar would be great for a man-party.

Cheers!

Your little story...

2011-06-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

A few of my friends and co-workers are pregnant and so recently I've been having babies on the brain ....but don't worry! Not in THAT kind of way (we are so NOT ready for THAT adventure yet)! More so, I've been thinking about baby shower presents. I saw this print and thought it would look adorable in a nursery as a loving testament from a parent to a newborn. Like it? Purchase it here. Cheers!

Fish bowl

2011-06-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm loving this great whale-of-a-fishbowl. Poor little fishy probably feels like Jonas, in the belly of the beast. Like it? Purchase it here.

Cheers!

Currently on my bookshelf...

2011-06-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love love love reading (I'm such a nerd). Now that the weather is becoming sunnier, it is so nice to be able to uncover the deck furniture, grab a frosty beer and sit outside in the warmth with a good novel. However, I tend to start reading more then one book at a time (but I never get the plots mixed up in my head). Here are the things I currently am reading: I love the beautifully told historical fiction of Phillipa Gregory...one of my favorites is The Other Boleyn Girl (my very dog-eared copy is falling apart from being read so much). The Red Queen is the story of Margaret Beauford, the mother of Henry VII and her struggle to seize her destiny as the mother of the king of England. The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is a phenomenal parody poking fun at organized religion, and more specifically intelligent design. Pastafanarism is full of delightful "beliefs" and "truths." My personal favorite is that they accept "Talk Like a Pirate Day" as an official holiday. Win! And even though I'm not really a fan of the series, I'm re-reading the Twilight books. Yes, you can judge me. I've caught up to the last novel, Breaking Dawn, where Bella embraces her fate and finally gets her wish at becoming a vampire. Cheers!

Chalk wisdom

2011-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long absence....It's been a rather busy week....Rach has officially moved to Oregon and I journeyed inland to help her organize her new digs (aka assemble a ton of ikea furniture), our good friend Amelia moved in downstairs yesterday, I was on call all weekend and along with all of that, we went on a mini cleaning spree. Not to mention all of our little daily adventures intermixed with the big stuff. I'll try to keep up with blogging on top of everything else. This is going to be a short week...I'm off today and Friday. Then we're heading up to WA to celebrate Jani with friends and family. Can't wait!

Cheers!

Word

2011-06-13T19:14:00.001-07:00

_____________________ Via I can Read

Word. Considering I spend all day with my hands getting filthy...literally covered in blood, urine, and shit for the greater good, I can totally relate.

Cheers!

Farmer's Market flowers

2011-06-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

There is nothing that spruces up a home more then fresh cut flowers....Our local farmer's market always has such pretty arrangements (and for $10 a bouquet, how can you go wrong?!)...Here are a couple I recently purchased... So pretty! Besides, I have a soft spot for florists at Saturday markets...afterall I got my wedding flowers from the local market! With that being said, go out and support your local farmer's market this weekend!

Cheers!

Things I'm loving this week (Volume LXXXIII)

2011-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

______________________ Via Cup of Jo Happy weekend all! I am heading inland to go visit Rach at her new digs....then I'm heading back to celebrate my pal Laura's birthday! Of course I want to hit up the farmer's market sometime too and perhaps go on a short hike/walk on the beach. The weather is supposed to get up to a balmy 70 degrees here (isn't it funny how a person can adapt...70 used to be jeans and sweatshirt weather) On that note, here are some things I'm loving this week:

Beard anatomy

Smile lifestyle cards

You've just been Sheen'd!

Damn you Autocorrect...I haven't laughed this hard in a while.

Cute whale tissue holder.

Ahhh peacock inspiration boards, how I've missed you.

"I've got a wedding on my head" - as quoted my my good friend Dzin.

Cheers!

Welcome to OR!

2011-06-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

Rach has officially moved to Oregon!!I am so excited to have "my person" here with me...she's only a 2 hour drive away, close to PDX and ready to start her new life as a Northwesterner! For those of you who don't know, Rach is my dearest friend from college. We lived together during undergrad and then she followed me to vet school a year later. I am so pleased to have her out here during the sunny summer months (she can learn to love the rain in the fall/winter/spring)....

Welcome to Oregon darling!

Cheers!

Saddle Mountain

2011-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Diz and I headed up to Northern Oregon to do some serious hiking up the tallest peak on the coast: Saddle Mountain. The weather was overcast and drizzling and we were trudging up a steep slope in ankle deep mud and flowing water. But every view point was worth the effort. It was a total of 2.5 miles up (with a 1600' elevation gain) and though parts of it where exhausting and my muscles were burning at the effort, I was happy. The pseudo-summit had this fantastically narrow trail skirting along the top of a mountain (ala LOTR). When we got to the top, the sun was peaking through the clouds and we saw all of northern Oregon laid out under our feet like a topography map. And I found my new favorite view (sorry Hart's Cove)...Here are some pics from the trip:

Next time you find yourself by Seaside, OR, take this hike. I would place it at a "moderate" skill level. Bring water and trekking poles for the steep slope down. Oh and don't forget your camera...even overcast, it is phenomenal.

Cheers!

$#*!

2011-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Word. ___________________________ Via Cup of Jo

Did you know that psychologists conducted a study where it was shown that swearing increases one's pain tolerance? Test subjects were exposed to a painful situation (sticking their hands in a bucket of ice for a period of time) and were divided into groups who could either swear substantially or shout a non-offensive word (TOASTER! OH TOASTER!). It was shown that the people who were allowed to swear were able to deal with the discomfort for a longer period of time and had a diminished perception of the pain intensity. Yay science!

Damn it!

Cheers!

In honor of brew day...

2011-05-31T00:00:00.001-07:00

In honor of Diz's big brew day here are some home brew inspired items from Etsy... Like what you see? Purchase it here: 1. Barley and hops tie; 2. Keep Calm and Drink Beer; 3. Letterpress beer coasters; 4. Pursuit of Hoppiness T-shirt; 5. Beer sampler platter Cheers!

Brew Day!

2011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Brew Day everyone! Diz has turned our kitchen into a beer-making disaster zone (though I'm sure he would say that there is method to his madness). This time around he is creating another Cascadian dark ale (version 3.0)....It is an 8-hour process from start to finish as he lovingly supervises his creation being born (or stirs his cauldron and curses at it like a mad scientist). The whole house smells gloriously like tangy warm bread. Diz, if you're reading this post then this is how I feel about the whole process: ____________________ Via Etsy Cheers!