Feeling Sentimental

Cakes are baking, the lodge is mostly clean. I'm just admiring the flowers here. I will truly miss all the flowers and picking fresh herbs from the garden. I've just taken the buds off of the lavender I dried. It's surprisingly easy and rewarding. This is the first time I've done any gardening. It's been so fun seeing what pops out of the earth. It's such a joy when you take over a garden because everything is a surprise (at the same time challenging to figure out what everything is!). I am just amazed how each week something new is blooming. This area is so lush and I am thankful for the climate I'm in because I'm definitely a beginner here and it doesn't take much work to make it look gorgeous. I will miss sitting on the front porch staring at the mountains. I will miss gazing at the stars on a clear night from the hot tub. I will miss the peacefulness, hearing the birds chirp in the morning and our secluded view- nothing but trees and mountains all around. For all the complaining I've done, it is truly gorgeous here in July, just as I was told. The sun shines bright, a bit of a breeze makes it bearable, not too many bugs and the temperature drops in the evening. I love sitting rocking, reading on the front porch and wrapping up in a blanket as the sun goes down.

Weddings in Full Swing

I thought I'd share with you the fun events taking place here at the lodge. We have wedding after wedding and I love seeing all the different types that go on here. This wedding had a live mariachi band. This was a simple set up, but it made the place look like a million bucks.

The last wedding (not the one pictured) had all homegrown flowers and they were amazing! Lilies, calla lilies, roses, hydrangeas and more, all from the mother of the brides garden! And the table centerpieces were made by the mother of the groom. A set of three homemade soy candles were placed on each table. They were all made using a variety of different clear glasses. Wine glasses, egg cups, dessert cups, all different sizes and shapes all made for a unified fun look. That was my kind of wedding, friends and family pitching in to make it unique. They had amazing thai food! I even got to keep a trio of candles, some potted petunias, and a gorgeous bouquet (some of the perks!)

Last night we enjoyed listening to a band that came out to entertain the group of friends that are at the lodge this week. My mom would have been in heaven hearing Cat Stevens, James Taylor, and Simon and Garfunkel tunes. It was a clear night with the moon shining bright, very beautiful and fun listening to music on the porch (sorry, no pictures) as the sun set over the cascades.

Meet Otis

Here is our black bear. I'm still on the search so I can get a closer shot. These pictures were snatched before he wandered back into the woods and they're zoomed in. But, you get an idea!

Flat Stanley is Here

Flat Stanley is here for a visit from my nephew Alex. We were pretty busy the last few days. It was sunny, so we had to make the most of it.Here we are on an adventure to check out the abandoned trailer behind our cabin. We had to fight our way through the blackberries. Flat Stanley was pretty brave. I offered him some hiking boots and some other clothes, but he insisted on wearing his tie (he's a pretty classy guy)
Sam was considering fixing this up if it had potential. All it took was one glance. Flat Stanley and I looked at eachother, then at Sam, we vetoed the idea immediately. Sam is allowed some craziness, but Flat Stanley convinced me that sometimes I just have to put my foot down!

Here he is helping Sam mow the lawn.

Sam and Flat Stanley got along pretty well.

Enjoying a picnic

He really likes watermelon.

Playing with Wally

He's helping Sam dig, we've had some septic issues.

Flat Stanley is such a good helper.
He got a little intimidated by our pile of laundry though. (Don't worry Stanley, it frightens me as well)

He had everyone laughing at the wedding, he gave a heartwarming speech and congratulated the couple. He also helped me garden. And we enjoyed sitting in the hot tub. He even hiked all the way to the waterfalls! Flat Stanley can't wait to get the pictures of our hike from Amy. We'll be so sad to see him go, he's been such a great helper.

Where I pretend to be Pioneer Woman

As you may, or may not know I totally love The Pioneer Woman. She cracks me up, and I, being the middle child in my family (although I did not grow up on a golf course) totally identify with her. I totally felt like Ree today, so she is the inspiration for my post today. Go check her out and you'll see what I mean!

So while I was inside laboring all day making fococcia bread, Sam [or shall we call him Marlboro Man] was outside in the rain cuttin' and splittin' wood.

He asked me to join him and give him a hand.

Here you can see me on my way outside, documenting his progress

Aren't his little wood piles cute?

Isn't it just like Sam to make even a wood pile all neat and organized?
I just wish I had a picture to share of him in his Carhart overalls splitting wood. Or sitting on the tractor, maybe another day. Here I am, on my way, watching him work.


He spots me.

Now I go "help" him

I did have a rake in my hand, and ocasionally pretended to help.

Now this is the part of the blog where I would have a link and say, go make this today, right now!
Although I don't have a recipe, it's just fococcia bread. With red onions and rosemary, and sea salt on top- and don't forget the extra virgin olive oil. And as Ina Garten would say, make sure it's GOOD extra virgin olive oil!

Now here is where I delve into my past and ramble on for awhile, pretending that someone will actually listen to me. But of course the difference between Ree and myself, is that she is actually funny and writes well, and has thousands of people read her blog. And she has a good camera, and takes good pictures, and she knows what photoshop is. And Marlboro man wears wranglers, chaps, and a cowboy hat while he works his hundreds of acres of land, where my man sports a Columbia jacket and Keens while he works on the ten acre property that we don't own, but care for. Just mild differences like that.

Sunshine Makes me Happy

We have seen the sun for 4 whole days now! I think that is a record! It is starting to get warm! Spring is here! Plants are coming up, we're seeing a few flowers! We have been enjoying sitting out on our front porch l (Sorry, I think Jess and I are successfully making the midwesterners quite jealous!) This last weekend we had a Russian youth group here.

I felt like a mom inside the kitchen watching out at the boys playing.

Another day at the Office

My pile of towels (this is only half of them). I did the other half yesterday

Much better!

...And for the sheets

I usually hurry to fold all the towels, flat sheets, and pillow cases, and leave the fitted ones for Sam! Today I conquered my fear of the fitted sheet and did 8 in a row. It really isn't so bad once you get the hang of it.

And it's about time you get to see this place. This is where all the magic happens. Don't you love seeing the towels all stacked up nice? It makes me happy. I love having a washer and dryer. I never liked going to the laundromat.