tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62848979726338836282024-03-04T21:15:55.025-08:00Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)Come along for ramblings of travels and daily life of the Ross-Kennedy clan.WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-58999822318830894812024-02-10T11:35:00.000-08:002024-02-10T13:34:55.747-08:00Opposite Ends (Atlantic to Pacific) <p>It's been over a year since being back in Florida. I started thinking of some of these comparisons shortly after returning, but now I have even more to add. And it's more comparing the Oregon Coast to this area, of course. If you're new here, we were in Pacific City, OR a little old town of ~1000 people. Now we're in Atlantic Beach, FL. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE984v2ze2hFJO8uccuQCFWrkY-aaigf4V8dDMRcDTXjWFdI9ijRmoAwK_E90z37JwrmjDgIdGcm6SONIsUjgaiwqO0CBiX6EmvkzALSRJLA9Kc4FkogmmP3GkgE2hyU_jO-TVWwD16UBWVpLGPQgmK6AbYBrpQk33ykmkvLMHI2JxHFCjB0UcYEmGZlg/s1912/Screenshot%202024-02-10%20at%203.09.25%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1912" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE984v2ze2hFJO8uccuQCFWrkY-aaigf4V8dDMRcDTXjWFdI9ijRmoAwK_E90z37JwrmjDgIdGcm6SONIsUjgaiwqO0CBiX6EmvkzALSRJLA9Kc4FkogmmP3GkgE2hyU_jO-TVWwD16UBWVpLGPQgmK6AbYBrpQk33ykmkvLMHI2JxHFCjB0UcYEmGZlg/w640-h394/Screenshot%202024-02-10%20at%203.09.25%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. The amount of <i>laundry. </i>I'd say 3 shirts a day in the summer is typical for this Florida heat and humidity. Go for a morning walk, change shirts... Plant some flowers. Gotta change... Workout, definitely change. Shower, dog walk-- one more change before the night's done. </div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">2. The bank and post office are open on Saturdays here! And restaurants don't close for the winter. </p><p style="text-align: center;">3. Florida neighborhood strolls: Seeing 10+ humans on every walk compared to often only 0. I love the community here! Lovely neighbors, gym rats, baristas. Even my parents! The Padres moved 40 minutes away vs 2.5! Yahoo! Pacific City was just so empty. Only a couple people actually lived on our street. The rest were empty second homes/vacation homes. I've benefited so so much from being near so many friends and family here. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4-aLNi-shR2P05r60Qvk1owJdShayUGBvye0dBeVxrxKCkZXmuHCtmDWDakkIxCG71W4g-d10Fe_3A2GACRbsSZrKJDtKh1gsooOFfIOwToGQUDO_dpqanyOt3OUBAcqI4rMrR5uBMmWG1lMOezdpw3iQmUBkTtfTfhVX8QqJl8A8oQJG8kh1kDsYF0c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4-aLNi-shR2P05r60Qvk1owJdShayUGBvye0dBeVxrxKCkZXmuHCtmDWDakkIxCG71W4g-d10Fe_3A2GACRbsSZrKJDtKh1gsooOFfIOwToGQUDO_dpqanyOt3OUBAcqI4rMrR5uBMmWG1lMOezdpw3iQmUBkTtfTfhVX8QqJl8A8oQJG8kh1kDsYF0c=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">4. Oregon was a cozy up with sweaters, leggings, and wool socks with a glass of wine, Florida is barefoot walk with a fruity cocktail kinda place. </p><p style="text-align: center;">5. We have a 1 minute drive or a 20 minute bike ride (to the farther Publix) vs 40 minutes drive to Tillamook's Safeway. </p><p style="text-align: center;">6. The strange luxury of Oregon's gas station attendants. It was such a treat when it was cold and rainy or I was just feeling lazy to just pull up and boom, car is getting filled. </p><p style="text-align: center;">7. So much less freedom. Florida thinks we're all about freedom? I don't think so, guys. Now I'm only going to discuss the freedom of the beaches and trails and not get into the more heated topics because phew, it's just too much. But these collie budz certainly miss getting to frolic freely through the forests and serene beaches. We have to sneak their playtimes on the beach while stressfully looking out for the animal control. Sometimes we'll enjoy a playground romp after dark to get their wiggles out too. </p><p style="text-align: center;">8. Driving 2 hours through yucky interstate vs <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cau476wluejSlh6DQFoa11WE4u3Rc7DY5xNPm80/?igsh=MTVuMTdkNTBhejRhZA==">beautiful PNW forests</a> through creeks and bridges and beautiful scenes. </p><p style="text-align: center;">9. No more 1.5 hour drives one way to work! Now I'm fully remote (working for Oregon haha) and <i>thoroughly</i> enjoying it.</p><p style="text-align: center;">10. Smells of salty oceans vs dairy farms. </p><p style="text-align: center;">11. Sounds of palm trees and our windchimes in Florida compared to the Pacific City buoy and roaring winds. </p><p style="text-align: center;">12. Clear Florida springs and Oregon's forests creeks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03VlI5Ws8H_4ncgv4lgcBkioIzPWeQttNiFvOx_AF0iTEbCnUEdz754fWflSfRfQGh9k8m63JL8whuZV3AdQubaqMoeNzhOsB0NnbG7F6nzXlpWWCptkzuzEgMhDg7iZJLOmgm5gAnqTtS7aVghGz3wm4BoRExObkByvjq0O2-N8RvSAD61gtUvNi9Y8/s930/OR%20river.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03VlI5Ws8H_4ncgv4lgcBkioIzPWeQttNiFvOx_AF0iTEbCnUEdz754fWflSfRfQGh9k8m63JL8whuZV3AdQubaqMoeNzhOsB0NnbG7F6nzXlpWWCptkzuzEgMhDg7iZJLOmgm5gAnqTtS7aVghGz3wm4BoRExObkByvjq0O2-N8RvSAD61gtUvNi9Y8/w323-h400/OR%20river.jpg" width="323" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7UFhAOnYzrehxzzB-sJ_7w-pzpPp1dyhoOZrEUCU3RflJC29uUl8q-8zngKIGRIjo6JS3Pai6X9B0zzhJoO99EIz8qe6aJKfOxDNdoR-O3DbilGyycuOMNcowHy9Gq2be5XIkwextmVyQr9jPtA1p16B_bpLyPZNOWwLP3OD3EA-1KdsaCDQu3RDf9OI" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7UFhAOnYzrehxzzB-sJ_7w-pzpPp1dyhoOZrEUCU3RflJC29uUl8q-8zngKIGRIjo6JS3Pai6X9B0zzhJoO99EIz8qe6aJKfOxDNdoR-O3DbilGyycuOMNcowHy9Gq2be5XIkwextmVyQr9jPtA1p16B_bpLyPZNOWwLP3OD3EA-1KdsaCDQu3RDf9OI=w323-h400" width="323" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>13. The lifestyles are just truly very different. The jobs, the activities, the culture... Meeting people here, they're jobs might be like IT, finance, normal things... Guys in PC? Crabbers, fishermen, dairy farmers, loggers. One was even on the Greatest Catch show. A little more rugged lives out there. Everything was just kind of more rugged really. One time on our way back from a motorcycle ride to Carlton, we were told by a gas station attendant to watch out for trucks coming out of the side roads-- it was bear hunting season. Dylan was more rugged. He was rocking his motorcycle, long-haired, pants tucked into his boots, </span><span style="text-align: left;">big wave</span><span style="text-align: left;"> life. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl1gXELyAoUhghOrmr0JNQVvyyHEqEL6_awxgsCPYaHERbvThHJaq-a96DucoAAcc-7JHzyyj3BYVkxrXDkOw9G89fX07dkJQRKIz8rBtSKvwidBcAIvQ60SKWIGc6VUZ3mnjxw87T5zMrCu6uechmVzSN6KvYc_eqeP8QMs1xE2q9fRooSFlhvgurN4/s997/IMG_4835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl1gXELyAoUhghOrmr0JNQVvyyHEqEL6_awxgsCPYaHERbvThHJaq-a96DucoAAcc-7JHzyyj3BYVkxrXDkOw9G89fX07dkJQRKIz8rBtSKvwidBcAIvQ60SKWIGc6VUZ3mnjxw87T5zMrCu6uechmVzSN6KvYc_eqeP8QMs1xE2q9fRooSFlhvgurN4/w301-h400/IMG_4835.jpg" width="301" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFllpsBzx16wEe3WU3ILZgZlCA9wARGKvTmFwwedVV-VC9fpbazS9v0w2ucXdvH5PUse7mV8-xPRSPWvmwesBOu6yTzIceQRKoutwk_Xq2OO1cnmduvlwm47-vpOCFVekNux0gNA7Dmwa26nPiUSCix2SPPd6b-uegfeOCAhnkdOJmSE9EwM8NYDUvr8/s996/IMG_4838.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFllpsBzx16wEe3WU3ILZgZlCA9wARGKvTmFwwedVV-VC9fpbazS9v0w2ucXdvH5PUse7mV8-xPRSPWvmwesBOu6yTzIceQRKoutwk_Xq2OO1cnmduvlwm47-vpOCFVekNux0gNA7Dmwa26nPiUSCix2SPPd6b-uegfeOCAhnkdOJmSE9EwM8NYDUvr8/w301-h400/IMG_4838.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">14. <i>Oregon beach finds: </i>Giant trees in the surf, giant rocks (on the beach and in the sea), King Tides, whales, seals, crabs, sand dollars, tide pools, starfish, long and tall capes jutting out into the ocean. I didn't even know what a "cape" was before going there. I also was skeptical of tidepools but turns out they're awesome. Bonfires, wetsuits, surfers, and boogie boarders (no matter the season), IPAs, dory boats. </div></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OWJqR9bCXm49YVQZSbDn-Z2Lh_1k7GkY1z9VJwH5iZYVn-N27oubhb_jXWYWFZTZvwkIhq-7TS2cGZXBBBov9U-PtJyBOHD56vGUSh-aUwagLUU_O0XXovR52wjtK13AHXrM8uj-omk5hO4-ozvEXUQQ22jFZlNLBZUpWgqnHLZHc6rtBOWevp0AQYc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="750" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4OWJqR9bCXm49YVQZSbDn-Z2Lh_1k7GkY1z9VJwH5iZYVn-N27oubhb_jXWYWFZTZvwkIhq-7TS2cGZXBBBov9U-PtJyBOHD56vGUSh-aUwagLUU_O0XXovR52wjtK13AHXrM8uj-omk5hO4-ozvEXUQQ22jFZlNLBZUpWgqnHLZHc6rtBOWevp0AQYc" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Florida beach finds:</i> jellyfish, washed up weed, umbrellas and tents, volleyball nets, sea turtle nests, sunburns, Coors Light, shrimp boats, beach fishermen, electric bikes, smash ball, joggers. Oh the helicopters and jets! That's a pretty cool thing we get to see. We get the wildly entertaining Blue Angels too. They <strike>blew</strike> blue me away. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">15. <i>Oregon critters:</i> deer deer deer. They were often in our yard, always in the neighborhood. Elk! They were so elegant and grand! I can still feel the memory of spotting a huge herd of them on a hike, seeing them gallop off into the trees. Amazing. Apparently you were supposed to be able to smell some special musk when they were near, but we never quite caught that wind. </p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Florida critters</i>: squirrels. playful little squirrels chasing and running up the trees, being overall chaotic, exciting the dogs. Rare sitings of dolphins. Wish we saw them more. Armadillos! One hike we did in Guana, we spotted >20! The dogs did <i>not </i>know what to think about these silly guys that just chilled in the middle of the trail, not even bothered. Gators! Holy moly the gators have scared me more than ever. </p><p style="text-align: center;">16. <i>Oregon hikes:</i> giant roots, mud mud mud, 300' high capes, mushrooms, some elevation gains. It was no Washington, but we had some good leg burners. The hikes were often pretty diverse too where you'd go from those mossy fairytales forests to like a more piney, sandy area, then come out to ocean. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Florida hikes:</i> flat as could be, palm trees, ticks, armadillos (they gotta get a double mention), sounds of cicadas. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCZto3A8t-ivlEaG2UdqJtlpDObCAYtPgiFbRCLD-9UqwzMAE6Buq05vtI4_9ZpJgPRdYePbnVpICz7zHN7KtyrCab2w4m0NtUn0eAz7xIP3_YUi606LsjjGwLsQtCwd5AWvLz6FRzJKL4LpuuUvrLLwGEA7zfAtHeVhEhba1l0QpagoMhIOMUegwsBA/s931/FL%20hike.WEBP" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCZto3A8t-ivlEaG2UdqJtlpDObCAYtPgiFbRCLD-9UqwzMAE6Buq05vtI4_9ZpJgPRdYePbnVpICz7zHN7KtyrCab2w4m0NtUn0eAz7xIP3_YUi606LsjjGwLsQtCwd5AWvLz6FRzJKL4LpuuUvrLLwGEA7zfAtHeVhEhba1l0QpagoMhIOMUegwsBA/w320-h400/FL%20hike.WEBP" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lxnCp7yhEwDfS8CRcBNFDQlcj2t4cyrCr7jWo9A-FnSRyTOcC7V8h9yK6j1IKyytTxF3RoNzTFdgMoDpfeKGZ5m5kQPJY8OzU9bVO2fW01zCXy4eYB4EW9KsDss1yJmcDCJyb61vtpJePDZX1h5tbvaggMjJrXfUYqavAhc0zyZlFUAtt6kZl63JTJI/s929/Hobie%20hike%20OR%20foggy.jpg" style="clear: right; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsjfZ0c3ob0CrlKfl85nfuC3GrpYNynfWqNzMAfeQkodDd32WUAIJHdUpsF05dC4JRcZpwTa2OloWGkftMxBwpMA3SW9kIBG9id9FGjZIdx0qxzOA65W_E6UP-JFbiqoG7asgFrqNM7gX8P85fUcQoyilix7vcK7dyXlbDtuTI8CCWhEyBWLWY7ce9yo/s928/OR%20moss.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsjfZ0c3ob0CrlKfl85nfuC3GrpYNynfWqNzMAfeQkodDd32WUAIJHdUpsF05dC4JRcZpwTa2OloWGkftMxBwpMA3SW9kIBG9id9FGjZIdx0qxzOA65W_E6UP-JFbiqoG7asgFrqNM7gX8P85fUcQoyilix7vcK7dyXlbDtuTI8CCWhEyBWLWY7ce9yo/w324-h400/OR%20moss.jpg" width="324" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIoYhouimc1mfUYY4o7obvPrf8XBVdOnHw6rLl3Kmtl5fMqoTxdwrVwMPxmPxhhcWzrbAQsbEMG6dotO10d88gvTGZrRoWH_ULXmE1FXK7iIkI63Rq-0UaE_CzuUtnSk4YD5YSRqRiHa9cUVOxMRTH-hu7oLzAmvHEVlPh_f_5E7cR9A_fJVVVz9yYv8/s4032/FL%20moss.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIoYhouimc1mfUYY4o7obvPrf8XBVdOnHw6rLl3Kmtl5fMqoTxdwrVwMPxmPxhhcWzrbAQsbEMG6dotO10d88gvTGZrRoWH_ULXmE1FXK7iIkI63Rq-0UaE_CzuUtnSk4YD5YSRqRiHa9cUVOxMRTH-hu7oLzAmvHEVlPh_f_5E7cR9A_fJVVVz9yYv8/w300-h400/FL%20moss.HEIC" width="300" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFBog6FOvyLR4n3jLXkC8yWCO4JkmYLIwJRuw2-jTtqRRSSTTxDEIXSllMFDIsJvHxXgF9krsrPIxFx28HiyaMX1ieJtH3yHMd9UWyWPNpzsYsFjm1g4c_Iy_fyXScGVa6BMXgh363w6p5Rjd-uqnjnyDTOQhq-4Ux05f_81trnD3cvi8VmfTGhWbvzk/s6016/OR%20trees.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFBog6FOvyLR4n3jLXkC8yWCO4JkmYLIwJRuw2-jTtqRRSSTTxDEIXSllMFDIsJvHxXgF9krsrPIxFx28HiyaMX1ieJtH3yHMd9UWyWPNpzsYsFjm1g4c_Iy_fyXScGVa6BMXgh363w6p5Rjd-uqnjnyDTOQhq-4Ux05f_81trnD3cvi8VmfTGhWbvzk/w400-h268/OR%20trees.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess where this tree was! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSHr3n1HbQFTtuvEoRe7k00-O8UVJLcV9IDew7omjScJ8A0GmW-MXSsU3zz6mFUzrWy0AGeUIgdAD_DYJtZ8R2lszO6qF6KaNlqcOOVbjQJN6YacPizWol4RmC5IxnkOZOYIUzWwrQZ58np3lqIjJkCIk5KpXLqqrQR6ZAcRWFcWP8CuDRe4JQi8JoGoE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSHr3n1HbQFTtuvEoRe7k00-O8UVJLcV9IDew7omjScJ8A0GmW-MXSsU3zz6mFUzrWy0AGeUIgdAD_DYJtZ8R2lszO6qF6KaNlqcOOVbjQJN6YacPizWol4RmC5IxnkOZOYIUzWwrQZ58np3lqIjJkCIk5KpXLqqrQR6ZAcRWFcWP8CuDRe4JQi8JoGoE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a>Oregon Outfits: </div></div><p style="text-align: center;">Except for summer time-- you could still get away with a light sweater/jacket), you're pretty much in boots (hiking or rain), jackets, and hats. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4_halbqOm2hs7kMYD00hFqDCx0LvshutNZFSmtah5iShf1zuOG-PoZNpm5aaDa4uFVoMHkbiGN3qA6y6SS-NdOjes-OSpDZWjaJiIdNZzFBf0LYX9HccGi5dAJI0bYHwy2abz_BtHW4F_CJjJ8gXqj_UuUl4VdrJduMZOisJFPUJhEgxuiL2jCDxZ1SY" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4_halbqOm2hs7kMYD00hFqDCx0LvshutNZFSmtah5iShf1zuOG-PoZNpm5aaDa4uFVoMHkbiGN3qA6y6SS-NdOjes-OSpDZWjaJiIdNZzFBf0LYX9HccGi5dAJI0bYHwy2abz_BtHW4F_CJjJ8gXqj_UuUl4VdrJduMZOisJFPUJhEgxuiL2jCDxZ1SY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1114" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4_halbqOm2hs7kMYD00hFqDCx0LvshutNZFSmtah5iShf1zuOG-PoZNpm5aaDa4uFVoMHkbiGN3qA6y6SS-NdOjes-OSpDZWjaJiIdNZzFBf0LYX9HccGi5dAJI0bYHwy2abz_BtHW4F_CJjJ8gXqj_UuUl4VdrJduMZOisJFPUJhEgxuiL2jCDxZ1SY=w464-h640" width="464" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Florida digs: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crop tops, shorts, barefeet or sandals (or my cool vans, cuz it's time to be a kid again). I finally realized I could just wear a swimsuit top biking around-- This past summer was extra brutal. And a different kinda hat! Shoot some of our friends even just wear their dundies outside it's so toasty. That was even just spotted the other day in February, actually!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKHkQwKD45XFkCoSyKg49v31QFb-uXd8JW16c97DcGnAerYcjFS1ApB1rXfPGW0u_AkAyx9ROqzp4poYv4sOyb9MA3WWUYuJrkfi9Fpb-ingcn88yDBk2IsSICP7sj5NT2jEwTaiZVu3Pw60SMP6mVo29X1_4awSCFuaVoy9ltMnqjdYGHt8CDwS8onas" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1860" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKHkQwKD45XFkCoSyKg49v31QFb-uXd8JW16c97DcGnAerYcjFS1ApB1rXfPGW0u_AkAyx9ROqzp4poYv4sOyb9MA3WWUYuJrkfi9Fpb-ingcn88yDBk2IsSICP7sj5NT2jEwTaiZVu3Pw60SMP6mVo29X1_4awSCFuaVoy9ltMnqjdYGHt8CDwS8onas=w640-h408" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLe0YajLWkCzMBft2XHoH0-44P470jnwgLiLTLlTuAte1Bx6_-_KlOizmiN7_-8mckyF3J_EhXcZ08zZvgECSHem8dN-SSUP2yT__taa1RJPiA029ZDykWMA8-I-JDtVTs1maiCvlRTRuWmPRrBK8_CSJZ-H7Rz5XK81Px8HzAHL2hz5g6nVWV5NoEHI/s3088/IMG_4825.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLe0YajLWkCzMBft2XHoH0-44P470jnwgLiLTLlTuAte1Bx6_-_KlOizmiN7_-8mckyF3J_EhXcZ08zZvgECSHem8dN-SSUP2yT__taa1RJPiA029ZDykWMA8-I-JDtVTs1maiCvlRTRuWmPRrBK8_CSJZ-H7Rz5XK81Px8HzAHL2hz5g6nVWV5NoEHI/s3088/IMG_4825.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLe0YajLWkCzMBft2XHoH0-44P470jnwgLiLTLlTuAte1Bx6_-_KlOizmiN7_-8mckyF3J_EhXcZ08zZvgECSHem8dN-SSUP2yT__taa1RJPiA029ZDykWMA8-I-JDtVTs1maiCvlRTRuWmPRrBK8_CSJZ-H7Rz5XK81Px8HzAHL2hz5g6nVWV5NoEHI/s3088/IMG_4825.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-decoration: none;">.</span></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfSwnzVyYC8BClMLcl4dCIPKFaQpzQr9PufXImHFLzAVHcL20fIA6JFPK83x-3M-3wZwZONBA1TgFihvSTnjIeJiyeG5DHUIo-MRd8RXb5ips5LWVgkt51uFxTgOCMXnteZLoFi3R3gWyjfr1f99ZRC2DliIrF7rnhf2F2eyfAzgi9J_pwDJ5wTZJNpbc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfSwnzVyYC8BClMLcl4dCIPKFaQpzQr9PufXImHFLzAVHcL20fIA6JFPK83x-3M-3wZwZONBA1TgFihvSTnjIeJiyeG5DHUIo-MRd8RXb5ips5LWVgkt51uFxTgOCMXnteZLoFi3R3gWyjfr1f99ZRC2DliIrF7rnhf2F2eyfAzgi9J_pwDJ5wTZJNpbc=w300-h400" width="300" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLe0YajLWkCzMBft2XHoH0-44P470jnwgLiLTLlTuAte1Bx6_-_KlOizmiN7_-8mckyF3J_EhXcZ08zZvgECSHem8dN-SSUP2yT__taa1RJPiA029ZDykWMA8-I-JDtVTs1maiCvlRTRuWmPRrBK8_CSJZ-H7Rz5XK81Px8HzAHL2hz5g6nVWV5NoEHI/s3088/IMG_4825.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLe0YajLWkCzMBft2XHoH0-44P470jnwgLiLTLlTuAte1Bx6_-_KlOizmiN7_-8mckyF3J_EhXcZ08zZvgECSHem8dN-SSUP2yT__taa1RJPiA029ZDykWMA8-I-JDtVTs1maiCvlRTRuWmPRrBK8_CSJZ-H7Rz5XK81Px8HzAHL2hz5g6nVWV5NoEHI/w300-h400/IMG_4825.jpg" width="300" /><br /></a> 73 degrees February ride</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Oh also, we have Crossfit here, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> so now I got strong legs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>Closest Crossfit in PC </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>was an <i>hour away. :( </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></div></div><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-decoration: none;">Both beautiful. Both unique. Both full of lots of happy memories (and their own unique challenges)</span></p><br /><p></p>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-6170517684600965572024-02-07T17:23:00.000-08:002024-02-10T12:04:01.686-08:00Quilting [Sentimental Inspirations]<p><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span>For my first post about quilting, I think it's appropriate that it's all about the reason I began quilting and my favorite part about the craft. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's the thought, meaning, and sentiments that go into the planning and creating. It's making each piece personalized and special for each recipient. Thinking about the recipients, what they cherish and value, what makes them the unique person that is getting this quilt. What do I think of when I think of ____? What colors and feelings match this human? </span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px;">As I've gotten into some more commissioned pieces where I don't necessarily know the couple, I still have had the pleasure and fun in seeing their nurseries/homes, Pinterest inspiration, learning about the couple. Trying to envision what that new mom is wanting to create for their little one, what style they're dreaming of... It's fun too to incorporate their choice of baby names if they know already (of course Alice Daisy <i>needed </i>some sweet little daisies). </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't have always get perfect points, my quilting lines are not always as straight as I'd like (even with a walking foot, quilting lines, and a guide-- not sure how that happens), and they will probably not be perfectly squared up, but you better believe I have put a lot of love and thought into each step from the colors, the prints, the quilt pattern, how to quilt it (hand or machine/simple or intricate?), all the way to the big stick binding thread color. I often like to tune my Spotify in to the recipients' favorite bands or genres or playlists that make me think of them to really feel that person's presence. It can take me back to old memories of them while making some new.</span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I figured I'd share a few of the projects that really stuck out to me. </span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This one was a super special request for a childhood friend’s little miracle baby. She shared these pictures of her nursery and I was so excited to put together this <a href="https://suzyquilts.com/shop/grow-quilt-pattern-download/">grow quilt</a> (pattern by Suzy Quilts) for her growing family.</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrJyiDn7-ToKDAxEf55g3R0w-lRL3U8o3-QnhcweCZ0anKdFmbdhkvk4kzieu7c2Xd5GMrsC2_Ww8qj7hKRo7uW7bxzk2CKufNR7YllrrUHZFgZqHUug4W_G48w-VfGbLonhPzhtMXljXbtRRekDiZQ29ml2YkWKldr7icDxQ_Mbv7jlWi4TYQIgb/s1800/karemih2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrJyiDn7-ToKDAxEf55g3R0w-lRL3U8o3-QnhcweCZ0anKdFmbdhkvk4kzieu7c2Xd5GMrsC2_Ww8qj7hKRo7uW7bxzk2CKufNR7YllrrUHZFgZqHUug4W_G48w-VfGbLonhPzhtMXljXbtRRekDiZQ29ml2YkWKldr7icDxQ_Mbv7jlWi4TYQIgb/s1800/karemih2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIJ6yFp9e2yGg6mSPCV4cqbaUqjqgD0fXs4G4M3Tc8j_CHReIU8NaFDqb2KT_fiAHZPOtUE05SWcxkrAQmQy2iFcBSMGYtC9BJo8nWtWokr21qju0JgeGaRMcA-ZY5DWZ3BkBUb8w1_olzYd2ofBhKoCa-yS4wQIxSfWSS7w5R2Vy8u9ckW-EIYfUeVQ/s1416/Screenshot%202024-02-10%20at%202.56.07%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1144" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIJ6yFp9e2yGg6mSPCV4cqbaUqjqgD0fXs4G4M3Tc8j_CHReIU8NaFDqb2KT_fiAHZPOtUE05SWcxkrAQmQy2iFcBSMGYtC9BJo8nWtWokr21qju0JgeGaRMcA-ZY5DWZ3BkBUb8w1_olzYd2ofBhKoCa-yS4wQIxSfWSS7w5R2Vy8u9ckW-EIYfUeVQ/w518-h640/Screenshot%202024-02-10%20at%202.56.07%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="518" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrJyiDn7-ToKDAxEf55g3R0w-lRL3U8o3-QnhcweCZ0anKdFmbdhkvk4kzieu7c2Xd5GMrsC2_Ww8qj7hKRo7uW7bxzk2CKufNR7YllrrUHZFgZqHUug4W_G48w-VfGbLonhPzhtMXljXbtRRekDiZQ29ml2YkWKldr7icDxQ_Mbv7jlWi4TYQIgb/w256-h320/karemih2.jpeg" width="256" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYrca3CvfPIMfaZbehLbPnfVImfzmsDW5_NcDH_TF87w_sQ2e7DHm6B5NXSHHhk9KUds31f_RratZde-ZIcdWxWmiH9D88ucQcdwfdkqeIVt9K2sgV3DYzehmxQn95lepMZ9Uzfzypr0CxSBPB2p2LCJmUNPv83_JBJOLec7cyeQpOBdmMHxxBQc9/s1800/karemih3.jpeg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYrca3CvfPIMfaZbehLbPnfVImfzmsDW5_NcDH_TF87w_sQ2e7DHm6B5NXSHHhk9KUds31f_RratZde-ZIcdWxWmiH9D88ucQcdwfdkqeIVt9K2sgV3DYzehmxQn95lepMZ9Uzfzypr0CxSBPB2p2LCJmUNPv83_JBJOLec7cyeQpOBdmMHxxBQc9/w256-h320/karemih3.jpeg" width="256" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD04flXJMm48mR8H5vvVeNW62tQ23ZI7X2VFNtTT5OEV8D36Ps78JwcW2PY8wQbsdbzfV9RLxNK976Uqi0Jb_dB7x0fJn1OgeMpd7XxPEL5BDyUP1YytgBozKIBqHLYjQ5vIarPmQg_eWuQOgDCzMpYWf4Gl9IHZc5mNcW1Wj2EUQVoBRNHDclAYWC/s1800/karemihquilt.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD04flXJMm48mR8H5vvVeNW62tQ23ZI7X2VFNtTT5OEV8D36Ps78JwcW2PY8wQbsdbzfV9RLxNK976Uqi0Jb_dB7x0fJn1OgeMpd7XxPEL5BDyUP1YytgBozKIBqHLYjQ5vIarPmQg_eWuQOgDCzMpYWf4Gl9IHZc5mNcW1Wj2EUQVoBRNHDclAYWC/s320/karemihquilt.jpeg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xDlm_OG8iBOQ_1Avzhe4kp2iJJ-KGc1CIT-A3pStJyBrNPPno_AjBnHdqza1ERY9QIjl-ulbZYba4r9Uj3nsfnjAauiD_kYOPtpXWjhePz1pBtInmBeKWRiWMdeTUXv2iJUZPHI_aWxXSkQPgQDLrdOBjeQ6o3jeYa0fieCZbjjgfFBYZBlVU_3_/s1171/karemihulabel.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xDlm_OG8iBOQ_1Avzhe4kp2iJJ-KGc1CIT-A3pStJyBrNPPno_AjBnHdqza1ERY9QIjl-ulbZYba4r9Uj3nsfnjAauiD_kYOPtpXWjhePz1pBtInmBeKWRiWMdeTUXv2iJUZPHI_aWxXSkQPgQDLrdOBjeQ6o3jeYa0fieCZbjjgfFBYZBlVU_3_/s320/karemihulabel.jpeg" width="257" /></a></span></div><p><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Another I had fun with was this commissioned quilt-- I got these pictures of the nursery and from her Pinterest and was told they were going for an "Old American Post Millennial" style. I definitely had to look that one up, but was excited to see that it was all about mixing colors and textures, channeling your fancy Grandma's place. Moving away from the monochrome of millennials (I apparently missed this vibe as I was never into that-- bring on the colors, please!) I'm not sure if you can see the green print here, but it's such a fun one with bunnies playing in the woods, going on slides, by the ponds, storks flying in... </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">The Inspo... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe9x1zmPiDzPFqIgagULV_PF1CWejz6cXcVltiheAhNOLlXwCI6jfWV_z-Is4DUl4AH4UqQDh4i2efx8fE6rBbm6sNmfsycscMpxesssGSp-IGvGEkhSwhzwxy7YEEHpud9gYeYR5l9KOKQZWMFcdGCNj5DPvsGJxbGgKNRlu6CfLMdGU_6eoxEneUjE/s1446/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20at%203.58.21%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1446" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe9x1zmPiDzPFqIgagULV_PF1CWejz6cXcVltiheAhNOLlXwCI6jfWV_z-Is4DUl4AH4UqQDh4i2efx8fE6rBbm6sNmfsycscMpxesssGSp-IGvGEkhSwhzwxy7YEEHpud9gYeYR5l9KOKQZWMFcdGCNj5DPvsGJxbGgKNRlu6CfLMdGU_6eoxEneUjE/w640-h576/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20at%203.58.21%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">And the quilt... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">(or quilts-- I wound up actually making a bonus one because the girl who commissioned the quilt for her sister-in-law really loved the bottom patter but the mama to be had pinned a similar pinwheel pattern on her page. I started with the pinwheel but when I also saw the picture of the rug, I thought the Connector matched so well with its shapes and style so I made it too!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdAab-MQQUiQ-h62X06iXWIGH_G51VgwfiqvceIaG-orIAxm7Hqw3u3QpraUdkFNtnqLlN97NgSDE8WO7cfXI_gHxxHuWyNAqJtI2Uxa1bFh5LDp3YybwbWmxchZVu7kkV9qN9QaSIWpj3Kf1ARXlqOvkfN2UXGvpbGAeX90-rbCNRvta5nsmOlD30fI/s1696/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20at%203.58.40%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdAab-MQQUiQ-h62X06iXWIGH_G51VgwfiqvceIaG-orIAxm7Hqw3u3QpraUdkFNtnqLlN97NgSDE8WO7cfXI_gHxxHuWyNAqJtI2Uxa1bFh5LDp3YybwbWmxchZVu7kkV9qN9QaSIWpj3Kf1ARXlqOvkfN2UXGvpbGAeX90-rbCNRvta5nsmOlD30fI/w589-h640/Screenshot%202024-02-06%20at%203.58.40%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="589" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Patterns: <a href="https://getzmade.co/products/spinwheel-quilt-pattern-1?_pos=1&_sid=07c807429&_ss=r">Spinwheel Quilt</a> by Getz Made</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><a href="https://homemadeemilyjane.com/product/connector-quilt-pattern/">Connector Quilt</a> by Homemade Emily Jane </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">For one vibrant friend, I needed an equally vibrant quilt, so out came this beaut, inspired by Cool People Quilt's color scheme with my added prints of strawberries and florals and stripes-- I just gotta add the prints. :) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGG90uh4vXVPK07L4ofFyjfcbtGtKSJ_YYq-AkZ27pD3HaiqYvygy4UKoHymlUT29hlkXkIDEO2zmn5atqnvvKk2EygwU9y7CcN2SbyywQb9zN0y_3STdzPOf0x67qWPb72j26BNln0G8iG4z57rMqWoaupewUPk8lDEXqfC4qf7UtX17a2lcaccjzlw/s750/IMG_4767.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGG90uh4vXVPK07L4ofFyjfcbtGtKSJ_YYq-AkZ27pD3HaiqYvygy4UKoHymlUT29hlkXkIDEO2zmn5atqnvvKk2EygwU9y7CcN2SbyywQb9zN0y_3STdzPOf0x67qWPb72j26BNln0G8iG4z57rMqWoaupewUPk8lDEXqfC4qf7UtX17a2lcaccjzlw/s320/IMG_4767.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFVl4kOOfBOJX5gTQaB8GE3SxBK0Zy8gtwuf0BMnUyOmpYnXwgUCSwXeWxE_cBUTo1RRKE7K5oIL_EnsXr5BHWmV5RfBBD_2X0nCaRoKHIp-3JEjboiT-ggF-6FdE2C9GkpMqsQSJBHUGZT-3jksJExvGLp4ANuPcMU47tUU2iGFl4U_QpykG1KoM4Bw/s750/IMG_4768.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="750" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFVl4kOOfBOJX5gTQaB8GE3SxBK0Zy8gtwuf0BMnUyOmpYnXwgUCSwXeWxE_cBUTo1RRKE7K5oIL_EnsXr5BHWmV5RfBBD_2X0nCaRoKHIp-3JEjboiT-ggF-6FdE2C9GkpMqsQSJBHUGZT-3jksJExvGLp4ANuPcMU47tUU2iGFl4U_QpykG1KoM4Bw/s320/IMG_4768.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">My mom and I collaborated on this Vintage Lace Quilt that incorporated the beautiful "Couleurs de Cazals"-- the picturesque little French town that my Aunt and Uncle were living in. It has the burgundy wine, green meadows, purple wisteria, tan bricks... just a lovely place. I wish I had a better picture of the backing-- it was a perfect floral with all the colors.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkKgsJMkRfy2cM5H9gqZCH5TadYpWDZCwyjI86KO3NzkfXMba5YerFCbRSqRcjC7iskTIdUbm9BSHR4XhG6Fdv3rQRnPV1yRIhM1FARWAFPjia4csvc5nxszOf4uIKwMuuBiqI1s_vNU29LywLW1X-iOvVdKn4RHdLi7Cc2OJ-exFVmATLUockb_SoGo/s750/IMG_4771.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="750" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkKgsJMkRfy2cM5H9gqZCH5TadYpWDZCwyjI86KO3NzkfXMba5YerFCbRSqRcjC7iskTIdUbm9BSHR4XhG6Fdv3rQRnPV1yRIhM1FARWAFPjia4csvc5nxszOf4uIKwMuuBiqI1s_vNU29LywLW1X-iOvVdKn4RHdLi7Cc2OJ-exFVmATLUockb_SoGo/w320-h319/IMG_4771.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZr-ebrKlen4ETdltURHiNwL9qCcIuxxfs5gYCi4Z6viHj57KdQE3m0Wxds-Ae8hg7OlOViUluuciCOdFyZUHt1CnrndseZCK8dOhCPuqVYA_QMc5vM9n4E-0WezmdKx1X4B8PYufAvYRzcxvyCRjHPO5aqGwGgZUNLFKXIuvfQkZeeb5dtw-n2GdV9s/s750/IMG_4769.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="750" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZr-ebrKlen4ETdltURHiNwL9qCcIuxxfs5gYCi4Z6viHj57KdQE3m0Wxds-Ae8hg7OlOViUluuciCOdFyZUHt1CnrndseZCK8dOhCPuqVYA_QMc5vM9n4E-0WezmdKx1X4B8PYufAvYRzcxvyCRjHPO5aqGwGgZUNLFKXIuvfQkZeeb5dtw-n2GdV9s/w320-h311/IMG_4769.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOYmD9KlafcCGGbTV95s89SsdxewHcqx7dDTBtltHbHAIQ56qtOTsDnGgoYY0zciKM8l4IpgZn20lj9tuEmZlVeLMkCET5hRRY7rBWCMVhMPCDuiptdVfXVVCGpDPxj271kcgn9LfMgaq-QAGYgV1yJ9U5a-hJdTMiWr4VdmyOn150P1YKrESi9tCnDw/s750/IMG_4770.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="750" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOYmD9KlafcCGGbTV95s89SsdxewHcqx7dDTBtltHbHAIQ56qtOTsDnGgoYY0zciKM8l4IpgZn20lj9tuEmZlVeLMkCET5hRRY7rBWCMVhMPCDuiptdVfXVVCGpDPxj271kcgn9LfMgaq-QAGYgV1yJ9U5a-hJdTMiWr4VdmyOn150P1YKrESi9tCnDw/s320/IMG_4770.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Go to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ark.quilts/" target="_blank">Insta</a> to find better pictures and other projects! And send over any requests/inquiries about getting your own Abby Quilt.</span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-74913215322891968172024-02-05T13:35:00.000-08:002024-02-07T11:02:54.915-08:002023 in Review (Plus 2020-2022, oops) <p>I am super bummed to realize that I haven't done a yearly review/highlights since 2019! That's FOUR YEARS ago! Pre covid, pre Oregon, pre master's degree, pre return to Florida, pre a million babies being born... So much has changed! It's always to nice to sit back and look at all that happens in a year too. </p><p>It's now February. I started this post in December and was about to go and try to edit and make it all fancy with links to other posts and all kinds of cool things.... I'm sure there are some mistakes even with the years, things left out... but progress over perfection right? We're just going posting it in 3...2...1... Have fun! </p><p><b>2023</b> </p><p>1. Bike bike biking everywhere. To the Grom for tasty lunch treats, Indian almost every week, grocery shopping, to the gym, just to bike around in the sun. It's been great! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPwgL-9u0BAGjf2zAFOETHOKuLc6m8W09axBOMHetZ42Je_zO26Q50RxPU2bx5XPYdkemk_R7D_RBuXP4Njns8i4nH8oTkDne7156x3uOv83eK1dnMWx9QOj-B1FHYVBPxvkJ4QpV-o_-I-7dH4iprS5ggtUMeRxLg_mSdEFUtV8NuKDzZYK95GK1px_w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="919" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPwgL-9u0BAGjf2zAFOETHOKuLc6m8W09axBOMHetZ42Je_zO26Q50RxPU2bx5XPYdkemk_R7D_RBuXP4Njns8i4nH8oTkDne7156x3uOv83eK1dnMWx9QOj-B1FHYVBPxvkJ4QpV-o_-I-7dH4iprS5ggtUMeRxLg_mSdEFUtV8NuKDzZYK95GK1px_w=w523-h640" width="523" /></a></div><p>2. All the babies came: Lowey-Balls, Krupkas, Bakers, neighbor friends x2, Sarkissians, and even more to come! </p><p>3. Finally got the best job with a remote birth-5 gig... in Tillamook, Oregon! We moved across the country only to work across the country? </p><p>4. Dylan's focusing on school now with just 3 semesters of clinical left! (Psych nurse practitioner). He got to "retire from nursing" so we had a fun solo party to celebrate that with a playlist and balloons and everything. </p><p>5. I did an unexpected standby flight to Colorado for an awesome ski trip in March! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgYgquK8LHLUS2iXWkuzSGKHXPxgKzP5KKDYGj7XILOl-VUyuQLAD5T6w6f_YL68_YNeROUWc4B5sdrWK2SZOs7xctPG1AiciAOsc23mgCk6pc9JvLEIroqrY45BDRQm5foyQPALFzUQZlN2xWJdTgtMcYsFSnwriQtc1P7E6xveZ7NxIO6cRLgUw_8zs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="554" data-original-width="750" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgYgquK8LHLUS2iXWkuzSGKHXPxgKzP5KKDYGj7XILOl-VUyuQLAD5T6w6f_YL68_YNeROUWc4B5sdrWK2SZOs7xctPG1AiciAOsc23mgCk6pc9JvLEIroqrY45BDRQm5foyQPALFzUQZlN2xWJdTgtMcYsFSnwriQtc1P7E6xveZ7NxIO6cRLgUw_8zs=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></div><br />6. Dylan and I took a fantastic trip to Copenhagen in July. We got to see my friends I'd met 10 years ago, biked all over the city, swam in the canals, enjoyed all the parks. It was just the best. Denmark was a place and time that felt so distant it was almost like a memory. I was nervous about going back because I didn't want my memories to change or to somehow be disappointed but it was even more special than I could've imagined. Catching up with these friends felt like no time had past, getting to show Dylan all around and meet everyone too. It was just lovely. Other highlights were the new swimming holes there at La Banchina, the liveliest food truck area at Reffen right by the water with a skate park and people out enjoying the sun as the Danes do. Kayaking was great too, exploring the city a new way. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZrm3l4kPH5AFETf8XyZB6xOCvEEl0MldCfVQafiI8jy17zeGq45C1lPZnvn99WBllqYnDEPxq5qLbjtPXsTqdkxMlXvGe2GgbVLdYWq2ek9LLi1jlgtiMwVbpDKwy7soISU8psHWAINL6SXJMpqwU5OJ-zbcbyjuNTnN9S0FYQSM6yqNMIgsX4Q_9DKs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="799" data-original-width="599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZrm3l4kPH5AFETf8XyZB6xOCvEEl0MldCfVQafiI8jy17zeGq45C1lPZnvn99WBllqYnDEPxq5qLbjtPXsTqdkxMlXvGe2GgbVLdYWq2ek9LLi1jlgtiMwVbpDKwy7soISU8psHWAINL6SXJMpqwU5OJ-zbcbyjuNTnN9S0FYQSM6yqNMIgsX4Q_9DKs=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1dPr5IoxSoWLQAIY70xPv4970R5XHrkrUDHMWeOWriWK3OnW7NhRE87eQgWqenSFBzU3_fxIVVkiaK-REbRgphybmKxyNKJnP8poV2C83CWH84UCv-e_yus5vHj2AXqS71XrG2ry0hq-g4kC-7JJieqaoTbDtzCtMN8TxyTMraAL9FTy5ChsFRbssEas" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="796" data-original-width="599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1dPr5IoxSoWLQAIY70xPv4970R5XHrkrUDHMWeOWriWK3OnW7NhRE87eQgWqenSFBzU3_fxIVVkiaK-REbRgphybmKxyNKJnP8poV2C83CWH84UCv-e_yus5vHj2AXqS71XrG2ry0hq-g4kC-7JJieqaoTbDtzCtMN8TxyTMraAL9FTy5ChsFRbssEas=w483-h640" width="483" /></a></div><br />7. I went to Oregon for a week for work/fun. I got to stay in Portland and explore all the neighborhoods, looked at some houses, ate lots of food, met cute dog friends at the parks... Then I got to meet my coworkers and kiddos in person for a few days! That was a special treat. <p></p><p>8. I've been getting my Friend Bucket filled with so much visiting-- Julia moved from Hawaii to New York to across the street, Benton and Stacey and cousin Doug, Carla is back from South Korea, Meryl and Chad, Jenny and Derek neighbors. We've had some great times with hockey games, cookie and wine pairing night, cabaret shows, "band practice" alongside the road in front of Benton's... Visits from Dana and the new baby. Great crew at the gym... </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi06DjfF3d4eFgZZPYN4dsAa5ak9lBhxKuLz6iga4Z9Vc2el--0F3diRz9LTIgHK4-Mh9ci-fnuorkB1ciXsKwTNSgjqHt8coRxQe3lEMXayeh43KgxNKj30bS3dtHzGyhil3H-Ml322uy1VjsLMLFiabYjZoNC5O_xCtAnKO0KHmjW054v9jKwHxifTk0" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="933" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi06DjfF3d4eFgZZPYN4dsAa5ak9lBhxKuLz6iga4Z9Vc2el--0F3diRz9LTIgHK4-Mh9ci-fnuorkB1ciXsKwTNSgjqHt8coRxQe3lEMXayeh43KgxNKj30bS3dtHzGyhil3H-Ml322uy1VjsLMLFiabYjZoNC5O_xCtAnKO0KHmjW054v9jKwHxifTk0=w322-h400" width="322" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTil7QcA0SqhJSZdZryli45z5wz1QDnQ5qat_mdzNLV3STvei_hvhB6Ic828X5cc7N7_8qt9xaMeQNKfvBUCE0lNsnY_2w1glLUdmzYzaNC4Tc9fBmVMESz1SSrrp6sUZeVVA3-TSNaoOfhu0hLCTwfuumVBOAMI2Q5tbPT2DQByuwkoQK5_iCk7ZVDrw" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTil7QcA0SqhJSZdZryli45z5wz1QDnQ5qat_mdzNLV3STvei_hvhB6Ic828X5cc7N7_8qt9xaMeQNKfvBUCE0lNsnY_2w1glLUdmzYzaNC4Tc9fBmVMESz1SSrrp6sUZeVVA3-TSNaoOfhu0hLCTwfuumVBOAMI2Q5tbPT2DQByuwkoQK5_iCk7ZVDrw=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBExJVxrBW7YtRjDtReuYepzahe0TLRnzTKDJkGf65zGmZijr0R1Kc6E_W3VBu3eLwrtK6Zqk_W1KZKGjKYqUHFZA_cLXJ83CiNK9gWbvr1Zy_JyOsd1qcCayNvfIF_BLThwAYiAof1cP5Q89xg7QHMBDop8uHnVHvrWLqf_gLZywAO7_BNBm-IlBzILk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="918" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBExJVxrBW7YtRjDtReuYepzahe0TLRnzTKDJkGf65zGmZijr0R1Kc6E_W3VBu3eLwrtK6Zqk_W1KZKGjKYqUHFZA_cLXJ83CiNK9gWbvr1Zy_JyOsd1qcCayNvfIF_BLThwAYiAof1cP5Q89xg7QHMBDop8uHnVHvrWLqf_gLZywAO7_BNBm-IlBzILk=w327-h400" width="327" /></a></div><p></p><p>8. Lovely girls weekend in Rosemary Beach with Amy, Amy, Amanda and Jenna. So many years of wonderful trips getting together with these girls. We had brunch with a rooftop viewed, biked around the town, ate and shopped as appropriate for Rosemary. Last year we were in Orlando with a pregnant Jenna, this year with pregnant Amy! And the LAST LAST one pre-covid was Boston with pregnant Amy #1. Lot of changes around here, but the friendships just gets stronger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVLm9pJx57S24JunGHFdN8pC-UVjwJ1DYcSKOnruqL-vZf_BBiEaA7TneB6KP1tBKu9lqtyqKMZ9yQC_zp7ycsuD7Puq3zSUHNFr1nNT4lexm9drcc6MBocIrJl1Cdbw-6KG-D1faUIgHrAnQBTcFzgSbloWO5TYvHSTx3y84QPQYi1_aJXV13bX4TqE/s1800/rosemary2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVLm9pJx57S24JunGHFdN8pC-UVjwJ1DYcSKOnruqL-vZf_BBiEaA7TneB6KP1tBKu9lqtyqKMZ9yQC_zp7ycsuD7Puq3zSUHNFr1nNT4lexm9drcc6MBocIrJl1Cdbw-6KG-D1faUIgHrAnQBTcFzgSbloWO5TYvHSTx3y84QPQYi1_aJXV13bX4TqE/w256-h320/rosemary2.jpeg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgzOElcDrl0X-VaNtyRrisL7VWcNx-T3SN637k_8kIwSNGS8cbmp0wcFdCztNkLAMKOflLIVsY50hkRoTcpVS5KfqH9Mm3FShyLujmw2LCEBrbjaL0uRSxrdtzfbjcHEkCNRUGGBOGJFyD-IHB5B0L82VReZ5lfdncI7Lf08OtiHFhmr8xjzt-v9d7Q/s1800/Rosemary.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBgzOElcDrl0X-VaNtyRrisL7VWcNx-T3SN637k_8kIwSNGS8cbmp0wcFdCztNkLAMKOflLIVsY50hkRoTcpVS5KfqH9Mm3FShyLujmw2LCEBrbjaL0uRSxrdtzfbjcHEkCNRUGGBOGJFyD-IHB5B0L82VReZ5lfdncI7Lf08OtiHFhmr8xjzt-v9d7Q/s320/Rosemary.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">9. Another Destin Thanksgiving in the books with a great pitstop at the Marianna Caverns. It was the biggest turnout we've had maybe ever! We were only missing cousin Jenna and Aunt Alicia. New baby Banner joined the mix to make this Coe family grow. Someone's gotta do it. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXgbCor-z5cXK3AGj0yV18SfkywpEpRU2u99Kf7PrSohxcbpGo9eGnTWv04itiYvmPgC64-UUKqI_b3Cws0puZtLaUu2bFbrg4fDy9veY-GTXGjy_XMRxIMb-LfurVX2oNhDgEqtMY9DqCUZAx6wxX4_omgCci-54wL-1qytEnbv3v0brXIyfEQiiBi4o" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXgbCor-z5cXK3AGj0yV18SfkywpEpRU2u99Kf7PrSohxcbpGo9eGnTWv04itiYvmPgC64-UUKqI_b3Cws0puZtLaUu2bFbrg4fDy9veY-GTXGjy_XMRxIMb-LfurVX2oNhDgEqtMY9DqCUZAx6wxX4_omgCci-54wL-1qytEnbv3v0brXIyfEQiiBi4o=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIuQ3ePsTLtaosGsxgT7_BYw8dLmA6CVp99dBeAjOoQy5SptvjeEmHtc6x3h3jRgyMiN0wQkTeMbZbSGZpoSaob1Lt8wRPvHFBpWS7FV5yqHEXcZgd9k8Xbf-MAIeImpv-0Itp1azsml_TqkVNbctTvoKteu13bO9yxPsqCryQRb4y4LeJjd23GoPE2I/s2048/Coes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="2048" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIuQ3ePsTLtaosGsxgT7_BYw8dLmA6CVp99dBeAjOoQy5SptvjeEmHtc6x3h3jRgyMiN0wQkTeMbZbSGZpoSaob1Lt8wRPvHFBpWS7FV5yqHEXcZgd9k8Xbf-MAIeImpv-0Itp1azsml_TqkVNbctTvoKteu13bO9yxPsqCryQRb4y4LeJjd23GoPE2I/s320/Coes.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>10. I did a race! That was a fun surprise. 12k at Guana #2. Apparently that's the only race I'll do (last one was in 2015!)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhPW928QzgQgpQEifuUN2Hqk1blbA8Mi3B3sVKOoS9hhW4A3w_V7eI5JVsUTFqzR4UYGTRcmPLEa22fkzpMM5g_AyS3miavVDpg3LHlH_sENtoHwDQ37weOyeHAWBHeqWcEJMyjatn4LG0vyTd_Xo8g6Ky9MW37lC4xrROXfDSoKBI0-4EbuuXVDrkstc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhPW928QzgQgpQEifuUN2Hqk1blbA8Mi3B3sVKOoS9hhW4A3w_V7eI5JVsUTFqzR4UYGTRcmPLEa22fkzpMM5g_AyS3miavVDpg3LHlH_sENtoHwDQ37weOyeHAWBHeqWcEJMyjatn4LG0vyTd_Xo8g6Ky9MW37lC4xrROXfDSoKBI0-4EbuuXVDrkstc=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br />11. A very scary birthday paddle for me in Geneva, FL I've grown up with gators all my life and never been so scared. I think they were extra massive after feasting on dead fish after their floods. And Dana also shared about how gators can jump up INTO the canoes!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0LQ7BjPC25JNXbOgpwA8ozX816TQPtFT4Sp9B2Rr7yB5zn5h4wGShEedt2JAKKosuzhWqIAZclb81ugd71MZyrGEOoRXMxyA656WyfJw7--EGcNIlU_jrQEh2NrU6_Va-sKRySe54W8PEi6JvnWAKxl3PDK7d6jDL9ZRPATGXowF7C4rUPx3epLKuCcY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="423" data-original-width="744" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0LQ7BjPC25JNXbOgpwA8ozX816TQPtFT4Sp9B2Rr7yB5zn5h4wGShEedt2JAKKosuzhWqIAZclb81ugd71MZyrGEOoRXMxyA656WyfJw7--EGcNIlU_jrQEh2NrU6_Va-sKRySe54W8PEi6JvnWAKxl3PDK7d6jDL9ZRPATGXowF7C4rUPx3epLKuCcY=w640-h365" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>11. We did another, less scary, kayak in March and camped with friends on the Ocklawaha River. We only made it one night for some reason and then wimped out and slept at my parents' house the 2nd night. haha That was a looong paddle. But little Vincey (like 5yo) just chugged right along with us. That kid did a 5mile hike in Oregon with us with no complaints too. He's a trooper. Oh and Dana and Martin announced their new baby on the way that trip!! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpe_zlUWVp7FrU8Z7sZaitdWWa84Xz2BrG-Sd-yT0yjTwjSDkixFx6ivzlCf_uOFJzhkg4AwjrotjBo8BJaOfZipJ7o9C-773gue6dDCBQjCjDkJ2-jPtk4nsdY3qweruznJnLbycHYNtNM3TGaAY2nvBqMXn7WE99Bz6FoMK6lyaApfTuETZZQ4XEcqE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpe_zlUWVp7FrU8Z7sZaitdWWa84Xz2BrG-Sd-yT0yjTwjSDkixFx6ivzlCf_uOFJzhkg4AwjrotjBo8BJaOfZipJ7o9C-773gue6dDCBQjCjDkJ2-jPtk4nsdY3qweruznJnLbycHYNtNM3TGaAY2nvBqMXn7WE99Bz6FoMK6lyaApfTuETZZQ4XEcqE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>12. Lots of good padre visits-- They moved just 40 minutes away instead of 2.5 hours so I can even pop on down during a work day to WFPH. (Work from padres' home). Enjoying more lunch/dinner dates, fabric shopping, hiking times... It's been great!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83odliEeowHkHy7KgZGijhYfy0p126W29dqKue0-siSQInpJnyV2_8qCdEPzxTkEwcQt7dQ6MPIcpyk7yMEhuA1MWC7CqgYOS61JeqFR77Tu0A8-uRE02ZepzfvMaDNQoF26nl4JTEE35yfO2ZPWeInmoL4RRST8NVi01H2Uxn3vnM2iKBmdlUhIW6rg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="838" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83odliEeowHkHy7KgZGijhYfy0p126W29dqKue0-siSQInpJnyV2_8qCdEPzxTkEwcQt7dQ6MPIcpyk7yMEhuA1MWC7CqgYOS61JeqFR77Tu0A8-uRE02ZepzfvMaDNQoF26nl4JTEE35yfO2ZPWeInmoL4RRST8NVi01H2Uxn3vnM2iKBmdlUhIW6rg=w358-h400" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alright now for the recaps: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">2020:</b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">1. I graduated from Jacksonville University with a Masters in Speech Language Pathology in April 2020. Covid had obviously just hit that March, but we ket our plans of packing up and heading out west. </p><p style="text-align: left;">2. Made our long awaited <a href="https://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2021/05/coast-to-coast-oregon-trail.html">journey to the Oregon Coast </a>in May 2020. </p><p style="text-align: left;">3. Had some fantastic visits in our new Oregon home: Krupkas, Chrissy family, my parents, Dylan's parents, Joe and Sarah (before their move to the West!), a Neptune Beach neighbor... </p><p style="text-align: left;">4. Introduced sweet Toulouse to the family. I think Hobie is grateful for his little brother and we certainly love this cuddly guy. </p><p style="text-align: left;">5. Due to the newness of Covid, we missed our East Coast family celebration, but got to spend Thanksgiving in Bend snowshoeing and enjoying a magical winter wonderland in Tumalo Falls hike. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZpsJsqK972MkYpinmpL1TioiNGC-JBasZETlYFPNnHXK0iV8PGZPfjDLL0Df3GdGwKVjrjyAzj9Mzzu8t97Y7PV9upMjZiJ7dnanxX97jZ1hILXNwMeHWAW_JOF_hRs-6srnHQAOBzFLGJ-YYM25OU3f4ug0fsCuE7mNB-FyxM6Wlzvc7QE0CF_qIQIQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="922" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZpsJsqK972MkYpinmpL1TioiNGC-JBasZETlYFPNnHXK0iV8PGZPfjDLL0Df3GdGwKVjrjyAzj9Mzzu8t97Y7PV9upMjZiJ7dnanxX97jZ1hILXNwMeHWAW_JOF_hRs-6srnHQAOBzFLGJ-YYM25OU3f4ug0fsCuE7mNB-FyxM6Wlzvc7QE0CF_qIQIQ=w520-h640" width="520" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">6. We camped under the Redwoods at Jedediah Sate Park. Toulouse's first hike as a wee one was this major park. :) </p><p style="text-align: left;">7. Got to see so much of the rural Oregon Coast and valleys, treating patients in their homes. Patients on dairy farms, Christmas tree farms... One Christmas I even picked out a tree at my patient's house and just threw it right in the back of the car after session. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2021:</b> </p><p style="text-align: left;">1. Had our newly West Coasters Kaila and Chad over for a Thanksgiving feast and of course hiking.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw6AaIDxQAb12kIYuEbiKstvt1yLGmy2lELO92harDYMw4th4lCGBbzdUaaj4Z5djsuMe6I5c-ZY5zv_aGZNiRNrOKNq43Ss45xr9GDg8k1Lz8cfKbr7n-tHes2x6MBLtBYG6Py4XMiaf9YCgd9d9f13oixZEEKVTooQNmsTmlYya2DoAMQZmcZNKRx9g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="928" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw6AaIDxQAb12kIYuEbiKstvt1yLGmy2lELO92harDYMw4th4lCGBbzdUaaj4Z5djsuMe6I5c-ZY5zv_aGZNiRNrOKNq43Ss45xr9GDg8k1Lz8cfKbr7n-tHes2x6MBLtBYG6Py4XMiaf9YCgd9d9f13oixZEEKVTooQNmsTmlYya2DoAMQZmcZNKRx9g=w323-h400" width="323" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">2. Fun Motorcycle exploring around BLM land, through vineyards, valleys... </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnhGD-XfAT_O3xTcsg7E3B2E9eZ_hWF8sjQMJdlieCD98bgFEjRGYGnDwb63m8DkEEdq9db1FPX6lCurANJf5-ugqNVNgumnov9beOLRyUCiz6iGD1cO5crVqOEvXW5P9ymVFjz4dJIZhnm5U1s5TuRerP3e07P7X3VJ17S5LUBaDc0C7dxxu90T7Uuxk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="851" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnhGD-XfAT_O3xTcsg7E3B2E9eZ_hWF8sjQMJdlieCD98bgFEjRGYGnDwb63m8DkEEdq9db1FPX6lCurANJf5-ugqNVNgumnov9beOLRyUCiz6iGD1cO5crVqOEvXW5P9ymVFjz4dJIZhnm5U1s5TuRerP3e07P7X3VJ17S5LUBaDc0C7dxxu90T7Uuxk=w565-h640" width="565" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">3.<a href="https://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2022/04/washington-birthdays-2021.html"> Epic Washingtons birthdays</a>, Dylan's to Badger Valley in the Olympic National Forest and mine to Hidden Lake with Chad and Kaila. </p><p style="text-align: left;">4. Got my CCCs (Certificate of Clinical Competence) for my job. Woohoo! I'm a professional! </p><p style="text-align: left;">6. Saw our best friends get married in November! </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1lcnuGBm1rAf-e4ujPJ5OkGoxZgSFX6Nb1NuwVl9wy14oQsCe0vT16tIxzgnbFJZ2SY4zBNwSeHE54Khvt4aA7Ei8wG_hmM5a3FZukrYKFr5yWPiQV8j0EjeGLGv9X6wloczWNPvPzYMHj3CuRQUi2SoryfVWQ_XuvPqmx-mqEqtnv0XMqmpo5anGZgo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="554" data-original-width="750" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1lcnuGBm1rAf-e4ujPJ5OkGoxZgSFX6Nb1NuwVl9wy14oQsCe0vT16tIxzgnbFJZ2SY4zBNwSeHE54Khvt4aA7Ei8wG_hmM5a3FZukrYKFr5yWPiQV8j0EjeGLGv9X6wloczWNPvPzYMHj3CuRQUi2SoryfVWQ_XuvPqmx-mqEqtnv0XMqmpo5anGZgo=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />7. Snowshoed in Bend in February. Wish I'd written about this one! This was Dylan realizing he could conquer the discomfort of his snowshoes and just take them off. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj59yEZviVbRdRzFrRG4lkyEezZr5E9N7tYjNZu2QGpwhhqguh8mjTMLvIKDZeOac_1jsITwD_x9LSGAaEry-xQBoL5qSlP1GjZaZERK0o7Xqu_VVet9tmlynDICaH9BTtu1LgQWQSzNtzw4PxTyOayXl5Y0VuErp8LH1-FAoOEO-u1sOllqvUKPcfe_qc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="844" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj59yEZviVbRdRzFrRG4lkyEezZr5E9N7tYjNZu2QGpwhhqguh8mjTMLvIKDZeOac_1jsITwD_x9LSGAaEry-xQBoL5qSlP1GjZaZERK0o7Xqu_VVet9tmlynDICaH9BTtu1LgQWQSzNtzw4PxTyOayXl5Y0VuErp8LH1-FAoOEO-u1sOllqvUKPcfe_qc=w568-h640" width="568" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">8. Ski trip in March to Colorado with the Ross crew. Our nieces put Dylan and me to shame! </p><p style="text-align: left;">9. Rock climbing with Dana and Martin in Bend was a blast. We got some hiking and a book club in too! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2022 :</b> </p><p style="text-align: left;">1. <a href="https://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2022/04/one-comical-ski-trip-mt-baker.html">Ski trip to Mt Baker </a>with Chad and Kaila. What a comical adventure that was. </p><p style="text-align: left;">2. Had snow in Pacific City that actually stuck for a day! Dylan even surfed in it. </p><p style="text-align: left;">3. Several fun trips to Portland throughout our time. I'd try to hit at least 2 parks each time I'd pop over there. So much to see! Laurelhurst, Mt Tabor, Council Crest, Washington Park, Forest Park... . </p><p style="text-align: left;">4. More motorcycle funs including a snowy roadblock keeping us from our French restaurant in Carlton. :( (2x we failed to make it to that area due to weather). </p><p style="text-align: left;">5. Amy Rubin came out for a wonderful visit of exploring the coast, spotting Orcas, experiencing Sportys and Portland neighborhoods. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIau2rT3tN2ArzEPRV1mOzaA45im_Q3nNPFcMkdrJeQAxvaULSq9w-mXrlAhNASIvX2nCX2pDnFBdP_N_weVowIrpck7h95XeYgtsaHUxGoxYpwv61p8Qb9mlDW02J6n7kKvKPxqwt51aBGTJ3J2uKR30G2x7gKdOYsgpfdr_AgQ-24ySZGYw6Cau-NRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="933" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIau2rT3tN2ArzEPRV1mOzaA45im_Q3nNPFcMkdrJeQAxvaULSq9w-mXrlAhNASIvX2nCX2pDnFBdP_N_weVowIrpck7h95XeYgtsaHUxGoxYpwv61p8Qb9mlDW02J6n7kKvKPxqwt51aBGTJ3J2uKR30G2x7gKdOYsgpfdr_AgQ-24ySZGYw6Cau-NRQ=w515-h640" width="515" /></a> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">6. Moved back to Florida in June 2022. And out best friends announced their first baby upon our first night arriving in Florida!</p><p style="text-align: left;">7. Had a challenging time finding the right job situation for me. Wound up with a great experience at UF outpatient working with birth-geriatric, learning <i>so </i>much. So grateful for that time. </p><p style="text-align: left;">8. Went from fairytale PNW forests to Florida palms hikes at Hanna, Fort Caroline, Talbot Guana... The nature has been a hard adjustment for us and especially the boys. Much less activities (other than biking around our cozy community which is a great side), but the beaches and trails in Oregon were just so epically stunning and remote and filled with wonder where everyone could run free too. Much less freedom to roam and explore here. </p><p style="text-align: left;">9. Celebrated Dylan's birthday in a beautifully picturesque Florida spring (Rainbow River). At one point we were floating backwards on our backs in crystal clear water with perfectly lush palms above, being pulled back out to the river. It felt like we were in Tarzan or something. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZBi91PtdN_isyzIerQN0sRdxnPJX62ygBCtQuNHfAj6L2Q--0BtTGFnD71HxWEI6Lr4Qi4ZzZKHT_NnufXYFTYcoqU0bR46lTxLCBgXOr0rNwhFJfFOnZFRTGCJz4ndChwDOhkme-5F2_EF1xk7BInD9JLvPdhzM4SjdpMY2GYreS2C6lMooV-xohy3w" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="903" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZBi91PtdN_isyzIerQN0sRdxnPJX62ygBCtQuNHfAj6L2Q--0BtTGFnD71HxWEI6Lr4Qi4ZzZKHT_NnufXYFTYcoqU0bR46lTxLCBgXOr0rNwhFJfFOnZFRTGCJz4ndChwDOhkme-5F2_EF1xk7BInD9JLvPdhzM4SjdpMY2GYreS2C6lMooV-xohy3w=w266-h320" width="266" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiycdjC7ZI90jY3DCPeXM6B13Pw0dN6xCS_XnEB9AHxgYR2IgsWBPUhF_7p41vV0L6Yy3nFNj5fDFj7drt9Kb7FLqo7UiyykgjjUQYOtBL8gyihUUhxThBsSFkqEJOL2y6l5vmJrERSqLz1y-K-AaBuFuheDmCRLyD9LmkKzcX8KZwgoL5X4g5sZuWXDNo" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="841" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiycdjC7ZI90jY3DCPeXM6B13Pw0dN6xCS_XnEB9AHxgYR2IgsWBPUhF_7p41vV0L6Yy3nFNj5fDFj7drt9Kb7FLqo7UiyykgjjUQYOtBL8gyihUUhxThBsSFkqEJOL2y6l5vmJrERSqLz1y-K-AaBuFuheDmCRLyD9LmkKzcX8KZwgoL5X4g5sZuWXDNo=w357-h400" width="357" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">10. A long awaited Thanksgiving with the family at Dennis and Aunt Dede's new house on the pond! Fishing and kayaking made it extra fun.</span></div></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-40989079772671016082022-07-07T13:45:00.000-07:002022-07-07T13:45:07.694-07:00Fairytale Forests<p> One of the things that has surprised me the most about Oregon is the fairytale forests on the coast. Before moving here, I think I had a vague image in my head of these coastal hikes being rocky, steep cliffs, and pine trees all around. You certainly get those sights, but these other ecosystems have been so magical and unique. A trail may start out with a woodsy area with spruce trees, cedars, alders, transition to neon green moss covered grounds and trees before reaching a whispy grassy meadow leading you to views of the Pacific Ocean down steep cliffs. Keep on trekking up through these wildflower fields up to reach another pine forest. That's Cascade Head. </p><p>Then Bob Straub State Park and takes you through these mossy forests with views of Nestucca River to the west and ocean to the east. You can make it all the way down to the river mouth to be greeted by some curious seals.</p><p>I think Sitka Sedge will have its images burned in my heart forever. One of my favorite places. You get to see tidal flast, saltwater marsh, forested wetlands, and on the beach see Haystack Rock to the south and Cape Lookout to the north. Going from these enchanted forests, crossing over the dunes to this beach almost always has me gasp. Sometimes you come out and it looks like a pastel watercolor painting, others it's vibrant blues and bright yellow sand dunes, others its the trademark Oregon mist. It's almost always a surprise. </p><p>In the fall, colorful, diverse mushrooms pop up all over these forest floors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DTrHZVa40gWv44KttBrmkHwoOFcs7mSek4EXdD3d19EkkzJdoyzQVxdvM63qm1xMWEyKBmidXjEFYme3UZs9byv43ipU01AsqxuQPN5QYYhzaAz36NQkUtj6sPIhrY4QfKqCrPFZwLER6OX0cMX24jryBStq9_8rlzMVic7mNYzNob41l56Evh90/s4032/IMG_9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DTrHZVa40gWv44KttBrmkHwoOFcs7mSek4EXdD3d19EkkzJdoyzQVxdvM63qm1xMWEyKBmidXjEFYme3UZs9byv43ipU01AsqxuQPN5QYYhzaAz36NQkUtj6sPIhrY4QfKqCrPFZwLER6OX0cMX24jryBStq9_8rlzMVic7mNYzNob41l56Evh90/w480-h640/IMG_9234.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLX5R4NFMcKNarUtEHYTFCFyNgf5D5g2KL0FQ7tY8lQTFyrQokIAE5Q1kts6mOxtke_ogzPty0LOs1JrrECZcU0ML9HbO24LI0jvMIyzClRq_Kx9fIlCcEtJJ5QH5xS-Aogv89dNMyVgdMVBEsXlEENJYo92ykvo8eB0Ah4VPQCx3fGXNIvicLgql/s4032/IMG_8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevl0WIMBpg0QZRjVvuT-k1XblP8z5vag8-im9XNBgy4NJJYYrpSbXJJmrkdosHx5dS5a5IXP47_RNVBYp5OayFzCX1z3X5tUTvQBsNqxeOwHVAk0sV9Pq7pz-qy9op_2kPntHiDXTngMsRqKrkzjZCQ3h23KZrtNFFHaLzuU-7XbGeFR-XNRzhsgd/s320/IMG_9230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-13779592643713982142022-05-05T11:48:00.042-07:002022-05-06T21:06:29.117-07:00Bayocean<div class="separator">One unique story out here is the story of <a href="https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bayocean-ghost-town-resort-tillamook-bay/">Bayocean</a>. The tiny strip or "spit" of land between the Pacific Ocean and Tillamook Bay. This little area sparked some investors' interests in the early 1900s and long story short-ish, (because click that link for deets), they built up this whole resort town with a hotel, fancy pool, bowling alley, tennis courts, dance hall... a full set up for such a tiny town. It sounded like a blast for the wealthy to come vacation here (with quite the excursion to make it here at that time with lack of roads, trains, boat troubles). The one name to share is F.D. Mitchell, the guy that put all his heart and soul (and investments) into this resort, only to have it totally destroyed by nature. The homes, hotels, store... everything is totally gone now. And it looks like this! </div><div><div><br /></div><div>The unfortunate thing is this F.D. needed a north and south jetty put in to protect the spit from the water coming out from the bar into the ocean and make boat passage easier. For whatever reason, (maybe these people just wanted his plan to fail) they agreed to building a north jetty, which caused <i>more </i>damage to the spit. When he pushed for the south jetty again, they instead added onto the north jetty... not what they needed. So, of course, it continued to degrade. The last house fell in 1960. Years after <i>everything </i>was gone and F.D. Mitchell had died most unfortunately in a mental hospital, they built the dang south jetty. And they very quickly saw the land start to build up again. A big palm to the face on that one. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Walking around this park I always try to take myself back and imagine this lively town of Bayocean, all the fun that people had coming to vacation and dance... Then to look up and see what nature can do. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXo5cHkxW2XuteDpVAtfEmslYfXnzPyeiT3P4XaNAAlaNMkVib2IG4KAb5Z5bl_Vs3K1Ul_D5iMPsz32zguzkZxKnG4tK3LnE6GrpP8RcAPL61BQhc4jugyfCJCVQj923_8smgf-Ah_MpzyKLasUxXcSq2Sslpl5ED6d-tVKctH3ifeWv5aYgDRiJ/w640-h480/IMG_1778.JPG" width="640" /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEvr7hsw4Hn_MVnaehmgVGcizVPb8xjaRP6xioSj_7tnl0VFHXVNcIs3VTAY7VXVC_jJQzeGjNm7w6oVRFIZPlNcWVba5efuGwAL5LKteIrCH0PvDQpgXTR2lkRR4Va-IDKRZxr8EUkERAPbf4ma5ap8LwekhJxXT75zI-w6D4FYGMeIb2vqMAtiM/s4032/IMG_1777.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEvr7hsw4Hn_MVnaehmgVGcizVPb8xjaRP6xioSj_7tnl0VFHXVNcIs3VTAY7VXVC_jJQzeGjNm7w6oVRFIZPlNcWVba5efuGwAL5LKteIrCH0PvDQpgXTR2lkRR4Va-IDKRZxr8EUkERAPbf4ma5ap8LwekhJxXT75zI-w6D4FYGMeIb2vqMAtiM/w640-h480/IMG_1777.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The store<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXo5cHkxW2XuteDpVAtfEmslYfXnzPyeiT3P4XaNAAlaNMkVib2IG4KAb5Z5bl_Vs3K1Ul_D5iMPsz32zguzkZxKnG4tK3LnE6GrpP8RcAPL61BQhc4jugyfCJCVQj923_8smgf-Ah_MpzyKLasUxXcSq2Sslpl5ED6d-tVKctH3ifeWv5aYgDRiJ/s4032/IMG_1778.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKas7g7g7-aBwXrOl_bpaoCutpLEUL3fbrYSkX7oQXygFj3p5eUinfnBT3DRStTR2-qd52jx7l57MYl21Q31nVTdcMX9E8zDMLPQD3VOelt_aSpU6q3c1hyRKeONDR4jIVxlDiQSEdKZFgTgDzm3oIeurV6FC9pJj_3jfI_S2HhSEs7uV6UXoA2MsK/s4032/IMG_1776.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKas7g7g7-aBwXrOl_bpaoCutpLEUL3fbrYSkX7oQXygFj3p5eUinfnBT3DRStTR2-qd52jx7l57MYl21Q31nVTdcMX9E8zDMLPQD3VOelt_aSpU6q3c1hyRKeONDR4jIVxlDiQSEdKZFgTgDzm3oIeurV6FC9pJj_3jfI_S2HhSEs7uV6UXoA2MsK/w480-h640/IMG_1776.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP6LiJacC_2Lzl60o_-s7cxzV6cyF5T1p69GQzR0_RlmIjSzrodWSV0Oz_dJ_USbbrJLVRxMTocHBIErWFIwd7NAT_vbOyIV346O9IdjPeIX7HQMF7lZ8js8AbswQK4sjUFQWqRXGXeiilWWUcF0yAgqFvILCfaONFdhQiET6r43FbcTVDS4Pr0jY/s4032/IMG_1774.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP6LiJacC_2Lzl60o_-s7cxzV6cyF5T1p69GQzR0_RlmIjSzrodWSV0Oz_dJ_USbbrJLVRxMTocHBIErWFIwd7NAT_vbOyIV346O9IdjPeIX7HQMF7lZ8js8AbswQK4sjUFQWqRXGXeiilWWUcF0yAgqFvILCfaONFdhQiET6r43FbcTVDS4Pr0jY/w640-h480/IMG_1774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div><div><br /></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-90243509309512564822022-04-14T21:05:00.100-07:002022-05-06T21:10:08.715-07:00Washington Birthdays {2021]<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">For both of our birthdays this year, we found ourselves in the wonders of Washington. </div><p style="text-align: center;">We celebrated Dylan's 37th with a trip to the Olympic Pensinsula with the first hike up to our campsite at Lena Lake. It was a beautiful hike and lake spot, but the camping aspect was not the most comfortable with two big dogs. Luckily we kept them out of the lake so they weren't two big, wet, stinky dogs. The next morning, we hiked on down and drove up to Port Townsend where we stayed two nights at the <a href="https://palacehotelpt.com/" target="_blank">Palace Hotel.</a> It was the cutest little room that we could've lived in. This little lofty apartment had a view of the Port Townsend Bay's ships and historic street. Its history was entertaining too, as it used to be a brothel, with the rooms named after "the girls." Port Townsend was quite a cute town as well with good walks, gardens, views and friendly kids. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo86SqX-LskydJ1VfVR0IjPntakrIQkTQ-hYCNFDT9DR1G2_JUoLvEsmYoym_QVRFteDXOsLQSTrzQsB63AMRBqyHh2-EE6yAMUhJG_x1kuRnCzw9fH7FgpesREl0Xf18Qt1eCysPoBo08Xxz39QbBkvj0tz7u1YV7MZmNXmlaiV-KfnIojueR9UN/s4032/IMG_7854.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo86SqX-LskydJ1VfVR0IjPntakrIQkTQ-hYCNFDT9DR1G2_JUoLvEsmYoym_QVRFteDXOsLQSTrzQsB63AMRBqyHh2-EE6yAMUhJG_x1kuRnCzw9fH7FgpesREl0Xf18Qt1eCysPoBo08Xxz39QbBkvj0tz7u1YV7MZmNXmlaiV-KfnIojueR9UN/w480-h640/IMG_7854.JPG" width="480" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv4o-ZZJqQbS8G2of61ar43kwiFfLBZEjqYd-72lzTYkZKm3iqCDwNu7slFfjKp_hMkdSdTYQgnIOU7_2YHr5rq1JdU-5N_tQ9hKmpDZJBYM9JKPJG2BXAMOzzR8SIycPB3NBZra6o-e1My6_kSbdtwnAxjMzF5ZASLhooqLyQhy8xAVoOBPV_0dy/s4032/IMG_0488.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv4o-ZZJqQbS8G2of61ar43kwiFfLBZEjqYd-72lzTYkZKm3iqCDwNu7slFfjKp_hMkdSdTYQgnIOU7_2YHr5rq1JdU-5N_tQ9hKmpDZJBYM9JKPJG2BXAMOzzR8SIycPB3NBZra6o-e1My6_kSbdtwnAxjMzF5ZASLhooqLyQhy8xAVoOBPV_0dy/w480-h640/IMG_0488.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGdI6YQexMbM_XKrbLyT116rbe6tp2ym-tFDUtO4wz4WR5HBlI-UPEHJ9ZCplUfb8PjAjOVX6EkMO5lj7P7UnGJrsiAhril14dYihC8OUynU7bL33xHIQUbBMA3tV3GXipFVzRsyKk9-6ag7cp1R7jrCHW5TOMnDFH6Lg5xJMA_wjtz8WYIR4tMYV/w640-h482/IMG_7850.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv4o-ZZJqQbS8G2of61ar43kwiFfLBZEjqYd-72lzTYkZKm3iqCDwNu7slFfjKp_hMkdSdTYQgnIOU7_2YHr5rq1JdU-5N_tQ9hKmpDZJBYM9JKPJG2BXAMOzzR8SIycPB3NBZra6o-e1My6_kSbdtwnAxjMzF5ZASLhooqLyQhy8xAVoOBPV_0dy/s4032/IMG_0488.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc65B3TWM2FSQXfvDnb2nc2mGsCafA8pfU-vbMAEbq8zZ3x8Ht6XRv2mQutV4STKaLhnnNmucUndFutsBJZaICWObYE63h0zauECrg5y9hyAp837vP3gkVOp11S5TskIQuoGxmf4VcVYgDfaWW11RLF6HPhhKKAT0SmgFwKqc1vaw3oA8XGad4G5Rq/w640-h482/IMG_7847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second day, we were awe-struck by our Badger Valley hike in the Olympic National Park. From the slightly scary dirt road down to the trailhead, to hiking these diverse mountains, I was just amazed. It changed so much from walking up through this dry area, up and around the Grand Pass with breathtaking panoramic views, heading down into the lush valley to see the honorary badgers, into the forests, then meadows full of wildflowers. Incredible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our error and admission of guilt is we took the dogs on this no-dogs trail for various reasons I won't go into. But unfortunately (and fortunately at the same time), a rule-following hiker sent us on our way back to where we started, unable to complete our hike. We were annoyed and shamed, yet also somewhat relieved, as we had taken an <i>extra </i>long detour that would've bumped our ~9mile hike like 12 miles? So he saved us some exhaustion I suppose. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AfJoahY_LeHpgt986sIflppq9dNpJ3qSkFEnu5SkDXuM5damiS9l1FnCtmj0vtCF-IVdU9STEhwIWA8oE0SYTnM3-4XUucYa9tqupmaM8Fs0hmQRGwuOqnFKxxuYtzTj5gT6LCk_YUby0LxfhxctVG6HXgcGr4y2olH-f7XiOS5ineuUJH_PAas_/w480-h640/IMG_0507.jpg" width="480" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7Yju80ssBpIRDzW_0Jc8Gy-ssnoD3UcdylGhmdz4qDtjGGdkRoi6LD1icDaDKM00S1jSEidVP5pthh7r02PLm4p4x3Zk8tR_OoBijbC48Re0QXkQUqbf99w_lTX3q6nxCg7PbwkjRVzxERv9bjrYW-tcYKyEAs_m0fAHZfW1-TGD1GaEZ1wjjnP9/s4032/IMG_7887.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7Yju80ssBpIRDzW_0Jc8Gy-ssnoD3UcdylGhmdz4qDtjGGdkRoi6LD1icDaDKM00S1jSEidVP5pthh7r02PLm4p4x3Zk8tR_OoBijbC48Re0QXkQUqbf99w_lTX3q6nxCg7PbwkjRVzxERv9bjrYW-tcYKyEAs_m0fAHZfW1-TGD1GaEZ1wjjnP9/w640-h478/IMG_7887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yagPoDiU8WL7UcHtlllRGOlXR5kEOh9JlNDfQfqi9Vzv4AX7QiiNpICJH1_zgCBECMuoEB8p80CekOoM64zL8Ejl-X0cskz83QLZE_lJvpeqNVygFsGezuIkdaHv8OEBDm0qF06444qUCoRsG1MqH3CzFPkVJqAa4b7YteNvUBcNSlIlrr2SyjRw/w480-h640/IMG_7921.JPG" width="480" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyECiCTwoB5J0Xr5fwg9JHbKTfhcQf_jCfzZM2Qlt8o2-qxw4eJSTF8GS_p2v5j4IqQlaNKkS44AYhqbbjuGntzNCD88M94eTp6qS10bR9huActW6Gy-ykOq7qRNIizcDswYz8FGs7VvG64d_fXYlY-7fEH8GnRnlD21WVVy-dEixpbOV4p4a3-x1/s4032/IMG_7896.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyECiCTwoB5J0Xr5fwg9JHbKTfhcQf_jCfzZM2Qlt8o2-qxw4eJSTF8GS_p2v5j4IqQlaNKkS44AYhqbbjuGntzNCD88M94eTp6qS10bR9huActW6Gy-ykOq7qRNIizcDswYz8FGs7VvG64d_fXYlY-7fEH8GnRnlD21WVVy-dEixpbOV4p4a3-x1/w640-h480/IMG_7896.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-RZcg9OzvlR2fUvNfT3SU0umyZ29YZUpSuHBvBEx8aqkujJ_VqwFQPDS-E2DwoG58uZAxOrvcHpypBwO2V7ya4nWFvZ4NJvqBlSANejw5Gq-rAqR6EIZeI0qNF3oqXl-YMpRyN9lqrDRi4NXlcqzClNeTjMQAd-foKLUBsVaEvEDCeQdBNDA58yT/s4032/IMG_7908.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-RZcg9OzvlR2fUvNfT3SU0umyZ29YZUpSuHBvBEx8aqkujJ_VqwFQPDS-E2DwoG58uZAxOrvcHpypBwO2V7ya4nWFvZ4NJvqBlSANejw5Gq-rAqR6EIZeI0qNF3oqXl-YMpRyN9lqrDRi4NXlcqzClNeTjMQAd-foKLUBsVaEvEDCeQdBNDA58yT/w640-h480/IMG_7908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The rest of our trip was spent exploring the little town of Port Townsend and slowly making our way back home around the Peninsula. One of my favorite moments on this trip was stopping off at Lake Crescent for a little driving break on our way home. Had it not been for the guy up the shore that shared the pleasures of his swim, we would've let our over-analyzing adult rationalizations take over and miss the wonderful experience of diving into this crystal clear, chilly water with mountains around. One of the most memorable of all, really. Unfortunately don't have pictures of that spot. </span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>For my 32nd,</i> we headed up to Seattle to stay at Kaila and Chad's new place. I was detemined to see fall colors and a Washington mountain lake hike, so Kaila and I did not let the boys pursuade us against it. It was a fantastic hike that went from woodsy, foggy forests to the anticipated fall colors, up to slushy areas with snow up ahead, snow covered sections, and finally, past these slushy ponds and knee-deep snow, we reached the Hidden Lake. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our crew had some skeptisism we would even make it there based on the returning hikers and the confusing trail that just kinda disappeared. But I ran ahead, determined to see this darn lake and finally caught a glimpse, waving to the rest that their efforts were not wasted. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We made it to the Hidden Lake and it was gorgeous. The extreme wind at the top changed our original plan of eating lunch by the lake. But we oohed and awed, got our photos, stared some more, then sloshed and slid our way back down. Dylan zoomed on ahead so fast I was confused. He must've been doing some ski maneuvers down the mountain. </div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZg4l3cHqi8hRvumWQFAmUMvGFfUS8kFctREt1kc2o5vDch1KFaB0gHJfxerFcqu0RVMK7mRZUKXEsHwzlHF9k2Dzhl7c8Zw79CvVS0QeFCqPkFvd6h_CPTImeXdV1YrtIlPOQuLG14pczYtENwcqNukW7VXeCcFll1uqcKz0Kts1_wEoNVVdtGmb/s3088/IMG_9097.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZg4l3cHqi8hRvumWQFAmUMvGFfUS8kFctREt1kc2o5vDch1KFaB0gHJfxerFcqu0RVMK7mRZUKXEsHwzlHF9k2Dzhl7c8Zw79CvVS0QeFCqPkFvd6h_CPTImeXdV1YrtIlPOQuLG14pczYtENwcqNukW7VXeCcFll1uqcKz0Kts1_wEoNVVdtGmb/w640-h480/IMG_9097.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWzYLAd9RYNbYiyH6NcpFeXiP5iUMpR-XYWt9IFO1sYpzBLCPVqdb8eo1USkW11Ikh3kPsGcUx7m3sn-3SluKz5YqhnNKLFO0n57jHZzqadONDTTqK9ljda_Tr9nsiTtbzlf4TY2TCKoRE8-YAt0-aIY0N5nKVd3OlQFqE6jQ_9ZsvSHASfulQoC8/s4032/IMG_9021.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWzYLAd9RYNbYiyH6NcpFeXiP5iUMpR-XYWt9IFO1sYpzBLCPVqdb8eo1USkW11Ikh3kPsGcUx7m3sn-3SluKz5YqhnNKLFO0n57jHZzqadONDTTqK9ljda_Tr9nsiTtbzlf4TY2TCKoRE8-YAt0-aIY0N5nKVd3OlQFqE6jQ_9ZsvSHASfulQoC8/w640-h479/IMG_9021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAiTNWITUcUetWdpSPh4JWPY6aTaWOZCvxxxpO6l0ZlPybLi7spbn3Iy6Cx2ZeOc4A_bZBp3hZ8RsqYOjBxZOH6UVRcg3P0-SouRNEQdJel6fpdsjJISB8ZtN0dMwF60YrKMDBVYQySII9KlTHcdiu9F-0vQMRRN8rTZbhkEsX-mv7VBAsv40IqvD/w640-h481/IMG_9101.JPG" width="640" /> <img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6U6MipTOhfSUSTMYeIZX5v2a1cgySgPlRLhOkt_loriceOpxjlfjw5pZlUMw8hXJB4VEj75RJnxrxPnu4RBEU-hPyXDWRIMLrjSFktnQbgFyH3d7Ca7MS1YfXxd8PML_HBWc8uplm9mWtiDzg2-yQ7TAHJFvlkDO_IbowUgpCUhGenhDiGLomTKY/w480-h640/IMG_9053.JPG" style="text-align: center;" width="480" /></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ct5f_tVauK8ZXTQWouqOdAsjxxjEu-XrK9CbN8HgJLl4W1wkxk7jdIgbrGmbyFiJJgoF8bKtLlBYAWEE6Z457A78NYocIbJ--TK_j5wmyU2ruYNDBK8kXdICWGLbLqcUcfZza29yT9FbIzwc_2K3IjmpELbjdPzHexEVoX5eYb9Vc94DoJkXxdzw/s4032/IMG_9079.JPG" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ct5f_tVauK8ZXTQWouqOdAsjxxjEu-XrK9CbN8HgJLl4W1wkxk7jdIgbrGmbyFiJJgoF8bKtLlBYAWEE6Z457A78NYocIbJ--TK_j5wmyU2ruYNDBK8kXdICWGLbLqcUcfZza29yT9FbIzwc_2K3IjmpELbjdPzHexEVoX5eYb9Vc94DoJkXxdzw/w640-h480/IMG_9079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Thanks for the solid birthday trips, Washington. You're pretty spectacular.</span></div></span></div></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-35728838385314174562022-04-10T20:45:00.010-07:002022-04-11T21:17:08.363-07:00One Comical Ski Trip {Mt. Baker}<p>Well hello, all! Remember back in May 2021 when my goal was to write a post a month? Here we are, 11 posts behind. BUT I think I've <i>actually </i>gotten the motivation now, folks. I've got a slew (?) of posts written and saved in drafts to grace your eyes in no time. You just wait. You can read all about our Washington birthdays, our Fairytale Forests, visitors' escapades, the peculiar story of Bayocean, Portland times... it's coming.</p><p>So thanks to friends, Kaila and Chad, we made it on a skiing trip in January 2022. We were all booked for a lovely stay in Leavenworth, lift tickets purchased, dogs booked for their stay to just drop off for the weekend. It was just all so convenient! We were set! </p><p>Then the snow just kept on falling til the roads were closed to the mountain and resort, foiling our whole plan! We had a late, complicated night of 6 people trying to coordinate a new last minute plan. The crew came up with and followed through with a trip to Crystal Mountain the next morning. The Ross-Kennedy clan? We just couldn't quite muster up the energy. Was it 3am we were supposed to wake up? After staying up til 12am? And leaving the dogs for 12 hours with no good walks? We just couldn't do it. So we stayed back and wandered Seattle for the day with a fancy breakfast at <a href="https://thefathenseattle.com/" target="_blank">The Fat Hen</a>, a stroll around Green Lake Park, an apocolyptic downtown walk that kinda ruined our stoke, but at least lead us back to a relaxing afternoon at their house.</p><p>You know what we did the next day? Woke up at 4am and headed to the damn mountain to ski! Our little non-4wheel drive CRV made it to Mt. Baker and it was great... Comical, goofy, and nearly cut short due to some silly mishaps. We started off just feeling so awkward, falling around, losing skis... I don't think Dylan or I have a whole lot of patience when a sport doesn't just come too natural. </p><p>The top of the top from this day was shortly after feeling like the "Jerry with the colorful backpack..." Dylan went to sit down on the ski lift and one of his skis just popped right off. <i>Then </i>he noticed his ski pole somehow broke in <i>half</i> in this debaucle. So we're riding up the lift, one ski, 1.5 poles, waving the lift worker down to show her this unfortunate setup. She stopped the lift, Dylan hobbled off and got his ski from Chad that rescued it behind us. He then proceeded to ski down the mountain with this fantom pole, making me laugh everytime I looked over to see this incomplete movement. If I'd been confident (and warm enough) to pull out my phone for a video I would've. </p><p>At the bottom of the mountain, we were nearly ready to give up, ditching skiing altogether, but luckily Dylan got some optimism and motivation, rented some new poles and we were back at it. After some good laughs about the ridiculousness of the last couple hours, we wound up having a blast and gaining enough confidence to put skiing back into our future plans.</p><p>The only picture we got...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh195pBismXzrkAh0mw4kBqG3LpPfy0r9jRItlx95gjlwyHmuXo6umfdMzbPsmKMSKM0QrgmKfBjiYeRgd8KbOSYNUER-y3OrvrafmXut85OfmJuGEqvAcSdtQx0bf2rEZOxDoYicC4YDsn939CJ64jKI2Pz7hVKnNgYQLoaDVtavqAzRVzDs3ZQbOX/s3088/IMG_0348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh195pBismXzrkAh0mw4kBqG3LpPfy0r9jRItlx95gjlwyHmuXo6umfdMzbPsmKMSKM0QrgmKfBjiYeRgd8KbOSYNUER-y3OrvrafmXut85OfmJuGEqvAcSdtQx0bf2rEZOxDoYicC4YDsn939CJ64jKI2Pz7hVKnNgYQLoaDVtavqAzRVzDs3ZQbOX/w480-h640/IMG_0348.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-34379160848876585612021-05-16T19:35:00.011-07:002021-05-16T20:48:13.755-07:00Oregon Anniversary {1 Year} <p style="text-align: left;"> <span> </span>It's been a year since our arrival to our new west coast home and here's my first update! I just found a draft from October where I vowed to myself I'd write a monthly update and here we are. And now I have the task of summarizing a whole YEAR. How to cover it all? <strike>"Plan some themes for a couple different posts? Organize your thoughts? ... </strike>Just start writing and figure it out?" Let's do this. You can<a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2021/05/coast-to-coast-oregon-trail.html" target="_blank"> click here</a> to read about our roadtrip out here (also 1 year late), and you can check out <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bartko84/ ">Dylan's flickr for more pics. </a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WBl_ZFUuM95ykTAk3Cai-QSHOtYL8NysSS_gS3afJT5JwCw88R9WehD_sjFpV0aecAlri3XrSjfsMZqT1mULUXV9SQKQIW76VcZLsiXxBgmfJVMSOIJblAPBvfcLUlaPI-fC-4-J3io/s2048/116550110_10222843215884308_3770971141194250015_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WBl_ZFUuM95ykTAk3Cai-QSHOtYL8NysSS_gS3afJT5JwCw88R9WehD_sjFpV0aecAlri3XrSjfsMZqT1mULUXV9SQKQIW76VcZLsiXxBgmfJVMSOIJblAPBvfcLUlaPI-fC-4-J3io/w300-h400/116550110_10222843215884308_3770971141194250015_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Oregon Arrival </u></span></b></div></b><p style="text-align: left;"><b> <span> </span></b>On May 15th, 2020, we saw our first signs for Pacific City. We drove through national forests, by picturesque rivers, on one way bridges, until we spotted the big old ocean rock in the distance (Haystack Rock), and drove up to our little blue house. We were kind of skeptical before arriving about what the town and house would be like-- exploring Google maps before had given us some doubts, but both were better than expected. We enjoyed setting up our first house<i> </i>just the way we imagined- had to invest in a few more pieces of furniture after our studio living... hellooo, comfy couch. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Our "village" has only 1,000 people. When I drove passed a sign the other day that said "Population 15,000," I said, "Wow! This is a big town!" Pacific City's known for their Dory boats and Cape Kiwanda. The coast has seafood aplenty with crab, oysters, rockfish, cod, salmon, clams... We still haven't gone clamming yet, but you'll see people pulled over on the side of the road, walking with shovels and buckets in hand in the bay areas diggin up clams. The beaches, as we were just reminded on our anniverary hike yesterday, are so<i> </i>rugged and secluded. We don't always think about the uniqueness in being able to walk for miles on the beach and be the only people there with rugged dunes, cliffs, and capes all around. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFCqFsNkkGzkYuJknHfj7UeOqLHYsW3XWOsorgURomMY6UDIn-CAU313L8uimm56xrBaQ1DKKxcDI5PbaRI8x0gOLar_XwKJUwcalwxcZxO9mlNDVC9h_QM2nF49r6AXtiuPxXbrySMA/s1080/97859310_10222082636510299_7466756143939846144_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcr5NjWmrI34urqp657tI11unMR60Dc-MSEdYh0BQYnfYJ1ZJ3HNjxvezUsZApEY4i3jmeBL_iR3qmEpAsr5kjz2bWdmpL_IZ92uUsU2st2Zky1a4Ye43sQ3cQbD1GQEUskxxQ-1_S6Ao/s1080/98443872_10222110775893766_5391419214844133376_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1080" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcr5NjWmrI34urqp657tI11unMR60Dc-MSEdYh0BQYnfYJ1ZJ3HNjxvezUsZApEY4i3jmeBL_iR3qmEpAsr5kjz2bWdmpL_IZ92uUsU2st2Zky1a4Ye43sQ3cQbD1GQEUskxxQ-1_S6Ao/w320-h254/98443872_10222110775893766_5391419214844133376_n.jpg" width="320" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GEuBPEGARDosiuXG7OuonFg7jQEMHf3WPkRgSEiLmJr2iqGxJJmZ3J6bar3eGb5WD64Y3YWZTDMgmh7-rehoh4Sx-ikTMULL7co-QLJklshqspe2qmLO40jzxUBTvKo8JQwsZ0SoU9E/s1171/117305772_10222933653345188_1558758115171148676_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="937" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GEuBPEGARDosiuXG7OuonFg7jQEMHf3WPkRgSEiLmJr2iqGxJJmZ3J6bar3eGb5WD64Y3YWZTDMgmh7-rehoh4Sx-ikTMULL7co-QLJklshqspe2qmLO40jzxUBTvKo8JQwsZ0SoU9E/w256-h320/117305772_10222933653345188_1558758115171148676_n.jpg" width="256" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Trekking along </u></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyS3S3Xjn5sJnYsGj1zQOPP0qk_gQJY26McRRRf2O1ZX7OJKAks13lGCJ4pie1RR6XFvm3F0NEgJ-JrhlLL6ANPuHKhu1kWXyKJafyq655fm8b1ohByKSh8CF31lvbP-kX4ZCrHEx5As/s1440/141992556_10224236870684807_6398722019188902383_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyS3S3Xjn5sJnYsGj1zQOPP0qk_gQJY26McRRRf2O1ZX7OJKAks13lGCJ4pie1RR6XFvm3F0NEgJ-JrhlLL6ANPuHKhu1kWXyKJafyq655fm8b1ohByKSh8CF31lvbP-kX4ZCrHEx5As/w320-h240/141992556_10224236870684807_6398722019188902383_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>The hikes here are endless and gorgeous. Two places nearby are Bob Straub, Sitka Sedge, and Whalen Island that we frequent often. These, along with many, look like fairytales. One is even called Hobbit Trail with good reason. Bright green moss cushioning the trees and covering the ground, funky shaped limbs that make you imagine ittle gnomes and fairies scattering about. All different kinds of mushrooms popping up... You find yourself in wonder often. I even found a surprise hike right out of our house the other day! I was skeptical of the "coastal hikes" thinking they'd just be flat near the ocean, but you can walk through dense forests and mountains and on down to the ocean in one hike. </div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5FllSggIHxr41QWENe-aF2F_MgYhQSCs800Czr4kD5qCs7L6ZWAB9YpvxcK4fZyFQ7NWf7kfItYlbKVxmgoDzv2VtXZEe4l85FsMk4FikKbF93-keFql0ZAEYXe4jEu1iOWa-CAChFQ/s2048/50212651717_a048e59f7d_o.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5FllSggIHxr41QWENe-aF2F_MgYhQSCs800Czr4kD5qCs7L6ZWAB9YpvxcK4fZyFQ7NWf7kfItYlbKVxmgoDzv2VtXZEe4l85FsMk4FikKbF93-keFql0ZAEYXe4jEu1iOWa-CAChFQ/s2048/50212651717_a048e59f7d_o.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Our first experience with Redwoods was in Jedidiah State Park where we camped with the tent top open to see the giant trees. Our blooper on this trip was not taking enough food on a hike and waiting for <i>way </i>too long at a thai restaurant, getting max hangry, opting for burritos instead... Dylan's sucked. Grumpy moods continued and hindered our stargazing views on the river. We had a much brighter, happier next day luckily.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyAUvjKdeO0LBfRAv5IMrTCKtKfxXlHZByS9CsGMAyXehf-NnOz422lFifuBckc8ZIOCZpyEmkEw-VYS4yUQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5FllSggIHxr41QWENe-aF2F_MgYhQSCs800Czr4kD5qCs7L6ZWAB9YpvxcK4fZyFQ7NWf7kfItYlbKVxmgoDzv2VtXZEe4l85FsMk4FikKbF93-keFql0ZAEYXe4jEu1iOWa-CAChFQ/s2048/50212651717_a048e59f7d_o.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5FllSggIHxr41QWENe-aF2F_MgYhQSCs800Czr4kD5qCs7L6ZWAB9YpvxcK4fZyFQ7NWf7kfItYlbKVxmgoDzv2VtXZEe4l85FsMk4FikKbF93-keFql0ZAEYXe4jEu1iOWa-CAChFQ/s320/50212651717_a048e59f7d_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Mosier Plateau in Columbia River Gorge</span></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Work Life </span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Found my dream job. Speech-language therapy is fantastic. I get to work with kids from little tots to adults at 81 meeting in their homes, parks, and farms, and work on all kinds of speech and language difficulties. It has been so rewarding. Driving is exhausting, as I work mostly in Salem (1.5 hours away), but at least I get to drive through national forests along the river and one way bridges? My supervisor is fantastic and I couldn't ask for a better first job as an SLP. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Dylan's job has been an interesting change from Mayo, with more "west coast" style emergencies it seems- fish hooks in hands and eyebrows, gaff hooks, logging injuries... also lots of alcoholism apparently. But pretty good gig for the most part it sounds. </p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Visitors</span></u> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span>Two neighbors from Neptune were actually our first visitors last June. Then we had brother Chris an fam, the Krupka family, Mom and Dad, and Joe and Sarah from my crossfit gang 2x... Mom and Dad gave us good luck with a giant gray whale spotting in Depoe Bay. Chris and Liesl brought the whale sightings at Cape Kiwanda, and Adaleigh brought me camping adventures in our backyard. Christina and Evan brought our elk friends on our Cascade Head hike. Dana and Martin brought us wildfires... thanks guys! ;) (Also obviously fun times with this crew). Joe and Sarah brought us no animal sightings I don't think, but good hikes and tasty seafood delights. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga33rMHQZRSyjVhfkP2frqXzR2660ZrW0MJWB-qSwbrDce6DfwkoBTsxR8RYGU9xp1fXgopftA08Wa8-9f9B_Ke9j7yAAeLxyT9Vzb-qjUV4lXdMjCcInbkEiYWDwKUyli5W_mHJXY-YU/s1440/122702541_10223535096460890_8132200346408892576_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga33rMHQZRSyjVhfkP2frqXzR2660ZrW0MJWB-qSwbrDce6DfwkoBTsxR8RYGU9xp1fXgopftA08Wa8-9f9B_Ke9j7yAAeLxyT9Vzb-qjUV4lXdMjCcInbkEiYWDwKUyli5W_mHJXY-YU/w320-h240/122702541_10223535096460890_8132200346408892576_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKCmhBYVNbUOpYPnMMYzAwfCFSJamCe4b0-F8YFvz6nx9VKRY5C_JElpElYanL1aS93DzItVDWYP0Jg3-KZE_rCyYLALk_m6O7k_VNZaRfdmm9qEm3YzdHxwFpCtSAr_tOW0S6D6bqTU/s2048/IMG_1095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKCmhBYVNbUOpYPnMMYzAwfCFSJamCe4b0-F8YFvz6nx9VKRY5C_JElpElYanL1aS93DzItVDWYP0Jg3-KZE_rCyYLALk_m6O7k_VNZaRfdmm9qEm3YzdHxwFpCtSAr_tOW0S6D6bqTU/w320-h240/IMG_1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P4bmjnACOP1Memap5PcSX7EPx7cu4h56krBq8-gwEouJSJUc4N-TCSHBhBlwoFkL34uIo7nW5NsyLqPDesVq7GvEuTxW-Dmwt2TJwY8G2bjQ4EikoKZgdTVuXURiZ71QQKuH0AM1OnQ/s1440/122866229_10223535010818749_7379482431087889966_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1440" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P4bmjnACOP1Memap5PcSX7EPx7cu4h56krBq8-gwEouJSJUc4N-TCSHBhBlwoFkL34uIo7nW5NsyLqPDesVq7GvEuTxW-Dmwt2TJwY8G2bjQ4EikoKZgdTVuXURiZ71QQKuH0AM1OnQ/w320-h241/122866229_10223535010818749_7379482431087889966_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3sLfGtBkz2Rn61OYPuPnyaPYJcqK8dzQm44EDLs3nHMD7uoYergMZW7laGav_S5pjTN9gJBoN20AaMUnb1TlgyBmJGnfvF5kXb-7zRN1VX_xaA5oNl6_6lINZ_3Xh2apCenlcq7fBuw/s1440/122878648_10223535010618744_3051982354539081804_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1440" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3sLfGtBkz2Rn61OYPuPnyaPYJcqK8dzQm44EDLs3nHMD7uoYergMZW7laGav_S5pjTN9gJBoN20AaMUnb1TlgyBmJGnfvF5kXb-7zRN1VX_xaA5oNl6_6lINZ_3Xh2apCenlcq7fBuw/w320-h241/122878648_10223535010618744_3051982354539081804_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I cannot find any pictures with Joe and Sarah, but it happened. </div><p><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Bend</span></u></b></p><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCogRCDqYytdAdoSy6Aljuf-2o1KAosueubCcD-ucUzYsHcVnjOUVpPCZC04P6rSnHSnxdTK4PjaUhgk7FTgKyIkkD1eUqOzVXpiGU5ciUBoIqKYcwW1pmQhuIcEcd5ZbBshLY2bPXLFo/s1800/131213112_10223891950822026_4798215794117490076_n.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCogRCDqYytdAdoSy6Aljuf-2o1KAosueubCcD-ucUzYsHcVnjOUVpPCZC04P6rSnHSnxdTK4PjaUhgk7FTgKyIkkD1eUqOzVXpiGU5ciUBoIqKYcwW1pmQhuIcEcd5ZbBshLY2bPXLFo/w256-h320/131213112_10223891950822026_4798215794117490076_n.jpg" width="256" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">We've gone to Bend two times now, once for Thanksgiving weekend and once to </span><strike style="text-align: left;">cross country ski </strike><span style="text-align: left;">snowshoe- skis were all rented out.We hiked Smith Rock State park and Tumalo Falls the first trip. Tumalo was a </span><i style="text-align: left;">winter wonderland. </i></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p>Our blooper on our second Bend trip was that Dylan sleepily told me he would grab my hiking boots while I had my hands full. Once we got there, we discoverd no hiking boots, only my All Birds. Now I had already been in a bad mood for other reasons (dog stresses), so this was like the haystack/needle/insert appropriate idiom. But we got to snowshoeing and my spirit returned. Dylan found it was more comfortable to just hike in his boots. </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPntZQPBvEV09UunmFAQqWbG5VryeU507OqXVWxhd6okVAj1DQH064UCdrrk_CtM6fKE6xGx6-BX0uzvTWuQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Colorado</u></span></b> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span>We took a last minute, quick trip to Colorado to visit and ski with the fam. Mom got to come up too, so it was an excellent trip. Man, Adaleigh just zooms <i>right </i>on passed you down those mountains and Chris is an extra speed demon. Dylan and I really enjoyed the "Family Slow Zones." In typical Chris (and my) fashion, we squeezed in hike and lunch in Boulder before our flight home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7vciK38TPw9hHK1hw-oxqZtBfNOppRPXMH6WN2ykVAR6d8Y9ogaaJsJF2XSoKSyjZOBELuel2Lwf36RtapCIrmtGT1XS6db41KracnorVnKKHr5uOq94hctABe2Ab1Og5c0sUATe3uE/s1440/158432615_10224593581402352_387109419441562261_n.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7vciK38TPw9hHK1hw-oxqZtBfNOppRPXMH6WN2ykVAR6d8Y9ogaaJsJF2XSoKSyjZOBELuel2Lwf36RtapCIrmtGT1XS6db41KracnorVnKKHr5uOq94hctABe2Ab1Og5c0sUATe3uE/w303-h227/158432615_10224593581402352_387109419441562261_n.jpg" width="303" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ34tiqgPS52rmv0yFw0aNRg5-gUe4-WDteWekyK7PrjBJ8JllunxAzTxXb7aMUDi58OtVOy0qqP7gYDXNRoJei0lnSedklXSyFBQzArqvxlqCzV88PnAdNemBnbHjFbnxoRtnWRI8QCg/s1794/158499272_10224588531276102_4821930295764274688_n.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ34tiqgPS52rmv0yFw0aNRg5-gUe4-WDteWekyK7PrjBJ8JllunxAzTxXb7aMUDi58OtVOy0qqP7gYDXNRoJei0lnSedklXSyFBQzArqvxlqCzV88PnAdNemBnbHjFbnxoRtnWRI8QCg/w257-h320/158499272_10224588531276102_4821930295764274688_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Social Life </u></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">...is lacking<i>. </i>I think I've actually developed some social anxiety, folks. I used to easily walk myself into a bar, cafe or wherever alone and chit chat with whoever. Now I think things like, "Should I ask if they're comfortable with me joining their group?... what will I talk about? It's already been a year since we moved so I can't use "I just moved from Florida" as an easy talking point... That's old news... What do people talk about with other humans?" I think moving to this small of a town would've already had a its own bit of apprehension with joining people's friend groups, but with the added weirdness of spreading a virus? </p><p style="text-align: left;">Going from the lively Neptune Beach to here has also been quite a change as well where I may go a couple days without even seeing neighbors on walks.</p><p><b>Tide Pool Haiku (this makes sense to put right here, right?) </b></p><p>What's this all about? </p><p>Purple spikes, green goo, starfish </p><p>Tidepools <i>are </i>legit!</p><div><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Portland</span></u> </b></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf5t3XysCjNE8Hdumit17t7f1yfZF1ICiqPDY6_5ssYFS8w5tX5KWzqn2Z48_G6jNkYQgF9mCxNTxwiFLbbaQQD0bcgapMEUaTAFGiEaW7YQ5ITa7yFSs7_22WQoCWam6p-ZaIPpb5Uk/s2016/IMG_5937.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf5t3XysCjNE8Hdumit17t7f1yfZF1ICiqPDY6_5ssYFS8w5tX5KWzqn2Z48_G6jNkYQgF9mCxNTxwiFLbbaQQD0bcgapMEUaTAFGiEaW7YQ5ITa7yFSs7_22WQoCWam6p-ZaIPpb5Uk/s320/IMG_5937.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span> <span> </span> </span>I love Portland. As with many cities that we visit, some of our first expressions were "Man, I think we could move here! This place is great!" This held true with our first time here, but are repeated everytime I go. So many fantastic parks right in the city, restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating, beautiful and colorful victorian homes, sweet little gardens and friendly neighbors chatting about. Yeah, there's areas where the downtown streets are lined with homeless people's tents, and I guess the protests going on, but we never saw them, and we haven't experienced what the residents have, but it certainly seems pretty darn great. <span style="text-align: center;">I </span><i style="text-align: center;">will</i><span style="text-align: center;"> have this wisteria on our future home!</span></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Motorcycle Ridin'</u></span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> </span><span> </span> </span></span>Well this has been unexpectedly fun. Wasn't stoked on the idea at first, but it's given a new perspective when riding through our area smelling the Tillamook cows (one time got behind a truck literally filled with cow poop falling out with every bump), hearing the rivers rush by, and driving up the BLM roads. The other day I hopped on not knowing where we were going, and we just rode for an hour and a half from our coastal town, passed the farms, along the Litlte Nestucca river, no one else on the road, through giant Christmas tree forests, then saw vineyards popping up! "Where <i>are </i>we?" I wondered, as I felt no understanding of my place in space. We arrived to the little town of Carlton and sat outside in the sunny weather for some tasty dins, walked around the small town checking out the restaurants and wine tasting spots. We shall certainly return to that quaint little spot. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1RAkzsMOhkjAdKH3CkGLOw8wYNcdeF4ERgZ-EPmpdMPMOyfZpH_49K0EuQGADXMGmLiLZphCDEewT5Cl8w3iWAtnliU78mHii-hSQSUbNUcbKTcMKFHrCGBAI2nYMe5RTrZ10Yg3qPA/s2048/50157811897_2a198ae8c4_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1RAkzsMOhkjAdKH3CkGLOw8wYNcdeF4ERgZ-EPmpdMPMOyfZpH_49K0EuQGADXMGmLiLZphCDEewT5Cl8w3iWAtnliU78mHii-hSQSUbNUcbKTcMKFHrCGBAI2nYMe5RTrZ10Yg3qPA/s320/50157811897_2a198ae8c4_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Surf Report</span></u></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span>You will have to consult Dylan for the surf report, and if you do, do a little qualitative research to get a good idea of the waves. Sometimes I get a "Man, the surf here is so good!" "This is so much better than Florida surf!" Other times I hear disappointment. Sometimes the waves break great, other times they close out, are mushy, funky, they "throw you..." I'm not entirely sure the overall verdict here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Seasons<br /></u></span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">"But it's so cold and rainy!" so many people said when they heard our plans of moving out here. Well that's only kinda accurate. I guess depends on who you ask. But here's your weather report comin' at ya from the Oregon coast.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Spring</b>: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>-</i> The blooms! It's blooming here! Our backyard has bright yellow trees, purple bottle brushes, and red blooms aroud the fence with purple _____, piece lillies, and a fig tree next to the house. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Salem has certainly been a beaut to enjoy the colorful parks. Between sessions I've been squeezing in walks/jogs at Bush's Pasture Park to run through foresty meadows <i>surrounded </i>by purple camas flowers. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Wonderful sunny, cool weather (40-65)</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Cherry blossoms in Salem and Portland </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Summer</b>: </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Berries on all the trails. Blueberries, raspberries, salal, huckleberries, cloud berries...</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Green green <i>green</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">- Bonfires on the beach every night </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Perfect temps only up to like 70</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Horse poop all over the beaches :( </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br />- Our first summer was a wacksadoodle summer with bizarre weather patterns with super dryness, extra wind, wildfired <i>spreading. </i>The Krupkas had come all the way to visit for a whole week, but wound up cutting it short so they could find somewhere cleaner to <i>breathe. </i>What a glitch in their trip! Our skies turned foggy orange, our skin felt tingly walking outside, surfers still went out... </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eN828M7oa3GSkDLVsHiPSfd4kdOlepwzkSKDxPg1cN8JMrfzkjkwbYyojyujVYvV9hCT53UUqlJ8Sh6u_ycQMcd374mcvEeTTcu449aF2FvPSi8ZHj87-fcY78I3dCbttQ69kkp0S9A/s2048/50211850658_8490c8dcab_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eN828M7oa3GSkDLVsHiPSfd4kdOlepwzkSKDxPg1cN8JMrfzkjkwbYyojyujVYvV9hCT53UUqlJ8Sh6u_ycQMcd374mcvEeTTcu449aF2FvPSi8ZHj87-fcY78I3dCbttQ69kkp0S9A/s320/50211850658_8490c8dcab_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_vSF7TU8kB2hXiZs1Jo8RqJ9deOO6-4HS5vwyBBfPzlKMbbU_SuRN7wjY95v_nPeQqnuevC3B4ESP3pXYqwusTITt2AbRc6GFUc09ZEYP2G6tBtOc2E0qgzn1LsAj6Hs7zvdzWmkEGY/s2048/IMG_1775+%25281%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_vSF7TU8kB2hXiZs1Jo8RqJ9deOO6-4HS5vwyBBfPzlKMbbU_SuRN7wjY95v_nPeQqnuevC3B4ESP3pXYqwusTITt2AbRc6GFUc09ZEYP2G6tBtOc2E0qgzn1LsAj6Hs7zvdzWmkEGY/w320-h240/IMG_1775+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWe68W6jJSTbgLvs36BNGoYNOBUdVo8_KUnPOki_dOX-zOlO5AMSUt7CSuDV0WpSlsU8QmNvdb5xXmQlczsiHqHory0Bn7cuRh05yMJd9nJ2C65gKtanpPJ-XbeQGNTcXIwCf3xqLlJ0/s2048/IMG_1793+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWe68W6jJSTbgLvs36BNGoYNOBUdVo8_KUnPOki_dOX-zOlO5AMSUt7CSuDV0WpSlsU8QmNvdb5xXmQlczsiHqHory0Bn7cuRh05yMJd9nJ2C65gKtanpPJ-XbeQGNTcXIwCf3xqLlJ0/w400-h300/IMG_1793+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stayed in Newport (1hr south) when Dylan's hospital evacuate to there. Hobie and I had some weird walks aroudn with max foggy skies and scary seals noises on the docks. Warfs? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of our favorite hikes, Cascade Head last June</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVwE4wIDlUUdhTUxprQZdUif1LCMNB8PjKAfgypt0Jef9O98JQwi8CEslRtOdFm9eEy9u6bWbilkZer8BuLA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Fall</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>- </b>Leaves actually do their thing here! The coast didn't have as much colorful foliage, but driving into work in Salem was always a head turner. Streets lined with all fall's glory, views from patients' hilltop windows of all the colors...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was around the same Cascade Head hike in November</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwiB6CgqZBbks7rudEp1nqtnOrSHrbrx8yaqlHK9LOItMgCjD6xrYzb6KdDSJs9C7S-kGcRlyh3vFE708wbSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Winter</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>- </b>Sunsets at 4pm made us laaazy. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Storm watching </p><p style="text-align: center;">- Took advantage of the cozy weather with candles, decorations, warm beverages... </p><p style="text-align: center;">- A lot of restaurants shut down for winter breaks (double whammy with Covid)</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Probably more fun with friends. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- It snowed on the beach! Dylan was actually surfing when it started to snow... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlYUr3098X66vfonuS3S3aQgdbW0NgVZGTIamDOACbD9noaSfmpcp9YZQvO981NLGZl24boHIjXsCPJ5Sbt5igQIS_-L1eU-0f_D9cFWt4E3gZRCj1xLzuXcbuZVbreba-FrCo2Ie_3Q/s750/185699638_214066390280663_7088055361754782430_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlYUr3098X66vfonuS3S3aQgdbW0NgVZGTIamDOACbD9noaSfmpcp9YZQvO981NLGZl24boHIjXsCPJ5Sbt5igQIS_-L1eU-0f_D9cFWt4E3gZRCj1xLzuXcbuZVbreba-FrCo2Ie_3Q/w400-h300/185699638_214066390280663_7088055361754782430_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiah9b6Io2vNVIDc6v4d_wS-edS2X2EExzrCjWO1fWM9JrGPhx2NzlodE66Y11qjn_DkSH6zDwDgIiq3-HA5zAOGFI70TIYAVfgy21h39oAuTUtgZ81Q0WMLcarZor-MJH5i-VLqmAGCQ/s2048/IMG_3648+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiah9b6Io2vNVIDc6v4d_wS-edS2X2EExzrCjWO1fWM9JrGPhx2NzlodE66Y11qjn_DkSH6zDwDgIiq3-HA5zAOGFI70TIYAVfgy21h39oAuTUtgZ81Q0WMLcarZor-MJH5i-VLqmAGCQ/w300-h400/IMG_3648+%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loaded that cute little Christmas tree right into my car from a patient's tree farm after session</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Storm watching at Cape Falcoln </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='309' height='256' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyh0qmWmuN5tvNEvudd-aVgV2-EKM7AA3LwuyqrzLN6uyICHG3aq2ze1q7w143cunihtZhS8hdqH4Ss2xlPuQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Weather Conclusions: </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>- </b>Winter didn't get <i>so </i>cold here, but it certainly stays a good amount of chilly and windy.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- Socks, sweatpants and sweaters are pretty much always cozy in the house. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- "Always. bring. the rain jacket," we repeated numerous times before heading out for hikes. </p><p style="text-align: center;">- We don't burn our feet and paws in the summer! Big win.</p><p style="text-align: center;">- "Let it rise in a warm place" means "get out the space heater."</p><p style="text-align: center;">- "Room temperature" does not mean the same thing as Florida's room temp- we can leave the butter out and it doesn't melt away! Coconut milk turns into coconut cream.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The wiiiind... This is at old Bob</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='390' height='324' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyey0smDfcFQgi1J5qp6UqBorXkXniR_9WI3rk4KwA-7q1pU0kVQg9fsNdeL4evpxPkOVJPezKURhZKhjgJAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Oregon Conclusions: </u><span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hiking: 10/10 </div><div style="text-align: center;">Nature: 9/10 (docked for logging scenes. pretty sad looking)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beaches: 9/10 (docked for horse poop and allowing cars on the beach but otherwise totally stunning scenes_ </div><div style="text-align: center;">Abby's job: 9/10 (commute is only downfall) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dylan's job: 8-9/10 </div><div style="text-align: center;">Housing market: baseline 9/10, currently 1/10</div><div style="text-align: center;">Social life: 1/10 </div><div style="text-align: center;">Family/friend missing meter: Significant impairment</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh here's one crazy beach. The one with the tidepools! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyS_wG9J8QPl6m3vZV0chDuVKUn8fuLmY9sbYILiyTdl4s37gEVdpw_CwanSeM9O4E-IUFnMl8Bef9z0wzh8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That may be my most ridiculous post yet. Maybe I'll give a monthly update from now on? For mine and your sake?</div><div></div></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-79300487377922817922021-05-16T19:15:00.008-07:002022-04-11T18:06:35.965-07:00Coast to Coast Oregon Trail<p>Neptune Beach, FL --> Gainesville, FL--> Apalachicola, FL --> Dothan, AL --> Natchez, MS --> Austin, TX--> Santa Fe, NM--> Colorado Springs, CO --> Telluride, CO --> Page (?), AZ--> Park City, UT --> Boise, ID --> Pacific City, OR! </p><p><span><b>Our Oregon Trail </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk83fHJQQTTVa9GRw-jh50CclyRrfjM6mrn0wqAUoGdPmaj0BiYJqeFEIkznUg_bGvvyhFz4qUdvx2HVvmb25DmPWMKKvlGklCkoZZD6oWvbxLACn8cQSdTL8lABdYh897iy8jo6YQjs/s2048/IMG_20200504_174723_Original+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNk83fHJQQTTVa9GRw-jh50CclyRrfjM6mrn0wqAUoGdPmaj0BiYJqeFEIkznUg_bGvvyhFz4qUdvx2HVvmb25DmPWMKKvlGklCkoZZD6oWvbxLACn8cQSdTL8lABdYh897iy8jo6YQjs/s320/IMG_20200504_174723_Original+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p><span> </span><span> </span>Last May, we spent 18 days traveling across the States during the weirdness of the pandemic to get to our new home on the Oregon coast. Most places were very shut down so we were getting lots of takeout, wondering strangely empty streets, "living the yuppy condo life and ordering Grubhub" at an Airbnb in Texas... Certainly not ideal for our big plans, but it was fantastic nonethess. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5IXDlCD7M8g7LoBKosRkz_od_MoRuMpwpJIKmrvkFdtjRLiW3xlSfu-0PfpFK-qGwbqc6kqk1EpdI6sZ75tTx6yaDQsh0Re8jwZdHdZg9l53hhefkDeKHJSqQisenLG0iLQUmCx1IxY/s1440/pa+and+grandma.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5IXDlCD7M8g7LoBKosRkz_od_MoRuMpwpJIKmrvkFdtjRLiW3xlSfu-0PfpFK-qGwbqc6kqk1EpdI6sZ75tTx6yaDQsh0Re8jwZdHdZg9l53hhefkDeKHJSqQisenLG0iLQUmCx1IxY/w320-h240/pa+and+grandma.jpg" width="320" /></a>We started off with a quick visit in Apalachicola, FL, a town special to my Grandma Jeanne, on the way to visit Pa, Grandma, Dennis and Dede for a few days. Got to take Dylan to their old farm and farmhouse on Coe Road (our family name) that is actually still dirt. Excellent visits with them these days.</p><p>Natchez, Mississippi (I almost forgot a p!) was a sweet surprise. Old southern feel like Savannah and Charleston, yet a look all its own. Our airbnb host is one to remember too with her historic home and super positive, amiable presence. Fun history of scandal and dirty characters in this town. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ms8NvYxLiRexgkyH2qJMEUns0fFIM_BVludC5Br3poha7YQKYSjyr35_Esu_ZKuxli48GvfaA0i9QPUdac4Cx6zlka4G70khGVdHtDGsjyHhPjznlIfrPGdb2VVoJ8oNLaSqqSiyn1o/s2048/50113754626_0978a34ae2_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Austin" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ms8NvYxLiRexgkyH2qJMEUns0fFIM_BVludC5Br3poha7YQKYSjyr35_Esu_ZKuxli48GvfaA0i9QPUdac4Cx6zlka4G70khGVdHtDGsjyHhPjznlIfrPGdb2VVoJ8oNLaSqqSiyn1o/w193-h288/50113754626_0978a34ae2_o.jpg" title="Austin" width="193" /></a>"I bet Austin is super fun without a panemic," we said several times while exploring. Spent <i>all day </i>walking around in 90* heat. Hobie was not meant for this-- he kept telling us it was too hot and we'd rest and then keep going before realizing it actually burnt his little paws! Thanks to the Colorado River for cooling us off along the way. Could imagine living here sans the miserable heat. So many people hanging out in the parks, by the river, kayaking, biking... very active city. </p><p>One of our favorite places was Santa Fe for its perfect sense of place-- adobe homes with lilac, yellow, and aqua-trimmed windows, rolling hills, picturesque New Mexico colore skies, hiking trails right out of the homes... unique little place.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcPHXtJlh4KnT2-Fv0zzD4zYHXuM9YkhGeMkecARINs-nLRkT8pOGyMYXQE4_OZh9KHGzsyn3xtBKaTtJb7oBJjrcftoJKs96tUhyphenhyphenVN04ZJxRUvyaMscw0a7LGjRgI1a4NdhGS_bZOCg/s2048/80FC0A8C-3CEF-4DE8-AA63-B82F879EBAEE.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcPHXtJlh4KnT2-Fv0zzD4zYHXuM9YkhGeMkecARINs-nLRkT8pOGyMYXQE4_OZh9KHGzsyn3xtBKaTtJb7oBJjrcftoJKs96tUhyphenhyphenVN04ZJxRUvyaMscw0a7LGjRgI1a4NdhGS_bZOCg/w296-h222/80FC0A8C-3CEF-4DE8-AA63-B82F879EBAEE.JPG" width="296" /></a></p><p>We stayed several days with Chris and Liesl in Colorado Springs with Garden of the Gods and Eagles Peak hikes and Red Rocks Open Space where Carlia discovered her passion for rock climbing and Chris taught us to eat ants. </p><p></p><p>Telluride had me saying, "Let's move here!" Then their real estate had me saying, "Who in the world can afford this?!" Oh, we traveled back in time 2x on this trip, once in Aunt Agnes's home in Alabama and once in the 1979 cabin in Telluride that has not been remodeled since. Tile-patterned carpet in the kitchen and all. Both pretty interesting experiences. We were a little scared in the cabin, but that's a whole story I think. </p><p>Somewhat comically and perfectly consistent for Dylabby travels, we stayed at a Navajo reservation in Arizona only to find out later that they had some of the highest rates of Covid at that time. Oops. Didn't check that news in time. Hobie enjoyed playing with their pups while we walked around their Arizona canyon lands. Dylan, in typical Dylan fashion, enjoyed chatting with the son of our host about their culture and his life plans. On our way there, we got a little lost and had a fantastic Native American couple stop to ask if we needed anything. We tried to explain we were "looking for our Airbnb" to which he let us know "you're on a reservation." </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MmvW0SFuqYi3xP9GK_-qoEwYMp62aG6stfrgTRQ4pJfRSG-mjcfSgJ3sBsLHLcEWMB_I1g1InrhFZDkeMCDDjW0xvEAPiyXd1Wc1bCBTaQyPViz_vVJIB8c2CVso7YlpjVXsfQ62MUI/s2048/50120294632_de045fb440_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MmvW0SFuqYi3xP9GK_-qoEwYMp62aG6stfrgTRQ4pJfRSG-mjcfSgJ3sBsLHLcEWMB_I1g1InrhFZDkeMCDDjW0xvEAPiyXd1Wc1bCBTaQyPViz_vVJIB8c2CVso7YlpjVXsfQ62MUI/w400-h268/50120294632_de045fb440_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>One of the most surreal parts of our drive was taking some BLM roads through Utah, finding some gorgeous farmland and ranches and even an airport in the middle of a field with cows ready to take off. One of those "where are we?" drives where it just had such a different look and feel than anywhere we'd been. Took a couple turn arounds when little CRV couldn't quite do the mud and dirt and I'm sure some, "never seen that car," before thoughts from trucks driving by.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA7tsmkc_XJ4CH1rIkHMyzt-PjLCXAUKfIojTiO7ODQldgIMcJgIV1eMzNXl2gsBZCA5_WkEredyW9MYjFZW9NAgGH0USzpbWVQfu0QIOjQ3ZwdE4EDw6IlgY8W2p6PnruH039fhPPk8/s2048/50120287677_f442576f04_o+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA7tsmkc_XJ4CH1rIkHMyzt-PjLCXAUKfIojTiO7ODQldgIMcJgIV1eMzNXl2gsBZCA5_WkEredyW9MYjFZW9NAgGH0USzpbWVQfu0QIOjQ3ZwdE4EDw6IlgY8W2p6PnruH039fhPPk8/s2048/50120287677_f442576f04_o+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA7tsmkc_XJ4CH1rIkHMyzt-PjLCXAUKfIojTiO7ODQldgIMcJgIV1eMzNXl2gsBZCA5_WkEredyW9MYjFZW9NAgGH0USzpbWVQfu0QIOjQ3ZwdE4EDw6IlgY8W2p6PnruH039fhPPk8/w400-h268/50120287677_f442576f04_o+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Bryce and Horseshoe Bend were absolutely stunning. Thanks to Covid, we didn't have to pay for Bryce <i>and </i>we were one of the few couples at a typically packed Sunset point. <i>No </i>thanks to Covid, Zion was closed, so we'll see you <i>next </i>time, Zi-man. Stayed at a sweet couple's Bed and Breakfast here where we enjoyed hearing about their experience getting into the ranching life and hand-stitching quilts on their rocking chairs.</p><p>From there, we went to Park City and stayed with Bree, an old neighbor from Neptune that had recently made her big move too. Hiked their PC Hill and had some tasty pizza with her friends that made us want to join their friendly adventure crew. Boise was next where a vegetarian cooked us burgers at Good Burger, I thought it was ok to just drink the to-go beer on our walk (that is what to-go is, right?) and watched some surfers on their river wave. Boise was particularly strange at this time, I thought. super quiet streets. No cars. Bizarro.</p><p>The last day was Boise to Pacific City! Drove through deserty eastern Oregon, stopped at our first dine-in restaurant on the whole trip, then drove on through national forests all the way to the Pacific. </p><p>Despite the hinderances Covid caused, it was still an epic roadtrip we'd dreamed about and still look on as such a unique time. Roadtrippin' is quite the adventure.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrCgPiyuQE5KZVXe8_GCledW-pP_L39Hvrkbhl8UTtDzhrP__lWLSDUrnmdvBUBD4UYyjDgQmE7N2AyeUirk6egTA8tzxzXWjIcnQlweuUa03rgRQS-GjHzBwGJ4GVeDEegtdCOnr5cA/s2048/50113761846_cce03db9e1_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrCgPiyuQE5KZVXe8_GCledW-pP_L39Hvrkbhl8UTtDzhrP__lWLSDUrnmdvBUBD4UYyjDgQmE7N2AyeUirk6egTA8tzxzXWjIcnQlweuUa03rgRQS-GjHzBwGJ4GVeDEegtdCOnr5cA/s320/50113761846_cce03db9e1_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPYya_DBjzurbB50rYfVFGByhmp8-uaazmqRWXgIG9T0Y6FIigolafmGGVfHO9PwR0t9hMEbqzgZZ4JZjDN1oKOkgY-3mHV1qftcGQ__atCtPP5P1dy6YHQBD_iKrZTjPHcvOoBva504/s2048/50113994712_b00c35f77a_o+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPYya_DBjzurbB50rYfVFGByhmp8-uaazmqRWXgIG9T0Y6FIigolafmGGVfHO9PwR0t9hMEbqzgZZ4JZjDN1oKOkgY-3mHV1qftcGQ__atCtPP5P1dy6YHQBD_iKrZTjPHcvOoBva504/s2048/50113994712_b00c35f77a_o+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPYya_DBjzurbB50rYfVFGByhmp8-uaazmqRWXgIG9T0Y6FIigolafmGGVfHO9PwR0t9hMEbqzgZZ4JZjDN1oKOkgY-3mHV1qftcGQ__atCtPP5P1dy6YHQBD_iKrZTjPHcvOoBva504/s320/50113994712_b00c35f77a_o+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time machine #1 in Alabama and Coe Road</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span>Natchez, MS (rhymes with matches)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxlV7cQi37GkKVGhcQhBhg14a_kAIEY8uQeg2f690R9XpOozoegcU15Ls5E5WFvrihxQTbNfLke1u00jswssdVITOHEUE1tFttLn_P0klg5ibscy_s7fUD_B8mQZ1gGrD9tXNMLAErmc/s4048/IMG_20200501_175621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxlV7cQi37GkKVGhcQhBhg14a_kAIEY8uQeg2f690R9XpOozoegcU15Ls5E5WFvrihxQTbNfLke1u00jswssdVITOHEUE1tFttLn_P0klg5ibscy_s7fUD_B8mQZ1gGrD9tXNMLAErmc/w400-h300/IMG_20200501_175621.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHy6qZn2onFPPnGTh6UsQEwVKbSxcXE1HLAAAnja7PEyAcMKHZI1QvPJ6DG8q1lOh7B0u3XqnSePJd0IJlpvxvoLMf5Xz8IN8pPzh1Q2e1nYnKl1Usz3ThExufy5_EijPjhylUiwFuFk/s4048/IMG_20200501_170036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHy6qZn2onFPPnGTh6UsQEwVKbSxcXE1HLAAAnja7PEyAcMKHZI1QvPJ6DG8q1lOh7B0u3XqnSePJd0IJlpvxvoLMf5Xz8IN8pPzh1Q2e1nYnKl1Usz3ThExufy5_EijPjhylUiwFuFk/w400-h300/IMG_20200501_170036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOOAidNcVcMLk6vgm3o9uDlKZaMclHFaFT6k3KCf2FWnL31hLJIUOZPUER37ilaLRuEyh62BowR97ropMLOI83IZWMQvIEpU17iV-Wh4ZWjKmM2UkyphENydUk4TEWT1AmtcGpU6TNyo/s4048/IMG_20200501_164040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOOAidNcVcMLk6vgm3o9uDlKZaMclHFaFT6k3KCf2FWnL31hLJIUOZPUER37ilaLRuEyh62BowR97ropMLOI83IZWMQvIEpU17iV-Wh4ZWjKmM2UkyphENydUk4TEWT1AmtcGpU6TNyo/w400-h300/IMG_20200501_164040.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Somewhere in Texas...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis56zix68-KZcD4MWH1GO7Xi1SpvG13f7RImsjPaCsgGYKrFf5OLfgEzEJ9n-tQDt0vt_9y_wMv00ff5HL-8TZGkqnZkY_6ysJwOa1O1ty42yA_F9-GZzw0n5M-Rm0Z19gteVTkTwhMU/s4048/IMG_20200504_180614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis56zix68-KZcD4MWH1GO7Xi1SpvG13f7RImsjPaCsgGYKrFf5OLfgEzEJ9n-tQDt0vt_9y_wMv00ff5HL-8TZGkqnZkY_6ysJwOa1O1ty42yA_F9-GZzw0n5M-Rm0Z19gteVTkTwhMU/w400-h300/IMG_20200504_180614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwJ_uQt-iIy0Qg_oIdtgeGIVBJbLOxHA4pPZkL2jdQt1s6qwyx7XX4yCKiugh0tknOoriyxho7D-K-uKPiy6Uin1BI5xs1guot9HPlcaf_9B7XBShx-H18ZWbq7KwF9NvCbhKTLV_e4I/s2048/50113181533_99fcbd9c8c_o+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwJ_uQt-iIy0Qg_oIdtgeGIVBJbLOxHA4pPZkL2jdQt1s6qwyx7XX4yCKiugh0tknOoriyxho7D-K-uKPiy6Uin1BI5xs1guot9HPlcaf_9B7XBShx-H18ZWbq7KwF9NvCbhKTLV_e4I/w400-h268/50113181533_99fcbd9c8c_o+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n7cxrg8bg0sSpthSTez7JhKp-AX3nq-07AbhC8TA2PnBbrOSJoLELCa_9iMQycFCMlSCSZ-nTNRsS3U7VO-a3ut4TbMFU-oywBYYez4zVtdogFyzVrJ0GSHX_kUmJR_PGgGQASQh5v4/s2048/50113752561_a2f5d4244c_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7n7cxrg8bg0sSpthSTez7JhKp-AX3nq-07AbhC8TA2PnBbrOSJoLELCa_9iMQycFCMlSCSZ-nTNRsS3U7VO-a3ut4TbMFU-oywBYYez4zVtdogFyzVrJ0GSHX_kUmJR_PGgGQASQh5v4/w268-h400/50113752561_a2f5d4244c_o.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>Got some darn delicious bbq at Big John's <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Santa Fe Babes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81F5c_UEyKaTgW5wRo3C946Q8IBnkcUtZibSyZXap9v21U1KwrSVZPfDdzy9shhHcWCwSexkf9ajuUdzmEmkwfjfpMNrpkhd-2GqSljrYf5vwIG4jiDyFbmAuXEN0ZdVHnyOEn0bkWZ4/s4048/IMG_20200505_095225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81F5c_UEyKaTgW5wRo3C946Q8IBnkcUtZibSyZXap9v21U1KwrSVZPfDdzy9shhHcWCwSexkf9ajuUdzmEmkwfjfpMNrpkhd-2GqSljrYf5vwIG4jiDyFbmAuXEN0ZdVHnyOEn0bkWZ4/w400-h300/IMG_20200505_095225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">The otherworldly Bryce and Horseshoe Bend (Blogger vs reality? I was probably curled over in pain from my worst preiod cramps ever after taking this picture trying to regain steam to keep walking) </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFa18Rz9GnXAA81ff2kyGOh_cDV0TxpdLM8vvAs9TJi_BJD4MLnDgHWj_x3j4TFf5-AcCPGHbVqhzmrcvPCdYPw6Ox5t3PXw8eoUB-pkvjVX-54Af6D1181CU02DUqJFKEr8T1cYRup0/s2048/50157514331_c4ff175c94_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFa18Rz9GnXAA81ff2kyGOh_cDV0TxpdLM8vvAs9TJi_BJD4MLnDgHWj_x3j4TFf5-AcCPGHbVqhzmrcvPCdYPw6Ox5t3PXw8eoUB-pkvjVX-54Af6D1181CU02DUqJFKEr8T1cYRup0/w400-h268/50157514331_c4ff175c94_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uVe7Jjv0K053xPURfcgZQdNCdc5_RlsWA5339Mr4Zxt_Vd-px4eer1wsJluew5Z8CGRB_Fl93zwHvAO7ixUgHkCRM1fa_eT_Hk4ahVDGzOMDbphE3ozvG9nDr3xwaXLNh1Ny8wR7MLE/s2048/50120291067_05cedca7be_o+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uVe7Jjv0K053xPURfcgZQdNCdc5_RlsWA5339Mr4Zxt_Vd-px4eer1wsJluew5Z8CGRB_Fl93zwHvAO7ixUgHkCRM1fa_eT_Hk4ahVDGzOMDbphE3ozvG9nDr3xwaXLNh1Ny8wR7MLE/w400-h268/50120291067_05cedca7be_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_vWI6erg5dI6xhUiL7rppt-FhMdFRZdLOVXFSQ4lEQEM5zuRoxCp81sZxwM6XSlnWLlocBWmLRosiKBrmNWzuZJUCC1PE267frWROu_n_bkTASuKrpMYL-8oCrC1oqEc9LgH_VcmI0o/s4048/IMG_20200511_100232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_vWI6erg5dI6xhUiL7rppt-FhMdFRZdLOVXFSQ4lEQEM5zuRoxCp81sZxwM6XSlnWLlocBWmLRosiKBrmNWzuZJUCC1PE267frWROu_n_bkTASuKrpMYL-8oCrC1oqEc9LgH_VcmI0o/w400-h300/IMG_20200511_100232.jpg" width="400" /></a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUMFW4OHrd8d6ILz7Qpw_lEEXKWDp5dZLfOHZHsy_8WerjOQelDX9EyUHkpxeqYRP7zPlL0W9iFTBrg5KdmvDVUYcWqdUE2aCMOQr80h71d-r7ogKzDta6DYGWJP-2fZVXFVRECKDMhQ/s4048/IMG_20200511_095538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="4048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUMFW4OHrd8d6ILz7Qpw_lEEXKWDp5dZLfOHZHsy_8WerjOQelDX9EyUHkpxeqYRP7zPlL0W9iFTBrg5KdmvDVUYcWqdUE2aCMOQr80h71d-r7ogKzDta6DYGWJP-2fZVXFVRECKDMhQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200511_095538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Park City with Bree</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kXeRw0Y9QKfYU_fZvt2YnzGs_XohvL-VFl6n2TG1u_7ssAAs8we7ylMvaEy5h3qILQGZXlVtyAh4OGW1M8YpSJvCfouDRozxM20Ed3bBJi0I50tst5cBAgIGmfmrL4-amUE3t2vJwg8/s2048/7A73D265-ED62-46E1-8C78-205AF37349D9-6658-00000300BFD227B6+%25281%2529.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kXeRw0Y9QKfYU_fZvt2YnzGs_XohvL-VFl6n2TG1u_7ssAAs8we7ylMvaEy5h3qILQGZXlVtyAh4OGW1M8YpSJvCfouDRozxM20Ed3bBJi0I50tst5cBAgIGmfmrL4-amUE3t2vJwg8/w268-h400/7A73D265-ED62-46E1-8C78-205AF37349D9-6658-00000300BFD227B6+%25281%2529.PNG" width="268" /></a></div>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-49655607474185491072021-05-08T11:25:00.001-07:002021-05-08T11:25:26.936-07:00France Summer 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Between spring and summer classes, Dylan and I decided to do a trip to France and it was <i>fantastic</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We flew in to Paris for 2 nights, took the TGV to Bordeaux for one night, then rented a car to drive southwest and all around including the cities of <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);">Guéthary</span>, Toulouse, Cazals, Tours, then back to Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Paris actually somewhat disappointed the first go-round. I had this romantic picture in my head of what it would be, as I'm heard a lot of people experience. It was certainly <i>grand. </i>Grander than any city I've seen. But it was a big city with lots of traffic... I should've expected this but for whatever reason I was picturing what Bordeaux actually wound up being- charming, romantic, pedestrian streets, flowers everywhere, more bikers, more dogs, lots of greenery... But I certainly enjoyed the strolls (even through the rain), people watching at cafes, and exploring all around. Returning to Paris at the end of the trip left me with a better impression; we stayed in a lively neighborhood, had more of an understanding of the French culture, and were getting our bearings fo the city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In Bordeaux, the tram tracks even ran through grass with tree canopies! We went to a bar where they were actually doing trivia about American music... We were <i>horrible</i>! We changed our names from something witty to "the terrible Americans."</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Trip Superlatives: </span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most stunning hike</b> (of maybe all hikes, not just this trip): French Pyrenees. We thought we made a mistake and got a family-friendly paved hike but after a bit of walking we came to the circuit de lacs that quickly became exactly what we wanted in a hike-- challenging enough, stunning views of snowy mountains, mountain lion tracks... We didn't get to see the lakes though actually because the snow got too deep and we couldn't see the trail anymore. We didn't get pictures of the prettiest area at the top, but every time I looked back I felt like I was in a dream. It looked so unreal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most unique meal: </b><a href="https://www.le-c-guethary.com/">Restaurant Le C's</a><b>: </b>hake fish with berries on top and pureed beats on the side. Not to mention the restaurant was like in a (big) tent on a cliff overlooking the ocean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most delicious dessert (</b>that I will be replicating): Cobbler with apples, apricot and chocolate at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrunchEtGoutThe/">Brunch et Gout The</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most unique church I've ever seen: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Arantzazu in </span>Oñati,<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Spain. We drove here from <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);">Guéthary</span> "on our way" to the French Pyrenees and it was totally worth the detour. It had the wildest exterior that came off as quite harsh and intimidating, then a simpler, naturalistic interior with beautiful wood all around and abstract stone art at the altar. It was so different than the typical gold, elaborate Catholic churches. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most charming drive: </b>driving from Spain admiring their ancient villages along the hilltops, through a 10 minute tunnel through a mountain and coming out into the French countryside of rolling, lush hills with sweet little farms, bright blue lakes... We just wondered what life was like for the people here in medieval times and now. Are they all friends and have dinner parties and bonfires together? Do they keep to themselves? Where do they get their groceries?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most comical night</b>: Getting lost from Spain back to <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);">Guéthary</span>, stopping off at a McDonalds to ask for directions... Dylan said, "you do all the talking, I'm already to angry (and is even worse at French than I am). We go up to the cashier and immediately when I start to ask for directions, Dylan goofily chimes in saying "Guthry?" Cashier responds, "Mcflurry?" Oh goodness. No luck there. Then I asked some ~13 year old girl that was watching the spectacle if she spoke any English---<i> </i>I asked this French girl in <i>Spanish </i>if she spoke English... It was very confusing going from French speaking France to Spanish <i>and </i>Basque speaking Spain. At least that's my excuse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">While I was asking some other family enjoying their Big Macs for directions, Dylan was outside asking some dude and offered him a ride for his help. He went to get his bag, we went to the car, then took off. Sorry guy!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Most memorable hotel stay: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hotel Marienia<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);">,</span> an old Basque mansion from the 19th century with so much history in the surfing community. Our room had a view of the ocean, the downstairs dining area was filled with surfing pictures and art from the 70s. Plus an added bonus of our sweet, reserved French surfer host whose sweaters we admired each day. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Guéthary</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> was a lovely little town in Basque country, which we learned has their own culture and (the oldest) language. Simple, clean white buildings with navy, red, hunter green, or black woodwork on the buildings. At first I thought they were kind of bland, but looking back, they stand out the most. I have such a clear picture of driving through these villages. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We almost went back here later in the trip, but chose to check out some new cities that were more on the way back to Paris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most enjoyed days: </b>family time with Aunt Cyndi and Mick in their most charming little town. It was just lovely. Beautiful sunny days with wisteria and poppies all around, beautiful stone buildings, wine tasting, traditional lunch at the auberge, fresh bread and desserts from the bakery across the street, homemade meals, canoeing on the Don___... But most importantly the sweet memories made with my family. I heard so many great stories about my family, especially seeing how my brothers and me are like repeats of my dad and his siblings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Most difficult adjustment: </b>lack of breakfast and vegetables. For the first several days, we were thinking that the French simple didn't eat-- we'd see coffee and croissants for breakfast, then nothing throughout the day besides more coffee, beer, and cigarettes. Then the meals we found were mostly meats, cheeses, and bread. Finally we learned the French eating routine, but I was still missing my eggs and fruit breakfasts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Poorest packing decision</b>: no coat. high 40s-low 60s means you need a coat. Noted.</span>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-66829241693482356762020-08-31T22:22:00.002-07:002020-10-26T20:54:57.142-07:00Blueberry Buckle Recipe Don'ts<p> <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7985/blueberry-buckle/">https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7985/blueberry-buckle/</a></p><p>Here are some good ol’ recipe DON’TS I learned while baking this blueberry buckle. </p><p>#1 Don’t assume it’s 2 CUPS of flour like you’re used to with cookies and breads. It may just be 2 TABLESPOONS. </p><p>#2 When it says “warm butter,” don’t heat it up til totally melted on the stove.</p><p>#3 If you just can’t wait for butter to warm naturally by sitting out and do the don’t in number 2, at least don’t put it in the freezer to “cool off,” because you will forget it and you will get frozen butter, and you’ll be putting it back on the stove to warm back up. But maybe try on LOW and actually watch it this time.</p><p>#4 Don’t be too cavalier about flour. It will get everywhere. </p><p>#5 Don’t give up. I poured my eggs and sugar mixture into my two heaping cups of flour and thought, hmph that just doesn’t look right. Do I need more milk? What is this supposed to even look like? After checking the recipe again and thinking surely SOMEWHERE it said 2 cups. I couldn’t have goofed that bad. “Cup” and “tablespoon” don’t look anything alike. They even wrote out “tablespoon” so I couldn’t even get away with similar length confusion. </p><p>But I did not quit I washed those two dirty bowls and spatula, warmed some more butter (only mildly more careful the 2nd time around), and redid the whole darn thing. Well minus the topping at least since I hadn’t gotten quite that far. </p><p>And it was darn delicious. There would’ve been a picture but I plated it tooo quick. </p><p>Good luck fellow bakers. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-30244006670089387352020-01-03T18:41:00.002-08:002020-01-03T18:45:26.510-08:002019 in Review<div style="text-align: center;">
I should at least be able to write 1 blog a year for a review, right? If not for you guys, at least for future me to remember all that happens in just one year! </div>
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So 2019 looked a little like this...</div>
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Started the year hiking and roaming Asheville with these cool cats during our New Year's NC trip. </div>
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Completed my first 3 clinical placements with grad school and they were all fantastic working with sweet kiddos, patients with aphasia (my new passion) and a variety of other adult speech-language disorders.<br />
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Celebrated our <a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2019/03/anniversary-adventure-year-2.html">2nd anniversary</a> in a muddy canyon in Georgia. Check out Hobie's legs!</div>
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Went on the dreamiest road trip around France and Spain with Dylan and got to visit Aunt Cyndi and Mick in their sweet village, Cazals-- There's a post in my drafts that maybe y'all will get to read soon. </div>
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Checked North Dakota off of <a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2019/11/summer-2019-dorothy-coe-visits-all-48.html">Grandma's bucket list</a> in a memorable road trip with family.</div>
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Enjoyed a quick NC mountain trip staying in this cabin and teepee with Babe and Benton.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8n2TVRjWv_1V2QG86Qf4JuYv9FWG2MHN5kFvaLiWc-kyl2Xil4Lz2596mC1t6ZBE9wMfGE1VKWbTVT3C7e6Tdr4taNkh7t9dOlX85fLVPkBNjVmgzKrm2BsRWVBGCSxTsP-V_mxkqx0/s1600/IMG_20190805_083225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8n2TVRjWv_1V2QG86Qf4JuYv9FWG2MHN5kFvaLiWc-kyl2Xil4Lz2596mC1t6ZBE9wMfGE1VKWbTVT3C7e6Tdr4taNkh7t9dOlX85fLVPkBNjVmgzKrm2BsRWVBGCSxTsP-V_mxkqx0/s640/IMG_20190805_083225.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Celebrated my 30th birthday in Boston with some of the best girl friends. </div>
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Celebrated two friends' babies entering the world and one's future arrival! </div>
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Finished classes forever! (Probably)<br />
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Took an absurd amount of pictures and videos of Hobie. This is such a fraction of the total it's ridiculous.</div>
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Enjoyed Christmas time with a trip to Apalachicola with Mom, Pops, Pa and Grandma, the Ocala Symphony with Padres and Dylan, St. Augustine dinner and lights with Matt and Rachel, Fernandina Dickens festival with friends and a beach brunch with all our padres! A very fun-filled break. </div>
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Made I think SIXTEEN quilts! SIXTEEN! One was a mini quilt though, but apparently I went even more quilting crazy than I realized.</div>
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Overall, 2019 was a super productive, healthy, family and friends-filled year. Planning a big move in 2020 has made me more grateful and present in our cozy little community here, enjoying it for all it is and trying to see friends and family as much as possible. I think there can always be more time for that though! It always shows up on my resolutions list.<br />
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Resolutions for this year: </div>
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Continue: </div>
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Working out and eating healthy; 2019 was my healthiest, best feeling year yet! </div>
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Calling and visiting family and friends more and more to catch up and stay close. </div>
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Working hard at my last clinical, researching, learning, practicing. <br />
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Refine: </div>
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Find more balance with quilting to add in more time for writing, guitar, and learning Spanish!</div>
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Go to the dang local Farmers Market just blocks away. We got so lazy with this and I just realized how silly this was today so I must mention it. <br />
Better meal prepping- Lunches were hard last semester but I think I've got a plan. Bring on the overnight oats and frittatas. If you've got good lunch ideas throw 'em at me. </div>
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Goals/Plans: </div>
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Finishing up grad school with an externship at Brooks outpatient rehab clinic. </div>
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Graduate in April 2020! Woohoo!<br />
Find my first jobs as an SLP. Where? You will find out soon! Hopefully. <br />
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-90933082870214730002019-11-02T16:42:00.000-07:002019-11-02T16:54:42.177-07:00Summer 2019: Dorothy Coe Visits all 48 States<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">August 21, 2019, Dorothy Coe checked off a goal from her bucket list of visiting the lower 48 states, with North Dakota </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">as the last. Accompanying her were her husband, James, her children Mike Coe (South Carolina) and Julie Ross (Florida), and granddaughter Abby Ross-Kennedy (FL). Grandson Chris Ross even flew in from Colorado to celebrate the big accomplishment. On this trip, they drove 1000+ miles in just 5 days, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">ate fresh ice cream from the South Dakota State University Dairy Science Hall, </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">walked across the headwaters of the Mississippi <a href="https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181#homepage">Itasca State Park,</a> visited "the prettiest botanical garden" at <a href="https://www.mccrorygardens.com/">McCrory Gardens</a>, </span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">and enjoyed time w</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">ith newlyweds Thomas and Demi Coe in Omaha. Scenery included vast farmland that made these travelers all wonder about North Dakotans' lives, an Amish man bailing hay with his mules, and a starry starry night worth stopping for. </span></span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; text-size-adjust: auto;">On this trip, I heard so many great stories from Pa and Grandma. I learned that Grandma used to pick cucumbers with her cousins and ride into town on their wagon to sell them. It was reinforced that my Pa remembers way more details than I ever will, as he was able to describe exactly how some old farming tools worked at the </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Agricultural </span><span style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Heritage Museum, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; text-size-adjust: auto;">in Brookings, SD. I heard lovely stories about my grandparents sleeping under the stars in the Colorado mountains. I love the story of Grandma, at 15 and newly wed, heading out to Colorado on her own by train. Somehow things got mixed up and Pa didn't find her right away, but they found each other in Denver eventually. </span><br />
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And we're off after all gathering in Atlanta airport!</div>
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Mississippi Headwaters at Lake Itasca Park </div>
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Omaha break </div>
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South Dakota Ice Cream Stop- Apparently where cookies and cream was invented</div>
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Kroll's Diner in Omaha for some interesting German food and good laughs<br />
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Our route. And mind you, from Fargo to Lake Itasca to Worthington, MN was all in one day.<br />
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Omaha, NE --> Sioux Falls, SD (AKA Sewer Falls)--> Brookings, SD --> Fargo, ND --> NORTH up to Minnesota --> SOUTH back down to Worthington, MN --> Omaha --> Home</div>
WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-9883077616933123282019-03-15T15:40:00.003-07:002019-03-24T18:20:37.179-07:00Anniversary Adventure {Year 2}We celebrated 2 years together in perfect Dylabby fashion. I planned a surprise camping trip to Providence Canyon in good ol' Lumpkin Georgia. I saw "scattered showers" in the forecast, but thought, "We can't let weather stop us or we'd never do anything. And it'll probably just be a short little spurt. It'll be fine." So we drove on up and were welcomed in late afternoon by heavy downpour for hours. Phones had no service and we didn't know anything around us, so we decided to just drive until we hopefully found a motel or somewhere to stay.<br />
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"Omaha Brewing Company, 14 miles this way" we saw on a sign. "What?! A brewery around here?" Strange but true, and it kept us warm and dry for a while as we figured out our plan. It also brought us a crowd full of funeral goers that offered some interesting stories-- 34 year old lady that had joined a biker gang in the last several years... Said biker gang "raised hell" with all their noise during the processional per tradition.<br />
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From there we headed to Columbus and hoped to find a last minute Airbnb. To our luck, the sweetest lady had the coziest historic apartment walking distance from downtown. So we walked around town and had some tasty <a href="https://www.uptownvietnamcuisine.net/">Vietnamese</a>. Dylan enjoyed chit chatting with our young Vietnamese waiter and hopes to have inspired him to go visit his homeland. I was impressed that the only chain place they had was Salt Life. Way to go, Columbus.<br />
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We woke up the next day to beautiful weather with not a cloud in the sky. So we hiked the canyon, Hobie frolicked in the muddy clay, and we enjoyed the heck out of everything. (Side note, if you're thinking of visiting the canyon, I'd say only go if you're in the area. Otherwise it's quite the drive.)<br />
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Perfect 2 years of marriage. Perfect anniversary adventure. I am one lucky lady.<br />
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Love my boys </div>
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<br />WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-78524925066779567582019-01-20T16:36:00.001-08:002019-01-20T16:36:27.930-08:00Abby Quilts These Days<div style="text-align: center;">
Since college I've been really experimenting with...</div>
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Crafts! </div>
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All kinds of crafts. Painting- Enjoyed it, but never felt like I could come up with original work and just always kinda felt like an amateur. Pottery- took a class and had dreams of becoming a master potter, but a little too expensive and just not super practical at home. Cross-stitch, crochet, embroidery...</div>
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Then comes an idea in 2017! <i>Quilting</i>! And I am so stoked on it. I finally feel like I've found my niche and favorite craft. With embroidery, I love how beautiful and free handed they can be and will continue some embroidery, but I love the practicality and functionality of quilts. I love thinking about the coziness they bring and creating these personalized pieces for friends and family, incorporating things they love. The family history also adds to the </div>
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I'm in grad school and maybe should be thinking about speech and language all the time but I just keep thinking about quilting and all the ones I want to make for people. I think I've gone quilting crazy. But anway.</div>
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I made an Instagram to share my projects. If anyone sees a pattern or specific quilt they love, or if you want a surprise, personalized creation, there's a chance you could get your very own Abby Quilt! Just send me your favorite hobbies, places, colors, patterns, etc. and we can get some ideas going! </div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ark.quilts/"><span data-offset-key="fhdv4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Check out my quilting Instagram!</span></span></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="fhdv4-0-0"><span data-text="true"> Camping quilt for my sweet 4-year-old friend.</span></span></div>
WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-52195047611722940772018-11-18T13:07:00.002-08:002018-11-18T13:11:55.086-08:00Mama Daughter Trip<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If this trip didn't deserve a blog, I don't know what would. Mom and I just had a blast on our first (stateside) road trip together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mom started of the trip in perfect Julie Ross fashion, packing a picnic lunch for us along the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We made our way to Hendersonville, NC to the cutest little lodge at </span><a href="https://hliresort.com/" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Highland Lake.</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It was a lovely little retreat with a lake for kayaking (in warmer weather), an organic farm, chickens, and fall leaves.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcIlydcer8Spg1ICXQBsc0JxbSrkeoKY384uwytpSgFFvwNzFGOaSDgJp40El_MpRp5X_YJ_w_BEjUgIlfgMK_ixFBUBU5NrfvtZ-9WjA5BYPjW6SfTxWD2XMMYm25cRbjOzW2ocQ-XE/s1600/IMG_0885.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcIlydcer8Spg1ICXQBsc0JxbSrkeoKY384uwytpSgFFvwNzFGOaSDgJp40El_MpRp5X_YJ_w_BEjUgIlfgMK_ixFBUBU5NrfvtZ-9WjA5BYPjW6SfTxWD2XMMYm25cRbjOzW2ocQ-XE/s640/IMG_0885.HEIC" width="603" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had a lovely reunion with her friend Jenny and her hubs who are always so good to see. Italian dinner Friday night and downtown shops and <a href="http://postero-hvl.com/" target="_blank">lunch</a> the next day with this wonderful couple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From lunch, Mom and I ventured over to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/carl/index.htm" target="_blank">Carl Sandburg's house,</a> a must see for anyone in the area. I didn't know much about the guy before but now I love him and his wife and their goats. (If you want to be surprised on the tour, skip the next paragraph!) </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A Swedish immigrant longing to be American, writing poetry about American life and a 1,000,000 word bio about Abe. What wikipedia doesn't tell you is that Carl was a hobo for a bit, hopping trains, getting arrested... Along those travels, he collected songs from his fellow hobos and compiled them into a book of like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Songbag-Carl-Sandburg/dp/1435277597" target="_blank">284 American folk song</a>s to share these cultures that would've been lost. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On his house tour, they played a recording of him and his 6 year-old daughter singing along to these tunes. His wife loved goats. She bred one, old Jennifer the 3rd, that produced 2.5 </span><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">gallons</b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of milk a </span><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">day</b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Wild. AND she shared these milk-making goats with 3rd world countries to improve their milk supply! Pretty cool fam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, Mom and I left with intrigue in Carl, his poetry and tunes, and how much you'd have to feed a goat to make it produce that much milk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From here, we enjoyed some pampering with manis/pedis before a <i>delicious</i> meal at <a href="https://www.brandysonmain.net/" target="_blank">Brandy's on Main.</a> We felt like we were in a speakeasy, enjoying great wine, pasta topped with giant lobster and shrimp, and almost licked our <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Crème brûlée</span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); text-align: left;"> </span>dish clean. Perfect meal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We didn't stop there, as mom had found some live music playing at a brewery nearby. So we enjoyed the folky tunes of <a href="https://www.letterstoabigail.net/" target="_blank">Letters to Abigail </a>at <a href="http://www.sabrewery.com/" target="_blank">Southern Appalachian Brewery</a>. A quaint little brewery, where everyone that walked in received a wave and a "Hey! How ya doin?!" from the band. <i>Loved</i> this band and this night. Well the whole day was fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Sunday, we stopped by Asheville on the way to the Biltmore. In our short 30 minutes of walking around, we saw all the stereotypical Ashevillanites; dreads, plaid, beards, outdoor backpacks... They also had some cozy looking Christmas streets. (Overall, I'd vote go to Greenville!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then off to the Biltmore with Uncle Mike. We sipped some wine at the tasting, checked out their barns, and wandered the extravagant home. Though it was intricate and elegant, I didn't feel the same connection with old George as I did Carl. In fact, I felt a little icky walking around this showy estate. A fun experience though, imagining swimming in the basement pool, wondering the gardens, and attending a fancy party, coming up in our horse carriage and fancy hats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More driving on down to Greenville where we stayed the next two nights. Contrary to our initial lazy plan of staying home and avoiding the cold, rainy day, Mom and I found a delicious breakfast spot for crepes and coffee at <a href="http://exchangecocoffee.com/" target="_blank">Exchange Company</a>. We went back and collected Mike to explore downtown Greenville. Walking along the river in the rain was actually quite lovely. We got some cold, wet feet in the process, but that was nothing more hot coffee at the <a href="http://www.coffeeunderground.info/" target="_blank">Coffee Underground </a>couldn't fix. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A late afternoon of cozying up on the couch for some Netflix rejuvenated us to head back out for not only an open mic night at Smileys, but also music trivia at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CityTavernGreenvilleSC/?rf=176534195734568" target="_blank">City Tavern</a>. Trivia was nowhere near our specialty. Mike had to go up there for the final round of name that artist, where him and his opponent took about 20 songs to get 3 either of them knew. Tough stuff. </span></div>
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Thanks for a trip of a lifetime, Mama! 'Til next time. </div>
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Where should we go next?! </div>
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-1017311697611083182018-10-04T07:18:00.001-07:002018-10-04T07:18:59.805-07:00Get Outa Here, Plastic!Maybe over the last month a slew of things lead me to a plastic rampage the other day. It's everywhere. It's excessive. Plastic cups, straws, balloons, cans (ok aluminum too) all over the beach. Snack packs at Publix have made me maybe the most outraged-- wasteful packages with 3 pieces of cheese and some nuts or a spoonful of salsa with 5 tortilla chips in a double decker plastic bus for convenience? Bleh. I'm actually writing <a href="http://sabra.com/" target="_blank">Sabra</a> to express my extreme discontent with their entire company. I'm so feisty about this! I'd close em down if I were president.<br />
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End rant, onto action. </div>
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So here's how I'm starting out. </div>
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<b>Drinking and Eating </b></div>
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Keepin' on with the Nalgene everywhere and also taking my own coffee cup to cafes. Apparently several (Dunkin for one!) will give discounts too. </div>
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Saying no next time I want ice cream at school if they only have plastic options. Ice cream can wait, can't it, Earth?</div>
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Take my own container for leftovers at restaurants. </div>
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Straws? I would get some of those glass or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Drinking-Tumblers-Cleaning-Included/dp/B019YJT918/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1538660393&sr=1-5&keywords=steel+straw" target="_blank">steel straws</a> but I just won't use them. Also why in the world are some cafes making goals to get rid of them by 2020? Why does it two years to do that? </div>
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Skipping any plastic drinks </div>
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<b>Fruits</b> </div>
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Certainly nixing the plastic bags </div>
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Getting little reusable baskets for the strawberries, blueberries, etc. and filling up at the farmer's market</div>
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Spending a couple extra minutes to cut up my pineapple to forget that container</div>
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<b>Eggs</b> </div>
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Getting from the farmer's market and throwing them in a wire basket. </div>
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Kinda crazy the organic, free range, hippie eggs come in the most intense plastic container. </div>
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<b>G</b><b>rocery Shopping</b></div>
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Reusable bags are a given.</div>
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Taking my own containers to fill up sugar, flour, rice, nuts, cereal... I have some like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZZZQ33/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AAAWTEJ0QYAO5" target="_blank">these</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Storage-Containers-Sweetzer-Orange/dp/B076936CF1/ref=sr_1_13?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1538660371&sr=1-13&keywords=glass+jar+with+bamboo" target="_blank">these</a>. Lucky's is one store that definitely does this. Let me know of any others! </div>
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<b>Meats and Seafood</b></div>
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I asked Lucky's if they would put them in my own container and they said no, so I'll be checking out the local butcher and seafood market this weekend. I've missed this cozy aspect of European life, walking to the butcher or market, but I can actually make it work here! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mikesbutchershop10410/" target="_blank">Mike's Butcher Shop, </a>I'm coming for you!</div>
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<b>Trash</b></div>
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I want to try to eliminate plastic trash bags by composting, so we can put all the dry trash straight in the basket sans bag. If anyone has tips on this, let me know. Cuz what about like raw meat?<br />
Share any tips on composting too! </div>
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<b>Poop Bags</b></div>
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Decomposing ones like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076V9B5CK/ref=crt_ewc_img_srh_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1ZX3W2PC5EFVB" target="_blank">these guys</a>. </div>
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<b>Save the Shipping </b></div>
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Forget Amazon/online ordering when I can go a little out of my way to buy something without extravagant packaging. Will have to weigh the options with things like this though, considering the previous mention of poop bags-- looking at stores, the packaging for decomposing poop bags doesn't look decomposable... Anyone </div>
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<b>Cleaning</b></div>
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Bar soap. </div>
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Gotta look into shampoo, detergent, etc. </div>
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Minimizing/cutting out paper towels?</div>
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What tips, recipes, businesses, etc. do you guys have? </div>
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-19518716462887693302018-09-01T10:13:00.003-07:002018-09-01T10:13:57.783-07:00Wait a Minute, Let's Celebrate Summer!As most of my friends and family know, I'm not a fan of summer. I'm not a fan of <i>Florida</i> Summer is maybe more accurate. It's hot. It's sticky. The dog can't walk between 7am and 8pm with his 10lbs of fur... We gotta close all our blinds to keep the apartment cooler... It's a challenging time for me.<br />
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But the other day, during a good old beach day with franz, some stranger offered us watermelon. This watermelon turned around my summer brain. I realized we need to milk summer for all it's worth and learn to love it for what it is before it's over.<br />
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"Dylan! We gotta celebrate summer! With watermelons! And pina coladas!" (I've never even cared for watermelons that much with all other fruit options available, but with it's juicy coolness as well as its summer-food stereotype, it won me over). I went on brainstorming what things make summer summer to come up with hot dogs, lemonade, fruity salads...</div>
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We gotta swim in the pool and dip in the ocean... Sit on the beach (under an umbrella) and take out the old kayaks that are covered with bugs and branches and at least see how far we can go before the blue one takes on too much water.<br />
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So that I actually did this morning. I lathered up with sunscreen, popped on a hat, sunglasses and a shirt (going out at the beach is much different than my 18 year old self. No skin cancer, please) and dragged that hunker kayak across the street and onto the beach for a nice little paddle.<br />
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Things that are making it more bearable: hat and sunscreen (I don't know why I'm JUST now discovering the wonders of wearing a hat), umbrellas on the beach, taking water on every walk and even driving to shadier neighborhoods to walk there, iced coffees, and cold showers.<br />
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Time to make myself like summer for what it is. What are some of your favorite things about this steamy season that would add to my enjoyment?<br />
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All my pictures are of the dog lately so here ya go.<br />
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Oh hey! It's not Hobie!</div>
WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-32967105075611821912018-08-19T10:33:00.003-07:002018-08-19T11:14:38.876-07:00Nebraska Wedding and South Dakota Summer<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you follow my Instagram, it may look like my whole life is laying on the bed with my puppy, but it's actually been quite a busy summer! I quit work July 25th to have a month off before school starts and I've been enjoying every minute of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The day after my last day, I flew right out to Omaha for my <strike>baby</strike> cousin's wedding. Pre-wedding, we ventured to <a href="http://www.omahazoo.com/" target="_blank">the zoo</a> which was quite impressive-- you would need a full day to see it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wedding was a blast at the <a href="https://sacmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Strategic Air Command Museum.</a> Liesl and I sat back and admired their Georgia Tech friends' dance moves. We laughed at our incapabilities to move our bodies in such cool, uninhibited ways. Grateful for all the time chatting with Aunts, Uncles and Gramps. Man we got some good fam. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I learned new things about Uncle Kenneth and Mama at dinner downtown. I never knew Kenneth was such a classical music enthusiast and mama was so involved in women's rights back in the day- protesting to wear pants in high school and a women's march in Tally. Go, Mama. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I rode back with the Ross girls to South Dakota, stopping in Sioux Falls to visit more family and friends. In just a week with the girls, I enjoyed several runs that showed me how beast Liesl is- pushing two girls in a stroller up the hills is no joke. We had park time and shared some of our favorite recipes and desserts. Liesl makes a mean <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Crème brûlée</span>. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I'll be attempting this soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We braved the trek with the RV and munchkins to stay two nights in the Black Hills. A rain and hail storm blessed us with a cozy little afternoon in the camper with hot chocolate and all. We got fancy with our s'mores adding strawberries to some and Reese's to others. Both recommended. Adaleigh and I walked around meeting all the camping neighbs. Adaleigh is another Ross that "doesn't meet a stranger." <a href="https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/places/sylvan-lake" target="_blank">Sylvan Lake</a> gave us a perfect afternoon hike and picnic on the rocks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some conclusions from my trip: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Liesl is even more supermom than I realized. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Traveling with kids will be harder than I think Dylan and I realized. But we can do it, right?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's amazing seeing the mind of a toddler. While reading a book about dinosaurs, I pointed out the picture of a meteor crashing into the earth on one of the pages as an ironic topic the dinos were learning about in school. This lead to the sweetest, most inquisitive convo with Adaleigh with her worrying for the "sad dinos" and how they'll never live again. She proceeded to let others know throughout the week that it was a ball of fire that may have killed the poor dinos. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's fantastic to see that child-like wonder again- seeing Adaleigh shout "SPACE!" with the most excitement as she pointed to a star. And Carlia's sweetest touch cupping the baby goat's head </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in her hands </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">at <a href="http://www.oldmacdonaldsfarmrc.com/" target="_blank">Old MacDonald's Farm</a>. Or getting excited about a rock. You never know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What a wonderful 9 days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My nieces are the cutest. </span></div>
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I want to and should give every mama doing this a high five from now on. They are strong.</div>
WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-67157879410289928392018-07-18T14:39:00.004-07:002018-07-18T14:39:56.400-07:00Summer of Reunions <div style="text-align: center;">
That's exactly what this summer has been and it's been <i>great</i>. </div>
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On Memorial Day weekend, Dana, Martin, and baby, Leslie and Steve and I reunited for a surprise house-warming visit at the Hendersons' new lake house. We had a weekend full of baby cuddles, hiking, and good old times. We all went for a hike in search of a waterfall, but found ourselves on a buggy, muddy, humid, manure-filled path on which we gave up on the waterfall. The next day, just the girls headed out for a hike up to <a href="https://gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls" target="_blank">Amicalola Falls </a>with the pups. Best part about this hike was our pitstop at the lodge for a Smoky Mountain view, food and drinks before wandering back down the mountain. I've never laughed so hard on a hike before. </div>
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Father's Day Weekend was spent with the Ross fam (Dad's side with his brother and all their family) at a Silver Springs cabin. Addie that could be found attached to my hip during our whole wedding was found in the same spot this day. I loved catching up with cousins and playing with their munchkins. </div>
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Next came the 10 year high school reunion where I had a surprisingly good time. Hadn't planned on going at all until a couple friends flew in from Boston and DC for it. Interesting catching up with everyone and seeing how everyone's changed/stayed the same. Also bizarro drinking beers with the teachers. It's blowing my mind to think how much can happen in a decade. </div>
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Lastly, I got to visit this family that I nannied for back in the day-- I watched the youngest when she was an <i>infant</i>, the middle is going into middle school, and the oldest a track star in high school. Time is outa control. </div>
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-63133017015001476152018-07-11T11:25:00.001-07:002018-07-11T11:25:56.731-07:00She changed our... {Sierra Poem}<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Early mornings<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">three a day<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">meeting strangers along the way</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our walks<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Low protein food<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">what kind of leash</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">How much her sickness gave us grief</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our talks<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Daddy dances</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Mama brushes</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Attempting smelly teeth brushing <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our roles</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Cozy mornings</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Cuddles with Papa</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">I fry the eggs as I cherish this view</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our mornings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Hormone altering</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">bringing excitement to see</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">the other one as mom or dad</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our love</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Slowly walking<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">pausing for smells</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">chasing the birds, soaking in the sun</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our pace<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Finding joy in <i>her </i>joy</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">watching her prance on the trails </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">accepting all strangers with a wagging tail</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">She changed our views</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Our first pup</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">bringing us closer together</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">so much love and adventure<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">She changed our lives</span></span></div>
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-2284020406996606272018-07-11T11:20:00.001-07:002018-07-11T11:20:53.053-07:00Hobie Mountain Blues<div style="text-align: center;">
It's still very strange without our Sisi Laroo around. I still picture her sweet little face light up with excitement at the sound of kiddos on the beach. And b-lining to the beach when I ask her if she wants to go. Frolicking in the grass at Howell park and taking over our pillows whenever we get out of bed. She was the sweetest dog. </div>
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But we welcomed this little guy into our lives and he's been filling it with a whole new set of excitement. We picked him up in Bristol, TN of all places, and didn't even stop in to say hey to King College.<br />
On our drive back, we empathized with the little one, thinking of how he had no idea he was going to move from the mountains to the beach with a whole new family in one day. He had no idea about this whole lifetime of adventure ahead of him. And he had no choice but to accept it. Get ready for all the beach walks, hiking, biking, nose pinchings (thank Dad for that one), and travel, little Hobie man! </div>
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He's teaching us the patience we <i>thought</i> we had with Sierra, but really she just was a totally trained dog whose only problem was bullying the cat. Sorry, Eli, we're working on Hobie with that this time. You'll be able to freely come out from the table soon hopefully. </div>
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He makes us laugh at the way he pounces at his toys, sprawls <i>all </i>his toys out on the floor for playtime and bumbles around the apartment with his toys' bucket. I always heard collies were talkers and now I understand. It's like he's trying to tell us all about his day. He's got the same loving spirit Sierra did, wanting to meet every single dog on our walks and laying there longingly watching as they walk away. "Friend, come back!"</div>
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He makes it hard to be antisocial <i>ever, </i>as we get stopped every time we walk for strangers to pet him. On a trip to St. Augustine with Rachel, Hobie was the talk of the town, meeting everyone we passed. </div>
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He's a beach boy now<br />
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Hanna Hiking<br />
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Trip to Leslie's with the Krupka fam</div>
WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-47460141015335809142018-07-11T11:09:00.001-07:002022-04-11T18:14:03.471-07:001st Annual MLK Jr. Fest<div style="text-align: center;">
Inspired by <a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/" target="_blank">Todays Letters</a>, I decided to host our first celebration of this important guy. </div>
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We packed our apartment with (almost) everyone we invited! We watched his speech and educated the kiddos on his history while we ate some of Martin's favorite foods: <a href="https://www.marthastewart.com/1014265/collard-greens-bacon" target="_blank">collard greens</a> (and a veggie version minus the bacon, add the tomato), <a href="http://www.thebudgetdiet.com/southern-baked-macaroni-and-cheese" target="_blank">mac and cheese,</a> and <a href="http://www.publix.com/pd/publix-fried-chicken-wing/RIO-PCI-120504" target="_blank">fried chicken</a>. Next time I'll make some homemade fried chicken and follow through with the pecan pie plan. </div>
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An hour before the party started, I figured I'd bring in some activities and created a trivia game and scavenger hunt around the apartment revolved around Jr.'s life. The hints included Sexo y Amor en Tiempos de Crisis, his hometown, Ginsberg's <i>Howl</i> poem about racism and society, <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/national/stabbing-harlem-nearly-took-mlk-life-decade-before-memphis-assassin-bullet/ERzybovTjGBm66AzhKTgfP/" target="_blank">curry spice next to some knives</a> and more.<br />
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I think we'll make this a tradition.<br />
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-20762868200639648772018-03-24T06:35:00.003-07:002018-03-24T06:35:44.778-07:002017 in Review {Best Year Yet}<div style="text-align: center;">
Well hey guys, I found this in my long list of drafts.<br />
In the wondreful year of 2017, I...<br />
Filled a house with <i>10</i> of the loveliest ladies in Savannah for my bachelorette. </div>
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Had that <a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2017/05/todays-gratitude-to-max-wedding-edition.html" target="_blank">monumental day</a> I dreamt of since I was like 8, snagging Dylan forever</div>
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Explored Savannah with two dedicated Aussie wedding guests</div>
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Celebrated Leslie and Steve's monumental day in Georgia AND Dylan's cousin and her man in California </div>
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Had a mountains, surf and seafood-filled <a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2017/09/portugal-and-spain-honeymoon.html" target="_blank">honeymoon in Portugal and Spain</a> </div>
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Hosted our 2nd Annual Mardis Gras party </div>
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Hosted our 1st Annual Midsummer Fest<br />
Enjoy so much cuddle time and hikes with the best Sisi Dog. </div>
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Started a relatively successful garden, harvesting FIVE jalepenos! That cauliflower should be ready soon (Update: I harvest 5 bushleses a <i>tad</i> too late but enjoyed some of them).</div>
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Spent my 28th birthday in <a href="http://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2017/11/new-england-birthday.html" target="_blank">Boston and Maine</a></div>
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Switched clothes with Dylan for Halloween and howled down the street. </div>
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Applied to grad school round DOS. All your well-wishing rituals are welcome, friends!</div>
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and welcomed THREE friends' babies! Welcome to the world, Griffen, Vince and Max! :) You all got some fantastic padres. </div>
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It always blows me away how much happens in a year.<br />
Bring it on, 2018! You are the most mysterious one yet. </div>
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WheresAbbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10332127806654843153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284897972633883628.post-65468585755817041422017-11-11T16:04:00.002-08:002017-11-11T16:04:57.505-08:00New England Birthday<div style="text-align: center;">
My 28th birthday couldn't have been better. We flew into Boston, rented a car and headed north for hiking in actual autumn. </div>
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We stopped in Portland, Maine for the night and made the best choice to eat at <a href="http://www.eventideoysterco.com/" target="_blank">Eventide</a>. Guys, find the cheapest ticket to Portland and treat yourself to some dang seafood at this place. We indulged and got three kinds of the 10+ local oysters, lobster roll, clam chowder with a unique touch of seaweed, perfectly flavored ceviche, tuna tartar, and <i>two</i> desserts. Everything was so fresh and delish with their own little flare, the atmosphere was so lively and cozy at the same time... Ya gotta go. I liked the oysters and I don't even like oysters.</div>
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It was only a one night stand with Portland as we were stoked to get to Acadia, but I think I'd see her again. </div>
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So we drove up the picturesque New England highway, enjoying the foliage for which we booked this trip. I wanted to pop into the first 3 antique shops I saw, but then we after about twenty-five more I was ready to yell at the stores to get another life.</div>
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In Acadia, we did 3 hikes in two days; the Beehive, Jordan Pond and Sergeant Mountain, and Precipice. Beehive was great with beautiful views, interesting ladder features and rocks to climb. Jordan Pond was just walking around a pond--- a beautiful pond nonetheless, but a bit too easy, so we trailed off to Sergeant Mountain which was much more challenging and rewarding.</div>
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I did <i>not</i> want to do the <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maine/precipice-trail" target="_blank">Precipice Trail</a>, which was an unusually strong oppositional feeling I don't normally get from those types of activities, so I thought I'd trust my gut. But then after hours of hiking and maybe exhaustion from the first hard trek, I caved and agreed. The amount of hikers that accepted the challenge comforted me, as I didn't think that many people would be as experienced as I thought you needed to be for this hike. So clearly, it was that the hike was just easier than I was expecting. It was quite the experience and so glad we did it. NOT as scary as they make it out. Dylan wound up being the scaredy one after all of that. </div>
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After two days of getting our hiking fill, we headed to Boston to visit Amy and Sal. We had a great visit with these two, as expected, wondering around the Asian market and eating Ramen, as mentioned in our <a href="https://wheresabbyr.blogspot.com/2017/09/portugal-and-spain-honeymoon.html" target="_blank">honeymoon recap</a>. Our last day there was spent walking walking walking. Walked through the brown stones on Beacon St--- one of my favs, along the Charles River, to the Old North Church, along the foggy wharf, to the Boston library to do some research on cemeteries, through China Town in search of pho, and back to the North End for dinner at Giacamos with our lovely hosts. We attempted to go out to a bar but... I'm old now and staying in for homemade cucumber gin and tonics, in a quiet place, with my constraining shoes off sounded all too appealing. Like I said... old. </div>
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Needless to say, our seafood-loving bellies were happy, my feet were blistered, and my hiking heart was full. </div>
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Happy birthday to me.<br />
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It's fall!!<br />
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