Some candid thoughts about Father’s Day

I feel like my facebook feed is just plastered with shining praise for so many “greatest, bestest, most awesomest dad EVAAAAAAAR” post today. Honestly, I can’t relate.  My pop is a good dude, for reals, he’s very kind and concerned and even though he lives far from everyone he still makes an effort to visit his kids and spoil his grandkids (though he will not change a diaper). He’s also devoted his life to entertaining senior citizens and bringing to light the importance of eldercare and issues around aging that most people ignore. But it’s taken a long time, like years and years, for us to have a good relationship. In fact, there were many times where we really didn’t have a relationship at all. We don’t need to get into the knitty gritty as to why this was, but the fact is parents are human and they do totally human and selfish things that their kids don’t always support or understand or want to be a part of. Over the years, I experienced a lot of these roadblocks with my dad and vice versa. I always knew that he meant well, but his delivery totally sucked. I would literally stop and think “Who does this guy think he is?!” I think this was a mutual feeling from time to time. Emotions are hard, relationships are hard, especially with the people we’re supposed to be closest to because there is just as much room for error and hurt as there is for happiness and love. Both people need to work on things before progress can be made

We’re doing much better today. I think having the Bear has helped to bring us back together. We talk more often, and when I went through some difficult times last Christmas, Pop was not only there for me on the phone, but he even came out and visited which really helped. So today, on father’s day I’m not going to claim to have the best ever anything. You’ve been a real jerk sometimes, Pop, but you’re my dad and I love you and I’m grateful that after all this time we are still able to overcome our differences and have the strong positive relationship that we enjoy today.

XO, S.

Friday Favorites

It’s been a totally cursed week. It started when the Bear fell into the corner of the TV stand and needed his first visit to the ER (he’s fine now), and just snow balled from there until it seemed that every small thing was turning into a huge disaster. Thankfully, today the sun is out, the Bear is well, I took a nice long afternoon nap, and we have ribs and cake to look forward to in a few hours. It makes everything else seem less terrible.

It’s so true. 27 IS weird. I spent my 27th birthday at boot camp.

I love this idea. It would look great in a nursery.

I really love checking out the guts of vintage dresses. It’s way more attractive than it sounds.

Speaking of the insides of dresses, this is a really helpful post about linings.

I made this last weekend and it was AWESOME.

I am terrible at keeping up with music.

Finally, I wish I had thought of this. I see a whole Etsy business.

Have a great weekend.

XO, S.

Olympic National Park

One of my goals this year was to visit a national park. Truthfully, we have plans to visit about 6 more as we move from Washington to Washington in a few weeks (yikes!) Another goal has been to take the Bear outside. Which I guess sounds a little silly. Of course I’m gonna take my kid outside, kids love being outside, but around here when it rains or worse, there are winds at sustained 30 mph through most of the fall/winter/spring having outside time is tough. So many days the poor guy would hand me his shoes or stand by the window with his face pressed up against the glass. So you can understand that it’s important to DB and I to get him outside running around, hiking, strolling, whatever and I think now that it’s been clear we’re off to a good start.

We started off our weekend taking the ferry from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend, then we hightailed it over to the Hoh Rainforest and took a short hike through the Hall of Mosses. Then we went out to the coast and ran quickly from the tides at Ruby Beach. At night we stayed in Port Angeles where we enjoyed some great food, beer, and live music here.

Our first hike. It quickly became apparent we needed one of those backpacks for toddlers.

He was stoked about the letters

The Hoh Rainforest

I’ve got a thing for tree bark

Ruby Beach. Bear’s first view of the Pacific.

Enjoying dinner

Sunday we packed up and drove up Hurricane Ridge in the hopes of seeing the Olympics up close. Of course it was way too cloudy. We could actually see them better from our house when we got back, but it was run to watch the Bear hesitantly explore the snow. We spent the rest of the day checking out the interior side of the peninsula and visiting other peaks and beaches before taking dinner and enjoying a peaceful sunset on the ferry. All in all, a great way to kick off our summer.

To view the full set of photos visit me on Flickr.

A majestic view of the Olympics

What is this stuff?

Where to next?

I love foggy trees

Finally a view!

Quick! Let’s capture it!

Headed home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lately…

Wow, it’s been a while since I made the time to write. I’ve got plenty to share, but it seems that we’ve had so much real life going on around here lately I’ve been focusing on other things…and I think that’s good. It all started shortly after DB got back and we had a wave of sickness roll through the house for a good 3 weeks…so many tissues perished. Then we were back on track, but some goals at work got in the way, and are still in the way. In fact, I usually don’t even take the time to really sit down in front of my computer and read blogs or edit photos or even check Instagram on my phone.

And in that time we celebrated two years of marriage, learned that the Bear likes a wider variety of food than he lets on, started (finally) talking about the honeymoon we need to take, and started gearing up for our move. I’ve also knit, baked, cooked, photographed, and bought new clothes, all of which I hope I have time to sit down and share with you soon. I admire the bloggers who plan their posts in advance and have them all set to go throughout the week. I was starting to go that route, but like I said, real life started happening and my focus has been on squeezing in family time and not blogging time. I miss doing this though. One of my goals this year has been to write more, and this blog is a big part of that. Hopefully, as we transition towards summer I can find a balance again. I like it here. I like being able to keep track of my domestic productivity and share photos with friends and family who are all so far away. But I’m also learning to be patient with myself and not beat myself up when I can’t get it all done. I’ll keep figuring it out, and I’ll try and tell you more about it soon.

Not quite 7 shots: Week 16

Oh gosh, it finally happened. I knew it would at some point. I somehow managed to miss a day! Yikes! I realize I could cheat, but that would defeat the point. The point is to capture a little piece of every day, to be able to look back at the end and remember all the little small, happy, victorious moments from all the days. Now it will just be most of the days. Also, I’m having an issue importing some RAW files into iPhoto so Sunday Funday is missing.

This was a pretty hectic week. It started off with some sort of digestive ailment from the Bear, took us to Seattle for fun and story time with friends, and then out on a Sunday shopping trip, by Monday we all woke up with chest colds. DB has been going to bed around 1800 every night. Here’s hoping next week is full of sunshine and health. Oh and we got a Vitamix!

16Apr: Hello Mt. Baker

16Apr: Total cheat since I missed the 17th

18Apr: Climbing on the table is a thing now

19Apr: Testing out the new Vitamix

20Apr: A story of redemption

22Apr: At work

7 Shots: Weeks 14 and 15

So April is more than halfway over and it’s been a total whirlwind. DB came home, we bought a new car, I went to Oregon on a weeklong exercise (and got seriously sunburnt), we had out first outdoor grill session, and then the Bear gave us both a digestive ailment that has left me behind in blogging and our house in a complete state of disarray. On the other hand, the three of us our a family again for the next few months before I head out on deployment. Here’s what the last couple weeks looked like.

02Apr: longer and longer

03Apr: A day at the farm

04Apr: Shopping for a new car

05Apr: On the road

06Apr: Stripes!

07Apr: Big ski

08Apr: Bushwhacked

09Apr: I’m not used to the sun

10Apr: No really, I’m not used to the sun AT ALL

11Apr: truck stop sunset

12Apr: Reunited…again

13Apr: Saturday morning routine

14Apr: Books are awesome

15Apr: Tired out

Asparagus, Tomato, and Arugula Frittata

I spent this past week in Oregon on an exercise with my unit. Since we had long hours and were in the middle of nowhere, food options were limited to fast food or Dennys. I’m not really sure which is worse, but I definitely consumed more french fries in the past week than I had in the past 6 months combined and I felt so gross by the time I got home. I wanted and needed vegetables in the worst way. Fortunately, DB and I took the Bear for a visit to a local farm right before I left and bought a bundle of asparagus. It managed to survive the week and was so delicious in what I would like to call my detox frittata. Vegetables are really they key here with the eggs and cheese serving more to bind it all together than play center stage. Feel free to play with whatever seasonal greens you have available, and add some bacon if you want something a bit heartier.

 

Asparagus, Tomato, and Arugula Frittata

 

(adapted from Simply Recipes)

• 2T unsalted butter
• 1/3C minced shallots (1 med shallot, or half a medium onion)
• 1/2t fine grain sea salt
• 1/4t coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 lb asparagus, tough ends snapped off, spears cut  into 1-inch lengths
• 2 plum tomatoes, cored and diced
• 1 big handful of arugula (about 1-1/2 C)
• 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1C shredded Gruyere cheese (or cheese of choice)

- Heat butter into a 10-inch oven-proof frying pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until soft and translucent. Add asparagus, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, arugula, salt and pepper. Stir until arugula is wilted and all ingredients are evenly mixed, about 2-3 minutes

- Pour in eggs and cook until almost set, but still runny on top, about 2 minutes.

- Sprinkle cheese over eggs and put in oven under broiler until cheese is melted and browned, about 4-6 minutes. Carefully remove from oven, and remove frittata from frying pan. Cut into 4 wedges and serve immediately.

Serves 4