Thursday, May 31, 2012

Coffee Pot Lake ~ Memorial Weekend

We spent four days canoeing, hiking, and camping at Coffee Pot Lake in eastern Washington.
We camped here before, a year or two ago, and enjoyed that trip so much we vowed to return.
We packed a lunch and a propane burner for coffee.
It took five hours to paddle 9 or 10 miles.

Simply a wonderful, gorgeous afternoon.
The wildlife was abundant here, just so many geese, birds - Canada geese, pelicans, cormorants, golden-eyes, red-winged blackbirds protecting their nests, and a coyote watched us from the top of a bluff.
One of the nests had fallen down onto the reeds, so we paddled over and I examined it, stuck my finger into the small entrance hole - no eggs, but very soft inside.
Cliff swallows were actively feeding their young in nests on the cliffs - I enjoy watching them!
We drove over to Twin Lakes and spent an afternoon hiking there - perfect weather, sunshine, but a bit of breeze. This year we hiked a different route, to bluffs overlooking the lakes.
We tried climbing the bluffs across from our campground, but George was apprehensive about going up to the top. We stopped here - just too steep, with precarious footholds.

We had to build a log jam across a little creek, in order to ford the stream, but after we got across we removed the debris. It is a spawning stream.

There are only five camping spots available at Coffee Pot Lake, so it was a group of people who quickly got to know one another.

Very warm, friendly people, good conversations - and quiet at night. The fishing here is fly fishing, single barbless hook, so it attracts only a certain type of fisherman, generally paddling in a little boat.

I had to set up my cook station between the car and tent the first evening - it was too windy to use the picnic table. We enjoyed several salads for a quick first meal - beet/red onion salad; broccoli salad, the best ever... and I forgot how I made it! We had fried soba noodles with veggies for dinner one night; another night I served fried paneer on top of a turnip/rutabaga curry over crusty bread.

Sleeping was great - cool at night, but cold in the morning. The hardest part of the trip is getting out of warm bedding, getting dressed in cold clothing, and then trying to make coffee with cold hands.
But, once that coffee is ready, it is the best moment of the day! George took so many photos, it will take weeks to process all of them into our Flickr account.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Birthdays in May and Mother's Day

The family celebrated Mother's Day and May birthdays - five - by enjoying lunch in my backyard.

It was a gorgeous, warm afternoon - perfect for blowing bubbles.

I served vegetable crepes with zuchinni spread, and corn chipotle soup. Ruhiyyih brought fruit kebobs, Annie made chocolate covered strawberries, and I made brownies.

Gift-exchange, funny cards, and time to get caught up on everyones news.

Matt and Ruhiyyih, on the far right, have new jobs, and now live in Bremerton.

Daniel helped by bringing out lawn chairs.

Annie gave me a book about bears!

Laurel entertaining Daniel.

Snake Lake - Tacoma Nature Center

About a mile from our home; wonderful for an evening stroll after dinner.

Flickr set, Discovery Pond.

Junior Youth Devotional

Kim and Christy


Matt - Getting out the Puzzles and Games

Gathering in Lisa's Kitchen at Feast

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Eastern Washington - Camping Destination

We set up camp at Long Lake, in a lovely spot down by the water. It afforded great views, a sheltered location, and good canoeing and hiking.

As soon as we set up camp we went exploring!

The afternoon was warm and inviting, and we had the place to ourselves. By August this area is packed with people fishing and camping, a far too-busy place for George and myself.

That night the full moon shone so brightly that its light obscured the stars! It seemed like daylight in the tent.


Canoeing Long Lake


Hiking the Trail to Quail Lake



Cooking at Long Lake

This is my cooking station at Long Lake, where we camped for the weekend. It is a comfortable way to cook, sitting down, and swiveling around to reach stove, cupboards, pantry and cooler. The cutting board serves as my counter, and food-handling gloves keep my hands clean.

The day was coming to a close, with just a few more hours of sunshine. Once the sun sets on the eastern Washington prairie the temperature drops considerably, falling to 32 degrees at night.

Hearty fare throughout the weekend: Fried soba noodle stir-fry; pineapple pancakes; chorizo sausage, eggs, fried polenta and stir-fried vegetables; fruit, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Making morning coffee at 5:30 a.m - everything had a layer of frost.

Easter Celebration at Rue and Annie's