Back in Black Canyon

Yesterday's weather forecast was for bright, sunny skies. Since most of the trails in the Cascades are still covered in snow Bridget and I headed east of the mountains to the deserts of central Washington. We decided to hike up Black Canyon in the Wenas Wildlife Area not far from Yakima. After parking the car we followed the road to the head of the canyon.

Before long we came across stands of aspen and alder which soon gave way too . . .

Ponderosa pines . . .

and buttercups.

As we reached the ridgeline the Stuart Range came into view to the north.

To the south Mt. Rainier could be made out in the afternoon haze.

On our descent we spotted more wildflowers in the form of yellowbells and bluebells.

Who wants a pizza pie?

Just an enticement for future visitors - Andy has started making homemade whole-wheat crust pizzas! MMMMmmmmmm.

Northwest by Northeast

A couple of weeks ago we left behind the Northwest for a visit to the Northeast. Our first stop was to Hannah and John's in New Haven. Below is Bridget posing next to Alexander Calder's Gallows and Lollipops on the Yale campus.
Here we see Bridget and Hannah trying the mashed potato and bacon pizza at BAR in New Haven.

Next we took the train to New Rochelle and stayed with our friend Laura. Friday afternoon we visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

After the museum we wandered through the streets of New York where we happened upon Rockefeller Plaza.
In true Seinfeld fashion Laura and Bridget share a black and white cookie in Times Square.

The next day we met up with Hannah in Brooklyn. After a tasty brunch with Hannah and her friend Matt we walked to the Artbreak Gallery. On our way to the gallery we stopped by a small shopped called Fuego where, inspired by Hannah's earlier purchase of a colorful bag, Bridget and Laura joined the party and bought their own.

On our way back to the subway stop after viewing the gallery we happened across a neighborhood novelty pencil display. The sight of so many novelty pencils brought a smile to Bridget's face as she thought back on her own novelty pencil collection.

Once back in Manhattan we walked from the Eastside, through Central Park .

After the walk through the park we stumbled upon some snacks at Senor Swanky's. Below is Laura and Hannah enjoying some swanky green tortilla chips.

It was a great trip with great friends and we can't wait to do it again.

Flowers and Trees, Trees and Flowers

A couple weeks ago Bridget and I went to the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botantical Garden located just south of us in Federal Way, Washington. The garden features thousands of rhododendrons and many were already blooming.

Adjacent to the garden is the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. There are sixty or so bonsai on display and the trees range in all types, from plum to sequoia. A few of the trees are over a hunderd years old.

Easter Feast

I've been very lax in posting things lately, so let's go back to Easter '08. Bridget and I put together an Easter feast that included colored eggs, corn pones and a loaf of some sort. It turned out to be a wonderful spread. The tablecloth is one that we bought at the local bazzar in the city of Jaipur during our trip to India.