We went to Whidbey Island this past weekend for a quick camping trip.  The summer’s calendar is already filling and our opportunities to go camping are a little more complicated with all the pre-scheduled events.  So we made time for a quick trip and invited our good friends the Vemparala’s to join us, and of course Nut Nut joined us too.   We loaded the car and headed out, at one point as we waited for the ferry and let Pax out of his crate, I was surrounded by both dogs.  For some reason I was the dog comforter on the ride there.  After making it to the campground we made camp with our 10-man tent, which I refuse to believe is a 10 man.  I mean it was perfect for the 4 of us and left plenty of common room for us to share with 2 dogs!  Started the fire to get the coals going for our traditional tin foil dinners.  Ramya of course made fantastic Indian spiced potatoes and carrots (which were a little spicy for me (but I’m a spice wimp) they were still so tasty even with a little burn afterward!  While dinner cooked we headed down to the beach, which was a 5 min hike down a trail right across from our campsite.  There was this long staircase leading to the beach and gave a beautiful view of the sunset!  We walked along the beach for a bit checking out spots for the next days fishing.  Eventually I reminded the guys that dinner might be burning and we headed back.  Dinner was great, as always, and the company was even better!  Then we nestled into the tent for a game of settlers, which at some point I became unconscious for.  Morning came with Nut Nut needing to use the restroom so we were up and at em!  The Vemparala’s shared some yummy Indian oatmeal and sausage, which was really good and warm on that chilly morning.  Then the guys dressed and headed to the beach.  My Mr. demoed his new wading boots, which you can read the review of on his and Mr. Carneys fishing review site here, which is pretty awesome!  (and My Mr’s photographer isn’t bad too)  We headed down to the beach with dogs in tow and wired them up to some huge drift wood so they could roam the area and dig in the sand to their hearts content.  A quick fly-fishing lesson on the beach and Sushant was ready to hit the water!  He looked like a real fisherman out there.  Ramya and I relaxed in some chairs on the beach, just watching and talking.  It was so beautiful and the sky was slightly clouded which really set off the water.  It was so peaceful and perfect!  The dogs were completely worn out from all the sniffing and digging, Nut Nut was lying on the cool sand while our prissy Pax refused to lay in the sand and stuck to my un occupied chair.  Eventually the time came and we knew reality was calling.  We headed back and packed up, Nut Nut even took a turn watching Pax by holding tightly to his leash while we loaded the car, cute huh!  Hard to say Goodbye to a perfect day!  It was a great little trip and fun to share with our friends!  We will have to go back for longer next time.

The memorial weekend was spent with a little down time and a little low tide time.  We wanted to make a day of it, getting up early and going to breakfast at a local Alki breakfast joint, Alki Cafe.  We ordered some original breakfast food.  Eggs, hasbrowns, biscuits and gravy toast.  I mean you know breakfast food.  It was yummy and relaxing as we looked out over the sound.  We wanted to make it to the beach before low tide to really get to enjoy the sea life and explore further out as the water receded.  We made it in perfect time, hitting the beach at a perfect time to get to see the ocean life as the water got lower and lower.  I can’t tell you enough how I love the water and beaches here.  The purple sea stars, which I wasn’t even aware, existed were everywhere.  They clung to rock and lay amongst the seaweed.  There are also sunflower stars that seem to   These stars made the yellowish orange and have lots of tentacles protruding from there main body area.  They tend to be smaller than the giant, purple sea stars.  There were anemones aplenty, the red one would grab a hold of your finger and you would really have to tug to get your finger back.  Cucumbers with are the same shape as our typical cucumber, just smaller and BRIGHT orange.  They also expand to have this neon orange bush like appearance as they feed, and then suck the brush back in when done, what a clean system for eating.  There were lots of crabs and sea snails, which I have to say I find really disgusting looking.  The beautiful spiral shell they live in is their only saving grace for looks, other than that they were the Jabba the Hutt of the sea community.  It’s probably a good thing they bury themselves deep.  We looked over the rail, the amazing view of these homes situated on a stand alone pier, was a really amazing site, I don’t know if I would be brave enough to live there.  But the sound of the waves and looking out over the water everyday might be nice.  I just can’t get enough of days like this.

Well I have taken a bit of a blogging break.  The past few weeks have been busy with everyday live endeavors that just fell the time and don’t allow for writing, or really thinking any clear thought.  My mind recently has felt like it was in a blender, but in the back of my mind my little cyberspace was quietly calling to me to get back on the wagon.  So here I am again with some more thoughts, event and little life moments to share. 

With our Seattle weather finally heating up and providing us with some of the most amazing weather.  When it gets warm here it’s not typically like the dry heat, the sun comes out and long with it a nice cool breeze keeping it perfect for out door events.  So of course we headed up the road to local hiking area.  Cell reception is spotty and we took the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with each other and our spirits.  We came to a bridge and as we walked across I went to set my hand down on the rail and something orange caught my eye.  There were a ton of these little caterpillars crawling around.  As I started shooting them and my flash would go off they all of a sudden switched directions and headed towards me, leaning over the edge and and reaching out.  Which I have to admit gave me the creeps, I like looking that them, not having them crawl all over me.  It was a cool and creepy sight to see.  With the sun retreating we headed home.  Another weekend gone, really where do all the days go?

For those of you gardening lovers out there here is a little tip for you.  Did anyone else grow up with sugar snap peas in their garden?  My parents grew them every year when I was a kid.  We would go out and pick them, eat them right then and there, so yummy!  Even our dog, Gigi, would go up to the vine, find one and rip it off chewing it to pieces and leaving it on the lawn.  My family is pretty organized when it comes to gardening and the peas were no exception.  We would hammer in stakes and either end of the rows of peas and then wrap them with chicken wire.  This then makes two trellises like walls for the pea sprouts to grow up the wire and make it easy for picking.  This is how we grew them all growing up so this year we decided to try it out in our garden.  So far it’s working like a charm!  If only they would grow faster to that we could get to the picking part. 

No I’m not talking about that video game that everyone has the app for.  We had an actual run to our local temple.  It’s amazing to me that I live closer to a temple here in Washington then I did in Utah.  Our Relief society planned a fun and inspirational activity for us.  We met at a ward members house and then run,  walk or drive to the temple.  Be taught about the Temples meaning and return for a lite breakfast!  I was lucky to get to run with Kaylene and talk as we made our way.  I have been trying to learn to like running, and though I can admit its not my favorite thing yet, I have been able to feel inspired while doing it.  When I run I typically listen to conference talks.  On a recent run I was listening to a talk by Elder Eyring   His words touched me more on my run then when I heard them in conference.  I think the fact that my body was tired and focused helped me to be humble myself to his words.  This physical activity drew my spirit upward and opened my mind and spirit to be receptive.  So though I haven’t learn to love it yet, I have learned that there is inspiration and meditation that can come during a good run.  

Now back to our Temple run.  We made our way up the Temple Hill side and found our way to the sign.  Once there we were greeted with water and cheers.  Once everyone made it we began our brief lesson on the symbolism of the exterior of the Temple.  It was so interesting to see the amount of thought that is put in not only the beautiful interiors of the building, but the exteriors as well.  The detailing on the fence has meaning, the fountain has meaning, the landscaping overall layout has meaning.  I was really touch how every location we visited really made you reflect on the Saviors example and his desire to come until him.  I learned so much and my appreciation and testimony of this holy place increased.  I left the activity with resolve to try to make the Temple a more regular part of my life.  It was a wonderful experience!

Here’s what My Sundays look like.  The past few, as we returned from church and settled into the afternoon this has been my view.  My Mr. and the Pup hanging out in the sunshine and enjoying a relaxing afternoon!  My Mr reading while Pax snuggles up behind his shoulders, sunning himself while still touching My Mr, He is such a snuggler!  My little life moment recorded!

At our lovely little rental house we have this amazing Rhododendron Tree, yes tree.  Most Rhodes are trimmed into bushes and not full-grown trees.  But ours is the latter and it is beautiful.  Last year as we moved in this time last year this tree was coming into full bloom and I thought, “wow it’s spring a time for new starts, and here we are in Washington with our new start.”  Now here we are again with the tree reminding me that a year has passed.  What a year it has been.  I never thought I would learn the roads . . . . and I have.  I never thought I would be able to buys some of the things I could in Utah . . . . and yeah I pretty much can.  I never thought the pup would like it here . . . . and he does, Thank you dog parks!  I wondered if it would ever feel like home . . . . and it does.  Ever since I was a kid I remember hearing about Seattle and feeling a sense of familiarity, which is odd because I had never been there.  But it’s true, all my life its odd but I felt something pulling me here.  I don’t know why or what for, but something in me has felt that this is the place for me.  It’s very hard to explain.  Whether by coincidence, fate or destiny here we are and I just can’t believe it’s been a year.

My Mr not wanting to waste our weekend inside, or weeding the yard, for another weekend, planned an outdoors adventure for us this weekend.  With this amazing weather we have been having (we tied with Pheonix AZ for warmest day last week) He forced us outdoors to explore the place we live, since the list of things to see keeps getting longer and longer.  He researched several hikes and selected one and we were off.  We drove, and drove which seemed like forever, it actually wasn’t all that far I was just inpatient.  I was starting to worry that he was taking me and the pup out somewhere to dump us, when I mentioned that he laughed and said ” hmmm you’ve caught on!!”  We arrived at our wooden destination, I love the moss covered trees here.  Though native Washingtonians  aren’t fans of moss I can’t help but love it!   We walked through the woods and came to a huge river with a beautiful wooden bridge extending majestically across.  The pup cautiously walked across the bridge,  getting low a creeping close to the edge glancing down quickly and moving back to the center of the bridge.  He’s not a fan of heights.  We moved on and followed the trail next to the river then branched off into the woods.  We looked through the canopy of trees and could see the massive, craggy mountains towering it was an amazing sight.  We met up with the river again and hiked back down to it, I love anything that involves water!  We surveyed that section looking for the fishing holes for later trips and watched as Pax investigated the water.  We took some shot of him looking like a true wilderness dog!  Soon we moved on and continued up the trail.  The forests here are just so beautiful.  We are constantly amazed by the sheer size of the trees, the old stumps along hang over the trail like giants.  And again we came to a water site!  A waterfall brimming with deafening sound! (see our video of the falls here)  Stopping on the bridge that ran across it we lead on the rails and enjoyed the cools breeze kicked up by the water.  We hiked until the trail end and merged with the river again, stopping to sit on the edge of the river and had lunch.  It was a perfect moment.  We finished and started back getting to see everything again and seeing some new sites on the way back.  With our senses satisfied we felt rejuvenated and ready to head back to civilization.