new season.

fall is here. its official. vine maple are turning fire orange. pumpkins and squash are showing up at the farmer's market. I'm craving hearty meals like tempeh reubens and roasted potatoes. Yet, its been quite warm and mostly dry. Bliss.

Fall, I love you.

And, Port Angeles has a new gathering spot: the next door gastropub, which will be cozy and delicious as fall turns wetter and darker. Fish tacos, sweet potato fries...oh my, how I love fancified pub food and a wide selection of local brews!

from our back yard.

dino kale with a side of sunshine

hop to it

the hearty meals begin

visitors.

view of big hump fire from mt. townsend

A few weeks ago, Justin's family made their annual late summer trek from Pittsburgh, PA to PA, Washington. We only get to see our families a few times each year, so we make the most of it when we get together.

Luckily, they brought some sunshine and heat with them, so we got to play outside nearly their entire visit. We ate great meals, we hiked, we biked, we even tried out kayaking in Freshwater Bay, and enjoyed the face-to-face time along the way. Jim and Joann, thanks for the great company and for making our own back yard feel like a vacation!

a snack and a view from mt. townsend.

blackberry break along the Galloping Goose Trail on Vancouver Island


high class at high tea


a bustling alley in Victoria

preservation.

Our kitchen has been quite steamy. It's just that time of year--if you know what i mean.

Gardens and farms and trees around here have begun to explode with tasty tasty produce. I would love to just sit and eat it all day long, savoring the flavors of summer, and I do--I have had many a contented belly ache in the past few weeks. However, I would like to continue to enjoy these summer flavors as the daylight passes, the leaves crumble, and the temperatures drop.

So, following the lead of my grandparents, parents, and many food loving friends, we have been canning like mad. Apricot butter, pickled beets, canned peaches, dilly beans, and canned plums. Thus far, the only failure has been an exploding jar of honey'd plums, which was quite sad because these green gage plums from our friends, mark and heidi, really are tiny mouthfuls of delicious sunshine.

What flavors are YOU preserving for the winter?

two years.

Two years ago today, Justin and I got married in front of our loved ones. Thanks for the continued support, loved ones! We feel so lucky.

To celebrate, we went for a hike through Badger Valley. There were no badgers in sight; instead, lots of flowers and Olympic Marmots enjoying some warm sunshine.

native thistle and gleeful pollinator.

Badger Valley and Indian paintbrush, monkey flower, and more!