Went up to the pass for a longish hike. Just over ten miles all told I think. A little troubled by how tired I was at the end of it but a grand time nonetheless. The end destination was Rainbow Lake but the pictures didn't turn out so well so I posted this little waterfall I walked by on the trail up to the lakes. Reminds me of Hawaii. At least, it would remind me of Hawaii if there hadn't been a drought when I was doing the waterfall route on the road to Hana. Walked at least a half mile all over a dried up lake trying to find the giant cascade the guide book talked about until I realized what the giant concrete wall next to the cracked earth meant. Hoping for a Hoh backpacking trip this summer and am a little worried that the first day will be ~10 miles but with a pack. Hopefully I can put in some longer hikes before then and not be so wiped. Tried out some bug repellent impregnated clothing and it worked great! The little critters left me alone. Normally I am a delicacy that they can't resist. Hopefully the shirt, kerchief and hat will continue in buggier weather than I experienced on this hike (lightly buggy).
Gobbled up my first cherry tomato this weekend from my indoor plant. That puppy will produce year round and they are so juicy and sweet! Love it. The fruit is so plentiful and heavy that I've had to string up the plant so it looks like a bondage scene gone awry. Can't find a mini tomato cage so I'm not sure what else to do. Kabob sticks, bulldog clips and twine won't keep it upright and happy forever.
It looks as though the worst of the hot weather is over which is sad because I just got my air conditioner all hooked up and pumping. The first time I started it up I decided to take a short nap to better luxuriate in the coolness. Glad thing I didn't leave the house! Just when I was dozing off right and proper the thing starts gushing water like a fire hydrant. Luckily my nap was on the couch nearby so I turned it off in a flash but it was still enough water that I used up my large bath towel sopping up the mess before it spread everywhere. Turns out when I migrated it over from "storage" I didn't check to see if the stopcock was pushed in all the way. Even though I've remedied that little issue I'm still paranoid it might build up enough pressure to have a similar incident. So no A/C while I'm out and about. Better for my electric bill for sure but less fabulous for Ms. Sugs. It still cracks me up when I walk in to find dead kitty pose on the hardwood. Must be rough being wrapped in fur in 90 degree heat. Poor girl.
The sunsets have just been amazing from my living room window. The city and sky light up in all these amazing hues. I keep taking pictures but they just don't do it justice. There's a group of several buildings that light up like their surfaces are on fire and the twilight blue/gray sky behind them is just the perfect contrast. Beautiful.
Still trying to maintain a eating healthy pledge I've made to myself but every now and a gain I fail spectacularly. Take Friday night for example. I get home tired from running errands all day and nothing looks good in the fridge. But the freezer. Now that looks tempting in my warm apartment. So I proceed to finish off the better part of a pint of Half Baked Ben & Jerry's. Should never have purchased three stinkin' flavors, even if they were only two bucks a piece. They taunt me. But I have done quite well with my flax seed oil supplemented breakfasts and I had a sandwich on the hike made with fresh veg, bavarian meat salami, and cheese of course, on 16 grain bread. That should count! Never mind the screaming from the fridge of the neglected spinach container that will be going bad shortly. Maybe I could make creamed spinach? I always love it when mom made it but every time I try the sauce turns out lumpy and sad. Sometimes I think a roux is beyond me.
In preparation for the backpacking I leafed through my dehydration recipes for just such an event. Have come up with several meals for brekkie, lunch, dinner and snacks that look appealing. Wish there weren't so many that depended on super high salt pre-mixed taco seasoning and onion soup mixes. Will have to check my Make-a-Mix book and see if there is a more favorable option for those. Exciting! The dehydrator has been getting quite the workout. I'm hoping to make a garbanzo bean salad that reconstitutes well on the trail. A lot of the recipes call for what seems to be a Nalgene drinking bottle of a much smaller size. Not sure where to find a small, wide-mouthed bottle that can withstand boiling water. If I find them I would like to buy several. Extra bonus if they have the looped cap that can be hung by a carabiner.
Hoping (kinda) that the weather turns to crap so I can be motivated to stay inside and finish up some baby presents. Am behind but not tragically so. Haven't missed a birth yet but I am cutting it down to the wire.
NPR made me laugh the other day. Apparently about 400,000 people claimed on their US 2010 census forms that their religion was Jedi. Awesome. My friend sent me this link in response to my sharing the news. I love people. And I love NPR.
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