South Puget Sound

January 11, 2013July 22, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 8 Comments

My idea of risk taking is storing my hiking boots in the garage; which I typically wouldn’t do, but mud is no friend to brand new carpet.

The sun was shining today, so I was eager to get to the nearby state park for a quick stroll along the rocky shoreline of South Puget Sound. To do so, I’d need to get past my undying fear of black widow spiders and clear my boots. I put a swiffer duster in each boot and whisked it around, and even flashed a light down there to be sure I was safe. My confidence must have been lackluster, because I got an adrenaline rush from lacing the boots up over my feet. Talk about a mild existence, you guys.

I’m also 32 weeks pregnant now, so I’m really living on the edge if I’m sticking my feet in dark boots/spider condominiums.

Well, so far so good in terms of spider-bite avoidance. But the next time I plan on walking around the shoreline of Puget Sound in January, I’ll be sure to bring gloves, and I’ll be doubly sure they aren’t stored in the garage.

Holiday Hangover

January 4, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 6 Comments

Anyone else feeling a little drained from the Holiday season? I am.

Our anniversary was December 23rd; we spent it in nearby Gig Harbor at a bed and breakfast on the water. Then we spent Christmas Eve with friends and had a mellow Christmas Day at home. I made a pot roast for Isaac and even gave some to the dogs because I happen to be an overindulging dog owner. It all seemed much more labor intensive at the time than in retrospect.

Now that the Holidays are behind us, we’re watching the days tick by until baby joins us. Margot is due in 9 weeks and I really can’t believe it. If any of you experienced mothers have any birthing or newborn advice, please share. I sure could use it! In the meantime, I’ll be sleeping as much as possible, while I still can.

Snow Lust

December 20, 2012December 20, 2012 ~ Crystle ~ 10 Comments

I don’t care that it only snowed two inches, and that the snow has already melted away. My upbringing in Bakersfield, CA has left me eternally deprived of this wintry white stuff; that’s probably why anytime it sleets or snows, I clap with glee while repeatedly asking anyone around me if they’ve noticed it’s snowing. Needless to say, I was outside taking photos from the moment the puffy, sluggish flakes fell from the sky over our neighborhood in the suburbs of Olympia, WA to the moment it all melted away.

Now that this beautiful scenery has returned to it’s normal, wet, evergreen status, I’m back inside, tapping my fingers in anticipation of another brief snow storm (which is tentatively scheduled in our 10-day forecast). If snow doesn’t show around Puget Sound again this year, then that’s fine too. This is all I need to sate my snow-lust until next year when the Army sends us to Alaska for a three year assignment.

Please remind me of this day of snow-day-giddiness when I’m stuck indoors in Fairbanks, Alaska for four months while the extreme winter weather rages on outside. Future me will need the perspective, I’m sure.