Michelle Branch: My High School idol.

People from High School knew me as the punk/emo girl. Yeah, I don't even want to go there. It was an awkward time in my life (not as awkward as my American Eagle days, though). I did have a soft spot for Michelle Branch because we all knew that Michelle Branch was pretty bad ass. Excuse my Francois.

Exhibit A:Me just a little bit after High School.

And besides my Hot Topic attire with band shirts, spikey bracelets, black eyeliner, and converse shoes...I had a soft spot for bohemian fashion (as I do now).

this is how i dress now. Flare jeans and a dress is uber cute and comfy

this is from the "goodbye to you" video. this is when i discovered wearing a dress and
jeans together.

Mud Mountain Dam Part Duex

Location: Mud Mountain Dam at Enumclaw, WA

Trail: Mud Mountain Rim Trail

Elevation gain: 200-350

Duration: 1.5 hours

Miles: 3

Level: Easy

Unfortunately, we didn't get to the river even though our guide said the Rim trail would be 3 miles round trip and we would be at the river. We didn't have enough time to get to the river, and there was still a 300 feet drop to the river still. The trail was kept at a constant flat trail until we got off the rim trail and went down the steep gravel trail, hoping we came to the river. Oh, and Washington State has reached 70 degrees yesterday at 3pm!

A very narrow trail for most of the hike, it made me feel a tad bit claustrophobic.

Oh, such a beautiful day. Also, there was an annoying bee following me throughout the hike.

Hey look, a pseudo chair/toilet from a stump!

Garry's A.D.D. kicked in and knocked on the fence with a small log.

The ladybug was uber patient with me while I was taking pictures of it for 10 minutes.

Yeah, we didn't at all listen to those signs.

I am OBSESSED with lichen!
(A lichen is not a single organism the way most other living things are, but rather it is a combination of two organisms which live together intimately. Most of the lichen is composed of fungal filaments, but living among the filaments are algal cells, usually from a green alga or a cyanobacterium)

This is off the rim trail, and going down to the river. Or trying to go. This was on our way back up...super steep.

Licorice Fern!

For you, my quiche.

Ingredients:

For Crust 2 cups of all purpose flour (or whatever flour you desire), 3/4 tablespoon of salt, and 12 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter cut into 10 pieces)

For Filling 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half an half, 3 large eggs, 1 cup of grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of frozen minced spinach thawed, half a tomato cut into small minced pieces, salt and pepper to taste.

Directions for crust: Mix the salt and flour together, add it to the food processor along with the butter. Pulse it until butter pieces are the size of peas. Add 3 tablespoons of cold water, and pulse until moist dough forms. Put the crumbs on plastic wrap and form the dough into a circle with your palm. Wrap the dough tightly, and refrigerate it for one hour.

After an hour, if the dough is still crumbly, just take each piece at a time and form it on the pan. If it doesn't crumble, carefully set it on the pan, and then form it. Bake the crust in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Poke holes on the crust to let air out, and bake it for an additional 10 minutes. Then side aside while making filling.

Mix all the ingredients together for the filling except the spinach, tomatoes, and cheeses. Add the cheeses to the pan with the crust, then the spinach and tomatoes, then pour the egg mixture in. Bake it in the oven for 35 minutes at 350 degree. Once it's done, cool it on a wire rack for ten minutes.

ENJOY!

A short hike on one of Washington's only beautiful day of the week

Last Friday was a beautiful day in Washington. And I know this is still cold, but it was in the upper 60's, and all the rain we were having made this quite a treat. I even put on my short shorts to go hiking. Erin and I made a day to hike the Mud Mountain Dam trail, and then made a spontaneous trip to Federation Forest just 15 minutes further than Mud Mountain Dam.

Erin and I couldn't actually find the trail down to the river. Just the trail to the viewpoint.

Going down, but this was me looking up at HORRID steps. :\

Prettiness.

I love fungi growing on fallen stumps

The trail wasn't too maintained, I guess. In fact, it was a little dangerous.

The view point entrance.

Erin and I just outside of Federation Forest in Greenwater.

White River outside of Federation Forest. We stopped here and had a picnic of
hummus and wheat pita bread :D

Rock hopping the White River!

Rock hopping should be a serious sport. Because in the middle of me rock hopping,
I lost balance and my right foot stepped into the river. On the shallow end though.
I love you, water proof hiking boots

One last glance. *sigh*

a nerdy get together @ flaming geyser

Garry and I made the first Spring picnic of 2011. However, only a few people showed up :(
Nonetheless, it was still really fun!

Erin decided she wanted to try and walk across the fallen log to the island.
She didn't make it to the other side.

We played ball with an abandoned tennis ball and a large stick as a bat.

And somehow sparklers were involved.

We also played kick ball.

Kelly's friend, Dima, and his amazing posture for kick ball.

Andrew going in for the kill!

Matt looking bend it like beckham.

Our spot. Just walk down a few stairs and cross a little trail, and it was amazing!

See? :)

After lunch, Erin and I decided to walk a little bit of the trail. And then decided to pose for the camera.

A picture break while the boys carry on with their kick ball.

A sad, last flight for a toy airplane.

And during quiet time, Matt showed me how to use my camera properly to take better nature photos. Thanks, Matt!

Mossy Moss.