Las Vegas!

Well, I'm trying to catch up on my blogging (trying being the keyword). May 12 through the 16th Tiah, my roommate Shannon and I traveled to Las Vegas for one of my best friends weddings. It was a nice vacation. We enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather and most of all getting out of Spokane for a five days. This Shannon and my second trip and Tiah's third. We spend our mornings at the pool, days shopping and taking in the sights and enjoyed the nightlife. On Saturday May 14th, Britnee and Chris got married at the Little Chapel of the West. The wedding was beautiful and it was great getting to see them on their special day. All three of us were very sad to make the trip back to Spokane, especially when we found out it would be raining when we arrived. I guess thats the Washington in Spring. I can't speak for Shannon and Tiah but I am ready to go back!

Liberty Lake Hike

One reason that I love the Pacific Northwest is all of the great things to do outdoors. I love to hike, so yesterday a friend and I decided to hike the Liberty Creek loop. Its located just twenty minutes from Spokane. The hike wasn't too challenging but it was so nice to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and nature that is right in our neck of the woods.
- KelliJean

April & May

Where has the time gone...April and May just seamed to vanish and not because of any sunny weather. It feels like spring is only begin in Portland. With sunny days being few and far between.

My new garage was finished and it is so nice being able to store stuff without worrying if it will get wet or maybe even have a roof cave in on it.

I did finish my April sock for my sock-of-the-month. Sadly, however the May sock was never started. Instead I knitted 3 baby sweaters, 3 baby hats, an elephant & a puppy dog. I am hoping to catch up and knit 2 socks during the month of June; we'll see how that goes.

I am still trying to keep up with my 52 books in 52 weeks

April:
week 14 - 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
week 15 - Room: a novel by Emma Dohoghue
week 16 - Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck
week 17 - The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff

May:
week 18 - Come Into the Water: A Survivor's Story by Merlyn Magner
week 19 - Girl with a Peral Earring - Tracy Chevalier
week 20 - Becoming Jane: The Wit & Wisdom of Jane Austen
week 21 - Lady Susan by Jane Austen

All pretty good books I have to say that 84 Charing Cross Road was my favorite. It is a book of letters between the author and a small used bookstore in England written between the late 1940's and early 60's. I love this type of book.

Come into the Water, was a book I received from the early readers group of LibraryThing. So I was able to read & review it before it was made available in stores. It was a heartbreaking story about the 1972 Rapid City, SD flood.

Tiah

Garage

The small garage project has turned into quite an adventure. Morphing from a fix to a replacement project, from a 1 week to a 4 week project.
We started out with sunny weather but of course mother nature had other plans and decided that it wasn't quite time for Oregon to have spring. So talks with the contractor began to be about pouring cement during a hail storm versus just rain. I learned that it is okay to pour cement in the pouring rain which is what they did.
The project is moving along slowly and hopefully by the time spring/summer does finally arrive I will have a nice new garage to store my gardening tools in.

Tiah

Spring in Spokane

I woke up this morning to snow! Its April and we have been having gorgous weather, just not today. There was about 1/4th of an inch of snow for a while but it melted but it is still snowing.

Lemon Bars

We had a sunny day yesterday, which being unexpected was a very nice surprise and called for an impromptu tea party. My roommate Corey made scones and tea while I made lemon bars.

I found this great new recipe that turned out to be sunshine on a plate. It had a coconut shortbread bottom made with: 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, & 1/2 cup coconut. All mixed together and backed at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

The filling was 1 whole lemon (quartered) put into the food processor with 1 tablespoon flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs & 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt. The filling was then poured over the hot crust & baked for another 20 minutes.

The Greek yogurt really made them creamy.

Tiah

March

Wow, the month of March just flew by.

I was able to complete my sock of the month as well as starting a baby sweater for my friend at works new grandson.

I was able to keep up with my book of the week as well for the month.
week 10: Expiration Date by Sherril Jaffe
week 11: Extraordinary, Oridinary People by Condoleezza Rice
week 12: How to be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
week 13: Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt

And to add to the month, work began on fixing the falling down garage at my house. As you can see the fixing did not really go so well, so it is in the process of being rebuilt. I am very excited to be able to store my yard equipment with out it getting wet in the never ending Oregon rain.

Tiah