What a Summer

It is hard to believe that summer is over. It has gone by so fast that I'm not sure what happened.

August was a fun filled month which started out with the Little League Softball World Series, here in Portland. I volunteer every year, and each year I seem to do a little more. This year the university the I work for, hosted the girls in the hotel on campus. So myself & my friend Kristine were volunteered to act as activity coordinators. So we hosted fun activities for the girls at the hotel in the evenings - we had a movie night, pizza party, bowling night, ice cream social & swim parties. It was a lot of fun meeting the girls, coaches, & families from all over the world.

Right after I was done with that, I was lucky enough to have some visitors travel to Portland. Meagan's good friends from Scotland visited for a week. I was able to take them to Forest Park - which is the largest urban park in the United States. We spent the afternoon hiking on the hottest day of the year, luckily it wasn't too bad in the park, just a little humid. Meagan & my parents were able to come down one weekend and have brunch with them as well, before Meagan took them traveling up to the Olympia & Seattle area. I was really glad that I had the opportunity to show off Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

My good friend from Japan was also able to visit this year. I love when she visits, because she always teaches me a new Japaneese dish - this year we made gyoza's. We also did several marathon shopping trips, coming from Tokyo everything in America is inexpensive.

It was a wonderful summer, but I am looking forward to a peaceful autumn.

Tiah

Update

Wow! This summer is flying by. I can't believe its been two months since the last time I blogged. Well, summer has been rather busy. In July, I moved from north Spokane all the way across town to the South Hill. I absolutely love my new neighborhood! I can walk three blocks to the grocery store and I am just about ten blocks from two of the most beautiful parks in spokane, Manito and Cliff.

Also in July I was the maid of honor in one of my best friends weddings. The wedding took place north of Spokane at the Camden Ranch in Elk, WA. We had beautiful weather for the outdoor ceremony, although it was a little hot! It was so much fun getting to be there for Shelyn and Jason's special day!

This summer I have also found myself with a new hobby that I quite enjoy, even if that might just suprise most of you. Fishing! I went back in May with some friends from work and found that I rather enjoy it. I've caught about five fish, worth mentioning. We normally go to a lake just outside of Cheney called Williams lake and rent a boat and head out for the afternoon. Its a lot of fun. We also went on a little camping/fishing trip to No Name Lake just outside of Newport, Wa. We didn't catch any fish but we had a lot of fun.
School starts the week of September 6th for all of the disticts in the Spokane. I haven't been hired on at a specific school, although I have my fingers crossed still, but I am planning on working as a substitute teacher as well as at Costco. I have also been choosen to be the Chapter Advisor for the Alpha Xi Delta Chapter at EWU. I'm really excited to see what new challenges that brings for me!

KelliJean

Sock Summit 2011

Sock Summit, the biannual sock knitting convention happened again in Portland this year. It was 5 days filled with 6,000 knitters in the Convention Center, classes, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, shopping, and even a flash mob. You will have to do a YouTube search of Sock Summit Flash Mob, to see a video of people dancing with skeins of yarn, it was supper fun.

One of the most interesting events was a sheep to foot competition. In 6 hours groups of 5 people had to shear a sheep, clean the wool, spin the wool, and knit a pair of socks. It was fascinating to watch.

My favorite time at the convention was being able to attend a lecture by my favorite knitter & author Stephanie Pearl-McPee. And after the lecture I was able to get a picture with her holding the sock I was knitting.
Very Exciting!

Tiah

Staff Retreat

Our fiscal year activities have finally completed and we are beginning the "slow" period before the students arrive back in September. As a reward for all our hard work during the year, my boss usually takes our accounting office out for a special treat each year. In the past it has always been lunch and a movie. This year he decided to change things up a bit, probably will a little advice from his wife, he decided to take the office out for pedicures. The 5 ladies in my office, myself included, were very surprised and excited for this turn of events. So Friday we had our staff retreat, lunch and then a walk downtown for pedicures. My boss had his first pedicure as well, in which he had American flags painted on his toes. A great start for the new school year.
Tiah

Commuting

I live in a city where there is absolutely amazing public transportation. It is true, and it has been true for awhile. However, I really like to drive to work, I love my 15 minute commute, I love the fact that at any moment during the day I can hop in my car and go. For years I have ignored all my coworkers telling "think about the money you would save on gas and parking," "think about all the free time you would have to read."

With gas prices on the rise I finally decided to give public transportation a try. Last week, I gave up my parking permit and became a commuter. I have to say, it hasn't been that bad. It does add 30 minutes to my trip to work, but I get a short walk in and because of where I live my whole trip falls in the fare-less zone. So I actually have a free commute now, no paying for the train, no paying for parking, no paying for gas.

What do I do with my 25 minute train ride? I knit!

Tiah

My New Hobby

S'mores Brownies

Chicken Pot Pie

S'mores Cookies

Shortbread Cookies dipped in Chocolate





Pork Chop Skillet

I picked up a new hobby over the past few months. Baking. It is one of my favorite things to do. I love finding new recipies and trying them. Some turn out amazing and others aren't even good enough to eat.

-KelliJean

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!