Have you been a good girl?

Had fun playing Santa this year for B's mother Nancy. We (with Leah, his sister) gave her an iPad for Christmas; we all customized it with apps we thought she's use and made a lighting fast trip to Yakima to give it to her. It was a busy day but very fun and the grandchildren had fun teaching Nana how to use modern technology. 

 

Long trip to the tree lot

 

Annual tree hunting trip this year was another odd one, like last year when B and Josh got lost (and Jess and I stayed home, sick). This year was just the three of us, instead of a whole posse. And while there wasn't a lot of snow on the ground it was snowing -- hard. It came down heavy the whole time we were out, fast flakes that fell so silently. We had the woods to ourselves.  It took just the right amount of time to fine one, not so much we were tired and cranky but enough we felt victorious. And Jess and I carried the tree all the way back to car, while B took it easy, telling us how satisfied we'd be to do it ourselves. 

Tannenbaum

We tried to use mostly recycled items, like these broken zippers I made into ornaments

Entered into my first big civic project since living here, organizing a Christmas tree to be auctioned for a local nonprofit. We're all knitters and spinners so we chose a fiber theme for the project. Everything was spun, or knitted or spun or sewn -- you get the idea. We had more than 100 ornaments by the time we were done and yards of wool garland. It sold for $600 and we felt proud (although some sold for thousands).

 

We were proud of the tree topper, a last-minute addition. See the ball of yard with needles?

Houston--we have ourselves a dishwasher

 

Yes, kitchen was finally finished, not a minute too soon. We were sick of it. The list: refinished cupboard fronts, paint, new door hardware, install dishwasher (and make hole for it), install new (to us)sink and faucet, replace countertop and tile entire backsplash area. 

Moral of the story: Be kind to yourself. We learned a lot doing this project. Hopefully those lessons will follow us on our next project, because you know there will another -- one day.

Thanks for the memories

TJ and Kristin (he's hooked her on  new game)

 We had a great Thanksgiving in Redmond, low-key but fun. The three oldest kids (Jess and Josh were at their mom's) were able to be there, Sarah brought her beau Trusten, Travis was there (and his girl Autumn for a while) and all three were surprised and pleased that their dad Scott was able to make it from Louisiana.
  

Trusten, Brian, TJ, Kristin and Scott

Needless to say we played a lot of games, mixed a lot of drinks and had a ball.

Trusten, Kristin and Brian on Game Night

Sarah Jeanne

Sarah's boyfriend Trusten and his band play in Portland regularly but we had never seen (or heard him) and it was so exciting to see (or hear) how GREAT he is! Very talented guy. 

 

Sarah cajoles Trusten into singing

Trusten, Sarah and Kristin in Drake Park

 

 

 

 

 

Boo & Bug

 

It was only a few days but the weather was fine (or decent) and it was great to have everyone together.

The Sixteen Tortures

Every kid has to turn 16 eventually and it seems every kid in the Brumbaugh clan has to suffer through a rite of passage -- The Dreaded Curse of the Sixteen Tortures. 
First, there's a public flogging. Then, the victim is subjected to hoaxes, jokes and mocking -- all in the name of Turning Sixteen. 
Brian's niece Shiori must have known she was doomed when it took her 20 minutes to open the 16 boxes containing a measly 16 Barnes and Nobles bucks. 
Then, to add insult to injury, Shiori was forced to a mummification by 16 scarves, all in the name of adolescence.

We have a few years until the next victim can be detained...err, identified.

The Adventures of Zoe and Shooter

The  cast and crew of The Ballad of Zoe and Shooter

It was unseasonably cold for this year's cider pressing but that didn't deter us from wrenching more than 40 gallons of the liquid gold from Methow Valley trees.  We nearly had more dogs than people this time, due to a poor showing of peons to do the heavy work.

Janel and Leah, assistant directors in "Cider Mash 2012"

 

 

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Captain Jan had everything lined up, keeping the food coming on time and delicious. We arrived a day before the rest and spent the day picking three trees bare. Our timing was perfect and G'pa Keith had kept the trees/fruit in great health. 

 

 

Diane tries to feed the apple crusher without getting juiced

 Diane and Rick arrived in time to press a little and socialize a lot on Saturday, our chili feed party day! We capped the last jug, cleaned up and put everything away just in time for dusk and dinner.
Oddly, this year we had the least people (not counting the time Brian and I pressed cider by ourselves) but put out the most cider.
We must be getting better!

yes, cowboys compare hat size when they get together

Two out of five ain't bad

Took some photos while Kristin was here visiting; it was great to get them in the lens again. And we got a bonus when Travis' girlfriend Autumn agreed to sit for me, too. 

P.S. the kids aren't always so solemn- those were just shots I liked.

Mo and Bug

Travis

 

Kristin

Autumn -- Travis' girlfriend

The ballad of Dusty and Andrea

 We kicked off the wedding of Brian's cousin Dusty by helping make pies for the reception. Dusty's sister Melodie is the Pie Queen but 30-plus pies were too much even for her. We started before 9 a.m. (and Melodie started way before that) and we didn't stop until 1 p.m. (and Melodie was still at it).

 Yeah, it was hot and sticky and B jumped into  the ice-cold McKenzie. On purpose.

Lots of family at the wedding and the setting was lovely, a riverside fishing lodge set up with multiple cabins, hiking trails and gardens. 

We, led by Jess and Shiori and Leah -- who brought the house down dancing every song -- closed down the place, staying until the DJ shut down for the night.

Clear Lake revisited

 Well, the Fates conspired against us and we didn't get to do a big group campout this year -- so many irons in the fire. But we did hook up with Dan and Julie and brood and Leah/Shiori for a few days of camping at Clear Lake along the McKenzie River.

We had not one but two hiking surprises -- namely hikes that turned out to be much longer than expected. Jess and Josh and I took off around the lake on our first afternoon, while Brian was at a cousin's bachelor party. It was hot, very hot, but the lake was lovely, dipping into the woods and coming out into fields of lava rock. 

The lake is distinctive; full of glacial water, bone-chilling cold and clear like glass. Our lake-circling hike was so long and hot that Josh impetuously jumped in for a very, very, quick swim. 

Then we gathered the whole gang for a seven-plus mile hike (supposed to be five miles) along the McKenzie. Same deal, different day. The hike was great, in a wonderful section of forest -- but long, very long. 

 We didn't see any other hikers until the very end. It was a very popular trail with demented mountain bike riders who like to torture themselves. 

I mean, you know, dedicated cyclists.

Our goal was Tamolitch pool, 'Blue Pool' by locals. Also crazy cold, also had a Hole jump into the water, only this time it was Brian. 

This family is nuts. 

And he crosses the finish...

August was a big month for Brian. 

He didn't get to go backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail but he did meet another, newer, goal -- participating in a sprint triathlon. 

Brian trained for months; he was already a great swimmer but he wanted to work on his form and build up his running and biking skills. 

The day was crazy hot but he had a great swim leg and a good bike leg. His 5k run time was longer than his goal (it was like 95 degrees by then) but since his other times were good he made his overall goal. 

Jess and Josh were there as race volunteers but they were there for Brian's transitions and at the end, I was there to take photos for the paper and we rounded out the  cheering section with Aunt B and Josh's friend Sean. 

We were very proud, it was an amazing accomplishment.

The Trouteholes Go Californian -- Episode 7

 We saw little of Santa Cruz, beyond the boardwalk and the beach. We didn't have enough time for anything else, a shame because Santa Cruz has plenty to offer.

 We walked the wharf of course, Santa Cruz's being quite long and full of businesses -- and pelicans. This seafood store, Stagnaros, was a familiar sight. It's where my mother bought the makings for her cioppino, and bouillabaisse and all the other wonderful seafood-based dishes she made that I refused to eat as a picky kid.

 Jess, Josh and Brian took a surfing lesson and had a blast -- declaring it the most fun of the whole trip.

 We ended the visit with a few leisurely hours on the beach; it wasn't terribly warm but it was pleasant and the crashing waves, squealing children and squawking birds presented a perfect experience.