Take a Hike, or two!

Just getting settled into our new place in Portland, OR! Randy and I have been hitting up a few trails to see the amazing lush landscapes here and the huge amounts of waterfalls. I think we are going to like it here! I am so excited to explore this summer and see what's out there.

Eagle Creek Trail

Eagle Creek Trail

Pucnhbowl Falls, Eagle Creek Trail

Angel's Rest Trail

View from Angel's Rest Trail looking over the Columbia River.

tulip time

I had the chance to grab a (rare) sunny day visit to the Skagit Tulip Festival in Washington in April. What a beautiful way to enjoy mother nature, with the help from some tulip farmers! The Tulip Festival happens every year during the month of April, and when the flowers have bloomed. Amazing gardens and varieties that you could not imagine exist in abundance.

Enjoy the flowers!
-julie

maui days

After and entire winter of grey skies and rain in Seattle, we decided to fly off to Maui to grab 2 weeks of sunshine and swim with the sea turtles. It was a needed trip of playing at the beach, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, kite boarding (well attempting to) and what ever else was handed our way.  All I really wanted was to swim with the turtles, and wow did we ever get to do that! Maui is a beautiful, relaxed place. Nothing is urgent, people are happy and views are spectacular. 

a sunny day in seattle....

Right after New Year's we had a rare few days of sunshine glimmer around Seattle, and we did our best to take full advantage of a sunny day. We started with Randy flying us around the Space Needle and over the bay to grab some brunch at the airport in Port Townsend. Once we got back home, we quickly packed the kayaks on the car and decided to paddled around Lake Union. It was so fun  to check out the yachts and floating homes, and see where we live a little more up close and personal!

The Space Needle

 Rand & Julie flying

Julie kayaking

Randy kayaking by Gasworks Park

home on the range

driving around antelope flats road in jackson hole, the buffalo herds were everywhere in the road. check out this fuzzy one!

up above

the view from Wyoming Balloon Company's BIG BIG balloon. a perfect morning to enjoy the sunrise, the peak of fall in jackson hole, and friends. i love this place, it is so magical.

works in progress

randy has been taking these great photos of hummingbirds on our porch this summer, which inspired me to start painting them. here are just a few that i have started to paint--so they are works in progress!