Happy Monday

What a nice long weekend!  Big week ahead of us.  We are hoping to get our Save the Dates out tomorrow and I'm starting therapy with a new kiddo tomorrow.

Thanksgiving 2012

Cranberry Chutney

Turkey pieces

glazed carrots

remembering Christmas pasts...

Flour-less Chocolate Torte with homemade salted caramel toppings

Breakfast at Sage's the next morning

We had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday with the family (I'm still recovering).  Lots of good food and yummy leftovers!
Next year I'm signing up to bring the potatoes though (they were over looked this year)...

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving evening and there are so many things to be thankful for... Mostly that I am home this year with friends, family and Adam.  I am thankful that I have a warm fire and a playful kitten in the living room and a yummy dessert in the oven (for tomorrow).  I am thankful for a job that I enjoy, a cozy home and a long weekend. 
Hannah and Seth are driving up from Portland right now and we're making an Asian-themed dinner.  Our family dinner is tomorrow night in Everett, and I'm happy that Danielle will be joining us this year. 

Goodbye Blackberry...

Well, maybe this is a happy ending or maybe it's a sad one, but Blackberry escaped on Sunday.  He ran away with his girlfriend the wild bunny- who we had seen a few more times and there was plenty of evidence that she was still around.  Unfortunately a portion of Blackberry's cage did not have a lid and we really didn't think he'd be able to make it over, but if he was really motivated (and in love) I guess he could....

We have yet to see him in the yard so I think he has hopped away forever.  

Luckily we have Sushi to keep us busy.

Herbivore Bontanicals Soap

Great news!  Julia and Alex are back in Seattle and the soap shop is going strong this Christmas Season.  I got to see Julia's new place yesterday and had a wonderful lunch with Julia and Kristin.  Julia started making soap almost 2 years ago and the business is really taking off.  Click here form links to her shop on esty and her website. 
Her soaps are gorgeous and they smell so yummy.  They are also 100% vegan.  Some of you might even get a bar for Christmas :)

Saturday Morning

This little one is keeping me very busy.  She's growing fast and learning all sorts of new tricks- like how to sit outside our bedroom door and cry in the mornings (she didn't do that for the first 2 weeks and I thought maybe we had gotten lucky).
I've been very busy, which is ironic since I am barely getting 10 hours a week at my new job.  But Adam and I have a goal of getting Save the Dates out before Thanksgiving... and can you believe Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK?
One thing I love about my new job is that I have lots of free time in the mornings (when I'm feeling most productive).  I can sit and drink coffee while answering emails about work or clean the kitchen.  I've been jogging when it's nice out. 
My job is going great.  The more comfortable I get with the people and the company the better I feel about it.  I even went on Fort Lewis base this week- quite an ordeal. You have to sit in a room like the DMV (take a number) and wait to get called up, then show proof of registration and insurance and ID, then they call  your client and confirm that they will "sponsor" you for a day pass... It took almost 45 minutes to get on base, but I'll get a month long pass next time.
I'm up to 11 clients! I haven't met 2 of them yet, but I just got 2 new clients last week and so far all of my cases are running smoothly. 
I am working today at the center- we have Saturday Social Groups for the kids, which is really great. The parents love it and the kids get focused social time.  I only have to work on Saturdays if I want to- which I like too!

Jack and Maggie's House Warming Party

Babies and puppies!  It doesn't get much better!  The party was a lot of fun and it was nice to see all the work Jack and Maggie have put into their house.  Good times.

Mushroom Hike and Class

Those spots on Maple leaves are actually mushrooms

These mushrooms "bleed" a red color when broken

This guy knows a lot about mushrooms!  He's even named a few!

These berries are edible, who knew?

This is the variety I found and brought to the table

The mushroom that the lobster mushroom usually takes over

We all took a nibble off this mushroom which was spicy!

My parents invited me to take a mushroom walk/class with them in Granite Falls last weekend.  It was put on my the Audubon Society and they had an expert leading the class.  He was super knowledgeable and I learned a couple new edible species and a bunch of mushrooms that I'll never remember the names to.  All in all, a fun day.

Sushi

She is destroying our clothes, but she's so cute. She has mastered the art of climbing up our pant legs and really really wants to hang out on our shoulders.  I was able to clip her claws last night so hopefully that will help!

Woo Hoo!

WE WON EVERYTHING!

President

• Obama Wins Second Term, Sasha and Malia Are Psyched

Marriage

• Gay Marriage Looks Like It's Gonna Pass -- Fuck Yeah! And It's Passed in Maine and Maryland!

Pot

• Washington State Just Legalized Marijuana -- as Did Colorado! Whoa!

Governor

• OK, Jay, You Won -- But There's a Couple Things We Gotta Talk About

(copied from thestranger.com)

What a good week!  Adam and I stayed home and "watched" the news by refreshing our internet every so often to watch the polls.   A little less celebratory than 4 years ago when we hit the streets of Seattle and everyone had to go to work the next day super hung-over... but still a happy night here in Washington State!

Mushroom Hunting in Captial Forest

Callie, Hannah, Seth, Adam and I had decent luck finding chantrells off the side of the road in Capital Forest last weekend. It's not the best year for mushrooms due to the very dry beginning of Fall, but it's not the worst year either!