You know what they say...an Apple a day!

It is apple harvest here at Red Maple Farm. Many apples fell to the ground before we got to them but there seems to still be plenty! I have been making spiced apple cider (spider), applesauce, apple muffins, caramel apples and plan to freeze some for pies next week. Every burner on my stove is full of apple canning or apples cooking. I think the pupils of my eyes are shaped like an apple. "The apple of my eye?" The goats are very spoiled, they love all the peels, cores, and leaves. Goat Heaven! Joe came over today and was the goats personal slave, picking up apples and leaves off the ground and feeding them to Fireball and Cobalt. Joe is now the apple of their eye!

Gentry's gift to me.....aw shucks!

Well Ladies, I did actually ask for this. Can you even believe it? Those Wyoming roots are really showing now. There was a picture on the front of the Martha Stewart Magazine this past year with one of these beauties (most likely a fancier model) all decked out with nice linens, candles and the like. We might try that sometime for guests! The cabin feel is really nice. I love it. I suppose some would confuse this with a hunting tent, but not me. This, my friends, is a canvas resort. The stove is very warm and toasty...."Open up the doors, honey!" and it will be a great gathering place if it is sprinkling outside. I really want to have a sing in this, it does kind of remind one of convention on a very small scale.

Sleeping under the stars *****

We were so crazy about the outdoors this last trip that after our Davis Peak excursion we decided to sleep out under the stars. Some fascinating facts came of this. 1.) The rack on the top of the pickup bed was a perfect fit for a queen-size inflatable mattress. 2.) Elaine still has a fear of falling. 3.)Getting off of this thing, in the middle of the night (who's idea was it to rehydrate?), in the dark, after climbing a humongous mountain, and having really really sore muscles, is very entertaining- in retrospect. The first picture shows Gentry's fanaticism. Yes, the bed was completely level. It really was very cool and I would love to do it again- I'll sleep closer to the ground next time though. I loved trying to figure out what constellation was what, finding initials written in the stars, seeing shooting stars and watching the moon move across the sky during the course of the night. We both did sleep, we were exhausted remember? If you haven't ever done this- put it on your list!

A 20th Anniversary to take your breath away! A wider, grander view....

View from the top of the 3 sisters: Faith, Hope and Love. We had some camera troubles (story of my life it seems) so this is the only one you can click on to enlarge, the others had to be messed with to get them to look almost right.
I am giving you the view first, which is not how it really works ya know. This is from the top of Davis Peak, the mountain we look across at when we are staying at Vertical Ranch. The lake is Opal Lake (which we can't see at all from VR) and this is looking towards the West. I love the needle sharp peak way in the back- and there is a sharks back peak in the distance that is harder to see.
This is looking back on the trail where we came up. Yikes!

This is from the top, looking through a tree that shared the 360 degree view with us.

I was fascinated by this mountain with the rainbow hills. This is also looking west.
Looking south is Mt. Rainier!
This is a view of Waptus lake in the distance (has all kinds of fishing!) and Opal Lake is deep, inaccessible to the general public and a beautiful deep blue green.

This is the picture of me climbing up to the top of the top of the top of the peak!
Feeling pretty happy to be there. It is a very small space but there were no crowds to elbow through anyway.
Gentry looking out at the all around us view! Summit accomplished!

This is the trail going from the lookout up to the peak. We can see the lookout but not this grassy meadow. It all looks rocky from our side.

The camera was a failure but this does commemorate the successful hike up for our Anniversary.
I found a small piece of charcoal and wrote this at the lookout point which is a circle of stacked rocks. We think it was once a fire lookout.
Gentry checking the elevation in comparison to other mountains around us.

This is at the dip below Davis peak- who knew there is a little Surprise lake up there?

This picture gives you a little idea of the scale of things up there. We are no more than a tiny speck in the whole scheme of things.




This is a westward looking view from the lookout. It is about 1/2 mile from the lookout to the true summit.

A post at the lookout that had some boards nailed to it and some guy wires hanging from it. A post for an antenna maybe?
We can see this funky tree from our camp through the binoculars. It is a real character. I bet it has some stories to tell.


Looking SE is Lake Cle Elum and the Cle Elum valley. Not so visible in the photograph is Mt. Adams (right above and slightly left of my head)

This 5 mile marker was a welcome sight. Have I mentioned that it is an 11 mile round trip, with 5 1/2 miles going up, up, and up. Switch backs, and resting spots the only relief. There was only one small dip of a saddle back and that was all.

Coming up we came across areas that were burned in the Pollalie/ Davis Peak fire of 2006. Looking downhill at this point all the trees were dark- black, but looking up hill all the bark was......
white! That was one of many indescribable sights.

The root balls apparently burn and leave big holes in the ground, and then of course the tree falls over.
It was almost spooky walking through this forest of burned trees. The sky was so blue, and grass was growing and it would have been a great place to spot wildlife but they were making themselves scarce that day.

An avalanche chute? Rocky dip in the hillside. It was interesting scenery. Something new and different around every bend.

Closer to the bottom now, and look at the size of some of the trees that were burned. Some had to be about 500 years old or so.






That's me in there between the cut log. The scale is hard to understand with a camera, but that slope is very real. The elevation gain was 3900 feet in 5 1/2 miles. Those trees weren't the only thing burning!

Mile marker number 3. It was a very long ways until marker number 5.

This gives you an idea of the grade we were trying to overcome. Some of the thoughts we shared were-

It was worth every step, it was an unforgettable experience, it exceeded our expectations in every way, and after working so hard to get up to the top, and after seeing the rewards, it was very very hard to leave. It was a fantastic way to spend a day together and we were surprised that we never saw another soul. We knew we needed to get going since we didn't know how long it would take us to get back down and as it turned out we could have stayed there a bit longer. We only took 7 hours while our guide book had led us to think it would take 8 or more. I want to go again, anyone else want to come?

Come for supper, there is plenty of room at the table...

This log pile is significant. See the little logs on the end that are a bit lighter? That is all that is left of Eli's tree, that Kent helped haul up the side of the mountain, that Gentry cut up, that Michael helped haul around to make:

A post for a dinner bell
And an XXL picnic table!

Gentry finished off the edges nicely, added a bench on one end and has plans for the other end too. (It is a surprise, so I can't tell.)

Now the bell has a bit of a story also. I bought it on EBay. The advertised picture was of a nice dinner bell, cast iron, all black, with no decoration. I thought it would be fun to bring in the troops when they are all scattered here and yon to all the little tent spots or wherever for a nice hot meal. What I got was a replica of the Liberty Bell, gold with a dark fake patina, pot metal and with a wimpy gong. Happy Anniversary Gentry. He saw it for what it is (lame) but was nice enough to hang it anyway. The shipping was hefty so no sense in returning it- Now we can say we have the Liberty to have fun, eat great meals (and on time while the food is hot please!) and roast marshmallows, and we can feel Free to laugh and sing and tell stories , roast more marshmallows.......

For your listening pleasure....

It would be more of a pleasure if my little camera captured the actual sound of the piano. Our piano may be old and somewhat decrepit but it has a lovely tone that this video does not duplicate in any way, shape or form! Grant was a bit nervous knowing that I was taping this so he may have made a few more mistakes than he would normally- but he admits that he needs to work on it more anyway. We hope this does show that Grant really enjoys this part of his day. Practice, practice!

A great golfing gang!

Celebrating the last day of summer vacation the "cool" B's who took all the kids to our local Golf hangout. So glad Carmel was here to join in the fun!

Danny was a great cheerleader!
Ice cream after. That was so good!
Artificial Colors?
In an ice cream happy place?

We brought him along. Just for fun. Ha ha ha.

Mixing it up!

As a proud mommy I must say that this is an awesome invention! We could totally use this at VR! Sorry it is too late for the whip cream Tim. Hee Hee. Grant will be taking a robotics class this semester so he is pretty excited. He is also taking: swimming, geography, math, literature/writing, science and typing/keyboarding. Victoria is taking French, and PE as her electives with the same "core" subjects as Grant. Grant and I are going to be studying together a lot and doing a course on history. I think this year is perfect for following the election! We've already started. It is a lot of fun.

First Day of School Picture

Big fun weekend!

We had very special guests for our trip up on top of Huckleberry Mountain this time!
Gentry spent many hours building me a picnic table. Estimated weight is 1200 lbs. Thanks Michael for helping him heft those huge logs around, thanks Eli for falling this beauty. This particular furniture peice is staying right where it is...I get no second chances on arranging my furniture layout. I thought I took a picture of the finished product but I guess I will show that next time. It is a King size table for sure. Next time we come up there will be a Moose family sitting around it I think. Misty and a bit cold this time. WInd was up and blowing the smoke in our faces but that was ok

it gave licence to snuggle time.
Blurry picture but too cute to pass up.
Liam got his first night in a camper. He loved it and Gentry was so happy to have him. We came down Sunday morning and Liam was awake and getting the other two going! I remember those days when my kids would do that....sigh!

Part of my anniversary gift. Gentry took it all apart sanded it down and repainted it. More on this later. Why can't I ride?
I will take you Jaden!

And then, we got home, and had meeting and everyone stayed for potluck! What fun!

Did these two really sit here the whole time and talk?

Surprising isn't it?

It was special to have this time of friendship and fellowship. Then we had Troy and Beth over to celebrate Troy's birthday. Porche's sister-in-law Carmel is Victoria's age so she is here to have some girl time.