Girls Weekend in Portland

I went to Portland the other day for a much needed girls weekend. I drove down Thursday after work in time for a Blazers game (the first basketball game I've been to since I was eight. I'm not too good at not cheering for the opposing team- there is a lot of pressure on those people!) The next day we got brunch, did a bit of shopping, walked around Mt. Tabor, ate some more, ate some more after that, then got pedicures. By then it was about time for me to drive back to Olympia. 

My adventures with Julia usually include a lot of delicious food and getting lost somehow. 

Only in Portland can you get vegan pizza at a sports arena

We were in the very back row

BRUNCH! Lots of coffee and a tofu veggie scramble with potatoes

Julia in front of the Harvey W. Scott statue on Mt. Tabor

Cherry blossoms 

The Portland Reservoirs 

Yum. 

Double Yum. Raspberry scone from the Sweetpea Baking Company

Chanterelle Soup

Remember those chanterelles I had leftover from October, just chillin' in my freezer? I decided it was about time to use them for something other than spaghetti sauce.

I used this recipe from Dishing Up the Dirt, but added one leek and 2 more cloves of garlic. You can never have enough garlic.

Sautéing the onion, garlic, leeks, and mushrooms 

Pre-Puree

Fresh parsley was an essential addition

Kevin was skeptical. He wasn't liking the "coconut-milk-and-mushroom smell" (everyone at work thought it smelled great the next day when I brought leftovers!) but he tried it anyway and said it was delicious. That's because it was ;)

Could it be?

Is spring finally on its way?!

 It sure seemed like it today! 

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful to be receiving these red envelopes in the mail again

For gifted plants from new friends

And for a very hands-on and helpful wedding planning buddy, aka the Groom.

Picnic at the Mima Mounds

I've been meaning to go to the Mima Mounds for some time now. Friday was beautifully sunny and we both just so happened to have the day off together (such a rarity these days), so we took a short drive south of Olympia and visited this geological wonder.

The prairie is far more stunning in the spring, we've heard. Right now it's all dead grass...

Reindeer lichen...

And my new favorite word "kinnikinnick."

Although Kevin swears it was the perfect terrain for his barefoot sandals.

We had a picnic in the late afternoon

and watched as the sun set over the mounds.

Love that this is so close to home! The Pacific Northwest really is incredible.