Black Friday at Silver Star, British Columbia

I've managed my Thanksgiving x-c ski trip to Canada. Yesterday's weather was spectacular, today not so much. But a nice change to the rain back at home.

Thoughts on the depressing short days of November

I've had to work extra hard at keeping upbeat this month, but I think I see glimmers of hope.
Happy Thanksgiving

Red Hook Brewery Woodinville

I'd signed up for a meetup ride but rain canceled it. So, after all the effort of loading the bike on the car and bringing full rain gear to the other side of town, I decided to ride anyway. It's been many years since I visited this place, the typical loud dark sports bar with big screen TVs playing random football games attached to every surface. But the weather is only tolerated by hard core cyclists. So, I wanted and needed to ride , so I'm here having pub food to the sounds of Janis Joplin and Bruce Springsteen.

The 7 principles of a writing teacher

It looks easy but it's far from it.

Hiking near Quincy, WA

Expansive glacial carved valley bookended by lava tube cliffs. The recent rain has greened the slopes and waterfalls are running again. The sagebrush smells sweetly spicy and the silence is exquisite.
Nice to be able to hike here in November, before the rain settles in for the winter.

Ancient Lakes Eastern Washington

A perfect hike for the likely last beautiful November day.

Worth bashing through the undergrowth

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each - Henry David Thoreau

Today's remarkably warm November day demanded a close-to-home hike, and yielded the hoped-for result. Perfect specimens, flowering out of the duff, with caps easily 2-3 inches in diameter. Now to figure a couple of dishes worthy of this haul.

Oh well

From this week's The Stranger. I have decided not to worry over unfair things I can't change. I hope our new president realizes what an honor it is to lead our country, tone down the foul rhetoric and understand he serves all the people. No more bullying, no more scapegoating. This isn't some silly reality television show. Time to grow up and stop the tantrums about social change. If you are a leader, then lead please.

Inlet lake to North Lake, near Stillagaumish River

Saturday's weather was terrible: flooding rain. However, I'd committed to join an outing with a Meetup hiking group I joined a week ago. A group of outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate the beauty of the mountains near to home and who are game to embrace the season. I'm glad I went. While I enjoy my solo hiking forays and mushroom hunting in the woods, it's good for me to socialize a bit more too. It's all part of embracing a new self. Scenes like this bring wistfulness for sure, but it's not raw grief so frequently. That's progress.

Birch bolete

This month's record rain has produced these, in a neighbor's lawn. I've dehydrated some, and will cook this prime fresh example with something worthwhile. I first noticed them last season, when I was riding to work. Someone else collected those before I could. So it goes.