Mt. Rainier, 3.19.11 - Igloos, the main attraction

It started with making outlines in the snow.


Then cutting out blocks.


Cut out a lot of blocks and you end up with a pit.


We all worked. Cutting, carrying, stacking blocks. The mountain looked on.


And, they start to look like igloos.


Getting close.


Shoring up number 2. More blocks!


The first look inside number 1.


Shovels in the doorway.


Number 2 looked nice in the evening light.


Getting ready to sleep in our igloo.


Night, night.

Mt. Rainier, 3.19.11 - Snowshoeing and other diversions

On the trail.


Fox tracks?


Feeding nuts to the birds.


A group with sleds heading up the mountain.


Full moon lighting up the mountain.

Mt. Rainier, 3.19.11 - Watching a Ridge

My eye kept returning to this ridge in the distance.

Upon arrival at midday.


In the afternoon.


Just as evening light started to set in.

Crab Creek, Saddle Mountain 2.21.11

Barry turned over an old RR tie. Underneath was a fuzzy brown caterpillar. We looked at him then put the beam back so he'd be sheltered from the desert.


Bevan and Erika had fun climbing over the rocks. An amazing array of little plants sprouting among the rocks, little animal footprints on patches of sand between them, and even some bugs.


Hey, how did they get so far ahead. Lots of little ponds.


Bevan tried to convince his parents to carry the insulators back to the car. Trying his own hand at lifting/dragging them answered the question.


Erika collected bones and carried them in her backpack. The hike turned out better than she thought it would be.


Lynn with the lovely scenery.

Lion Dance, Chinese New Year 2.6.11

Dim Sum, Chinese New Year 2.6.11

A family gathering at Purple Dot.


Eva slept through part of the meal, but woke up in time to play with napkins and doilies.


Oh, and to be held momentarily by Uncle Chris.


Zoe patiently sampled the sticky rice and pork buns. None of them tasted that good (to her, that is).


Until the egg tarts arrived. That put a smile on her face...and a few crumbs.

Hay Canyon Ranch 1.16.11

It started as a big pile of snow.


Sophie wondered about the whole thing. Later she would understand. You'll see.


A figure begins to emerge. Donna and Liz took on the arms. Sarah carved out the legs under Dan's watchful eye.


Progress was made on the backside as well.


And what a backside it was.


Sophie has her fun. She walked between the giant's legs once on her own and then repeated the trick with a bit of prompting so I could get my photo.


Looking through.


Dan fine tuning the face. Tim and Dave...supervising or admiring the aforementioned backside?


Finished product, with Dave for scale.