Rattlesnake Ledge

Today I hiked up the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail with Kim and Katherine. It was very fun. Though I was horribly out of shape going up hill. We were “almost there” forever it seemed. The funniest part of the walk was when a woman yelled, “Bear.” I was like oh Lord. Bear ended up being her adorable little dog. Thank God. I am hoping to get more hikes in this spring/summer.

The Ladies.

What goes up, must come down. Down was a lot better.

Views from the top

Views from the journey

Just me

All photos:

https://latonjab.shutterfly.com/

Password: italia

Ladies Night…Paint Night…Oh What a Night

My quest to fill my home with my own artwork continued with another paint night. I feel like I have done a lot of these this year. I counted my paintings, and I am up to eight. I also have six photos I enlarged over the years. So, I am getting there. LTB the artist :).

Tonight’s Paint Night started with dinner and great conversation. Followed by coffee/tea and dessert and great conversation. Paint night. And then more great conversation. I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life. Thanks, Crystal for always being a non-judgmental ear I can be honest and true to my emotions no matter how crazy and out there they are. Love you dearly.

Coffee/tea, dessert, and conversation are great for the soul!

“Sheets of empty canvas…untouched sheets of clay…were laid spread out before me…”

Ready to work.

Chunny C and Ayrion were also in the house. As was Kimberly W.

The rain!

Crystal in artist mode. My sister is hella gifted. Writer. Singer. Painter/Artist. And a beautiful soul inside and out. Go forth and conquer!

Still not sure how mine ended up so “busty” but I’ll take it. LOL!

Finished works.

Paint Night

My homie, Dreeny Paine, had a paint night for her birthday party. It was fun. I am so going to have a home filled with my own art and photos soon :).

The class was taught by Kay Moynihan of Simply Kay’s – Ladies Paint Night.Look her up if you want to have an event. She also does paint nights in Renton and Tacoma.

http://www.ladiespaintnight.com

With Dreeny Paine!

“Oh yes it’s ladies night
And the feeling’s right
Oh yes it’s ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)”

“Sheets of empty canvas. Untouched sheets of clay…”

LTB the Artist

Drying

Proud

Houston Trip

I traveled to Houston for my job to attend a conference. I had time for a little fun while there and was able to see some buddies from other ports and the industry.

With my coworker and teammate, Andre. We set up our booth the day before the trade show.

With my coworker, Bob.

Art in the park across the street from our hotel.

It just so happens that the Mariners were playing the Astros while we were there. The M’s won in 11 innings 4 to 3. We were happy in enemy territory. It was my first time seeing a Seattle team in another city/state.

 

Outside of Minute Maid Park.

There was a business run opening day. It seemed like a good idea at the time, LOL. It was a good way to start a long day. You could do four miles or six miles. I opted to walk the four mile. In a nice surprise, there was also another walker. A woman named Adrian from Jacksonville.

Found a few minutes during one of the days for a short walk to do just this: Pause.

There were many receptions on all nights of the trade show. Wednesday saw us bowling at Vancouver BC’s reception and then dancing and listening to good music at House of Blues at AAL’s reception.

So that time I did an armadillo race with my buddy, Randy, from Portland. I came in second out of three. There was also a mechanical bull, but I was wearing a skirt. Otherwise, I would have loved to do it!

I absolutely loved this church.

Mount Rainier welcoming me home.

Pasta Making Take Two

In July, I retook the pasta making class with Diane at Eat Local. To make a long story short, the original class was intended to be took with her. It was really fun, and I think my dough turned out better this time around.

I recommend the class. I think pasta making would be a great group activity.

The location

 

The assignment

 

The recipe

 

The ingredients

 

Our dough

 

Stretching the dough

 

Di stretching her dough

 

I made fettuccine this time. Last time, I made angel hair.

 

With our pasta

 

Pasta Making Class

June’s activity was making homemade pasta from scratch. I got a Groupon for Eat Local, and I was very pleased with the class and overall value of the Groupon!

The class was small (I think some people didn’t make it). The instructor was great. Throughout, we were brought samples of some of their food offerings. The food was really good. We also got a plate of pasta and a small dessert. So I left feeling quite full. They offered complimentary beverages.

The recipe was three ingredients. Yes; three! Flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt.

This is something I would do again, if I had a pasta making machine. Hint hint. If anyone wants to invest in one for me or give me their old one. I would make some pasta for you.

 

The three ingredients

I made a mound with two cups of flour, and cracked three large eggs in the center.

Action Shot: I used a fork to bring the flour, pinch of salt, and eggs together.

Kneaded dough.

Wrapped and sat aside for 15 minutes.

Cut the dough in half, and used this apparatus to do one half at a time.

Stretching the dough out.

I decided to make spaghetti noodles.

Action Shot: Making my pasta!

My pasta to take home.

Dinner.

Italian Cooking Class

I took an Italian cooking class with Linda at Al Boccalino.

First off, don’t ask me to make any of it. I’m more of a support role in the kitchen. I have no problem accepting that fact. LOL!

The first part of the class was chopping a bunch of stuff. The class of 12 split tasks. I minced garlic, cut roasted peppers, zested lemon, chopped parsley, de-leafed thyme, and more.

The first things we made were Bruschetta Con Fagioli and Stacciatella. I didn’t have any part in making the latter (it reminded me of egg flower soup but with spinach), but I was involved with the Bruschetta. I even helped put the toppings on. We rubbed garlic on the bread and added a bean mixture, cheese, and parsley. It was very good!

The next things we made were Pasta Alla Diavolo and Arrosto Con Cipolline. The pasta was really good with lots of flavor and the pork loin was super yummy.

And for dessert, we made Tiramisu Alla Sarda. I’m actually not a big Tiramisu fan, but I enjoyed it since it was the fruit of my labor. I didn’t get a picture of it sadly, but I helped dip the Lady Fingers in the espresso. The finishing touch was chocolate sauce, and chocolate makes everything taste good.

I did the class through a Groupon. I wouldn’t recommend it. Because in the end, with service charges, tips, etc., it felt like I ended up paying the full price of what the class would have cost without the Groupon. I didn’t read the reviews, but one of my classmates did. She said that was one of the negative comments other buyers have said about the class. I will read the reviews (and fine print) closer next time.

Still, the food was good, and I enjoyed the instructor and the folks in the class. And of course spending time hanging with Linda, who is a mentor and a friend – a woman I admire greatly, is always a treat. She exemplifies grace and dignity and has been a wonderful counselor and encouragement giver in my journey. She is fantastic!

Oh. And on a whole new subject, I welded a few Saturdays ago at the Maritime Festival. It’s not something I see myself doing again. My hair is flammable and there were sparks going everywhere.That would not be good *_*.

Next month’s activity is a pasta making class.

Linda and I

We did a lot of chopping. I zested lemon, minced garlic, and cut thyme, pepper and other stuff.

First courses Bruschetta Con Fagioli and Stracciatella – Yummy

The Pasta Alla Diavolo simmering. It smelled so good!

Mixing the Pasta All Diavolo – I have to have one action shot

Arrosto Con Cipolline and Pasta All Diavolo. Actually the pork is something I should try making.

May Activity One – Paint Night

Tonight, I did my sixth sip and paint type class. It turned out great! I really enjoy these classes. I am going to need more wall space soon!

“Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay…”

In progress

LTB the Painter

Putting on the finished touches

Done!

April Activity

In April, my learning/new thing was signing up for random fitness classes through a Groupon. I did MixxedFitt, Zumba, and Hip Hop Dance.

The classes fell in line with my ongoing quest for wellness, and summer is coming :0). Wait, I thought winter is coming.

I thought the Hip Hop Dance was a class where you danced to hip hop music. I was wrong. It was a class where you learned a choreographed dance each class. It was actually a lot of fun. I noticed I did better without the music while we were going slow learning the routine.

With the music… Well picture Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in 30 Rock dancing. Or the episode where Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) danced in Seinfeld. Or Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) in Dirty Dancing prior to Patrick Swayze.

Elaine dancing (click on to link)

Liz Lemon dancing (clink on to link)

But I had so much fun doing it! There’s that aha moment where all of the parts come together, and I realized I got it. It’s certainly something I could see myself doing again, and I think it would make a good group activity.

I would see the same people in the classes, and it was cool as the recognition increased with other students. There are a lot of Indian ladies (Indian as in from India), which I may have mentioned before. I’m not sure the reason of this.

In May, I actually have two things I’m doing. Tonight, I am doing another sip and paint type class with Corks and Canvas. And then next week, I have an Italian cooking class, which I am looking forward to.

Painting Class

My March excursion was a painting class. Mine didn’t quite look like the original painting, but it is starting to grow on me.

I need to search Groupon for April.

Empty canvas

In progress

Phase One

Final product

Proud artist