the korican sister get away weekend

i have four older sisters.  we share the same father. they all have the same mother. i have a different mother so i never really lived with all of them growing up even though we were in each others lives.  they are wonderful and i love them very much.  since my father passed away, 9 years ago, we girls have been getting together once a year for a weekend get away to relax together and enjoy each other.  it is wonderful.

sisters

this year we rented a house from a friend in inverness, california which is about an hour outside of san francisco. we had beautiful warm weather and a very lovely time.  here are a few pictures of us having fun!

the beach

the steps

the ocean

the light house

with melina

with nina & miriam

with leah

all together

drift wood

the view

the bay

the beauty

the love

goldmyer hot springs

the goldmyer hot springs visit was a high light of my north west trip.  my dearest friend kelly and i went for a weekend get away at the magical springs where wonderful friends of ours, melissa and ben are the caretakers for the next 9 months.  the hot springs are located way out in the wilderness over a very bad dirt road, past a locked gate and over a river.  it was quite an adventure just getting there and back.  we left seattle on friday morning and after about 4 hours of driving we arrived at the beautiful place.
melissa and ben live there in a sweet little log cabin where we were welcomed with open arms and a yummy hot soup.  it was so wonderful to be there.  we walked the half a mile from the cabin to the springs as night fell on the beautiful forest, it was amazing! the springs were discovered by a miner in the 1800's as he was mining the mountain side.  he blasted a large cave out of the side of the mountain which fills up with the hot water and spills out into two smaller pools.  the hot cave pool is around 108 degrees fahrenheit (42 celcius) and the coolest pool is around 102 f. (39 c) and there is a very cold pool for plunging into after the hot pools. it is heavenly! and it is in the middle of the forest on the side of a rushing river. it is a magical and wonderful place and i will be happy when i can go back there and soak in the hot water that comes right out of mother earth.  truly amazing!!

the forest begins

the way in

much water

made it 

cabin dance

the pools by night

the cabin

the moss

the trolls

grandfather tree and me

the path

the rushing river

 the pools

in the mountain side

awake to magic

forest dance

the caretakers and me

wow

love

the way out

beauty

water root

water fall

tree heaven

sun spot

magic coloration

tree down

kelly and ruby-suby

the river

rushing to the sea

snow 

sun on snow

th forest is wet and wonderful.  there are gnomes and trolls and fairies all around.  if one is quite and aware one can feel them just there behind that tree or under the upturned roots of a fallen tree. very old and wiser then wise are the beings of the forest and they want respect and love and will return it to us silly bumbling humans if we are respectful and loving towards them.  think of this every time you enter the mysterious forest and be aware of wonder!

i love the pacific northwest

this northwest corner of america is amazing and beautiful, its so green and lush and the people are friendly and aware! i took a trip over the water from seattle to port townsend to visit friends and wander some old haunts where i once lived for a short time.

the edmonds-kingston ferry

the olympics across the sound

ferry view

along the way

beauty abounds

sunset at fort warden

the lighthouse

beauty water

me and aliya

me and deborah

with new friend kenneth

with lovely karen

our old house

now you see them

now you don't

peace queen

downtown pt

the hood canal

the hood canal

on the way

i spent lots of time in olympia. oly is a great town. it's my home town.  it rocks, i love it! this visit was extra special because my 20 year high school reunion happened, which was tons of fun! i had no idea what to expect, seeing people i had not seen in 20 years could be scary and strange but it was totally wonderful and exciting!  most people looked amazing and seemed happy in their lives and everyone was up for a party! we had a blast and there is some talk of not waiting 10 years for the next party but only 2 years and celebrate our class of 1992- the big 4-0!! can't wait for that!!

ohs homecoming game

buddies

some of my girls

i heart oly

reunion dance party

budd inlet

tana and her cuties

the sun shines through

burfoot park

bud bay

recycling in the park

bald eagle on ward lake

the mountain is out

olympia, washington

sunset over ward lake

the old olympia brewery

the river

tumwater falls

after the falls

the old old oly brewery

salmon run

madrona in priest point park

the capitol theater

the artesian well

the capitol building

downtown olympia

the clipper on the corner

this says it all

state building

sylvester park

northwest forest

i spent some wonderful time in the beautiful city of seattle. i parked my rig at my best friend kelly's house and spent two weeks connecting with old friends and places.  it was great!!

sea town

green lake

green lake

golden fall leaves

red fall leaves

with kelly

seattle street view

playing with kelly and viv

dinner with sascha

lunch with dorothy

dinner with max and christina

at kelly's house

vivianna pearl

dinner with shannon and byron

crazy performance fun

i spent some time in portland as well with some awesome friends and family!

with susan 

susan's farmhouse

susan and sir

with aunty ariel

ariel's tree house

hangin with molly and kjel

portland by night

city of bridges

down town portland

i had many adventures in the beautiful pacific northwest.  i love connecting with old friends and taking so many trips down memory lane.  i feel blessed that i have such a huge community of people all over the world who i am honored to call family.  i have had a great time up here and look forward to my return, when ever that might be!! 

ithe pnw!!