Roslyn » Just 5 More Minutes

Strawberry Clafoutis fresh out of the Airstream's oven

It was hubby’s last weekend teaching skiing at Alpental. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. It just seemed like the winter activities were just beginning and now, here we are, entering the Spring season.

Is it me or is time just going faster and faster these days? I don’t know . . .

For three consecutive months, every weekend (except when we were gone on our Big Red Cat trip) we would bring the Airstream here so hubby could teach and B could ski. This was going to be our last night.

Since it was going to be our last night I decided to make a nice dessert. A Clafoutis to be specific. This was going to be a great recipe to celebrate the beautiful eggs I was given from some really special friends of mine.

These eggs are so special to me. Why? You see, I have known these lovely little “First” ladies for quite some time now.Jackie, Barbara and Ladybird are their given names :) My friends know how special these eggs are to me also as they decorated the egg carton for me in such a beautiful way.

That was very special.

As the boys went about their day, I went about mine happily baking away with this view out of my kitchen window.

Alpental, Snoqualmie Pass

The clafoutis was delicious. It was my first I had made ever and I will absolutely be making it again.

As we woke up the next morning, we had a choice to head straight home, or to take a trip into the country and see how things were coming along at our little cabin.

“I vote for the cabin,” I said.

“Me toooooooo mommy!” declared B from his bed — and I thought he was still asleep! My mother was right, children are always listening when you think they are not. Hah!

Roslyn, Washington

Wow, the snow is gone and Spring is definitely here.

That is our little cabin you see. We don’t sleep in it, but a very, very long time ago a family once did sleep in it. It was their home. It is on my list to try and figure out exactly who this family was, I think it would be very interesting to share what I find out with B. I do understand it was built in the 1800′s but that is it.

Fiddler's Green Forever :)

Spring was most definitely in the air. I could smell it — the sweet yet earthy scent of the ground coming alive. I was truly at that moment excited and ready for the warmer weather ahead.

Pasture in Roslyn, WA

As we walked around and checked on things I was full of inspiration. How I would love to start a garden here and how wonderful it is going to be spending lazy summer nights under the stars listening to the chirping of the crickets.

There are so many crickets here in summer.

I was also thinking about my most amazing night I had attending Amanda Hesser’s lecture at Benaroya Hall. What an inspiration she is to me and for her to think my site is “Fabulous,” and then write about it? I felt so happy and so honored.

This recipe that I prepared on the Airstream in “The Tiniest Kitchen,” is from the New York Times of which Amanda was a food writer for (in addition to many other amazing endeavors). I accidentally used three eggs instead of two, but it still turned out delicious.

For you my readers, a Strawberry Clafoutis :)

Clafoutis with Strawberries

We got comfortable. Very, comfortable. Spending the warm lazy days of summer in Roslyn, WA and the surrounding area has been such a heart warming experience. We fished, we cooked, we swam and we golfed. But now it’s time to say goodbye. We can feel the slight chill in the air and the leaves are beginning to change their colors. Fall is upon us and it’s time to bring the Airstream back home and get her ready for her new adventure. The San Juan Islands.

Until next year sweet Roslyn, we will miss you.

Warm Pumpkin Scones with Maple Butter, a Sweet Farewell

Pumpkin Cream Scone Recipe

Sweet Roslyn. Deep history and some of the friendliest, down-to-earth folks you will ever meet. But you’ve heard me say that before…

If you are planning a trip to the area next summer, the Roslyn Sunday Market is a must. Fresh veggies from local farms, homemade goods, beautiful art and best of all, the people. It is a guaranteed excellent, heart warming good time.

A breakfast of orange ricotta hotcakes and we were out the Airstream door headed here . . .

The Roslyn Sunday Market and Orange Ricotta Hotcakes

That’s Paul looking at me funny (before I introduced myself) – you can find him at the Ellensburg market every Saturday from Parke Creek Farm. Just about the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. I say in Ellensburg because, sadly this was the last Sunday Market in Roslyn.

Roslyn Sunday Market and Ricotta Orange Hotcakes

I will miss you Roslyn, so much. The weather is slowly changing and it’s time to change our Airstream venue — I can almost hear the San Juan Islands calling . . .

Here we are in Roslyn, Washington. Our last “Quarter Mile” exploration was on beautiful Orcas Island located within the San Juan Islands. The quarter mile of Orcas Island beach front is very different and yet the same as any other quarter mile in America.

Wherever you are I encourage you to take a part of your day to discover just a quarter mile around you and see the beauty it holds. On this particular morning we headed out on foot to discover our surroundings in sweet Roslyn.

Along our way we discovered more historical “sheds” that were built in the 1800′s by the coal miners who inhabited this town. I imagine that they were actual households back then, but it is on my list to confirm that. Many of the modern day homes built here have these sheds in their original spots on the properties.

Downtown Roslyn is full of quaint little boutiques, a museum and delicious places to dine.

On our way back to our Airstream we pass spacious pastures with beautiful horses. We are absolutely in love with this town.

Def:

v., Virtual Camping:

Where half-a-dozen campgrounds are located within two hours driving distance of one’s home and 20 square miles of each other giving one the opportunity to relocate to another campground within a short distance to experience a totally new venue.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are gifted with many exploration opportunities with our mountains, rivers, streams, lakes, sounds, islands and oceans. 90 minutes from downtown Seattle, the upper Kittitas Valley and Wenatchee National Forest is one such destination with over a half-a-dozen “knock your socks off ” campground venues within ballpark distances of each other.

We start our journey climbing over the always dramatic Snoqualmie Pass. Up in the mountains we see B’s favorite ski runs still spotted with islands of snow and waterfalls are visible everywhere as they flow into swollen rivers from the glacier like snow pack received over the past winter. As we cruise down the leeward and eastern side, the clouds dissipate and the sun welcomes us to Central Washington.

Just before reaching Roslyn (famous for the filming location of Northern Exposure), we pull off Interstate 90 onto Golf Course Road which leads us to to our first Virtual Camping destination: SunCountry Golf & RV. From there your campground opportunities for exploration are endless.

Yakima river, Wish Poosh, Red Mountain, Salmon La Sac, Lake Cle Elum, Cle Elum River as well as the outskirts of Roslyn.

Activities within our 20 square miles include world class fly fishing, river and lake kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, mushroom hunting, award winning wineries and restaurants, horseback riding and of course, beautiful Suncadia, Washington’s premiere destination resort. Here are a few pictures from dinner we had at Swiftwater Cellars which is located within beautiful Suncadia.

Swiftwater Cellars

Please click here for more photos our Airstreaming adventures

All of these campsites enjoy completely unique views, and experiences all within 20 square miles. The relocation from one campground to the next is seamless and quick — virtual in nature.

The Wenatchee National Forest alpine wilderness is as spectacular as the Oregon Coast or the San Juan Islands as it is different. You can easily spend a summer exploring the wonders of this virtual paradise.

Save fuel, time and resources: “Go Virtual Camping.”

Summertime has officially arrived and not a moment too soon. High’s were in the mid 80′s that afternoon and I have been itching to make a frozen concoction in my ice cream maker that hasn’t seen the light of day since last summer.

While the boys were out fishing, I prepared this incredibly simple recipe of vanilla frozen yogurt. I’ve been wondering how this recipe would turn out and well, it was delicious! Sweet and creamy with a bit of tang.

If you do happen to make this, I would love to know what you think.

homemade Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

A little over five years ago we fell in love. Hubby and I that is – fell in love with Roslyn, Washington. Have you heard of it? It is one of the most beautiful, little towns you can come across. Deep history, friendly folk and sweeping views all rolled into one. Not to mention, this is where Northern Exposure was filmed.

Hubby and I purchased a “little slice of Heaven” here in Roslyn. It is (to us) the perfect piece of land for our Airstream to stay when we come to visit. I am really looking forward to sharing with you, everything Roslyn has to offer.

When I woke up on our first morning here, the stillness outdoors was amazing. The sun’s rays were just emerging and things were starting to happen. I was happy. Calm.

Relaxed.

Breakfast was simple (really!) crepes stuffed with lox, fluffy scrambled eggs, melted Gruyere cheese topped with creme fraiche and chives. The basic crepe recipe can be found here.

Roslyn Washington