Sep 222014
 

Fishing the Cle Elum River in Washington State via J5MM.com

As sure as the summer sun sets and the big moon rises, my heart is drawn to this river that runs just beyond our property.  I call him Mr. River (and I love him).  Hubby doesn’t seem to mind.

It is here where I feel most at peace.  It is here where most of my summer is spent fly fishing, writing, crafting and frolicking about with Oliver.  Mr. River flows not only through the windy channel he has carved out, but also through my heart.  Our hearts.  I feel my brother is here too.

To get to Mr. River, we must travel through gravely back roads.  Only a few people know of this and I feel proud I can navigate when I do come here alone.

Backwoods River Drive via J5MM.comCle Elum River, Washington Fly Fishing Mecca

To begin our days spent with Mr. River, we enjoy early mornings on our property with simple breakfasts . . .

Glamping Breakfast via J5MM.comEarly Morning Coffee via J5MM.comRiver dog on the Cle Elum River, WashingtonBackroads with Oliver via J5MM.comB Fishing The Cle Elum River via J5MM.comRiverside Snack via J5MM.comCatch and Release Baby Rainbow Trout via J5MM.comRushing RiversFly fishing the Cle Elum River in Washington State via J5MM.comRiver Walk via J5MM.comAfter Fishing Lunch via J5MM.comThe Transforming Cle Elum River, Washington State via J5MM.com

Mr. River’s friends, the tall trees that live along his banks, give B a gift of a bark puzzle.  He is mesmerized by it.

tree puzzle

Some days I fish and other days I sit alongside Mr. River and create.  Sometimes I come with hubby and B and sometimes I come alone. I dip my toes into the water and make sage bundles.  I listen to Mr. River gently talk to me as I craft. He tells me that when I am here, with him, everything in the world is right. I love him.

River Craft via J5MM.comAirstream in Autum via J5MM.com // A River Story //Black Eyed Susanproperty (2 of 8)

The days spent with Mr. River are warm and when we come back to camp, the wind picks up with a slight chill to it.  We make ourselves at home and I prepare a pot of comforting chicken stew.  I love cooking in my silver kitchen.

Airstream Kitchen via J5MM.com

I make Mr. River Earrings.  They serve as a reminder of him and my summer spent here.  The blue stone is for his rushing waters, the chain symbolizes his swiftly flowing movement, the red is for the wild berries that grow alongside his banks and also the strawberries that live alongside my coalminers cabin.  The brown agate stone reminds me of the spotty skin of his trout, or the slippery stones I carefully and gently walk upon — and the pink gem reminds me of the sparkles that radiate off his waters.

Mr. River Earrings via J5MM.comRiver Earrings via J5MM.comRiver Love via J5MM.com

It was a whirlwind love affair I will never forget ♥

Goodnite Airstream

Jul 172014
 

Peak to Valley Airstream Road Trip via J5MM.comCampfire Cookout via J5MM.com

It’s getting close to one week when we returned from a beautiful summer road trip through Idaho and Oregon.  In between working in corporate America, taking care of hubby and B, walking Oliver and the rest of the usual day to day activities I am doing my best to sort through all of the photographs I took during our Peak to Valley adventure.  I call it Peak to Valley because our trip took us from the peaks of alpine life in McCall, Idaho to the valleys down below where Hells Canyon in Idaho and the Deschutes river in Oregon call home. Continue reading »

Dec 042013
 

Tribute

Hello friends :)  After many long nights sorting through photos, editing video from my very first interview (was pretty nervous!) and taking my time to write a special post, it is with great pride that I am able to offer to you my recent article published on the Huffington Post covering our adventures through Montana.  Specifically we were on a mission to pay a tribute to the film, “A River Runs Through It,” as 2013 is the film’s 20th year anniversary.

So without further ado, I proudly present (click the image to read):

Please Click To Read ♥

Continue reading »

Nov 032013
 

Pressure Cooked Beef Short Ribs

From a summer full of adventure to the new season of Fall —  it’s been a lot of fun glamping in the Airstream during this season of change.  I continue to pick apples off my heirloom trees after my early morning walks through the quiet town of Roslyn with Oliver.  It’s a sweet ritual I have come to adore and really look forward to.

While cleaning/organizing the storage in my Airstream last weekend, I happened upon my beloved pressure cooker.  It was good timing too as sitting in my fridge were  some beautiful beef short ribs I was planning on braising away in the Airstream kitchen for a few hours for dinner that evening.  Thankfully with the pressure cooker it not only cut down the timing of braising by more than half, it also produced some of the most deliciously flavored short ribs I have had in a long time.  In less than one hour I was able to serve up those fall-off-the-bone beauties atop a bed of fluffy sweet potatoes. I will admit, I was little upset with myself that I had forgotten about my pressure cooker.  It truly is a time (and propane!)  saver in the silver kitchen. Continue reading »

Oct 232013
 

A Fall Harvest in Roslyn, Washington with our Airstream trailer

There is something about the Fall season that simply warms my heart and gets me thinking about the cooler weather ahead.

Our Airstream, which currently happily waits for us on our piece of property in Eastern Washington sits amongst heirloom apple and plum trees surrounded by this new season.

And it never fails — with the abundance of those late summer fruits — apples and plums — that I’m continually tempted into my silver kitchen to cook . . .

. . . and to escape the everyday hustle and bustle of corporate America.

For me, this is my refuge. Continue reading »

Jun 132013
 

The sun was shining, the wild flowers were in bloom and we were on our way with Airstream in tow to a beautiful, remote area along the Cle Elum river for some fly fishing.  The great people of  Troutwater were our guides and  we felt so lucky to be able to have joined them.  Jim, Tom, Jason and Amber — what a GREAT group of people!  Not only because they are such a pleasure to be with, but because of their extreme knowledge about about fly fishing.

We had such an amazing time and memories to last a lifetime.  If you are ever in the area, give Troutwater a call.  Oh, did I mention they prepare a riverside picnic?  Complete with grilled salmon, wine and chocolate dipped strawberries?  Bon Appetit and happy fishing!  Troutwater can be reached here and ask for Jim!