Jasper Beach

They last day Caleb and Ben were around, we went to Jasper Beach which is just about 10 miles away from the Grange. The drive was really pretty and you could see fishing boats out in different bays, and you really saw how big of a difference the tides being out made. It looks sort of like a sandy beach, but it's not sand, it's mud. They car ride was really hilly and both Erin and I felt a little car sick, plus I was driving a stick shift which always makes me nervous.


(Ben and Erin hanging out on the rocky shore of Jasper Beach. Seaweed Head.)

It was a really beautiful day though, and when we got there we walked across thousands of rocks- from the size of my fist to almost sand- which is what makes up the beach. One of my favorite noises is when the waves crash in, and then pull the rocks back. I might have already said that, but I really like it. We all took off our shoes and waded in, but it was so cold I didn't go further than my calves and I still didn't last very long.


(Ben went swimming, even though the water is so cold it kind of hurts)


(Erin and Caleb skipping rocks and hanging out and such)

On the way back, we went around to the Take Out place here. On our way, we got pulled over. Apparently you can't have someone riding in the back of a truck in Maine... who knew? (not me). The cop rolled up and kept eyeing Caleb (who was hanging out oblivious to the fact that his sitting choice was why we were pulled over).

Cop: (hand on gun, being irritated as we search for the registation and can only seem to find unpaid parking tickets)
Erin: I can't find the registration.
Me: uhh
Cop: (standing with hand on gun)
Erin: (searching, searching, calling Kbar, no answer, an answer...)
I need Kbar, emergency, emergency! (lost call)
Erin: I don't know...
Cop: let me run your license...
(comes back, hand still on gun)
You know it's youre responsibility as the driver. You would get a ticket, not him. And you need to know where the registration is before you borrow your friends truck... condescending... condescending... i'm a dude... and i'm a cop... and you're a girl... and you're friend is black... and i'm a dude cop.
Me: we won't do it again officer...

Anyway, then we get to take out. It's the best take out ever, and the place is painted with red, white, and blue stripes and there are american flags all over the place, but there are also a bunch of pride flags. it seems delightfully ironic to me. the food is good, they have really great sweet potato fries, and HUGE portions of ice cream. My favorite so far has been blueberry, I think they add blueberries to it themselves but I'm not sure. It's really good. Everyone else really loves the Haddock Burger- which is a local fish.


(Take Out, from about a week or so before the Jasper beach trip)

and then we went home, and got back to work (yippie!)

easy peasy bread

One of the many things I've been doing this summer, is trying to keep bread stocked in the house. As it turns out, 10 people eat a lot more bread than 3, and making bread that takes 20 hours and lots of kneading isn't really very feasible.

So, I spent some time searching online for an easy, vegan, quick no knead bread. And I think my search was successful (and it's from the NYTimes... who knew?)

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup other flour (I've been using Spelt)
1/2 cup corn meal
1 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water
oil

Let yeast explode in the warm water, then add all the flours and corn meal. Mix. Cover for 4 hours. Then, grease a bread pan and fill it with the super bubbley mix. Cover and let rise for one more hour. It will reach the top of the pan, but don't worry, that's about all it will rise.


(Yes, that is a cast iron bread pan. Yes, I am in love.)


Bake at 350 for 45 min (or more) until it's done on the inside! And there you have it, fresh bread, with very minimal input- and a happy household!

photos from yellowstone

I've realized my photos from Yellowstone are very lacking. So, I'm using some of the photos Jessica took and put up on the internet to share some more than what I already have.


(beaver pond in the grand tetons)


(A short hike in Yellowstone)


(a view from about 8,500 ft up, near the top of the mountain during our backpacking trip)


(on our backpacking trip, the many downed trees added the the strain of our hike a lot)


(the landscape at the beginning of our backpacking trip)


(a amazingly blue pool near the gysers)


( we got stuck in a hail storm on a hike one day. crazy weather seemed to be a theme of our trip)


(we saw a bear! and two baby cubs!)


(the view from inspiration point. totally inspirations- duh)


(one of the artist paint pots. so cool!)


(the lower falls, so crazy. we watched the falls from another spot for a really long time)


(a cactus flower in the badlands!)


(after hiking up some really cool rocks in the badlands)


Jessica took a LOT of really great photos, so many I can't really put it all on here very well. But I guess that's how it works- you never really can summarize an adventure with few photographs...

a little dip

I can't believe I forgot to share this story.

After the last day of the USSF, we all decided to go swimming in the 'secret spot' (which, of course, is no secret and well known by many). So, we went out to the light house off of Belle Isle and took a (skinny) dip into the Michigan River.

One friend decided to go for a real swim, and swam away from shore. As she got a while out when we noticed a speed boat heading her way. We all started to yell out to her. She had seen it and was starting to turn back, but we then realized the boat was heading directly at her, and it was doing so intentionally.

We quickly realized it was a coast guard boat. After scolding our swimming friend for, well swimming, they pulled up pretty close to the shore (and us). We all just sort of sat there, ducking neck deep into the water.

Coast Guard: Do you know it's illegal to swim in the Michigan River?

All (in unison): Nooooooo.

Coast Guard: Well, it is. Get out!

Someone: Uhh, we're a bit indecent.

Coast Guard: I don't care, get out!


Then we all proceeded to slowly crawl out of the water and moon the coast guard folk.