Summer is here

There may be a few more days of school left, but for me, summer is here. I hit the pool with Jameson…

and made The Bigs take me backpacking. Dad planned a trip and we got all set to go, but then we found out storms were predicted for where we planned on camping. We pivoted and found a route that was warmer and dryer. It also had a bit more climbing than our original destination. More on that in a bit.

The ride was called Lush, and lush it was. There were wildflowers everywhere.

Check out this flower on the ponderosa tree. Looks like a starfish, doesn’t it?

I kept climbing and climbing and never complained.

I ended up climbing 2261 feet in one day. A record.

With spring flowers come skeeters. Here I am trying to protect my head while I read a book.

In the morning, it was cool and raining. I was unbothered. I got another bag for my bike, so I can carry all my own stuff. Now I only depend on The Bigs for food. Soon I’ll be able to get rid of them altogether.

If it is in the middle of Oregon, on the side of a mountain, is it still called a beach rose?

The rain made it a bit muddy. Can you even see Dad’s tire tread in this picture?

There was a bit more climbing, but I finished up strong, and before lunchtime!

We ate all kinds of new dishes this week. The Bigs made pistachio, pea, and mint soba noodles from East (Auntie Cheryl, if you haven’t tried it, you should. Yum!)…

and black bean burgers with a sweet potato salad.

The Bigs told me that I had milked the broken leg excuse for long enough and it was time for me to start making dinner again. I made tacos with pulled pork, coleslaw, and guacamole…

topped with some queso fresco and pickled red onions (Nan, you better start pickling for my visit!)…

and edamame and corn salad.

The Bigs made Green Envy bowls (rice, miso greens, edamame, avocado, rice, and fried egg) and

pulled pork bowls.