Dueck's Roost

Okay, so there was one other "thing" we kinda sorta did in January. Here are some hints ... It's something crazy In fact, I'm pretty sure it's something only insane people do It involves chopping and prepping hundreds of pounds of veggies And washing thousands of dishes It kinda feels like riding a roller-coaster It always keeps you on your toes (no actually, to do this you'd better have a quality pair of cross trainers) We took a massive leap into the great unknown and started a restaurant (insert here all the crazy faces you can think of)!!! In reality, working towards opening this restaurant started LONG before January 2018 (around 2 1/2 years before in fact), but in January ... the franchise was finally registered in the US (it's a Canadian company ... https://www.choppedleaf.ca ) we had finally arranged all the financial bits the right location had finally become available (something that took months and months, as well as at le...

January is my friend right now, because it has very few pictures to sort through. Meaning, this is going to be short and sweet! Meaning, I get to knock out an ENTIRE month in one shot!! Meaning, I'll have another post down and only a bajillion to go!!! So, to begin AND to finish off January, we have ... More from the sleeping beauties:) Why do I have a feeling there's going to be payback from these ones someday?:/ Cake making!! (by Mae of course, and this time in honor of Cousin G's b-day) Followed by, cake eating!! Pumpin' some iron. Ballroom dance ... From this talented girl! And last but not least, surprise attack on Dad!!! Excitement complete!!

Our first act of 2018 was pretty darn awesome.  On New Year's day, we woke up unreasonably early (so early that it was very dark and very cold and I really wanted to go back to bed), and headed towards Snoqualmie to the Mailbox Peak trail ( https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mailbox-peak ). I had been told about this trail many times and was definitely a bit hesitant; I also had never done winter hiking and wasn't sure it would be my thing--I hate being cold and wet at the same time, and a snow-covered trail seemed very unpromising in that regard.  Still ... it also sounded like a pretty cool adventure (which I do like) so I decided to give it a try. No surprise, James and Kevin were more than happy to join in as well! We layered up ... No snow pants or snow coats! That would be WAY too hot and get you all sweaty in the first several minutes of the hike. Which would def not feel good later when it's windy and quite freezing at the peak. On the flip side, ...