{stateside} the mcdaniels go to washington

A and i just got back from a week-long road trip to washington state... we stopped in boise on the way up {such a cute little town! who knew?} and then went camping with good friends {and their precious kiddos} in mount rainier national park. some highlights: gourmet camping food, incredible hikes, stargazing, and waking up to a gentle sprinkle of raindrops on our faces one morning... 
then after a few perfect days camping in soda springs we headed back to our friends' home in southeast washington for more quality time...spent in vineyards...drinking wine...

{weekender} pitkin days

A and i went to pitkin this weekend for pitkin days: every year the pitkin historical society puts on a series of fundraising events to celebrate our favorite little mountain town. there's a melodrama, a fun run, a horseshoe tournament, a potluck dinner, and lots of other activities for all ages. it seems like the whole town gets involved - my father-in-law was in the melodrama, my mother-in-law announced the raffle winners, and A and i got to help make popcorn and sell concessions. i even got first place in the two-mile fun run {check out my fancy trophy!}...i didn't fare quite as well in the water balloon toss or the egg toss...maybe next year...

{weekender} pitkin family fun time

we just got back from a loooong weekend in pitkin {which i know is probably not a shocker but this time my niece J, my brother-in-law C, and his girlfriend H came with}! 


on friday we picked our texan visitors up from the airport and headed for pitkin {with a brief stop at a giant hot dog for lunch, bubbles, and chipmunk-viewing}. we got to my in-laws' cabin in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day relaxing and catching up {and wondering when little J was going to get sleepy}...

saturday was my niece's third birthday {they grow up so fast!} and also the pitkin volunteer fire department's annual fundraiser {we may or may not have led J to believe that it was her giant birthday party...}. A and i had the honor of driving the family jeep in the parade while C and H drove the four-wheeler {why yes, we are very famous and fancy, thank you}. after the parade there was dinner and dancing and staying up much too late with our pitkin friends...

we spent sunday in crested butte, wandering up and down main street and eating popsicles mostly. we had a disgustingly huge dinner at slogar {it's a mcdaniel family tradition} before going back to pitkin...

monday morning we slept in {as much as we could, considering the bright sun pouring in through the windows at six a.m.}. when we finally got going, A and i headed out in ol' red {she's as old as me and i love her}. we drove up to cumberland pass and hiked around for a bit, but ominous thunder clouds threatened to ruin our day so we headed down the mountain again. when we were about halfway back, we spotted the perfect place for a picnic! we sat on our jackets in the middle of a meadow and got sprinkled on while we ate our lunch. our soda exploded all over us when we opened it, but we were able to rinse off most of the sticky in a nearby stream before hopping back into the truck.

that night we played basketball with our friends. when the game was over we all sat on the court and talked for hours, and when it got really dark we walked up to the kids' fishing pond and talked for a few more hours. the moon was so bright that we cast shadows on the ground as we walked. it was maybe the most perfect night that pitkin has ever seen.


tuesday was our last morning {for this trip} and i enjoyed it the way i enjoy most mornings in pitkin: sipping my coffee on the front porch with the dog and anyone else who cares to join me {usually A and/or his dad}, listening to the wind in the trees and the occasional hummingbird, and marveling at just how warm forty degrees can feel.

{weekender} pitkin

the mister and i spent this weekend in pitkin visiting with family and friends, relaxing, stargazing, hiking, napping...

{20 items or less} a black, white & blush wedding

a little while ago i told you about my friend's happy news - well, they've set a date and booked a venue and i'm so excited i'm using her upcoming nuptials as inspiration for this wedding edition of 20 items or less!

 1.the venue: la buena vida vineyards {photo credit: matt peacock};

2.rose wedding invitations, from $234 for 100; 3.pink ombre cake {recipe};

4.love letter wine labels, $100 for 3 {wine labels make great table numbers too!}

5.bouquet of anemones {from martha stewart}

6.bhldn gown, $279; 7.'eat, drink & be married' sign, $15;

8.pearl box clutch, $158; 9.pink satin peep toes, $90

 10.pink polka dot straws, $4 for 25 {maybe not for wine, but who can resist?};

11.black floral hair clips, $160; 12.hand-lettered 'just married' sign, $46;

13.balloon guestbook fingerprint kit, $127

14.fresh strawberry ice cream {recipe}; 15.honeybee boutonniere, $28;

16.favor topper poms, $42 for 24; 17.blue lace garter set, $31

{weekender} home for the holidays

hope you had a happy and safe holiday! we just got back from another long weekend in dallas. highlights included decorating cookies with our niece on christmas eve, visiting with old family friends, fancy champagne cocktails, and pub trivia with our nearest and dearest. we had a fantastic time, but we sure are happy to be home!

{weekender} labor day weekend in pitkin

another long weekend, another excuse to head up to the mountains... pitkin was a little quieter and a little cooler than we're used to, but just as magical as always!

we got there at lunchtime on friday and went for a two-hour walk around town and up to the nearby campground. throwing stones into the water, we caught a glimpse of a little baby beaver running along the river bank into his dam {so stinkin' cute!}. when we got hungry/thirsty/tired, we headed back to the log cabin and got cleaned up for supper {i think i only say "supper" when i'm in pitkin...}.

after dinner we went outside to look at the stars. i wish everyone could see what the night sky is supposed to look like - it was so clear and the stars were so many and so unbelievably bright and twinkly. they seemed close enough to touch. shooting stars whizzed across the sky every five minutes or so. as we looked over toward cumberland pass there were mysterious flashes of white light that we couldn't identify - they were too random to be man-made, and the sky was too clear for lightning. A is convinced that it was the northern lights; i'm not so sure, but i don't really know what else it could have been...aliens?

* * * *

the next day we slept in. when we finally got up and running, we made the thirty minute trip into gunnison for some garage-saling and shopping on main street. that afternoon we met A's dad at western state college to go to a football game {the mountaineers didn't win, but the view was spectacular and the tickets were cheap!}.

when we were good and sunburned, we headed back to pitkin, stopping on the way to pick up some groceries for the cook-out dinner we were planning. after hot dogs, grilled corn, and banana pudding, we went up the street to our friends' house and stayed up late playing cards and boardgames.

* * * *

on sunday morning, A's dad treated us to breakfast at the pitkin pancake breakfast. afterward, the menfolk chopped wood while i napped. then A and i went for a walk to the edge of town, explored some sort of junkyard, and wandered up to the pitkin cemetery {lovely during the day, but not a place i would particularly like to visit at night}.

that evening we had another delicious dinner {and more delicious banana pudding} and then campfire-lit s'mores and star-watching with our friends down the street. just another magical weekend in pitkin...