Grand Ridge Trail, Issaquah, WA - #SaturdaySnapshots

It's been a while since I've been on a hike, so I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep pace with the rest of the group. Although my muscles are sore, this hike was lots of fun and I didn't lag behind (except to take pictures). I guess I haven't become a complete slug.
[Click on photos to enlarge]

Gearing up for our hike at the trail access area at Issaquah's Central Park. Tiny snowflakes swirled around us but they didn't stick. Still, I was glad to have on my thermal undies, wool socks, waterproof coat, and gloves. The weather was pretty cold.

The trail meandered over creeks, around logs, and between rocks.

Interesting moss and fungi on logs and trees.

Our leader (also named Sandy, wearing a green jacket) talking about the area and telling us about the trail maintenance performed by the Washington Trail Association.

And then we came across some WTA volunteers working on the trail. We thanked them for their hard work.

Here I am. Tired, but happy. I'm not exactly sure how many miles we covered, but based on my FitBit numbers, I'm guessing it was between 7 and 7.5 miles. I can feel every mile in my weary legs!

From the park's website: Winding through 1,200 acres above Issaquah and Lake Sammamish, Grand Ridge Park is the result of a unique agreement between Port Blakely, which developed the Issaquah Highlands and King County. For every one acre of developed land, Port Blakely agreed to set aside four acres of park land.

For more information about Grand Ridge Park/Trail and Washington Trail Association, link HERE.

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Coldest #Ski Trip Ever! - #SaturdaySnapshots

While looking through my scanned photos for something to post about, I came across pictures from a ski trip we took in 1990. We lived in Miami at the time, and for this trip we flew all the way across the U.S. to Oregon. I kept a journal, and I'll include a portion of that, too.

Here's Mount Hood, Oregon, as viewed from the ski lodge. 

We stayed in Timberline Lodge, pictured here. This is the most snow I've seen in my life!

Cozy inside by the huge fireplace. There are three hearths in the six-sided fireplace, and the chimney is 90 feet tall.

Beautiful hand-carved wood everywhere, like this stairway's newel post cap.

Our son had a great time snowboarding.

The parking lot had been cleared, but we had to uncover our rental car. To give you an idea of the amount of snow -- my husband is six feet tall.

Here's my journal, briefly describing the Mt. Hood portion of our trip. We stopped in Dallas on the way back to Miami to visit family. 

The Mt. Bachelor part of our trip is another story!

For more info about Mt. Hood, Oregon, and Timberline Lodge, here's a link: Timberline Lodge

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#Snow Day - #SaturdaySnapshots

When we moved to the Pacific Northwest, I expected lots of dark, rainy days and snowy winters - quite a contrast to my growing-up years in Texas and my time in Miami! But although there are more drizzly days in the Seattle area than I was accustomed to, snowy days are rare. Another surprise was that the snow generally doesn't stay around for long - the same as during my childhood in Dallas. Before the snow melted this past Monday, I laced up my boots, grabbed my camera, and trooped around our yard to record the beauty while it lasted. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Here's what I saw out my front door. Although our heavy snow didn't break any branches on the birch tree, it sure was drooping.

I love the look of snow on evergreens.

Now follow me around to the back yard.

 

The promise of spring to come.

Music from the little creek behind our house.

I hope you enjoyed the walk around my home. What's happening in your neighborhood? 

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

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An Innocent Client - The #Friday56 and #BookBeginnings on Friday

An Innocent Client is the first book in Scott Pratt's eight-book Joe Dillard Series, and I'm sure glad there are more for me to read. Joe Dillard is a likable character, the plot moves along briskly (with plenty of twists and turns), and the ending is satisfying. Joe has plenty of professional and personal obstacles to overcome (nobody seems to like a lawyer who defends criminals), and the action kept me turning pages. I'm looking forward to getting to know this character even better in future books.

FYI: Scott Pratt and his son publish Scott's books through a corporation they formed - Phoenix Flying, Inc. This book is beautifully formatted and free of errors, which I always appreciate.

Genre: Legal Mystery
Book Length: 372 Pages
Amazon Link: An Innocent Client
Author Website/Blog: Scott Pratt

Book Beginning:
April 12 - 7:00 A.M.
     It was my fortieth birthday, and the first thing I had to do was deal with Johnny Wayne Neal. The forensic psychiatrist I'd hired to examine him said Johnny Wayne was a narcissist, a pathological liar, and a sociopath, and those were his good qualities. He called Johnny Wayne an "irredeemable monster." I'd asked the shrink not to write any of that down. I didn't want the district attorney to see it. Monster or not, Johnny Wayne was still my client.

Friday 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
     "I don't see how she could possibly have killed Tester," I said. "For one thing, he was a 260-pound man. What does she weigh? 110?"

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
     A preacher is found brutally murdered in a Tennessee motel room.
     A beautiful, mysterious young girl is accused.
     In this Mystery Readers International finalist for "Best Debut Mystery," criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard has become jaded over the years as he's tried to balance his career against his conscience. Savvy but cynical, Dillard wants to quit doing criminal defense, but he can't resist the chance to represent someone who might actually be innocent. His drug-addicted sister has just been released from prison and his mother is succumbing to Alzheimer's, but Dillard's commitment to the case never wavers despite the personal troubles and professional demands that threaten to destroy him. 
              

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