Travel – Molly the Face in the Window

Posted on 2nd March 2011 in Photography, Travel
Molly - Face in the Window

Molly - Face in the Window

Ah, vacations. I love them – they are just tops – the bees knees. Last year, as with each year, we try to have some get aways. Last year we had a weekend camping trip, road trip to Montana and through Yellow Stone, and a trip to Long Beach – from which this face in the window hails. This year, I’m hoping for more but we’ll see what happens.

As is fairly usual, I was feeling rebellious, didn’t feel like doing another hour of homework or going to bed, so the next best thing would be to dig up old photos and spruce them up a bit. Still working on my photo blog, one day I’ll share it with you guys, but for now it’s my private project.

This picture, far from brilliant photography, was taken on a night out watching the sun go down on Long Beach – WA not CA. We were driving along and it jumped right out at me. I just had to take a picture. Thank goodness Rick’s dad and step-mom are more than happy to indulge my wishes.

She is just wonderful – the face that is. Needs a name. Molly. Everyone, meet Molly the face in the window.

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Organic- Eco-friendly Shopping – THC Organic Market – Long Beach WA

Posted on 1st June 2010 in Green/Organic Grocery Shopping, Green/eco-friendly, Reviews, Travel
THC Organic Market, Long Beach WA

THC Organic Market, Long Beach WA

     After you make a huge change in your lifestyle, it can be a little challenging when you go to plan a vacation, whether it be camping, travel over seas, road tripping, or just a mini-break spent at your father and step-mother-in-laws on the Long Beach Peninsula. Do you change what you eat, or use or do normally to make it easier? (Is that even an options?) Or do you soldier on, sticking with your convictions?

     Rick and I went away for a few days recently. Over the last few years, as we have been students and changed careers many times, have not had a ton of money to spend on travel. Also, until recently, Rick couldn’t do much traveling anyway, his health complicated simple trips of more than a few minutes. At the moment at least, he’s doing well and we can plan to act like a “normal” couple, taking little trips here and there. We are just learning how to do the green, organic, gluten free “hippy” way of traveling. It’s scary, exciting and very fun so far!

     Before we left, we did searches looking for gluten free options (as this is the most important part of our life) anywhere near Ocean Park, where we were staying on the peninsula. I wanted to find anything. And we found THC Organic Market in Long Beach, the town. I was so excited! I was going to take pictures, shop and generally be a total hippy nerd.

     Not long after we left, I realized that I had forgotten our shampoo. Shoot! What was I going to do? I was agonizing over it while we drove. Because though I don’t wash my hair daily, there was going to be one “hair wash day” in the middle of the mini-break (UK version of mini vacation – I have friends from there and think “mini-break” sounds better). I don’t like using my plain castile soap on my hair, I had tried that once with very little luck. Although, to be fair, my hair was really long then, not short as it is now.

     The first full day that we were on the peninsula, Rick and I went on a mission. Rather, I was on a mission and Rick was along for the ride. We searched and searched, following google maps directions on his phone, to find THC Organic Market. Nothing, it wasn’t where it should have been – according to the map. I’ve discovered since living in Bellingham, that Google Maps don’t always do everything perfectly. Just as we were going to give up, we drove further into town, and stumbled upon the market! There it was, at the end of a long building, just across the street from the Neptune – the local movie theatre. I just about lost my self control I was so excited!

     There was a little “A” frame sign with the days soup special(if I remember correctly) out front. Inside we found a smallish store, packed seven or eight feet high, with all the stuff I could find at the Bellingham Community Co-op! I was in heaven! There were organic products everywhere! (I know the name has “organic” in the name, but you never know.)
After a few minutes of being completely ridiculous, I settled down and looked for stuff I might need. Tea. I had woken up with a sore throat that morning and didn’t have any of my soothing tea with me. I found a whole section of Yogi teas. Review on the tea itself will be coming soon!

     As I was browsing, resisting Rick’s urges to get going, I ran across my shampoo brand. Actually, found my exact shampoo, that doesn’t burn me or make me itch. (Also, should do a review on that as well.) My day was complete. I could wash my hair the following day without worry. Yes, I am a teeny, tiny bit neurotic and prefer my hair washed once it’s passed the three day mark. So far in my hair experiments that is as far as I have gotten. Anyway, getting side-tracked.

     We ended up getting some of our “normal” groceries at THC Organic Market. We were able to enjoy organic butter on our gluten free rolls(from our co-op), cups and cups of Throat Comfort Yogi Tea, and a good shampooing the next morning (okay, almost afternoon). It was so awesome we went back the next day to show Rick’s dad and step-mom, George and Judy – and get gluten free donut holes and buffalo jerkey.

     So if you ever find yourself on the Long Beach Peninsula in need of tea, shampoo, pet food, organic anything. Check out the THC Organic Market. Get their address, get the Neptune Twin Theatre’s address for reference. Or if you don’t mind talking on the phone(like I do), give them a call for good directions. Just don’t rely on Google Maps, (sorry Google,you are cool but the maps needs work). Mapquest?

     To read their story, check out their site closer, or for updates, click on the following links:
Website: THC Organic Market
Facebook page(updates): THC Organic Market Facebook Page

Indoor view - THC Organic Market, Long Beach, WA

Indoor view - THC Organic Market, Long Beach, WA

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Low impact camping ideas

Posted on 22nd May 2010 in Camping, Green/eco-friendly, Opinions

Low impact camping or camping the hippy way.

Tea pot on a camp fire

Tea pot on a camp fire

     A couple of weekends ago, Rick and I and long time friends, went camping at Larrabee State Park. We all love the outdoors, fresh air, rain, sun, trees. Not mosquitoes. Since we aren’t rolling in the dough and friend Erin couldn’t get away from work, we decided to do a quickie camping trip.
You’d think it wasn’t relaxing if all we did was pack, sleep to nights, repack and unpack. Actually, it was amazingly recharging. And since it’s still spring, it’s a better idea to do a shorter trip in case the weather is less than perfect. Which was the case.
     Since we went camping and it’s the beginning of camping season, I thought I’d do a post about how to camp low impact or camping the hippy way(my version, as there could be many).
     First, before I begin my list of nifty cool things and ideas, I have to say, I’m not a hardcore camper. I love camping, but I prefer access to showers(though I will try camping without, near a river), and toilets(also, willing to try without). I have never camped at a place I had to hike. Not yet. I’m willing, and if Erin has her wish, we’ll probably go this year. Possible Nooksack trip? Who knows. But I love the outdoors, until they try to steal our food of course. Raccoons! Cute, but nasty. Camping is something I’ve only recently become excited about and interested in. I’ve always loved my time outdoors, but at the end of the day I could go back for a shower. Everything I say about camping, or that I’ve tried, has been used at a site, in a campground, with a bathroom or port-a-potty (not recently emptied, bleh) not at a far away place where you pack in everything in one trip. I think I’ll try that someday, but not right now. Anyway, onto the camping recommendations.

  • Castile soap – One needs soap to clean hands, dishes etc. Castile soap is biodegradable as long as there isn’t anything else nasty added to it. I love Dr. Bronner’s tea tree liquid soap. I’ve used it for dishes, regular hand washing, showering etc.
  • Cast iron pan – This is something I use camping and at home! Though they are rather heavy. They can be used over a fire grate or on a propane stove of some sort. As long as you know how to cook with them, and they have been properly seasoned, they are relatively easy to clean and use the next time around.
  • Java log – This is a recent discovery. I’ve felt a little strange about burning wood. I feel badly, like it’s wasteful. How is one supposed to be sure the wood you are burning was chopped down ethically? Where does firewood at stores even come from? I’ve been lucky enough to have access to wood at my parents house. Each year a tree or part of a tree there falls down in a wind storm. They don’t have a wood stove so it piles up, ready for whomever goes camping. However, the last several times I’ve “borrowed” wood, it’s burned super fast, leaving us without. This time camping, Erin decided to buy a Java log. They are supposed to burn for 2-3 hours. They are made out of coffee grounds and vegetable waxes which burns cleaner than wood, and much hotter. And since I think camping should include a fire(not a very hippy view I know) a java log might just be the answer to your problems. My experience, though it was only one night, was a good one. I’ll be doing more “testing” on my own, in order to come up with a more complete review of this. For now, it’s worth a try!
  • Enamel or other type of reusable cookware – I hate, and I mean HATE, paper and Styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery. It’s soooo wasteful. It doesn’t get reused, creates waste that might even fly away at your campsite, not to mention the stuff that makes it to the landfill. I’m fully in support of reusable cookware/dinnerware. We bought blue enamel plates, cups, and bowls. Though they aren’t super light, like you might want if you plan to hike a ways to a site, for the type of camping we tend to do, they are just wonderful. And on top of being non-wasteful, they are super easy to wash. Food doesn’t seem to stick at all. Just a little bit of soap and water and it all slides off to leave a clean plate behind. Just remember, if it chips that means that tiny little chips might end up in your food, which is not very a good thing, even if it is “safe”. Be nice to your plates, cups and bowls and they should last for a long, long time!
  • Tea pot – Yup. Simple huh? It seems the camping coffee peculator shines brighter than the little old tea pot. But really, tea is something that almost everyone can drink. It’s usually better for you. And you can use it to boil water for dishes so your fingers don’t freeze. Or just in case something goes wrong with your water supply, boil the water for drinking.
  • Linen bag for granola or trail mix – Our friends used a couple of linen bags for the granola and trail mix they brought to the August camping trip last year. I have yet to make my own linen bags to use for camping or everyday stuff. I refuse to pay $5 for a bag I or Rick could make for a $1 or so.
  • Biodegradable toilet paper – Because you just never know.
  • Towels – instead of paper towels for obvious wasteful reasons.

    •      The list could go on and on. The limit is only your imagination. If you have ideas let me know. I’ll add them to the list. For now, I’ll leave you with these basic ideas to ponder, and hopefully use on your next camping trip!

    Tea in an enamel cup

    Tea in an enamel cup

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    I must be a gypsy

    Posted on 21st September 2008 in Life, Travel

    I’ve wanted to travel for years. I did some traveling four or five years ago. I’ve had a couple of road trips up and down the coast. Nothing overly exciting. I did go to Hawaii by myself as no one else could go with me. Four months later I went to Mexico with my mother. Both trips where awesome!
    Since then I got married and went to school. Now Rick is going to school. Priorities you know. Planning on getting back to some traveling when he’s out. Rick has never been to Canada. We both want to go to Alaska. I want to go to Europe. It will become a priority someday soon! For now I just enjoy moving to new places about every two years or so, about the time we get tired of it. I want to be a world gypsy though.


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