New Deck and the Winter Blues

We tore down the old deck last summer and then recently hired a contractor to build us a new one. We love the new deck and now we are excited for spring and summer to get here so we can use it. The weather has been pretty cold this winter with snow storms, flooding, freezing fog, air stagnation... a warm beach somewhere is calling me!

Holiday Oyster Celebration!

We had friends over on Christmas Day to enjoy an oyster brunch. Pacifics, kumamotos, virginicans, and Oly's; pan-fried, BBQ'd, and on the half shell. It was a beautiful sunny and snowy day and the oysters were a hit again this year. Eric is keeping his family's Christmas oyster tradition alive and well.

Master of ceremony frying up the oysters

Some of our friends enjoying the day

Yummy eats...

Poised with shucking knifes in hand

Stylish oyster eater

Jeff in charge of the grill

The dogs were having fun too

Frosty made it over a week, though he morphed a bit. Here he is with oyster shell eyes and mouth. The snow stayed around for about two weeks!

Port Townsend

Eric, Captain Ron (Dad), Carmen, and I braved the snow storm and headed to Port Townsend, Wa for a long weekend. We've been going there for a cyclocross racing weekend for several years, but this year there were no cyclocross races there, so we went anyway! The weather was cold and snowy like the rest of the region, but pretty windy, so we got some cool snow drifts. I've never seen snow drifts before. It was a really fun and relaxing time.

Relaxing in our room at the pet-friendly Palace Hotel. Carmen was allowed on the couch and she soaked it up!

Another snowman!

We met another corgi mix. Her name is "Waylow" - a fitting name. She's a "corsky", which is half corgi and half husky/shepard.

Carmen and Waylow...

Snow on the beach? We went on a cold hike at Fort Worden Park.

Snowball Bocce...

Carmen and Brandee catching some R & R.

Winter Wonderland

It started snowing late Tuesday night and the snow is still here! We've had probably 6 inches total. This type of snowy weather doesn't happen in the low-land Puget Sound, so we are pretty stoked! I took some pictures on Wednesday... enjoy!

The Miller Cottage in the snow

Carmen's "snose" - a term Eric made up which means a nose covered in snow. Carmen is such a snow dog.

Neighbor boy Cree with Frosty. A few of us got together and made him...


Jeff riding to work! He's nutz! Although Eric, Jeff, and I went on a 1.5 hour bike ride in the snow Wednesday night in pure cyclocross fashion. It was fun.

Two Family Members on Top Step of Cyclocross Podium

We spent Sunday at the final cyclocross race of the Seattle Series. Brandee finished first in her category and first overall in the series. It's been a long season and a lot of racing for her. Way to go Brandee! It was a fun day cheering on our other teammates too, with a lot of 'Green' being represented...especially by Jeff and Jeff.

Podium Gold!

Top dog...in a class by herself

Victory! Best pup in the world!

J1 and J2 - way to double up on two races Jeff and good job getting the holeshot Jeff

Eric's B-Day

We celebrated Eric's 36th birthday this year and brought the camera along to document some of it. After days and days of rain, the sun and warm weather came out and we ventured to Seattle to celebrate. Thanks to everyone for their warm birthday wishes...

36! What?! Never thought it would've happened!

Thanks Betsy!

Eric's favorite present at the Top of the Stairs - Carmen love!

Morning Watershed Park hike

Eric grew a handlebar mosstauche for his 36th b-day

Eric's favorite meal of the day at his favorite breakfast restaurant in Olympia, the Blue Lotus Cafe. Mmmmm

A cup of coffee at Green Lake from our favorite cafe when we lived in Seattle, Revolutions Cafe

(Carmen can be so intense)

A walk around Green Lake on such a nice day

Sushi at Blue C in Fremont

Pinball at Shorty's in Belltown after a trip to REI

SSCXWC in Portland

Eric, Carmen and I spent the weekend in Portland at the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC). For most racers, there is nothing serious about this race. A few take it seriously as some professionals even race. I was somewhere in the middle - not really knowing what to expect. The whole weekend was a big party ending with the World Championship race at the Portland International Raceways. It was a blast!

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We stayed with Corie and Aaron - old friends who just moved to Portland after several years in Joshua Tree California. They were gracious hosts and it was great to catch up. Thanks Corie and Aaron!

The race was a mass start with men and women racing together as you can see from this picture. I'm actually visible in the upper left hand corner (green jersey & blue helmet).

As the race went on, this bubble machine created a wall of bubbles several feet thick. It was kinda scary to ride through as you couldn't see what was on the other side!

So many single speed cyclocross bikes, so little time....

This guy actually raced this bike!

Our friend Larry from Seattle. Since he doesn't have an official team, he races for his own team: "Team Suckit". He's a pretty funny guy.

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I found a cool video clip of me at the race on the Cyclocross Magazine Website. Check it out:
http://vimeo.com/2201131