Oh my Gosh, Ohanapecosh. Plus a Rose Garden.

We hiked the Silver Falls Loop Trail at Ohanapecosh with a friend who took the day off work to join us at Mount Rainier. It felt cold when we started out, since it was cloudy, but I quickly warmed up as we got moving. I also tested the waters from the hot springs at the start of the hike, so it wasn't all cold. This is my favorite type of trail, under trees with a fast moving river. It smells so fresh, like damp wood and with the taste of water in the air. We also took a spur trail to the Grove of the Patriarchs. Our friend proclaimed it to be her happy place. It was something special; plus we got to use one of the famed Mount Rainier steel cable suspension bridges.

Testing the (warm) waters.

Silver Falls. The cataract was narrow in places.

Crossing the bridge.

Western Hemlock. The boardwalk protects to tree roots.

Western red cedar.

Steel cable suspension bridge over the Ohanapecosh River.

Red huckleberry. They were plentiful.

Russ and I went to a brunch for retirees of a company that we both worked for. I worked there for 15 years. We stay in touch with and have several close friends that we made at the company. This brunch takes place every two months and people attend as they can fit it in around their travel schedules.

Lots of conversation and catching up.

Dinner at Cooper's in Tacoma.

Breakfast at the Original Pancake house in Tacoma.

Concert in the Park at Fort Steilacoom. The salsa band was amazing.

On on way to our regular hike a Point Defiance, Russ and I went early and stopped at the Rose Garden. The Tacoma Rose Society prunes and deadheads the roses every Thursday. I was impressed with the scale of the garden and the many varieties of roses blooming. Sweet!

I think there are many weddings in the pavilion here.

Smells like a rose.

Profusion of pretty.

We've been going out to eat more, but I'm still cooking at home with the fresh food from our garden and the farmers market. There are too many cucumbers and a flood of tomatoes. We eat tomatoes every day and I still can't keep up. I'm considering making some sort of pickled cucumber and onion condiment to use up the bounty. I did manage a cucumber sauce that went well with the grilled salmon.

Harvest.

More tomatoes just three days later!

Potato and squash torte.

Chanterelle and green pepper pizza with red wine.

A soy bacon BLT with avocado and cauliflower cheese soup.

Grilled salmon with roasted potatoes and sauteed kale.

Caprese salad, fresh spinach fettuccine with corn and summer squash.

I have another tomato harvest ready to bring in. I do love fresh tomato everything, and wouldn't trade this problem of too many for the opposite one. My philosophy is to eat so many tomatoes when they are in season that I don't want any more until they come back next year.