High on the hills

Leavenworth WA.  Our annual pilgramage to the holy land of Christmasness.  Peppermint schnapps-check, friends- check, every scrap of warm clothing - check.  It's time to hit the road.

First matter of business...the stomach.  Where else would one eat but THE SULTAN BAKERY!!!! OHHH YEAAAAAAA.  We had warned unnamed friend and her sharkboy that the meals were gianormic there but I think that mayhaps they might have thought we were over-exaggerating.  Imagine their surprise when "the Trainwreck" unnamed friend had ordered arrived by forklift...

Actually, I have officially been given the nod to reveal unknown friend as one miss Hailey Hansen...and now allow me to introduce her luffa - Mr Chris

after breakkie we headed up the Tumwater Canyon and on the way we stopped for a few photo opportunities.  Tad found a wonderful forest road and as we were making our way up what should Hailey (aka unnamed friend) find rolling around in the back of the suburban?  A HATCHET.  Some of my faithful readers may or may not know that Hailey talks about shanking.  ALOT.  So it came as no surprise to the occupants of the gleemobile that her happiness meter was redlined when she spied this tool and immediately signalled for Tadpole to halt the car so she could hatchet something.  Fortunately for us and civilized society, the blackberry bushes where the only victims

Queue maniacal laughing

....and yet more....

ah, but the mountains took me away from the carnage

We were then on our way again...but had to stop to take a picture or 15 of the moss literally glowing on the trees with the sunshine on it

There were so many places along the trip that we wanted to stop - even a snow drift wouldn't stand in our way and by our I mean me and Tad, the other turkeys stayed in the warmth of the burban while we scaled this mountain of snow

but the payoff was well worth it!

There were icicles on the sides of the composting long drop loo - and Tadpole thought he would take them back to the car as a treat for the guys to suck on, sadly they cottoned on that it might be unsanitary to do so and sent him packing!

More yummy mountains

Praise God, there was fudge in them there mountains - chewy praline vanilla was my fav

I think I'm addicted to this scenery

and then...we were there, with 50,000 of our closest friends

look at this saucy lil elf

Time for beer.....

and gobbling sausages as ably demonstrated in this mural (Tad did not pose for this photo)

ahh- a warm fire, Mr Big, good friends and sausage.  Who could ask for anything more?

and then the town and the tree were lit - so beautiful ESPECIALLY with the snow lightly floating down

also - one of the must do's in Leavenworth is the hat shop - Mr Big rocks any look, especially a Plymouth Pioneer - this hat would make him around 9 ft tall

and as you all know I've always wanted a teacup pig, but maybe a TADPOLE PIG would be even better

Adieu Leavenworth - till next year!

 

Warm Beach

New to the Christmas Calender this year was something neither Mr Big or myself had ever done.  Warm Beach, home to (queue Dr Evil voice) ONE MILLION lights.

Mr Big, myself, Tad, Ronnie, Lois and Jason started at Carpenter Creek Winery for a delicious glass of wine (and cigar for Mr Big) and then we rolled out to Warm Beach in convoy.  Lucky for us this year we had a two-for-one deal so it cost $14 instead of $28 to enter and stroll the lights.  Lovely as it was I don't think it is something I would pay $14 per person for.  Anyhoo, here in all its glory I present to you......WARM BEACH LIGHTS (PS, don't expect too much with the photographic prowess you dozens of faithful readers are used to, for some weird reason these aren't my best work)

Here's the Warm Beach Group

I really loved this arch way, Mr Big is thinking of something similar for next year at Castle Allen

these pendants coming out of the trees were utterly breathtaking, and this picture no way does it justice

The laddies in front of a beautious tree

ahhh - what better than a kiss with Mr Big?

I'm not a big pink person but this was by far my favorite display here

this wee deer was just begging to be kissed

and I will leave this picture uncaptioned, I don't think I need to tell you what Ronnie is doing

in front of the gingerbread house - thank you kind Asian lady for taking our picture!

Dad, I was thinking of you when I saw this, I think that this piper bears a striking resemblance to you

SANTA'S IN THE HOOOOOUUUUUSE....

What was weird was that Jason seemed to REALLY REALLY like these fuzzy friends that were milling around.....as is evidenced in the following (I don't know where Frosty's hand is but where ever it is Jason doesn't seem to mind.  I'm just sayin).

 Two little bears at Warm Beach

A good night was had by all.  Tomorrow, Leavenworth, AKA Christmas Mecca.  *Scratches head* can you use Christmas and Mecca in one sentence?

Interesting, the things you see out your window

When one is home from work there is time in the day to look out the window. Today is a beautiful early winter day. I sat down for a little lunch. Thus coincidentally was at the same time the local narcotics anonymous meeting was getting ready to start, which was good, I'm a people watcher and some fascinating folks roll up to this meeting. At my first sip of tea I was quite surprised to see thus thunder around the corner ....

More Christmas Cheer

...and downstairs the elves were making sparkling cider and trophy cup cakes!!!

Christmas Cheer

I work for PEMCO insurance and the motto around here is..."we're alot like you...a little different".  This ethos is backed up a bazillion percent by the executive team who at this time of year don appropraite seasonal attire, buy boxes and boxes of see's candies and march around the company with tickle me elmo style laughing doll spreading joy.

Here's me with (left to right) Stan (CEO), Steve (CFO), Fee (fabulous), Sue (Chief People Officer), Jeff (CIO)...note Stan's florish with the cape, he was rocking the cape and I think he might make it a regular fashion accompaniment for his day to day wardrobe.  In the background in lavender is Vivian, the call center director.

the chocolates are a double layer of delicious See's Candies.  See's, if you are reading this I make a plea to you PLEASE put in a chocolate menu so we know what we are throwing down the old biscuit shoot.  We have to resort to shanking each of your confections to understand what the interior of said confection is.  Some of us can barely wait as is evidenced in this picture: (left to right: unnamed friend's hand shanking the chocolates, Carrie and Kirsten)

and still more shanking going on as we speak

Theos

Sunday was a dreary day but we spiced it up with a trip to Theo's Chocolate Factory.

and here is the chocolate tour posse

it was very cozy inside....a roaring fire to sit next to while we waited for the tour to begin

and lots of chocolate to "look at"

I think the best was the dark chocolate with fig and fennel - weird, and strangely delicimo!  Course, going into a food making factory meant we got complimentary hair nets.  When these were given to Geneva she was like "what...are....these....for"

putting on your noggin silly! But perhaps not like this...

Like this!

I think I look rather fetching as does Gen (bloody hell - check out my wrinkles!)

and before we knew it it was tour time

I had no idea there was so much involved in making chocolate.  Really my only education was based on Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory - and I am delighted beyond belief to confirm that there is no super scary river ride in this tour and sad to report....NO UMPALOOMPAS - those their suits were in plain view.  Maybe they have Sundays off for religious reasons?

Look how intently our merry band was listening...even post sugar high

and of course, the real reason of the tour was not education.  Who needs an education when you have CHOCOLATE

When we were done with the tour we ended back in the store (co-incidence? I think NOT).  There was an opportunity to add a pin to the world map to indicate where all the visitors were from.  They had run out of pins so I stole a pin from Australia (who care about that place anyhoo) and used it to indicate my glorious nation.  Amazing how many people had visited from the antipodes.

So yes, it was well worth going - a 2 month wait to go on the tour and the $6 entry fee was well worth it!