I think we may be getting our first glimpse of spring here in the Pacific Northwest and the mood is wonderful. The clouds are parting and the sun may be peeking through a bit over the next couple days and I can’t wait to head for the mountains and hike a bit. My go to trail is Annette Lake – it isn’t too far from Seattle (just a 45 minute drive) – but provides a nice steep, escape to a beautiful hidden lake at the top of the mountain.
Hiking has always been a perfect way to collect my thoughts – there’s nothing like a long, peaceful hike to clear out the cobwebs and re-organize all of my mental to-do lists. It is a chance to prioritize whats important – for instance, making sure that you are recognizing the important people in your lives. I keep a little stash of gift wrapping supplies at hand for birthdays and “just because” gifts, and these little laser engraved wood tags are just the cutest little addons for packages.
And the best part about hiking? When you are done!
Annette Trail is a 7 and 1/2 mile in and out hike, most of which is super steep – so by the end of it, you really feel like you’ve accomplished something! Then it’s time to refuel back at home – so I keep a constant supply of dried fruit, spiced almonds and cashews in these beautiful bowls on our countertop and snack on them throughout the day.
The size is perfect – the nested bowls come in a range of sizes, so I choose the smaller ones for this task. And their shapes are unique to each set – I just love these beautiful, handmade bowls -and their colors are dreamy. They make whatever you put in them look classy and thoughtful.
But seriously, if you are going to hike for 7 1/2 miles, the reward should be fitting. So I say serious hiking calls for a serious reward. And my go-to for a serious reward is Twice Baked Chocolate Croissants from Bakery Nouveau. Just place 2 or 3 of these on one of our cake stands before you head out in the morning and you’ll return to a delightfully decadent display.
After you wind down with one of these and a cup of tea, all you’ll be thinking is life is sweet.