Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, WA

May 22, 2014 Comments Off read Attractions, Pacific, The Great Outdoors, Travel, USA, Washington, West

The title of this post could well be “Guess who got a macro lens?” so don’t say I didn’t warn you when it comes to up close shots of everything from now until forever or I break it, whichever comes first. Just be thankful there’s no way for me to take “up my pores” selfies. We visited the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden during peak bloom season. In addition to their substantial number of rhododendrons, they also maintain a field of Himalayan blue poppies. As luck would have it, we visited on the only day of the year they make them available for purchase to the public. Ultimately, I decided not to purchase any as their care is on the fussy side and I felt the opportunity should go to someone a bit more capable in the garden; this year I’m focusing on killing a number of fruits and vegetables so I’ll save the flowers for someone else. I particularly enjoyed playing bumblebee paparazzi while wandering the extensive trails. While most were busy with their own bumble business, one must have enjoyed the attention as it landed on my upper arm and posed patiently while I taught Jason how to use the camera.

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Bear in a Box in Allyn, WA

May 21, 2014 Comments Off read Attractions, Pacific, Travel, USA, Washington, West

I heard there was a place in Allyn with a ton of chainsaw carvings, but I needed to see it to believe it. When we arrived at Bear in a Box, I still hardly believed it. The smell of freshly-cut cedar is hanging in the air, and there are so many carvings in different stages of completion, it’s hard to take them all in. When we remarked aloud at how great the air smelled, a man called from an elaborately-carved bench “At least you can smell it, I can’t anymore.” We made our way over and met Don Benson, one of the chainsaw artists. He started carving 8 years ago, and made the switch to full-time 6 years ago, carving and teaching classes at Bear in a Box. This year, he took fourth in the national competition in Yreka, CA, with the above carving. We learned that some carvings are done start to finish with saws, and some require a small amount of hand tools–a bit of sanding for a smooth beak, smaller tools for the smallest detail work. “Anyone can do this, there’s money in it. Start off with bears, people like bears.” “I think my bear would probably look like a turd with three legs.” “And people will buy it! When I started, I made these terrible eagles, people would come up to me and say ‘Man, that looks exactly like an eagle’ and I’d laugh because I’ve seen pictures of eagles and they looked nothing like an eagle. But they still sold. Get a saw!” “I don’t know, I’m a little clumsy…” “Don’t get a saw. You–you get a saw, don’t let her touch it.”

Hearthstone Fireside Friends

May 20, 2014 Comments Off read (f)Art, Masticating With Mellzah

If you haven’t heard of Hearthstone, it’s a free-to-play collectible card game made by Blizzard. Recently, they released an app so you could play on ipad, and also announced “Fireside Friends” gatherings–official gatherings where people could meet up and play with one another, and those who participated would be given a special card back to show everyone that they have real-life friends. Well, screw that noise. I don’t have a laptop OR an ipad, and since it looks like they won’t be developing a Windows RT app any time soon (or ever, which is a shame, because it would be so much fun to play Hearthstone in my hammock instead of at a desk), I decided to host a Fireside Friends gathering at my house so I could actually play without lugging my PC around like I’m still living in the heyday of the LAN party.

To commemorate this occasion, I made some themed food with modified Hearthstone card labels, because theme parties are my jam and it’s a sad day when I can’t photoshop a joke about balls.

It’s also not a party without a fart joke.

I had never made spring rolls before. They were such a pain that I may never make them again.

These are grapes wrapped in goat cheese and toasted pistachios and they are amazing.

I was so not lying about having a cotton candy machine.

We had fun, got our card backs, and best of all, we didn’t have to interact with strangers. If you play Hearthstone, add me as a friend! My BattleTag is DrStinkbeard#1437.