Snowy Adventures Up North

"What is beautiful is a joy for all seasons"

Oscar Wilde

I received that quote on a card from my grandma Haze earlier this winter and have had it sitting on a shelf in my dining room ever since. It's a nice reminder when looking out the window at the huge pile of snow in our driveway, or feeling the draft coming up through the floorboards. Sometimes it is hard to enjoy all that winter has to offer because of the many challenges it presents - both physical and mental. If you remember my post from last year you'll know that I take this time to focus in and work on making my own warmth and brightness. But it is also a good time just to bundle up and get out there because when everyone else cringes at the winter world around them and you decide to embrace the frozen tundra and howling wind -- that's when the best adventures begin.

Over Valentine's Day weekend Evan and I drove up north to visit Karrin at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN where she is working as a naturalist. Mike, her boyfriend, is currently working at nearby Lutsen Ski Resort, so we were able to enjoy the weekend with him as well. What a treat to hike up Marshall Mountain (it looked different last August and October. Here's an old post!). We also learned about the Center and all the lessons Karrin teaches (we even went in an igloo!), did some star gazing (we don't have stars like that in the cities!), and spent a day skiing down the mountains of Lutsen against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Superior.

It has taken my dad and I a long time to figure out how to post high quality slideshows with audio on my blog without spending a fortune, but finally -- here's the first one! You might want to wait until your computer has rendered it a little (the red bar goes across a bit) before trying to watch the whole thing. I have it set so that older computers can view, but if you have a newer computer (with an intel chip) you can watch it at 1080p - HD! Just click the arrow next to 360p or 480p along the bar at the bottom and select 1080p (this option isn't available until after you hit play). Let me know if you have any problems. Turn up your volume and enjoy!

You can view these photos individually at my shutterfly website.

Salmon from Solveig

Actually, this recipe comes from my mom's cousin, but Salmon from Solveig just sounded too good to pass up. Besides, it really has become my mom's recipe over the past couple years, as she's served it up for many occasions, and it often is the centerpiece at someone's last-meal-at-home dinner (before heading off to college, back to Minnesota, or traveling around the world). It is best on the grill, but we've made it in the oven a few times and that works too (and is much easier in the winter!). This is by no means a healthy salmon recipe as it is accompanied by generous amounts of butter, but it sure is tasty!

Makes a lot (enough for one full fish). When I make it for two I usually third the recipe, and even then I sometimes have some sauce left over.

Marinade:

2 sticks butter
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T mustard
1 T worcestershire sauce
1 T lemon juice
a little pepper
titch of sugar (that's what the recipe says!)

Directions (for oven):

1. First melt the butter in a medium glass bowl, then add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish (or larger dish for more fish) and cover with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, turning occasionally. I usually don't have time to marinate the fillets and it turns out ok -- probably not as flavorful, but still good.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

3. Place fillets in aluminum foil, cover with marinade, and seal. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake 35 to 45 minutes, until easily flaked with a fork. Watch to make sure it doesn't burn (butter burns easily).

If using a grill, put salmon on aluminum foil and make sure it doesn't burn!

Enjoy!

I will have to post our other salmon recipe later -- also from my mom's cousin! That one is more of a cajun rub with some spicy mustard sauce. Yum! E prefers this first recipe while I am in favor of the second. But they both are good!

New Header!

As you may have noticed, the Tales of E and C has a new header! I came across this blog today and was so inspired by what I saw I couldn't wait to sit down and try it out for myself. Although I do love playing with Photoshop Elements, it is nice to have an easier and quicker alternative. I plan on changing my header monthly (because it is so much fun!) so make sure you check back to see what else I create! If you have your own blog go check out the tutorial and try it out for yourself!

Spontaneous Bathroom Tile Demolition

At first glance as you pass by our cozy bathroom you will probably be impressed by the glass tiles accenting the shower walls. If you've been witness to the hideous purple that used to adorn the surrounding walls, you will likely notice they are now dressed in a new shade of beige (technically "toasted wheat"). And if you pause for a moment with a critical eye you might get a chuckle over the shower head and water spout placement (let's just say we could have an NBA player over without a problem).

And if you pause to look at all that, you'll maybe -- just maybe -- forget to look down at the floor. At least that is our hope.

In recent weeks we've noticed a few critical pieces to our bathroom have suddenly decided to become uncooperative. First we have our toilet which is now gradually filling a small ice cream pail with water. Apparently this toilet is high maintenance -- it begs for attention with a constant drip-drip after every flush until we go in and manually shut her up. Nothing beats the double-flush quirk. But that isn't new. If you've been to our house perhaps you've realized that this crazy toilet will flush once, and then almost as an afterthought, it swallows up the water and flushes again. Although we like the looks of our vanity, we've noticed the base is a bit soggy in places -- and vanity shopping is fun! The laminate flooring has begun to peel up in places, and near the tub it is really quite soggy. We've always assumed we'd replace that floor at some point, but now that the toilet and vanity need to retire as well, we figure we might as well jump in.

And jump in we did. Sunday afternoon. Evan decided to peel up a tile just to see how easy it would be. Well, removing the first layer of flooring went relatively smoothly. It was only once we realized there was another older layer of flooring below, that we began to face problems. After a trip to Home Depot and a new tile remover in hand, we went at it again, only to realize the flooring would not come up (even with the suggested warm water). Since it was 8pm we decided to cut our losses and cover the sticky green/yellow flooring with some cardboard. Which is how it sits right now... and will remain for a few weeks until we have time to get at it once more.

So if you come over to the Pierson house please admire our tiling work, our shower curtain, even the little rock collection. Just promise you won't look down : )