Some favorites, firsts, and fabulous accomplishments of 2011 (not really in order):
1. Experiencing our first official Portland "snow day"
I woke up to an exciting call from my boss at 6am saying that our school was closed. I believe every school within 20 miles was also closed. By 10am this is how much snow had accumulated behind our apartment. It was definitely exciting for a city that doesn't get snow!
2. Romp to Stomp & raising $1700 for breast cancer research
We had so much fun with our R2S team last year! Unfortunately, the annual event was moved from Mt. Hood to Mt. Bachelor for 2012. It's a much longer drive and we were unable to snowshoe the event this year. Maybe 'The Breast Intentions' will return in 2013!
3. Snow camping
Not only was this a bucket list item, it was a definite favorite of the year. For more details, see the earlier blog post here. With the help of a coworker, we were later able to get an amazing deal on a Mountain Hardwear 4 season tent so now we can head back out into the snow whenever we want!
4. Justin starting & nearly finishing a half sleeve
He had been dieing to start a Shepard Fairey sleeve and I finally gave in. The long process was expedited after the artist announced his plans for a multi-year backpacking trip to South America. Justin booked all the remaining sessions and they hammered out a ton of work in about 6 months.
5. Snowboarding on Mt. Hood
We finally took lessons to learn how to snowboard. I had slid down the old garbage heap in Grand Rapids a few times in high school, but that's about all I did. Lessons were super necessary. I can't say that I am any good at it yet, but I haven't given up and I think Justin is doing quite well. Robin and David got us season lift tickets for Christmas, so hopefully we will get lots of practice in this year! Thank you so much.
6. Season tickets for the Timbers
Luckily Justin had the foresight to get us season tickets to the Portland Timbers inaugural MLS season. I was a little overwhelmed by the schedule at first, but quickly adjusted to being a full time soccer supporter. Twenty or so home games were the best part a Portland summer. And this photo is now on the wall at the field, haha.
7. (Tammy) going 100% vegan in May and not looking back
Justin and I went vegetarian together many years ago and we each took our own path. Justin went vegan about a year later and I continued to eat dairy and eggs. Slowly I transitioned to eating only vegan at home, but would regularly have dairy when I was at a restaurant or with friends. In May, I decided enough was enough and cut cruelty completely out of my life. I am so happy with my decision and can easily say I have no intention of ever including animal products in my life again. This is the vegan mini mall that makes any herbivore's life better!
8. Lots of family visits, both in Portland and Michigan
We were fortunate to get in lots of visits this year! Robin and David came out to Portland several times. My parents and Ginny drove out at the beginning of the summer. Justin and I drove to Michigan in August. I flew home to celebrate the wonderful life of my grandmother who we sadly lost in October. And I returned again in December for some pre-holiday festivities! Then Justin's brother Brock came out to visit Portland for the first time since he helped us move here in 2009. We had some wonderful times with both family & friends and are very thankful for this! We miss you Gram.
9. Checking off another dozen plus hikes
I feel like we finally made some progress on our list of 'to do hikes.' Some of the hikes that we have been wanting to do since we moved to the Northwest were checked off. We finally backpacked Eagle Creek, the most popular trail in the gorge. We did overnights at Herman Creek, Salmon River, Lower Deschutes River, Clackamas River, and Angel Rest. And we did plenty of day hikes in the gorge and all over Mt. Hood! Great hikes and great times!
10. Building a garden box and growing food
One of the hardest parts of living in an apartment is that there is no room for gardening. I had been wanting to build a garden box in the small walkway behind our place and finally did it in the spring of 2011. It wasn't the most successful or fruitful experience, but I was pretty proud of myself and vow to do better in 2012!
11. Fur Free Friday
I was both excited and nervous about my first public protest. Being an animal lover, I never thought it was very cool to wear fur. But I think most people either choose to not think about how fur coats are made OR you lie to yourself saying it must be done in some humane way (like finding dead animals and just taking their fur or something ridiculous like that). I didn't know much about the fur trade, but I knew I didn't support it and I wanted to be a voice for animals. Well it turns out, it's a lot worse than I ever imagined and is so close to home. There are several major department stores downtown that sell fur. There is an entire fur store right in the middle of downtown Portland. There are also several fur farms only a couple hours from my home. Fur farms: where hundreds of beautiful animals are raised in extreme conditions and then skinned ALIVE, because fur separates from the body much easier when blood is still flowing through it. Disgusting and seriously disturbing that people support this.
