The Nekst Projekt

Projekt Oyster Garden

2010-06-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Day Weekend brought on a projekt we've wanted to do for a while which is to start some oyster seeds and watch them grow. We started the day with Grandpa and Grandma at the shellfish farm where we picked out 1000 baby oysters. On the way home we stopped at the local bakery for some treats, then headed down to the beach to put all these little oysters in their new homes. We had a great low tide to work with on Saturday. They will grow to harvestable size in 12-18 months and in the meantime do their job of filtering the waters of Puget Sound.

It will be fun to watch them grow!

Chew Toy Bliss

2009-11-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

Special Directions from Mark and Bebeth:

"Just don't let Kuja chew on the purple handle of

the ' Tug-of-War' toy!"

It looks like that's the best part!

Walk in the rain

2009-11-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Had a great walk in the rain at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Beautiful fall colors and big changes to the delta dynamics. There is a big celebration, opening, and unveiling of the new dike system on Thursday the 12th of November.

I spy goats!

2009-10-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

Sabine's first hike to see the golden larch trees

on the Ingall's Lake trail.

Close Call

2009-10-01T09:06:00.001-07:00

I was working on the patio yesterday afternoon with the chickens all free-roaming in the yard and out of the sky came a bird of prey. Heard the commotion and then saw the predator fly off as all the chickens scattered. It took Lilly and me 30 minutes to go find them all and put them back in their coop. They hide very well when frightenend. No one got hurt, it was a near miss thank goodness!

Here's a picture of the scene of touch down.

Never a dull moment!

Red Book, Black Book, and New Book

2009-09-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have traveled with Grandpa Bob, you know where your favorites are. As for Maren, Julia, the "air compressor", and Grandpa Ted, we missed both your company and added volume.

A view into the goings on around a paddle camp on Hand Island

2009-09-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

A week of perfect weather made this one of the rare camps where a tarp was not a central camp fixture and gathering area.

A Good Year

2009-09-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

We miss you Rosie!

Rest in Peace.

EGG!

2009-09-08T21:11:00.001-07:00

Someone (not pictured) was laboring this Labor Day Weekend!

Very exciting, our first egg. It contributed to a delicious dutch baby!

Zopf in dutch ovens!

2009-07-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

It was 96ºF inside the house today so Mikaela and I decided to bake outside. We made a Swiss bread called Zopf. Thanks to Betti for being a great teacher! Andy and Heidi liked it!

I love that smile!

2009-07-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

David, thanks for capturing it!

Nosey Rosie

2009-07-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

Mikaela stole my camera for a while the other day.

Fishing in AK

2009-07-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Julie and I woke up EARLY one morning to go fishing for Kings. We were advised by some fellow anglers at the trailhead to leave our fishing net in the truck. It wasn't big enough. Someone else would let us borrow their net. We saw some HUGE fish brought in but not by us. Had a great time!

Cousins are SO FUN!

2009-07-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

Mikaela and Becca

2009-07-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Had a great time hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail today with Mikaela, Becca and Lilly!

Alaska

2009-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Hazards of Working From Home

2009-06-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

For Mikaela

2009-06-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

In classic little sister mode, Terese is working on one of her many ways to make her big sister happy,...

Deception Pass Field Trip

2009-06-02T22:34:00.001-07:00

Thanks Betti!

Sleepyhead

2009-06-02T22:31:00.001-07:00

Delta Day

2009-06-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Mud treatments on the Nisqually Delta

They're growing!

2009-06-02T22:15:00.001-07:00

Mikaela and Luna

2009-05-18T22:27:00.001-07:00

A good book and a new friend.

More Steudel Girls

2009-05-18T22:23:00.001-07:00

I took this photo the day I brought the chicks home. Lilly is very sweet with them. I wasn't so sure at first but for some reason she's very protective of them.

Projekt Hen House

2009-05-18T22:11:00.001-07:00

The chicks are growing fast so Teddy had to get to work on a hen house. He did a lot of research on some moveable coops and this is what he ended up with. Pretty posh I think.

First time in a solo boat!

2009-04-14T22:01:00.001-07:00

Dutch Oven Bakers

2009-04-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

Mikaela and Térèse baked us a cake in the dutch oven on our last trip in the San Juans.

Mmmm. Good.

Strawberry Island Wildflower Sitings

2009-04-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Blue-Eyed Mary

Hairy Indian-Paintbrush

Western Buttercup

Red-Flowering Currant

Harvesting Kelp

2009-04-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!

2009-04-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here are the girls holding their newest cousin, Sabine. We had to stop by after a few days of paddling to see her again. She's absolutely adorable! For some fun pictures of her go here

Thank you Mark and Bebeth!

March at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

2009-03-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

A Date on the Water

2009-03-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

Circumnavigation of Ketron Island, Southern Puget Sound.

Brief sunspots in early March make for a great preview of Spring and a fun 3 hour date/getaway from a hectic week.

Ball Crazy

2009-03-22T21:14:00.001-07:00

There's nothing we can do.

She's absolutely ball and stick crazy!

Forcing Spring!

2009-03-22T21:07:00.001-07:00

The cherry tree cuttings that I rescued from the pruning pile have finally bloomed inside! Spring's just around the corner now. I can't wait!

Church Bells

2009-03-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a little glimpse of the Salzburg skyline from February. It sounded as pretty as it looks!

A Swan on the Limmat in Zürich

2009-02-18T22:59:00.000-08:00

Pillars of the Earth

2009-02-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

Inside Dom St. Maria in Augsburg. This Cathedral was started in 944 AD with the oldest stained-glass windows in the world.

Side Benefit

2009-02-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

side Benefit to travel: Visiting special relatives! We'll be back!

The Dreamer's Castle

2009-02-18T21:25:00.001-08:00

Schloss Neuschwanstein from Schloss Hohenschwangau in late January. A beautiful sight! Thank you Ludwig!

Unbelievable! She's Twelve!!!

2009-02-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

Mikaela & Old Faithful

2008-09-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

There she is finishing her ice cream at the historic Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone with Old Faithful steaming in the background. We'd seen it go off once already that day and ended up seeing it go off 2 more times, once during our hike around all the geysers in the area and then once more just before we continued on our drive through the park. It's still faithful even after that 1959 earthquake.

The Caverns

2008-09-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

Close to the entry of the Lewis & Clark Caverns looking south. The Jefferson river is below.

Looking back from the entry of the caverns to the visitor center.

Another place we visited while in Montana this August was The Lewis & Clark Caverns. That was the highlight of our trip for the kids I think. They loved it! We had a GREAT tour guide and Aunt Betty came along. At 78 that's awesome! It was HOT HOT HOT hiking up to the entry then we put on our jackets for the tour of the caverns. We had a great tour guide who involved the kids in the tour. In the last picture he's going through information for the kids to take home.

Yellowstone

2008-09-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

A Magical Place

Josie

2008-09-04T22:04:00.001-07:00

While we were in Montana last month I fell in love with this mule. She's over 16 hands tall and a sweetheart. I rode Josie down to the Gallatin a couple times during our visit. Krissy and Dave found a new place for her so we'll have to visit her in her new home next time we are there. I miss her.

3rd Grader?

2008-09-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Térèse's Breakfast

More Cousins!

2008-09-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

We met Aunt Betty, Karen, Jen and Tommy at Krissy's in Bozeman this year. Spent a day in Yellowstone, a first for the kids. They loved it. Most of all they loved being together.

Rosie

2008-09-04T21:29:00.001-07:00

Our newest addition wears herself out.
And Teddy too.

Great Day at Aunt Krissy's

2008-08-06T21:22:00.000-07:00

Happiness = Shade + Boots + Dog

2008-08-06T21:16:00.000-07:00

COUSINS!

2008-08-06T21:14:00.001-07:00

Titles Under the Tarps

2008-07-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

This group brings a great variety of reading material for rainy days under the tarp.

This year's titles:

Dreams of my Father, Barack Obama

What is the What, Dave Eggers

Krakatoa, Simon Winchester

Redwall, Brian Jacques

Mossflower, Brian Jacques

Half Magic, Roald Dahl

A Grisham Novel or two (Bob, I forgot which ones)

Pacific Coast Berry Finder, Glenn Keator

Pacific Coast Tree Finder, Tom Watts

All That The Rain Promises and More...A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

by David Arora

Western Birds, Peterson Guide

Pacific Seaweeds, A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast, Louis Druehl

Whelks to Whales, Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, Rick M. Harbo

Rainy Days in the Hakai

2008-07-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sketch by Lisa

ink and water color

Two Tree Rock

2008-07-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

Looking out from our camp on Huckleberry Island is this little rock with a wild personality. I brought along a sketchbook this year so I captured it with pen and ink. Kaj captured it his way. The photo is his. Thanks Kaj!
Lisa

More Bella Bella Food

2008-07-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

Bringing Home Dinner!

Hunk-o-cheese, HOT soup, FishonCracker = PowerSnack

Blue Plate Special x2

Limpet stew and Beer Bread

Full-proof: tortellini and sun-dried tomatoes

Bella Bella Coastal Food

2008-07-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, wilderness trips get talked about in terms of where, when, and how. But when the weather keeps

you under the all important tarp (outdoor

rainy day living room), the interests turn to food.

Ours was such a trip. With six of the 10 trip days involving 20-35 knot winds and plenty of wetness from the sky, food (thinking of, harvesting, cooking, and eating) became the easy consumer of time.

Previous encounters with similar weather in the same area led to the food names of the otherwise unnamed islands that we chose to camp on, Huckleberry Island, and Halibut Head.

Aside from the mounds of food we manage to pack in the canoes, this coast line can yield a veritable feast for those that are persistent, patient, and adventurous. This trip north of the Hakai region of BC was no exception.

The freshly harvested listed included: Lingcod, Rockfish of many varieties, Limpets (the only "shellfish we ate because of the redtide warnings), a few just ready Gooseberries, Huckleberries and Halibut.

First HOT weekend of the year!

2008-05-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Recital

2008-05-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

Térèse on the UPS campus after her recital.

Maple Lawn Elementary's 6th Annual Art Walk

2008-05-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

Resident Artists: Every single Maple Lawn Student
Guest Artists: Kaj Bune and Lana Hoover
Co-Chairs: Shannon Tracy and Lisa Steudel

Luhr's Landing, around Anderson Island and back

2008-04-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

A warm Spring day, a willing flotilla, and a picnic lunch. all you need for perfect day on the water. 15.2 miles of beautiful water.

Wild life encountered:

pacific harbour seal

california sea lion

common loon

arctic loon

western grebe

bald eagle

orange sea pen

anenome

sun star

sand dollar

pigeon guillimot

king fisher

merganser

scoter

star fish

jelly fish

great blue heron

dungeness crab

red rock crab

salmon

sea run cutthroat

kids

clams

power boater

sea cucumber

barnacle

mussel

moon snail

starry flounder

killdeer

not a bad wildlife list for a day paddle in the Puget Sound!

check out Kaj's photo blog for some fun images.

Fearless Adventurers:

Nils

Mikaela

Terese

Maylon

Kaj

Lisa

Ted

Human powered vehicles:

two Sea Clipper canoes and Lisa's Arluk 1.8 sea kayak

Spring Paddle to the Spit

2008-04-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

Paddled out to the Spit on the Nisqually Delta one day over spring break. We had Great company (thanks Kris!) and saw eagles, seals, giant limpets, gulls, and sunshine. We'll definitely return when the mercury rises a little and the arctic terns start to migrate. Great day for a sneak peak of spring in the Pacific Northwest.

2008-03-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

Use it or lose it. Guess that applies to remembering how to post a blog.

It has been a month or more since our last post primarily because our Nekst Projekt (s) were either so big (and still ongoing) or complete surprises (not the fun kind). Fortunately we've had good friends and family help and humor us through the various debacles.

It all comes down to being the owned by a house with "character". In this case, character took the multi-headed form of a complete refitting of the house electrical systems, doubling the usable square footage of the house by exposing a hidden stair case, and digging up the septic system for kicks!

In this last few months we have been reminded that every house projekt will handsomely exceed even the most carefully planned budget and timeline. Budgets and timelines are for fooling yourself into a projekt and believing that it will be complete before the next pumpkin is carved.

Lilly

2008-02-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

We've been spending these long winter evenings curled up with good books or magazines in front of the fire. Lilly loves crashing in front of the fire and then when she gets too hot she'll get up and move to the cool slate floor. It's back and forth all evening for her. Here she came back to the fire and fell asleep on my magazine. She's got a rough life!

Special Guest

2008-01-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you Uncle Mark for coming and reading The Wind in the Willows with me at school this morning! Since Dad couldn't come to "Donuts with Dads" I'm glad that you came!

Térèse

The Perfect Lunch Spot

2008-01-22T22:23:00.000-08:00

I found a paddling partner today and we put in for a beautiful little trip off Dash Point. We had lunch floating in the sunshine between Dash Point and Brown's Point. It was perfect. Thanks Michelle for being fun and spontaneous! Thanks Saige for helping fill up that big canoe. You're a great passenger and a good paddler too.

Lisa

Bozeman Christmas Project 2007

2008-01-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

Traditionally a jigsaw puzzle fills the time between Christmas meals, but Dave and Krissy had to up the ante with a vintage sleigh restoration project. Puzzles are easier, but the sleigh has much more class.

I think Dave is looking for a decrepit stage coach or Conestoga wagon for Mark and Bebeth's visit in February.

Starcatchers of the Hakai

2008-01-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite images of 2007. Julia, Mikaela, Nils and Térèse on Triquet Island in July.

Girls Day at Crystal Mountain

2007-12-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

We spent the last friday on the slopes with the Smith Girls. It was a beautiful day! We're looking forward to more! Thanks JB for taking the time!

The Pintail

2007-12-08T00:03:00.003-08:00

Teddy built The Pintail. Sometimes during the building process he'd coax someone into the shop to work with him. Here's a few photos. Thanks for the fun times in the shop Teddy.

Teddy's "perfect" beach

2007-11-28T22:37:00.001-08:00

A friend asked me today about the photo behind our blog title.

"Where did you get those pebbles?"

Answer: Those pebbles are from a special place. A place on the West Side of Vancouver Island that we've visited a few times and think of often. The 'perfect' beach according to Teddy and a few others. Teddy will go on and on talking about the virtues of the perfect beach! Most normal people when asked to describe their perfect beach will usually describe the color of the sand, often white, and then go on to describe other details, i.e. palm trees, tropical breezes, pounding surf or soft lapping waves, warm azure water.... Not Teddy. The first thing he'll describe is the size of the pebble. "About the size of the tip of your little finger." as he's holding up his hand looking down on the tip of his own pinkie. "Sand's too messy. Sand gets into everything." You start to wonder if he even likes beaches. He LOVES beaches. Especially beaches like the one on Catala Island where I captured the image of the pebbles that's behind the title of our blog. It's Teddy's perfect beach.

Lisa

Happy Birthday Kaj

2007-11-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

Champagne at last!

2007-11-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

Our first post, and our first toast.

I am not sure which was more difficult. Heading for bed now. More pictures later.