Wedding FAQs

Q: Where is the wedding?
A: At Olympic Park Institute (OPI), 111 Barnes Point Road, Port Angeles, WA

Q: What is OPI?
A: OPI is a non-profit educational facility, specializing in outdoor education. Kids typically spend several days exploring & learning about the natural world. There are historic cabins and a lodge built by Rose & Mary, who settled the area at the turn of the Century. OPI rents the entire facility for a few weddings every year as a revenue source. We are thrilled to support their programs!

Q: Where is OPI?

A: OPI is on the west shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, a half hour drive west of Port Angeles, WA.

Q: Is there enough room for everyone to stay in a cabin?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, canine friends will have to sit this one out ~ OPI rules.

Q: Can I pitch a tent?
A: Tent camping is only allowed in Front Country campgrounds, not at OPI. The closest FrontCountry Campground is Fairholm. The cabins are warm & worth every penny!

Q: Should I bring food?
A: The meals listed on your RSVP card will be served at scheduled times. If you are planning a hike, or strenuous activity, you might want to pack a few snacks.

Q: What is the cost of the meals?
A: All meals are hosted by the Bride & Groom.

Q: What if I have kids; will we have to share a room with a partier?
A: Cabins will be pre-assigned and directions will be given upon arrival. We will try our best to accommodate any special requests.

Q: What if I want to "Party Like It's 1999?" Will I have to be quiet around the kids?
A: See previous Answer. Late night revelers will be asked to keep it to the Lakeside Shelter.

Firsts

This is my first quilt

Mike & I were asked to be Godparents to our little nephew (Oliver). That warranted something special for the Baby Shower. With only 3 weeks, I decided to do something I'd never done before; make a quilt.

I wandered into a fabric store, told the lady I didn't have a pattern and I'd never made a quilt, and I had three weeks to finish it (plus, I'm planning a wedding). She gulped hard and got me started. Along the way, there were several strangers who helped me get through the details (You-Tube rocks!). Still, at the final hour, I didn't have the binding completed (the only hand stitching I had planned to do). I happened to be at mom's working on wedding plans, trying to move onto the quilt, but it just wasn't happening.

Mom wandered in, grabbed the quilt and began whipping (whip-stitch, that is). I finally joined her around 10pm and we stitched until the wee hours of the morning. I had a beautiful quilt to give Sunday for the Shower. It brought my sister-in-law to tears (heh heh, women are so emotional).

It was really fun to make the quilt & now that I've invested in all the toys (ahem, I mean tools), I hope to make some more!

My Work

Thought I'd share my daily work life with y'all, since this article was written (even though its a little dated). In the spring, when I'm not writing grants, or drawing up restoration plans, I'm doing this.... http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080322/LIVING08/383577402. It is warm-up for the summer months which is our truly labor intensive time.

Last summer, I got to design & implement this project. We called it "ExStream Backyard Makeover"

URBAN CREEK BEFORE RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK DURING INSTREAM RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK DURING STREAMBANK RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK AFTER RESTORATION - AIN'T SHE PRETTY

First Declaration of Love

Man is a quiet guy who gives thoughtful consideration to life before taking action. Woman shoots straight from the gut into action, without pausing much to think.

Save the Date

Hello friends & family!

We are so excited! Many of you know that Mike & I have been planningto get hitched. And, manyof you have been wondering WHEN WILL Mike & Jenn get hitched! You'llbe happy to know, that we have found the perfect location. The onlydate they have available is coming up quickly!! We thought we'd getout the important details, so you can make plans accordingly.We will be married on July 12, 2008 at Olympic Park Institute on LakeCrescent (www.yni.org/opi), outside of Port Angeles, Washington.Accomodation details will follow in the formal invitations.We certainly hope that you can join us as we celebrate the step into anew phase of our relationship - that of husband and wife!

Lovingly yours,

Jenn & Mike

Vacation

We went to Baja in a van.
While we were there
we got a great tan.



With our friends
and their dog,
a few miles we did log.




We had a few thrills;
including snorkeling and
Hiking the hills.



The winds were strong.
And in the end,
we all got along.



But just so we're clear,
what we really did
was drink lots of beer!

Tagging memes

Tag, I'm IT. Julie's meme rules: Look at any book you are currently reading with >125 pages. Go to page 123. Skip the first 5 sentences. Record the following 3 sentences. Tag 5 more people to play the game.

Currently, my reading stack includes travel guides for Baja and there's always a book or two about home building. Other recently read tomes have been dutifully returned to the library.

So, let's see, from Andromeda Romano-Lax's Sea Kayaking in Baja:

"As the evening sea became glass, and then mirror, the jagged reflections of both Dazante and the mainland Sierra de la Giganta danced on the sea's surface. Gliding south, between the two, the reflections enveloped us. The landscape resembled the Grand Canyon, if the Grand Canyon were nearly filled with water, and one were lazily paddling along the south slope, gazing up from the flooded chasm."

Oh, that does sound lovely.

And from Lonely Planet's Baja California & Los Cabos:

"Not only does la frontera have a culture identity of its own, but nearly everything that crosses it, especially heading north, is subject to a strict set of politically charged controls. And nothing is more politically charged on both sides of the border than the issue of undocumented immigration into the USA.

In 2005, under the guise of 'homeland security,' the US announced plans to build a new security wall along the border."

Traveling always gives a new perspective on the world, but even preparing for a trip can cause you to think differently.

Finally, from Franklin and Esther Schmidt's Cabin Kitchens & Baths:

Guess I read picture books too, so nothing on page 123 but a couple captions. I'll cheat and include them:

"Contemporary water-jet relaxation is not incongruous in this old-fashioned, woodsy space." and "This bathroom is customized for a good view while enjoying a bubbled soak."

Bath anyone?

Tagging 5 more is tricky since I only know but maybe 3 other bloggers. I'll tag:
1) Shaleah because she hasn't posted in FOREVER, and
2) Keith because I want to know what smart guys read, and
3) Jeffrey because then he'll know that veritable strangers read his blog (and to learn what aspiring attorneys are forced to read), and
4) Kat because I thought she was cool when we met and she's a writer too.