Methow Valley Retreat

Last fall we were invited by some friends to stay in their beautiful vacation home in the Methow Valley for a week. We jumped at the chance. We decided on the dates last fall, long before cancer was on our radar, and the timing couldn't have been better. The last week of June we spent basking in the most beautiful landscape I've ever laid eyes on. There are only two other places that have similarly spoken to me (for very different reasons): Utila, Honduras and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is a gift to have an experience with a place like this. The whole week we were there, I could not help but hope we might be invited back some day. We even looked up some real estate when we were there, dreaming of living there either part-time or full-time some day. It was truly love at first sight.

The circumstances were perfect. It was the first week Mark was feeling 100% health-wise, which made our new normal more wonderful. We didn't bring any of the kids toys along, other than a soccer ball and bat/ball.  We wanted the kids to find their own entertainment in the outdoors and with each other. Mark and I are big believers in simplicity, though we have a difficult time practicing it in our urban lifestyle, but rural life seems to lend itself so easily to simplicity. We loved it.

We took walks each day down the 1/2 mile driveway, seeing deer and various birds and bugs. Mark and I even took several runs during the week--the land seemed to beckon you out to explore it.


We went on two hikes. This hike was our first, and the photo was taken long before we realized we were on a MUCH longer loop than we planned. We were forced to scale a steep hillside and trailblazed our way back to civilization, much to our younger two's dismay.

The home and 180 degree view of the valley were breathtaking. Their home was designed to bring the outdoors in. The living room had four doors to the outside and windows on all sides. We we so spoiled with such a special home to relax and recharge in.


The view from the patio

We spent time lounging and reading.

 

Later in the week, Mark's side of the family joined us. The kids no longer had to entertain themselves with so many willing adults (especially grandma) to fill that role (toys included).

The town 2 miles away is so fun, with an amazing ice cream shop--and in a Western theme. Exhibit A:

The kids enjoyed taking LOADS of photos of each other. Here are a few, obviously taken by Ashen:

 

 

We took Mark's family up to our hiking spot and made sure to take a defined shorter loop. It was perfect, other than poor Bereket's scraped knee.

Finally, we spent an afternoon at the public pool in nearby Twisp. Such a great spot to cool off.

Fortunately, we were invited back by our most generous hosts and definitely plan to take them up on it. I can't think of a better vacation our family has ever taken--and how perfect that it requires no air travel!