Crecent Bar 2012

Once again, Mary hosted a group of us ladies at her condo in Crescent Bar this summer:

While there, she treated us all to a dinner out at the Martin-Scott Winery!  The chef was Tim Putman from Smokeblossoms.  The theme being Decked Out Tapas, he prepared five delicious appetizers during the course of the evening:

Blue Rangoon 

Crisp Crab Stuffed Wonton Teamed with Sweet Chili Coulis

Chicken Lettuce Cups 

Marinated Grilled Poultry with Jicama, Scallions and Shitakes Arriving in Chilled Iceberg

Coconut Curry Two Biters 

Large Shrimp Teamed with Toasted Almond Texmati and Apricot Chutney

Bam Flats 

Tangerine Ginger Beef Tenderloin in a Fresh Frilled Tortilla with Tuber Confetti and the Incomparable Peanut Sauce

Key Lime Cheesecake 

Dense Citrus Spiked Batter over Macadamia Graham Crust

......and a beautiful sunset on the Columbia River!

Whiskers

Loves my little guy!  Though he isn't so little now.  This was taken awhile ago....

4:00aM

Mexico VII ~ Cancun Sunsets

  The Silver Lining

We had some intenese sunsets this time around!  Very pretty.....

Mexico VI ~ Royal Sands

A few shots around our Cancún Digs.......

The pool that our unit backs out to.  A gigantic pool where most people swim is around the corner.  Every day they have a water aerobics class for anyone who cares to try to fight off all of those Delicious calories they are consuming.

Birds soaring around the beach 

The steps down from our pool area to the beach.  Warm aqua water and sparkling white sands.....

The beginnings of the full Flower Moon..........         Hacienda Sisal in the right lower corner, sits next to the Royal Sands and offers excellent Mexican fare!

Mexico V ~ Parasailing

Ryan wanted to go parasailing this time, and since I had so thoroughly enjoyed it when Darrell and I went in 2006, and had no motion sickness issues with it, I gladly volunteered to go with  him!

Here we are signing our lives away.....

On the boat and getting hooked up to take off.  Love the happy face!

High above the buildings.....

High above the clouds.....

On our way back to the boat, they briefly dip us into the ocean.....

They ferried us to and from the boat on a jet ski.  Notice how I am draped all over this young, handsome chap...... only because.....

.......I got sicker than a dog this time!  Not sure why, but it took hours to recover enough to stand up.  Weeks before I could say I was no longer dizzy beyond my norm.  It came on as soon as we were out, and as Darrell said (from the ground), it was the longest ride he's ever seen.  Like 45 minutes.  Seemed liked hours and hours to me!  I am so glad that Ryan enjoyed it for the both of us, because my eyes were shut and I was struggling not to vomit the entire time!  BUMMERS!!!!!  Won't be doin' that anytime soon again!

Mexico IV ~ Sailing

Ryan and Darrell tried their hands at sailing again this year.  They had a quick review lesson, then they each went out on their own.  At the right side is Darrell and the instructor heading out.  The reflection is what prompted me to snap this shot, though.

Darrell out on his own. He did not capsize this year, but it wasn't super windy like last time either!

Ryan going out with the instructor and then on his own

                Ryan way out there                            Both Darrell and Ryan

  Darrell.  The reflections were so pretty........

While I was waiting around on the dock for them, I was playing with the camera taking pictures of the life forms under the water alongside the dock.  I thought these were pretty.  So delicate.

Mexico III ~ Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a small fishing town about a half hour south of Cancun.  It is here that we took a taxi to for our cooking class. We arrived early this year so that we could walk about the town for a bit ahead of time.  We had hoped to snorkel here after class aw well, but did not have time.  Pto. Morelos is supposed to have great snorkeling.

We enjoyed seeing the town, though even arriving as early as we did in the morning, it was terribly humid and hot.  By time we arrived at the cooking school we were sweaty and drooping.