Maui 2010: The Road to Hana

As I said in our Christmas post, our trip to Hana merits it's own post.  We decided to tour the road to Hana in a small van with 10 other tourists.  Shocking, I know.  We were a little set back by our decision because, well, we don't like being tourists.  Sever is from Ketchikan, one of the major cruise ship destinations each summer...tourists annoy him! 

Hana 101: an EXTREMELY windy road with beautiful waterfalls, a trip to Hana is more about the trip then about Hana.  Well, the road to Hana was just that, beautiful!  What the brochure didn't tell you was that when you booked your fairly expensive trip that you might be seated next to someone that gets car sick and in fact that person might be throwing up for the entire 10 hour trip... you get where I am coming from?  That's right, we were stuck on a tour bus with a very sick- Dramamine deficit lady... Sever and I don't get motion sickness and we even opted for the Dramamine prior to the trip.  Don't get me wrong we did have fun and Hana was beautiful, it was an adventure none the less. Rain was another thing that wasn't completely factored into our trip.  Not just sprinkling rain, rain forest rain, I mean downpour!  Every waterfall was completely blown out and the crystal clear aqua water was reminiscent of chocolate milk... utterly disappointing.  But hey, this gives us something to look forward to for next time.  We made a pact to drive ourselves next time and go when the weather is nice so we can swim in those seven sacred pools... see photo below! 

The Seven Sacred Pools on a good day!

 

And... on the day we went...

Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka from Maui!  Merry Christmas to all you back home.  We are having a wonderful honeymoon, we have been adventuring everyday.  So far the highlights of the trip have been...

Beautiful sunsets, this one is of Molikini Crater where we went snorkeling yesterday! So much fun!

Maui Brewing Company, we love our microbrews! 

Sea turtles, here is our best picture from the infamous underwater camera.  Sever lead us to Turtle Town on our second day! This is a big attraction, we kayaked from our hotel!

Kayaking in the open ocean! 

Sever boogie boarding at Makena Landing!  We had so much fun here, we boogie boarded through the sunset! 

 And... our trip to Hana, which deserves a blog post of its very own.  Look for that when we get home.

We have taken lots of pictures and videos and can't wait to share them with ya'll once we get back.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from Hawaii!  Now, off to the beach...

Love, 

Holly and Sever 

I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down...

Don't be alarmed, the Big Bad Wolf has not attempted to blow our house down, yet.  I just have noticed that building a house in Alaska happens everyday no matter the weather.  In some pictures you will see snow in others copious amounts of rain and wind... however the wind is the hardest thing to photograph! And don't you worry, when the lone black wolf (yes there really is one) rumbles through the neighborhood I will be sure to snap a shot for all to see!  Let's just hope that isn't any time soon for us city folk! Here's to a new home in 2011!  

The geo grid wall finally coming together

 

Serious in conversation

Soon to be a basement!!!

Too much fun!

All WORK so we can PLAY!

 Sever and Jan working on layer one of the geo grid wall... 6 more layers to go!

This pictures sums up the weekend.  Muddy and wet!

Compressing layer two of the geo grid wall...

 Mud and rock! 

Sever and his new toy.... don't worry, it is a rental!

A full weekend of work, all in hopes to get this house started before we head to Maui!  Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, bring on the new year! 

Much Love, 

Holly and Sever 

OOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUU

Well the Civil War did not end the way that we had hoped yesterday... but hey, we had awesome cupcakes to eat!!! Here's to next year and a well rested, well practiced team!  Go Beavs!

Christmas Trees For Sale

The Bryant Family Farm is up and running for Christmas tree season!  Check out our blog and stop by! 

Bryant Family Farm Blog click here 

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

 Pumpkin is not one of my favorite things, I usually like it best as a pumpkin spice candle burning in my kitchen.  However, I stumbled upon this recipe and have since changed my opinion of pumpkin.  Move over pumpkin pie, these cupcakes are amazing (and simple)!

Ingredients:

1 Spice cake box mix 

1 15oz can of pumpkin puree

1/4 cup water

1 tub of cream cheese frosting

Method:

Pour spice cake mix into a bowl and mix in water and pumpkin puree.  DO NOT mix in the ingredients on the cake box.  Follow the baking directions for cupcakes on the box.  Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.   Enjoy! 

I have made three batches of these mouth watering cupcakes, they only seem to last a day in the house.  Luckily I just found out that the average Thanksgiving meal contains 4,500 calories (not including dessert or anything else you consume... that is just dinner folks).   So, we will be easing up on the pumpkin cupcakes for now.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

What a View!

This is the view from our lot!

The sunset at the beach, right below the lot.

 Sever, hard at work!

Sever working away in 21 degree weather, brrr!

SOLD!!!

Our Favorite Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

 Sever was flipping through my photos and when he came to this picture he looked at me and said, "Holly!!!  These are the BEST cookies!"  Haha!  So I did take this picture the last time I made them with the intention of posting the recipe on here for ya'll.  Hopefully you get a chance to make them, you will not be disappointed .   Perk: this is a recipe from Weight Watchers, and before you roll your eyes take it from me... I am a food snob, these cookies are amazing and somewhat good for you!  Enjoy! 

Ingredients

3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked quick oats 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/4 tsp table salt 
1 tsp ground cinnamon 
1/2 tsp ground ginger 
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup(s) butter, softened
3/4 cup(s) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup(s) sugar
1 large egg white(s)  

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a medium bowl. Place butter in a large bowl or in the bowl of a mixer and beat butter for a few seconds. Gradually add sugars and beat to combine. 

Add egg white to butter mixture and beat to combine. Add dry ingredients and beat to combine.

Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto 2 ungreased cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Bake until set and golden, about 11 to 14 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool. Yields 2 cookies per serving.

Humpback Whales Bubble Netting

 I woke up to a beautiful sunny morning and was excited to get a picture of the sun coming up.  I drove south of town and stumbled upon 2 humpback whales bubble netting....it was just about the coolest thing I have ever seen! It was amazing to see this magical act of nature.  Needless to say I chased around these whales for 3 hours before I got too cold and headed home.  Enjoy the photos!

We are Property OWNERS! (gasp)

Here is a look at our Fawn Mountain lot, south of Ketchikan, Alaska.  Construction is set to begin in December with an anticipated completion date of May 2011.  Check back for updates! 

Professional Wedding Photos

Here is a random assortment of wedding photos, of course we have way too many to post on the blog.  Hope you enjoy!

Family Photographs

This Past weekend I took some Christmas card pictures for some friends.  It was fun to do a little fall photo session, the weather has been beautiful here in Oregon.  I have posted these pictures and many more on my facebook page and I can't believe how many more people want me, yes ME, to take their pictures as well. I already have two more families set up with appointments.  I am loving photography at the moment!  This could be the start of something very wonderful :)

 The Gabler Family

The Babb Family

If anyone else is interested in having their picture taken just let me know!

Harvest 2010

My Dad

 

 

This past week is usually one of the craziest weeks of the year for the Bryant family, filbert harvest!  My dad must work around the fall rain to get the nuts in.  Farming is 100% stressful 99% of the time. I was able to help my dad on Friday, here are a couple of pictures I snapped in between helping :)
Happy Fall! 
~Holly