Cocoa Cuddles and Lake Quinault

Aloha! How is your week?

I understand that winter is making its presence known in many parts of the north. I think snow is incredibly beautiful but it's SO COLD! We used to vacation at Lake Quinault Lodge in the Olympic Rain Forest in northwestern Washington State at the end of the year. They had the largest open fireplace I had ever seen. I could pretty much walk right in without bending over! The lodge was very old, well kept up, and you could sense the decades of enjoyment people spent there. Here is a picture of where we took the kids at least once per year while we lived on the mainland (see below).

This side faces the lake. The entrance and street is on the back side. See the center of the lodge? The second floor windows to the left of the large chimney in the center are the rooms we used to rent. The kids loved it here. The wood floors and stairway were carpeted but would creak a bit when we walked because of the age. The doors, windows, finish work, wood moldings, door knobs (I have a THING for antique glass door knobs), sinks, floor tiles, tubs - everything in the main bldg were antiques! You can't see in the pic, but because of its popularity, they have added a large 2 story modern hotel, and they have smaller cottages you can rent. They have an indoor pool, hot tub and fun activities. We would usually spend part of December here when it was typically peaceful, void of tourists! Stepping inside takes you back to about the 1920s, and so gorgeous. It's is surrounded by mountains, the lake, waterfalls, wooded trails and a river where we saw THE most bald eagles in one spot that we have ever seen in our entire lives. They were feasting on a salmon run. There must have been about 200 of them soaring and diving into the river! Ah, memories!

The mantle over the fireplace is higher than my head (I'm 5 foot 2 inches). This great room is filled with leather comfy sofas, chairs, tables, chess games and large windows looking out over the greenery of the woods, sloping lawn to the lake and loons. In the early mornings a soft fog is settled on the water and burns off by mid morning.

A peek at a small part of the enormous lobby:

Walking along the lake:

In the Olympic National Rain Forest ♥ about 1-1/2 hour drive west of Seattle and the Cascade Mountain Range. You can see these mountains from the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia across the waters of Puget Sound. Another range (Cascades which have the mega mtns) are east of Seattle and Tacoma. It's a heavenly land.

For more incredible pictures of Lake Quinault Lodge, just click HERE.


Whoops, my card lol! I found a free coloring page digi of a cocoa mug with a happy face on it. Of course, I am late for the Coffee Challenge and National Cocoa Day! But here it is. I colored it with some Copic Markers, Sakura metallic gel pens and highlighted it with Diamond Stickles.

I used the Stampin' Up Alphabet Rotary Stamper. You can create your own words and a few cute images like the mini heart at the end. For the word "Cocoa," I used a Memento Cocoa Brown Brush Tip marker. I just didn't feel well enough to get up and search for a stamp and definitely not to get cardstock and print it. Ugh. More tough days for Bruce and for me healthwise. It's no worse than many of you, but keeping me in bed so much. Makes me feel very empathetic for others who live with chronic health and pain problems ♥

Here is the free digi I found. Right click on it and "save as" to your digi folder ;D Next time I draw a sentiment or something, I will try really hard to remember to scan, post it and give it away for free. Sorry - I forgot this time.

Cardstock: GKD 120# white; chocolate brown, turquoise sea Neenah 80# white; DP by GKD (snow print)

SB Oval and Opulent Opal dies

SU manual alphabet/numeric giant stamper 

Copic Markers; Memento Markers, Sakura Metallic Gel Pens

Diamond Stickles; adhesive foam; corner rounder

Mahalo for coming by, for sharing your love

and peeking at one of our fav places to stay!

Aloha ♥