Blog Posts

Making an Indoor Garden for Your Puyallup Apartment

There are many great aspects of life at Canyon Park. From the incredibly outfitted interiors, to the beautiful surrounding areas, Canyon Park has just about everything you could want in an apartment home. The one thing you cant do here, however, is enjoy the process of maintaining a vegetable garden or can you? Many people are surprised to learn that I have a vibrant herb and vegetable garden while living in an apartment. They often assume that a home garden would be next to impossible to pull off because of the lack of yard space. While this is a valid concern, it is still possible to grow a wide variety of herbs and vegetables; all without requiring a large plot of land. You would be surprised to learn all the different foods people grow in their apartment gardens . You can plant all the usual suspects like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, but you can also grow a number of things you might not expect. Carrots and radishes, as well as some types of potatoes can be grown in low-soil environments. And, if you prefer cooking with fresh herbs, you are in for a treat; culinary classics like cilantro, rosemary, basil and oregano, to name a few, all do very well in indoor gardens. So youve decided to start a garden, but where do you put it? The deck is an obvious place, if you have one. This allows the plant more access to natural light and fresh air. Not to mention, there is less concern of spilling a little soil or water out there than inside the home. If you dont have a deck in your Puyallup apartment, you can set up your garden on a sill or table near a window. Youll want the garden to be in a place that allows the maximum amount of sunlight. If this is not an option, you can always get a relatively inexpensive light system to help your plants grow. They say it isnt possible, but you really can get the best of both worlds here at Canyon Park. Enjoy all the fun parts of having a garden without having to worry about all the undesirable aspects of yard maintenance. Then, when your garden is ready for harvest, you can enjoy the feeling of independence provided by growing your own food.

Seattle Art Museum near Puyallup

For over seventy years, the Seattle Art Museum has been gathering and displaying art from around the world. Their collections include Asian, African, Ancient American, Ancient Mediterranean, Islamic, European, Oceanic, Asian, American, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts and designparticularly popular are the Native American galleries and their collection of Australian Aboriginal art. With so many amazing options to choose from, the Seattle Art Museum is an engrossing and fascinating way to spend an afternoon, day, or weekend, and it is located less than an hour away from Canyon Park Apartments in Puyallup. The museum features numerous exhibits and programs, encompassing a wide variety of sensory experiences. Current headlining exhibits include: City Dwellers: Contemporary Art From India Come see the colorful, contradictory, and complex India of today through the works of some of the countrys leading artists. Live On: Mr.'s Japanese Neo-Pop Explore the anime-inspired art of the famous Japanese artist Mr. Personal Histories These unusual works of art focus on the struggles and successes of minorities and less influential groups that have often remained forgotten or in the margins. Visual Vertigo Indigenous artists from the center of the Australian continent unleashed a wave of art production in the 1970s that has been described as a renaissance of the worlds oldest living cultures. A few masters of this unusual chapter of art history are assembled here. The Seattle Art Museum is located at 1300 First Avenue in Seattle. For more information, including hours and admission rates, check out their website here .

Stocking Your Pantry in Puyallup

One of the more surprising difficulties of moving into a new apartment can be filling that big, empty pantry. Since most people tend to buy food and ingredients on an as-needed basis, it can be tricky to remember all the items that you need to purchase when youre buying them en masse. At Canyon Park, weve got your backweve gone through and put together a list of the necessities youll need to cook just about whatever you want. Grains, Rice, and Pasta: Cornmeal, rolled oats, cous cous, and bread crumbs are some handy grains to have around (panko bread crumbs make great breading!) in addition to your favorite flours; rice options include wild, brown, and white Jasmine; and some of the most common and useful pastas include spaghetti, fettuccini, and penne. Baking Essentials: Beyond flour, youll want to consider baking soda, baking powder, yeast, vanilla, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, and any of your favorite sweetenerssugar (brown, white, or powder), honey, molasses, maple syrup, or chocolate chips. Herbs and Spices: Some of the most useful include the classic salt and pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, paprika, chili powder, cumin, dill, coriander, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and any of your favorite seasoning blends. Dont forget the bullion, either. Nuts and Beans: These are great for some extra protein and energy in any dish, as long as you dont have any nut allergies. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds are all common in recepies; for beans, theres pinto, black, kidney, garbanzo, and baked brown. You can also check out useful seedssunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, as well as lentils and green split peas. Canned Goods: Beyond your favorite fruits and vegetables, there are also sauces, broths, and spreads. Tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, peanut butter, and salsa are all great for baking. Oils, Sauces, and Vinegars: Pick your favorite oilsolive, peanut, coconut, vegetable, grapeseed; your favorite vinegarswhite, balsamic, white wine, red wine, apple, or rice; and round it off with your favorite saucesworchestershire, ketchup, mustard, tabasco, hot sauce, or sriracha sauce. What do you keep in your Puyallup pantry that we forgot? Let us know in the comments!

New Year s Eve Events around Puyallup

The New Year: parties, resolutions, beginnings. Out with the old, and in with the new! It might all sound like a clichÃ©, but thats no reason that we cant all enjoy it. New Years resolutions might be notoriously difficult to stick with, but when you do, it is worth it. There is always something we want to improve about ourselves; and usually, the only thing standing in our way is us. All we need is some firm resolve, and we can change. So take advantage of the new year, and make a resolution or two! But before we can bring in the New Year, we need to ring out the old! Everyone has a different way of celebrating New Years Evesome people like to get together with friends, while others prefer a quiet evening at home. Still others just sleep through the whole thing! But for many of us, parties and entertainment are the way to go. And fortunately, the Puyallup area is full of great New Years Eve events. One of the largest is Tacomas First Night : First Night Tacoma-Pierce County is a family-friendly, arts-centered, alcohol free celebration of New Year's Eve that takes place throughout the downtown Tacoma theater district. A First Night button costing approximately $10 ($14 Day of Event) is all it takes to gain admission to a number of different activities during the daylight hours. Children under the age of 10 are admitted free of charge. The main event kicks off at 6pm by a participatory parade that includes marching bands, costumes, masks and giant puppets. As the parade ends music, dance, laughter fire and magic light up 20 different stages and spaces until midnight. The outdoor events are free to all festival goers. The theme for this coming year is built around the Year of the Ram. We'll feature activities that will play with various aspects of the theme, utilizing artists from the community. And of course, everyone gathers at the outdoor main stage at midnight to join in music, dance, fire and wonder as we wish well the New Year. If that doesnt sound like your style, then check out these lists of events going on in Puyallup and Tacoma , Seattle , and the Kitsap Peninsula . Youre sure to find something youll enjoy. Happy New Year to all of our residents here at Canyon Park!

Apps For Decorating Your Puyallup Apartment

Thinking about decorating or re-decorating your Puyallup apartment here at Canyon Park? Maybe you need a change of pace, or you just found a great idea on Pinterest that you want to try out. Wed love to help you out; thats why weve gathered a list of handy tools to help you out. But they might not be the kind of tools youre thinkingthese are some great tablet and phone apps for redecorating. Palettes : This is a great free app for creating color schemes. Maybe you were inspired by a lovely bouquet of flowers or by a friends adorable outfitjust snap a picture, and the app will create an instant collection of color swatches based on your photo. Photo Measures : Dont get to the store and then realize that you left your list of measurements at home! Just snap a picture of the room with Photo Measures and then jot down all the measurements right on the photo. Finding what you need is even easier when you can refer back to the real site. Home 3D for iPad, Home Design 3D, and BuildApp for Android : These three apps are all great variations of the same idea. Build a three-dimensional model of your home, fill it with furniture, and then start moving the furniture around to see where it will fit, where it wont, and what configurations look best. Save yourself a lot of guesswork and back painget your furniture right the first time. Have any other great apps for moving or decorating? Let us know in the comments, and well share them here.

Mount Rainer Trail Huts near Puyallup

During the winter season, it can be hard to maintain the active lifestyle we live in the summer. When its too cold and wet in Puyallup for running, cycling, or climbing our options can seem somewhat limited. That said, just because its wet outside doesnt mean we must relegate ourselves to the couch for the next several months. If you want to avoid that dreaded winter slump, consider heading down to Mount Rainier National Park and exploring the Mount Tahoma Hut and Trail system . The MTAA system is the largest no-fee, hut-to-hut trail system in North America! The system has trails of varying difficulty, ensuring there is an option for cross-country skiers of all skill levels. Visitors have access to roughly fifty miles of trailstwenty of which are groomedfour huts, and a yurt. I should point out that the term hut only loosely applies in this situation. For me, the word brings to mind images of old dilapidated buildings or lean-tos. A tiny, open-to-the-elements structure you might expect to find along sections of the Appalachian Trail. The structures you find along the MTAA system are no such huts. No, these are full blown cabinssome of which can sleep up to fourteen people! These huts are outfitted with kitchen tables, chairs and even silverware, so youve got everything you need to enjoy gourmet cooking in the backcountry. Propane stoves, LED lights and sleeping pads on hand mean you only need to bring a sleeping bag, food and your gear to enjoy a night of serene tranquility in the shadow of Mount Rainier. Visitors have several options when visiting the trail system. The North District offers only one hut, but is the most accessible to individuals who are newer to the sport. A popular family destination, The Copper Creek Hut is a short 3.2 mile track from the trailhead at Sno-Park A. These groomed trails are suitable for adventurers of all skill levels. The remaining huts, along with the yurt, can be reached from the South District. From the trailhead at Sno-Park B, visitors begin with a moderate climb for a little under 1.5 miles, before reaching the saddle. From here you can head right, toward the high hut, or left and head toward Snow Bowl hut and the Yurt. Many athletes choose to combine these trails in a number of ways to create a longer loop. If this sounds like your style, consider starting at Sno-Park B, heading first to the High Hut, then doubling back and heading to the Yurt for the night. One of the most amazing things about MTAA is that they are a non-profit organization. This means that, apart from a nominal $15 permit processing fee for overnight stays, the system is open to the public for free! Thats right; day trekkers can stop by any of the huts or the yurt during the day, use the facilities to eat lunch, then head back out before it gets too lateall at no cost! As with all things like this, the leave no trace rule applies. Reservations can be made in person at Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford, or right at the MTTA office on weekends during the winter season. They are offered on a first come, first served basis, so plan your trip in advance! By the time you get back from your excursion into the snowy abyss, youll likely be exhausted. You may struggle even making it all the way into your bed. But that feeling of being so spent that you begin to debate whether or not you actually need to eat is exactly why you headed out there in the first place, isnt it? So make a cup of tea, curl up on the couch, and then do nothing but sit for a while. Youve earned it.