Where did "Moosefish" come from?
When designing our wedding invitations our friend Paul asked for physical things that Amy and John liked. John picked a fish and Amy a moose. The resulting design was christened a "Moosefish". Since moosefish.com was free we registered it and began building the website. The logo appears on letterhead, address labels, signs, and who knows, maybe t-shirts some day.
What does "Tokul" mean?
Tokul is the name of a small stream that runs into the Snoqualmie River just below Snoqualmie Falls. The stream is beautiful and since it flows into the Snoqualmie below the falls has a run of Steelhead salmon that migrate up it.
According to the "Place Names of Washington" by Robert Hitchman Tokul Creek was named from the Native American word "Tu-kwa-l" which means "very dark in color". The creek runs through a deep canyon as it flows toward the Snoqualmie and the water there looks very dark in color. (Special thanks to MK at the King County Library System's Answer Line.)
We use "Tokul" twice:
- Tokul Development is the name of the "company" John does freelance development under. tokul.com is registered and has a splash screen, but not much else.
- Tokul is the name of our yellow labrador retriever, born March 26, 2000. You can find out more about Tokul on her page.
Is it true you (John) wanted to name your daughter "Tokul"?
No comment.
Why did you name your daughter Clara Ruby?
The name "Clara" was chosen because it's classic, not terribly common (there are no kids named Clara at Amy's school), and seemed to fit. There's a possible link to the Clara character in the Nutcracker, though it wasn't the primary driver. "Ruby" is the name of a small river in Montana.
What river do you live on?
We live on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River about four miles east of North Bend. The river's headwaters are near Snoqualmie Pass and it runs down along Interstate 90. When it gets to North Bend it cuts through town and flows into the Middle and North Forks. Shortly after the three forks come together the Snoqualmie flows over Snoqualmie Falls.
Does the river ever flood?
The river reaches flood stage a couple of times a year in the autumn and spring. Heavy rains in the fall, especially after an early snowfall cause the water to rise. Warm temperatures in the spring accompanied by a warm rainfall will melt the snowpack and spawn a bit of flooding.
You might have heard the term "flood plain" used to describe areas where the water collects during floods. Most of the lower Snoqualmie Valley (Carnation, Duvall, etc.) is in a flood plain. Things get wet there.
While our first house on the river was in a "flood way" (in other words, if it floods the river will flow through our house) our current residence is not even in the flood plain. Although the river might get rather out of control as it speeds by, we won't be flooded out unless animals are pairing up and waiting for their ride.
How much snow do you get?
This is perhaps the best thing about living east of North Bend. When we lived west, only five miles from where we are now, we really only got rain. Today we live at the base of Mount Washington and we've had quite a bit of snow. Perhaps two or three times a month the roads have a blanket of white and even more frequently the grass outside our house is covered with snow.
Of course, the downside is that our plants are being munched to death by the local herd of elk. Yeah, we thought they were cool initially as well, but now we just see their footprints and the handiwork of their teeth.
What is the height of Mt. Si?
Mt. Si is 4,190 feet tall at the haystack. The Mt. Si trail is about four miles with a vertical gain of 3,700 feet. (There's an unofficial "old" trail that runs up the south face of the mountain and is much better than the official trail.)
Why is it called North Bend?
The Snoqualmie River bends to the... get ready for it... north so that's where the name came from. However, don't take my word for it. Check out this Times story for more details. You can also go to North Bend's website for more information.
What about... you didn't answer my favorite question!
If we didn't answer your questions end it to us and we'll add it to the list if there's enough interest. Send your question by clicking here.
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