Seattle Center

It's Sunday morning and warm for Seattle (as in 80 degrees at 11:00am) Kris went to a writers workshop so we headed to downtown Seattle.

We ended up in Seattle Center in the shadow of the Space Needle, found a parking lot and headed for the Chilhuly garden and glass exhibit.

Dale Chihuly  is a world renowned artist who works in glass and has done exhibits all over the world. This is a excellent example of his work. Double click on the picture to see it in more detail.

Add caption

This is another view of the piece. This one is about 20 feet long and 10 feet high. Pretty large and spectacular.

Dale has taken his glass and arranged it in a garden so that the art blends with the natural plants. The lovely lady on the right is neither plant nor glass..... thank goodness. This was a great way to spend the morning on a warm Seattle day.

Issaquah on a Saturday

Issaquah is about 20 miles East of downtown Seattle and is nestled on the west slope of the Cascades. We arrived on Thursday and did some shopping and a had a early dinner on Friday.

Since Kris only lives a mile or so away so she joined us for eggs, sausage and pancakes on
Saturday morning. Perfect weather for breakfast outside.

Then it was off the the farmers market to buy some really fresh veggies and some locally grown cherries.

From there we drove about three miles to the
Tiger Mountian State Forest and headed down the trail for a four mile hike in the woods.

The Foxgloves were everywhere. I don't ever remember seeing so many in one place

We loved the rainforest vegetation with the ferns and moss. This is a fungi that was growing on a tree beside the trail. I can't remember seeing such a pretty parasite!

One last picture of a couple of  mushrooms that we found as we hiked. I'm including it just because I like the picture.

This afternoon is a rest and relax kind of afternoon. The ladies are reading and I'm doing this. Guess we're tired from the hike. We're here till Tuesday and then it's off to the East again to see some special cousins in George, Washington. Via Con Dios

.

 

Anacortes and the San Juans

For those who have visited the San Juan islands you know how beautiful it is and for those who haven't please do.

We took the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island on Wednesday. The day was cloudy but the view was spectacular as usual. It's a pretty one hour trip and it goes by fast.

Friday Harbor is a quaint little village with just the right amount of shops and places to have lunch. We drove around the island (Jen was our guide and driver for the day) and just enjoyed the scenery.

On the West side of the island we found Lime Kiln State park with this lighthouse and remains of the first kilns used to make lime from limestone.

Three generations of us. Notice how we get better looking as the generations pass. Here we have me (old fart), Jen the lovely young mom and Julia the 17month diva. She's really not a diva..... she was so good all day long and took a nap on the ferry ride home.

After a long day and a nap, Julia was a little hungry,

She ate cherries and Steelhead with lot of milk and just enjoyed the meal as did the rest of us. Thanks Jen for a great dinner.

Too soon it was time to say "good bye" to Chris, Jen and Julia and head down to Issaquah to visit Kris. Thanks for a great visit and we can't wait to see you all again. We're in Issaquah for the next four days then we continue the journey East.

On the road again

We're back on the road again for another grand adventure. We left home last Wednesday and headed North to visit friends and relatives. We spent the first night at Valley of the Rogue State park just South of Grants Pass Oregon and then on to Woodburn to visit Sharleen's sisters and familys.

On Saturday we visited Silver Falls State Park near Silverton Oregon. It's a great place for a hike with lots of wide trails and spectacular falls. Tony, Korrin and Maddy pause for a kodak moment. The trail goes behind the falls which is pretty neat,

Recognize these "old folks"?

We paused for a rest half way up the trail leading out of the canyon. We got a three and a half mile hike and a really good workout from the thousand foot climb up the trail





It's now Tuesday (I think) and we are in Anacortes, Wa visiting my cousin Jen and her family. More from here in a day or two.

A Torrey Pines hike

Friday we went "down by the sea" and took a hike in the Torrey Pines reserve.

The rugged coastline with it's Sandstone bluffs made for a dramatic hike.

The hike was pretty much up and down with little flat parts. The scenery made the hike enjoyable.

We happened upon this rock formation. Since it was Good Friday, we could imagine that the rock in the center is a statue of the Virgin Mary. It looked like a statue that we would find  in a church. No.... it's not man made!

The Yucca plants were in bloom and we found them along the trail along with a rattlesnake. We took the Yucca's picture and left the snake alone.

Just so you all know we did do the hike here's a  pic of two campers on the trail.
This is the last post for this trip. Home on Tuesday and then we will be getting ready for the next trip.
It's going to be busy.
Happy Easter all!

San Diego

We're in San Diego for the next week and I have a  little time so thought I'd do a short post.
We had a great weekend with the "kids" A crab sandwich for lunch and a visit to Seaport village filled the Saturday. Sunday was brunch in Carlsbad and some time in Balboa Park. Here's a couple of pics of two of my favorite people.

A walk by the harbor was in order

Kevin seems to be enjoying the view!

Balboa Park was crowded but fun on Sunday. Why are they always cuddling???

Adios Casa Grande

Our two months went by in a flash and last Thursday it was time to say so long to friends from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado,Washington and a few other places including Canada. What a great eclectic gathering of people and backgrounds in the middle of the desert! Folks will be departing for  home over the next two weeks or so to go back to family and friends "up North" and we wish them God speed and safe travels till we gather again,
But..... before we left we witnessed the latest chapter in the Sheryl and Marc wars.

As you may recall Marc has a talent for pointing out some peoples minor mistakes such as falling down or crashing a golf cart. Usually it's Sheryl who provides Marc with his material. So.... Sheryl took matters into her own hands and, as you can see from the picture, bound Marc's hands and then proceeded to blindfold his eyes, put cotton in his ears and duct tape over his mouth. It's her version of "hear no evil, see no evil and, last but most important, speak no evil". There is bound to be retribution for her reckless act, if not now then next year. With Sheryl and Marc around there is never a dull moment. Keep the laughs coming kids!

We're now in Santee (San Diego) for a ten day visit with Kevin and Beth. Maybe one more post from down here and then it's home and back to the "real world".