Scrapbooking my life...one page at a time

Water ....

- Wet -

I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rain.  The sound of steady, strong, raindrops - falling with a purpose!  I laid in bed and listened as the raindrops splatted hard against the metal roof of my scraproom.  My waterlogged lullaby ...

As I closed my eyes and listened it sounded vaguely familiar - reassuring, comfortable even.  It felt like getting reacquainted with an old friend. I bored down deeper into the blankets, closed my eyes, hugged Yogi tighter and just let the rain lull me back to sleep ... *sigh*

 

- Yogi -

A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.
-- Winnie the Pooh -

My Yogi is always considerate of me and encourages me to ... go back to sleep and rest a little longer, he whispers .  I don't usually listen to him but today I did.

Later, after everyone had gotten up, we all drank coffee or juice - as the case may be and then spent a short while trying to decide how we would spend this rainy day. 

Where can you go - what activity can you do where the rain enhances instead of distracts or diminishes? 

Humm -  we ended up deciding to drive out & see the Snoqualmie Falls because while they are always beautiful - there is no doubt they look so much more amazing during or after a good strong rain. 

 

- Snoqualmie Falls -

The falls, at 270' are 100' taller than Niagara Falls and has two power plants build on it.  The first was completed in 1898 at the bottom of the falls 270' below the surface.  It was the 1^st completely underground power plant build in the world.  The 2nd plant is located a little further downstream and was built in 1910 - they are owned and still operated by Puget Power Energy [PSE] (Whoo Hoo - I was just offered a 'temporary seasonal' job at PSE but more about that later) and provide power to about 16,000 homes in Washington State.

 

- Ron & Yuping -

Ron, Yuping & Mike all decided to hike down to the bottom of the falls - an hour or so hike.  It is a fairly steep hike down a gravely path and opted to stay atop because I had only worn my crocs.  Crocs are comfy to be sure ... but not really built for steep gravely paths.

In my world:
A Sea of Green rivals a Sea of Blue ... but always wins

Mike said that as they hiked down Yuping was fascinated by all the moss covered trees and the nurse logs & stumps.  She had never seen this type of ecosystem before and thought it was very beautiful - which it most definitely and emphatically is!!

Can you imagine seeing this for the first time ... definitely an *AWE* moment ...

 

There are no words in my vocabulary for this kind of beautiful ...

After spending a couple of hours at the falls we decided to head over to the North Bend Outlet Mall for some lunch and Yuping wanted to look around some of the shops. 

It was still raining like crazy and shopping in the rain at an outside mall just isn't as appealing as viewing the Falls in the rain and hiking under the cover of the cedar trees ... so we didn't stay very long.

All in all - it was another enjoyable day.

I wish everyone a Happy Thursday!

- N -

Guests ...

Mike & I are so happy this week to be hosting Mike's brother, Ron & his new wife, Yuping as they visit us, the Northwest and enjoy some time together traveling around and sight seeing! 

As you may recall, Ron & Yuping were married last January in Washington D.C.  and Mike & I were lucky enough to fly back East to attend their wedding.  We are so glad that they are now able to come out West for a visit as we don't get to see Mike's family very often.

 

- Yuping, Ron & Mike -

Ron has been out to visit us several times but this is Yuping first visit out west and we are thankful for the opportunity to get to know her better.  She is such a nice person.

She was born in China and has only lived in the USA for about 3 years.  I am not sure where she was born in China but I know she went to university and lived in Beijing before coming to the U.S. to do her graduate studies.

 

- Pike Place Market Clock -

On Sunday we took them downtown to check out Seattle's 2^nd most famous tourist attraction (I think the 1^st would have to be the Space Needle)  - the Pike Place Market.

 

- Nancy & Yuping-

Yuping is a coffee drinker so hitting the very first STARBUCKS ever was a must see! It is not actually inside the market but sits across the street from it.

 

 From humble beginnings ...

The 1st Starbucks coffee shop (if you've never been there)  is very small and while it still serves coffee but it no longer has tables to sit at because it is sooooo packed with coffee mugs, coffee beans and people!

I thought this sign was interesting because I don't know about you ^BUT I have never ever seen a 'spice' for sale at a Starbucks - anywhere!

 

- Market -

After Starbucks we were off to check out the sights & sounds of the market.  Although it rained off and on - overall it turned out to be a really nice day ...

 

The market hits every sense ...

 

- Beauty by the handful -

- The Giant Shoe Museum -

The Pike Place Market has been described as the 'Soul of Seattle' and I think what makes the Market so special, so enduring (it is over 100 years old) & interesting is that it offers much more than just produce, bakeries, ethnic markets, low-income housing, street musicians, restaurants, local crafts people and artisans ...

It offers 4 levels of crammed to the rafters, piled high, oozing out of every nook & cranny -  CRAZY GOODNESS & WEIRD STUFF!!!

 

It could literally take you days & days to go through all the shops at the market and going through many of these stores is like being on an archeological dig!

It's like the shop owners just keep buying & buying stuff and cramming it into their store windows and shelves until it is almost impossible to walk into their little alcoves.  You almost have to look through the windows & just point to what you want ....

I wouldn't be surprised if this store has at least one of everything they ever bought still in the store ...

 

 

Mike's favorite shop ...

On weekends and holidays they close the old cobblestone road in front of the market off to cars so that the market becomes much easier to get around because it really is spread across the both sides of the street.

 

Although across the street they call it the 'Sanitary Public Market ... 

 

Anyway, if you come to visit all the sights & sounds of the Market you won't be alone ...
It gets over 10 million visitor each year!

We decided to go to lunch at the Pike Place Brewing Company.  It is a very yummy brew pub about a block from the market itself. 

 

- Yuping & Ron -

More later ...

- N -

Tigger & Max ...

 

Golf combines two favorite American pastimes:  taking long walks and hitting things with a stick. 

-  P.J. O'Rourke -

 

Looks like Lil' Sully is taking up a new sport.  I think Tiger Woods & Tigger should both watch out because we might be looking at the next great golfer!  Just look at his stance!

 

Have a great day

-N -

 

Make a Smilebox scrap pages

Coming home again ...

Morning Coffee at 'Chez Jessie'

Mike, Katy & I spent this past weekend up in Canada and as always it was a busy but fun weekend. We stayed at Jessica's house in her 'Guest Suite' - very comfy.  She has turned the Master Bedroom into the Family / Guest room and it works out so well.  As a guest, you are treated to a  private bedroom & bathroom, a large sitting area and of course, your own TV and Wii.  Top Notch!  Thanks again, Jessica & Aidan.

Every morning I had coffee out on the patio and although the weather was not as sunny & bright as it has been - it was still pretty warm. 

There is just something about patio's, birds chirping and morning coffee that is an undeniably wonderful combination ...

Doug & Kathryn were also over for the weekend to visit Dad and they invited Dad, Katy, Mike & I to go out to lunch on Saturday with them & Kathryn's Mom & Dad.   Dad treated everyone to a great lunch at Character's restaurant (Thanks Dad!) and we all had a very relaxing & lovely time visiting each other. 

Kathryn's Dad, Al, has just recently bought himself a scooter and since Character's is just a 'scoot' away from both of them - they made plans to meet up there for lunch one day. 

It was definitely the 'Weekend of Meals' because on Saturday night we all met up at Cathy & Wayne's place for some birthday pizza & catch-up!  Happy Belated Birthday Wayne! 

Sunday morning Mike treated (Thanks Mike!)  Doug, Kathryn, Katy, Jessica, Dad & myself to breakfast at Ricky's,

 

After breakfast we all headed out to Cloverdale to take flowers to Mom's grave and visit her for awhile. 

It was a cool but clear morning and while it was hard to visit her there - it was strangely comforting at the same time.  I know that she is with me all the time but being so near to her brought me peace.

It makes my heart feel good to know that she is resting in such a beautiful spot - a spot that she picked out because it brought her home ... home to the farm, to the house & home that she loved so much. 

It was nice. 

 

Cheung's Corner Store - a Surrey Center Landmark!

On the way to the cemetery we passed by Cheung's Cornerstore! 

Think Willy Wonka!  Think Penny Candy!  Mojo's,  Bazooka Bubble Gum, Pixie Stix's!

Think 2 for a penny or 3 for a nickel!  Think Sugar Rush! Think  White Gold - refined sugar!   That's what I think of when I think of Cheung's ...

While little else at the top of hill in Surrey Center has remained the same - there still sits Cheung's - the same little ratty-tatty store - nestled amid the bazillion new houses that have overtaken the wooded lots and empty fields of my childhood.  But still, as soon as I saw it ...it felt like coming home. 

It really is amazing how LITTLE it has changed in the last 25 -30 years!  I have no idea if the Cheung family still owns it but I love the fact that the name is still the same. 

I think it should be registered as a Historic Landmark.  Let's start a petition before someone buys it and tears it down.

Since I was feeling all sentimental & nostalgic, I asked Mike to head down to the border crossing via 168th Street so I could catch a glimpse of my childhood, my heritage  - our family farm. 

And no, I don't live physically live there anymore - I haven't for a long, long time but it is still where my childhood lives.  

Someone else may now live in that house and plow those fields but it will always be my Home Sweet Home. 

 

While I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday or the last movie I went to ... I can still recall my life on that farm in vivid detail.  I love this farm and as sat on the side of the road and looked into the sun-porch (or fish bowl as we often called it) I could literally see us all out there - having lunch together. Dirty fingernails, sun-burnt faces and all ...

That sun-room, over time, replaced the nook to became the 'heart' of our home, our 'war room', our gathering place - our family touchstone!  Yep, we ate many a meal out there, shared many a laugh & probably even cried a few tears out there, but, much to my Mother's chagrin  - we N.E.V.E.R EVER celebrated a family Christmas out there. 

What can I say ... sometimes majority DOES rule (LOL) !!!

But, more than almost anything else - it is these two beautiful old historic trees that hold my childhood - cradling it gently within their branches.

I know that these trees hold the memories of those that lived here long before me as well as those that lived here with me, and even those who will come to live here years from now. 

I love that I share this tree with so many - I cherish this thought because I know that that each year these trees live they  will continue to grow a little bigger and a little stronger and their branches will reach out a little further - enabling them to hold even more memories.

I am part of these trees & they are a part of me.

Strong, silent & solid, planted deep within their old & tangled roots live all my childhood memories, secrets & dreams and through these roots - I am still a part of this land.

These roots are my farm - these trees are my family trees.

 

 

If what I say resonates with you, it is merely 
because we are both branches on the same tree.
-  W.. B . Yeats

Spuds ...

Last Friday night I decided that I wanted to do something .... summery and after thinking about it for a while I decided what could possibly smell, taste, feel or look more like SUMMERTIME than an order of fish & chips down at beach.

I remember when going to Crescent Beach when we were little kids - the sandy beaches, potato salad & swimming in the tide pools.  I think White Rock was the more crowded, popular beach - the one with fish & chip stands but we never went there much.    I haven't been to Crescent Beach in about 40 years and I doubt I would not even recognize it today. 

So I packed up Mike and Katy & off we went down to Juanita Beach in Kirkland,  We grabbed some fish & chips at Spuds drive-in before we went for our walk.  The Drive-in is right across the street from the beach - in fact, you can see Lake Washington while you are eating your chips & fish! 

The thing I love about Spuds, aside from the great chips & fish, is that it's a true old fashioned, one-of-a-kind, gravel parking lot, restrooms out back type of  drive-in and you don't see them very much any more these days. 

 

After dinner we went for a walk along the pier - it was almost twilight by the time we'd finished dinner but still very warm out with the most delicious breeze coming off the water.  It was still fairly crowded and there were even a couple of kids still swimming but the sun was definitely on its way down.

We are so very lucky to live sandwiched in between two beautiful lakes - Lake Washington to the west and Lake Sammamish to the east.   I wish I could say we were down at one of the lakes all the time but truth be told we rarely go to either. 

There is a large U shaped pier at the beach and the public swimming is allowed only inside the U.  The walk along the pier is not very long but what it lacks in length - it more than makes up for in view ...

 

You can see Seattle across the lake ...,

 

Boats on the water ...

 

Bill Gates house - if you squint and look hard though the trees ... can you see it ... okay, just kidding but it is along the shores of Lake Washington in Kirkland somewhere (you need to be on a boat to see it).

 

And we went home!

Now go find a shady bench and just take it easy for a while ...

- N -

Sunny Days & Sun Burnt ....

This weekend Mike & I headed over for some R&R with Doug & Kathryn on Vancouver Island.  We have been meaning to get over there for a visit and check out their apartment in Victoria.  So back  in early June we made the commitment, set the date and made the reservations and headed down to Pier 69 to catch a ride over on the Victoria Clipper last Saturday.

The Victoria Clipper is a passenger only ferry that leaves from downtown Seattle and goes non-stop over to Victoria.  It takes just under 3 hours to get there if the weather is good but, as we found out on Saturday, if the winds are rough it can take up to 4 hours to complete the journey.  

I always forget how much I love being out on the water.  It is so beautiful & refreshing - to smell the clean air, taste the salty spray on your lips and just soak up the miracle of being out upon the ocean  ...

It is easy to take for granted what an incredible & diverse area we live in -  the ride over left me breathless ...

 

At times during the ride over the water was as smooth as glass ...

and at times - rough and choppy ...

at times there wasn't a cloud in the sky ....

and at other times that cloud cover & mist seemed to engulf the islands ....

Because of the rough waters of the open Sound on Saturday we were diverted up through Deception Pass and along the San Juan Islands.  It afforded us the opportunity to go under the Deception Pass Bridge.  Although it added almost an hour to the trip it was spectacular ...

Doug picked us up at the ferry dock and we went over to drop off our luggage and check out their apartment.  They have a really nice one bedroom place in James Bay which is just a short walk from the Empress, the Parliament Buildings and the water front. 

Their building has a very nice little guest suite which you can rent for $25.00/night so we dropped off our luggage at the suite, went up to check out their place, pick-up Kathryn and then went off to do some sight seeing downtown. 

 

The crowds downtown were not too large so we just wandered around for a couple of hours (we didn't dock until around 1) and we saw ...

The magnificent Empress Hotel  ...

If you've never been inside this place ... WOW.  It is truly a wonder!

The entrance columns into the grounds at the Empress ...

On our travels we found a great costume shop and decided to check it out.  It was called Nightmare Entertainment and it had a fun 'Haunted House' set up inside the costume shop which we went through.... fun

Mike & the Nightmare Man ....

 

The hanging baskets around Victoria are amazing ...

 

BC Parliament Buildings ...

 

There must be hundreds of horse & carriages and rickshaws in Victoria ...

 

The first night we went to Chinatown and had sushi for dinner.  It was very good and after dinner we strolled home along the waterfront.  By the time my head hit the pillow later that night I was exhausted.

The next morning we had cereal out on the deck and then decided to tour a few of the many local gardens.  The first one we hit was the Abkhazi Gardens (click on name for more information) which are very beautiful and have a very interesting history. 

 

 

We also toured the gardens at the Government House  which were also well worth the time.  If you are every in Victoria I would recommend visiting both of these gardens in addition to or in lieu of the better known Butchart Gardens.

 

It was a whirlwind mini vacation but we had a great time.  On the boat ride home we were lucky enough to be gifted this incredible view of Mount Rainer. The only bad thing about our trip was the vicious Sun Burns that both of us brought home ...

    Hope everyone had a great weekend

- N -

Just Pottering around ...

I guess this isn't news at all to you Harry Potter fans out there but .... (drum roll ....) today is the release of the much anticipated ... HARRY POTTER and THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE!!!   I believe that this is the last book in the much-loved series so I can imagine that for all the die-hard Potters fans this is BIG and the excitement has certainly been building around our house all summer.  Admittedly, Mike & I are not exactly what you would call Harry Potter fans as neither of us has ever read any of the books but we have seen several of the movies, however ... 

Katy is one of Harry's Biggest Fans,  in fact, both her and Jessica are BIG BIG BIG BIG FANS!!!   Katy has spent the whole summer re-reading every book in the series of  Potter books getting ready for this movies release.  She asked Mike & I if we wanted to go see it with her so we went online Monday to Fandango and pre-bought tickets for today at 7pm.  All the movie theaters around us are pre-selling tickets for days out - I have heard good things about this movie but good or bad ... I think it is going to make a TON of Galleon.

 

So tonight we will grab our Butter-Beer & Popcorn and settle in along with all the other muggles to see where Harry & the Gang lead us now ....

Have a great day

Smile

- N -

Happy 142nd Birthday Canada!!!!!

I am proud to be a
 CANADIAN!
 
Look who else  is ... eh?
This is too funny not to watch!

Happy Dad's Day ...

Saturday was the day Jessica moved her remaining stuff from storage to her new house.  Dad, Mike, Dale (J's Dad), Wayne and Jay were all on hand to help with the moving and furniture building.  It went very smoothly ...

Jessica's new backyard BTA (before toys arrive) ...

It was a whirlwind of a weekend ... Mike & I drove up to Canada on Friday night and got to J's house about 10pm.  Saturday was Jessica's final moving day (she moved in stages) and so we were all up early and work began about 8am. 

Jessica & her Dad, Dale, went to pick-up the truck and Mike went over and picked up Dad then met them at the storage unit.  Sandy, Brad, Wayne & a mover she had hired to assist all met them there and once they were all assembled and the truck arrived they began loading.  They had the storage unit loaded up by about 10:30 and were back over at the new place by 11am! 

WOW - this was the fastest move I have ever participated in (not that I did much - Aidan & I just waited at the new house for them to return).  It went like clockwork and they had the truck unloaded by lunchtime.  We had pizza for lunch and then Jenny, Jay and the kids joined us for a 'putting furniture together' party!  We got her new futon, bookcase, kitchen table, 4 chairs and Aidan's bed all put together. 

Backyard ATA (After Toys Arrive) ...
Home Sweet Home Aidan

Bella found a piece of bubble wrap ...

and fashioned herself a very elegant cape out of it ...

Jenny's Mom always told her, 'if you make that ugly face too often  - it will stay that way.'
humm, it appears Cathy was right!

Once all the boxes were moved in & the furniture was put together  ...

everyone sat down on it and enjoyed a good laugh (not sure at what though) ...
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                                                        .....................................

Then we all wandered over to Sandra's new place for a
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY BBQ ...

Sandra & Brent hosted the BBQ at their new house.  It got a little chilly out later in the day but that didn't seem to put a damper on the fun.  The kids ran around and had a great time, the food was great, the company even better and all the Dad's who were able to be there had a great Day!
.

Here is a glimpse into our Dad's Day Celebration ...

The Cheezies were a hit with the younger crowd ...

As evidenced by the all the orange fingers & faces ...

As were the juice boxes ....




Oops - that's Mike & Jay's juice bottle  ...

Everyone had a nice time visiting, relaxing & eating some great BBQ ...




Sandra & Brent's new backyard is so nice and it is the perfect spot for a family gathering and despite the cold wind that blew around for a while - everyone had a great time ...




Yum ...

Back to play time ...

In the front yard there is a fairly large Japanese maple tree and all of the kids just seemed to gravitate towards it.  It was very weepy and so they could hide under it and climb into it, and, as always, age holds certain privilege - only the 3 older kids (John, Aidan & Livy) were allowed to go outside of the fenced backyard and play in the tree out front - unattended.  This created a certain amount of 'tension' among the kids and the smaller ones were constantly looking for someone out to the front yard.

everyone loves a secret hidy hole ... 

right Max ....

- Here we see Jimmy has sweet talked Mike into taking him outside the back-fence into the forbidden zone

Oh no! It looks like Mike is getting ambushed  ....

by a band of marauding kids (each with a twinkle in their eye) ...

Poor Mike - he doesn't stand a chance - he is out numbered & possibly outwitted  ...

Yet,  he is still smiling - he is such a great guy!
Oh oh, Check out that devilish grin on Jimmy's face ...
I think he's up to something ...

Oh my!
What are they all looking at in the garden -  the lush, dense garden  ....

Tee Hee Hee ...

Humm, it seems Jimmy may have tossed Mike's wallet into the garden ....

 Yup, he sure did.  Looks like we'll need a search party ....

Very quickly the younger part of the search party  is retired  ...

And another Dad is recruited & after a 10 minute search the wallet was at last found ...

 And play resumed ... 
 


but, as with all good things, it was soon time to say good-bye  ....  





Some had to be picked up ...
 
and carried to the car ...

I didn't really get any good shots of Sandra, Brent, Jay or Sarah (or me) so in lieu of ugly old us - here are some of the gorgeous photos of some of the flowers from Sandra's garden (click on the photo's to blow them up) ...

 



 

 

This was our first family celebration without Mom and I cried for many days before driving up to Canada.  I knew it would be a fractured gathering but also, in a very big way, a healing one.  Mom, we are still a family and I believe with all of my heart & soul that you were watching us and felt a great peace at knowing we were all together and doing okay!  We are strong & still bonded together and that is what mattered the very most to you ...

Also missing from the festivities were Cathy, Hannah & Todd.  Cathy is away this week enjoying some peace & quiet and recharging her batteries.  Hannah was busy at a baseball tournament and Todd was putting out fires and saving families. 

Sandra & Brent gave us a wonderful Father's Day celebration and I thank them both from the bottom of my heart.  It was a lovely day ...

- N -

Friday's Smile ...

Happy Graduation Sarah

Jenny H.'s daughter, Sarah graduated from high school this year, this photo was taken when she was on her way to her Prom! 

What a gorgeous photo of a smart & beautiful young woman, Congratulations Sarah!!  You looks amazing and I wish you the greatest success at college next fall. 

What a beautiful dress!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry.  Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll  start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

- Dr. Seuss -
Oh, The Places You'll Go


We are heading up to Canada tonight
Have a great Dad's Day everyone
- N -