Scrapbooking my life...one page at a time

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 -

A Little Country Village...

- Chicken Little -

There is nothing more relaxing or fun than to spend a sunny afternoon wandering & rambling through a great little 'village' which is stuffed full of cute shops, gardens, restaurants & charm.  The  Country Village in Bothell is one of those spots.  It is one of Dana & I's favorite places to get together for an afternoon.

- Artichoke -

The  Country Village in Bothell is what I call a great little 'Used to be' - meaning it 'used to be' something else and now it's been turned into a great touristy spot.  For example, the Country Village 'used to be' a working farm many, many years ago that over the years, one family restored, and have since allowed it to  evolve into what it is today - A shopping / strolling village boosts 40 shops and numerous gardens, restaurants, ponds, coffee shops, antique shops, and now hosts the Bothell Farmers Market once a week.

     

- Belly Dance -

 

- One man's Junk ... -

Another thing that the Country Village in Bothell has a lot of is poultry!  Chickens, ducks, geese, doves & ROOSTERS ...

     

 

 

 

So many different kinds.  They are really quite beautiful, don't you think?  Dana & I had a wonderful time visiting and strolling around the shops & gardens.  Thanks for a great day Dana!

- Smile - 

- 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

Urban Craft Uprising ...

 

Seattle Public Art   

(Since 1973, the City of Seattle has required that 1% of all City funded Capital Improvement dollars be set aside for Public Art - we have a lot of public art)

On Saturday Dana & I went into Seattle to check out an Arts & Craft Fair that Jessica had told me about.  Dana met me at my house about 11am and we went & grabbed a quick bite to eat before hurrying over to the 520 bridge to get across the lake before it the Seafair backup started.  During Seafair Weekend (and the week before) they close the I90 bridge down for part of the day when the Blue Angels are practicing or preforming - with only one bridge open the 520 backs up BIG TIME.  

Blue Angels (I didn't take this photo: in fact I didn't see them at all this year but I did HEAR them)

I must say, as we crossed over the 520 bridge (we did beat the backups) Dana & I were amazed by the hundreds of boats we saw rushing full steam to get down to the south end of the lake to watch the Blue Angels and other Seafair activities.  Dana tried to get a picture of them all racing across the lake but it was hard as we were driving about 65 mph.

Boats heading down to Seafair

   It was such a nice day and there were so many people down at the Seattle Center.  I don't get into the city much and I always forget how beautiful Seattle is.  In the middle of the Seattle Center is a GREAT big fountain that many people use as a watering hole.  There were tons of people down in the fountain trying to cool off ...

 

The Seattle Center Fountain

It was hot out but there was a cool breeze blowing and so it made the walk through the center very enjoyable.  The Urban Craft Uprising, as it is called, took place in the Exhibition Hall.

 

The Urban Craft Uprising was more Arts than Crafts and I was amazed at how truly talented & creative some people are.   Although neither Dana nor I bought much we did have a great day together.

 

I Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

- 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 -

Sequim ...

Happy Belated July 4th

Mike & I were lucky enough to be invited to spend the 4th of July with our friends Dave & Dana, their family and other friends over in Sequim Wa.  Dave's family has owned a cabin overlooking the Dungeness Spit, Puget Sound & Victoria, B.C. (which you can see lit up at night from their front lawn).  We had such a GREAT time and Dave & Dana were wonderful hosts.  Thanks guys for such a memorable July 4th!

A Little Blue Pail in Sequim ...

We headed over to Sequim (pronounced: "s'kwim" the e is silent) early Friday morning - we left the house around 9:30am.  Drive time to Sequim is quite variable because there is a ferry ride involved (ferry ride is only 25 minutes) - the drive itself is about a 2 hours but because it was a long weekend we were hit with a 2 hour ferry wait so it took awhile to get there. We were starving by the time we got to Sequim so we decided the first order of business was to go to lunch.  Mike had read online that the '3 Crabs' restaurant was very good so we decided to head over to it since it was near the cottage that we had rented.  The food was great and the view was breathtaking.  If you ever find yourself starving & in Sequim, Wa then I would recommend seeking out The 3 Crabs ...

Restaurant & view

After lunch we headed over the cottage we'd rented.  It was called the 'Tea House' and while it was very cute it was not on the waterfront and didn't have a water view.  A shame when you are so close to the water.

***************
All the waterfront view cabins, cottages & houses were long ago rented.   You didn't have to look very hard to tell that this place was once someone's much loved Japanese house & garden which had been sold into  the vacation property slavery trade.  So sadly neglected.   

I loved the big covered deck ...

The garden reminded me of an old - long forgotten love story.  At one time ... someone's heart raced as they gazed at it's beauty and they smiled to themselves ... knowing all it's secrets and possibilities.

I must admit that as I prowled around the overgrown & dying gardens - I had to fight off the urge to begin weeding & watering.  To lure it back into the life it had once known ...

The thing I love about nature is that no matter how tangly, messy, overgrown or neglected it becomes it is always hiding something beautiful and if you are very patient and look hard enough and long enough  - you can always find it ...

Sometimes the beautiful is hiding in amongst the overgrown plants & shrubs - disguised as old & beaten remains of the day ....

 

And sometimes Mother Nature just tosses them out to you  ...

There were two houses on the property ... the big house with the view ... and the sad little Tea House and both houses were allowed to use the dock and go down to the beach.  Mike & I decided to stroll down to the shore when we first got there before we headed over to Dave & Dana's place  ...

After playing on the beach for a while and checking out the dock we decided to head over to Dana's ....

Dave & Dana's cottage

Mike enjoying the view ...

There is no doubt about it ... Dave & Dana's place has one heck of view ...  You can see Mt. Baker, the Puget Sound, the Dungeness Spit, and Victoria lit up at night!!  It is so nice ...

The Dungeness Spit ...

Dave has a boat and likes to set out crab pots and catch fresh Dungeness Crabs - which we had for dinner on the 1st night we were there.  I think Dave caught 7 that day ...

Dave & back with the World's Deadliest Catch ...

Can you just imagine how great it must be to go down, bring home your fresh caught crab, smash em, cook em and then eat em.  They were very Yummy!! 
 Seriously, does life get any better ...

Dave smashing & cleaning the crab

Shoebox sporting a new lavender scarf ...

As you can imagine, the sunsets from their bluff are incredible ...

The next morning (July 4th) Mike & I decided to go and check out the sights in the town of Sequim ...

4th of Julyier's putting their freedom to work and protesting our impending conversion to 'socialism' & over taxation [humm ... maybe next year they will celebrating on July 1st as Canada's 11th province OR my-oh-my - maybe the 4th territory]  ....

An oh-so-cute bird house ...

An even-cuter woodpecker screen door and OH YES, I do need one of those for my front door!
 

After touring town Mike wanted to get some BIG BOOM, BOOM, BANG works and so we headed over the Jamestown Firework Stand on Sklallam Reservation (um, I'm sorry but is that the sign PC?).  They had a whole building dedicated to the selling of fireworks and you probably won't be surprised to learn that the place had quite a crowd surrounding it ...

Now - I have never really seen the attraction to fireworks.  Yes, they are pretty to watch on TV but in real life they are expensive, noisy, dangerous, scare the local wildlife, start fires and usually leave a mess.  Mike had his heart set on some blasting so we ended up with rather large variety pack ...

Okay, I confess, I bought 3 little chicken firecrackers (they are very small - each chicken is only about 2 inches long).  They are called ... 'Hen Laying Egg" and in theory, they are supposed to shoot fire out their butts and look like they are laying eggs.  I say 'in theory' because I forgot them on top of Dana's fridge and so I never did light them off ...

When we got Dana's house we found two deer resting in the shade of the house. 

They were so adorable but as soon as we got there they decided to 'mozy' on home to their neck of the woods (which, BTW, is right next door at the Wildlife Preserve)...
********************
Kirsten, a good friend of Dana's, and her two children came to join the celebration.  We enjoyed a FEAST of crab, BBQ burgers & hot dogs, various salads and other yummies  ...

The Boybarians hanging around BBQ ...

Dana looking so cute in her 4th of July festive in her flag shirt ...
***************

After dinner they put the tent up for the kids to sleep in ...

Then we had a smore's party down at the fire pit while we waited for night to fall ...
And then my camera battery died so that's end of the pictures.
***************
We lit up the sky with fireworks and everyone had such a good time.  I can't thank Dave & Dana enough for the wonderful weekend.


I hope everyone had a happy & safe July 1st or 4th whichever the case may be  ...

- N -

A Zoo Run & Day 3 ...

A Zoo Run ...

My neighbor, Ms. B, her son, little A & I all spent most of Tuesday at the Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ).  It was a beautiful sunny day and I LOVE the zoo.  I almost always have a current WPZ membership card in my wallet because ... you never know when you'll be experiencing a "sunny-day-with-nothing-much-to-do"  kinda day and the zoo is always a great place to go.  

If you know me then you know that I am always up for a trip to the zoo - with or without little kids ...  I like to just wander around and get lost for a while.  The animals amaze me, the gardens & plants always bring me a little ... Zen ... it is, for me, an oasis - a paradise lost!  Okay, okay - I know, it's not so much paradise when you're experiencing the zoo from behind bars but that aside - I still love the zoo ...

And hey, it's not all bad!  For example, did you know that most zoo's are now an integral part of worldwide conservation & education efforts and that many species that are now lost in the wild exist today ... only in zoos.  The WPZ currently partners with 38 field conservation projects taking place in more than 50 countries.

Anyhoo - we were there for some FUN!  Nothing more than simple Fun, Fun, fun - not to learn or conservate (I think I just made that word up - if you don't know what it mean ... look it up).  We had come to soak up a little of that not so abundant PNW sunshine, get a little exercise, and have FUN - oh ya, and to wear out the baby so he would sleep well later that night!

We just knew that little A would love seeing all the animals, squeal with delight as they pranced about their naturalistic zoobitats and interacted playfully with their cell mates.  Sometimes It's even hard for me to contain my delight as I watch all the exotic wildlife at the zoo ...

-  little A looks excitedly for the animals -

What did he find ...

-  some lazy goats getting ready for a nap -

-  a flamingo napping -

-  a gorilla napping -

Well, we had obviously arrived at nap time - everyone was asleep so we decided to go to the children's play area which ended up being much more fun 

- little A constructing a little bug at the play table -

Day 3 ...

Here is Day 3 of my 365 days ...

 

If you asked Mike, he would tell you that he is not a caffeine drinker but for those of you who really KNOW Mike you know he is a major caffeine guzzler ... as in he guzzle down about a liter of caffeinated diet Pepsi a day!  I am not sure what you would pay for a 2L bottle of Pepsi in Canada but down here - on a good sale - we can get it for about $1.19 a bottle.  The other day I was at QFC getting some steak to BBQ (yum) and they had it on sale for .83 cents a bottle.  A BOTTLE!  That is a crazy good price but. as you can see, they had a 6 bottle limit per customer. Life is so-da good - isn't it!

An Unexpected Song ...

I found this video clip on Utube and It made me smile.  

It reminded me not to sit on the sidelines - not to stand on the edge of life and watch it passing by but to go ahead and stand up, cheer, clap, sing yourself silly and dance along as the parade passed by. 

Look at the smiles of join on the passenger's faces as they stop and enjoy this piece of magic that has creep unexpectedly into their lives.  I love that so many of them just dropped their bags and joined the dancers!!