Category Archives: Travel

A Jaunt to Seattle

 

This is a blueberry bush in my yard in Washington. It is so vibrant with Fall colors this time of year. This photo is from my archives.

Dear and I are headed to Seattle for a long weekend. We have some work to do around the house and I get to go see my hairdresser.  My grey is calling her name…Sherri, Sherri…

It will be nice to see our kids and spend some time with them. Our son Dan is hunting in Colorado right now for Elk with his bow. We’ll see him when he gets back on Sunday.

Oh and we’re guaranteed not to be awakened by screaming, thumping noises coming from above. Dear and my bedroom suite in Seattle is on the 3rd floor of our home. Yippee!!  Yes, unfortunately the noise from above at our condo continues and we’ve had to call 911 twice this week!

One of the fun things about this trip is that we happen to be on the same flight to Seattle with Lana G! She’ll be in First Class instead of with us “behind the curtain” but her hubby will be able to pick us all up and deliver us home.

I’m wondering if my walking buddies are up for a walk on Saturday on the Burke Gilman? I’ll be there at 9:00 if you’ll be there at 9:00.

I never know how blogging will go on these quick trips. So if you don’t see me around you’ll understand why.

Engagement Party in Clovis, California

On Sunday we hit the back roads North to Clovis where my cousin Jim who married my college buddy Jeanie live (Jeanie and I met when we both were Home Economics majors at Cal-State, Los Angeles). Their youngest son Jeff asked Heather to marry him and she said YES! So because of the excitement of it all an engagement party was planned. Here’s the happy darling couple…

I told you they were darling. See that fabulous blouse she’s wearing? Jeff bought that for her while he was in Italy with his family a few weeks ago. Good taste and it looks smashing on Heather.

Clovis is about 4 hours away from us by car and we didn’t just get there by snapping our fingers so I’m going to show you some of the scenes from the route we chose to take this time. We went on a back road through Ojai on Highway 33. This route took us over and across the Los Padres National Forest.

 

It was very dry and hot (but 10 degrees cooler than Saturday). We saw lots of interesting landscape. Lots of huge bolders that looked like they could fall on us around several curves. The tunnels and canopy of eucalyptus trees were very cool. We finally made it over the winding roads through the forest to the flat lands of Central California. We went through an area of oil refineries and saw this great old oil Derick.

We arrived for the main event at Jim and Jeanies and the real fun began. Jim and Jeanie have a Spanish style home on a very large piece of property that is just perfect for large gatherings of people. They’ve done a beautiful job with landscaping and adding great features to make the house and yard invite you in.

 

There were lots of people and great food that Jeanie with my cousin Katrina’s help prepared themselves. Appetisers, Russian Chicken (MGCC recipe), Beef with aujus and salsa on the side, pasta salad, fruit salad, and rice pilaf. Yummy! One of Jeanie’s girlfriends from her Bible Study made all the cookies, heart shaped brownies and cookie bars. I love how she decorated the cookies. I asked her if she’d come to my next party with some of her fabulous cookies :0)

 

But the best part of the day was seeing old friends and relatives and getting re-acquainted and caught up a little with each other.

 

Jeanie and Ellen b. ~ Jeanie’s Swedish roots welcome sign ~ Jeanie with her sister Kathy B. ~ My cousin Katrina with her husband Andy and daughter Kristen ~ The engaged couple Heather and Jeff ~ Jeff’s older brother Ben ~ Ellen b. and Dear ~ My cousin Jim praying for the couple and meal ~ Cousins: Jim, Ellen b, and Katrina.

Hi Katrina…I know you are out there now :0)

The last time I saw Kathy B. (Jeanie’s sister) was in 2005 at a different celebration here in Clovis.

 

This face to face meeting was very special for me because since 2005 Kathy B. and I have both started blogging and I have gotten to know and love her more through our blogs. It’s just something special to meet with bloggy friends face to face. Kathy B. blogs over at Count it all Joy. She truly has chosen joy through her suffering and has a special place in my heart.

Thanks for the wonderful party Jim and Jeanie. Congratulations Jeff and Heather. It was fun celebrating with you! May God bless you and the uniting of your families with His love and joy!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I posted on my blog from 2007-2015 hostage and replaced them with big black and grey boxes with threats. So discouraging…as I’m slowly trying to clean up thousands of posts!

Disneyland Anaheim

 

On Wednesday I drove out to Anahiem to meet up with my daughter Katie, her boyfriend Ben, and some of my family. It’s been 10 years since I had been to Disneyland and boy was I in for a surprise.

 

My sister Kathy and I spent a lot of time sitting in the shade and watching people. I enjoy people watching at Disneyland…

 

Katie and Ben ~ Debbee, Kathy, and Melissa ~ Katie resting her poor aching feet (this was her and Ben’s 2nd full day at the Park), Melissa and Katie in their traditional Disney photo.

 

Some of the fun noisy rides we went on using the Fast Track Passes.

 

The music and entertainment at Disneyland really sets a great mood in the Park. Sometimes it even drowns out the poor exhausted babies and toddlers who are crying…

 

The colors in the lagoon where the Submarine Ride is were calling to me. I guess it’s called the Finding Nemo Ride now.

 

You gotta smile when you see the great colors on the tea-cups and lanterns. I so enjoy this Fantasyland setting!

 

Disneyland always has beautiful fresh flowers that match the seasons in all their planters. I loved these beautiful pinks and purples. They were already beginning to add pumpkins in Frontierland getting ready for Fall.

Don’t you just love this little guy? There are so many things to see at Disneyland.

We left the Park and headed to Downtown Disney to meet up with my sister Lana for Dinner at Naples. Our newlywed nephew and niece met us, too. Again Lana treated us all to dinner. They all went back to the park after dinner but my sister Kathy and I headed home. I made it back home at 9:45 and I was exhausted. I’m still dragging today. After I fed them a hearty breakfast, Ben and Katie headed to Magic Mountain today to tackle the roller coasters. Ahh, youth. This old gal on the other hand is just sitting around watching the Olympic Soccer games today hoping for a second wind soon.

 

Seattle To Camarillo in 17 Hours!

 

We waved goodbye to the Space Needle about 5:30 AM on Saturday morning and continued south through Washington, Oregon and California. We only stopped for gas, 2 fast food drive through windows, and rest areas to change drivers. While I drove Dear tried to sleep and while Dear drove I tried to sleep so that we both could make it through without falling asleep at the wheel.

Along the way I enjoyed the bridges in Washington and Oregon.

I waved to Flower when we were driving in Oregon. I waved to Kathy B. when we got close to Sacramento. I waved to Willow when we drove down the grade into Camarillo, California at 10:30 PM.

 

This photo was taken driving from Oregon into California. Saturday was a hot day from Washington to California. The range we traveled through in the heat of the day was from 98 to 108 degrees.

 

Mt. Shasta in Northern California

We were happy and thankful to God for sustaining us on our trip and for the fact that we were not exhausted. I so appreciate your prayers for us on this journey. We had a refreshing rest Saturday night and were ready to re-unite with our friends on Sunday at church who we haven’t seen for 6 weeks.

We retrieved our mail and there was a package for me. Whoohoo! Melissa at Melissa’s Cozy Teacup sent me the teapot I won on her blog a while back.

Melissa also sent me all these great individual tea-bags to enjoy. Thank you Melissa I love the decorative Tea Pot and I’m looking forward to sharing my tea with friends.

 

Have a wonderful week everyone. I’m off to the airport Monday morning to pick up my daughter and her boyfriend who are flying down from Seattle to spend 5 days in L.A. to take in Disneyland, Magic Mountain and the Beach!

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Downtown Seattle

On Thursday Dear, Katie and I decided to spend the day in Downtown Seattle.

 

We thought it was high time to drag Dear far away from the Basement Project that he has been putting many hours into while he’s been in Washington.

 

He’s been working on upgrading some plumbing and electrical and structural issues. He is also doing some preventative water proofing.

 

This is the Hammering Man outside the Seattle Art Museum. I wanted to take a picture from this side so I could get the building in the background that looks like a roll-on deodorant. That’s the building where Dear worked for Immunex before Amgen bought them out.

Our first stop in Downtown Seattle was the Seattle Art Museum. Every first Thursday of the month you can visit the museum for free. We toured the regular exhibits and then headed south to Post Alley at the Pike Place Market to go to the Perennial Tea Room to buy some Earl Grey loose leaf tea.

 

For lunch we headed to Pioneer Square and parked and then walked a few blocks to Fado. Fado is a nice Irish Pub in Seattle. We enjoyed some Fish and Chips, Sheepherder’s Pie and some Lamb Popsicles. Of course someone had to order a Guinness while we were in Ireland an Irish Pub far, far away from Eire.

 

We discovered a beautiful waterfall right in the heart of Pioneer Square across the street from the Fire Station #1.

 

 

Seattle is home to the Utilikilt. We also have Native American Culture that permeates our environs. I would love to just walk around Downtown sometime and take photos of all the great architecture. The Pergola in the last square of this collage had to be rebuilt after a truck plowed into it and destroyed it a few years ago.

 

Before we headed home we stood in line for a very long time to get into Salumi. Salumi is Mario Batali’s father Armandino Batali’s Italian Restaurant and Deli in Pioneer Square. We wanted to buy a couple chubs of salami. We bought the Salumi Salami and the Finocchioni. They produce these artisan meats themselves and let me tell you if you are going to be bad and have fatty, salty, yummy salami this is the stuff you want!!

You can check out their website and even order online.

We clocked a good 9000 steps and rewarded ourselves as usual with lots of good food and drink. Hope your evening and Friday are wonderful. We’re headed to another wedding Friday night…

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Ruby Tuesday ~ Country Village

 

I took a little trip to Country Village in Bothell, Washington last week. There was an abundance of red to photograph here! Here’s what their website says about the village.

 

Shop, dine and feed
the chickens …

Over 40 shops and restaurants clustered among beautifully landscaped gardens, ponds, wandering paths, picnic and play areas.

Everything from fabulous home decor and original art, to antiques and innovative toys!

 

You can even find anything you need for Belly Dancing at the Ottoman Trading Co.

My favorite find on my visit was not red at all but predominately blue. Madame Fifi’s Tea Room and Bakery. I had a lovely lunch topped off with some delicious scones.

For more Ruby Tuesday head over to Maryt’s at Work of the Poet.

To read more about Country Village you can click over to their Website.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Walking Again

Oh the Places you will go, Oh the Wonders you will see…

I made the horrible timely mistake of stepping on the scale last Tuesday morning. Right then and there I decided it was time to get serious about walking everyday again. I’ve gotten a little more fluffy and soft then I want to be. So I headed out to see what I could see…

 

The Burke Gilman Trail which spills into the Sammamish River Trail is a great place to walk/ride/run in the Seattle Area. My two walking buddies and I walked this trail every Saturday morning for several years before I moved to California. When I’m back in town we still get together to walk it. The two of them walk it when I’m away. It’s so lush and green in the Spring and Summer! This last Saturday we walked our typical 15,000 steps! On Wednesday of last week after the “stepping on the scale” incident I walked part of the trail starting at Bothell Landing and I clocked 7282 steps. These photos are from that day.

 

LOOK! I even found the MAGIC PORTAL to get to Hogwarts from the Pacific Northwest!

 

On Thursday for my motivation to walk I headed to Juanita Bay in Kirkland, Washington. There’s a wonderful park next to the bay with boardwalks that go out into the marshes and wetlands.

 

I saw this young Blue Heron.

 

Lots of Woodland Ducks. It was so exciting when I looked straight down from a spot on the boardwalk and saw this mama duck with her ducklings just below me.

 

Then I spotted these turtles!

 

This beautiful Dragonfly stayed around long enough for me to zoom in and get a shot.

 

When Dear gets here I think we’ll have to do this walk again together.

 

You can see why it was easy to get in 8694 steps checking out the wonder of this spot. The beauty that the Lord has created for us to enjoy and praise Him for is all around us. I hope to always have eyes that see it and a tongue that gives Him praise for it.

On Friday I went to Bellevue and I already posted about that day and those steps! So for my first 5 days back with renewed inspiration to walk my average steps were 9286. My Saturday walks with the girls really pushes up my average.

I hope to keep walking this week. Have a wonderful week and remember your Creator, the God who made all things beautiful for us to enjoy…

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Friday Morning in Bellevue, Washington

 

I rode over to Bellevue this morning to check out the Bellevue Festival of Arts…

 

There were lots of interesting handcrafted, painted, sculpted, wrought, things to see. I had to take a picture of a quilt for Ivory Spring and a picture of a Knitting booth for Willow. Aren’t those masks made out of feathers interesting? I clocked 7000 steps and decided to go to where I’m willing to spend a lot less on treasures…The Bellevue Goodwill. On my way back to the car I had to take a photo of the reflections in the high rise buildings in downtown Bellevue.

 

Now off to Goodwill and here’s what I found this trip.

 

I nabbed a large what looks to be Russian Teapot for $5.99. The Cake plate and cover were $9.00. The sweet plates (6 of them) were $.99 each. The Pink glass tea cups and saucers were $2.99 each (a little pricey) but I think they look great on the mint and pink rose trimmed plates. My favorite purchase today is the “Russian teapot”

 

 

I found a couple of Goodwill items for my bloggy friends in Southern California that I’ve gotten together with face to face, Willow and Sara. I met Sara in person at the Getty Villa. I met Willow in my hometown in California. When we are both in town Willow and I try to walk Monday thru Friday.

For Willow from Willow’s Cottage who likes blue, I found this pretty blue decantor/vase (made in Italy)

And for Sara from Much Ado About Something this book that she has been on a quest to find…

I got real nervous when I saw the Edith Holdren book you found at the book store and was happy it wasn’t this one. So you can stop looking, Sara.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone…

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Port Gamble in Washington

 

On Wednesday afternoon Josh, Laura, Michelle and I took the Ferry from Edmonds to Kingston for High Tea in Port Gamble. The Tea Room at Port Gamble is in an old Victorian house on the main street in this little town. You get off the ferry at Kingston and follow the road to Highway 104 headed for the Hood Canal Bridge. When you get to the 25 mile an hour speed zone you know you are close. You can’t miss it and it’s a delightful afternoon stop!

 

Josh was such a good sport to play along and don a hat, too. He had never been to High Tea and we discussed just how civilized it is. Of course none of us had to wear hats but we were just in the mood.

 

I think the highlights for us were the wonderful scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream and then the chocolate fondue at the end of our tea. Duhliscious!! (I miss-spelled that on purpose!)

 

We strolled through the little town and enjoyed the architecture and unique little shops. Took the picture of the Artful Ewe for you Willow!

My son Josh and Laura

My DIL Laura and niece Michelle

 

Do you see the sign the antique dealer has under her cash register in her shop? It says “YOUR HUSBAND CALLED – And said you can buy anything you want” On the way out of town we stopped at the Anglican Church.

 

From the cemetery we could see the Hood Canal Bridge and we commented that we should drop in on Dave and Beth but we didn’t call ahead and our afternoon was turning into evening.  Maybe you can meet Katie and I for tea sometime in Port Gamble Beth!?

 

At the cemetery Josh spotted this engraving on one of the tombstones. “Remember friend as you pass by, As you are now so once was I, As I am now you soon will be, Prepare for death and follow me”

Sobering thought or it could be taken as an encouragement to prepare ourselves for the inevitable by making decisions today that guarantee our future in Glory when we meet our Creator…

Well we decided it was time to head back to the ferry dock and journey across the Puget Sound to Edmonds and onward. But what did we spot on the way back…

CB’s Nuts! A small Roasting operation right off the main highway. We made a U-turn and headed back after we zoomed by too fast to stop. We are glad we turned around. We met Mr. Roasting Guy and he sold us some fresh peanuts, pistachios, and peanut butter.

 

Can’t get too much fresher then this!

 

At the ferry dock while we were waiting for our boat I zoomed in for this shot of Mt. Rainier and downtown Seattle. If you look closely you can see the Space Needle to the right of the rest of the buildings.

Another fabulous day in the Greater Puget Sound! To end the day we met my other kids, Dan and Katie, at PF Chang’s for dinner. A very full day that made this lady pretty tired but joyful.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.

Suzzallo Library ~ University of Washington

Since I had absolutely nothing for ABC Wednesday, the letter Z, I decided to cheat a bit and use my Suzzallo Library Post for Z. Look! There are two z’s in Suzzallo! My daughter and I were here last Thursday.

 

This is Suzzallo Library on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle. Ground was broken for this library in 1923. The building is an example of the Collegiate Gothic style adopted by the University as part of the 1915 campus plan, developed by architects Carl F. Gould and Charles H. Bebb.

 

Three heroic figures of cast stone depicting “Mastery”, “Inspiration”, and “Thought” sculpted by Allan Clark stand over the portals of the main entrance.

 

 

We walked up the beautiful staircase to get to the second floor reading room.

 

 

 

 

One of the entrances to the reading room. This room has inspired comparisons with the great library reading rooms of the world. After being in it I can understand why.

 

 

Oak bookcases are topped with a hand-carved frieze representing native plants of Washington State, including salal, Douglas fir, scrub oak, grape, dogwood, mountain ash, rhododendron, pear, trillium, salmon berry, wild rose, apple, marigold, canteloupe, tulip and cherry.

 

The room measures 65 feet high, 52 feet wide, and 250 feet long.

 

At each end of the room, a paneled alcove features a hand-painted world globe hanging from the ceiling, which bears the names of different explorers.

 

 

Tall, traceried windows incorporate leaded glass which is intended to break the direct rays of light.

 

The room features a vaulted ceiling elaborately decorated with rich colored and gilded stenciling.

 

A 1927 article in The Pacific Builder and Engineer stated that “This room has been pronounced the most beautiful on the continent and is ranked among the most beautiful in the world. It is comparable only to the nave of a cathedral.”

 

Some more views of the outside of the building.

If you live in the Greater Puget Sound Area and have never visited Suzzallo or if you happen to travel to Seattle, I highly recommend you put it on your list of places to visit.

ht: Most of the information I’ve shared comes from a Library Guide that is free at the entrance to the Library.

If you’d like to see more ABC Wednesday, Z is for posts click on over to Mrs. Nesbitt’s.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.