A Taste of Ste Michelle

Moving along with my tour guide hat on Monday June 17th we visited Ste Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Wa. This is on the quiet side of Lake Washington about 17 miles from Seattle.

The winery is open for tours every day and during the week you can see the bottling operation in progress. They do not bottle on the weekends.

After the short informative tour filled with the history of this land and winery we were guided into the tasting room.

We were told to hold up our glasses and look at the color of the wine. I’m so obedient…sometimes.

After the tastings my niece and her hubby got a lot more animated.

Is that the wine talking?

From Ste Michelle we went up the road a bit to the Redhook Brewery. The next available tour there was at 2:00 so we had lunch at the Forecaster’s Pub attached to the brewery and then I left Debbee and Lenny with my Brother-in-law for the tour and I headed home to get ready for the U.S.A. vs. Ghana World Cup Game. Thanks for coming to the rescue Steve because I didn’t want them to miss the tour but I was not willing to miss a second of the once in a lifetime game. Josh and Laura arrived before the game started and the rest of the crew arrived in enough time for the 2nd half and the win by the U.S.A. We all had dinner together and a few rounds of Mexican Train. Soon I’ll show our tour of Whidbey Island and the grand finale of Debbee and Lenny’s trip to Western Washington.

It’s Friday today and soon we’ll be in full swing with our Weekend Warrior hats on. While Dear works on ceiling lights, ceiling fan and ceiling drywall I will be available to offer a hand here and there and feed my warrior. What does your weekend look like?

Share Your Cup Thursday ~ Seattle

Washington State has so much to offer it’s residents and visitors and I had some fun sharing my home state with my niece and her husband over the last few days. I’m linking up to Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen’s Share Your Cup Thursday#107

Today I’m sharing our visit to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and the Charles S. English, Jr. botanical gardens known locally as the Ballard Locks.

We visited on Flag Day and it was nice to see the U.S. flag flying everywhere we went including on top to the Space Needle.

Construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the tidal waters of Puget Sound, the canal and locks allow recreational and commercial vessels to travel to the docks and warehouses of Seattle’s busy fresh water harbor.

I caught some photos in amidst the Salmon Waves art display just outside the Fish Ladder at the Locks. We were able to see a lot of salmon using the ladder on this day.

The complex of locks sit in the middle of Salmon Bay and are part of Seattle’s Lake Washington Ship Canal. They are known locally as the Ballard Locks after the neighborhood to their north. (Magnolia lies to the south.)

The locks and associated facilities serve three purposes:

To maintain the water level of the fresh water Lake Washington and Lake Union at 20 to 22 feet above sea level.
To prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes (saltwater intrusion).
To move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa.

The complex includes two locks, a small (30 x 150 ft, 8.5 x 45.7 meter) and a large (80 x 825, 24.4 x 251.5 meter). The complex also includes a (235-foot, 71.6 meter) spillway with six (32 x 12-foot (3.7 m), 9.8 x 3.7 meter) gates to assist in water-level control. A fish ladder is integrated into the locks for migration of anadromous fish, notably salmon.

Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the locks were formally opened on July 4, 1917, although the first ship passed on August 3, 1916. They were named after U.S. Army Major Hiram Martin Chittenden, the Seattle District Engineer for the Corps of Engineers from April 1906 to September 1908. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

It’s Thursday already and June is more than half over. We have a do nothing outside the home weekend except going to church and the Home Depot planned. Dear was waiting for a good dry day to pick up drywall from the big box store. I’ll be feeding my worker over the weekend while he chips away at his portion of responsibilities for the new bathroom. Yikes I might have to help hold up some drywall for the ceiling. I might need longer arms. What is going on in your corner of the world?

Good Fences #13

Some beautiful gates inside the Biltmore Winery in Ashland, North Carolina.

Linking up with Run*A*Round Ranch for Good Fences #13.

Maybe…just maybe…

…I’ve missed my calling. I could have been a tour guide.

The Fremont Troll who lives under the Aurora Bridge is a must see when you visit our area. You can read all about it’s origins here.

My new nephew by marriage, Lenny, had never been to Seattle so we had to show him the top picks in our area.

Sorry, couldn’t resist the “top picks” reference!

The Troll could use a little cleaning up because it’s hard to see the full size red Volkswagon bug that is under his left hand without straining.

You really get great views of downtown Seattle from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill. We never miss this photo opportunity with our out of town company. I never resist photo opportunities of our “in town” kids, either.

My niece Debbee is in the bright blue coat nestled in amongst Auntie Lana, Cousin Laura and Auntie Ellen. I missed the shot of her and Lenny here but made sure to get plenty of the two of them at some other favorite tourist spots in our area.

And of course we didn’t miss out on some great local food, either…

We started with some delicious sustenance that carried us through all our adventures of the afternoon at the Portage Bay Cafe in the South Lake Union area of Seattle. All seven of us would recommend this restaurant. They had lots of great Gluten Free choices for my niece, too. Before we met up for brunch Josh, Laura, Debbee and Lenny had visited Pike Place Market, the original Starbucks and the Gum wall. After the troll we headed to the Ballard Locks but that’s another post coming soon…

I have several days off before my next tour guiding gig. I’m looking forward to a week from today when I get to show some VIP’s a different part of our city. Of course you’ll hear all about it and it could be that you’ll hear about it from a few more sources than me since several of my VIP visitors are bloggers, too. Stay tuned! Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

USA vs Ghana Viewing Party!

It was so exciting and stomach wrenching to watch the U.S.A. vs. Ghana game on Monday. We had a house full and we made enough noise for the neighborhood to hear us. We are really hoping for another positive result that will get the U.S.A. into the round of sixteen. Time will tell. I’m happy I get to enjoy my U.S.A. decor now since we won’t be in the country for the fourth of July.

I’m off today to take my niece and nephew by marriage on a sight seeing tour of Whidbey Island. What is up in your world?

World Cup 2014 ~ Brazil

With World Cup 2014 in progress right now in Brazil I decided to re-post our photos from the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.A. I published this post on June 17, 2010. The kids and I flew down to Southern California and stayed with my parents for the duration of World Cup. Josh was able to get a ticket package for the Rose Bowl venue and Dan was able to get 2 tickets for the Brazil vs. Cameroon game in San Jose at Stanford. Dan and I traveled to Stanford to see that very colorful game.

In 1994 our boys were 15 and 13. We found the U.S.A. training facility in Southern California and were able to see some of the team and practice and get an autograph.

Later during our time in Southern California we found out the hotel the team was staying at and we traveled there and hung out watching for players so Josh could get his Team poster autographed.

Our patience won out and we had a great time.

This is Alexi Lalas with Josh and Dan.

Josh and Dan got every players signature on the team poster. Lalas, Meola, Harkes, Dooley, Wagerle, Balboa, Ramos, Reyna, just to name a few. They also managed to get all the coaches signatures but one. The players were all friendly and willing to talk to the boys and sign autographs. What an exciting and fun experience for Josh and Dan and me!

Dan and I drove to Clovis and spent the night with my cousin and then we drove to a train station to take a commuter train to Stanford for the Brazil vs. Cameroon game. We found a shop that had a Brazilian flag and bought it for the game. Brazil brings a party atmosphere to soccer games that’s hard to beat and we had fun experiencing it.

We finished off our time at 1994 World Cup with a game at the Rose Bowl where the final game would be played.

Participating in this historical event was thrilling for our family.

Dear was finally able to fly down to Southern California and join us at the end of our trip. The whole family had a fun day at Disneyland with our extended family in Southern California, too.

1994 was the first time the U.S.A. hosted World Cup. We were hoping the U.S.A. would be chosen for the 2018 World Cup or the 2022 but alas Russia and Qatar got the nod for those cups. Now we hear that there were some shady dealings in Qatar decision. The U.S.A. plays their first game on Monday against Ghana at 3 pm Pacific time. Our family room will be full of U.S.A. soccer fans!

Go U.S.A.!

I’ll be adding my World Cup link to ABC Wednesday this week since we are at the letter W.

Forty Years Ago…

…my cousin Vera married John. This was the second of four weddings in our two families in 1974. Vera’s brother Jim got married in April of 1974 to my college best friend, Jeanie. In August my sister Kathy would get married and Dear and I would be the fourth wedding of this year in December.

This is a photo of my father in the glasses standing next to my paternal grandmother and grandfather.

The bride and groom arriving at my cousin’s home for the after party.

My cousin Alex from my mom’s side of the family was in the wedding and here he is with his wife Nadine (they were married in 1970) My cousin Alex died in an automobile accident in 1979 in Wheaton, Illinois.

This is my cousin Katrina, Jim and Vera’s youngest sister.

John and Vera relaxing in my Aunt and Uncle’s back yard in Bell, California after the wedding. Two of my younger brothers are sitting in the background, Steve and Tim.

My sister Kathy with her fiance Len. They would be getting married on August 17th.

College friends Jeaneen and Ellen and now cousins by marriage.

My parents with one of my cousin’s aunts. Vera who is this with my mom and pop?

Happy 40th Anniversary John and Vera! I hear we’ll be seeing you the last weekend in June!

My Soul Complete in Jesus Stands! ~ Hymn

My Soul Complete in Jesus Stands

My soul complete in Jesus stands!
It fears no more the law’s demands;
The smile of God is sweet within,
Where all before was guilt and sin.

My soul at rest in Jesus lives:
Accepts the peace His pardon gives;
Receives the grace His death secured,
And pleads the anguish He endured.

My soul its every foe defies,
And cries—’tis God that justifies!
Who charges God’s elect with sin?
Shall Christ, who died their peace to win?

A song of praise my soul shall sing
To our eternal, glorious King!
Shall worship humbly at His feet,
In whom alone it stands complete.

Words: Grace W. Hinsdale, 1865.

June Photo-A-Day Challenge

Continuing with Kati’s Photo-A-Day challenge days eight through fourteen.

8. Childhood

9. Macro

10. Upside Down

11. Jewelery

12. Flower

13. Shadow

14. Red, White, Blue.

Happy Flag Day everyone!

Later than Usual…

This year our patio covers and our patio furniture got a later than usual start. Our covers usually go up sometime around Mother’s Day and the furniture is in place in time for Memorial Day. Well this year the covers went up Memorial Day weekend and the furniture finally made it’s debut on June 12th! And as per usual the rains came shortly after we had the furniture in place. I say that with a smile on my face not as a complaint. I enjoy the natural watering system around here just so long as the sun comes out again tomorrow!

We didn’t deck the halls we decked the deck.

Mother’s Day…Father’s Day, what’s a month or so when it comes to readiness?

We are now ready for you summer. Bring it!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

My niece and her husband of one year arrive in Seattle on Saturday and we will be enjoying along with my sister and her husband and our son Josh and dil Laura showing them some Seattle/Washington hot spots and eating meals and watching some sports together. Maybe we can even have one of those meals on this deck. My niece is a high school math teacher and she is also a track coach and a marathoner. She has participated in the Boston Marathon. Her husband works behind the scenes at the Staples Center in L.A. and he’s a huge L.A. Kings fan so we are hoping for him that the King’s win the Stanley cup tonight! Of course I’ll be fitting in all the World Cup Soccer I can.

Before I head to the family room to watch the Mexico/Cameroon game here’s where we are at in that bathroom demolition…

Today the toilet and the cabinet/sink get removed. Good thing my niece and nephew are staying at my sister’s house!

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage