River Walk Reflections and Rhoddies

While in San Antonio, Texas a large tourist draw is the River Walk in the downtown area. They say it is the number one Tourist attraction in the state of Texas. I’m happy to have seen this area but it was not my favorite from my San Antonio experience.

Most of my photos were taken in the early morning hours when the walkways were clear of the hoards of people you’ll find here later in the day and evening. I’m not a fan of Disneyland like crowds so the walk wouldn’t be my first choice for a meal even though you’ll find a very large selection of restaurants all along the downtown part of the walk. I preferred heading up and out of this area to find a place to eat. Despite my feelings this is a treasured area in San Antonio.

Some treasures from Washington State in my very own yard are these rhododendron bushes. Four of the bushes were here and well established when we moved into this old house in the fall of 1998. The small yellow bush is a recent addition from 4 years ago.

Rhododendrons are the Washington State Flower.

Our youngest rhoddie.

And my last photo are of some of my favorite human treasures in front of our rhoddy bushes!

I’ll be linking up to Tuesday’s Treasures with Tom The Backroads Traveler and

ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and administered by Roger and Team for R is for River Walk and Rhoddies.

I’m headed to Canada (British Columbia) early Tuesday morning and will be gone all day so I’ll be late in visiting participants in these two memes. We are promised beautiful weather for most of the week in the 70’s! Hope your week is starting well.

Signs, signs ~ Seattle

This is the main drive entrance to the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. The sign on the lamp post says Pike Up. This is where anyone visiting and televising something going on in Seattle goes to take photos of the fish throwing at the market.

There are lots of one way streets downtown. Here’s a reflection with a One Way sign.

Linking up with Lesley at signs, signs.

This photos were taken last Wednesday. We are having a picture perfect day with blue skies and sunshine today, too. Hope your New Year is going forward in a good way.

Week and Weekend Reflections

I’m doing a double themed post today,

Five Favorites of the week with Susanne and

Weekend Reflections with James.

This is from MOHAI, the museum of history and industry in Seattle, Washington. Dear’s Company Christmas party was held here. It was the last party the company had before they were sold to the highest bidder. The company will retain it’s name but it has a new owner and we hope that reflects in Dear still having a job in a months time. This exhibit is in the True Northwest: The Seattle Journey section.

Here are five favorites from this past week. My favorites are a reflection of another kind.

1. Weather cooperating so we could complete phase one of a yard project that you can see before and afters of here. It was helpful to have a Monday holiday for this project. Thank you to President Lincoln and Washington for that!

2. A nice meal out with Dear to celebrate Valentines Day.

3. A nice extended time over a meal with our first born and our lovely daughter in law.

4. The arrival of my season ticket for the 2015 Seattle Sounders Soccer season!

5. Having the visit to the tax accountant behind us which is a very relaxing feeling.

I’ll leave you with a few quotes from President Lincoln:

“When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.”

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

“When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, its best to let him run.”

What were your favorites or reflections from this past week?

Reflections

My walks on the trail give me some great photo opportunities. Today I’m sharing some reflections that my lens captured.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.
All of these photos were taken in Washington State on and around Lake Washington.

Water reflected on duck and duck reflected in the water.

I’m happy to be headed into a weekend with my sore throat and coughing spells gone. Woohoo! Apart from the rain and wind it should be a quiet weekend at this old house. It’s good to have those every once in a while. How’s your weekend looking?

Dark and Foggy

Dear was ready for a walk on Saturday. Dear is a morning person, a very early morning person. I was able to stall him a bit so our walk could at least end in the light. We walked the same trail as Katie and I walked but we headed in the opposite direction.

Since it was foggy and dark for half our walk I decided to leave my larger camera at home and I only took my little pocket camera. Being out so early we were able to hear a lot of birds chirping and quacking.

When Katie and I walked last Wednesday these gopher mounds weren’t here. This cracked me up because it seemed like this particular varmint didn’t appreciate the work the city had gone to in designating this spot to sit and watch the river flow.

Rounding a bend we heard this rooster crow and announce the new day had begun. He was chasing some ducks around and trying to establish his kingship amongst the foul.

We’ve never seen a beaver along the banks but we have seen lots of evidence of their presence.

We always love to see eagles and we were treated to a couple eagle sightings on this morning. I really had to zoom in with my little camera and was happy that you can tell it really was an eagle we saw.

As we walked back to the car we heard this group of Comorants put up a fuss and fly off together. They had all been sitting in a tree together that the eagle we had spotted earlier decided to perch in.

He now had the whole tree to himself.

Beautiful reflections on the river surface always grab my attention.

There is a different kind of beauty in the foggy overcast vistas.

Because of our weather in the Pacific Northwest we have no shortage of moss, ferns, and very interesting bark here.

As we continued back to our car we had one more eagle spotting. I was wondering if this was a second eagle or if it was following us along the trail.

When we got back to our car we decided that a doughnut would be a nice treat on this cold foggy morning. Something to take back home to enjoy with our eggs. I’m happy to say that I didn’t feel guilty about that doughnut or the eggs!

Boxing Day Favorites

Boy was I wiped out after a wonderful full day of celebrating with our kids yesterday. My kids are all adults so I can only imagine how much more wiped out I’d be if there were little ones to chase about the house and entertain…

The favorite new tradition were our Christmas Crackers/Poppers. We got such a kick out of the cheesy little gifts and jokes that popped out and we all wore our tissue crowns through breakfast. Josh and Katie pretty much wore their crowns all day long…fun times.

Santa really loaded up our stockings this year…

It would be great if in the U.S.A. Boxing day was a holiday, too, like Great Britain and Canada or St. Stephens Day in Ireland. Dear has been at work for many hours already. Dan will be hitting the road to cross the Cascade Mountain range later this morning. He should make it home in 5 or so hours.

I read up about Boxing Day online and it’s interesting to read some of the history. Here’s a little view of all our Christmas Boxes. This year was a banner year for boxes.

When Katie and I were in Vancouver B.C. I bought one thing at the Christmas Market, this pretty little bird.

Another new ornament that is perfect on my tree is this next one from Lovella. Joy really is fulfilled in Christmas.

This year my Wee Forest Folk Nativity is now complete. The last piece needed was the Wise Man in a Turban. He was under the tree this year…

I know lots of you are celebrating with your loved ones today. When your family expands you need to be flexible and go with the flow. Are you a Boxing day shopper? Do you rush out the day after to add to your Christmas stash from the clearance sales? For the rest of you I hope you have time to reflect and relax on this Boxing Day 2013.

Reflecting…

…on the rest of the week.

~Considering what to pack for my 5 day trip to Southern California. The primary reason for the trip is to supervise the packers and movers at the Condo. All of our stuff will finally move north to Washington. Where we will put all that stuff is yet to be determined!

~Wondering if the packers will be cursing me under their breath when they see all those dishes!

~Looking forward to seeing my SoCal walking buddy Willow. We won’t be doing any walking but I’m sure we’ll fit in a cup of tea together so we can catch up on what’s been happening in our lives.

~Wondering what my daughter and I will be doing with our extended family after she arrives for the weekend down South.

~Wondering when the condo might be sold. Sooner then later I hope…

~Continually thankful for being back in my house in Washington. Last night I could hear the frogs croaking. When I look out windows I see huge trees. Windows! I have way more then 3 windows here and I like the view out of every one of them.

~Talked to my middle son yesterday and was thanking God again for His mercy and grace and protection on Dan’s life.

~Making sure I don’t forget I have jury duty bright and early the morning after I get back from California.

~Wondering if I’ll be posting anything the rest of the week. Knowing me…I’ll probably find something to post.

~Hoping the stuff from California doesn’t arrive during my Jury Duty obligation.

~Are you bored yet?

~Hoping I won’t feel too all alone or bored back in Camarillo by myself…

Have a wonderful week everyone and if you don’t see me on your blogs you’ll know why.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Tag Archives: Reflections