A Little Life in Everything

The memorial weekend was spent with a little down time and a little low tide time.  We wanted to make a day of it, getting up early and going to breakfast at a local Alki breakfast joint, Alki Cafe.  We ordered some original breakfast food.  Eggs, hasbrowns, biscuits and gravy toast.  I mean you know breakfast food.  It was yummy and relaxing as we looked out over the sound.  We wanted to make it to the beach before low tide to really get to enjoy the sea life and explore further out as the water receded.  We made it in perfect time, hitting the beach at a perfect time to get to see the ocean life as the water got lower and lower.  I can’t tell you enough how I love the water and beaches here.  The purple sea stars, which I wasn’t even aware, existed were everywhere.  They clung to rock and lay amongst the seaweed.  There are also sunflower stars that seem to   These stars made the yellowish orange and have lots of tentacles protruding from there main body area.  They tend to be smaller than the giant, purple sea stars.  There were anemones aplenty, the red one would grab a hold of your finger and you would really have to tug to get your finger back.  Cucumbers with are the same shape as our typical cucumber, just smaller and BRIGHT orange.  They also expand to have this neon orange bush like appearance as they feed, and then suck the brush back in when done, what a clean system for eating.  There were lots of crabs and sea snails, which I have to say I find really disgusting looking.  The beautiful spiral shell they live in is their only saving grace for looks, other than that they were the Jabba the Hutt of the sea community.  It’s probably a good thing they bury themselves deep.  We looked over the rail, the amazing view of these homes situated on a stand alone pier, was a really amazing site, I don’t know if I would be brave enough to live there.  But the sound of the waves and looking out over the water everyday might be nice.  I just can’t get enough of days like this.

My Mr not wanting to waste our weekend inside, or weeding the yard, for another weekend, planned an outdoors adventure for us this weekend.  With this amazing weather we have been having (we tied with Pheonix AZ for warmest day last week) He forced us outdoors to explore the place we live, since the list of things to see keeps getting longer and longer.  He researched several hikes and selected one and we were off.  We drove, and drove which seemed like forever, it actually wasn’t all that far I was just inpatient.  I was starting to worry that he was taking me and the pup out somewhere to dump us, when I mentioned that he laughed and said ” hmmm you’ve caught on!!”  We arrived at our wooden destination, I love the moss covered trees here.  Though native Washingtonians  aren’t fans of moss I can’t help but love it!   We walked through the woods and came to a huge river with a beautiful wooden bridge extending majestically across.  The pup cautiously walked across the bridge,  getting low a creeping close to the edge glancing down quickly and moving back to the center of the bridge.  He’s not a fan of heights.  We moved on and followed the trail next to the river then branched off into the woods.  We looked through the canopy of trees and could see the massive, craggy mountains towering it was an amazing sight.  We met up with the river again and hiked back down to it, I love anything that involves water!  We surveyed that section looking for the fishing holes for later trips and watched as Pax investigated the water.  We took some shot of him looking like a true wilderness dog!  Soon we moved on and continued up the trail.  The forests here are just so beautiful.  We are constantly amazed by the sheer size of the trees, the old stumps along hang over the trail like giants.  And again we came to a water site!  A waterfall brimming with deafening sound! (see our video of the falls here)  Stopping on the bridge that ran across it we lead on the rails and enjoyed the cools breeze kicked up by the water.  We hiked until the trail end and merged with the river again, stopping to sit on the edge of the river and had lunch.  It was a perfect moment.  We finished and started back getting to see everything again and seeing some new sites on the way back.  With our senses satisfied we felt rejuvenated and ready to head back to civilization.

While visiting the tulips we stopped by a little dive diner called Mr. T’s.  I walked in and instantly thought I was on a movie set for one of those down home cooking places with mismatched furniture and 1960′s look.  To top it off our waitress was sassy commenting when a regular customer who arrived after us “Oh Romeos here!”  Seriously she was so lovable!  The ambiance was palpable.  We ordered from our sassy waitress 2 traditional meals with eggs hash browns, bacon and toast.  Along with My Mr’s kielbasa sausage he was served a biscuit the size of a softball, no kidding!  We sipped on orange juice and listened as Saturday regulars walked in and the volume increased.  Though it was a grimly little place and the food was probably your entire caloric intake for the day it was a fun experience!  Another memory made with My Mr.

(Picking the photos for this post was really hard, I might have to post again about these because they are so pretty!)

We headed north back to Roosenguard to finish the flower tour we started last month with the daffodils for my b-day, remember here?   The tulips are really the main event for the area and the highways, smoke stacks and murals in the area are well . . . all about tulips.  We decided to avoid the crowds as best we could and headed up early, we learned that maybe it was a little too early but I’ll share our breakfast adventure with you later.  We arrived to the same sign I had my photo taken at last time only the entrance was now covered in rows and rows of tulips!  It was like a mini Holland!  I was blown away by the sheer amount to see, it was incredible; all the unique kinds.  I had no idea there were so many varieties.  From the tradition tulips to many variegated colors, thin tulips, tulips that were covered in ruffles and so many colors.  Tulips that looked almost dangerous with spikes all along the edges.  Even the original tulip shape had its differences being double or triple the size of a regular store bought tulip, here’s My Mr’s hand next to the blossom to give you the idea of how totally huge some of these are.  I couldn’t believe the colors and rows and rows of flowers.  In their display garden they had created elaborate designs created in tulips.  I fell in love with this white pink and green tulips mixer tulip.  They look beautiful closed and continue to look amazing as they unfold into a beautiful full flower.  I wanted to lay down in them they look so full the perfect bed.  It was a flower explosion and after 2 and a half hours of wandering through we had our fill of tulip absorption and were ready to call it a day.  My Mr purchased a bouquet for me of one of my favorite kinds and we headed home.  This is an amazing site to see, and the largest exporter of tulips on our continent.  Perfect way to ring in May!

Apparently our family is just so famous this week!  But I have to give Paxton credit he was on TV first.  I entered the photo above in a pet contest on the local Fox TV Station.  Now honestly I thought if we won that we might get you know a gift card or something dog care related.  I know that’s selfish but I mean who doesn’t love free stuff.  Well anyway the prize was that the winning dog would be on the news in the weather section.  I was pretty excited to get an email saying they picked Paxtons photo to share.  So even though I didn’t win anything at least my photo and my dog made it on the news!  Hopefully this will be the end of our TV careers!

I was driving in downtown Bellevue when I saw this black board saying, Before I Die . . . . . and what looked like places to write your own line!  So My Mr. and I made a date and headed down to the wall the next day to add ours.  We crossed the street grabbed a piece of chalk and I started writing.  But maybe I forgot to mention that our local KOMO 4 news crew was there at the same time and yes they interviewed both of us and asked what we wrote!  They were interviewing someone when we go there so I figured, “feeeww they won’t ask us.”  As soon as I finish writing they came up from behind and asked us what we wrote!  I was so embarrassed and really felt flustered, but they put in on the news anyway! (video below)  My Mr. was so profound with his answer, to bad it didn’t make the segment, and his reason why his line was so important to him, ahhhh I just love him (sorry for the cheesiness).  It was a really cool interactive art piece to have in our downtown; it’s something you more expect to see in the downtown Seattle area.  For all you Bellevue dwellers out there head down and see it, it could be a really fun FHE activity!  We took some time and read the lines from other people, which were funny, inspiring and yeah odd for example; “Kiss Justin Bieber,”  “ Become a billionaire,” “Truly Happy,” “Stop War,” “Get Married,” “Swim with Elephants.”  It was really cool to see what other people wanted to do.  By that evening we were getting texts, saying that people had seen us on the news.  We checked the TV stations main page and there we were, right on the front, WHAT!!?  Not the best hair day for us with all the wind and chilly temperature that were against us that morning.   But all in all it was a pretty fun experience for us, adding our own wishes and helping to create some art for downtown.  Let’s hope we achieve them!

Another My Mr. planned surprise was a trip north to Roozen Gaarde (pronounced rosen- gard) which sounds like a castle right out of Lord of the Rings, yes I’m a dork.  But in actuality it is the American Home of the world famous Dutch company that produces Tulips.  You can read and learn more about them here.  So off we went, now you might be thinking, “you’re a little early for tulips.”  Or may be you weren’t but go with me on this!  Yes, it is to early for the bulk of the tulips to be in bloom in their full glory.  I reminded My Mr of this as he announced our destination.  But not being deterred he said, “we’re not going for tulips.”  I was a little baffled, as this is the big thing out there.  But as we made our way up and then out of the town to the flower fields, my boredom had set in a bit and I was relying on some digital news to keep my busy.  My Mr. calls out “look Cheryl, daffodils.”  I look up from my mind-melting device to see 2 fields full of blooming daffodils!  You remember this post and my love for these happy and odd, trumpeted flowers.  I was blown away and an audible Ohhhh escaped my mouth.  We parked in the practically empty lot and walked to the entrance, pausing to take a photo at the legendary sign.  Got out tickets and then without hesitation found our way to the back gate and out to the fields of golden, glorious, flowers!  I could hardly believe that I was standing in this place!  I wanted to lay down in then and just be surrounded!  (like in the movie Big Fish)  But being realistic they are planted in rows and have packed, muddy aisles between that would make it pretty complicated to actually achieve that.  So I guess that will just have to remain a very odd dream.  We wondered the aisles, and the back roads taking it in and snapping some photos.  It was an amazing sight and one I really never thought even truly existed.  And as if the majesty wasn’t enough a bald eagle flew over the fields, I mean really, I had to ask where am I?!  As the sun began to go down we figured our trip was done.  As we were exiting the small display garden on the main grounds, with all the un-bloomed tulips, there were these beautiful purple tulips already flush with color.  I fell in love with the full, and ruffly tulips.  I added them to my someday-garden list and really headed to the car this time.  It was a birthday experience to remember.  My Mr. is amazing at creating experiences that we will have memories of forever.

(Special Thanks to CK for most of the photos)

While I was away My Mr. did play!  Or at least he watched some others play.  He headed with a group of guys, and Carla to the Seattle Sounders game!  They donned the Sounders scarf’s all entirely provided by CK, the one pictured in a large green hat.  Who opened the back of his car and told everyone to pick one out from packed trunk full of Sounders specific scarf’s!  (He’s a Sounders fanatic).  They ate in the Chinese district, which is a pre-game tradition before the game. It never ceases to amaze us what can be found on the menus, Crispy Pig Intestine, Boiled Pork Liver & Kidney, Beef Internal Delicacies, I’m not sure I want to know what the delicacies are!  After getting their fill they worked off a bit of their dinner with a walk down to the stadium.  They watched, decked out in their Seattle Gear, as the Sounders slaughtered their opponents the Houston Tigres.  Leaving the Stadium in the victory of a dark spring night!  Seattle is a beautiful town at night all lit up!  He had a blast, sometimes a guys night is needed.  I’m grateful that he not only enjoys what he does but the people, no friends he works with as they have really been so incredibly good to us! 

Way to go Sounders!

For an early birthday surprise My Mr. whisked we off to a night of Circ De Sole in the park!  It was fun as we got closer the big top tent emerged from the trees getting bigger and bigger.  It was a circus experience for adults!  We checked out the souvenir shop, perusing the merchandise.  We opted to take photos of us sporting the masks than buying them.  Finally we made it to our seats.  I snagged a couple of photos of the interior of the tent before kindly being told I wasn’t allowed, Oops!   Performers began emerging on the stage to walk around in the crowd, taunting the audience members.  There was a particular lizard that was really mischievous.  He would steal various attendee’s popcorn bags and after eating a handful throw the rest at them.  He topped it off by climbing a nearby scaffolding and sitting atop where he pulled out 2 large bags of popcorn which he proceeded to eat a couple pieces and dump the rest on to the crowd below!  With all the pre-entertainment by the performers the show started in no time.  Show instructions (no photography, video, or calls, etc) were delivered by a very enthusiastic female Spanish clown.  She was so funny and would throughout the show appear between acts, though sometimes I have to admit I got a little annoyed of her and her companion that joined her later.  The first half was amazing and we were blown away.  Intermission came and a seating hostess came up to us and asked us if we would like some better seats?  We were like “Sure!”  She pointed to a row of very expensive seats and said “those are all open.”  We grabbed our stuff and moved down to the 5th row!  The show began again and the theatrics continued with trapeze artists and high flyers to name only a few.  Through the show character would go out into the audience or enter from the side and interact/frighten the people.  I sat there thinking “oh good we moved to some seats where our backs are to the main aisle so they won’t be bothering us.”  Minutes after I thought that with My Mr’s arm around my shoulder I thought I felt him stroke me, I turned and looked, as he doesn’t really ever stroke me.  I came face to face with a masked character who was stroking my shoulder with her satin glove!  I let out a shocked squeak!  The rows behind us laughed as I pop straight up in my seat!  The figure smiled and went on to frighten my neighbor’s companion!  I laughed from the sheer shock and yeah adrenalin; I tend to scare easy!    The show came to and end and we were wowed!  It had been a magical, memorable night, quite literally!  A pretty nice surprise by My Mr.!

I didn’t hop on the cupcake bandwagon.  Paying a couple dollars for a  cupcake we all have to admit is a little nuts!  I mean we made them as kids for parties and bake sales.  They weren’t something that entire bakeries were dedicated to.  Well the times are a changin as we know and cupcake stores abound.  So while out on a recent errand run I decided to pop in to one of these cupcake stores and pick up a treat to take to My Mr.  This fun store is New York Cupcakes with it’s retro decor and colorful interior.  The selection of cupcakes were insane, with flavors like; An Affair to Remember, 5th Ave, Un Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel, Chunky monkey, Cookie Dough delight, Going to Graceland, Grand Central S’mores, Neapolitan, and the list goes on.( you can see the full list here)  I was overwhelmed by the selection stood with darting eyes as I tried to pick out a few.  I finally got some help from the employee for the bestsellers and made my selection.  They sell other assorted candies, cake plates, and other baking goodies.  Along with the original sized cupcakes they sell cupcake mini’s for those who just want a taste.  To my other surprise I found, what the young women in my ward call frosting shots, plastic containers of just the frosting sold separately for those who just can’t get enough of that soft, whipped, goodness.  I took a pass on these as I could feel my family history of diabetes staring me in the eye as I looked at them.  I made my purchase and hit the road.  Now one of the cupcakes I purchase that day is called “Neapolitan” you all know the famous ice cream flavor of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry together (cupcake photo shown).  Well this is that but in a cupcake form.  I was intrigued by the half chocolate half vanilla cupcake with the strawberry frosting topped with a maraschino cherry, ok it just look cute and I’m a sucker for cute.  I didn’t think I would love this cupcake as much as I did and now I crave it weekly as a result of this one purchase!  It is so yummy, I have made a request to My Mr for a couple of these for my birthday.  Oh and their cupcakes don’t require refrigeration overnight, they will stay moist for a couple of days all on their own.  Oh dear I think I just got sucked in by the cupcake craze.

I saw these at the store and these being one of my favorite flowers, and hard to get except for this time of year I treated myself to a little bouquet.  Also interesting tidbit I learn today that Puyallup, WA is a large exporter of daffodils and we can get them here locally in abundance because they are grown just a few miles south.  The soil in the area is great for growing the bulbs due the glacial soil.  Yep, I actually knew that from reading a 7th graders social studies book!  I’m getting more Washington State history education in Nannying than I expected.  But back to the flowers, they sure brightened my day!

This weekend along with finally finding a stylist to cut this mop of hair on my head, who actually knows how to cut curly hair so we ventured into Seattle.  Since my appointment was an early morning one we had a little time after to hit up a random Seattle sight.  The gum wall is a hidden alley under Pikes where one side is simple covered with yeah, Gum.  Now I was looking forward to seeing this but I have to admit once I got there I was a little grossed out.  I mean really that is a lot of gum and other people saliva!  I made sure to keep my distance; I kept picturing myself loosing my balance while taking a photo and going face first into the wall of guck!  I realized that we forgot to bring any gum to add to it, how dumb is that!  So now we will have to go back prepared to add a little pick of us to the gross mass of hardened gum.  All in all it was a cool sight to see.