Yep, it's raining!
Monday, September 26, 2011
I don't want to get kicked out of the state
I've been told I must discontinue posting pictures of blue skies and sunny days. So, here, for the record is a visual weather report for today:
Yep, it's raining!
Yep, it's raining!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor. On Saturday.
Got up VERY early (for me). And maybe even early for some of you early risers. I set the alarm for 5:40. ON A SATURDAY. egads. Oh well. It was definitely worth it. I took almost 500 pictures. Don't worry, I won't post them all here.
I got to Lisa and Linda's around 7:00 a.m. We took Travis to the doggy day-camp for the day and then headed up the 5 towards Anacortes. Anacortes is actually not on the 5 -- if you check out a map you can see that. You have to head West on the 20, which we did, to catch the ferry out of Anecortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Cruising through the town of Anecortes, there were signs for the "Oyster Run". After a confusing conversation that caused me to have visions of oysters literally running down the street, we determined that it is a motorcycle run. Needless to say there were a lot of motorcycles in town.
We headed out on the ferry, I think around 9:15 for the hour+ trip to Friday Harbor. The sunrise was beautiful and since I love boats, I'm pretty sure I grinned the entire trip.
Arrived in Friday Harbor around 10:30 and trekked up and down the streets, checking out stores that were open, peering into windows of stores that were still closed, and made mental notes about which ones to come back to visit.
We cruised through a farmer's market:
And decided to stop for breakfast (more like brunch) at the Rocky Bay Cafe.
Following breakfast we headed back down toward the water and poked around the docks, the park, and cruised through the Whale Museum. Watched a fascinating documentary (or at least a part of it) about a whale nicknamed "Springer" who had been abandoned by her pod. NOAA made the decision to capture her and nurse her back to health and then return her to her pod. We HAD to find out how the story ended, so we sat and watched until they confirmed that she had indeed been returned to good health AND her pod.
We decided to head back towards the ferry depot, grab a snack, and wait for the return ferry. Found a place called Fridays Crabhouse and decided to try their beer on tap.
The one on the left is Alaskan Summer Ale, the one in the middle is Moose Drool, and the one on the right is Widmer. All three were really good. The Moose Drool was a lot lighter than I expected! I've had Widmer before--the Alaskan Summer Ale was new to me. It was really good too.
The ferry ride back was quieter than the ride there. Seemed a lot of folks either stayed on the island or had taken the earlier ferry back. The clouds had started rolling in so it made for some pretty impressive skies going back.
Here are a few more pics from the day:
Gollygosh I'm loving Washington!
We got back to Mukilteo around 6:30 or so. Rescued Travis from doggy day-camp. It had been a fairly long day--or so it felt--it started so darn early. My feet hurt; we actually did a lot of walking. Reading back about it here it doesn't seem like it, but my feet insisted that I had indeed been on them a lot. So I headed back home to my apartment to rest my soles.
Truly, it was a great day.
Got up VERY early (for me). And maybe even early for some of you early risers. I set the alarm for 5:40. ON A SATURDAY. egads. Oh well. It was definitely worth it. I took almost 500 pictures. Don't worry, I won't post them all here.
I got to Lisa and Linda's around 7:00 a.m. We took Travis to the doggy day-camp for the day and then headed up the 5 towards Anacortes. Anacortes is actually not on the 5 -- if you check out a map you can see that. You have to head West on the 20, which we did, to catch the ferry out of Anecortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Cruising through the town of Anecortes, there were signs for the "Oyster Run". After a confusing conversation that caused me to have visions of oysters literally running down the street, we determined that it is a motorcycle run. Needless to say there were a lot of motorcycles in town.
We headed out on the ferry, I think around 9:15 for the hour+ trip to Friday Harbor. The sunrise was beautiful and since I love boats, I'm pretty sure I grinned the entire trip.
Arrived in Friday Harbor around 10:30 and trekked up and down the streets, checking out stores that were open, peering into windows of stores that were still closed, and made mental notes about which ones to come back to visit.
We cruised through a farmer's market:
And decided to stop for breakfast (more like brunch) at the Rocky Bay Cafe.
Following breakfast we headed back down toward the water and poked around the docks, the park, and cruised through the Whale Museum. Watched a fascinating documentary (or at least a part of it) about a whale nicknamed "Springer" who had been abandoned by her pod. NOAA made the decision to capture her and nurse her back to health and then return her to her pod. We HAD to find out how the story ended, so we sat and watched until they confirmed that she had indeed been returned to good health AND her pod.
We decided to head back towards the ferry depot, grab a snack, and wait for the return ferry. Found a place called Fridays Crabhouse and decided to try their beer on tap.
The one on the left is Alaskan Summer Ale, the one in the middle is Moose Drool, and the one on the right is Widmer. All three were really good. The Moose Drool was a lot lighter than I expected! I've had Widmer before--the Alaskan Summer Ale was new to me. It was really good too.
The ferry ride back was quieter than the ride there. Seemed a lot of folks either stayed on the island or had taken the earlier ferry back. The clouds had started rolling in so it made for some pretty impressive skies going back.
Here are a few more pics from the day:
Is this seal playing the cello? (sorry, an old cat joke)
Gollygosh I'm loving Washington!
We got back to Mukilteo around 6:30 or so. Rescued Travis from doggy day-camp. It had been a fairly long day--or so it felt--it started so darn early. My feet hurt; we actually did a lot of walking. Reading back about it here it doesn't seem like it, but my feet insisted that I had indeed been on them a lot. So I headed back home to my apartment to rest my soles.
Truly, it was a great day.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Yesterday
Well, it finally happened. The first day of what I would call "real rain". It sort of rained a few weeks back, barely, in the morning, for about 10 minutes. Maybe. And then it cleared up and got sunny. Yesterday was pretty overcast and then it finally started raining in the evening. But not before we had a chance to get out and see Edmonds.
Before that, I went to the Department of Licensing -- yes, again -- because when my driver's license arrived in the mail I noticed something I had overlooked when they had me check it for things like name spelling, address, and zip. They changed my gender. OOPS. Yeeeaaahhh, so... I went and had them fix that. (The license, not my actual gender). I had to have another picture taken. It's a good thing I decided against a ball cap for the day and actually did my hair.
Edmonds was having an art walk-type thing. The local merchants and artists opened up their shops and studios for the day. We took in a few studios and then walked down by the water. Following that we took Travis to the dog beach there in Edmonds, followed by dinner at Las Brisas. We ended the evening with a trip to Barnes & Noble. Great day!
It rained all night and has been raining off and on today, so I stayed in and watched football and blogged. Which pretty much brings me up to date. Get to readin'! :-)
Before that, I went to the Department of Licensing -- yes, again -- because when my driver's license arrived in the mail I noticed something I had overlooked when they had me check it for things like name spelling, address, and zip. They changed my gender. OOPS. Yeeeaaahhh, so... I went and had them fix that. (The license, not my actual gender). I had to have another picture taken. It's a good thing I decided against a ball cap for the day and actually did my hair.
Edmonds was having an art walk-type thing. The local merchants and artists opened up their shops and studios for the day. We took in a few studios and then walked down by the water. Following that we took Travis to the dog beach there in Edmonds, followed by dinner at Las Brisas. We ended the evening with a trip to Barnes & Noble. Great day!
It rained all night and has been raining off and on today, so I stayed in and watched football and blogged. Which pretty much brings me up to date. Get to readin'! :-)
Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival
Got up pretty early (for me) last weekend and joined my friends for a parade down the streets of Mukilteo followed by the lighthouse festival. One of the best things was the Salmon Bake that the Kiwanis club sponsored. Salmon, corn on the cob, cole slaw, and garlic bread. Seriously yummy!
Travis, taking in the festivities.
Now THIS is the way to deliver a pizza. Use an old ambulance!
Every once in a while...
...we sneak off to visit this quaint little place up the 5 freeway.
Lisa doesn't especially enjoy it, so Linda seems very happy that I've arrived to join her in these periodic jaunts. That's not to say that Lisa won't go--she went with us last time. I've been here in Seattle just about 4 weeks now. I've been to this place three times. I'm pretty sure we'll go back again before too long.
Hey, they have really good deals on food. It's a bargain!
Lisa doesn't especially enjoy it, so Linda seems very happy that I've arrived to join her in these periodic jaunts. That's not to say that Lisa won't go--she went with us last time. I've been here in Seattle just about 4 weeks now. I've been to this place three times. I'm pretty sure we'll go back again before too long.
Hey, they have really good deals on food. It's a bargain!
Labor Day Weekend
I got here just in time to get a long weekend off!
On Saturday the 4th, I got up and braved the process of getting license plates for the Cruiser. I had braved the Department of Licensing for my driver's license the day before. Yes, you get your license and your plates from two different sources here. I will say, that the wait wasn't as long either place as I've had at the DMV in California without an appointment. All in all, not too bad an experience. The other funny thing is that when you go to get your license plates, they give them to you right then and there. No waiting for them to arrive in the mail at a later date!
The evening of the 4th, Lisa and Linda took me out for my birthday to a wonderful little restaurant called Julia's in Wallingford. We poked around the streets after dinner and found what may be the most profound piece of wisdom I've seen in some time; certainly since I've arrived in Seattle:
On Sunday we poked around Capitol Hill--had beignets at Oddfellows, browsed Elliott Bay Books, made my first visit to a Value Village, and then went to Volunteer Park.
On Saturday the 4th, I got up and braved the process of getting license plates for the Cruiser. I had braved the Department of Licensing for my driver's license the day before. Yes, you get your license and your plates from two different sources here. I will say, that the wait wasn't as long either place as I've had at the DMV in California without an appointment. All in all, not too bad an experience. The other funny thing is that when you go to get your license plates, they give them to you right then and there. No waiting for them to arrive in the mail at a later date!
The evening of the 4th, Lisa and Linda took me out for my birthday to a wonderful little restaurant called Julia's in Wallingford. We poked around the streets after dinner and found what may be the most profound piece of wisdom I've seen in some time; certainly since I've arrived in Seattle:
On Sunday we poked around Capitol Hill--had beignets at Oddfellows, browsed Elliott Bay Books, made my first visit to a Value Village, and then went to Volunteer Park.
Fremont Street Market, Lake Union, and the Ballard Locks
Sunday the 28th was a full day. It started out with the Fremont Street Market. I'd been before, and it appears to have actually grown since the last time I was there. Lots of typical vendor-type stuff--jewelry, food, art, and some antiques. It didn't take too long to make our way through that, and someone gave us a flyer for an "ice-cream cruise" on Lake Union while we were there. So we decided to head that direction.
After negotiating one-way streets, no turns allowed, and "closed for construction" obstacles, we finally made our way to the dock just in time to catch the 2 o'clock sailing. It was a fun little cruise. We went past Gas Works Park, saw a lot of houseboats, including the one from Sleepless in Seattle, and the orange soda float was yummy too. Following that, we still had time, energy, and daylight left, so it was off to the Ballard Locks!
The building with the circle around it is where I work. :-)
After negotiating one-way streets, no turns allowed, and "closed for construction" obstacles, we finally made our way to the dock just in time to catch the 2 o'clock sailing. It was a fun little cruise. We went past Gas Works Park, saw a lot of houseboats, including the one from Sleepless in Seattle, and the orange soda float was yummy too. Following that, we still had time, energy, and daylight left, so it was off to the Ballard Locks!
The building with the circle around it is where I work. :-)
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