The Emerald City

Way back in November, we took a trip to visit our favorite married daughter and her family. We had a great weekend taking in the sights and sounds of downtown Seattle. Ashley and Brandon live right in the heart of the Queen Anne neighborhood and for these country mice (for lack of a better description), we were enlightened about big city living. Allison reminded me that this trip took place a long time ago, so details will be brief if here at all.

We walked, and walked, and walked (Not like the pioneer children, but still a lot of walking). We saw fish flying across the room, street entertainers, and big barges and shipping containers among other things. We also were able to attend a session at the Seattle Temple. But our favorite sight of all was a cute little boy who has us wrapped around his little finger and who is tied to our hearts. Seattle was fun, but we still caught the best show in town right inside a little apartment in Queen Anne.

The Talmanater


The famous Space Needle

The kids next to some fun statues



Downtown by Pike Place Market

Grandpa on dinner duty.

Kristin couldn't wait to get the take out boxes from the Thai restaurant we went to.

Our friendly fish monger! I'm pretty sure he's had his picture taken before!

The monorail couldn't get there fast enough!

Ashley wanted a shot or two with her babe.

When life hands you lemonade...

Many of you who know me, know that our city library is a pathetic excuse for a library! Housed in a former hardware store, it is built out of cinder blocks and not nearly large enough for a town our size. The building it is attached to is of all things, a bar! I felt cheated when the town across the river built a large, beautiful new library a few years ago. Cheated because that town is about a third of the size of our city. Cheated because the voters over there were willing to pay a little more in their taxes to fund such a project! What is wrong with my fellow town members?

Well none of that really matters, because the simple facts are the following:

- we live in a state that requires a super-majority to pass a measure such as a new library
- we live in a town that is more blue collar than any other color - a library isn't really a priority for the super-majority around here
- I will probably die before we get a new library (okay, that's not a fact, just a speculation!)


All that having been said, those supporters of a new library are nothing if not "Make the best of a rotten situation" sort of folk, and they have made some pretty sweet lemonade out of the lemons handed to them.

Last summer, a group of kids, not sure of the age range, took to livening up the back side of the library! Here is the result! Such a bright spot! And you will notice that even the dumpster is looking pretty fine!

Kudos to the adult artist who spear-headed this project, and kudos to the kids who painted the mural that makes me smile each time I see it!

Here's to lemonade!

PS - Even though the library leaves much to be desired, the staff can't be beat! (I felt like I was including them in my disappointment. I am sure none of them would even see this, but I just wanted to give them a fair shake!)

Back in the Saddle Again

It's been a long time! My kids keep bugging me! It is nagging at me to do! I just haven't done it for so long! It's time!!!

Time to get the blog up and running again! So...

I changed the layout! Cherries are always an encouraging thing!

I changed the picture in the corner! As I said, my favorite people!

I thought about updating my profile, it sounded stupid, so I just deleted it!

I'm ready to post again! Wish me luck!!!