The Locks

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Spent some time on a hot, sunny Seattle afternoon down at the Locks today. Ships bobbing up and down in the locks, lovely gardens to romp in, and squawky seagulls to amuse the girls. And a heavenly breeze to keep us from overheating...

A new roommate

Seattle, Washington

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Yesterday we got the beginnings of A's new roommate. The finishing touches will go on next week, but A is super-excited to have her "undersea world" come into being. Thanks for your lovely work, S!

Urban camp-out!

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, July 19, 2014

Last night we joined 50 or so other families at the Magnuson Park Urban Camp-out. It was good fun to put up our tents in the park just feet away from the lake, learn all about bats from a naturalist, make s'mores over a campfire, and wake up to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore. Thank you, Seattle Parks Department!

Return of the Kitchen Gods

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, July 13, 2014

Slowly, slowly the move-in proceeds apace. Yesterday I found the Kitchen Gods (left by the previous owner who is from Mexico) and restored them to their place of honor in the kitchen. With the gods now in residence (and the pots and pans as well), I think I am ready to commence cooking—and baking!

A tea cozy in search of a pot

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, July 10, 2014

Today I unpacked my teapot and was amused to realize that I had just finished dragging my favorite tea cozy around the world for five years. In those five years I never found a teapot to use it with--until I got back home and found the faithful old brown teapot that belonged to my grandmother. More signs that we are truly home.

Indoor camping

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, July 9, 2014

I often likened our three years in Mongolia to indoor camping: making do with a few appliances, the lack of hot water in the kitchen, limited and unfamiliar ingredients, etc., but the challenges of moving back home have caught me off guard at times. After rummaging through several boxes of kitchen stuff, I just couldn't quite find the can opener this evening. There I was, reduced to using my Swiss Army knife, one click at a time. This, too, shall pass, and I will try to savor the comfort of knowing where ones can opener is--and rolling pin, even!

Old-time Yakima

Yakima, Washington

Saturday, July 5, 2014

This afternoon we set out to ride the old-time Yakima trolley. The car itself is actually from Portugal but is of a similar model to the one which trolled the streets of Yakima from 1907 to 1947. Good fun on a hot, sunny afternoon in Yakima. Hey, I even got to drive the thing – for 30 feet or so…

A heavenly cobbler

Olympia, Washington
Tuesday, July 1, 2014

We are visiting friends here in Olympia and attending day camp at the wonderful Hands-on Children's Museum. Yesterday's dinner was crowned with a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler that will linger in my mind for some months to come. Even A, who prefers her food "un-mixed," declared it to be delicious.