8 simple pleasures

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, September 14, 2014

We've been home now for more than three months, which is long enough to be able to reflect on the simple (and serious!) pleasures of being home after five years abroad. Below, a list:

1. Spending time in Seattle's wonderful public libraries. After five years with a kid--and without public libraries around--I will never take them for granted again.
2. Being back at the wonderful Odessa Brown Children's Clinic: great staff and doctors only BLOCKS away!
3. Being able to drink water from the tap!
4. Seattle's parks! Five years without a single decent public park was hard...
5. Jogging--in shorts! (Mongolia was too cold, and Jordan was too conservative)
6. Walking my kid to school!
7. Being allowed to TALK to my kid's teacher (it was forbidden at A's school in Jordan)
8. A decent grocery store only 5 minutes away...

Yes, we had a great adventure AND it's great to be home...

26th & Howell

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, September 11, 2014

Out jogging today when I came upon this neighborhood treasure--a fantastic ceramic-tiled fence and some other wonderful sculptures... Pass by sometime. I think you'll love it!

An old love, re-kindled

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Courtesy of my aunt's bike loan, I had my first bike ride in five years today. It felt WONDERFUL. The lovely September sun was a bonus, but I'm happy to be riding again in ANY weather!

Toby cake

Seattle, Washington
Monday, September 1, 2014

There was a request for one more "Thomas" cake for this year's birthday. And so it came to pass: Toby, Engine #7. He seems to be pulling a fruit car of some kind...