Old Photo Friday: Remembering Sammy

WHO: Sammy Brady Lee (but you can call me Mr. Samakins)
WHAT: Learning to walk on his leash (didn't enjoy)
WHERE: Backyard West Seattle
WHEN: May 2009

Sunday marks one year since we lost our sweet baby.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about you, my loving angel.

I hope you are at peace on the Rainbow Bridge.

Forever,

Momma

42/52: Losing Sammy

This past weekend, we lost our sweet boy, Sammy.

I cannot express to you the overwhelming sense of grief that has taken over our hearts. He was our child, our baby boy and a big part of our lives.

I don't know what to write, and I don't know what to do.  Brian and I are still processing his absence every day trying to rationalize and slowly accept that he is gone.

People keep telling me that time heals the wound and I know it will, but for now....we are both completely consumed in dark, sad and lonely grief.

Rest in peace, my sweet baby.

Stacy

41/52: A quiet weekend in West Seattle

I've been craving some home time after a few very busy weeks.  While we had a wonderful celebration in Eugene followed by hosting Chick for the last M's game of the season......I've been looking forward to a fall Saturday at home.

Then, Sammy got sick......

As of today, he's hanging in there and really trying to get better, but it's extremely stressful as pet parents to go through the process of having a sick animal.

We did manage to take a walk to Lincoln Park on Sunday.  The colors throughout the park are not to be missed and although I did not meet my fitness goals for the week, Sunday's walk (and Saturday's indoor workout) were both helpful on a mental level as well as physical.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Get better soon, Sammy!

WHO: Sammy and Brian
WHEN: April 2009
WHERE: West Seattle bedroom

Honestly, I can't focus on much this week as our little boy is sick.  Sammy is a big part of our lives, but probably an even bigger part of Brian's.  When I am in Portland during the week, these two are best buddies.  They keep each other company until I get home Friday night.

We don't have children, but Sammy is like our little boy.  He's very special and he's a part of our family.

Please send your kind thoughts our way.

Stacy

38/52: College Football and Fall Decorations

Okay, it's almost fall.  I give!

It's hard to believe.....how fast time goes by now.  It just seems like yesterday we were putting away the Christmas decorations and in like just over 2 months from now we will be digging them out again!

I decorated for fall this past weekend.  Saturday was dark, windy and wet.....the most perfect day to be at home.

We watched some college football which seems so foreign to me.  I am in deep denial that it's not the middle of June.

Sunday before driving down to Portland, I tried a new breakfast recipe that we both really loved.  Hash browns in a waffle iron...who knew?!

Enjoy!
Stacy

29/52: The Middle of July....the middle of summer

The dog days are upon us, or so the calendar says.  I've noticed the sun set times for Portland and Seattle are now before 9PM.  I hate to say it, but it feels like the middle of summer to me.  Our glorious sun filled days have also been absent.  I hate to complain....last year was stifling at times, but I do miss the warmth of the summer sun.  

I flew up to Seattle on Friday night.  An fun new "habit", and luckily the fares have been reasonable if booked well in advance...plus I don't have to pay the extra for parking like I do at the Amtrak station. How can you beat the speed of air travel!

Saturday was spent walking through Lincoln Park and preparing for a BBQ with friends.

And just like that....the weekend was over and it's back to reality.

Enjoy!
Stacy

27/52: Fourth of July Long Weekend

We had a wonderful long weekend in Seattle to celebrate the 4th of July.

Sandra and I drove up to Seattle on Friday and walked down to the new Whisky West Bar on California Avenue. We loved the place.  The beer/wine and of course, whisky lists were awesome.  Food menu to come....they just opened a week or so ago so the kitchen is still working out the kinks. Brian arrived home from Delaware late Friday night/early Saturday morning so we were all ready for a Seattle adventure!

Saturday we spent touring the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit below the Space Needle. Opened in 2012, the garden is an exhibit showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly.  The project includes three primary components: the Garden, the Glasshouse and the Interior Exhibits, with a 90 seat indoor/outdoor cafe.

I've wanted to go it's opening so it was a fun "new" Seattle experience for all of us.

Afterwards, we took the montorail back to downtown and walked down to Pike Place Market.  The market is always fun to tour and a great place to people watch.  We exited the west side of the market at the Victor Steinbrueck Park and walked over to Cutter's Crabhouse for "linner".  Lunch was wonderful and my Wild Salmon Club was amazing.

Sunday, we had breakfast at Endolyne Joe's with a Bloody Mary...before taking Sandra down to my Mom's to spend the second half of her visit.  Brian and I had a quiet Sunday afternoon at home with Sammy.

Monday was the 4th of July BBQ at Mom and Kenny with friends and family.  It was a much cooler day than last year and we all enjoyed sitting out on the patio and having a really lovely afternoon.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Enjoy!
Stacy

23/52: Anniversary Weekend!

12 years!  Wow!  Brian and I have been together for 12 years.  Happy Anniversary, baby! Here is to 12 more and 12 more after that with another option for 12 more on top of another 12 more after 12 more.  I think you get my drift!

We drove back to Portland last Friday night.  It was nice to get home before dark and have a nice relaxing evening after a very shortened post holiday work week.  Our little boy was waiting for us when we walked in the door!

Saturday was SPECTACULAR!  Hot weather but a nice breeze.  A longer walk down Graham Street to Lincoln Park for over 4 miles.  Yea, us!  My baby cooked me an awesome cowboy hash, my favorite and we spent the rest of they day puttering around the house.

Our anniversary dinner was Italian at La Rustica along the water.  Amazing!  We sat outside and enjoyed an amazing bottle of Valpolicella wine, shared an appetizer of mussels in white wine and garlic before Brian's Chicken Parmesan and my Wild Boar Osso Bucco arrived.

Sunday was just plain HOT!  93 set a record in Seattle.  I was pretty happy to get on the air-conditioned train and head to Portland.

Enjoy!
Stacy

20/52: Out with the old

Our old table!

It rained on Saturday and it was cold!  We've been spoiled lately.  We went along down to Lincoln Park on Saturday morning for a walk and then back to the house to warm up and eat a delicious breakfast (thanks, Brian for the mushroom, spinach and Swiss cheese omelette).

We drove down to Lake Morton to pick up a dining room table from our friends who had a table built and didn't need the old table anymore.  They were gone out of town and I missed seeing them.  It was sad to be at the lake and not spend time with them. It made the wet day even more of a reminder that some days things just don't materialize the way you want them to...but hey, we have a new dining room table!  

Then I suddenly got sad to see our old table go.  So many wonderful memories flooded my mind.  I remembered studying for the series 66 with Sammy crawling over my books, Brian and I carving pumpkins around Halloween, eating Zippy's burgers with brother, Ken and dinner parties with the Seymours and their little ones, all 6 of us crammed around a table for 4 and loving every minute of it.  Brian probably has more memories going back to before he and I met, but I didn't want to get all maudlin over a table...or maybe I did.

We got the new table home (minus two chairs that didn't fit in the car)!  It's not that much different from the old table....a bit taller with room for 6 chairs, so a bit longer, but not too big to really notice.  

Sunday we said goodbye to West Seattle and drove to Portland to spend the week together.

How did you spend the weekend?

Enjoy!
Stacy

16/52: The Middle of April

Refocus and regroup....over-think and obsess.  It was an ebb and flow weekend.  They happen I guess?!  

I asked Brian, "what happens if I can't be the ying to your yang"?  Then we take a walk along the waters of Puget Sound, we weed the garden beds, we watch our little boy sleep we grill hot dogs.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of

its sorrows; it

empties today of its strength

Enjoy!
Stacy

14/52: Final 4 Weekend

April has arrived and so has some amazing spring weather.  We had a week of sunshine, no rain and warmer temperatures to welcome a new month!  I rode the Coast Starlight on Friday night to Seattle and arrived as the sun was setting.  The scenery has improved from the dark nights of winter.  This is my favorite time of year to ride the train.

Brian spent some time in the back yard on Saturday under blue skies.  My front garden bed continues to produce amazing colors.  Last fall I planted yellow, purple and fushia colored tulips and they are all coming up among a sea of yellow daffodils.  I so love spring!

Saturday was the Final 4 and I requested Brian's famous Deer Park Nachos.  He made a huge plate for each of us.  Spectacular!  Sunday morning he made cowboy hash.  I am a spoiled woman!

We walked 6 miles over the weekend through Lincoln Park both Saturday and Sunday (3 miles each day).  We are behind last years pace, but with the continued spring weather we are slowly getting back on track!

Enjoy!
Stacy

11/52: Marching back to Seattle

It's already the middle of March and I just spent my first March weekend back in Seattle. These last two months have been busy with travel adventures but my feet are going to be firmly planted for a while.

I spent most of the weekend with my boys and relaxing around the house.  Brian did a Skype session on Saturday, I got my toes painted and Sammy got lots of lap time.  A win-win for everyone!

On Sunday, we drove back to Portland where Brian is teaching for the week and we are hosting the March Madness group...with friends and family arriving at various times over this next week.

How did you celebrate the last weekend of winter!?

Enjoy!
Stacy