West Seattle Weekend Wrap Up: Sammy's Birthday!

 Sunday was beautiful!  Heading south on Amtrak Cascades under Tacoma Narrows Bridge

I decided to head up to Seattle a bit early on Friday for a few extra hours with my boys!


Saturday was just dry enough for Mr. Gardener to mow the lawn for the first time this year!  A sure sign that spring is on its way.

We also celebrated Sammy's 5th birthday a bit early (March 15th).

For the "King" of the house, we bought him a castle!  It was so funny to watch him and Brian put it together.

It's a flimsy piece of cardboard and to be quite honest, he's so simple that a plain cardboard box makes him happy, but we love to spoil him.

I am not sure how long it will last (we've already reinforced it with tape), but he LOVES it!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Along the Puget Sound

Last Friday, I took the early Amtrak train from Portland to Seattle. Luckily, we arrived along the Puget Sound just south of Tacoma as the sun was setting.


I managed to capture a few photos with my cell phone (which takes amazing pictures especially on a moving train). Brian told me they reminded him of Ansel Adams so I decided to post a few.


Enjoy!
Stacy

More Tacoma Narrow Bridge Pictures

I forgot that I shot these photos sometime in August. I've taken so many pictures of the bridge from the Amtrak Cascades this spring and summer that I almost have enough for an exhibit!

I've become quite obsessed with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and have posted HERE and HERE previously.
Depending on the time of year, and with the angle of the light....you can often capture some unique photos.

Again, they were shot on my cell phone using some of the retro features.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Images from the train

Some of the prettiest scenery on the Amtrak Cascades is the 10 miles or so just north of Olympia when the train hugs the Puget Sound.


This time of year, we hit this part of the journey around sunset and every Friday night we are rewarded with some glorious sights and colors. If we are lucky enough, the sun dips just below the Olympic mountain range and turns the sky all shades.

A few weeks ago, I took these shots of the Narrows Bridge, but the fading light was amazing last week so I snapped a few more.

Do you see the heart in the sky?

Just for the record, I used my Android phone (T-Mobile MyTouch) and played around a bit with the camera settings for an "antique" slightly retro look to the photos.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Narrows Bridge

I took these shots a few weeks ago while on the Amtrak Cascades.

Historically, the name "Tacoma Narrows Bridge" has applied to the original bridge nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" which opened in July 1940 and collapsed four months later, as well as the replacement of the original bridge which opened in 1950 and still stands today as the westbound lanes of the present-day twin bridge complex.

The original Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on July 1, 1940. It received its nickname "Galloping Gertie" due to the vertical movement of the deck observed by construction workers during windy conditions. The bridge collapsed into Puget Sound the morning of November 7, 1940, under high wind conditions.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Saying goodbye to Tacoma

Brian and I spent our last weekend together in University Place, packing up our Tacoma life and looking forward to starting fresh in West Seattle. Brian begins the move on Wednesday with the official "big move" on Saturday.

Brian's not the least bit nostalgic about saying goodbye to Tacoma, but I am. There are quite a few places that I am really going to miss.

Here are a few memories.....

Foss Waterway, Chihuly Museum of Glass and the autumn afternoon I spent exploring downtown Tacoma while Brian worked.The Ale House.....pub trivia and great hamburgers.

Gig Harbor only 10 minutes away! Off-the-cuff trips to see the wine lady and grab lunch at the Tides, walk along the harbor and window shop.Chambers Bay.......

I know we will be closer to Alki and Greelake, but Chambers Bay is one great walk I will really miss.

Titlow Beach and the Beach Tavern......within walking distance to Westridge. A great place to grab an afternoon ale and hang out with some colorful locals.

Westridge sunsets......in the winter time from the back deck we could see the Puget Sound.

Goodbye to Tacoma and all its memories!

Enjoy!

Stacy

Friday Night = Date Night!

Brian and I rarely get a Friday evening together. My train arrives in Tacoma on Friday at about 9PM so our evenings together are short.

About once a month I take the early train to Tacoma and arrive at about 5:30 - so last night we got to have an official "date night". I am really going to miss the Foss Waterway when Brian moves closer to Seattle in the fall. I've enjoyed our time in Tacoma especially around the water and in Old Town. We've found some really cool places to hang out.

We both have enjoyed spending our Saturday afternoons watching college football at the RAM and our rare "date nights" at Katie Downs, where we spent last night.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Hodge Podge

Brian and I had a hodge podge weekend.

On Friday night we went to one of our favorite places in Tacoma, down on the Foss Waterway - Katie Downs. Boy they sure make a good hamburger! Check out the sailboat that cruised past.

On Saturday, we checked out our 2nd Farmer's Market of the season on Proctor Street near Old Town Tacoma. Cool little neighborhood market that reminded me of a small Beaverton Market. Once again, not a lot of fresh produce; however they did have a vendor selling some wonderful goat cheese - one selling some organic lamb and pork and another selling some nice varieties of salmon. We'll check back again!

Brian and I decided on our Saturday dinner - a nice New York steak we picked up a Tacoma Boys and Brian had an idea to marinate the steak in a nice Cabernet and then make a mushroom, shallot reduction sauce. Great idea! Served on the side was some fresh asparagus we picked up on Proctor Street and some roasted Yukon Gold potatoes.

In the afternoon, we walked down to Titlow and had an afternoon libation at "The Beach" tavern at Titlow Beach. It's just a local hangout, with tons of character (and characters), but it was fun to walk down and back (and good exercise).

We enjoyed a bit of sun on the back patio and fired up the BBQ. Even the local raccoon thought the BBQ smelled wonderful!
Our dinner turned out good - despite some "creative bickering" about BBQ cooking styles and my inability to step down from being a "head chef" - but all in all a good Saturday.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Saturday: Foss Waterway/Ruston

Brian and I dodged raindrops and snow showers on Saturday and headed down to the Foss Waterway for a short walk.

We managed to take a few photos before the rain began.

Ides of March

Since I was feeling a bit under the weather this weekend, Brian and I spent the first weekend in March in and around Tacoma.

We had a nice sunset on Saturday night and March certainly seems to be coming in like a "lamb" and not a "lion" for which we are grateful.

Enjoy!

Stacy

A Very Merry and White Christmas

Christmas Day 2007 - Brian, Stacy and Mom

Brian and I had an amazing Christmas. We are so grateful and thankful that it's hard to write about it all. Feeling more "downs" than "ups" recently, both of us really needed to dig deep to find our Christmas Spirit....but the universe opened up and gave us a lot of really nice suprises! A special thanks to all our friends and family for making this holiday truly special.

On the 23rd, we drove north to Newcastle and spent the afternoon with Rob and Kelly Clark.

They spoiled us rotten with snacks....Izze soda (my new favorite beverage) and all sorts of protein snacks to get us in the mood for hiking and biking in warmer weather. Thanks for the Christmas CD, an amazing magnetic necklace that you can wear as a bollo type tie or a bracelet too (love it) and a gift card that will come in handy! How blessed we are to have such wonderful friends!

On Christmas Eve - Brian and I watched all our favorite Christmas movies (Polar Express, It's a Wonderful Life and the Christmas Carol) while sipping on Irish Cream. The day was quiet and we enjoyed having a fire in the fireplace, reading and napping!

Our Dicken's Christmas Village 2007

On Christmas morning - Brian and I slept in until almost 8:00 and we opened our gifts to each other and a few from Brian's brother's while eating our Christmas quiche.

Santa brought Brian the DVD of the Planet Earth series, a book called F-5 about a breakout of tornados back in the mid-70's, a Lyle Lovett CD, a new lighthouse/seagull clock and a birdhouse made from a Delaware license plate.

Santa brought Stacy a string of pearls and earrings that match, the new Nigella Lawson cookbook, Los Angeles Dodger flannel pajamas, an Alman Brother's CD (Live at the Filmore) and these really cool kebab racks. We also both got lots of great stocking stuffers from Santa!

We spent a few hours on the afternoon of Christmas Day at my Mom and Kenny's place in South Seattle and no sooner did we get in the door than the snow began to fall. Not much stuck....but it was pretty to watch and made Christmas "feel" like Christmas (the first white Christmas in the Pacific NW in over 75 years).

Thanks Santa Kenny and Santa Mom for the Mariner's gift cards, wine, silver earrings, gardening calendar, Cooks Illustrated subscription and amarylis. The mimosa's were wonderful (and we will never forget the dip).

Brian and I closed out our day with a quiet Christmas dinner - a small turkey breast, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans and some stuffing. Brian also made creme de'menthe parfaits for dessert!

Christmas table - Christmas crackers from the Wooden Spoon in Edmonds

Unfortunatley, I had to take the train back to PDX this morning - work is piled high on my desk but I'll be back on the train this Friday evening for the New Year holiday - bowl games and toasting 2007 goodbye! YIPPEE!

Enjoy!

Stace

Zoo Lights

Brian and I picked a perfect night to head out and see the Zoo lights at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. Every holiday season, the zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland. This year is extra-special because it's the 20th Anniversary of Zoolights! The year a special display: a twinkling replica of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Here are some other zoo light facts:

* It takes 7 miles of extension cords to light up Zoo Lights!

* There are 27 miles of lights

* The famous "Flame Tree" has been lit for 19 years; it alone has over 30,000 lights - 20,000 purple and 10,000 green.

We took advantage of a window of dry weather (after a day of rain) and had a nice dinner at El Toro and arrived at the Zoo well before the after dinner rush.

My favorite was the eagle lights swooping down apon a northwest salmon...then retreating high in the tree with his prize catch. Unfortunately, the lights moved too quickly for a good shot.

I even got to feed the goats! Sorry, Pop....no pigs noses in which to stick my fingers!

As we were leaving, the reflection of the nearly full moon across Commencement Bay was breath taking. We tried to capture it on film....but I'll carry the memory with me this holiday season.

A very enjoyable "new" holiday tradition!

Enjoy!

Stace