11/52: Last Weekend of Winter

We almost dodged a bullet this year...waiting until the last weekend of winter to let the crud in.

Brian brought back a chest cold from his Socal business trip and I've been battling a lower back issues so we spent the sunny weekend chilling at home and resting. 

Sunday was beautiful and warm so we took a little stroll and ended up having a St. Patrick's Day bloody Mary along Alki Beach.

Enjoy!

Stacy

44/52: Halloween and Welcoming November

I am finally getting caught up on the blog after an extremely busy few weeks.  My apologies for the blank posts!

Halloween is always a fun event at Rebecca Lane.  Chick and I love to dress up, hand out candy and drink wine.

We bought a few new decorations this year so our house looked awesome.

Over the weekend, we welcomed November by changing our clocks forward and talking a windy walk through Lincoln Park in West Seattle where Brian finally got to test out his new anemometer.

Enjoy!
Stacy

43/52: Pumpkin Patch

Autumn leaves were falling and the rain came crashing down...but not before we found some pumpkins up in Snohomish on Saturday with our good friends, the Seymours.

Sunday was filled with a quick walk between showers through Lincoln Park, some yummy Shepard's Pie and a quiet train ride back to Portland.

Enjoy!
Stacy

40/52: Still I Rise

A quiet, peaceful dawn followed by grayness and abundant rains brought in bad vibes, general anger and our countries discord.

Fall skies, chilly air and brisk walks were needed in abundance this weekend.

Friends and food began internal healing and the light of a more powerful day.

We must never give up hope.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Still I Rise

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise" from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems.  Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. 

33/52: Seattle Sports Weekend with Pop and Rosemary

We had an amazing long weekend in Seattle with my parents. 

It began on Thursday night in West Seattle where we enjoyed wine on our backyard patio and a wonderful home cooked meal courtesy of Brian.

Friday we explored Alki and had breakfast at the Alki Cafe and then took the water taxi from West Seattle to the Waterfront and had Happy Hour at Anthony's.  

We made our way to Key Arena to see the Seattle Storm (WNBA) take on the NY Liberty Friday night...and to see Mercedes Russell who grew up in Springfield, OR.  My Dad and Rosemary have been watching her play all her life and this past spring she was drafted out of the University of Tennessee to play in the women's professional league.  As a rookie, she isn't getting much playing time (she played 53 seconds on Friday night) but it was still a great game and a nice way to support her.

We had an amazing brunch at Cactus on Saturday morning and made our way to Safeco Field to see the Mariners take on the Dodgers Saturday night.  It was a tough night for me.  I love my Mariners, but grew up a lifelong Dodgers fan.  I took a lot of grief from my family, but still decked all out in my Dodger gear!  The Dodgers lost on Saturday night (still won the series 2-1), and we all had a really good time!

Sunday we headed back to Portland and my parents went back to Springfield.

Great memories this weekend!

Enjoy!
Stacy

27/52: 4th of July and a Summery Urban Hike

Happy 3rd of July!  Our weather was fabulous and since it rained on the 4th and we had to work the 5th, we celebrated a day early!

Mandatory Deviled Eggs for every holiday!

Our 4th was on a Wednesday which felt like Sunday and we worked on Thursday which felt like Monday so by the time Friday rolled around it was time to hop on the train and try out a new pizza place in West Seattle called, Supreme.  Who doesn't like NY style pizza in a dark retro bar on a Friday night?

To clear out the carbs, we hiked through Discovery Park on Saturday morning.  It's a busy place and quite a trek down to the lighthouse from the Magnolia Bluff, but the weather was pleasantly humid with a nice breeze and the 4 miles was surprisingly easier than I anticipated (although I had jelly legs the next day when we did 3 miles through Lincoln Park).  

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Enjoy!
Stacy

26/52: At the Halfway Point

Did you guys notice that we have made it to the halfway point of our year?  On the down hill side of 2018 we are.  Let's make this half a real keeper!

Brian and I enjoyed a Saturday night at Lake Morton at our friends lake house and a couple of morning walks Saturday and Sunday through Lincoln Park in West Seattle.

It was a cool weekend with angry looking skies that reminded us of January.  The June (July) gloom continues.  I am patiently waiting for summer's return.

Enjoy!
Stacy

24/52: Father's Day Weekend

Our family is always up for an adventure Father's Day Weekend and this year Pop's choice was a visit to the Oregon Vortex just outside of Gold Hill.

This roadside attraction has been open to the public since 1930 and takes you on a strange glimpse into the strange world of gravity hill/optical illusions.  Local legend according to Native Americans refer to the site as "forbidden" land and travelers would often times have trouble with horses passing through the area.  Most in our party, believe that the effect is due to a distorted background that induces a forced perspective and not anything paranormal.  At any rate, it was a fun adventure and we all enjoyed the visit.

We then drove just down the road to Del Rio Vineyards, which was established in 1997 and was once home to the Rock Point Hotel built in 1864.

We had a 5 wine flight, which included a Pinot Gris, Viogner, Grenache Rose, Claret and a Cabernet Savignon.  Absolutely beautiful tasting room and grounds.  It would be a great place to pack a picnic lunch, play a round of cornhole and drink a bottle of wine in the sunshine!

Finally, we headed down old highway 99 past Rogue River and ate lunch at River's Edge outside in the beautiful sunshine along the river.  My shrimp scampi with spaghetti squash was amazing and I know Brian, Sandra and Steve enjoyed their Halibut Fish and Chips.

Our Father's Day adventures are always a fun time for our family.  Now on to planning next year!

Enjoy!
Stacy