Seattle: Final Pics

Space Needle

Argosy Scenic Boat Cruise

Cruise Ships Docked

Seattle Skyline

Chihuly Garden of Glass Museum

Seattle: Gum Wall

Getting back to my trip earlier this month to Seattle (did I tell you I love this town?), here I am standing in front of the Gum Wall outside the Market Theater down by the waterfront Pike's Place Market.

Rumor has it that the gum on this wall started when patrons of the Market Theater were not allowed to chew gum inside the theater. So people started to stick their ABC gum (Already Been Chewed gum) to the brick wall. 

As gross as it sounds, the wall is actually a pretty colorful display which is constantly being added to.

If you ever have an opportunity to travel to Seattle, you don't want to miss it!

Seattle: Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is one of the historical areas of Seattle. This is the location of the tourist attraction called The Underground Tour which was started by Bill Speidel in 1954 as a way to preserve this area.

I love how there are flowers everywhere in Seattle, even in the allies.

Below is a photo of The Scandinavian-America Bank back in the 1900's.

And here is the same building today.

Seattle: Pike Place Market

Last week I flew out to Seattle to attend my nephew's wedding. One of the sites everyone told me not to miss was Pike Place Market along the waterfront. I wish I lived locally so I could have taken home some of the gorgeous flower bouquets, mouth-watering fresh produce and fresh seafood of all kinds. 

Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Pike Place Market is where retailers like Starbucks and Sur la Table got their start.

The original Starbucks at Pikes Market.

Trip to Seattle

Photo by visitingdc.com

I'm planning a brief trip to Seattle later this summer to attend my nephew's wedding. I've never been there before and wondered if any of you have. If you know of something that I should not miss while I am there please let me know by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

Back to the Grind

~ Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia ~

It's Monday morning and I'm back from a fun little get-away to Galena, Illinois. It's best known for being the home to President Ulysses S. Grant, but my friend and I were more interested in the shopping. We stayed at a Bed & Breakfast along main street (shown above) which made everything we needed within walking distance. I parked my car and never moved it until it was time to go home. 

Relax and Sit a Spell

Photo courtesy of April Cornell

Haven't done much of anything during the past couple of days. My sister-in-law was in town and we had fun visiting with her. She left for home this morning, but no time to start any big projects because our good friends are coming up from Florida on Wednesday. It seems as though this entire month will be spent traveling and visiting with friends and family. It seems odd to be taking so much time for rest and recuperation, especially since there are a million and one things I should be doing. But I guess that is what summer is all about. . .sitting back and taking it easy. Wouldn't you just love to do that in a pair of old rockers like these?

Nature Walk

Last weekend we were up at the cottage and went on the most wonderful walking tour of this lovely place. Our tour guide Marion was so informative and full of knowledge that the two and a half hours of walking simply flew by. (Marion told us that she gets reprimanded occasionally for going over the scheduled two hour walk time, but she confessed that she just gets carried away with enthusiasm for the place. Believe me, we didn't mind one bit!) The Clearing is a Folk School established in 1935 by Danish landscape architect, Jens Jensen. One might think that The Clearing got it's name from the meadows found throughout the grounds. However, The Clearing has a different meaning to Jens Jensen. He wanted the school to be a place where "one can come to clear the mind and feel a kinship with the earth." Week long classes are offered in a variety of subjects ranging from drawing, woodworking, knitting, music, literature, paper arts, quilting, nature study, photography, and others at this 128 acre forested setting along a secluded shoreline. Delicious meals are served family-style in the lodge and students stay in cozy cabins like these:

The cabins look rustic on the outside, as they are original to the 1930's, but they are ever-so-comfy on the inside with each bed made up with crisp white linens and a handmade quilt made by students in the quilting classes, a fireplace, desk, table, and modern bathrooms.

Meals and down-time take place in the lodge which houses a dining room as well as a large sitting -room/library with a giant walk-in fireplace. The windows in the lodge offer glorious views of the forest and water beyond.

Classes and special events are held in the classroom building which is built of stone (pictured below) and features hand-carved woodwork and trim made by students, instructors and volunteers. Even the railing leading to the path in front of the building is made by students in the woodworking classes. All the saw dust from those woodworking classes is used to create the paths through the forest.


I first visited The Clearing with my parents when I was a child. Even back then I became smitten with the place and it's setting. I dreamt of someday taking classes at the school and leading the life of an artist. Years later I took my own family to see The Clearing and my daughter was also impressed. Although she was quite young at the time, she still remembers our visit there. Although many years have passed since my childhood days, I still dream of taking classes here. Now that we have the cottage, perhaps my dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.