Things We Saw Today

Happy Mother's Day

In the culmination of a years-long dream, my mother whisked me away on a Greek extravaganza celebrating both of our birthdays. After many months of meticulous planning on Mom's part, we found ourselves excited and jet-lagged in Athens!

At the Metro Station, headed to Syntagma Square

The view from Hotel Acropolis House - the Acropolis! Seriously.

From Athens it was on to the adorable village of Kardamili.

So many pleasant moments spent just staring out to sea, chatting, sipping cappuccino.

Dandelions the size of grapefruits!

And of course, beautiful sunsets.

We enjoyed some excursions to nearby sights:

In the courtyard of Monastery Vaidenitsa

Stuck in Stoupa

There was a great bike path that followed the coast from Stoupa to Agios Nikolaos

The host of Maison Viros, Nikos, was so helpful and thoughtful!

This place was perfect. Kitchen, pool, view of the sea. Couldn't have been better.

Nikos waited with us until the bus came to take us back to Athens! Such a nice guy.

Thanks, Mom, for an incredible adventure. I love you so, so much. Happy Mother's Day!

Well hello, Spring. I've missed you.

It has been a long, gray winter. Desperately seeking spring! Every flower is a bastion of hope in the gloom, let me tell you what.

A recent bookstore acquisition, Seattle Townscape Walks, by Tyler E. Burgess, inspired a weekend adventure to revel in the "spring tree blossoms." Cherries, magnolias, daffodils, and so many new buds springing up!

 After taking the 66 bus down to Eastlake, crossing through I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Park, and hiking up a billion stairs....

Look! A flower! And leaves! Sigh.

The rare Snake-Skin Violet. Kidding. No idea what this is, but it sure is cool.

While we didn't go into the Volunteer Park Conservatory this time, we have been before. So lovely. And with a four dollar admission price, you can't beat the orchids, mosses, ferns, succulents and cacti. A garden tour that can't be rained out!

Look at those beauties.

The walk wasn't all flowers. We took delight in all things nature.

Respect to the spiky seed pod.

A ladder of fungi

On one charming street we found a tiny library, which the neighbor described as "a birdbath for humans." (There are a lot of these spread around Seattle. So adorable.) We also passed a row of huge birch trees. The peeling bark in the wind was making the most peaceful rustling sound.

Close your eyes and listen.

After two years in Seattle, we are still having so much fun exploring Seattle. You can expect more adventures as we try some of the other walks from Tyler Burgess' book. Yay! Outdoors!