Friday, November 28, 2014

Class Reunion of sorts

                                     
'old' friends


Absence makes the heart grow fonder they say.  Bianca, Hale and Hazel were quite fond of each other while attending Cedar House playschool as 4 year olds.  Monday they reunited  one and a half years after going their seperate ways.  Now that is a long time in child years.  A quarter of their lives.  I did the math.  No wonder they were so delighted to see each other again.

There was much squealing of delight, laughter and non-stop running toward our destination at the park.  Hazel's mom Denise and I could not possibly keep up.  But they dutifully stopped at intersections until we were close enough to see and dashed off again leaving us in their dust.  

Denise is the mother of 4 girls between the ages of 10 and 6 so she knows a thing or two about tears.  She said it would be a different story on the way back.  She calls it the trail of tears to home. 

 After wearing themselves out to the edge,  having experienced wounded feelings and territorial disputes, some of the initial joy had been diluted a bit with the reality of getting along with others in the world.

 A wearied but wiser walk home 
Holding hands on the trail home

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Jewel of a park Marymoor


Cape Jewelweed
I have read that Marymoor Park is the crown jewel of the King County park stystem.  I have been wanting to go there for some time.  So my adventure partner Joanna and I did make the trip and were delighted by the beauty and the perfect weather that awaited us yesterday.   We pored over the varous maps and trail guides and found that we were both a bit map challenged.  That made me feel in good company.  Our goal was bird spotting along the Audubon Birdloop trails.   We weren't there at the best time for seeing the birds but Joanna soon was able to spot and hear a few that added up to a list of 5 or 6.                                                                          
                               
We started along the Grassy Meadow trail
                                       
                       




                           
 
       Entering
the Sheltering Forest trail




Looking toward Lake Sammamish from the platform at the end of the boardwalk


It did make me smile


We found a picnic spot looking over a large grassy field  on the Clise Mansion grounds where we watched a few of the seasons first colorful leaves drifting to earth mingled with the  flitting dragonflys darting to and fro and everything sparkling in a sundrenced light.   It was that perfect.  

Windmill on the Clise Mansion grounds

Friday, August 29, 2014

Summer Fun

Next week is back to school for the little girls who have been my joy to spend some time with as they play, giggle and exhibit just all around cuteness.   A sampling of summer fun 2014

The final touch to a perfect summer day is a tasty and huge ice cream cone.  You can just hear the 'hmmm this is so good'

Summer camp friends on a golden hot day.   The Hiawatha summer camp program and the super wonderful counselors there made every day a fun day.


A summer birthday party pile on.   I was a little nervous about the bottom person and the rough and tumble abandon.  But all came right in the end with bones intact and excess energy well used up.


The perfect climbing tree.  What more can you ask.


A group of girls.. a gaggle of girls.. a giggle of girls?   What ever they are discussing or planning, I'm sure its all sugar and spice and everything nice.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Exploring with friends

I was so happy to join Joanna and Becca for walking on the bridge and other adventures.  I am always reading the posts about their fun outings and yesterday I got to be in on the action in person.



First the pleasant, verdant and then get the heart pumping walk to UW activities center

   

Canoes at the ready

Lolling about in the Lily pads

Suzzallo library stairs

Suzzallo reading room


A walk through the UW campus convinced me this would be just the place for Bianca in 12 short years.
     We ended our day with a  yummy lunch followed by a giant ice cream cone.  I didn't know I was ordiering the giant size and I struggled mightily to finish it before the bus came.  Alas I didn't make it but it was a delicious effort.    You can see Joanna's pictures  at Joanna's dabbling duck take on our day.

Friday, July 4, 2014

A poem and pictures

Bianca has had a milestone birthday - turning 6 years old.  I found a poem by A.A. Milne that just  fits the occasion.   It is titled "Now We Are Six"
 and it goes like this:
                                                          WHEN I WAS ONE,
                                                           I WAS JUST BEGUN.


WHEN I WAS TWO,
    I WAS NEARLY NEW.


WHEN I WAS THREE,
I WAS HARDLY ME.


WHEN I WAS FOUR,
I WAS NOT MUCH MORE.


WHEN I WAS FIVE,
I WAS JUST ALIVE.


BUT NOW I AM SIX,
I'M AS CLEVER AS CLEVER.

SO I THINK I'LL BE SIX
NOW AND FOREVER

I

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Catnipped!

As it so happens, I need to post an addendum to my Bugged post of the other day.   Another tale of woe.   I planted Catnip because I had read that ants don't like the smell of mint and it  might keep them away.  I happen to like the smell and it is (was) a pretty plant.
                                     

And now what to my shock do I see when glancing down at my spring growing garden..


Gasp!  I guess cats really do like it.  Here is the suspect.  A very friendly neighborhood cat who likes to visit me in my yard from time to time.   I wish at least I had seen the catnipped frenzy that must have taken place!   


Monday, April 21, 2014

Take me away Tea

Rhubarb tea made compliments of Martha Stewart's recipe treasure trove.   When I go to the Farmer's Market I want to buy every beautiful and fresh offering of spring's bounty that I see.  And often I do just that.  So I had rhubarb but no time or inclination to make the fancy dessert with it which was my  original plan.  Also all the heavy recipes didn't appeal.  So I made this simple and not very sugary tea.  One hour of simmering 4 stalks of rhubarb in 4 cups of water with a bit of sugar made this very pretty drink.  Some mint from the garden to top it off and mmmmh as lovely to drink as to see.  The day is actually cloudy and cool but this drink makes me feel I'm lounging on a sunny lanai in a tropical isle.  One can dream.