A WALK IN THE PARK (literally)

This is Chism Park, a hidden gem in Bellevue right on Lake Washington.  9 months of the year it is totally empty, except for the occasional dog walker- which is usually me.  The park itself is gorgeous, no matter the season.  In spring it has a huge Golden Chain tree which is breathtaking in full bloom. In fall, as you can see it is filled with color.

 It has a great beach so it gets busy in summer and I usually avoid it because of the crowds.  But I absolutely love having it to myself the rest of the year.  Not only is the park lovely, but its view from the waterfront is outstanding.  From the beach you have views of Mercer Island, Leschi and Laurelhurst.  You can see Husky stadium and UW.

While I am busy admiring the surroundings, Dunn is busy enjoying the clean sandy beach.  A lot of parks have pebble beaches, so the sand is a treat.

 

You know that poem about leaving footprints in the sand?  Well, we did..........

AUTUMNOLOGY

 

AUTUMNOLOGY: the study of autumn

 

 

Fall is by far my favorite season.  Not that the other three don't have their merits. But the colors, smells and weather of autumn just sing to my soul.

 

 

Of course, I never felt this way when I lived in Southern California. But then So Cal really doesn't have any seasons- just temperature variations.

 

 

 

But in the Northwest autumn is glorious. When Dunn and I walk every day the scenery is breathtaking, and best of all it changes every day as each tree cycles through its fall changes on its own schedule and in its own way.

 

 

 

Every tree seems to have its own habits. On some trees all the leaves change at the same time to the same color.  Other trees will change from bottom to top, or top to bottom. Then again, some trees will change one branch at a time.  My favorite variation is when the tree changes from the outside in. The center of the tree will still be bright green, while a little further out it will soften to yellow, then orange and finally the tips of the branches will be fiery red. The over all effect reminds me of a flame.

 

 

Some trees get positively florescent!

 

 

 

One of the nicest things about our home is that it backs up to a greenbelt (a small forest where no one can build).  Which allows us to enjoy the glory of autumn right out our windows.  It is such a blessing to live in a place where I am in love with my surroundings!



PORTLAND #2

Becca and I are drawn to the same kinds of stores when we are out exploring.

Any store that has anything to do with chocolate.  My preference is for hot chocolate and hers is for dark chocolate truffles with a touch of heat. We have sampled chocolate truffles with chipotle, habanero or chili peppers and all are yummy.

Any store that has anything to do with hats, bags or shoes. Becca is adorable in any kind of hat. I on the other hand have a very small head (child-sized really) and am completely swallowed up by a hat unless I find it in the children's department. Currently we are both on the hunt for a new pair of boots.

Here is Becca trying on hats at Macy's:

We also LOVE book stores and can get lost in them for hours.  I don't have to buy anything, I just find something that looks interesting and sit down somewhere and start reading.  Becca likes to browse. Portland has a famous bookstore called Powell's.  Famous because it is so huge and has been in business forever. It is multiple stories tall with a basement and has outgrown that and now has expanded into an additional building across the street.

Another of our favorite haunts are stores featuring herbal teas or spices. It is a great place to find inexpensive souvenirs as you buy either one by the ounce.

 

But our favorite stores of all are vintage clothing stores and thrift shops.  We visited quite a few in Portland and Becca even scored some nice finds. The most exciting discovery, however, was a store called "Betty Page" and apparently there is one here in Seattle up on Capitol hill we didn't know about.  What makes this shop different is that they sell new clothing made in 1940's designs.

As you entered the store you expected to see Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz tending the counter.  They had all new period style shoes and handbags as well. They get the designs from the original 1940's patterns: 

 

Then make them up in period fabrics.  The dresses are a little pricey, but so gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

We were thrilled to learn that by going away we were able to discover a treasure in our own backyard!

PORTLAND BOUND

Chuck needed to work a convention in Portland this weekend, so Becca and I tagged along.  I was excited to sleep in the "Heavenly Bed" at the Westin Hotel. I love the beds at Westin Hotels! The beds are soft and the down pillows are divine.  Even Chuck (who rarely sleeps well) has a great night's sleep when he stays at a Westin.

 

Becca and I had lots of fun together entertaining ourselves as always. We got into town about 4pm and we started off with a stroll through a city park and listened to a band.

 

 

Our foot propelled sight-seeing trip uncovered some other treaures.  A very interesting and confusing directional sign when seen at a distance-

made a little more sense close up.

 Another sight we found interesting was building that had been built to house an armory.

Such a cool building!

I will post more of our adventures tomorrow....

FROST ON THE PUMPKIN

It got below freezing for the first time last night, leaving a fine layer of frost on my garden this morning. As of now, my garden is hanging in there with the last ambitious plants still producing a bloom or two.

Like my Black Eyed Susans

Dahlias

and this plant, whose name I have forgotten.

After a cold start to the morning it warmed up nicely and the sun shone all day, so Dunn and I had a pleasant walk.  I noticed that a lot of my neighbors Dahlias are still in full bloom and lovely to look at.

I would like to have the official title of "Landscape Police", so as Dunn and I cruise the neighborhood I could write tickets and leave them on the front doors of houses with yards that need some serious work.  I can hardly restrain myself from sitting down in their yards and pulling weeds (not that they would complain).  Being a gardener, I just have the need to plant and tidy all things green.  I am hopeless!

SILENT PARTNERS

 Dunn is my sole mate - yes I know that is not the spelling you expected. But we do a lot of walking together. Dunn is the only one who will walk with me since Becca's hours have changed to 9-6 every day.  It is getting dark too early in the evening to walk after she gets home from work.

 But Dunn and I enjoy one another's company. We spend most of our time in the woods where he concentrates on the scents and I concentrate on the sights and sounds.

I am somewhat of an amateur bird enthusiast.  I keep my feeder outside my kitchen window full year round and have identified every single visitor in my bird book. But when you are out in the woods there is a greater variety of birds to enjoy. I love to try to identify the birds by their song, because I can't always see them when I can hear them.

Because Dunn loves to swim, we spend a fair amount of time near lakes and rivers where we frequently see bald eagles perched in trees or soaring overhead. It is great to see the comeback the Bald Eagle has made since we have lived in the Northwest.  When we moved here in 1985 sightings were rare where we live and they were on the protected list, if not endangered. Now they are everywhere and sightings are common, but it still is a thrill every time I see one.

Dunn and I are silent partners when we are in the woods, with not a lot of interaction.  He is usually a few yards ahead of me intent on his own agenda, and I am intent on mine which is to breathe deep and be open to my surroundings.  Sometimes I find a cool place to sit down for a moment and just be. I love to pause there and say my prayers in nature, as that is where I am most grateful for my surroundings.

I have a designated "prayer" spot on a lot of my walks like the one above.  There is a nice little mossy seat to make it inviting.  Sometimes it is on a log with a beautiful view. Most often it is just a spot on the trail that is so overwhelmingly beautiful I just have to stop dead in my tracks and say "thanks".

SPOOKY!!

It seems as though mother nature is decorating our neighborhood for Halloween. 

 A couple of days ago I was out about 10am walking Dunn in the neighborhood when I noticed a tree that someone had decorated with ghosts.

 

I thought it odd because this tree was not in some one's yard, it was in the median in the middle of Highland Drive.  How thoughtful of someone to decorate public property for all to enjoy.

 

As I got nearer to the tree, I understood that these designs were not, in fact, airy ghosts hung in the tree but spider webs.  Dew was caught on the web filament and sparkling with the morning sun.  I caught it at the perfect time when the web was being back lit by a low autumn sunrise, but before the sun could evaporate the dew.

 

 

In the northwest fall is a time when we are inundated with spiders.  You can hardly walk any where outside without feeling that creepy cloying feeling that tells you have just come through a spider web face first. Half the time you end up with a spider on your head from walking through her home.

 These octagonal webs are made by orb weavers which are prevalent around here. They are such fascinating spiders and very beneficial for the garden, so we protect them. Right this very minute I have 4 of them with their separate webs hanging from the eaves by my front door. 

 I have even been known to feed them if I see a bug that I don't like.  I'll pick up the bug and throw it into their web and watch as the spider wraps up its victim. I am entertained, the spider is fed and there is one less beetle to eat my plants. Win-win. Becca and I have been known to catch bugs to feed the spiders and then stand there and take pictures of the action. This spider got a bug bigger than she is.

By observation I have learned that the younger (smaller) spiders take longer to wrap up their victim and are much less efficient.  They tend to run around their victim dragging the web filament over them as they go round and round. The more mature (bigger) spiders stand still and spin the bug in front of them like a chicken on a rotisserie, covering them with more web on each turn.


 I know it is bizarre  that I find this so interesting, but I do.  Somehow I find great joy in details, especially in nature.  It is endlessly fascinating.