12-21-24

 

Saturday in SLU.

12-20-24

 

We headed to the Olympic Manor neighborhood to see the Christmas lights.  One of the first things we saw was a corner window decorated with lit dogs.  We woof you a Merry Christmas!

12-19-24

 

We headed to Benroya Hall tonight to enjoy Handel's Messiah.  LOVE that Hallelujah chorus!  And Mom's scarf from India is gorgeous if I don't say so myself!

12-18-24

 

Christmas lunch at Laurel Cove.  I loved everything about the Dickens carolers.

12-17-24

 

Love the huge ornaments in the elevator lobby greeting me multiple times a day.

12-16-24

 

Today was for wrapping.  All but two gifts are now wrapped and there are more gifts around the tree now.

12-15-24

 

Got to meet Fiona today.  She's great, I can see why Xander fell in love.  I'm a cat grandma, a dog grandma, and soon to be a realy grandma!

12-14-24

 

Anastasia in Poppy's nursery on cookie baking day.

12-13-24

 

No photos from the Weyerhaeuser party.  But its been a super long week and I am super thankful for a stop at Krispy Kreme.

12-12-24

 

MAVen book club tonight.  I remembered to bring the Kindle with highlighted notes but forgot to take any other photos.  Need to add A Tree Grew in Brooklyn to my TBR list.

12-11-24

Morning commute in the dark is similar to my afternoon commute in the dark.  Like the festive trees though!

12-10-24

 

All is calm all is bright.  I love the dark and quiet of 4am.

12-09-24

 

Christmastime in SLU.  Bananas and snowflakes and turquoise trees.

12-08-24

 

Dressed up for church banquet tonight.

12-07-24

 

Figgy Pudding contest!

They moved it from Friday night to Saturday midday.  Rain probably kep some away, but it was plenty crowded.

Love this fundraiser for the Pike Place Senior Center and food bank.

12-06-24

 

The six of us had dinner (Noi Thai again?!?) and an improved Chstimas Carol tonight.

And look at this morning sunrise photo!

12-05-24

 

This morning my prayer app was on repeat telling me that Jesus was focused but interruptible and I needed to be as well.  When I got offered tickets to Nutcracker I oh so wanted to say no, I was so tired.  But I embraced having my only free evening interrupted and enjoyed the ballet immensely.

12-04-24

 

Happy after work, but no photos.  So here's my woodland creatures.  Ignore the fact that the squirrel is the same size as the polar bear, not to scale.  

12-03-24

 

Concert at Benroya, Jake's first time there.  We saw Leslie Odom Jr. signing Christmas songs with the Seattle Symphony.  Lovely evening.

12-02-24

 

Hi Santa!

"Is the cookie jar full of cookies?" - Bruce

Nope, it never is, he's just cute.

12-01-24

And the tree is finally decorated.  Completing our Christmas decorating.  Back to work tomorrow! 

11-30-24

 

Anastasia, Jacob and little Poppy were sufficiently spoiled at their baby shower today.  So fun to see all the baby items!

11-29-24

 

Treelighting ceremony at Westlake.  Well attended.

11-28-24

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  What a feast.  What a gorgeous day!

Uncle Pat has been at Thanksgiving for as long as I have been coming to McNeil Thanksgivings, so it was weird to not have him here, but hopeuflly next year!

11-27-24

 

The house that got away.  Inspection today to help Mom not buy a house.  

11-26-24

 

Walked to the waterfront today.  Love that there is a nice walk down Lenora, with an elevator for the return trip.  Really love that the stairwell has a new bright mural.  May need to bring Poppy back here for photos some day.

11-25-24

 

It was a cold and rainy night.  Enjoying the nativities, even though I seem to have misplaced a Joseph along the way.

11-24-24

 

Xander and I saw author Abraham Verghese speak at Benroya Hall tonight.  What a fun evening and what an uplifting speaker!

11-23-24

 

A group of church gals got together to decorate glitter houses.  It was fun to see how different they all turned out.

11-22-24

 

Let it be known that it took a whole six months before I had to have management let me back into my locked out of apartment.  So much for a quick mid day banana run!

11-21-24

 

Working on the 2024 scrapbook and realizing I don't have very many interior photos of the new apartment.

I think I know why.

I had to crop this photo really tight to not get all kinds of clutter and junk in the photo.

11-20-24

 

Pies and Pours on the rooftop tonight.  Loud and festive.

11-19-24

 

Winter evening walk, three of three.

Westlake Park has some different lighting this year, in rotating colors.  Very festive!

This was taken on my commute home.

11-18-24

 

Winter evening walk, two of three.

Mom and I had to pivot during our Shoreline walk becuase it gets dark sooner now.

We talked about so many decorations being up early, probably becuase Thankgiving is so late this year.

This was on my walk home from the light rail.

11-17-24

 

Winter evening walk, one of three.

Wanted to get my steps in so did small loops around my neighborhood.

11-16-24

 

Forgot to take any photos during our Federal Way adventures, but got a shot on the soggy drive home.

11-15-24

 

Seattle Symphony tonight with the kids.  Enjoyed the relaxed untuxed shorter and less formal format.

11-14-24

 

Arrive sure has pretty boquets at the concierge desk.

11-13-24

 

Book club night.  Checking in with Grunkle and checking out mom's new car before we scatter.

11-12-24

Right before I snapped this photo the window was completely covered with fall leaves floating around.  Couldn't grab my phone fast enough.  Fun to be back home.

11-11-24

 

On the train platform starting the trek homeward bound.  Till next time, Chicago!

11-10-24

 "This is really cool, wish it wasn't in a trash zone" - Jacob, paraphrased

Mural walk!  Chicago streets are way less sketchy so it didn't feel scary to walk down this super sketchy art filled alleyway.

11-09-24

 

Some call it the Sears tower, some the Willis tower.  It's still the highest observation tower and third tallest building in the US (thanks to FAA regulations) at 110 stories high.  My main criteria today was indoor activities, brr it gets cold when the sun goes away!

11-08-24

 

So many great photos today around downtown Chicago.  I really enjoyed seeing the goth Target.  The architecture here is so cool.

11-07-24

Look who got her kids on mass transit!  when it is faster and way cheaper to take the train from the airport downtown, the only argument is the bumpy railway.  Hello Chicago!

11-05-24

Went to the movies solo tonight.  Our church group has been trying to attend a Ghibli movie together, and there is a Ghibli festival currently.  I will be in Chicago when they go, but I really wanted to go, so I saw The Secret World of Arrietty with subtitles.  Loved it!

11-03-24

 

Today we watched the Coco movie with the symphony playing the music.  Had not seen the movie, enjoyed very much.

11-02-24

 

I normally would not choose a campfire drink since I don't love smokey, but gave it a whirl and it was perfect.  Happy that Starbucks announced they would no longer upcharge for non-dairy milk, hope our other haunts consider following suit.

11-01-24

Hanging out in Xander's new apartment in Fremont.  FUn to all get back together after what has seemed like ages.