Pike Place Market

We had a wonderful time running around Pike Place Market in Seattle. I could have spent a couple more hours there at least, browsing the shops and taking photos along the way. We saw the original Starbucks, a street magician and cheese being made at Beechers Cheese. I loved it.

View From Hurricane Ridge

Tree Skeletons

This was taken near Hurricane Ridge on the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The bleached trunks of dead trees stood out nicely against the evergreen background.

The Pacific Northwest

I have just returned from a family reunion/vacation in Seattle and various parts of the Olympic Peninsula. It is after 3 am and I just had to download and post a few before collapsing. There will be many more to come.

A Real Live Cougar

Actually, his name is Cougar and we dog-sat this furry keeshound last week. Isn't he handsome?

Here, Kitty Kitty

This pretty kitty posed so nicely for me. This was taken through glass in an indoor exhibit, though there was natural light in the enclosure from above. I used my new long lens with vibration reduction, hand-held. Love that lens - thanks, Dad!

No Guesses?

Maybe that one was too easy? I just never saw these guys in such a sad, shedding state before. Other than that, they were kinda cute, in an ugly sort of way.

Guess Again

I have a few more zoo photos to post, but first let's try the guessing game again. I think this is easier than the last one, but then again, I have already seen the whole thing.

Nuthin' Like a Clean Dog!

Lexie just before, and just after grooming today. Last day of school. Clean dog. Let the summer begin.

Obsession Guaranteed

While searching eBay for knitting needles, I came across an auction with this description of a pair of Addi Turbo circulars: "Owing to Harmony of Materials, addi-needles satisfy natural needs. Super-smooth sufaces give life to all wool ideas. The trade-name addi stands for premium needles made of steel. We know: the better the needle, the more the knitting fun. Obsession Guaranteed."

Answer

I am amazed you could figure that out, except for Mike, who used super-special means to come up with the answer, and because of whom I had to delete the entire original post and rename the photo file before starting from scratch, thank you Mike. Here are more photos of the same bird.

What Am I?

It is now time for another round of What Am I?! I've been travelling and have scads of photos to post, but first a little fun. Guess what this is and win! (Winners will receive the ability to say they won my What Am I? challenge of the day/week/month.) Check back in a day or two to find out what it is.

More Tropical Leaves - Mitchell Park Domes

More Piggsville Graffiti - Jade reflection

Reflection, Detail, Entire

Piggsville Graffiti

Went geocaching with my kids today down in Piggsville, near 39th street, I94, and the Milwaukee River. There was a huge amount of graffiti down there along the river, so of course I had to spend some time photographing it. The train shot over us while we were there. I have a lot of photos to work up so come back soon.

Though I Grieve, Still I Shop

Our best local knitting store, Kro-sha, is closing, which is very sad. They carried such lovely knitting supplies, were very helpful, and they were close by. A knitting friend alerted me to their fate and unfortunately mentioned their reduced prices as they clear out their remaining inventory. I stayed away a long time, fought the urge to just 'drive by,' forced myself to think of all that felting wool I already had left over to play with . . . and folks, it worked for a while. At least until today when Mary called me and said she had just dropped $80-something in there. When Mary called me today and said that everything was 40% off. When Mary called today and told me the details of what she bought and I couldn't stand it any longer. I am so weak.

So, after sitting here in MS Word and typing up a complete list of every knitting needle I seem to own (there are always needles lurking in stashed projects that I will have to catalog when I find them), in every configuration (single-point, dbl-point, flex, circular, and crochet hooks) and in each size I own, I then printed out my data and headed off to wreck our budget once again. I hope my husband isn't reading this. You don't read my blog, do you hon? I did promise we could go out to dinner tonight when you suggested it. I didn't even complain (much) about what was left in the checkbook, the need for a tank of gas, the cost of a meal out and the disagreeable relationship between these three things. I figured, as long as I'm not complaining, let's see me not complain some more. Logic trumps budget. I rock.