Welcome to Washington State!

Early in August I was I flew with these lovely people (from left to right, Joseph Cesare, John Sohl, me, Tamara Cesare, and Flannery Musk)...

....to Washington State. We went there to help our friends out there put on their first-ever Ignite Your Torch Northwest! It was SO exciting to be there.

These photos are from the first few days we were there. We arrived almost a week early to help get ready. But the first few days, we did touristy things. I saw a lot of things that were very different from my usual everyday sights.

The first things that intrigued me were at the Seattle/Tacoma airport. These beautiful metal fish designs were in the floor, all over the place.

The next thing that caught my eye was this. I've been in many airports all over the US and some in  foreign countries, but I don't recall ever seeing a sign like this before:

It was dark when we arrived, but all the same I got the distinct feeling that there was water everywhere all around me....and when morning came I found I was quite right.

The first day, I rented a car and drove north a couple of hours to meet my college friend, Jody. We spent a couple of fun hours chatting and reminiscing.

Then I traveled to Bremerton, where we would be staying until the conference, to meet up with my group again. I was hosted at the house of the very friendly Helen and her lovely daughter Grace. They made me feel so at home!

This was the view from their back porch. I felt like I was at a wonderful bed and breakfast. It was so calm and peaceful there. And the weather was gorgeous the whole time we were out there... sunny and cool, just the way I like it.

This stuffed animal collection was perched on the head of my bed (really, I took this picture for Molly):

They EVEN had raw milk in the house (I love raw milk). This again is not something you would see in Kentucky! I am jealous! So you are going to think I am crazy, but I had to take a picture of this. 

By the way, I also learned that selling pot is legal in Washington. (That has nothing to do with the milk except that it's just one more thing I don't see at home... pot for sale in smoke shops!)

Um. As Fr. Hardon would say, "We go on." 

I think this post is long enough already and I need to start a new one for the next day.....