Things You Don't See in Kentucky

My coworker Joe had told me repeatedly that we HAD to go to Pike Place Market while we were in Washington. Luckily, our hosts wanted to take us there, too. The first stage of the outing was taking the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle, which takes about an hour.

I had been on a ferry once before, about 25 years ago, but I regret to say I barely remember it, so for me this was almost like a first. I was fascinated watching the cars driving right into the belly of the whale, so to speak.

As for me, I was on foot, so I just walked right on. They don't charge you for taking the "cruise" over from Bremerton to Seattle. They only charge you on the way back! How odd.

There were several levels, and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. I sat outside and enjoyed the views, the wind, and the sun. I saw other people sitting inside working on laptops. I guess they live there and this is just their daily commute? I can't imagine that.

People were holding up food for the birds, who would swoop down 

and peck it right out of their fingers!

Catching sight of the Seattle skyline

The famous "needle"

As we were docking...

Signs I don't typically see at home....

Another thing I don't remember ever seeing before....

And here is the market! What gorgeous flowers. 

Here is the famous fish market I had heard about. Unfortunately I didn't catch a picture of the fishmongers throwing the big slippery fish back and forth. I did see them doing it, though. 

I don't know how they don't drop them.

Well, I didn't see any octopus hanging around, but this sign was intriguing.

Here we are shopping: Emma, Tamara, Flannery, Ann. We were with our friends Josh and Katie (and Joseph Cesare, who got lost in the crowds of thousands of people, yikes).

We saw these adorable tea sets for sale. Aren't they cute?

We thought this was a statue—until it suddenly leaned down to shake hands..... gulp.

We thought maybe it was a motion-sensing machine, 

but then it jerkily put on some shades and posed with Emma. Hmmm.

I loved these colorful arrangements of garlic and peppers. There was fresh fruit of every kind, too. 

Here they are making fresh mozzarella.

Katie, Emma and Flannery checking out a sale...

In the flower market, you could buy these gorgeous bouquets for just $5 apiece! Unreal.

You didn't believe me?

Visiting the market was a lot of fun. But there were huge crowds of people and it was so, so noisy. I was glad to have the relaxing ride back on the ferry. We had to rest up for a very busy week. We had no idea then just how busy it was going to be.

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.....

A Painting Lesson

Recently some friends (Tamara, Mandy and Tina) and I had a special painting lesson with Laura Kline, who is an artist and friend of ours. We had won the lesson in an auction held this past spring.

It was a very relaxing and enjoyable meeting. We met at the Pepin Mansion in New Albany, IN. Wow! What a palace it is. (photo on left from Wikimedia; on the right is a photo I took of part of the ceiling in one room)

The evening came with wine and chocolate!


Below is our teacher, Laura, with the model we were going to copy. We used acrylics. I had never done this before.










We first had to paint the entire canvas with the background color, and then we dried them with hair dryers.

 Then we had to cut out and place paper forms to trace around with chalk.









Next we painted the actual symbols.

I wanted to do something different, so I attempted to do a painting of the Mystical Rose symbol. It was very hard to figure out how to divide a circle in five. I think I will do mine over. 

The fleur de lys paintings looked better!

Here we are with our masterpieces! 

It was fun and easier than I thought! In fact, I have an appointment to do another such painting class at a different place in a couple of weeks. This time it will be a tropical sunset painting.

A Royal Tea

After having attended four tea parties in the space of two weeks last month (that will be another blog post),  it was my turn to host one in honor of my niece Molly's 5th birthday, which is tomorrow.

All the local princesses were invited! Princess Molly welcomed cousins Princess Elizabeth, Princess Abby and Princess Sarah.

Here they are at the royal tea, carefully minding their manners and drinking from real tea cups. (Many thanks to Aunt Bea and Grandma Rosie for keeping things flowing smoothly.)

 

I was surprised that my sugar cubes, and the tiny golden tongs I had proudly brought back from Seattle....

...were passed over in favor of the honey bear. But that makes sense given the type of tea.

After eating and drinking, it was craft time! The girls made bead bracelets and decorated little tiaras with their names on them.

 

Molly received several gifts, including a bike helmet that matched her dress perfectly. (She just recently learned to ride her bike without training wheels.)

And finally, it was time for glamour shots in the beautiful chair I am keeping for my friend Kimberly!

And they lived happily ever after. The end.