The Fabulous Northwest

 

Seattle, Washington
The next-to-the-last stop on this sabbatical adventure is to the beautiful city of Seattle, WA.
I have many previous posts from this area of the US as my sister lives here, so I won't spend lots of time posting things about the city itself. Rowan is working here at the UW children's hospital and I am helping my sister with some home improvement stuff. In between, we are hanging out with our nephews and hiking in the local mountains. We had a wonderful 3 weeks here!


We spent many mornings and afternoons walking along the Puget Sound through Lincoln Park, which is just down the road from my sisters place.

Rowan, sister Pat and our friend Yoru
Just how wacky is it that it looks like Rowans wooden arm is rising up over her head in a resistance fist pump. This was not planned. Poetic, isn't it?

 That very special piece of drift wood that, for many reasons, looks like a woman rising up out of mother earth to show her strength and resistance. What a random piece of beauty!

A few of the beach front homes

There is so much to look at when walking through this park. One of my favorite things is the little shrine that has been created inside of a burned out stump. People put shells, little statues, rocks with notes on them, feathers.......and my favorite is the memorial photo of Hazel the cat.

We came upon this huge piece of cedar drift wood that someone had carved two Inuit style birds into. I wish I could have been here when the carving was taking place. A pleasant surprise to find this piece of art laying on the beach.

Another piece of random drift wood. This one looks like a baby elephant head to me. What do you think?

Rowan out for her turtle ride. She obviously is going nowhere fast :o) You can see the Fauntleroy Ferry crossing the Puget Sound behind her.

Harbor Seal bronze statue along the beach at Alki.

Real Harbor Seals just off the beach at Lincoln Park.

The one on the right is so relaxed, crossed legs and kicking back! HA! The Sound had lots of seal action going on in April because it is berthing season. The seals are protected along the sound, so no touching when you find the young ones along the beach.

My favorite random public art at Lincoln Park.

I have been coming here for years and this "Love" is always here, on the same rock. It takes on a gradual different look as people are constantly changing it, but it always says Love. I think we all need to LOVE MORE! :o) 
 

More random art along the street down by the beach. Bart seems to always be getting in trouble, doesn't he.......This street artist Clepto seems to be pretty famous in Seattle. They are constantly trying to catch him. I think he is a great artist.

Day view of the Cascade Mountain Range from my sisters living room. Makes it very hard to get off the couch to do anything!

Sunset view of the same mountains.

No, I wasn't sitting there all day waiting for this view to happen!

Our bandit friend showed up in my sisters backyard to see what he could get into. Looks like he has been eating pretty well already.

Of course one cannot go to Seattle without taking at least one trip down to Pikes Market to watch the fish fly. We had our moment watching a salmon take flight and then went on to collect our spices, herbs, a few gifts, bowl of clam chowder and crab cocktail, etc., etc.....

The famous Pikes Place Fish Market. Go here to watch the fish fly: https://www.pikeplacefish.com/

Chinese Foot Massage

This is way more than a foot massage. If you have never had one of these, we highly recommend trying it. The massage takes place with all of your clothes on. You lay on a futon with your feet in a bowl of HOT water. They start with your head and go all the way down to your feet (both sides of your body). They rub, pound, poke, prod into every muscle in your body for an hour. When they finally get to your feet you are almost unconscious! It is all pure heaven, and for only $30. Do it!

Food, family and hiking from Seattle coming next.