January 31: Still Winter

As much as we enjoyed our ramble through Carkeek Park, it was brutally cold on the trail to the hilltop meadow that overlooks Shilshole Bay. We didn't linger here for long - brrrrr.

January 30: Sunday Best

Amber and I took a walk through Carkeek Park today, and this made me think of a starchy old dowager wearing her best church hat.

January 29: Puzzle Progress



I spent a few blissful weekend hours working on the puzzle Amber gave me for Christmas. It's coming along quickly (it's a little addictive).



January 28: Sapling

We'll know it's spring when this young fig tree takes off its winter coat.

January 27: Callie

She loves being in a box or a bag, and her current fave has a window that allows her to keep an eye on her domain (and that pesky Chihuahua).

January 26: Wecome sunbreaks



We had some lovely sunbreaks today, with a clear view of Shilshole Marina and the Olympic range from Sunset Hill Park.



January 25: Mixed Messages

January 24: Coffee

There's a new restaurant opening up at 1st and Bell called Local 360...I'm on the outside, looking in.

January 23: Sunrise

It only lasted for a few minutes, and then disappeared into an ordinary drizzly gray day.

January 22: Nemone

She's not sure what she thinks of all the sudden attention she's been getting from her in-home papparazzi.

January 21: Ellie and Colleen

We've known each other for 10 years, but it's been way too long since we got together for lunch.

January 20: Winter color

We make fun of winter cabbage, but on a dreary cold day like this I do secretly appreciate their vibrant color when everything else is brown and grey.

January 19: The Determined Gardener

Last year someone created a small hole in the asphalt of this parking lot and planted a lone rhododendron, which has done pretty well, considering.  Last week two new pots appeared nearby. I'm hoping the hole is going to get bigger and bigger each year, and the garden will eventually be so big there will be no room to park a car.

January 18: Options



If you take the escalator you'll be protected from rain, but if you want to take the stairs you're going to get wet.



January 17: Katie

Monday was a holiday, so Steve brought the kids up to visit with Mom and Dad at the cottage. We had pizza for lunch and apple pie for dessert, and Katie let me braid her hair.

January 16: View from Inside

The Des Moines marina was stormy, but Anthony's was very comfortable. 

January 15: Blown Waaaaaaay Off Course

While on a stroll around the neighborhood this weekend, we saw this Santa in a pink Corvette being pulled by 8 flamingos.

January 14: Old Ballard

I love this old lumbermill office on Ballard Ave. SUnset was the old phone exchange for the Sunset Hill neighborhood back when Ballard was its own city.

January 13: Katie's room



She doesn't have a phonograph but has been collecting old vinyl for months, so last week she decided to use them as wallpaper



January 12: It snowed!

....and then it rained, so the walk to work this morning was very slushy.

January 11: View from the bus stop

It's supposed to snow tonight, but it's still clear and dry in Seattle.

January 10: U.S. Courthouse Plaza

When I take a walk at lunch I usually make an effort to walk by this building because it's so beautiful. There are lots of benches nearby that are filled with people in the summer.

January 9: Sky

January 8: Skagit River

Throughout the area where eagles feed, there are small farms wedged in between the river and the edge of the Cascade range.

January 7: Skagit Kitty



We stayed at an inn in Skagit Valley this weekend, and this was one of the inn cats. The innkeepers named her Diana (her brother's name is Charles) but the innkeeper's sons call her Fluffypants.



January 6: Tyler (and his Ghost)



Karen and Randy took the opportunity to have a date night, so Katie, Tyler and I had dinner at El Serape.



January 5: Lunch Date

Amber had a meeting downtown this morning, so we got together for lunch at FareStart. I like everything about this restaurant, including their lighting.

January 4: Passion Flower

The dining room table is abloom with passion flowers -part of a 1,000 piece puzzle Amber gave me for Christmas. So far I've pieced together the blossoms and attendant butterflies and hummingbirds...only 900 pieces to go.

January 3: Pizza for Dinner

I worked late and missed the bus by 2 minutes, so Amber picked me up and we had Veraci's for dinner.

January 2: Winter Cleaning





This cabinet was so full it had begun swallowing items we use every day. Amber relocated about half of what was in the cabinet to our upper shelves, and order has been restored.

  

January 1: Sleet




We had a lovely New Year's Eve visit with mom and dad.and started the new year with a breakfast of Dutch Babies. This sleet is still on the deck and garden from a storm five days earlier. It's been cold and very dry.

 

T