Before I Forget Everything... Portland/Seattle Trip Continued

Seems my Flickr addiction is seriously interfering with blogging... so before ALL the memories of my early April trip to the Northwest to visit family and see spring beauty have completely faded away... I'm here again to reference a few photos from the trip and tell a story or two (maybe)...

Sunday, April 5, found us en route to Seattle, WA by way of Tacoma, WA where we stopped to see the Museum of Glass, visited the exhibits and the Hot Shop to watch glass blowers ply their art (live demonstrations can be viewed here when the Hot Shop is open), wandered across the Glass Bridge (featuring marvelous Chilhuly glass creations along the bridge walkway) and generally had a wonderful time.

Glassblower at work	Chilhuly glass art

On arrival in Seattle, Lauren (my niece) put us to work in the kitchen assisting with dinner preparations. (she did allow me a short get-acquainted visit with her fiancé Justus before assigning us all tasks) Dinner was a wonderful group effort featuring tacos, rice, black beans, guacamole, sauteed peppers and onions (my task) and beverages of choice with the meal. Seems we were all having too much fun to take photos that evening... but here are a couple from the next morning.

Early morning sunlight on downtown Seattle	Distant mountains from Pike Place Market

Since it was Monday morning, everyone in the group house was off to work so we went off to have breakfast at the Pike Place Market and do a bit of shopping and looking at the many shops there. It's quite a place to visit and I'm sure I'd be shopping there for fresh fish if I lived in Seattle. The flower vendors and vegetable vendors are pretty fabulous too...

Our visit to the Weyerhaueser Bonsai Garden (planned stop for our return to Portland) didn't pan out. (Weyerhaueser has closed the garden for lack of funding to maintain it.) So what else could we do but stop at McMenamin's on the Columbia River for a micro brew and a bite to eat. The views below were taken from our table while seated outdoors to take advantage of the balmy spring weather. The grackle was dining on a french fry tossed up on top of one of the umbrellas sometime earlier in the day. The folks sitting underneath the umbrella when I snapped this had NO IDEA why I was taking the photo.

The journey continues to Wilsonville, OR

After spending the first two nights at my nephew Dan's house (with his wife Wendy and son Elliott), Saturday morning found me on my way to Wilsonville (about 20 minutes south of Portland) to spend some time with my brother Larry and his wife Chris. Dan, Wendy and Elliott showed up in Wilsonville not long after I did ... we grabbed some sandwiches at a nearby sandwich shop and headed for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm hoping to see fields of tulips during their annual tulip festival.

It was a beautiful spring day, blue sky and warm temperatures. BUT, on arrival at the tulip farm we were disappointed to discover that there were almost NO tulips blooming in the fields due to the unseasonably cold (and snowy) winter as well as the cooler than usual spring weather. Not to worry... there were many potted tulips in bloom and we saw many other beautiful bulb plants blooming as well. And the view of a snow-capped Mt. Hood against the blue sky was spectacular! The potted tulips were quite nice as well.

Snow-capped Mt. Hood	Zombie (that's their name) tulips

We saw a notice at the tulip farm that the nearby St. Josef's Winery was having a tasting with MUSIC and souvenir glasses... so off we went over back roads in search of the winery. We did our tasting, then bought another glass of wine and sat outside listening to the band play and enjoying the sun. Great-nephew Elliott doesn't much care for bright lights and the sun was VERY bright... so he was wearing his shades. The fabulous Mr. Elliott definitely appears to be considering an important deal. (record contract or who to whack?)

Let me think about it	OK... let's do it

At the end of an afternoon of adventures, Larry, Chris and myself headed home to Wilsonville and dinner out nearby... Dan, Wendy and Elliott headed home to Portland. Tomorrow... off to Seattle with Larry and Chris to see Lauren (their daughter, my niece). I'll be staying in the group house guest room... AND I get to meet Lauren's fiancé Justus too!

Spring in Portland, OR

Hmmm... been back already for 11 days and still haven't finished posting about my wonderful journey to Portland and surrounding area to meet my great-nephew Elliott, visit other family members and take a side trip to Seattle (with intermediate stops coming and going) to see my niece Lauren and meet her fiancé Justus. Where DOES the time go? (Seattle Story will appear in separate post)

In the interest of getting SOMETHING down before I forget everything... brevity is the watchword of this post...

Friday, April 3... morning spent babysitting Elliott (easy job) included wheeling him around the neighborhood during a misty rain (no worries, fancy buggy had a rain shield)... he slept while I snapped photos of spring flowers.

Star Magnolia Blossom	Euphorbia Blossom with Raindrops

And mustn't leave out one of Elliott napping...


Friday, April 3... afternoon spent at the Japanese Garden of Portland, took a guided tour that was great (docents are volunteers), then wandered on my own to snap a few more pictures of the lovely gardens... rain off and on didn't interfere with my enjoyment of this beautiful place as evidenced by photos below.

Anthuriums in Ikebana Arrangement	Reflections of Sky in Pond

Getting a bit long so will continue with Saturday adventure to the tulip farm (not many tulips but fun anyway) in a separate post. (maybe will post tomorrow but don't count on it!)

Family and Flowers

Weather in Portland, Oregon is iffy in the springtime. Since my arrival Thursday afternoon, clouds, rain, sun and cool temperatures have been the norm with sunshine one minute and rain showers the next.

Purchases at Powell's Books (first stop after arrival Thursday afternoon) included a book on Pacific Northwest flora, fauna, birds, etc., travel guides for my next trip, and, of course, some fiction for pleasure reading. Dan worked away at the gelato place (free wireless) across 11th Street from Powell's while waiting for me to finish my Powell's adventure and capture a few street scenes with my camera.

Downtown Portland adventures done, we headed to my home away from home. Larry and Chris were the first to arrive at Dan and Wendy's for our evening adventure in dining out nearby. After Wendy arrived home from work with the little bundle of joy, my great-nephew Elliott, we discussed dining options and settled on New York, New York... a nearby Italian eatery serving NY style pizza, Italian food specialties and, on Thursday night, crooning Frank Sinatra style by local performer John English. Here he is singing to Elliott while Elliott goes after the microphone.


Signing off for now... Flowers are part of Friday's adventure which MAY be posted sooner rather than later.