Sunday, April 27, 2008

Surrounded by thousands of tulips, it definitely feels like spring! There were tourists here from all over the world - we heard German, French, Japanese and Russian spoken. Everyone was taking photos of each other - no translation required... not sure we'll see anything like this in Vegas!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:47 PM
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   Thursday, April 03, 2008

March 31 was opening day - and the coldest in Seattle since 1967. Here is the color guard next to a giant flag unfurled on the field while the National Anthem was played. That alone was enough cause for goosebumps... but so was the snow that started in the 5th inning. We were thrilled that the M's pulled off a victory against the Texas Rangers, and that someone had the forethought to design this stadium with a retractable roof!

P.S. We skipped all the traffic mess and walked about a mile and a half from our condo to get to the game :)

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:24 AM
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   Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The rainforest in WA has some dang big trees. This spruce is 58' 11" in circumference and 191' tall. And about 1000 years old!

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       posted by Sue @ 5:24 PM
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Aberdeen is a little town on the WA peninsula that also happens to be the actual hometown of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame... "Come As You Are" is one of Nirvana's hit songs...hence the chamber of commerce sign. Not exactly the counterculture they were looking for...

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       posted by Sue @ 5:20 PM
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Definitely wet, but beautiful, green and mossy. This is near Lake Quinalt on the Washington peninsula, west of Seattle. It was raining in Seattle, so we thought we might as well be in the rainforest!

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       posted by Sue @ 5:14 PM
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   Monday, January 14, 2008

Now that we've moved, this is less than an hour from our condo - sweet! Nice little warm up, since we haven't skied in a year. The elevation here is low at about 4,000 ft. but cold enough for some good snow!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:31 AM
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   Saturday, November 03, 2007

A pirate wench accompanied by no less than Julius Caesar Salad!! Yes, complete with a scepter made of salad tongs and garlic, adorned with lettuce and croutons in his crown.

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 12:09 PM
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   Saturday, September 22, 2007

Look closely at this island green as Mike tees off. The whole thing is shaped like an apple, with a sand trap for a "leaf" and a bridge for the "stem". What a great tribute to the Apple capital, Yakima!! And yes, we both made it to the green, and got pars. :) Must have been the energy we got from eating all those apples...

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:19 PM
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Did you know that Washington state produces 58% of the apples eaten in the United States? This orchard weaves through Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima. You can pick fresh apples while you are waiting to tee off! These are by far the best apples you will ever eat - fresh off the tree, unwaxed, crispy and sweeeeeeet.

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:15 PM
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   Monday, September 17, 2007

Cool! We were lucky enough to get the last public tour EVER to climb the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. You can see the 1950 bridge on the left and the new bridge on the right. We were 510 ft. over the water!! The bridge extends downward below the water 230 ft. An amazing feat of engineering - check out the Washington State Department of Transportation website for a computerized animation of the process. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/animated/

and here's the newsreel of the original bridge "Galloping Gertie" that collapsed in 1940 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxTZ446tbzE

Labels: Highlights, Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:28 AM
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With Mike as cameraman, Sue and son-in-law Joel took on the Slingshot ride at the Puyallup Fair. What a blast, literally!!!

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       posted by Sue @ 8:26 AM
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Over beautiful Elliott Bay with downtown Seattle in view, we took a late summer parasail on Mike's birthday. This is actually what we did on our first date, 5 years ago!!

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       posted by Sue @ 8:07 AM
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   Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Along the shores of Lake Washington, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels thrilled the us along with the rest of the crowd. It was fast, loud and unbelievable precision flying!!

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       posted by Sue @ 12:54 PM
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   Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Waving to the crowd, shaking hands and kissing babies. Hey, it's Presidential election season, right? Photo op courtesy of the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle :)

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       posted by Sue @ 2:27 PM
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Yup, this is the original location at Pike's Place Market. We're here with Mike's brother Steve and his fiance Cathy from Illinois. Check out the Starbucks mermaid logo - she used to have actual breasts, but now she's green and definitely G Rated.

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 2:24 PM
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For Sue's 2nd annual 49th birthday!! A good time was had by all, complete with a 4 hour soundtrack of great music (Mustang Sally, Good Golly Miss Molly, Runaround Sue, you name it!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 2:22 PM
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   Sunday, April 29, 2007

Below is just part of our wonderful deck painting crew. Other jobs included roof, fence and window box repair, install of new pantry floor and install of 6 second story through-the-wall air conditioners. Wow. On top is a shot of the whole group - amazing job, everyone!!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 7:11 AM
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A little remake of their vegetable garden! There were two of these - we dug them out, put down weed barrier cloth & new soil and plants. The residents here really like to see plants from the garden end up on their plate!

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       posted by Sue @ 7:08 AM
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   Saturday, April 28, 2007

Before (top) and after (bottom). About 40 people attacked this project and many others in one day. Rainier Investment Management employees along with Ironworkers and Carpenters rebuilt and landscaped this retaining wall area for the Lincoln Group Home for the mentally disabled. The railroad ties here weight 500lbs apiece!!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 6:42 AM
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   Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Hope springs eternal at Safeco Field! You can see downtown Seattle in the background. The Mariner's beat the Oakland A's... good start!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 3:00 PM
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   Wednesday, March 14, 2007

To celebrate Mom's 77th... we had (top row) my daughter Sarah and her boyfriend Brian. Bottom row from the left is Mike, Brian's daughter Gwen, Mom, my niece Jessica and her husband Anthony. It had been a long time since we'd all worn birthday hats :)

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 11:15 PM
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   Friday, March 02, 2007

Here's Mike carving up some virgin powder. We had this bowl all to ourselves!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 11:06 PM
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Oh, the views you get when snowmobiling on a clear day. Here is Mt. Rainier - at least 20 miles away from our viewpoint and as clear as a bell. Every once in a while when it quits raining (!) you realize just how beautiful the Pacific Northwest really is!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:40 PM
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   Sunday, February 11, 2007

And well and frozen in the snow at Leavenworth, WA. KOHO radio is the local station of Icicle Broadcasting. Despite the face he's a hunka hunka burnin' love, he didn't melt much snowpack...

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       posted by Sue @ 7:45 PM
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   Saturday, February 10, 2007

The skiing was slushy and foggy, but the hot tub at the Sleeping Lady Lodge was spectacular. It was a "spool" or spa pool, with all natural rockery. And no, we didn't roll in the snow. At least not this time :)

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 7:28 PM
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   Sunday, January 21, 2007

We did a snowmobile rally where we had to go to 5 different locations to draw cards and see what poker hand we came up with. Mike ALMOST had a full house...

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 10:44 PM
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   Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Check out the fountain in front of our house - it's still running, but barely! The driveway is a skating rink. We have another winter storm predicted for tonight. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 12:14 PM
      (2) comments

   Monday, November 13, 2006

Mike was a Fortune Teller - a whole BOOTH in fact! Here he is with his assistants Tina (left) and Heather (right). Heather was the Morton salt girl, so Tina was "Pepper" all day.

Yours truly played a round of golf complete with a large hat with spiders hanging from it - great for keeping your head still!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 5:54 PM
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   Monday, September 25, 2006

Larry Richmond, mayor for 16 years, took us around Chewelah on a 3 hour tour of the sights. Lots of trees and rolling hills, farm country, beautiful lakes. The people here were so warm and friendly (our B&B just left the door unlocked for us). It was a nice slice of Americana for the weekend. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 11:34 AM
      (4) comments

The aiport here loaned us this car for $10 per day. Not only did it have this cool searchlight, but also flashing lights (they warned us not to use them, but we pulled into a back road and couldn't resist) and exempt plates (we could park anywhere). Sweeeet. Mike shone that light as we drove around at night, scaring cats and necking teenagers alike. He swears his next car needs to have one of these gizmos!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 11:21 AM
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Chewelah is tucked up in the northeast corner of WA state, north of Spokane. We've chased deer, rabbits and squirrels off tee boxes to play golf, but this was a first...wild turkeys!! There is wildlife aplenty here - prior to landing the plane, you have to buzz the airstrip to scare off the deer. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 11:18 AM
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   Sunday, September 17, 2006

Mike and I participated (burp!) in the Rainier Investment Management company picnic pie eating contest. All the pie you could eat for 30 seconds. Note my chocolate mustache and Mike's whipped cream face! Mike came in second, but claims he would have won had his efforts not been hampered by a pre-contest pie in the face. Must have been payback from the water balloon fight! 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 6:02 PM
      (3) comments

   Thursday, September 14, 2006

That's Brian on the left and Jay on the right, photo taken with some ingenious balancing and an automatic timer. Anyone game for some rock climbing? A trip to the Grand Tetons may be in the works sometime next year... 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:16 AM
      (2) comments

Mike made it to the top!! Fortunately, he also made it back down safe and sound, tired but very satisfied. He gave this trip an A+ rating and will be looking for hiking companions for the next trip with these same guides. Anyone game? 

Labels: Highlights, Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:10 AM
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Near Leavenworth in central WA, this trip was Mike and a couple of guide buddies. They hiked up with 50 lb backpacks, set up camp and then clipped in and scrambled up the rock face.

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:07 AM
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   Sunday, August 20, 2006

Blaine, WA next to the Canadian border, eh? Great clinic - we learned a lot from Mike Adams, great instructor from Florida. I think I learned more than Mike, since I'm a relative newcomer to golf. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 10:35 PM
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   Thursday, July 27, 2006

A spectacular but hot 90 degree day - we took a short hike, came back early after we realized the deer flies were really biting. The view was worth it... we see the other side of this mountain range from our house. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:56 PM
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This was the best of the bunch, in our opinion. And since we're both from the Midwest, gotta love the corn! 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:54 PM
      (1) comments

Pretty northwesty... deer at mid-day on the golf course. Now if this doe will only kick my ball into the cup!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:52 PM
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Winthrop is a little town in Eastern WA - with elevated wooden sidewalks, a saloon and ice cream parlor. This western dude is pretty cool, huh? I think his name is Woody. 

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 8:49 PM
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   Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Any score under 110 at a regulation course = new clubs.
Any score under 100 at a regulation course = trip to Scotland.
I shot 103 at Dungeness (in Sequim, WA).
Yee hah - I'm on my way, at least to buy clubs!!! :)

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:45 AM
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The flight over to Port Townsend was spectacular. These are taken from the plane. All the mountains were out in postcard perfect views. On the left is the final approach at Renton Municipal Airport. If you overshoot the runway, that's Lake Washington ahead of you!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:38 AM
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Sarah and her boyfriend Brian took us to brunch at Manresa Castle in Port Townsend. Beautiful place - apparently its past history includes use as a convent and a monastery. We spent the night in a hotel that used to be a brothel, so I guess we have the whole spectrum covered!

Anyway, delicious food - and great company, of course!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:33 AM
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   Sunday, May 21, 2006

The last Saturday of April each year we volunteer with Rebuilding Together. Mike's company - Rainier Investment Management or RIM is the sponsor (pays for supplies) and RIM employees volunteer, along with friends and family. This year we fixed up a Boys and Girls Club in Seattle - new paint job, replacing sod in a play area, building a retaining wall in the driveway and funding the purchase of a new couch and lights for their teen room. Local Ironworkers and Carpenters volunteered their time along with us - a fun and rewarding one day project.

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 9:01 PM
      (1) comments

   Sunday, December 25, 2005

Many bananas later, this is Sarah all grown up...isn't she pretty?

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ 7:29 PM
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