Some Like It Hot

We've had some epic weather over the past few weeks, but the last few days have been in the 90s. As I was driving home today, the car reported that it was 99 degrees outside. This is unheard of in Seattle -- we're the capital of rainy and/or mild weather.
Five day forecast courtesy of King5.com.

I'm not going to complain though... it's not often that we see so much sunshine and heat, and it's not like it's going to stay that long (I think). Although, tomorrow is reported to be epic -- hitting triple digits for only the second time in history. Hold on to your hats Seattleites! It's going to be a scorcher!

Weekend Wanderings

We've been quite busy lately, so I haven't had the chance to post updates about our weekend wanderings. Here's an overview or recap of sorts:

July 4th Weekend
Both Lennie and I had Friday off, and we had a lazy day at home before visiting with my parents. On Saturday, we went with my parents to a friend's house to enjoy some great food, laughter, and fireworks from afar. On Sunday, Lennie and I ventured in to Seattle Center, where we visited the Jim Henson exhibit at the EMP. It was a fun exhibit, although smaller than I expected. I learned a lot about Jim Henson, and enjoyed a glimpse into his creative process. Here's a few photos from around Seattle Center:


Salish Lodge
The following weekend, Lennie and I were fortunate enough to stay the night at Salish Lodge overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. We celebrated our second anniversary during this getaway, and had a wonderful time. The room was very comfortable and the atmosphere was very relaxing. After massages at the spa, we had dinner in the "casual" restaurant overlooking the Falls. We were fortunate enough to get a window table during sunset. Here's some photos of the sunset and our time at the Salish Lodge.

On the way home, we went wherever the road led us, which was kind of a fun adventure. We ended up at a truck stop outside of North Bend for lunch. It was at this truck stop that we learned that the "fancy restaurants" put silverware on the tables with the napkins before patrons arrive. Who knew. It was fun to take in the people at the restaurant, and we left with full bellies and smiles on our faces.

Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA
Last weekend, we joined our good friends on a camping trip in Port Angeles, WA. It was wonderful to unplug from the world and unwind amongst nature. The only incident of the camping trip was when I nearly lost Lennie while waiting in line for the ferry. Lesson learned: even though the sign says that there's a two hour wait for the ferry, that does not mean that your car won't be rolling down the road for the next 1+ miles before the ferry dock... oh, and the sidewalk does end somewhere in there... and if you're going to get out of the car, you should take your cell phone with you so that your wife can locate you later instead of calling the seat next to her... Yikes. There's more to the story, but in the end, Lennie and I were reunited and we lived to laugh about it, eventually.

On Saturday, we went to the Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA. I've wanted to go to the festival for a few years now, and am glad that we made it out this year. The street fair was packed with vendors selling every lavender product imaginable (and even some that you wouldn't think of!). There was a stage with bands playing that kept the energy up, and the food smelled wonderful. After taking in the street fair, we boarded one of the buses to the lavender fields. It was amazing to see all of the lavender in bloom! I could have taken it all in for days, I think... it was a long day, full of viewing farms and sunshine, and I came back to camp with a wonderful sunburn. Here are some of my favorite photos from the Lavender Festival:



On Sunday, we struck camp and headed out to the Dungeness Spit just outside of Sequim. The beach was beautiful, and the water looked more like it was somewhere tropical rather than in Washington state. I have a few favorite photos from this side trip as well:


After enjoying the Dungeness Spit, we started the trek back home. Our drive took us back over the Hood Canal Bridge and into Kingston to catch the ferry. As we were making our way back, we were stopped unexpectedly on the bridge to let some shipping traffic through. So, we got to stand in the middle of the bridge taking photos of the traffic. Here ar e a few favorite photos from the trip home:

(Yes, that's a submarine... cool, huh?)



Phew! That's a lot to take in! :-) No wonder I'm a little tired right now... Nonetheless, we're having an unprescedented summer here in Seattle, and we're enjoying every minute of it. I hope that this message finds all of you well, and soaking in some summer sunshine as well.

Two Years!

Yesterday, we celebrated our two year anniversary. In keeping with "tradition," we enjoyed dinner at Palomino in Bellevue and then watched the video of our wedding at home. What a great way to mark our anniversary; I think that I pick up on something new from the words exchanged and the songs that were sung every time I watch the video.

I can't believe how quickly time has flown by... It's been a great ride, and I'm so excited to see what comes next!