Monday afternoon, while waiting for a certain flight from Cali, Helen introduced me to Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. Nicknamed "Pikes" by the locals, this massive farmer's market sits right on the edge of the water and is open year-round. And lemme tell ya, after five minutes I was hooked.
When I said "massive", I meant it. Pikes stretches for several blocks and has three different levels, all of them indoors. In the summer, there are dozens of flower stalls offering big beautiful bouquets for dirt cheap.
My crazy sis-in-law. Someone buy her flowers, please.
Chiles! Aren't they colorful?
Pike's is famous for its fish markets. Especially the one where the guys take your order and then proceed to throw fresh fish back and forth amongst themselves while packaging what you bought.
There are lots of little cafes and coffee shops, too. Crepes, fish and chips, fresh baked bread. You name it and its probably there. To add to the ambience, every so often you'll happen upon a lone guitar player strutting their stuff on the sidewalk. The air smells of coffee and fish, salt and olive oil, lavender and fresh fruit.
A view of the port in Seattle.
I haven't been berry-picking in years. I think Oak Glen was the last time, and even then, I had to pay for my tiny half-pint container. Here, though, berry bushes are considered something of a nuisance because they spread so quickly and dominate most other plants. No one cares where you pick or when you pick or how many. Especially if you find bushes on public land.
Which we did. :) Joseph Whidbey State Park, one of our favorite places to go, is absolutely teeming with blackberries right now. I had no idea these berries ripened so late in the summer, but they do. And lemme tell ya, they are del.ic.ious!
Caleb thought so, too. He loves having anything down on his level, where his little paws, I mean, hands, can reach. These berry bushes were perfectly accessible; sort of like an all-you-can-eat buffet. They were even better than the cookie table at the company picnic, but that's another story.
The whole park is covered with mounds and hills of these brambles, so trust me when I say there is plenty blackberry goodness to go around. :)
I finally got my act together and downloaded pics from the Guest Room Project. Hey, I may be slow, but I do eventually get the job done! :) So here we have one very empty room. This is what it looked like after I moved all our boxes out into the storage room.
That's the door, which leads into a hall to the den, laundry room, and second bathroom.
All the supplies for the room, stacked in the corner.
The day the bed arrived! Mom and Harry gave us money to get a good queen-sized bed for the room, since they'll be visiting often. :)
Putting the bed together. Yes, the dresser and bed have moved. They moved several times, in fact, before I decided I liked them here the best. 
Curtains! At last! But they cover too much of that big beautiful window. Don't want to obstruct the view.
Ahhhh, much better! The window is ridiculously huge, but it has an amazing view of our front yard. I had a picture of the trees out there, but I think my computer ate it... hmmm...
Yes, the curtain-pull-backer-thingies were a good idea!
Yep, the room is nearly done. I should have "finished" pictures later in the week or weekend. And none too soon, either. Mom and Harry arrive next Monday night, and this room will definitely sparkle and shine and be ready to welcome them.The weather's turning.
Even though it's only September, fall is already here. Nights are colder, days cooler. Leaves are changing colors. Rain comes more frequently and jackets are no longer optional. Mmmmmm.
Imagine my surprise. I hale from California, where there are basically two seasons: hot and cool. If you're lucky, you get a month of nice fall-ish weather in between. Maybe around November. Not so in the Pacific Northwest. Summers are shorter this far north, and instead of two seasons we get all four.
Four. I have never in my life experienced four distinct seasons. I'm really rather excited about this.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Hands down. And this year, I'm looking forward to three glorious months of it. :)
But what is fall without a house decked out in orange and red and brown? Without spiced apple candles burning and miniature pumpkins sitting on the window sill? My mom always decorated our house for fall when I was growing up. So did my best friend's mom. By the time I hit college, I just assumed everyone's mom did that and I looked forward to the day when I would decorate my own home, too.
I'm older and wiser now. I know there are people out there who do not get as excited about autumn as I do (what sad, cheerless people they must be!). Nonetheless, fall decorating has become a cherished tradition around here, one I eagerly anticipate. And I can't tell you how my lil' heart pitter patters when I think about living through a real fall and enjoying said decorations a month longer than usual.
To quote a movie I've seen way too many times: "I must scream to the world my excitement from the top of someplace very high!"
Yep, that about sums it up!
So today, while my son is busy NOT napping, I think I'll pull out the fall box from the closet and get to work with my leaves and acorns and pumpkins and scarecrows.
Oh, and if I go missing, do please tell Jason to look for me at Michaels Crafts. I got lost in there yesterday for over an hour, drooling, I MEAN, selecting some new pretties for the house. :)
Sitting in the living room. Smelling dinner in the oven. Watching Lord of the Beans with Caleb. Waiting for hubby to come home.
Rainy outside. Cloudy, too. Wearing long sleeves and long pants; comfy clothes. Lovin' my slipper socks.
Back hurts. Don't know why. Remembering to take life slow. Clean hair. Love that smell. Thanking God for His gentle patience.
Blonde-haired boy chewing on stuffed animals. Laughing every time he points to the TV and says "Bean!" Excited for Netflix; have NCIS to watch tonight.
Resting in an avocado recliner. Warm laptop on my legs. Thinking the new recipe will turn out tasty. Can't go wrong with sausage and pasta.
Cracking up as Ent-like tree beings blow raspberries at our favorite Veggie Tale characters. The best part of the movie. Hoping Heather calls me back tonight so we can chat about the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Sighing to self. Wishing to put into words the thoughts flowing through my mind. Eloquence eludes me. Grateful for Jesus and His amazing grace which daily sees me through.
Sleepy-headed. Early to bed. Timer dinging. Dinner's almost done. Dropped shredded cheese on the bottom of the oven. Hoping it doesn't smoke. Lovin' life.
Ending this post now. Prayin' blessings upon you all.
