Lincoln City - part 3

Heading out into the water...

Surprise! Never turn your back on the waves...

Laughing... =D

I love playing in the ocean!

Feet ~ in the water

Feet ~ no water

Watching Nicholas fly the stunt kite...

Uncle Blaine teaching/helping Cade fly the kite!

...with the kite in the picture!

View out the window at Mo's restaurant...

Nicholas ordered BBQ baby back ribs and Benjamin ordered popcorn scallops.

Yep.

Saying our goodbyes...

At the end of a wonderful day...

~ and we're making plans for a big family vacation in Vancouver, BC 2010!

Returning home via Salem to I-5

Ugh. Construction delay... Will we ever get home?

iPod, cellphones, wallets, sunglasses, soda and more...

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I love you!

Happy Father's Day!

We're off to Lincoln City, Oregon tomorrow (day trip) and will continue celebrating Father's Day then ~ but enjoyed celebrating today in special ways too!

Peet's Coffee at Green Lake before church this morning...

He had a whole milk vanilla latte (I think) and I had peppermint tea!

Enjoying his cuppa!

Just what I needed this morning...

Blaine and I determined this is a good Sunday morning spot for us ~ good drinks, comfy chairs, classical music and great company!

Why are you taking a picture of me?

...with Benjamin (before he had to rush off to work)

...with Nicholas (between services, as he ran the sound all morning)

I convinced Blaine to go to the Fremont Street Fair...

Enjoying ourselves!

Happy Father's Day, Blaine...

Friday afternoon outing!

I've been having a tough time the past couple of weeks ~ emotionally ~ and Blaine decided we should get out and have some fun!

My country bouquet from Pike Place Market ~ just $5.00!

Blaine took a picture of the people traffic at Pike Place Market ~
lots and lots of them on a Friday afternoon in June!

Love this picture...

This adorable little bird was determined to eat this piece of caramel kettle corn...

Still working at it!

Enjoying our caramel kettle corn

Friday evening traffic on the viaduct...

Best kettle corn stand at the park at Pike Place Market!

Sitting on a table eating kettle corn...

Yummy!

Ergh! Why is it every time I sit down to enjoy a snack I get accosted by 'feathered ones'?!

Looking at the ferry and the Port of Seattle

The fire boat catching everyone's attention...

The stadiums ~ Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners!

Love my flowers!

Blaine enjoying our fried rice at Jai Thai!

Thanks Blaine... It's good to make new memories and enjoy the simple things in life together!

Hidden staircase...

Blaine and I got the majority of the hill cleared today ~ most of the green showing is blackberry and that will be sprayed (yes, it's the one plant we use chemical to kill) as soon as the wind mellows out. After it dies back, we can begin planting the creeping thyme amongst the rocks. Eventually, we'll get the cotoneaster planted across the flat ledge and on the ends...

...and look what I found!

I did alot of dirt moving, but finally found the rock staircase I thought must be hidden somewhere ~ had seen what looked like "steps" above... It was like finding "hidden treasure" in our backyard ~ I'm delighted! :D

Tomato tip!

When growing tomatoes ~ pinch out the 'extra' growth that grows in the crook of the plant. If you leave it, the plant will put its energy into growing more plant. If you remove it, the plant will focus its energy on "fruit" production = more tomatoes! See picture below.

New growth in crook -

should pinch it when it's quite small, but I just noticed many on my plants today...

Another view ~ a little blurry though...

It's gone! Yay ~ more tomatoes!

If anyone wants to give a more "expert" explanation ~ please leave a comment! We would all appreciate it... =)

Bees!

I love it when our California Lilac (can never remember its Latin name) blooms and the bush becomes alive with bees! The hum is quite loud, the activity doesn't cease until the sun goes down each day, and eventually little pieces of flower petal will cover the ground beneath the lilac...and then they'll be gone. There is a house in the neighborhood and their bush has grown into a tree. When I walk Coco, I stand underneath the tree on the sidewalk and listen to the 'drone' of the bees, all around me, busily at work. So fascinating!

Here's a little video I took with my camera (airplane noise at the end of it...) ~

And, a couple of still photos ~ look closely and you can see my bumble "friends"! :)