snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

this was the morning view from my window.


isn't friday the first day of spring? what is going on around here?

lucy in the sky with diamonds

my lunchtime today was spent sitting with my friend margaret and eating tomato basil soup (with homemade croutons and a sprinkling of cheese) and a freshly made grilled cheese sandwich at beecher's (yes the same place I went with my sister on monday, it's that good) down in the market.

then, we walked out to a concert. it was the 40th anniversary of the beatles' final public appearance at an impromptu rooftop concert in london. we listened to creme tangerine cover the exact set of songs the beatles played during that concert. read more about that here.

creme tangerine was surprisingly good and their placement on the copacabana terrace overlooking pike place market was pretty fantastic. you can read more on this anniversary event and the appearance of ken mansfield here.

this isn't the best photo but the band is on the right side of the terrace, under the "Y" in "sanitary" on the adjoining building

big lunch crowd which is good for market business

it was sunny and not freezing. in seattle, that's a beautiful day!

if only I had a deck chair, a blanket and a hot drink, I'd have been out there enjoying the music and the weather for hours. thank goodness it's friday!

here's what's happening in my neck of the woods

it's crazy here. I'm not sure this much snow has fallen near downtown seattle ever.

I'll have to check the weather records to be sure but we've gotten about 4-5 inches so far and it's still snowing.

what is up?

here is the crowd standing at the top of queen anne ave watching the sledders and skiers make their way down. it's pretty fun to watch!

doesn't my building look pretty in the snow?

I don't think I will be moving my car for awhile.

is it snowing where you are?

signs that fall might have arrived in a city near you...

one:
flowers in hues of orange, yellow and red for sale at your neighborhood market...


two:
the ivy that trails your building starts turning a beautiful shade of copper...


three:
halloween candy adorns the shelves at the drugstore, and on sale to boot...


four:
the see-your-breath cool mornings invite you to pull out your new fall coat...



"delicious autumn! my very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
- george eliot

my view

...from my window.

the rain is back.

...from my lap.

yes, that is cookie dough. snickerdoodle cookie dough to be exact.

you know you wish you were me today.

:)

what I like about winter: exhibit d

christmas projects:

*WARNING* norway spoiler
your package is in the mail...if you wish to be surprised, DO NOT scroll down to the photo :-)

here is a long awaited photo (albeit a BAD one, sorry) of the christmas project I was working on last month. before I realized, all the packages had been wrapped and packaged so this was the only photo I had remembered to get.

I made personalized library totes for all the little people in my life. they were not my best work but I am proud of them nonetheless. I started with this pattern and went from there.

the bags themselves are made of blue denim and a pink stretch denim-like material with the letters cut out of various cotton/corduroy I had in my stash. the letters were adhered using wonder-under and even though it was heavy duty, I wonder about the longevity of it holding.

*apology*
if you received a bag, I'm sorry if the letter doesn't last very long. I'm new to this iron-on thing!

each bag was filled with goodies custom to its recipient...either books to read or books to color or books to write in or little toys.

ps: I've been told by angie that abby and alex use their bags to grocery shop...I love it!

what I like about winter: exhibit c

vintage tablecloths and winter tulips:
I bought this tablecloth from her two years ago and have just now been able to put it out for the first time...isn't it lovely? add the pretty winter tulips that surprised me at the market a few days ago...where did they come from? what a nice dreary weather/rainy pick me up!

winter travel update: mom, dad, katie and aunt jean made it safely to seattle LATE friday night. we're glad they are here! (we checked the mountain pass report at the same time they would have been traveling and chains were suggested...so glad they braved the nighttime drive!)

what I like about winter: exhibit b

festive businesses:
just look at this place a few blocks away from me. they are totally on board with everything that is to celebrate this holiday season. it just looks happy doesn't it? makes me want to stop in for a bite. want to join me?


my parents, sister, and great aunt are on their way to seattle as we speak. there is a storm set to move in early tomorrow morning and is rumored to make mountain pass travel next to impossible. they decided to circumvent the problem and drive over late tonight. this is not my dad's forte (he's a morning guy) and my mom is stressed so I'm praying not just that the weather would keep until they cross the summit, but that their spirits would rest and calm along the way. scrambling to pack an overstuffed car (and realizing you've left the stocking stuffers behind an hour into the journey) and travel during the dark are not always the first choice but sometimes is the better option. thank you lord for safe travel.

what I like about winter: exhibit a

it may be grey and rainy and COLD but look at this sunset?
(as seen from the window in my office looking out on west seattle)

makes me feel a little warmer at least...
(well, along with the space heater I have hidden under my desk at work!)


forgive my lack of posting lately, the holidays are kicking my butt and I'm trying to keep my head above water...while keeping the christmas spirit!

my parents and sister are coming here for christmas so there is lots to do before saturday because when they arrive, it's time to chat, eat, visit, and eat some more...in other words, its time to slow down and enjoy each other. I'm very much looking forward to that!

snow, snow, snow

snow...it won't be long before we'll all be there with snow
snow...I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow
snow...I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow
snow...oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow
where it's snowing all winter through
that's where I want to be
snowball throwing that's what I'll do
how I'm longing to ski through the snow-oh-oh-oh-oh
those glist'ning houses that seem to be built of snow
snow...oh, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow
what is christmas with no snow
no white christmas with no snow
snow
I'll soon be there with snow
I'll wash my hair with snow and with a spade of snow
I'll build a man that's made of snow
I'd love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye
go to sleep
and dream
of snow
(as sung by bob (bing), phil (danny), betty (rosemary) and judy (vera-ellen) on the train on their way to vermont - white christmas)


there was a little weather excitement in seattle today...SNOW! it came quick, fell hard and fast, and is almost gone as of now. should have taken a better photo once I got home but I was lazy and didn't...sorry. it sure was purty though.