7 things which cheered me up this week

Coming home from vacation is always a bit of a downer, so here are several things (captured with my i-phone) which cheered me up this week.

Blue skies on a walk

A Pike Place Market Valentine's Day

Anyone who reads my blog knows I am a big fan of Pike Place Market. Some locals might stick their nose up at it as merely a place to take tourists, but there are a lot of great places to check out in not a lot of square footage. Lunch dates are by far the best kind of break in the middle of my day. It needn't be with a spouse, it could be with a child or a friend. It needn't be more than a hour, but it can be pure joy.

This time of year the tulips start making their way into the stalls at the market. Forgo the pre made bouquets and pick out your very own custom bouquet stem by stem, it does not cost much more and allows you the freedom to select what you like.

Projects, more projects and snippets of life

I am a firm believer in "real" cameras, not cell phone cameras, but what the phone lacks in capability, it makes up for in capturing quick snippets of life. 

Here is my latest quilt project, it is called a spider quilt. This is just laid out, not sewn together...a real work in progress.

Life is meant to be shared

Food, germs, time, you name it we like to share it with each other. Based upon the fact colds have plagued our little family, we had a pretty low key weekend. You know when you have grand ideas, but simply do not have the energy to execute any of them? Well, that was us this weekend. We spent an inordinate amount of time downtown exploring every nook and cranny of the city and popping into a shop or two as the mood struck us. Most notably, I was temporarily astonished when I found myself indulging in a doughnut right before eating dinner. At times like this I have to remind myself I am adult and I can simply do whatever I like. Cameron who scoffs at any such notion of calorie counting is oh so good for me and my self esteem. Life is meant to be enjoyed and my husband is just plain good at it.

What does your low key weekend look like?

Sunsets are grand, especially in the dead of Winter.

Christmas in Seattle

There are so many great reasons to venture downtown this time of year. If you time it right you will not have to brave the crowds or fight for a parking spot. Here are some of my favorite Christmas traditions:

1. Pike Place Market Christmas Lights- wander around the market with hot chocolate in hand as you check out the Christmas lights which include a pig drawn sleigh and various fruits and vegetables. Particularly after a good rain the streets are glossy and the produce some brilliant reflection for photographs.

The Teaser

It doesn't seem to matter the age difference or how old they get, brothers like to tease their sisters. With three brothers Cameron's sister really gets it from all sides, but deep down I know she loves it. I love this sequence of Nicole looking longingly at the Snickers Cameron is consuming. That girl sure makes me laugh!

Being an aunt is the best

While my nieces were in town my eldest niece spent the evening at our house. She was our first house guest (we rarely get many overnight guests) which made it doubly exciting. The next morning we caught the bus downtown and strolled around Pike Place Market. We braved the ridiculously long line at Starbuck's first location so we could enjoy some hot chocolate and met up with Cameron for lunch at Beecher's.

Looks like I need to watch my angles........... I am starting to look more pregnant than fat which will be a good thing.

One of the kindest young ladies you will ever meet.

Lunch time with Cameron and the Seattle Ferris Wheel in the background.

Later that day we met up with her little sisters at the gum wall and checked out our new City Target.

SLC= our names and not Salt Lake City.

People painted from head to toe in gold or silver seem to be everywhere now. They gave him a tip and he put on a show.

To market, to market

Does the thought of grocery shopping at Pike Place Market seem overwhelming or too crowded to prove successful? Think again....

Here are a few of my tips on how to have a successful shopping trip to Pike Place Market:

1. Shopping on an empty stomach is a bad idea: Stop at Beecher's for a homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese for shopping fuel. While you are there pick up Beecher's Flagship cheese, so you can head home and make your own version of their signature mac and cheese.

2. Think local and seasonal: whether it is flowers or vegetables, if you purchase whatever is in season it will not only be fresher, but a greater value. Right now tulips are the "it" flower of choice.

3. Pricing: Just because it is artfully displayed or in a touristy location does not automatically mean it is more expensive than the grocery store. I consistently find great prices on carrots, potatoes, onions and fresh herbs at the market.

4. Fluid menu planning: Head to the market with a general idea of what you would like to have ie. a pasta with a protein and vegetables or ingredients for a hearty salad. This provides for a much more successful experience than scouring the market for a plantain.

5. Ask the experts: When a shopkeeper only sells fish or cheese they know volumes more about their product. Take the time to ask them how best to prepare their product. Pike Place Fish Market only sells sustainable fish. For those of us who want to be responsible, you can buy with confidence here.

5. Sunshine in Seattle: You are foolish to stay inside on days like this, so what better way to spend it than at the market.