On Presidents Day weekend, 2015, Dave and I visited Lisa's family in Seattle. It was still winter, but mild and green and gorgeous.
"Let's celebrate Kirsten's birthday!" Dave and I decided, as we sat with Kyle, Lisa, Kirsten, Bryce, and Alyssa at Seattle's Buca di Beppo restaurant. It was Friday, February 15, and we could stay in Seattle until Monday. In addition to platters of pasta and bowls of salad for our table, the server brought Kirstin a huge brownie sundae. Bryce was happy to share.
On Saturday, Kyle had to work, but Grant joined our gang to visit Bloemmer Botanical Gardens on Bainbridge Island. It was a spectacular estate, formerly owned by a lumber baron. We received a special map, assembled for Valentines Day, which included instructions for turning a hike through the garden grounds into a romantic adventure. "Sit on a bench and remember the first time you met," it instructed, and "Kiss on the bridge." Dave and I did kiss on the bridge.
Alyssa and Bryce loved climbing through the rain forest section of the gardens, with the moss-covered tree trunks.
We all loved the Japanese tea house and Japanese gardens, although it gave Bryce pause to see a "garden" with just carefully raked rocks.
It was still winter, but some flowers were already blooming.
There was a formal garden with a straight-lined, sophisticated pool.
There was also a reflecting pool surrounded by graceful trees.
We wandered through the lumber baron's house, now a setting for concerts and weddings.
We took last pictures by the Visitors Center, vowing to return again.
On our way back to Seattle, we stopped at a picturesque café overlooking Puget Sound. We stuffed ourselves with a 48-slice pizza and a big bowl of salad.
On Monday, after breakfast at The Pancake House in Redmond, we treated the kids to Woodland Park Zoo. Dave took another in his series of "Sit on that statue, Gretta" pictures. They are designed to make me look ridiculous.
1 comment:
Gretta, why are you sitting on that little animal statue
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