Meditations on Life and Parenting
“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.” – Pablo Picasso
See quote above… 🙂
Go Mariners!
Another week of incredible weather!
Miss O wanted to ride bikes to school. I made a deal with Mr. D that we could throw rocks into the lake if he rode on the back of my bike. A win for everyone!
Everything is a toy!
Did you crawl out of any bushes, have tons of fun riding escalators or have some not-good sense creativity this week?
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A friend joked this week that the Pacific Northwest might be one of the few places where climate change has improved our weather. After spending a couple of beautiful 75 degree October days at the beach on Whidbey Island, I have to agree that the weather was awesome. Although I still thought it a little too cold for Miss O to be in Puget Sound, she apparently thought differently.
I find it very endearing that Mr D waits for the garbage truck and waves like it’s a celebrity sighting. And since they always wave and honk back, it is a special visit every week!
Halloween preparation has begun…
My neighbor has created a beautiful sunflower garden in front of her house that is still in beautiful bloom.
How was your week?
“A house is made with walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Coming home from my business trip last week, I got in late Friday night. So I woke up to the beautiful sunrise (featured photo) and a weekend with my precious kids. I got to sit on the floor and played Lincoln Logs and trucks, hear about all the new ways to make friendship bracelets and was reintroduced to the neighborhood (including the slugs).
Mid-week Seattle Mariners game with friends. I don’t claim to be a big baseball fan but it’s fun to go to the park!
And in addition to the ball park, there was also time spent at neighborhood parks on these beautiful fall days!
As we settled into our Friday night, Mr. D looked at the door at the crescent moon rising and said, “It needs another piece.”
How was your week?
“To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and to be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.” – Mark Nepo
Having fun at parks, playgrounds and bike rides (that’s Miss O on the bike ahead) last weekend.
Images from on my travels to the East Coast this week. Clearly I had some fun (especially touching the Atlantic Ocean) and it wasn’t all business.
I could rest assured while I was away because the watch cat was clearly on the job at home!
How was your week?
“If you are offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on!” – Sheryl Sandberg
Bouncy house fun!
Sometimes you just want to fix up the neighborhood.
A cat’s eye view.
Enjoying the cooler air and the soft summer light of this late summer season.
I love that this sign invites us to rely on kindness instead of just offer it. What got you through this week?
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” – John Muir
Photos from our hike on Tiger Mountain as described in The Journey is the Destination!
Playgrounds and blackberry picking at Discovery Park
I have a favorite place to go workout on some stairs (13 flights for a total of 290 stairs) and I took Miss O with me this week. There are some great views of Lake Union and the Space Needle from the upper flights which always helps with the motivation!
Signage humor. What made you laugh this week?
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.” – Hunter S. Thompson
We drove out to the North Cascades again last weekend and enjoyed some great scenery and more horse rides.
And then continued with horse rides once we got home.
Bouldering as a birthday present – one of Miss O’s picks that was a really fun!
Wildlife – a deer, some micro mini cows (from the North Cascades) and a squirrel enjoying the last of the plums in our yard.
Lake Union from the top of the Capital Hill steps which wraps up the view of our week. How was yours?
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
The last of the vacation pictures – a heron fishing in the morning and a brief sighting of orcas on the ferry ride home.
Miss O wanted a pink polaroid camera for her birthday. Which makes me laugh because as she very carefully takes the one picture that she wants so as not to waste her film, I get to snap 5 digital pictures of her in the process.
Wildlife at home – a raccoon eating plums in our backyard and a goose figuring out the neighborhood cross walks.
Finding dandelions to wish on…
Did you have a week full of wishes and dreams?
“The eyes experience less stress when they can look upon a wider horizon.” – R.D. Chin
I think all vacations that start with a ferry ride are off to a good start. And this one ended with Miss O drawing out our activities which provided a nice summary before our ferry ride back.
A week of a wide horizon of sun, sea and surf.
On a walk that my friend and Mr. D took, they saw a bunny run under a hedge. My friend started to say, “I bet if we are quiet, then we can…” Then Mr. D., already understanding the point, interjected, “Sshhh!”
Regardless of all there was to look at, it seemed the most popular place to be for the 7-years and under set was in the pool.
The windows of Langley, a picturesque little town on Whidbey Island near where we were staying, were stenciled with little quotes. Although one of them seemed to have the idea backwards, at least to my way of thinking.
Any quotable lines and good stories from your week?
“The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you are the pilot.” – Michael Althsuler
Seafair in Seattle – an incredible show on a beautiful day. (Anyone that wants to see the Blue Angels’ farewell flyover video I captured see my instagram @wynneleon)
Also spotted at Seafair – a kayaker with a dog wearing googles. Nothing more Seattle than that!
Mr. D practicing his breakfast chef skills. Buzz Lightyear and the fire truck are there in case something goes wrong.
I don’t think I’ve ever gone to the Seattle beaches as much as summer of 2022.
This sign reminded me of Julia Preston who is always luminous but was especially so this week.
What lit you up this week?
Surprised By Joy 