Tourist in My Own City

https://visitseattle.org/

Early this month my niece visited Seattle from the other Washington for the first time. Though she only had two full days in Seattle, my husband and I gave her a whirlwind tour of the popular sights in Seattle—some that I had never seen despite living here for 48 years.

Red Hall Link

The first day she was here gave us just a few hours to see the “red hall” at the downtown Seattle Public Library. I’d never heard of this floor of the library. A librarian told us it contained no books but housed library meeting rooms. Despite FIFA, we were able to get a dinner table right away, then it was time for her to get some rest before her first full day here.

 

 

 

Friday morning we had breakfast crumpets at the Crumpet Shop and then explored Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. My husband and I make an annual trip here to shop for treats and Christmas gifts.
 

 

 

After an hour or so at the market, we headed to the Nordic Museum, which was the first time I’ve been there. Seattle has a significant Nordic population in the part of Seattle known as Ballard, named for Captain William Rankin Ballard.

Following that, we toured the Ballard Locks and fish ladder. The locks raise and lower water levels between Puget Sound and Lake Union and Lake Washington to allow ships and boats access each way.

The Falls

The final day of her visit was July 4th and we started off with a trip to Snoqualmie Falls and a stop in the historic town of Snoqualmie. Arriving back in Seattle, we then took an underground tour with Beneath the Streets. Seattle was originally built on tide flats, but following an historic fire that destroyed the entire town, it was rebuilt above the original stores and sidewalks. Many blocks of the old city still exist underground.



 

It was a busy two days of sightseeing that found aunt and uncle happy to skip fireworks and fall asleep on the couch shortly after 9pm. 😀

The Critter Days of Summer ~ by Jennifer Daniels

Well another summer is in the books and it was a beautiful one here
in Upstate, NY. I spent a good chunk of it on the lake at my parents' house. It was an interesting summer here as I am sure it was for many. We had many visitors of the critter kind. My son went crazy this year with feeding the chipmunks, to the point they were eating out of our hands. If we did not get out soon enough for meal times they would squeak until we fed them.

Our little friends all were named. First came Jimmy, he was always the first one to arrive. He bounced higher than the others. Then there was Pip, that was my son's favorite one. She had a shorter tail than the rest of them. Shortly after she came Tiny showed up. She was the littlest of the bunch, hence the name. You could tell the females from the males because they typically walked more and the males hop. Last but not least is Nux. He was named after a character in Mad Max. He had what we thought was a tumor under the skin, but I think a fly laid an egg in him and he came back one day and it was gone. He also was the darkest of the four.

We all were able to have them eat out of our hands. They would hop right up and sit there while they feasted. My husband got such a kick out of the little guys that he made them their own perch to sit on so they were closer to the porch window. We could reach out and pet them. They are cute little critters to watch.

Then came Bonnie and Clyde, the racoons. They became our nightly pastime, watching them climb up the bird feeder pole then slide down it like they were off to a fire. It was hysterical. They, too, liked the perch that was originally made for the chippies.

They are little bandits! No wonder they wear masks. They stole one of my bird feeders. I have no idea where it is. We have looked everywhere, and to boot, they stole my favorite feeder. They look so funny and cute, but make no mistake about it, they are nasty little buggers.

I hope you all had a wonderful summer, continue to stay safe and protected.

Summer Residents ~ by Jennifer Daniels

Living in the North country brings all kinds of summer visitors. Yes, there are some spring and summer residents you get used to seeing that come back yearly, like Philibert and Phyllis, our groundhogs.

We look forward to their arrival every year, they are so fluffy and cute to watch. They pretty much stick to themselves not bothering anyone. They are quiet and very respectful guests. Every now and again we shoo them out of the road, but for the most part they are a pleasure to have as visitors.

Then you always get those visitors that come that are such a loud nuisance like Bonnie and Clyde, the raccoons. 


They're cute and they know it, but that is no excuse for them to show up at 11 pm or later and start the partying. These two can throw down and party and when they decide to leave, they don't even bother to pick up the mess they have left behind. 

I have no problem with them eating the seeds out of the feeders, but when you are done hang them back up where you found them!

They had the audacity to throw my favorite feeder into the bushes two nights ago. How rude! Philibert and Phyllis never leave messes. But you will see here in exhibit’s A, B, C and so forth they have zero respect.

Tonight, our family will have a serious conversation with Bonnie and Clyde. If they do not straighten up there will be some serious consequences!

Until next month, stay safe and make sure to be practicing social distancing or you too may end up with a Bonnie and Clyde.

**All photos property of Jennifer Daniels and may not be used or replicated without her permission.