Drive Home

It was good that we were well fortified before our drive home.  The roads were not too bad but the traffic was bad.  Cars had slid off the road and in the ditch along side of the road.  It was snowing pretty heavily around the Tacoma area.  But we got through it ok.  It was pretty clear by the time we got to Kelso.  Then our neighborhood was bad again with snow on the road.  Of course, people from other parts of the country would not have thought that it was bad.

our back yard

Blanca did not stay our long

We had a very light lunch we got home and then George was busy trying to get caught up on things he had not had the chance to do.  Back to work for him tomorrow.  Nathan and I took down the Christmas decorations.  They are all boxed up but not put away in the attic yet.  But it is nice to have that taken care of.  

All in all we had a nice trip to Seattle and Mt Vernon. The snow was a surprise.

Sunday, Jan3

The Hotel Nexus was fine.  It was clean and in a good location.  We checked out around 9am to head off to the Portage Bay Cafe for a fabulous breakfast.  We have been there before and really like it.  We had reservations.  Joyce, Tye, Patty, Marianne and Sam met us there.  Most everyone ordered some type of Benedict.  I had the classic, Nathan had the crab and George had the salmon.

Cup of whipped cream to top the hot chocolate

my classic benedict

Marianne & Patty

George

Sam and Marianne

Tye and Joyce

Joyce and me

After breakfast we decided to head off to Portland right away since we were hearing about snow in Portland.  Just as we were heading away from the restaurant we saw a motorcyclist spin out of control.  We pulled over to call 911 but other people stopped to help so we left.  We saw the guy get up and walk so I guess he was not hurt too bad.  Kinda scary though.  After the few days of nice clear skies it is hard to think about snow. Nathan is excited.    

Cider Tasting, Dinner and 10, 9, 8

Around 6pm we headed back to Sharon and Michael's to pick up Sharon.  We went to the Schilling Cider House to do a cider tasting.  Gosh that was good.  I think I like almost all the hard ciders.  We bought a few bottles to take.  The most interesting one was a lemon basil cider.  I did not like the ginger ones.

After tasting we called in an order to the Thai Tom restaurant.  We drove back to Sharon and Michael's.  We picked up dinner on the way.  After dinner - which was fabulous by the way, we played a game of 10, 9, 8.  I won!! surprise, surprise!  No more pictures.

Back to our hotel.  Nice evening.

Saturday, Jan 2

After a leisurely breakfast we packed up and got ready to leave.  Then we did a neighborhood walk to the lake.  It was a mite chilly out.  

Then we packed up the car and left Debbie and Joe's to go into Seattle.  We met my niece, Sharon and Michael at a Kukai (Ramen Bowl) restaurant which was very tasty.

Chicken Ramen with egg

Then we went to Sharon and Michael's.  We left Michael there and we went to Greenlake to walk around.  What a nice day to be walking around.

Then we drove to Molly Moon's ice cream/Chocolati for refreshment.  I had hot chocolate from Chocolatis and everyone else ice cream.  I met my nephew, Ross, from Portland in Chocolatis. What a surprise.

We took Sharon back to her place and then we went to check in to the Hotel Nexus, which is not far from Sharon's place.  

New Years hike

The view from Debbie & Joe's living room.  

After breakfast we decded to go take a hike.  We went on a 4.2 or 5.1 mile (depending on whose GPS we believe) hike around Little Mountain Park.  The top view was gorgeous.  A perfect view of Mt Baker.

It was cold!!

Very pretty trails but I must say I was exhausted.  A lot going up was STRAIGHT up and coming down was STRAIGHT down and icy.  Nathan had to help me go down.  I think I might be sore tomorrow.  

We got back home to have lunch and then recover.  Debbie is working on setting up her blog for India and I was trying my tablet again with George around. It still is giving me problems so this is helping me decide to take my netbook and tablet with me to India.

New Year's eve 2015

George, Nathan and I drove up to Debbie's home on Thursday.  We left right after breakfast.  We got to the entrance ramp on to Hwy 26 and traffic was at a complete standstill!!! What to do.  Luckily we had not actually started up the ramp so we went right instead and turned on the phone GPS to recalculate and alternate route.  We went a way I have never been before on Humphrey and then on to Patton.  That dumped us on to 405 down town.  Wow. We save a lot of time.  Later we found out the 26 was closed both directions with a power line that was down.  We missed it.  what a relief.  We got to Debbie's in time for lunch.  Nice relaxing afternoon.  We did a 2.5 mile neighborhood walk down to the lake.

George, Debbie and Nathan

Close to dinner time we started chopping vegetable that would be used for the boudza soup.  Nathan, George and I had made the boudzas back at home and frozen them.  We had turkey and meat substitute ones for the vegetarians.  

making boudzas.  

Once Sharon  arrived we started cooking the soup.  Michael couldn't join us because he was still uncomfortable with a dislocated ankle.  

after dinner we played a card game.  Nathan won.  We at least stayed up until the ball dropped in NY>  

Nathan dropped a big red ball at the same time as NY's ball drop.  We had our champagne.  A nice relaxing day.

Sunday, Oct 11

We had a liesuely morning.  After we were all breakfasted, showered and mostly packed up we went on a 2 mile neighborhood walk.

A big glass green house

a shared garage note the colors

back at the house

After the walk we finished packing and then headed out to lunch.  We went to lunch at Anthony's at Point Defiance.  Wow what a view and what delicious meal.  It was a challenge to get there but thanks to GPS we made it.  

I had a shrimp and cheddar melt

We could see Mt Ranier.

Aftr lunch we left Sharon and headed home.  We got home about 4:30 pm.  Thank you Joyce for driving.  Sharon went back to her sister's place.  What a nice weekend