Washington Sunset

These pictures are from the same night ... just looking in different directions:

Gorgeous!

Update on the Bucket List!

Here are the ones that I've done since I originally posted the Bucket List:

1.  Portland -- I went last September but we're going again this weekend!  Yay for long weekends!

6. Visit Scuttlebutt Brewery - February 5, 2011.  I'm not a huge beer person but I thought their beers were good and they had a pretty good menu for a brewery.  It was also packed at 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday so I'm pretty sure they are doing something right!

Image

14. Experience Music Project - January 17, 2011.  I blogged about our Tourist Day over MLK weekend, which included a trip to the EMP:  

J. looking at the Guitar Tower

46. Ski Stevens Pass - I can't remember if we went in January or February now, but I'm leaning towards February :)  It was a beautiful day when we went and we stayed for night skiing.  It was such a great time!  

50. Visit the Fremont Troll - January 17, 2011.  Also part of our Tourist Day!

That's Mr. S. up top and some randos to the right

51.  Visit the Ballard Locks - January 17, 2011.  Tourist Day!

52.  Kerry Park - January 17, 2011.  I'd like to go back on a clear or sunny day and get some really good pictures of downtown and Mt. Rainier.  

53. Go to the top of the Water Tower in in Capitol Hill - January 19, 2011.  I'd also like to go back and get some better pictures!  

What a gorgeous view!

The elusive Mt. Rainier

That's what we've been up to lately!  We are really enjoying our time out here ... it's so nice to be in a different part of the country and have the opportunity to travel around and explore such fun and interesting places!

Seattle Bucket List

When J. was stationed in Mississippi, I had a million things I wanted to do in the South before he was stationed elsewhere.  We thought we'd have another year to get them done, but the Navy intervened.  So, while we went to Biloxi and Birmingham, we never made it to New Orleans, Memphis or Nashville.  I do not want that to be the case while we are stationed up here in the Pacific Northwest.  In an effort to (1) not forget everything on my list and (2) keep track of my progress, here is my Seattle "Bucket List":

1. Visit Portland, OR - September 19-22, 2010

2. Go to Woodinville Wine Country - March 12, 2011

3. Go to Yakima Wine Country - October 2011

4. Go Camping - July 2011

5. Hike around Mt. Rainier

6. Visit Scuttlebutt Brewery - February 5, 2011

7. Visit Red Hook Brewery - September 5, 2010 

8. Go kayaking - September 5, 2010

9. Bruch at Peso's 

10. Green Lake

11. Bon Vivant Wine Tours

12. Washington Park Arboretum 

13. Museum of Flight

14. Experience Music Project - January 17, 2011

15. Seattle Symphony

16. Cruise to Alaska

17. Woodland Park Zoo - March 2, 2012

18. Visit Leavenworth - October 28, 2010 and November 6, 2010
19. Go to an apple orchard
20. Pick pumpkins - October 16, 2010
21. Go to the top of Smith Tower - March 10, 2012

22. Visit San Juan Island - July 3, 2010 and September 3, 2010 

23. Visit Orcas Island  - September 18, 2010 

24. Visit Lopez Island 

25. Visit Pike Place Market - May 30, 2010 

26. Visit the first Starbucks - May 30, 2010
27. Visit the REI Flagship store - May 30, 2010

28. Eat at Umi Sake - March 11, 2012
29. Try Vietnamese - September 2011  

30. Hike around Mt. Baker - September 14, 2010 

31. Visit Vancouver - June 26-27, 2010
32. Go on the Underground Tour - September 4, 2010
33. Go whale watching (and see whales!) - September 18, 2010
34. See whales from Lime Kiln State Park  - September 3, 2010
35. Hike to the top of Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island
36. Visit Eastsound on Orcas Island
37. Hike Lake Serene
38. Hike to Bridal Veil Falls - September 30, 2010 

39. Eat Ivar's Clam Chowder! - August 30, 2010
40. Visit Mount Saint Helens
41. Go to Victoria, Vancouver Island - August 2011
42. Visit the Olympic Peninsula -
43. Visit Wallace Falls - November 2010
44. Hike Boulder River Trail
45. Ski Mt. Baker Ski Area - November, December and January :)
46. Ski Stevens Pass Ski Area - February 2011
47. See the Picasso exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum - January 6, 2011
48. Take advantage of First Thursdays (1/12)
49. Try Japonessa - July 2011
50. Visit the Fremont Troll - January 17, 2011
51. Ballard Locks - January 17, 2011
52. Kerry Park (aka the "postcard view" of Seattle - January 17, 2011
53. Go to the top of the Water Tower in Capitol Hill - January 19, 2011
54. Visit Gas Works Park - September 2011 & February 2012
55. Go to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - April 2011
56. Go on the Boeing Tour & visit the Future of Flight Museum
57. GET A JOB! - February 2011

I am sure the list will grow ... but I needed to get it down in one place so I can track my progress!  Is there anything you think I should add to my list?

S.E.J. 

Weekend Recap

We had a really nice weekend ... I hope you guys did too!  J. had a really busy week while I was in Bellevue taking the bar and I, of course, was EXHAUSTED.  So we stayed in Friday night and ordered a pizza and watched Dexter, Season 3, Disc 2.  I thought the disc only had three episodes on it, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out it actually had four!  Satisfied my Dexter craving for the day and luckily, the next disc is supposed to be in the mailbox today (Tuesday), yay!  I would up my Netflix subscription to 3 discs at a time, just for Dexter, but I'm on a budget and I can't justify spending $20 a month on a movie subscription.

Saturday we went to Mt. Vernon, which is about halfway between Everett and Anacortes, and went to the Bite of Skagit.  The best way I can describe it is that it is similar to the Taste of Chicago, but on a MUCH smaller scale.  They had some great stuff ... ribs, chocolate cake, shortcake with strawberries or mixed berries, tacos, salads, etc.  And it was so much cheaper than the Taste of Chicago.  If you've been, you know how freaking expensive it is.  Each ticket at the Bite of Skagit was $1 and I seriously got a taco for 1 ticket and a "taste" size mixed berry shortcake for 1 ticket.  And they were both delicious. 

Mrs. T., me, Mrs. R. 

(Caroline, if you're reading this, pretend my hair looks taken care of) 

Mr. R. and J.

(Note that it looks like they are holding hands on Mr. R.'s shoulder)

After the Bite, we stopped by one of Mt. Vernon's finest wineries ... Pasek Cellars Winery.  It might actually be a really fine winery, but the tasting room is attached to a gas station.  Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.

I like group therapy.

Saturday night we took the girls (Addy and Lucy) up to the R's and we had Thai and wine and the girls played with the R's dogs.  The R's have a nice backyard and while we have "grown-up" time, they have "dog park" time.  It's a win-win situation.  

Sunday, J. did lots of studying and I ran some errands.  And we FINALLY made it to the Everett Farmer's Market.  It did not disappoint.  I think we will be back as long as we're in Everett on Sunday afternoons.  I didn't take any pictures at the market, but here are the beautiful flowers that I got: 

I think my favorite thing about the farmer's markets around here are the flowers.  You can get huge, beautiful bouquets for $5-10 ... much prettier than grocery store flowers and much cheaper.  This particular bunch was $6 ... but they are dried, so they should last for awhile!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!  

S.E.J.