Northern Exposure...

Thursday was our last day with my Mom's cousin here... they have some friends in Port Angeles they were going to stay with the rest of their visit to the Northwest. So we took them up to Snoqualmie Falls (all of those pictures are on my other camera I left at my Sisters).

Then we went to the little town of Roslyn...

Which was home of the TV series Northern Exposure...

Then to West Seattle where we were to meet their friends who had art featured in the West Seattle Art Walk.... more great pictures (on the other camera... uggg).

We ate dinner at one of the restaurants in one of the buildings my sisters company manages, so she had an "in" with all the connections. It was called Fresh Bistro and Oh my... some of the best food I have ever eaten!! What a treat!!

When I was reading the menu, Jacob was a couple of seats away from me... and began to be very worried as I read the menu... that he wouldn't find anything he would like or know what it was, here is a sample...

Vegetarian Fregola
toasted couscous risotto, market vegetables,
smoked goat cheese, vegetable puree

Fennel Crusted Halibut
sous vide caramelized fennel, sautéed summer squash,
goat cheese stuffed crispy squash blossom,
salad of baby fennel, limes, and micro greens

Grilled Peppercorn Wagyu Striploin
soubise, soy pudding, forrest mushroom sautee,
yukon gold potato puree

Rosemary Scented Roasted Poussin
star anise brined young chicken, lemon thyme pluot
gastrique, fried fingerling potatoes, roasted market veggie

Pan Roasted Kurabuta Pork New York
creamy white wine butter jus, caramelized chanterelles,
pea vines, pan roasted French fingerlings

Vegetable Quinoa Cakes
crispy quinoa cakes, caramelized market vegetables,
sweet yellow pepper reduction, Estrella’s tomme

Lamb Rack and Sausage
Port soaked currant demi, wilted market greens,

lemon thyme scented smoked goat cheese grits

and I knew he was starving! But I just leaned back and let him order. He ordered Sweet Potato and Dungeness Crab Cakes chipotle emoulade, smoked paprika and chive oil, micro greens and baby arugula salad with sherry vinny... and
Caesar Baby parmesan garlic bread, preserved lemon dressing, crisp white anchovies. (he did skip the anchovies though).

WHEW! He loved it all... now he is a little more cultured in art and food.

He had his own personal version of Northern Exposure.

He may never go back to nuggets and corn dogs when we get home.

It was such a fun day!

(I will get those other pictures posted soon)

"The bluest skies you'll ever see are in Seattle"...

Lynn picked up a van we could all fit it to do our sightseeing Wednesday.

At first I was a little fearful with her crazy driving skills being adapted to a 15 passenger bus... but she did a great job! And it was so fun to see everything together instead of having to take 2 cars downtown.

I love the buildings downtown... flying through with our skilled bus driver behind the wheel that can get from one end of downtown to the other in rush hour traffic in 60 seconds... it made it difficult for photo opportunities... but I did the best I could.

Kind of ironic that this great building is also the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory....he he he.

Home of the Mariners!

The bluest skies you'll ever see are in Seattle!

(a song from and old western tv show "here come the brides"... so true, not frequent, but when you do see them through the clouds, they are the bluest)

I resisted, but it was hard... chocolate covered twinkies!!!

How about caramel dipped marshmallows?

These were the most georgous strawberries... what an art, and they were huge (so was the price, so I just got photos of them.)

The gang at Starbucks...

The entertainment outside of Starbucks... yes that is a stainless steel bass, and yes she is playing a saw... they were so fun and entertaining, and their voices blended beautifully!

Then into my favorite part... I think the market will never get old for me.

The tie dye... this is for you Ralph!

We saw some neat things in tie dye and batik... so fun!

We did get to stop and eat lunch at the narrowest restaurant perched on the back side of the market I have ever seen. It was long and narrow, just wide enough for a row of tables and an isled... that tapered up and followed the hillside, and the kitchen was at the highest point, just as narrow... but with the best view, and they managed to cook the most amazing chinese food!

The older mom was serving the food and taking our orders, and the son was in the top of the narrow kitchen creating the wonderful food... she didn't think he would let us go up and get his picture, but where could he go when we walked in we blocked the way out and he agreed to let us get his picture... the neatest place, and clean. I don't know why I had never seen it there before.

One of my favorite parts of the market... the flowers...

We got to see Seattle from the harbor this time... so beautiful!

The skyline from this side is very different...

A really good time was had by all!!

Seattle or bust...

Monday morning my wonderful husband got up early and took us to the airport before he went to work. He agreed to hold down the fort and take care of the dogs who would inevitably be a mess in the absence of all the hands of which they are normally fed. Poor him... taking care of sad dogs is the absolute worst! But he is taking it on like a trouper so we can go spend some time and help my family out with some things.

Again, why are they all of a sudden so resistant to the self portraits... I really only do them to have pictures of them with me.

We had plenty of time at the airport, Jacob was so excited to get going, it was hard to be patient. Nothing like Golf Digest to calm you nerves.

When we arrived we got right to work cleaning out the garage, getting the windows shining... I knew I brought the right guy for the job.

Then Monday night, my mom's cousin and her husband arrived, we went to the airport late to pick them up in the rain. It was fun to think of how many times we had driven to the rain in the dark to pick up someone at the airport.

Tuesday we went to the glass museum in Tacoma... such beautiful glass, one of my favorite places to see. We watched the glass blowers for a while, then I snuck outside to take advantage of some great archetectural surroundings for some senior pictures. I hope by the end of the trip, we might be able to capture some great shots. I am so excited that Jacob is letting me do his senior pictures. Think of the possibilities in Seattle, the views, the old brick bldgs, the water, the sculptures, the market... oh he might be sorry he agreed to this. I am really excited!

Then last night we all came together for some great food and family time.

Still messing with me on the self portraits.... ugggg!

I don't have a lot of great pictures of my sis and her husband... so I always keep trying to catch them together. Finally a good shot, okay I let him do a funny one to get it out of his system... then the battery went dead in the camera.... so this is all I got. Good thing for photoshop!

My brother and Sis n law.

My sis and her granddaughter... fun times!