Simple truths

Fall is a time for reflection and self development for me I tend to do allot of reading and in the midst of this I stumbled across this list of deliciousness this morning and thought it might resonate with you as it did with me:

A happy ending is possible from any beginning.
Stay true to who you are and never give up in your personal truths.
Obstacles are a way for you to prove how much you want something.
Talent, persistence, creativity and passion are important but LOVE is essential.
Fear is better than regrets. Take on your fears.
Don't be afraid to challenge yourself.
There is no such thing as failing - learn. Make adjustments. Move forward.
Avoid analysis paralysis.
Have faith. Jump in.

Birthday tour of the peninsula

Yesterday I turned 40. I was joined by my number one man Mr Big, my mum, stepdad John and step sister De.

I came down to get ready for our getaway in the am and found Mr Big with fabulous lavish gift all gorgeously wrapped.

I know it sounds corny, but the only gift I ever need is him... Still though, a brand new D3000 and not one, but two mini getaways were graciously accepted and welcome. WHOOT!

And in the kitchen, lil Gary had gotten up early and walked down to Henrys for a culinary masterpiece for me to start my day with..

The best part was the beautiful note. I'm a blessed lady.

Then it was time to head out to the peninsula. Though there was no party, no birthday cake or candles, it was a thoroughly lovely time. We started off in Port Townsend visiting Fort Waldon and the point Wilson lighthouse.

As the name suggests, it's a military facility, well ex-military. What's weird about it is all the raw beauty there including wild life, deer just hanging out amoungst the abandoned barracks

And the wildflowers tumbling out of every nook and cranny, speshly the gun emplacements

Next stop, lunch. We went to the Public House. Uttterly delicious potato, corn and dungenous chowder was accompanied by awesome art work

Next day was reserved for a visit to the Olympic Game Reserve you have to go

All too soon it was time to start back, through more beauty

I was so grateful for us all being together, and for awesome beauty all around us.

De goes home Sunday. It's been wonderful getting to spend time with her.

Oh, and a shout out to the peeps at work who surprised me with an awesome autumnal birthday celly at work. It made me feel very spesh

I'm lucky. I have so many blessings to count. I'm grateful.

Great start to the day

Thanks Brina

Thanks Sabrina Ford, hope you don't mind but I borrowed you lovely fall leaf picture

And joosed it with pixloromatic filters, frames and effects

What a great shot!! I lurve me some fall colors

Mother nature, I love you

Yummy. That's the only way to describe the day. This morning showed promise...

On the way in I wish I could gave photographed what I saw for you - the valley was filled with mist - only the tippy top of trees was visible. In the background was the mountain which were inky blue...all of this was lit was the golden light of the rising sun... Beautiful.

That kind of light makes everything beautiful. Have a blessed day friends!

Greek festival

It only happens once a year.. GREEK FEST!

As always parking was a beezy, but... It did give an opportunity for viewing beauty in the montlake neighborhood to reveal itself

Another wonderful day. I am grateful!!

Oh glory

Im certain ive written millions of words sharing with you my love of nature. Fair warning: here comes more.

The photo above is perfect. Cold enough for groovy socks and a campfire... Yessssssss. Join these perfect things with a buddy and you got yourself a good time. And what's better that a fire? The sight literally makes me a giddy girl, in my mind I'm skipping, I'm clapping, I have a grin. And that delicious radiating heat. Yummy. I kind of imagine that out of the frame there's a glass of mulled wine or perhaps a spiced apple cider with a cinnamon stick.

Lookie here this picture was taken at 70 miles an hour riding down i5 after a great day with the family ... and I truly felt blessed. Blessed at all I've had, and all I have. Life is good.

Fall..you're only a latte away

Good news dear reader. I know you, like I, am champing at the bit for fall to take a hold... Well even though the official kick off is another whole week away you can get your early autumnal fix thanks to the awesome
Peeps at your neighborhood Starbucks

And if you're lucky enough to have a Ladypal like Hailstorm.. You can get delivery with a smile and that's not all. If you are super lucky you might also get.....AUTUMN LEAF, utterly resplendent in magenta. Oh, and that early fall in a cup? Why it's GASP.... PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE oh yea.

Country girl

For some strange reason, even though I was raised in a city, I have always yearned for the quiet of the countryside. Wide open spaces. Every shade of green. Sparse population... Perfection.

This past weekend we took the parents ( Mum and Step-dad ) to Darrington to see the Kangaroo Farm , which was lovely and we couldn't be in the Darrington area and not visit you-know-who...

Billy goat Blackjack was in fine form and if you are out in that area you really should stop by and allow his stunts to delight you PLUS you can get your lungfull of clean sweet country air, ya know - get your country on

It's so refreshing. So grounding. I love it.

Woah

A seriously stunning day continues to present itself in Washington

Thank you for this day

Woah, look at the beauty that blessed our eyes this morning! What a start to the day. Thank you nature!

It made me think about Margaret Owens and her sensational song "thank you for this beautiful day" which has a great chorus:

I thank you for my health
I thank you for my healing
Thank you for this beautiful day
I thank you for my life
I'm blessed and I am perfect
I thank you for this beautiful day

Word.

Last first day

It's a big day at Castle Allen. It's oldest son Elliott's last first day of school. Gasp. Yup. Gulp. LAST first day.

He's finishing his senior year at Everett High School, we are proud parents. He is an amazing person and when I look at his face, and in his eyes I just see potential shining back at me.

At 17 I didn't feel like the world was my oyster even though with hindsight I now realize... It was ( and still is ). Mr Big and I are diligent in reinforcing this knowing in all three kids - that they can achieve their grandest dreams and that they should think BIG because with focus and hard work anything is possible. My dearest hope is that this has sunk in to all three of the kids and that they live their lives in this knowing.

I think these coming months are going to be amazing ones for El - last first day, seniorness, settling into Navy lifestyle - readying himself for life after school, prom... And a million more things. It's also going to be an interesting time for Mr Big and I, adjusting to the fact in less than a year we won't be washing his clothes, buying strawberry milk and helping him with his homework. It seems like just yesterday he was a little boy.

Happy last first day lil guy (6ft7in). We love you. Hope you liked the note in your lunch.

Hair Salon at Castle Allen

Lil 'in Miss Dorothy dutifully offered hair services a few moments ago, sadly I dont have wonderful hair, but she was a trooper and braided me up...

Leavenworth Chelan and Back

So excited to wake on Saturday morning and know we would soon be in the alps (Leavenworth) and that we would be seeing the greatest story ever told LIVE.

First stop was a roadside fruit stand for delicious $1 a basket cherries. I really really wanted the peaches too but Mr Big hates peaches and may have gone into some kind of peach fragrance enduced rage if they had been in the car, in the heat, for two days so in an effort to avoid this no peach purchase was made.

We also stopped riverside at the back of Index. Wow it's seriously beautiful country there.

And then onwards up the hill....and up in temperature. It was in the high 80's by the time we got to the fudge hut. That place is so delicious and I had briefed mum on this important fact prior to getting there and so you can imagine my pride when prior to even seeing the offerings she grabbed a grocery cart. It is a seriously delicious place and one bite of the fudge is probably in the vicinity of a trillion calories AND WELL WELL WORTH IT. Also wonderful this visit was a little surprise. A birds nest with babies!!

And just check out this stunning view

Before we knew it we were in Leavenworth checking out all the cute stores - we started at the hat shop

Time for the highlight, a live performance of the sound of music. I didn't realize it would be a walk into the theater, but it was so cute walking along the trail lit by fairy lights

And what a setting, high on a hill with the mountains in the background, nuns as ushers..

Highly recommend going to this theater. It's incredible. We fell into bed exhausted and woke up the next morning coming home over the north cascades highway...

Did I mention it was over 90 degrees?

Yikkes I forgot other Leavenworth images

Did you notice mr bigs fall beard coming in nicely?

Ok back to the rest of Eastern Washington..

The trip home was the longest trip ever by the way. This was in part thanks to our trusting nature and the poor advice of a local (thanks Shell station attendant lake Chelan) but it sure was pretty