Last year, around Christmas, I discovered Portland, Oregon’s elusive Santasquatch. And this year? The Octicorn–plus five more reasons to visit Portland. Drink some beer. Did you know that Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world? Widmer. Hopworks. McMenamins. Laurelwood. Hair of the Dog. Base Camp. If beer isn’t your thing, Portland […]
A d’lightful garden in Bellevue
Want to feast your eyes on the flora of the season–in lights? Head over to the Bellevue Botanical Garden and check out Garden d’Lights. Over 500,000 lights! Walking the paths, you’ll discover an array of flowers throughout the seasons and climates, from irises to palm trees. A host of animals can be found tucked into various […]
Seattle in the fog
The prairies are all right. The mountains are all right. The forests and the deserts and the clear clean air of the heights, they’re all right. But what a bewitching thing is a city of the sea. It was good to be in Seattle–to hear the foghorns on the Sound, and the deep bellow of […]
The miracle of Hanukkah–and Seattle Goodwill
Those who observe Hanukkah celebrate the miracle of light. This year I am also celebrating the miracle of Seattle Goodwill. In our home, we honor the culture and traditions each family member brings to the table: Hanukkah, Christmas and Armenian Christmas. Hanukkah began Sunday night, December 6. Our family doesn’t give presents on each of […]
The annual hunt for our holiday tree
Our first holiday tree hunt as a family in 2012 wasn’t exactly a success, though we did come home with a tree. And a very unhappy 1-1/2 year old. In 2013, remembering the year before, we decided to forgo our favorite U-cut tree farm and purchased a pre-cut tree instead. Less adventure, but no meltdowns! […]
Three holiday lights favorites in Seattle
Oooh, Mama, look at all the lights! My annual challenge, during the month of December, is deciding which holiday light events I want to attend. I can’t do them all. Among my favorites are WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo, Bellevue Botanical Garden D’Lights, Christmas Ship Festival, Green Lake Pathway of Lights and the many […]
Learning gratitude
I want some milk. Sweetheart–May I have some milk… May I have some milk please, Mama. Here you go. What do you say? Thank you, Mama. Like most small children, my daughter knows the right words. We do our best to teach her manners, and one day I hope she’ll understand why her mama and […]
Dormez-vous? Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth
Sleep may be last on your list at Sleeping Lady Resort. Not that the beds aren’t uber comfy. They are. And once my head hit the pillow, I was easily lulled to sleep. But–fair warning–you might find it hard to pull yourself away from the myriad adventures that await if you book a visit to […]
Paris, je t’aime
Paris, je t’aime. I love sitting at your sidewalk cafes, sipping espresso, dining on French omelets and Salad Nicoise. I love strolling along the Seine at sunset and amid your beautiful gardens on a sunny afternoon, the Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg. I love climbing the hills of Montmartre to look out over the spectacular city […]
An afternoon in the Arboretum–on the other side of the camera
This past weekend I found myself on the other side of the camera two days in a row! Both photo shoots had been scheduled and rescheduled several times due to rain. Lo and behold, what was the weather like on Saturday and Sunday? Rain, rain and more rain. But I was determined not to reschedule […]