Friday we spent the day in Seattle with my brother Jake. Our first stop was Pike's Place Market. I absolutely love going to the market, there is so much cultural diversity there that you just don't get in Utah. Andy was very sweet and bought we a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. Jake showed us the gum wall, for some reason I had never seen the gum wall before. The gum wall is really gross but in a strange way it is kind of pretty. On our way to the gum wall we passed a barefooted hippie playing the accordion, you never know what you will see when you visit the market.
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| Andy. |
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| Andy & I. |
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| Jake. |
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| The Face. |
Our next stop was Dick's Drive-In. Dick's is kind of like the In 'N Out of Seattle, only a less healthy version. When I was a kid anytime we would drive home after visiting family in Spokane, my siblings would chant "Dicks, Dicks, eat at Dicks." They would chant this to the point that my Dad would get annoyed and consent to stopping at Dick's (there is also a Dick's in Spokane). I have fond memories of eating at Dick's and make a point of stopping there when I get the chance.
Then we made our way to the Ballard Locks. We all enjoyed watching the ships and boats pass through the locks, it is pretty neat experience. I loved standing on the dock and taking in the beauty around me from the tall evergreen trees to the smell of the salt water and moist cool air on my face. I really do miss Washington, it will always be the place I consider home.
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| A ship passing through the locks. |
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| Andy & I. |
We also watched the salmon run up the fish ladders. I think those may have been the largest live fish Andy has ever seen before.
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| A Salmon going up the fish ladder. |
We spent Saturday with my Mom, Jake and Sadie. That morning we went to the Puyallup Farmer's Market. Andy found himself a box of peaches, he is very particular when it comes to peaches and had not found any peaches previously this summer that met his standard. I'm so glad he was able to find himself a healthy treat. I found my self a big ripe tomato and ate it like an apple, I think that may have grossed Andy out.
I also grabbed a bunch of beets. When I grabbed the beets my Mom looked at my strangely and asked what I was going to do with them. I told her that I was going to make popsicles. She gave me a disgusted look and said "That's nasty!" Little did she know that the next morning she would discover that she liked them. I know they sound kind of revolting but they are really good and they taste like fudgesicles, but they are healthy. Andy swears by them.
Then we went to lunch at Casa Mia. I think I ate at Casa Mia as a kid once, for some reason I don't remember it being as good as it is. Casa Mia is sooo good! If you ever find yourself in Washington, you have stop and eat there. We ordered a pizza with potato on it, I know it sounds weird but that was probably the best pizza I have ever eaten!
Our next stop was a local fruit stand. Sadie and I both scored a box of mangos for $1.00. Normal a box of mangos this size would cost close to $20.00. I cut up all of my mangos and frozen them so I could bring them back to Utah. They have been and will continue to be used in smoothie, I'm a smoothie addict and can't pass up a good deal on produce.
Next we went stopped at some yard sales and thrift stores. Andy and I found a few treasures to bring back with us.
That night was spent playing Ticket to Ride with my siblings. It was good time!
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| Sadie & I. |
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| Creatures. |
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| Me & Andy. |
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| Sadie, Me, & Andy. |
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| The Face. |
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| Me & Mom. |
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| Sadie being a creature. |
On Sunday we packed up our bags and started our trip back to Utah. We drove through Chinook Pass on the way back instead of Snoqualmie Pass. Chinook Pass was so beautiful, it was like driving through a forest. We stopped to take a few pictures but our photos are nothing compared to the beauty that surrounded us.
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| Mt. Rainier is in the background. |
As we were driving through Oregon, we got pulled over by a State Patrol Officer. He told us that one of our high beam lights was out and said that we should stop in the next town for the night, so we did.
The next day we finished our drive back to Utah. As we drove we listened to Seven Habits of Highly Effective People on tape. It was such a good listen, I recommend it!
I can't believe that we drove through five states (Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon) in a week. For me, the time went by too fast but I'm so grateful we were able to make the trip.
