Home in Seattle
When the sun comes out in Seattle, it is magnificent. It's magnificent because of the verdant freshness it uncovers and because the sun seems novel whenever it appears.
Last Sunday it came out after a Saturday of rain. We took the kids for a long walk where dozens of rhododendrons were blooming. They love these nature walks even more than we do.
For H, each trail is a Choose Your Own Adventure. He leads the way and we can't keep up. G, however, takes her time. She nestles into the groundcover every few steps to "take a rest" or "collect teeny-tiny monsters." Nature through their eyes is refreshing and creative. Everything is new and nothing is simply what it appears to be.
We'd planned on eating dinner out, but the kids were so dirty we decided they needed baths first, and since that would've made it too late to leave the house again, we got some Hebrew National dogs to BBQ and crisp veggies to munch on.
I had a glass of white wine and R had a Corona Light with lime. Though I'm perfectly happy with raw onions on my hot dog (must have onions), R grilled me some to caramelized perfection.
Outside the sun was still high and it poured warm air and bright light into our walled deck. The blossoming apple tree rose over the west wall, sending us a thousand pink and white smiles across the rays of sun. The lilac trees, not to be outdone, filled the yard with fragrance so sweet, we didn't need dessert. 
These trees and this deck come back to life every spring to enchant us. When the weather permits, we eat outside as often as we remember. It's something of a rare gift to eat en plein air. To have that much open space around you while savoring your favorite foods.
By the time the kids fell asleep we only had energy to clean up and go to bed ourselves. I opened our bedroom window to let a breeze in and listened to the cars slowly whooshing by on the arterial. I thought how I'd like to hear pond frogs out there because they made me feel far away. Then I thought No, I like the sound of those cars exactly because they remind me of where I want to be. Home in Seattle.
Last Sunday it came out after a Saturday of rain. We took the kids for a long walk where dozens of rhododendrons were blooming. They love these nature walks even more than we do.
For H, each trail is a Choose Your Own Adventure. He leads the way and we can't keep up. G, however, takes her time. She nestles into the groundcover every few steps to "take a rest" or "collect teeny-tiny monsters." Nature through their eyes is refreshing and creative. Everything is new and nothing is simply what it appears to be.
We'd planned on eating dinner out, but the kids were so dirty we decided they needed baths first, and since that would've made it too late to leave the house again, we got some Hebrew National dogs to BBQ and crisp veggies to munch on.
I had a glass of white wine and R had a Corona Light with lime. Though I'm perfectly happy with raw onions on my hot dog (must have onions), R grilled me some to caramelized perfection.
Outside the sun was still high and it poured warm air and bright light into our walled deck. The blossoming apple tree rose over the west wall, sending us a thousand pink and white smiles across the rays of sun. The lilac trees, not to be outdone, filled the yard with fragrance so sweet, we didn't need dessert. 
These trees and this deck come back to life every spring to enchant us. When the weather permits, we eat outside as often as we remember. It's something of a rare gift to eat en plein air. To have that much open space around you while savoring your favorite foods.
By the time the kids fell asleep we only had energy to clean up and go to bed ourselves. I opened our bedroom window to let a breeze in and listened to the cars slowly whooshing by on the arterial. I thought how I'd like to hear pond frogs out there because they made me feel far away. Then I thought No, I like the sound of those cars exactly because they remind me of where I want to be. Home in Seattle.
posted by Anne at 10:10 AM
7 Comments:
Sounds like a fab day!
When we built the new deck last year, I was so excited to enjoy some nice warmth as well as peace and quiet. After about 5 minutes, I realized that I could hear 167, lots of neighbors, kids and dogs. So, it wasn't exactly the peaceful experience I was looking for.
The sad thing is that we've lived here for 8 years and I've never noticed the noise level before!
You guys do have a fab deck and pleasant yard. I'd probably never notice the noise just by visiting (my talking would drown everything out), but I can imagine it would be noticeable if you were looking for a quiet space to think.
Ever considered installing a little waterfall to blanket the noise? Haha. :-D
Mmmm... I love nice days out here in Seattle. When they do come along they're perfect and something to remember.
I love our new deck and am so happy we finally extended the sound system out there. It makes it perfect to grill out (hotdogs the yumz) and toss back some sangria (Bev makes a mean one). Ahhhh... looking forward to summer.
That sounds *really* peaceful to me.
I'm envious. I rarely go an hour without hearing a siren of some sort.
Your walk and dinner sounded wonderful.
Sunny days in the NW are beautiful, but too infrequent. All the green and fresh air is wonderful, but also the silver lining to the cloud of all the....cloudiness. I can't say I miss it. Though summers in Phx are intolerable, my opinion is that we all basically spend 3 or 4 months out of the year trapped indoors. When I lived up there, it was because of the rain. Here, it's because your shoes melt to the asphalt. Ironically, now I look forward to the 15 days a year it rains here. It seems like such a novelty when it does.
D - I hope it wasn't too hot in Phx today.
I grew up in SoCal and never enjoyed the hot summers there. So when I moved here, despite the constant cloudiness, I still liked it more.
That said, extended life indoors is MUCH different with small children than without. Toddlers get cabin fever the moment it starts to rain, and there's no hope of snuggling with a book to cope. Unless it's reading Dora's Chilly Day. Again.
It was a lovely 84 degrees today. We've been really lucky this year; no 100 degree days yet.
There is something smothering about being trapped in a house during a long rain. One of the beautiful things about Phx is that you can be outside year-round (you hit the pool during the summer).
But as I've often said, Phx is the biggest hick down in America, and shockingly void of culture. I do miss that about Seattle/Portland.
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