Wednesday and Thursday

A few different photos that aren't exactly the same as Caro's blog.  [It's a challenge when we both bring our cameras]

So Wednesday afternoon we went to Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI).  We found a couple of Christmas gifts (not saying for whom), Caro found some shoes, did a return and had a quick lunch.  Love this sunshine.  Caro is in this photo but you can't even see her (sorry, Caro)

I also love the REI waterfall,

It is such fun right in the middle of the "big" city.

Then we headed to the Pike Place Market.  It was just that kind of a day.  And luckily not loads of folks, either.

Mostly we just walked around, although Caro did find a couple of little things to buy.  I think Santa may have done a bit of shopping at Sur la Table.  Of course a trip there wouldn't be complete without a visit to Beechers cheese.  Caro brought home a small amount for us to try.

Beechers

The origiinal Starbucks site.

Thursday dawned very cold and marvelously clear - blue, blue sky

Caro and I had decided to drive to LaConner to the Quilt Museum - always such a treat.

Lunch in town and a brief wander and then it was time to get back on the road.  A wonderful day.

Busy in Seattle

Well, my camera has not been so active.  So check Caro's blog for the real "inside" scoop (and photos).  caro-en-rob.blogspot.com

Yesterday was a leisurely wander through the Lake City Fred Meyer - shopping a bit and lots of looking.  After we got home, Caro and I did lots of sewing.  Several little projects.  Photos to follow here shortly.

Caro made pea soup for supper - very tasty - and then we headed to the Univ. of Washington Women's basketball game.  Sorry Nancy and Diane - but we managed to beat Seattle University rather handily.  A little TV and bedtime.

Wednesday (today) is the gym and coffee, then a visit to REI.  Caro continues to help support the Seattle economy with her shopping.  Yeah!

One more photo from Sunday

Just because it is rather funny,

Dutch holiday tradition, Swarte Piet and guess who?

Monday adventures

Today we began with our first adventures with Jazzercise, for Caro.  We had to quickly come home and change into "going out in public" clothes.  Shirley, from CTA, came over for a ride and we headed out to Woodinville, where we were meeting for lunch.

As we were a bit early, we swung by Molbak's Garden Center.  Caro was fascinated with all the goodies there for dogs: leashes, toys, cookies, life jackets - she even found a pair of doggy reindeer antlers for her dog for SinterKlaus.  Cute!  [see Caro's blog for photos].

We met up with the rest of the group at Gobblers for some lunch (turkey, of course).  As we finished a bit early we had time for a quick trip to Gathering Fabrics, in Woodinville.  A really, really lovely quilt store,

[again, Caro has photos from inside, on her blog].  One of the new things they have in the shop are the Downton Abbey fabrics - true.  And they were gorgeous.

We then drove across the freeway to visit the Martingale Publishing offices.

One is not allowed to take photos inside the offices, as the quilts are copyrighted, but they have walls filled with quilts from their books.  Oh so inspiring.  They also have a book room, at the end of the tour, which has many of those books published during the past summer (about 6 months old) for a ridiculously low price.  I managed to get home with only one book, "101 Small Quilts" from various authors.  A great resource for some up-coming projects.

Then, being in the mood, we headed north through Bothell and went to Keepsake Cottage Fabrics quilts.  I haven't visited there for some time and goodness, but they have an enormous selection of fabric and tools and books, as well.  I found two fabrics on the sale table, a stack of 2 1/2" squares and a template for a pinwheel template.

A couple of tired "cookies" this evening, but a very fun day.

Needed changes

Well - it seems that some people cannot leave a comment easily on that fancy new format - so we will try this one.  I do apologize for regularly changing this - trying to find something that seems to work well for all of us. 

So today, Sunday, was a visit to welcome SinterKlaus to Seattle.  Actually Sint and SwartePiet came to visit the Dutch Seattle group.  This was my first chance to experience this firsthand.  The organization did a great job of setting up 8 or 9 games for children to play.  There was music and some videos, as well as (typical Dutch) coffee/tea and little taste treats.  Two bakeries had donated banket (puff pastry with an almond filling), rookwurst on a little roll, speculaas cookies and mandarins.  Sinterklaus arrives by boat accompanied by his myriad of helpers, who are the ones who slide down the chimney to bring gifts to children.  Thus they are covered in chimney dirt.  The children (in their homes) would leave their shoes in front of the fireplace, including a carrot for Sint's horse.  It was obvious that everyone had a fun time.

"He's coming, he's coming"

 

Children enjoying the celebration.

Finally, Sint arrived

A fun cross-cultural experience.



Of course, after we got home and had some dinner, it was time for what else?

"We've only just begun"

You may remember a song by the Carpenter's by that title.  It felt like that was the perfect description of the start of our little visit with Caroline.  Her plane was about 20 minutes late but we found each other easily - waiting at the top of the escalators - we couldn't miss.

We saved the Welcome sign from our trip in 2011.

Caro said that her suitcase was full.  She wasn't kidding.

She brought lots and lots of things from several different folks.  We are so lucky and spoiled.  A package of English tea from Emma.

My favorite white chocolates and some dark chocolate for Elaine.  Placemats from Caro's mother and dad

Vlieseline, which I ordered from Willemijn.  It is the greatest for a backing any sort of stitchery.  Her business is called Happy Stitches - an Etsy shop.

The latest issue of the Albert Heijn monthly magazine.  You have to be able to read Dutch but their recipes are great!

A jig-saw puzzle (leg puzzel) for Elaine.  It is of a picture by Anton Pieck - one of our favorite Dutch [contemporary] painters.

Roomboter Babbelaars (similar to Butterscotch)

Dieuwke made us two doves from wonderful den Haan fabrics

And to decorate the house for Thanksgiving, from Caro

And last but not least, Joke made a lovely shawl that she knit for me.

Isn't it gorgeous?

No - it isn't Christmas yet, but we are being royally spoiled.

Sometimes I'm a regular blogger

It isn't that nothing is happening - but I get distracted and forget to note what's going on.  But here I am once again with a quick review of the latest news at the Casa.

As our houseguest arrives on Saturday, I have been trying to do several things in the cooking arena, so I don't have to "mess around" with thinking of what shall we have, tonight (or this morning, or whatever).  So I did an inventory of the freezer, made a grocery list, listed 7 or 8 entrees that were quite do-able and visited our friendly neighborhood Safeway.  It is interesting to ponder - they have this swell new program which is supposed to list out bargains for you (and you alone) based on your previous shopping habits.  That is all well and good, but when you get to the store, then you must find the EXACT thing that is part of your week's specials.  And, the store staff cannot help because they don't know what is included on everyone's list - so finding the exact item, in the correct size, makes a trip to the grocery store take much longer than usual.  And as Caro knows, I don't usually dislike shopping, but it took forever today.  However, if you live around here and happen to be more than 60 years old, on Thursday from 9-1 they give an additional 10% discount for us old-sters.  As my father used to say: better than a kick in the teeth.

And so - I bought the rest of the ingredients to make pumpkin bars.  I'm not sure why they are

called bars, as they have the consistency of cake, but they aren't very high as you use such a big pan (11 x 17).  I can say that they are QUITE nice.  [first time I've made these.]  I also made a recipe for refrigerator bran muffins.  It makes about a gallon.  You make the mix and then store it in the refrigerator.  It keeps for more than 9 weeks, although we usually have finished it before then.  You just take out the amount you need and then we add nuts and dried fruit - yummy breakfast.  Harriet Homemaker was busy today.

Apologies for some of the street wires, but we did have a really lovely sunset - so I ran out and took a quick photo.

You may recall that I have 5 grandchildren - 4 of them are girls.  The oldest one has really long hair.  I learned how to make these headbands at our CTA retreat.  They are so cute and really quite easy.  It's rather nifty how the elastic is threaded through.   So I have made these for her for a little Christmas gift.  Her mama said any color was good.

Can you see the red one has a little bow tied on (or it can come off if the wearer wishes - who knows when you are 13+).  I didn't make a bow for the turquoise one, but did for the black one.  So next I will make some for the 7 year old for Christmas, as well.  Her hair isn't quite as long, but she could use them.  The other two girls aren't really old enough for headbands - just yet.

Tomorrow it is mundane things like the gym, and a haircut and a basketball game.  The game is at noon - who knows why.  Me thinks that there may not be too many folks there, in the middle of the day.