Pausing at Rhoad's End

Our summer sail included a brief reprieve at Rhoad's End to visit with Linden, Rhoads and Celeste.  We found evidence this sunny cardboard house on the doorstep....and some slithering creature was snoozing inside....but no one else was around.

Inside the Gazebo there is a earthly bathroom tucked into the cliffs rock.  The garden moved in.

We took a quick swim and headed off.

Rhoads' catch

On this particular July day on Orcas Island, Rhoads' captured four snakes.

Naomi and Celeste are waiting for us on the dock.  We're getting ready to go fishing.

Sweet Zepher.

Gritty Oasis in Seattle or Beaching in Seattle

McKinley and Naomi.

The recess Monkeys showed up.

All aboard!  Kaya and Simone riding high on David's shoulders.

We indulge in long days at the beach in the summer.  Somehow we always stumble into friends and gatherings, on this day it was both...the recess monkeys arrived as well as friends from "Tribe Seattle."

Puget Sound is a bit chilly, perfect for a swim at the end of an epic beach day.

Melissa relaxing.

  

Lake Washington beaches have darker sand but the warmer water and floating swims docks make for luxurious long swims.  We often head to the lake at the end of the long summer days. (Sunset is 9pm.)

 

Pictured below is Simone, Stella, Elizabeth (holding the clan together) Elias, Lola and Naomi.

Ferry on over to Vashon Island

We often visit the Vashon Island farmer's market on the weekend.  The food is scrumptious, the music terrific but the real reason we go is to visit our friends Kelly and Rob.

Family pile-up.

                            

Our good friends Rob and Kelly live on Vashon.  We LOVE them!

Knighted by chivalrous iron-clad warriors in Gasworks Park

Sometimes we stumble upon the chivalrous Knights in Gasworks Park.  They meet in the clearing on the left when you enter the park.  Simone and Naomi are transfixed by the beautiful armor.  They battle and they also share medieval stories with the girls.

"This sword is heavy." - Simone

What a warrior!

"We welded these helmets to scare our opponents. They are meant to be intimidating."

"I like your medieval battle.  Here is a ticket to my climbing the tanks show." - Simone.

The BIG DIG Treasure Hunt or Simone's 5th or Great Traditions

We have a few traditions. One of these is the annual sailing trip, another is the annual BIG DIG treasure hunt that happens every year for Simone's birthday. We bury chests with treasure across the Global Gardens beach, pass out measuring tapes, shovels and maps and divide the kids into teams. It is mayhem and marvelous!

(pictures coming very soon!)

Getting trussed up?

This was probably taken in 1998.  I had harnessed up and climbed out of the globe at the top of the Smith Tower intent on dropping down the side of the pyramid to unseal the gothic windows but I was so scared I couldn't get myself to move.

In the paint

Naomi loves to paint. She does it nearly everyday.

Santa stopped by the tower a week early

The presents have been opened and the girls have left the scene for a few moments to pack up some toys for our afternoon plane ride to San Francisco where we will join in a second wave of Holiday festivities.

Jewel in the Oval Office (Sally Jewel)

Sally Jewel is sitting next to Obama at this table. Sally is one of the finest executives I know. 

She is the CEO of REI, a University of Washington Regent, a wonderful climber, hiker, adventurer, storyteller and she is the Chair of the Initiative for Global Development, a brilliant force of leaders who have come together to end global poverty.   I wonder what particular conversation is about?

Boardman Lake

Oatmeal for Simone, Kaya, McKinley, Liam, Simone and Cora after the first night at Boardman lake.   

Naomi and Simone hiking in.  

Boardman Lake

Annual Summer Sail

To be at sea.

Sailing

Naomi holding forth on the stairs.  

No hands as they are busy downing milk and twisting locks.

David, Naomi and John enjoying the island waters.

Mazama hike with Ben and Margit and Naomi

Hiking in Mazama with Ben and Margit.  

Brody's brother arrives or tea party with Brody

Simone and Naomi's are good friend's with Brody and love to visit with him in Sun Valley.  

Brody invited Simone over for a tea party and he made mint tea and cookies.  He had it all planned out. There was a table set with the miniature tea pot, cups and plates and a vase with a flower in it.

The only thing he didn't count on was that his new brother Finn might 

have a smelly diaper just when he was introducing Simone to him. 

Jennifer makes sure Simone doesn't lose hold of baby Finn.

Playing on the giant bear.

Her medium is plants.

Do you know any artists whose medium is plants? Kim Turos, who recently moved to Seattle, works in a vernacular of organic media. 

Gnarly old roots hang from the 70 foot ceiling like grand synaptic nerves sending messages from one giant bulbous form to another. It is something to behold. Her studio is wild too. It's a glorious industrial cathedral.

David, Simone, Naomi and I stopped by to see Kim and her husband John Gilleland recently. Simone set about watering the plants. There are probably 50 giant pots needing H2O. This could take a long time...best we open some wine and enjoy the extraordinary surroundings.