Chihuly Garden and Glass
Yesterday my mom and I took the water taxi from West Seattle to downtown and visited all the usual Seattle sights: Pike Place market, the Space Needle, etc. We didn’t go to the original Starbucks as I don’t like their coffee, but the French bakery in the market is one of my favorite places. Ever since our first trip to Seattle way back in 1998 (our honeymoon), I’ve been visiting Le Panier for good coffee and palmiers whenever I am in town.
We decided to ride the monorail over to the Seattle center to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit and we were not disappointed.
I wasn’t expecting it to be as spectacular as it was, perhaps, like most things, the photos just don’t do it justice. I’d seen photos and heard it was great, but I wasn’t prepared for the vivid colors and the intricacy of the work.
After debating whether or not we’d enjoy it, I’m certainly glad we decided to go. It’s not a cheap tour, but it’s beautiful and worth the expense. I love glass art in the garden and hope to someday have some of my own.
What’s your favorite kind of garden art?
Share this:
Gardens and Food
Yesterday I finally visited Heronswood, something I’ve been wanting to do for years. It was a fabulous tour, I took over 500 photos, which I probably won’t have time to get to while we’re here in Seattle.
After leaving Heronswood we drove a few miles south and went to Bloedel Reserve. I visited this garden a few years ago and really enjoyed it, I knew my mom would as well.
We had lunch/dinner at Harbour Public House, of course my meal was seafood, a delicious curry.
Our second ferry ride of the day took us right into downtown Seattle and then we found our way home through the maze of streets. Thankfully I’ve been out here enough to know my way around fairly well.
Yesterday and this morning were drizzly, gray, and cold, something you always hear when you talk about the Pacific Northwest. The rest of the week is supposed to be sunny and warm, which is what I have always experienced when I’ve been out here. We still have a long list of gardens to visit, downtown, more delicious restaurants, a few shops and maybe we’ll even make the trek down to Mt. Rainier. Lots of gardens, good food, and the ocean, just my kind of vacation!
What are your favorite things to do/see/eat on vacation?
Share this:
A Delicious Day
Yesterday was what you hear is typical for Seattle as far as the weather goes, though I have had nothing but great weather on all of my previous trips out here. We woke up to a gray, misty day that was cold, damp, and gloomy. No worries, as I had a tour of the Theo Chocolate factory waiting for such a day.
We tasted a wide variety of chocolates along with cocoa beans from a few different regions. We walked through the factory and got to see and learn exactly how good chocolate is made. It was a great tour, the perfect thing to do on a rainy day!
You can be we purchased a few goodies to eat and maybe a few to take home, if they make it through the week! I’m a big fan of dark chocolate and a few of those made it into my bag to enjoy throughout the week. I love that their chocolate doesn’t have soy lecithin it in as an emulsifier, only delicious cocoa butter!
Do you prefer light or dark chocolate?
Share this:
A Few Days in Ohio
Since my mom and I were traveling to Seattle, WA together this week, I flew into Ohio a few days early to visit with family. Mr Chiots went with me, he’s flying back to Maine today after spending yesterday visiting with his family. On Friday we went down to the family cabin and enjoyed a day of fun with our nieces & nephew.
We also stopped by the farm where the kids have their ponies. They have two ponies that someone is keeping for them until they buy their new place.
On Saturday we went to the Wayne County Fair, a favorite and a family tradition. We like to go on opening day to see all the flowers and vegetables at their finest. We also must buy Lerch’s Donuts and my dad likes to watch the horse pull.
This fair is everything a rural county fair should be and we had a great day! Of course I’m probably prejudiced, but this is the best county fair there is and I have been to a good number of county fairs.
Do you attend a local county fair in the summer?
Share this:
Quote of the Day: Elderberries
“Once up on a time not so long ago, elderberries were held in extremely high esteem by humans. Elderberry trees feds us. They got us drunk, provided medicine, and protected us from witches. Everybody know elderberry trees. They offered everything from fruit to flutes and cosmetics to weapons.”
Connie Green and Sarah Scott The Wild Table: Seasonal Foraged Food and Recipes
I only have one small elderberry plant here in my garden in Maine so far, though it’s sending up suckers that will be transplanted when it’s finished producing berries. There aren’t enough berries for me to make anything this year, they will be cut and fed to the chickens. Elderberries are beautiful plants and provide such nutrition.
The lacy white flowers can be fried up as fritters, made into wine or syrup for sodas and the berries can be used in all sorts of different ways. When I have elderberry syrup I use it in my tea all winter long, it’s said to boost the immune system. My dad swears by its health promoting ability and doesn’t hardly go a day without consuming elderberries in some form (jelly is his favorite medium). Even if you don’t want to consume the berries or the flowers, they are a wonderful way to provide forage for pollinators and birds of all varieties and are worthwhile to include in the garden for that reason.
Do you have any plants you grow for their medicinal properties?
