The Tulip Festival: A Pallet of Beauty and Color

 We have lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years now and today was the first day we left the island, on purpose, to Just Go to the Tulip Festival.

 I remembered feeling sad last year that we had missed it. It is easy to get too busy to take time for rest and BEAUTY.

 There were lots and lots of people there. Tons of parking and lots of space to spread out in fairly quick once we got inside.

 Angie was able to join us and I know she enjoyed all the gorgeous colors and varieties like we did.

 Angie said that the purple grape hyacinths are supposed to be the river flowing through... lovely.

 I fell in love with all the different pinks.

 Some looked like star shaped roses.

 The endless rows

 One color to the next

 Just a bloomin' rainbow.

 It was impossible to pick favorites after a while.

 Rick loved the "fluffy red ones".

 This is a beautiful area with the mountains in the background.

 sneak peak

 Ooohhh the salmon color

 The doubles looked like peonies.

Hope you enjoyed your mini glimpse of the 2015 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. You can order bulbs too. I got 3 varieties that will be shipped to me in November.

Food and Fun in South Korea

 So I know I should eat authentic Korean food in Korea... but we were craving Thai food. The above was fresh spring rolls. They put that sauce on them and it was tasty, but had a fishy aftertaste so it was nix for me.But look how lovely even the "side" lettuce looks.

 My veggies were superb and my teddy bear rice was almost too cute to eat. Such good food.

 Jenny took us to a Vegan restaurant that had this poster  of Famous Vegetarians at the entry where you take off your shoes. We got to sit on the floor and of course eat with chopsticks Korean style.

 We were very tired in the afternoon... who knows which day and then we met friends in the subway. Who knew I could use a little music from a sweet piggy? And of course Rick has always had a soft spot for cats. He too loved finding fun along the way.

 Now a little mexican food went a long way. Loved it. I think this was Rick's last meal before going to the airport to go by byes.

 We were trying to imitate Mo's picture of drinking hot chocolate. We were not drinking hot chocolate but it was fun pretending. Puroro is my Korean little penguin hero.

 They always laughed if I looked at the vending machines... But in the red case are gas masks always at the ready for when the enemy may come. Also notable is the availability of recycle bins. Very conscientious.

 Who knew they made chocolate candy in the DMZ? I had a little piece... don't worry Switzerland, nothing to worry about.

On Jenny's big day with her ROK fellow officers. They respect Jenny and honored her with equivalent promotion "bars" and a great photo of all the ROC Army soldiers Jenny teaches.

We had our first Bubble Tea. Strange sensation to suck fruit through your straw and then chew it up. I had coconut in mine.

Where Do I begin? Oh, the many faces of South Korea!

 I am posing in front of the Mother Ginko Tree in the Secret Garden. It was imense and in prime of turning yellow before losing all her leaves.

 On the top of Seoul Tower  Angie gave us a lock to write a message on and attach to the fencing covered with other locks. It is a "couples" thing and it has a sweet key and key ring with picture window to commemorate the moment.

 There's just no telling what we were looking at and why we were so happy. I do feel very protected with Jenny at my side. The palaces were huge and courtyards large scale. Walk walk walk. What a lot of ground we covered.

 But the rewards were great. This reminds me of a puzzle I am sure I have put together sometime in my life...

 Pusan in S.E. Korea was such a  change from Seoul. The beach was gorgeous and I found some really cute shells.

 The vending machines in the subway would cover your cravings. Fun to see all the different labels. I even got separated with Angie from Rick and Jenny. I was only waiting on my Vitamin C drops to come out!

 Typical Korean pose... but who lurks in the foreground?

This was where we were allowed to write down a wish for the new year. My hands were so frozen that I could barely write. It was truly chicken scratch. Then you tie you wish on the lines of string.
So this is just the beginning of sharing photos of Korea. Thank you for being patient. You won't be sorry!

Community ZIP

 We had such a good time 2 years ago when we tried the zipline for the first time that we wanted to go again. We had Angie, Dawn, Keith and Rick and yours truly.

 You can barely see her but Angie just shoved off and is on the far line. I had some wacky filter going on my phone and didn't know it at the time. This is the Start Tower.

 Ricky was really enjoying himself. Too bad it is yellow and blurry!

This is Dawn arriving to the end of the Zip line (which is 1,000 ft long). It was so much fun Rick and I went back for a second ride. The YMCA has two free Community Zips in the summer. You have to be a certain age and under a certain weight... but we were fine. Thanks ORKILA!

More Fall Fun

Well we took the long trip to go see Joe at school. Along the way we stopped by Ginger and Dave's in Yakima for an overnight.  We stayed up chatting into the wee hours like school girls and then started in again in the morning. It was great fun and sorry to see it end. I just know I would have too much fun if I ever lived nearby Ginger and Dave! No pictures there. Silly me. We spent a couple of days with Joe dropping off a couple of things and taking some things back home that he will not need in the dorm room.  On the way home we decided to take the Steven's Pass Route to see new scenery. While in Leavenworth there was a fire in the hills. The helicopter in the first picture is one of 3 or 4 that was taking turns on the "bucket brigade". We stopped and watched for close to a half hour. It is fascinating and scary to see how a fire reacts during the fighting.

 The Buckets were refilled down the river and if you look closely you can spot the helicopter as it is refilling. It seems almost lost among the trees. Precision work not for the faint of heart.

 This shot was taken on the return trip home. Such a gorgeous day and Mt. Baker was showing off shamelessly.

 Ahh a rest stop for us and the dog. It was very warm on our entire trip and we were careful to keep hydrated and take extra stops along the way. If we had more time we might have tried out some of the trails...

 I just thought this was cute and probably honest. It makes me want to adopt an ugly duckling.

 Looks a little sleepy?  Not sure where I took this but it's a keeper!

 Angie and I played "beauty shop" doing our nails in the Jamberry wraps. This is the fanciest thing ever to adorn my little chicklet nails!

 And living proof that we are officially in the season of Fall.  We always like to get great produce in the Yakima Valley to make the next year's supply of salsa. It is a fine batch this year. Now we can breathe easy!