The Stitch Up

Summer So Far

I know that technically we are not even really in the middle of Summer but it feels like it's flying by pretty quick.  I've done a little traveling and also managed to work in some stitching here and there. Mainly by packing a few small projects so I can get some things done on the plane.

First big trip of the summer was to Washington to spend a long weekend with my girlfriends.  These are ladies I've known since elementary school and getting back together always feels like coming home.  We rented a house on the Sound and utilized the location well by taking long walks by the water and sipping wine while soaking up the sunsets.

It's both relaxing and rejuvenating to be around people who've known you your whole life.  Any professional or social barriers I put up in my current adult life fall away around these ladies.  I left feeling more like myself than I have in a while.

My other trip was back to Ohio.  We spent the 4th of July reconnecting with family which is always nice.  Plus Ohio in the Summer is beautiful.

Sparklers were lit, hot dogs were eaten, and flags were waved.  We had a great visit.

Next update is going to be progress on the frighteningly large number of items I have halfway, partway or any kind of way complete.  The plan is to buckle down, prioritize and actually get a few of these things finished this Summer.

Hoping everyone's Summer is fun and productive!  

 

Back to the Beautiful Pacific Northwest

I did a little bit of traveling this Summer.  I headed out to Washington and Oregon to visit friends and family and cool off a little bit.  Truthfully, I ended up being there during a little heat wave and it was hotter there than here in the South.  But it was beautiful and fun and a great trip.

My first stop was near Tacoma, Washington.  I met up with my brother and nephew and we did a little hiking around Mt. Ranier National Park.  This is a gorgeous national park with lots of hiking trails for pretty much any skill level.

 

We took it pretty easy since it was just a day trip.  We stopped at a few trails on our way up to Paradise - the highest you can get by car.  These trails all had lovely waterfalls.

I managed to wrangle my adorable nephew in for a picture here and there.

 

At the top of the park at Paradise it was a little overcast so we actually couldn't get a good photo of Ranier itself but the area around the base of the peak had even more trails with waterfalls and a very cool hotel and lodge with that rustic architecture style of national park buildings that I just love.

The next day we took a little day trip to Seattle.  I'd visited Seattle years ago, but it is such an interesting city - I'm sure you could visit 100 times and still not see everything.  My brother found a cool tour that takes you underground to see the old part of the city before it was raised and built up.  It was creepy and super interesting.

Those glass squares are set into the sidewalk we'd just been walking on to get to the underground entrance.  From below the city, we went to the top:

Sky View Observatory has a 360 view of the city.  These were great photo opportunities and I even wrangled my brother and nephew into posing.

The last day of my visit with my brother was probably my favorite.  We hung around his town and took a hike through a lush, green park near his house that opens up onto Puget Sound.  I do realize that I was visiting Washington during the perfect time and had perfect weather and usually it would be raining like crazy - BUT - this park and the ocean and just the lovely laid back feel of the town had me really thinking about moving.

Such a great trip and visit.  I left unbelievably relaxed.  I just wish I could get out there more often!  Next stop on my trip was Portland and eating, drinking and shopping with my girlfriends.  I'll post that next.