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Education, Indoor Categories, Outdoor Activities

It’s cold and gray, let’s go to the zoo!

A couple weekends ago we finally had a cooler day here in Seattle. One of those “typical” summer days; a little breeze and a couple clouds in the sky, even a threat of a drop or two of rain. It. was. lovely! and I was scheduled for a couple different volunteer shifts at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Let me tell you…the time to go to the zoo is a day just like that.

The animals are active, comfortable and enjoying a break from the beating sun that makes them so sleepy (who can blame them? I’m the same way!).

Check out these not so awesome quality pictures I got just wandering through the zoo:

Another fabulous thing we have going on at the zoo, is families are always growing! Right now we’ve got a handful of littles running around. Gorillas, giraffes, snow leopards, just to name a few! What fun it is to have an up close view of parenting from so many different species. Can you believe that it’s my duty, at times, to hang out and watch these guys for hours?

It’s such a great time to get a little end of the summer field trip and spark an interest in your littles. If you miss the end of the summer, here’s an insider tip: wait for one of those rainy days that isn’t too miserable, go to the zoo’s website and see if they are having a rainy day discount. On those days you get in for a pretty great discount, generally face far fewer crowds, AND most likely you’ll see some really playful animals!

The zoo is always a joy, in all my years of nanny and childcare it’s the one outing I encouraged as often as possible. So much so you can now find me there most weekends, being a big kid at heart. Animals, more animals, a playground or two, snack shacks, picnic spots and free roaming peacocks…who doesn’t love going a little wild?

For more info on rates, hours, events, and daily programs go to: http://zoo.org.

Outdoor Activities

Hey rooftop, don’t forget about the patio!

Okay, admittedly I have focused all my green thumb energy on the rooftop. I just have such high hopes for it. It was a major selling point for us when were house hunting and unfortunately it’s so rarely used. It’s super hot and a wind tunnel so umbrellas are a hassle (sometimes even a hazard if you aren’t paying close attention). I’m getting side tracked…stay tuned for the dilemmas of the rooftop, today is the patio’s turn.

The patio is quiet and concealed. My idea is to turn into a South Park hidden jungle. I want plants that are “manly” and make you feel immersed into another land. Big leaves, tall grasses, spots of bright reds and oranges (no pinks or purples here ).

However, we really have neglected getting anything going in this space. In my spring splurge I did get a pot large enough to plant the lilac that has been growing slow and steady across many locations and years. Also a discounted ground cover that was planted 9 months later and with little hope of recovery.

With the replanting of the rooftop, the patio was given a little more attention. Two new planters (husband is going to paint them…someday), a couple Coleus varieties (oops, they look a little pink and purple. shhhh, don’t tell the hubby!), black grass (I don’t recall the name), and a cool green grass that blooms these neat orange flowers.

I was reigned in by the better half so it’s only a small improvement but has got the wheels turning!

Maybe by next summer we will be able to enjoy this space with family and friends. We long to have space enough to entertain, enjoy amazing company, and chow down on some yummy snacks…all without having to leave our home.

Small steps in the right direction!

Uncategorized

Broken bones, a Summer Bummer

Alright moms, who can relate to me here?? That silent look on your child’s face when they come to you after riding a bike, “carrying” a limb because it seems to be unable to lift itself. The terror in their eyes that can only be a mix of pain and fear is haunting. This is a look I have seen twice before in my nanny career. The look that without a word you KNOW a visit to the ER is coming. Well, last week I saw that look on my own child’s face for the first time.

The ER visits were just the beginning. IN one week we had 3 ER visits, a follow up appt a splint, a long Seahawks cast, a split cast (to allow for swelling), and finally a short cast and this mom watched her child’s broken bones reset. NEVER want to do that again!!

Through this all I have leaned heavily on my favorite essential oils! A little balance blend for both mom and kiddo to keep calm, Peace and Console emotional aromatherapy blends to soothe the disappointment and heartache as my child realized all that she could no longer due this summer because of a cast.

I am so grateful to have these natural solutions in our home and can’t imagine life without them.

Outdoor Activities

Supporting local business and improving my health!

Hey guys, if you are gardening this summer, just want to give a quick shout out to two local companies who are worth supporting for all your garden needs. Be sure to check them out.

McLendon and Cedar Grove– you rock! Thanks for being a great alternative to the big name stores, you know who I’m talking about. You may be slightly smaller but with a much bigger service and customers focus. We choose you guys any day!

Outdoor Activities

Rooftop garden, how do like them apples? No really, do like this better??

As I mentioned last week, the rooftop garden is in need of some serious help. Stupid thing is, I have all the seeds, crushed egg shells, soil/compost, and pots needed to start again…I’m just lazy.

Well, not so! I am happy to announce the rooftop has been replanted! We’ve got a few different types of leafy greens going. The round pots are spinach and mixed lettuce courtesy of my father in law who only uses the best seeds. I’ve also found in the clean up that the onions are hanging on for dear life. I have replanted them with a bit more spacing and hope to at least have a couple young onions into the early fall.

We are also going for a couple radishes (which I have had success with in other locations), kale and Swiss chard (long shots I know at the late stage), and a row of spicy mixed greens.

Here’s hoping.

Outdoor Activities

Me Kwa Mooks Park

Apologies that my reflection is in the picture but it was a sunny day and I was trying to be quick.

Here is a cool park to enjoy in West Seattle…and it’s not Alki! Let me introduce you to Me Kwa Park in the south end of West Seattle. What a fun find!

Full disclosure, this park was discovered on a quick google search after a run to the nearest Petco. I convinced my husband I would do a speedy recon of the park and grab pictures as quickly as possible but I “just had to check it out!”

The drive to this park is great. Cute houses of all ages and sizes. Amazing views of the sound. Interesting shops. Parking is abundant and this being said on a Saturday at 2 pm.

This guy caught my eye because it’s a little of everything. Trails through forest, grass lawns with BBQ pits and picnic tables and across the street…beach access!! Dogs must be leashed and no smoking permitted, just an FYI. Also saw a port a potty right off the street for those who need to spot to go nearby.

As summer is winding down, why not take advantage of the tides and this gem for some beach combing. Grab a marine life guide or smart phone and see what creatures share the same city as us! Or enjoy the shade and learn about some local plant life. Or best yet, let the learning happen naturally and as I always suggest, pack a picnic and just enjoy time with your family and friends while taking in some awesome views.

Seriously?!?! This is where I live??

Parenting

Wednesday, a love affair? I think not!

It’s Wednesday or in my household Hump Day. That point in the week when you know the end is near but not nearly close enough. The point when the bed is just sucking you back in and the alarm isn’t doing it’s job of annoying you to the point of getting on your feet.

Wednesday…I hate to love you and love to hate you.

Today will be long for me. I will wake up at the normal time (5:45 am). I will be on the road by 7:10 and cursing some driver by 7:13. I will go to work, smile and nod, do my job and get back in my car for the commute home. When I get home I will relish in the few minutes of Judge Judy I can sneak in if traffic allows. I will want to change into sweat pants and snack on something unhealthy but I won’t.

I won’t because that means they day is done but it’s not.

I will peel myself off the couch and curse myself for scheduling so many things in August. I will go back out into society and attend a meeting for a group I am involved in. The whole way to the meeting I will be dragging my feet, cursing my husband who no longer attends with me (too much talk, not enough action) and wondering why I am doing this to myself. I will want to turn around and go back home but I won’t.

I won’t because I care about this meeting.

I joined this group a year ago and am already seeing the improvements we are making to the community. I am enjoying the interactions with my neighbors. I am motivated to make South Park a place folks want to visit and are intrigued to explore both on foot and bicycle. I will sign in, speak up when the mood strikes, I will look at my phone every 15 minutes and try not to roll my eyes visibly when certain members drone on and on. I will leave refreshed. I will want to crawl right into bed when I get home but I won’t.

I won’t because my day still isn’t complete.

My day needs a few minutes with my family. To see their faces and hear the stories of their days. To eat a meal together and make plans for the next day. I will be tired the next day but I won’t be sad.

I won’t be sad because my day was so full. I will have filled my soul with caring for the community, myself, and my family. I will have accomplished as much as my day could handle. I will be proud and I will rejoice that the weekend is in view.

Wednesday, I love to hate you and hate to love you but either way…I’ve got this!

Outdoor Activities

Fun free spot for a picnic AND lots of photo ops of your summer cuties!

Hey all, here’s a little spot to ponder for your next picnic. The view is amazing, the smell enchanting, the fountains and benches sprinkled all around make it seem a little like a secret garden. This is a perfect spot to stop and smell the roses…the Rose Garden at Woodland Park Zoo! The garden is free to the public (unless you pay to park in the parking lot…I don’t mind the 2-3 block walk from a side street) and often overlooked by the zoo visitors.

Often you will see one of the zoo’s peacocks roaming the garden, a deer spent a little time there earlier this summer, rabbits, birds and all fun bugs of summer can be found here. Just sit down and let the magic of summer surround you!

It’s also the most wonderful spot to grab amazing photos…of the flowers, yourself, the gazebo, or that special someone who is picnicking with you! Too many fantastic spots to choose! Hurry though…when the seasons change, so does the beauty of this garden ( and the hours ).

Outdoor Activities

Let’s try this again rooftop garden

At the beginning of spring I was so inspired by all things green and blooming. I convinced my husband to let me splurge at the local garden store and buy “all the things we’ll need for produce this summer…it’ll save us on the grocery bill!” Being an awesome guy and knowing I have this endless optimism that all things will work exactly as planned, he agreed and I went nuts. I got the tomatoes, pea starts, onions, beets, strawberries, cauliflower, a few fuchsias and a couple succulents. For sure these things would grow and multiple as the summer began. We would be able to run to the roof for our daily vegetables, and even have enough to share with our neighbors. We were set.

Then the summer started and the sun shone brightly. And continued to shine daily, at temps Seattle is not accustom to, with no rain in sights. We broke record after record and the garden paid the price. I watered, I waited until the sun was set and temps were “cooler,” an attempt to avoid frying my personal produce stand. To no avail, my garden suffered greatly. My peas went crazy and were toast before I had the time to harvest many. My cauliflower leaves grew fast and furious and yet the cauliflower made to the size of a quarter before slowly turning brown and shriveling into nothing.

The tomatoes are my one rejoice. The ones planted in the corner survived the heat and with a little beating (yes, I beat the plants, trick I learned from my father in law- helps pollinate), they have been producing all summer. I’m hoping with the change of weather and cooler front coming in, that continues to be the case. I’m also hoping it means I little less manual watering trips, not that I mind but at the end of a long day I’m always okay with mother nature helping out a little.

The goal now is to take out all dead, dying, and disgusting items and replant some things for a late summer/fall harvest. More to come on that…

Outdoor Activities

Oxbow Park…one of many “out of the way” parks around Seattle

It’s that time of the summer where you might feel like you’ve been to the same 4 parks 100 times and they are starting to lose their appeal to all…here is a fun little spot right off of I-5 in south Seattle (near Boeing). It’s generally pretty quite at all hours and well maintained. I’ve seen photo shoots under the sculptures, kids on the playground, couples enjoying a grasses picnic spot, and even two of Seattle’s new Limebikes (bicycle share for iOs and Andriod users and can be seen in photo below)!

I’d love to say I visit this park often but most my enjoyment is on my commute to and from work as i zip past and am shocked by how few folks really utilize this park. Sure it isn’t huge but it’s so interesting. Where else in Seattle do you get to rest in the shade of a giant cowboy hat?!? This place is a must see, at least once in your life!

The weather is just perfect for grabbing a little lunch or dinner to go at one in Georgetown and heading over to the park to enjoy! Need any suggestions on where to go? I’d be happy to share a couple of our favorites with you, just ask!

I dare you to check out this park and tell me what you think!

*This is the park around 7 am this morning…please excuse the super dirty window lens you are seeing this through 😉