"Tis The Season - Again! Go Sounders!

 Unlike last year, when we kicked off the soccer season in the rain and the cold, with Jake in the hospital, last night we just had the cold, with a nearly full moon in a clear sky, and a healthy Jake setting up tifo with the Emerald City Supporters.  And Jill was there too.


While the MLS season opener isn't until next Saturday, last night was the first leg of a two game aggregate in the quarter finals of the CONCACAF Champions League.  This is a competition that includes all club teams in North and Central America, and serves as the qualifier system for the club level World Cup.  The Sounders qualified for this competition with wins last season.


Last night we played the first of two games against Santos Laguna of Mexico.  We were among the 23,400 fans eager to get back to the stadium for another season of soccer.

I've got a lot of layers under my now way too big team sweatshirt.


After the March to the Match, we were greeted by Sound Wave.

 Jill texted us to look for her waving the big ECS flag. Her long hair makes it easier to spot her through the macro zoomed camera lens from across the stadium.

 Jake was no doubt orchestrating the tifo display.

 The result was a good one, 2-1 over Santos Laguna.  The second leg will be played in Mexico next Wednesday.  We'll be watching on TV.


After the match, lots of happy Sounders fans, and some not as happy Santos fans flooded into the city.

 Sound Wave played us out.

Here's a sample.




The almost full moon was rising over the stadium as we headed for the light rail.

It's good to be back!

We're Not Gonna' Take It

This may be a blast from the past for some of you, and maybe if you didn't have teenagers at the right time, you missed it all together, but this rock song has kind of been my anthem when I've had enough.


And Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Gingrich, and all of your ilk, all of you self righteous men who think you can drag women  back in time, when you can tell us what to do with our bodies, listen up!  I've had enough!


We're not gonna' take it!


So ladies, let 'em know.  And just to get you stirred up, hit the play button, turn your speakers up, get out of your chair, dance and shout the chorus!




Women united!

Birthday Celebration

This is the first year in a long time that I have been able to celebrate Jill's birthday with her.  I wanted to make it special.

On Friday Irene painted a picture for her Mom while Isaac made a card on the computer, using an old photo of Jill.

 Then we decorated.

On Saturday I prepped the food.


This morning before my sister-in-law Jan and Jill and family arrived, I set up the cupcake tower, using cake plates and cake stands and a crystal vase.

Do you see Josy peaking through the patio door?


When everyone arrived we all piled into the van for the drive to the flagship REI store in Seattle.  When the kids saw the climbing rock, they thought it would be fun to try.  Amazingly enough, you only have to be three feet tall to do this, and the wait was short. 

 Isaac got the hang of it quickly.  Before we knew it he was at the top!

 He rang the bell and looked back down at us!

 With the help of the attendant working the ropes, he got down safely, and then it was Irene's turn.

 She discovered it was HARD!  But she gave it a good try.  And it was a pretty far reach between holds for someone that little.

 Jill says her kids stole the show on her birthday, but not really, because then it was time for serious shopping.  I went around with her, carrying the basket until I had to switch to a cart.  She got a good haul, funded by her aunt Jan, her Mom and Dad, a gift card she had, and cash she as carrying.  It doesn't take a very big bag to hold $500 worth of gear when you shop at REI.


Back at the house I finished up the homemade turkey soup and we got out the trays of fixings for deli sandwiches with fruit and chips that Tom and I had ready to go.  Irene had a colorful plate.

 We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and good visiting.  


After lunch, Isaac and Irene and Corey played with their phones - well the kids don't have fancy phones but their mom and aunt do.

Jill loved her painting and her card from the kids.  Then it was time for dessert.  Jill blew out the candles on her birthday cherry pie.

There was more eating and more visiting, and more phone action.  but now Jill and Jan are looking up tide charts and calendars and planning events.  Tom and I got the clean up done and sat around and visited some more, while the kids played and Corey took a nap.

Now it's evening, the day is done,  and  Tom and I are resting.

Getting Ready for a Birthday Party

March 4th is our daughter Jill's birthday.  This year she will be 39!  I don't know if she'll want to celebrate her next one, but for now we're getting ready to party!

Friday I picked the kids up from school for early release and we went to Party City and Micheal's for party goods.  Back at the house, Isaac made a card on the computer and Irene painted a picture for her mom.  


Photos will have to wait.  We need to keep secrets.


Then we decorated the dining room with Grandpa's help.


Today I baked pies and cupcakes, got the table set up, and made sure everything was ready for Sunday.  


For her birthday gifts, Jill has requested that we all join her at REI, the outdoor store, to help her replace some of the gear she'll be needing as she continues to take classes with The Mountaineers.   Then we'll all come back here to our house for a deli style lunch and birthday desserts.  Jill's favorite is cherry pie.


I think we're set.  


Along with party prep, I did some sewing requests for my guys.  Corey needed two pair of pants hemmed for his new uniform.  He has been in training and will be ready Monday to start on the job as a Metro Security Officer.  


Jake needed a patch sewn on to his supporter group soccer scarf.  That was an easy job.


I even got in a four mile walk today, but then I blew it by going to Red Robin for dinner.  The bacon cheese burger with fries was wonderful!


I'll work on the diet after the weekend.

From the Skagit Valley to Whidbey Island

Looking for more birding opportunities, and just wanting to explore, we headed north of the Skagit valley to Padilla Bay.

 There wasn't much bird action.

 But eagles did soar overhead.

 I love the red twigs of the blueberries against the mountains and blue sky.  

 And suddenly, around a bend, we saw a whole tree full of eagles!

 How would you like to have this in your back yard?  You might need to keep your pets indoors.

 This goose was obviously a domestic, and a guard goose at that.  He kept up a steady warning as long as we were near.  We were actually trespassing, checking out this boat moorage in a slew.

 I don't think we'd ever been to the little town of Edison before.  It's quite charming.  It being a Monday, 'treasure' shops were closed, but we did buy some cookies at this bakery.  The artisan breads looked wonderful!

 In the even smaller village of Bow we found this creamery and stopped to taste some cheese.

 We bought some nine year aged Gouda, as costly as gold, but much tastier.


I said hello to the girls.

 As I stood there taking photos, an immature eagle landed in a tree over my head.

 Moving on, we headed across the slew to Fidalgo Island, then across Deception Pass to Whidbey Island.  We made a short stop at the historic town of Coupeville to browse and take in the view.

 We arrived at the Whidbey cabin before sunset, as the late afternoon sun lit up the back of the lagoon.

 The garden looked good.

 We watched the sun set over Useless bay before heading out for dinner.  

 Can you see Mt Rainier in the misty clouds?

It was a great day.