Last night we joined 41,000 of our soccer fan friends to support the US Men's National Team, as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2014 world cup in Brazil.
We car pooled with Jill and a a friend, arriving in the city early enough to pre-func. The youngers went off to a supporter beer garden. Tom and I went to Starbucks for our lattes and brownies.
Then we joined up with the gathering throngs in Occidental Park for the pre-game action.
We were nearly front and center for the March to the Match.
Both Jill and Jake were involved in turning the air blue. :)
As we reached the stadium, we dropped out of the march and watched the long procession pass by.
We had club level seats for this special match (read expensive), so ascending the ramp gave us some good views.
Who said it might rain? Looks like Seattle blue to me.
And inside, a sea of red. The opponent was Panama, and their few supporters blended in with their red, white and blue colors too.
The President greeted us and congratulated US Soccer for 100 years of action.
Glass artist Dale Chihuly created a special trophy just for this match.
Scarves up, Seattle, ooops, I mean USA!
The seats are filling up, the national anthem is sung, and up comes the tifo, produced by The American Outlaws, Seattle Chapter. this is the official supporter club for US National Team soccer. Locally they are many of the same people who are our own Emerald city supporters for Sounders Soccer.
It was great fun! Two Sounders players are on the team, both were starters, and one scored the second goal.
And it's always more fun when you win. Final score USA 2, Panama 0. The US Men are well on their way to qualifying.
USA! USA! USA!
I was really glad when my sister Laurie called to ask "What are you doing Sunday?"
We had nothing planned, and I needed an outing.
Laura and Arn live near Winlock, WA, so we agreed to meet somewhere in between. We had some Open Gardens through the Northwest Perennial Alliance in Pierce County that were available to visit that we could include.
We met up at 10:00 at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge just south of Olympia. Here the Nisqually River empties into Puget Sound, and the delta, which was once diked for farmland, has been recently restored to its natural wetland state.
Wetlands overlook at the visitors center.
Swallows enjoyed the bug menu while flitting over the wetlands.
Geese and ducks lounged and dabbled and nibbled.
Baby Mergansers! So cute.
We walked and talked for several hours, just enjoying being out of doors in nature in mild weather with good company.
I just took my little Canon camera, not wanting to carry around my big camera, so Mr. (or Mrs.) Baldy is a bit fuzzy headed.
We ate a picnic lunch at the delta before heading east to Graham to The Chase Garden, a now owned by The Garden Conservancy, a national organization that preserves outstanding American gardens.
Many of the bloomers were just past their prime, but this is still a lovely place.
It is most noted for its meadow like viewing area of Mt Rainier.
But of course the clouds teased us with only the slimmest glimpses of the mountain top or edges. Mt Rainier is hiding just above those trees to the right in this photo. We have been here when it was in full view, and it is amazing.
It was about 3:15 when we headed about five miles north to the Old Goat Farm Garden and Nursery.
I'm not sure if the name refers to this old goat, or the two guys who own it and have created this wonderful garden.
I do know that these old goats enjoyed visiting the "farm".
Thanks the the good day, Laurie and Arnie.
