Big City Shopping

Frankly, I'm happy to be a Small Town girl. I've never had a desire to live in the Big City. However, every time we go to Seattle and vicinity, there are certain places we like to shop... mainly because we don't have these stores in the Spokane area...

IKEA

 Observation: Swedish names for things are hilarious. Especially when one has not the first inkling about the Swedish rules of pronunciation and tries to read all the words in a normal, slightly-southern American English accent. Because I'm a reader, and I have to read all the signs. It's an obsession with me. I can't help myself.

Fry's Electronics

One of us usually enjoys this super store more than the other one of us. However, this time I was specifically "needing" a stylus 3-pack. You see, I have a tendency to literally wear out styluses playing Griddlers Plus on our tablet. Fry's has a 3-pack for $10. Can't beat that.

Panera Bread

Great sandwiches and salads! I also like the cozy feel of their dining area.

Half-Price Books

I'm sure you can guess that this is my favorite destination. I don't always buy something, but I am always tempted... and I love to just browse!

Ring Around the Sun

Unusual phenomenon in the Seattle area this afternoon.

Mountain View

The Mountain (aka Mount Rainier) is out this evening. View from our hotel room.

Busy Day

...at the Washington homeschool conference! (I took this picture this morning before it opened.) Talked to lots of friendly people today.

For those of you who might be confused...

 ...these is puppies! (See? They're different than ponies!)

These sweet babies belong to my brother's family's dog. So let's see... if they are my brother's grand-puppies... would that make them my great-niece-puppies? I can usually calculate obscure family relationships, but when we start involving the pets... that's when I get confused.

Anyway, the wide-awake puppy is Zorro, and the snoozing puppy is Oakley. After playing with them for a few minutes I noticed that they were both girl puppies.

"Umm... Allen? Why is this girl puppy named Zorro?"

"Well... she has a black mask, don't you see? And she was named by small children. Some things you just don't question."

Makes perfect sense to me!

 Oakley was so sound asleep that she didn't even wiggle when Zorro started chewing on her ear. And Zorro's little baby teeth are sharp! Ask me how I know.

Pretty soon Zorro was ready for a nap herself, and was soon sacked out beside her sister in the cool grass.

Zorro and Oakley have 6 litter mates. I just didn't get pictures of all them, but it was sure fun to have them tumbling all over my lap and tugging on my skirt.

I love puppies!

Stealing the Preacher - review

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer is a cute western-style romance complete with outlaws and train robberies. The characters were fun and the plot was engaging. It is a light, inspirational read, perfect to take along in your tote bag this summer. 

Here's the publisher's synopsis:

A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind. On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape-which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request. For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

Enter Today - 5/30 - 6/18! Thank you to LitFuse Publicity for providing me with a review copy.

Road Trip!

Big surprise, huh? Headed to Nampa, Idaho today (about 8 hours). First episode of Car Talk in progress.

Birds in the Airport

Several trips ago I discovered that the mezzanine in Concourse C is a nice, quiet place to sit at the Denver airport while I wait till time for my flight. Today I discovered it is inhabited by birdies! Three little sparrows were hoping around looking for crumbs nearby. Then they flew away. I wonder how they got in.

Looks Familiar

So I'm walking along in a strange city where I know no one. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a familiar figure. So I stop to take a second look. And then I laughed and took out my phone to take a picture of my "friend." No, not the statue. The reflection in the glass. Of me. I'm such a ditz.

I made it!

Good day so far.