Changes

Life is full of changes 

Like downtown Seattle !


I drove downtown today ( Seattle will always be downtown, even though I live in Bellevue, and it is growing and growing ) 

The first change.... my old favorite parking lot, across from Macy's, now has the first three floors for rental cars.   And the price increased.  OK, so I didn't make the early bird  for $9.00... but for less than four hours   $19.00.
That is one reason I will not be returning.

The sky bridge to Macy's leads to an elevator that takes you down to the 3rd floor.  What happened  to  all the other 4 floors of shopping ? 

And what happened to what used to be the most beautiful ladies room in downtown Seattle? The airport has more appeal

First happy encounter... meeting my friend MaryAnn.  Planned.  On time.   

No star on Macy's...but I heard it is coming. Even though Macy's is closing, Amazon is going to take over the building and the tradition.

Primary mission: lunch and conversation. So we head out of Macy's and down Pine 

There is always a carousel for the holidays.  But it was still in pieces.  We keep walking 

Next stop Nordstrom.  
 This is the old Frederick and Nelson store.    Eight floors of everything you might ever need. The door man, and a row of elevators with people who operated them.  Sales people, who helped you.  Paul Bunyan Cafe in the basement.  Upstairs, 8th floor sit down restaurant ..The Rhododendron Room ?Also a little child care, while you ate...they make little necklaces out of straws..

Back to the real world.  It is now Nordstrom's and only 3 floors of goods...
We pause on the first floor..handbags. We chat with the salesman about the robbery in Bellevue Nordstrom.   He showed us the type of handbags that had been "lifted"  $4,000 and up.  They are real animal skin.  They are Gucci Zumi.   Now I know and now you know. 

That is the Gucci display on the far wall. I touched a bag, it had a $10,000 price tag. 

On to the 2nd floor   

The black for MaryAnn,  the pink for me.  

By the way.. those are real flowers  in the ladies room at Nordstrom's  



Final stop at the Cafe.   The food is always good, but I have to say,  the service is just not like it used to be.  Oh well.  MaryAnn and me, we just wanted to talk  ( the pumpkin pecan dessert was delicious)


All good things come to an end.  
But wait...is that piano music, live piano music?
Yes !  And wait, is that Joe Rojo, the pianist who played for years at Nordstrom in Bellevue?
Yes!   He told us that he was the first and now the last to play the piano for Nordstrom.   He still looked the same.  Well, he said, I am 58.  

My trip downtown was now worthwhile,  very worthwhile.
Hearing a favorite, Joe,
and being with my friend MaryAnn

Shameless selfie...


By the time I got back to my car it was raining and then hail ... lots and lots of hail... then sunshine and home.


I live an exciting life.

When you come to the end of a perfect day..

Oh, wait, this was not a perfect day, but it was a full day.
It started out in the usual way with my Proverb, chapter for the day
and that would be 20..

verse I picked:   

August 20
Proverbs 20:12  Ears that hear and eyes that see- the Lord has made them both
( use for His glory )

Then, I move on to a couple other readings, and oh, I was thinking about my friend in Idaho and knew she had a busy day, so I texted her to let her know I was praying for her.

Another friend was having a colonoscopy. Thought I would  pray for that...I have never had one, but I am related to someone who has and, it is not fun.

I had planned to stay home all day, getting ready for another Wednesday brunch.  This time it is the ladies that I meet with on Wednesday, in Tacoma, for Bible study.   I am preparing all the food because I don't contribute much during the year.  

but then, I had to make a quick trip into town. Really needed to make sure those brows are looking cute.

back home and first and only major project

Dessert !   I had been browsing through cookbooks all the way to Spokane last weekend and found one that sounded great.  

I forgot to tell myself to never, ever, try a new recipe when you are going to have company.

It is an apple cake. 3 lbs of apples, peeled, cored and chopped.  
Tell me,  has anyone else heard of Macintosh apples?  I have, and that is what the recipe called for. At trader Joe's the produce man said he had never heard of them. He offered to check with someone.  Came back and gave me two suggestions.  " I just asked Siri "  ( why didn't I think of that, she is on my phone too )  

So far so good.  The next step was a little confusing and I don't want to talk about it.  I have been baking goodies for many years and I can figure out how to make it work.   The final step was pouring the batter into a tube pan, 1/2, then 1/2 the apples, and 1/2 and 1/2 again.  Looks nice.   Into the oven.

While starting another dish, I hear something and  I realize I might have to come up with a backup plan for dessert.  I have chocolates. I always have chocolates.   

I have only one tube pan that is not a bundt pan. It is the pan you use to make angel food cake.  It is not a pan for apple cake, but I don't want to talk about it.

Finally out of the oven.  Power nap time for baker.  Find directions for auto clean oven.

Young friend, she is 7, arrived to see the layout for tomorrow.  She is going to entertain/play with  the two toddlers who might be coming. 

Family arrived with smiles. Off to our favorite drive in burger place.  That always makes me think of an old favorite movie  " With 6 you get egg roll"  Little man had never seen it, so we watched it with popcorn and apples. 

We are almost at the best part 

The apple cake is now on a cake stand. Hubby comes by and says " that is an interesting cake".
I say "Thank you"  and leave it there.

he says " Is it an apple cake?"

( well, I am glad that much is obvious..it is a cake, and it has apples. Maybe I will take a picture later)  

Finished two casseroles for tomorrow.  Popped flowers into the party favor bags.  Table is set.  Run the dishwasher, run the washer, counter clean...

So, all that is left, for the morning,  is cheese boards and fruit platters.

I am really excited about "boards".  My favorite is at Chaps..Oh I have a picture

I will be serving 12 guests, so I will have to make some adjustments  and at least two platters ( I don't have any boards )  

OK.  It is midnight.  Gotta get my beauty rest.

I'll see you in my dreams  ( I know who you are ♥ )

I live an exciting life and I can sing that song if I want to

" When you come to the end of a perfect day and you sit alone with your thoughts..

Seattle

A trip into the big city can be quite an adventure

and it was

We had reservations for dinner at a new spot
a special spot
Donna is the chef and her Mama is my very good friend
    ( yes, she moved back to Georgia, but I still love her )

With Restaurant Week in Seattle, we had a great reason to try

                     The Tin Table

This is the sign at the door  and then 

These are the stairs you walk up 

This is the entry ..the desk to the right is where you check in

This wall is between the entry and the refreshment area 

And this is the view into     

    
                                        The Tin Table  

and our "window" view  

It is restaurant week  and a special menu 

Appetizer... shrimp and scallops   

Crostini appetizer for me 

Both of us chose Lamb Chops..
No regrets 

              Now for the reason we came tonight

Donna is on the left....

yes, it is a selfie

and yes, she should have taken another shot

but

When we go back, she ( me )  will get a better picture.

And then it was time to go home.   On our way back to our car there were a few sights we do not see in Bellevue..

Well, first we go back down the stairs...

This is the Grand Ballroom.  It has been part of the Odd Fellows building for many years
Built in 1908  /  The Century Ballroom   

If you get lost,  just read the sign  " you are here "  

And that is the end of my story.
And we plan to go back ...maybe on a sunny afternoon
There is much to see off  Broadway in Seattle.

Time for a little trip

First stop Phoenix.
Staying at the Hampton Inn
They have this neat "hanger" 
Hang tomorrows outfit and go to bed 

 Then the next days outfit 

We are here for some Bible meetings... spending time with old friends and some new ones.

The call for lunch and dinner....so delightful 

Stepping into a very good  weekend.



Then a visit with old friends...

Lunch around their table

Dinner and Delightful Evening
Always great stories 

Another day
Another lunch
Not just any friend...An old sweet friend 

Always time for Food
 Snooze Grill , Phoenix
Great food 

Always time to shop
Always time for footwear 

Then: Grand Canyon College and dinner with
                                   Jess !

Final breakfast,
Always give myself permission to make a waffle
And this morning
BACON

This picture carries a little story....
I usually go to the kitchen door to thank the staff for breakfast, so I found out the lady who made the bacon, which I love, was Anita. 
I said  " I have a daughter Anita....and she loves Jesus"
Anita said:  " Come here".   She took me into the kitchen where she had her Bible.
We hugged.  Something about being part of God's family.


And this is at the
  Hampton Inn, where there are no Gideon Bibles in the rooms.





I live an exciting life 

random Switzerland

From here on, there is just a collection of favorites 
or that odd shot that you can't remember why you took it  
Here goes

Caught in the act  ...someone drinking Coke !   

Often signs are in English and home language 

Welcome  lobby of restaurant and hotel 

The car we did not have to rent, but what a beauty 

We think it was a wedding 

White shoes ↓ Orange shoes ↑ wedding shoes 

We know it was a 40th birthday for sister on the left 

You never know when a clown might greet you on the street 

Our favorite restaurant.... 3 nights.  Paris Cafe
 Grilled tiger prawns.

coming  ↑ and going ↓

Nursery here and everywhere 

Across the street from our Chalet
A little taste of Home 
Bellevue 

Real Swiss family cooking here.
And just around the corner from our Chalet  

Another reminder of home
RAIN, BUCKETS OF RAIN 

Like the sign says,  this is Appenzell

Most cities have fountains to refill your water bottle

\

Dinner in the hood 

Only in Geneva 

I forgot about Lucerne 

You can google it and find just about the same photos

But, for us, it was about being there 

The have three unusual bridges
Very old and very interesting "paintings"

One of two people who were hoping for a "tip"
Not just asking for money, but entertaining

two got the memo
wear red shorts and black shirt  

Along the way, only German or French newspapers but on the cover of one in large letters

NO FAKE NEWS

For some reason, we thought "we" were in the news

On our final train ride, these gentlemen were having a visit

Could not understand a word

But, they appeared to be good friends having  a great discussion

Reminding us of friends back home

Great to see the world

but we are ready to head home  

So we did 

Previous posts have all different tales and photos

Ah Switzerland !!