Woodinville Wildlife

There is much wildlife to observe and appreciate near our home in Woodinville, WA.  These are a few of the creatures we have been able to experience lately....

The mystical and amazingly awkward Pignataro VW Beetle.  You can see these brightly painted bugs everywhere (and I mean everywhere!!!) but if you look closely you can see the markings on door, showing us that this particular speciman is indigineous only to the

Puget Sound.  Just like other bugs, I fail to see their appeal. 

The thing is tiny and cramped, and I wouldn't ever try to put anyone in the "backseat" you'll never get them back.  For as small as it is, it has the turning radius of the USS Lincoln.  I looked like Austin Powers when I tried to make a 3 point turn.  And while some may classify it as "cute" I felt the colored inside door panels were a dangerous and blinding distraction.  "I'm going to merge now, let's just check the blind spot....ahhhh!!!!! my eyes!!!!  they've been vaporized by this insanely bright door panel!!" True Story. 

My favorite feature was the built in vase so you can have flowers in your car while you drive.  ummmm right.  I know I've passed up buying tons of cars because it didn't have the essential flower vase.  If you really subscribe to the "flower child" way of life it could also hold acid for pyschidelic trips on the go. They even got rid of any non essential instruments in the cluster so as not to harsh your mellow. 

Yes, I know the VW bug is an iconic car and a very good excuse to punch someone but I was so happy when I finally got my car back and got rid of this pest. 

There are good forms of wildlife in Woodinville, yummy ahi tuna!  Scott and I had a fun night of learning how to be Sushi Masters.  Our youtube instructor said that sushi chefs in Japan study for years just to learn how to make perfect rice before they are allowed to ever cut the fish. Good thing I did it in one night or we would have never gotten to eat!  :)   ok so it wasn't perfect but it was still pretty good. 

Scott called our california rolls "Sushi Biscuits" because we couldn't cut them into small pieces or they would start to fall apart.  They still tasted good though. Definitely a fun date night!!! Thanks again to Russ and Debbie for getting us the kit!!  I've been wanting to do it forever and just started feeling brave enough to tackle home made sushi.  :) 

I'm sure there are lots more species of wildlife in Woodinville, these are just the only ones we've documented so far. 

PS. I am sorry to any VW Bug fans out there I may have offended.  It was not directed at your personally, just the car.  :)  if you need help finding pretty cars to be fans of you could try going here....

http://www.astonmartin.com/

MEGAPOST!!!!!!!

So many amazing things have been happening that I haven't even had a chance to keep up.  I'll try to keep things in order here as I tell the tale of what Scott and I have been up to for the last month.  May started with us moving into a new apartment...pictures soon...I know, I'm a slacker but we aren't 100% moved in yet and still need to hang things on the walls. But it will happen!!! I promise.

So next, Nathan's graduation.  From Law School. WOW!!  We drove to Spokane Friday night and the graduation was Saturday.  This was such a wonderful experience!!! I know Nathan was wishing it had been quicker but it was so great seeing him in all his glory (i'm sure he would have used that term if he had been writing this post!!) marking such an amazing accomplishment.   It really inspired me to make school more of a priority so I can finish too.  

       

After the ceremony we had pizza at Manito Park.  Polly was so excited to show us around and be our tour guide through all the beautiful gardens.  The park was huge with all different types of gardens but the Rose Garden and the English Garden were both being replanted so there was just a whole lotta dirt there.  But the rest of the park was beautiful and I really loved the Japanese garden.  They also had about a million dogwood trees, which are my favorite.  They smelled so good!!!! It reminded me of being on my mission!!  Nathan and Polly moved to Albuquerque on Sunday, so after helping them load up and clean their apartment we had lunch at Chili's. Scott had been pestering (nicely ;) ) everyone to go there the whole time and then finally,  his wish came true.  He was so happy to be there and loved his Quesadilla Explosion Salad!!! Sunday was our last day there too, so after Chili's we hopped (or rolled from being so full) into the car and started the journey home.   

On the way home we decided to take the "Scenic Route" so that we could stop at the Anjou Bakery.  They have the most light, flakey pastries and pies.  oh my goodness.  if you are ever driving across Washington on Highway 2 stop there and get a pie.  Yes. A whole pie. you won't regret it.  So Chili's for lunch, then a light snack of pie around 5 but we weren't done yet. Since we were still on vacation we made one last stop.....in Leavenworth.  Leavenworth is a little village up in the Cascade Mountains completely done as a Bavarian-styled village.  Everything is German. German restaurants, treats, even Starbucks looks like it's a 100 years old.    We found a great place that had the best pretzels I have ever had...do you see how it's as big as my head.  It was so amazing....everything a pretzel should be. Chewy and fluffy, golden brown and delicious.  After our giant pretzels and delicious gulash with spaetzle noodles, which are the best noodles ever by the way, we got in the car and headed home....well to Brian and Cathy's to dog & house sit.   

Let's see, next came the last volleyball tournament of the season over Memorial Day weekend.  We had such a good season this year.  Everyone learnt so much and grew a ton.  We played some really tough teams and ended up 5th out of 42. We didn't lose a match until the quarter finals.  After the tournament we had pizza and ice cream at our new apartments.  The girls had a blast in the hot tub and literally would not get out.  Especially when parents came looking to collect their daughters to take them home.  It was so touching to see how good of friends they all were and how sad it was that the season is over.  I gotta admit, as nutty and crazy as they were, I miss them and hope they continue to be as successful with other parts of their life as they were this season. Here are the girls in the hot tub.

This last weekend we had a BBQ at Danny and Joanie's house.  oh it was soooooo good!!!!  steak with Chimichurri sauce and chipotle sweet potato fries.  she also made a corn/bean/cilantro salad that was amazing!!!!  The weather was just wonderful, sunny and bright and NO RAIN!!!! haha it has been raining non stop here for weeks now so to have a nice day like that was a miracle.  Cathy took these pictures of Scott and I in Danny and Joanie's backyard.  I love them!!!!  Thanks Cathy!!!

Ok.  I think that catches us up. This concludes Megapost! Thanks for visiting and have a great day!