Christmas at Home (both of them)

First up are a few shots from the last few days of my two week trip back to Wisconsin. I was scheduled to leave on a Sunday night, but the flight ended up being cancelled. Teeny airport, a bit of snow, one flight a day, and some mumbo jumbo about a tail flap meant I was staying an extra night. So, Mom and I took advantage of the extra time and decided to do Christmas early! Here's us in the Christmas sweaters we gifted each other (we have such great taste) and a few shots of the snow I got to enjoy seeing because of the delay. Previously we hadn't had much at all yet in Wisconsin, so I couldn't resist taking a few shots of it.

Then, when I finally got back (home) to Seattle, we hit Christmas head on. We got our tree, decorated, wrapped gifts, and thoroughly got into the holiday spirit. It's tradition to get a real tree. No, not just tradition. A must. Ideally I would like to cut our own, like we always did when I was a kid. Unfortunately, things are a bit different in the Seattle area and apparently you can't cut your own tree without paying an arm and a leg. At least not that I've found. So, we settled for a pre-cut one. But we got it a tree farm, so that counts for something. As is also tradition - at least for Kevin and me - is making sure we get one that's small enough to shove in the back of our car. Once we got it home, we got straight to decorating. I got out the usual vintage bulbs that I got for a pittance at a garage sale one summer (remember that Lindsey??). I still love pulling them out and putting them on the tree every year.  This year there were a few new additions as well.  Two ornaments that were my Dad's as a kid. See the pretty red bird and the elf? So special. Other new additions included some new pillowcases I made from an oversized Christmas sweater we found at a thrift store awhile back and a somewhat newly thrifted Tom and Jerry's set.  This set is extra perfect for us because it's made by Homer Laughlin. Along we being the original maker of my absolute favorite Fiestaware, they also make lots of wonderful other dinnerware, which we've taken to collecting. Especially their classic restaurant / diner dishes.

Fall Traditions

Fall has always been my favorite seasons and one of the best parts about living in Washington state is that it lasts on and on and on.  The temperature is perfect for warm sweaters and scarfs worn without jackets and the sun is still out more than one might think.  The leaves also turn color very slowly compared to hometown Wisconsin, which makes for beautiful walks late into November.  Fall also seems like a time for traditions.  Maybe it’s because Fall is also the pre-cursor to the busy winter holiday season and we start to get in the mood for all the tradition that goes along with that. Or it could be the very effective marketing of you-know-who and their Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  Yeah. I’ve had a few. Whatever the reason, we continued some old Fall traditions and started some new one’s this year.

First up: SALMON! 

Not only is it Fall in Washington it’s also salmon spawning season.  This is a tradition we started last year and I hope it continues time immortal. I love the salmon.  They’re fascinating and beautiful and downright magical.  We like to start out by visiting them as they make their way through the fish ladder at the Ballard locks.  Here’s a peek at what they look like….

Then, a little later in the year, we venture out to a tiny little stream to see them at the end of their journey…

Magical right!?! Not only do they make the super long trek from salt water to fresh water they also dramatically change their shape along the way.  Maybe I’m overexcited about this, but it still boggles me that these could be the same fish.

Next up: Take a walk through the (rainy) Washington Park Arboretum. 

This is a new one. Although, it’s really a continuation of a springtime tradition.  It happened to be raining the day we went, but in some ways I think that makes it more beautiful.  The colors really pop in the rain.  Highlights for me were seeing a pear tree (seemed so exotic!), taking pictures of almost every Mountain Ash branch full of berries, and the bright red Japanese Maples. 

And finally: Make an apple pie. 

This has been our favorite apple pie recipe for a few years now.  It’s got cheese baked into the crust. Call us Wisconsinites through and through.  Below are the apples I used…but I couldn’t seem to get a picture of the finished product before it was snapped up!