12-12 Walk in the Estuary near Bothell and dinner with Laurie and Jerome Burns 8-25 and 8-26

After the day spent at the Chihuly exhibit, we were invited to go to dinner with Paul and a few friends from Boeing.  It was a very nice French restaurant and very nice people, all are about ready to retire.  After a very fulfilling meal we decided to take a walk along the estuary near the restaurant.  Mary knew the way and she led us on a very nice walk to settle our meal.  We were a little late, so most of the animals were hiding, so I took pictures of the flowers, plants and water lilies.  (A Monet I am not!)

		Estuary near Bothell VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

We did have a beautiful sunset over the estuary and a perfect end to a great day.

Sunday we drove a little north of Seattle and visited Frank’s niece Laurie and husband Jerome and their family.  Laurie made a delicious salmon dinner with a lot of vegetables right out of their garden in the back yard.  The weather was cool, but not uncomfortable and no rain!  This was my first time to meet Laurie  She is the only girl in Frank’s brother, Joe’s family.  This was a very nice visit and we hope to hear more from them in the coming months!
The RV engine got it’s cooling system flushed and new coolant put in on Monday.  We ended up staying an extra night as it was late when the guys finished.  Oh well, free parking and good blackberry picking right across the street.  I now have a few packages of frozen blackberries to take back to CA!  Our next stop is Yakima, WA

12-11 Seattle and Bothell, WA 8-24 thru 8-27, 2012

Mosaic Steps—Wish I was that good and creative!

Below are Frank and I in the first room of the Chuhily exhibit and Mary outside near a tall glass tree!
We spent the entire day with Paul Allard and Mary Sligh at the Chuhily exhibit in Seattle.  I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the show.  It was so amazing, everywhere we walked and turned there were more unique glass designs.  I was so glad they took us there.  The evening before we had a BBQ at Paul’s home and sat outside on the deck.  We had the RV parked at the Cummins repair shop for the weekend as we were having the cooling system flushed and coolant changed on Monday.  So gave us an entire weekend to spend with nephew Paul and friend Mary.  We even got to see Paul’s son while we were walking through the exhibit.  If you look closely in one of the reflections, he is standing right by the reflection of the Space Needle.  Very cool picture.

“Under the sea” Chuhily glass exhibit VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I just had to take lots of pictures of the Chandeliers, as they were all so beautiful and so different.  So many colors and shapes and sizes.

Inside Chandeliers VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Outside Chandeliers VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

		Then we go outside in the gardens VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Seattle Space Needle and reflections in glass.  Look for reflections of grand nephew Paul beside the Space Needle.

Reflections VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Tram Station is amazing and beautiful.

So many things to take pictures of, so little space to put them all on the blog.  I know that in person is better than pictures, but I just have to share some of the many, many pictures I took.  Of course, I am a nut about glass anyway!

12-10 leaving Medford, on to Coburg, Eugene, Albany and Depoe Bay, OR

On our next to the last day in the Rogue Valley we met with Debbie Levesque and her family for dinner (At a Mexican restaurant, of course).  They had all been out camping for the last week and just got back.  I can’t believe how Brianna and Micaela have grown.  Soon Brianna will be off to College.  Debbie and Patrick have done a great job in raising the girls, they are both sweethearts!

Frank, Debbie and Dixie                         Brianna and Micaela

Table Rock from the I-5 heading north from Medford at dusk

A beautiful sunset greets us as we head back to the RV and prepare to leave Rogue Valley tomorrow, heading to Coburg for some minor repairs on the Coach.
Hey, it’s a wonderful summer day, I know where I’m going, so today I drive the RV north!  Easy drive, and gives Frank a rest from the drivers seat!
We are invited to the Stauffer family picnic by niece, Melinda.  Had a great time in Albany.  After picnic we met at Don and Mary’s and then went out to Pizza before heading back to Coburg where the RV is parked.
While the guys at Monaco/Navistar worked on the RV we met up with our friends Winnie and Ferd and spent a couple of evenings with them and renewed our friendships.  Good visits.

We left Coburg/Eugene area and drove to Florence, OR on the coast.  Then took Hwy 101 north to Lincoln City.  It is a two lane road that goes right along the coast.  A beautiful drive, but very crooked.  I was happy to finally get parked at the Elks Lodge in Lincoln City.  We have parked here before, and like it because it is back away from the ocean and not so fogged in all the time.
While we were there we spent a lot of time with Linda Phillips, our good friend who visited us in Yuma last winter.  She took us to her line dancing class and I even got up and tried a few.  The wind was blowing outside and all the doors were open.  It was also foggy and damp.  I was freezing!  Everyone else was just comfortable. 

While we were in Lincoln City,  on Aug 17, our Great Granddaughter, Adele, Dixie Rea Ivison, was born in Lancaster, CA!

She weighed 9 lbs 3 oz, and was 20” long.  She was also almost two weeks late!  Kept us waiting until she was good and ready to meet the world and her anxiously awaiting family.
Linda and I hit the Outlet Mall that day.  I had so much fun buying little baby girl clothes, and everything was on sale!  Carter’s, Osh Gosh B’Gosh, and others.
Just a sample below.

		New baby girl clothes! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Big brother, Eldon got a couple of shirts!  All in all it was a great day!  Her Grannie (our daughter, Laurie) and I kept in contact during the day via phone and text as we were both out shopping!  Our little girl is going to be very well dressed!