and finally

A couple of family pictures. We didn't get any with everyone, but I took these as Ann's family and Jill's family were leaving.

The Swedes: Seb (Emily's boyfriend), Emily, Martin, Mom, Ann, William and Ketil. Looks to me like Ketil is standing on his toes to appear taller than his boys.

The Iowans: Jill, Bob, Mom, David and Annie.

Fish Creek & Peninsula Park

On the last day of my trip, Mom, Jill and I went to lunch at White Gull Inn in Fish Creek, a favorite of our family. This old Episcopal church is nearby. It had a small but pretty garden in front, surrounded by the stone walls so common all over the County.



This is the Eagle Bluff lighthouse at Peninsula State Park. Mom has worked there giving tours one day a week for years, and is now a substitute.

Peninsula State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and is the home to American Folklore Theatre. In all these years, I had never been to that, so on my last night, Jill and I went to see Cheeseheads, the Musical. It was great fun.

More Ephraim

The Hardy Gallery is a famous landmark. An art gallery inside, boat and tourist graffiti on the outside (encouraged), and located on a jetty that's a popular fishing spot.

Off to the left side, these windsurfers were getting into position for a race. With their transparent sails, they looked like a flock of dragonflies.

The Ephraim horse.

Happy 4th!

I'm in Door Co. for the Fourth this year, visiting my mom along with the rest of the family. The first few days were cool and cloudy, but yesterday it cleared up and was a beautiful day. Maybe the bonfire we had on the beach the night before drove off the clouds. It was to burn up a lot of dead wood and waste lumber, but we also had s'mores and singing. And I saw my first fireflies in a few years. They seem to live in the grass and rushes at water's edge, as we first spotted them low in the grass. Then they started flying higher. This first picture is of the bluffs at Peninsula State Park and Horseshoe Island from the harbor in Ephraim.

This is also Horseshoe Island, but from a lookout at the park.

This is 'downtown' Ephraim, from the other side of the bay. The first day of the 3 day holiday weekend and the first warm sunny day in over a week brought out the water and boat lovers.

Quilt Inspirations

I went to a quilt show in Issaquah on Sunday. I was about half-way there when I realized I forgot my camera. Then when I took my normal exit off the highway, the road was almost immediately blocked for some kind of Father's Day festival. The first road was blocked by various firetrucks, including one with a really high crane. I tried to detour around, and got blocked by another closure, this time with antique cars. It seemed to me that if you were going to block off many of the main streets in your town, you would at least provide detour directions for those who unwittingly wandered in. But no.

I did find my way of course, and enjoyed the show sans camera. I found a couple of cute fabrics to buy, and took these pictures later. Owls in a retro 60s style, and Frida Kahlo.

Midsommer Gardens

Boo called me up this morning and asked if I wanted to go on a garden tour with her. It was called the Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park. The first one we went to was my favorite. This little garden was on the side of the house. There was a small patio with chaise lounge, table and a bench, all facing this stone sculpture/water feature and tiny pond. A perfect place to relax with a book.

The house was U-shaped, and the gap in the back was filled in with another larger patio and plantings. And there was a wide border in the back of the yard, with a mixture of trees, shrubs and perennials. It had a lush feel without being out of control or feeling like you were lost in a jungle. This is a leaf-shaped concrete birdbath, cradled in a metal tripod that looked like sticks. (For you, Ann)
Another cement water feature, the spout coming from the center stem and the water trickling down the leaf.

More Gardens

This was just a small area next to the driveway at one of the gardens, but I liked the composition. There's a small birdbath under the light colored evergreen.


This place had a hobby/business of breeding different varieties of Japanese maples. I loved the color of this one, particularly with the sun hitting it and highlighting it in front of a shady background.

This place was overflowing with roses and lilies, but the real centerpiece was this amazing dogwood, a Cornus kousa variety that was about 50 years old. I've never seen one so spectacular.

Afternoon Tea

My afternoon was spent here, having afternoon tea with old friends Melissa, Julie S, Julie A, and Suellen. Delightful to continue an old tradition and keep up with friends' lives. The Queen Mary's teas have the traditional 3 tier plates, loaded with little goodies. Even though many of them are bite-size, and others only 3 or 4 bites, they are rich and add up. I am so full!