E’s a winner

E participated in a bingo fund-raiser at work yesterday. She got three bingo cards for $50 (pricey, but it was a fund-raiser) and managed to win the first game. It wasn't a traditional bingo but it was the first person to fill five spaces on a card not counting the free space. She won this tote bag ...

and a box of chocolate. Interestingly, it was the same chocolate Andy and I bought with our food vouchers at the Seattle Airport when United delayed our flight for hours.

Random Washington

Azula and Spud kept us entertained.

Salmon sculpture in front of a McDonald's in Issaquah.

A quilted wall hanging in a quilt shop E took us to.

Interesting that the thrift shop put the crutches next to the skis. Hmmm.

Moss on the rocks by E's condo building. Moss was everywhere on the trees when we were driving around.

Our first stop on the Issaquah Wine Walk was at the town's Masonic Lodge. We were given a coin at the ticket distribution tent for a double pour at the Masonic Lodge and it's where they sent us to start the walk.

Nice Camaro we saw on the grounds of the state capitol in Olympia. Interesting license plate.

A really big tree near the capitol.

E and Cindy.

Last day at E’s

Our last day E's was the best weather-wise. D had to work but E took us to Mercury for breakfast. That's a warm black-bottomed muffin ... and E bought me breakfast.

No rain so I finally got to see the mountains.

Azula watching squirrels play in the back yard.

E drove us to the airport for our 6 p.m. flight. We got into O'Hare around midnight. She and D will be visiting Chicago in early July for their friends' bachelor/bacherlorette parties.

Washington State Capitol

After the Museum of Glass, we went to the State Capitol in Olympia. There are 42 steps to the entrance representing Washington as the 42nd state admitted to the union.

The kids didn't seem like they wanted to stick around for a guided tour so we did a bit of a self-guided tour. The dome is 287 feet tall, the tallest self-supporting masonry dome in the United States. The chandelier weighs 5 tons. It's the largest chandelier ever created by Tiffany.

The gold lamps (by the flags) were also made by Tiffany. The rotunda and public hallways are clad in marble from Alaska.

The state seal. We weren't able to go in the House or Senate chambers but the House has walnut desks while the Senate has mahogany desks.

And, of course, a sculpture of Washington.

The State Reception Room. We weren't allowed to go in. The marble is from Italy and the rug, made by the Mohawk Co. in New York, was the largest single loomed caroet when it was installed.

We saw the governor's mansion next to the capitol but it was surrounded by a fence and lots of trees so we couldn't get a great view. Such pretty flowering trees.

My artsy shot of fallen blooms.

Meanwhile, back at home, Andy helped the Historical Society with their housewalk. Here he is with the museum's executive director. When I was working at the local newspaper he was my go-to for everything historic in the town.

He asked me if the church would like to be a distribution spot for tickets and let people peek inside to see the sanctuary. I managed to make that happen. Looks like they had a beautiful day.

Museum of Glass

E and D took is to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma today. we watched these artisans make a glass pitcher.

Tacoma is Dale Chihuly's hometown. Here is one of his pieces at the museum ...

and another.

This was a "taco cat" made by a glass artist based on a kid's drawing.

All glass - the paint, the brushes, the tubes.

Glass ...

and more glass.

This is the "Venetian Wall," an 80-foot-long installation housing 109 individual showcases on the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.

This is Chihuly's "Seaform Pavilion," a 15-meter-long covered portion of the bridge suspending 2,364 pieces of marine-life inspired glass on the ceiling overhead.

These Chihuly "Crystal Towers" are 40-feet tall. The building is the U.S. Courthouse which used to be Union Station. You can see a Chihuly installation through the arched front windows. Suspended from the center of the domed ceiling is one of Chihuly's most breathtaking pieces, a 20-foot chandelier consisting of over 2,700 multi-colored, balloon-like glass globes. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

Saturday at Snoqualmie

I was watching a recap of King Charles' coronation this morning when E gave us about 15-minutes notice to get ready and head out to a local sewing machine shop for give-aways. We each got a Hershey bar wrapped in a coupon. We won two free packages of needles and a yard of fabric.

We grabbed some breakfast then went to the Issaquah farmers market. There were lots of samples.

E bought a chocolate croissant from a French bakery stand.

Later, D drove us to Snoqualmie Falls.

Pretty.

A little downstream from the falls.

Historic Snoqualmie train station.

A really big tree with E showing how wide it is.

Dinner was pizza at Flatstick Pub in Redmond.

To Seattle

Look who came into town last night. This morning we hit a couple of Goodwill stores.

I found this pretty cross for $2. Wasn't u til I was washing it off at home that I saw it's Mikasa. Listed for $15 on their website. Also found a brand new set of Conair hot rollers for $5 ($37 retail). I had some from high school but must have donated them sometime in the last 40 years. Maybe there's hope for my hair to have some body after all!

Found this for $1. It lights up but the glitter is supposed to move around and it's not doing much moving. Also found a Coleman canvas camp chair and another camp chair, each $5. We bought cheap ones at Dick's last year for $10 each but they're nylon and they suck. Hopefully these will be better. I also picked ip a ceramic Pampered Chef egg cooker for $1. It's supposed to cook omelets and mug cakes in the microwave. B is skeptical.

At O'Hare for our 6:55 p.m. flight, now delayed to almost 9 p.m. When we get to Seattle E will pick us up and we'll go to her place and probably sleep immediately.

Blackhawks vs. Kraken

E and D went to a professional hockey game tonight - Chicago Blackhawks vs. Seattle Kraken. She said they'll leave happy regardless of who wins. (Kraken won 7-3).

She talked to a couple sitting a few seats from them and found out they're from Downers Grove and were in Seattle visiting their goddaughter who attends the University of Washington. It's a small world.

It was a busy day for E. Earlier she was at a local putt-putt bar participating in a putting tournament on their mini-golf course. D went along to cheer her on.