Pacific Northwest (variable conditions)

 I do understand why people live in the Pacific NW, despite all the rain. What a beautiful place. Some shots from my wanderings between Portland and Seattle, in rain, sun, and even snow! For some reason these are uploading in random order, not chronological. 

Submarine cruising by, from the deck of my house in Port Orchard, outside Seattle.

Seals were regular visitors.

Christmas snowstorm!

Back in Seattle (before the snows)

The mutts had a great Christmas too

 Back at the ranch, Soph and Bru were having a grand old time, first as adopted members of the Burke family next door, including on Christmas Day...

...and then on a day long play date at the Holsts', with their pals, Moose and Cody.

To be honest, they may not have cared if we ever came back!

First Christmas in our new normal

It was really nice of Grandma Lynne, Grandpa Steve, Ben, and Lia to both invite me to join Christmas this year, and to conspire with me in successfully surprising Sylvie. That was an unexpectedly wonderful moment in what could have been a rough week. 

Wow, do Grandma Lynne and Grandpa Steve live in a cool place now!

Thanks, Ben and Lia, for cooking a wonderful meal.

Syl didn't think she'd sleep on the flight home. 

After the red eye flight, Syl and I rallied and took the dogs for a hike - which, to be honest, wasn't optional They were relentless.

There were a LOT of Christmas cards waiting to be opened!

Santa's UHaul rides again!

Once again this year, before we headed west, Syl and I had a wonderful day driving Santa's UHaul around the state (really, around the region - we hit NH too!), collecting a huge load of gifts for the Holiday Dreams program.

Lunch with the old athena litigation team was an added bonus.

We capped it all off with dinner at the Noon Hill Grill.

Look at that load of happiness!

December sky fire

 Sunrises this month have been off the hook.

What 8-year age difference?