SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ LOWELL'S

One of Seattle's most historical land marks as well as a beloved fixture to our rainy city culture is Pikes Place Market.  Before I moved here to the great emerald city my dad used to travel here on business, and I was lucky to be his little tag along travel companion.  I remember the first time I visited Seattle, I was only 11 years old and I remember falling head over heals in love with it.  No surprise, that I later followed my great love and transplanted myself here for the long gray skyed haul away from my home town in sunny California.

I can remember back to my first visit to Seattle.  We ate breakfast every morning at this quaint 3 storied diner with one amazing view, inside the market.  Every morning, the same little seagull with a missing foot (later to be named Henry) would sit on the building ledge, just outside our table window.  I would drop bits of my breakfast out the window to Henry.  Over the years, Lowell's has become an iconic figure in my personal Seattle history.

Lowell's has been labeled the "Living Room" to Pikes Place Market.  It opened in the early 1900's as a coffee and peanut roaster as well as a cafeteria to the local workers.  It's current name "Lowell's" came into play in 1957.  Lowell's has classic all American breakfasts. Eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns always cooked to perfection.  Its a tried and true representation of the classic breakfast we all love, but the best part about Lowell's is the atmosphier.  The hustle and bustle of the market life, combined with peaceful nooks and crannies with picturesque views of the Seattle Harbor, Elliot Bay and the majestic Olympic Mountains.

Magic can always be found at Pikes market.  The vibrant colors, strange fishy smells, and musical sounds of street performing musicians with their unique and unusual instruments.  Spending a day at the market to me, means fresh hot miniature doughnuts from the mini doughnut machine, visiting Rachelle the bronze pig, flying fish and the wall of gum! Then later grabbing something warm to drink from the original Starbucks before taking my tickled and delighted self home in a complete and utter state of bliss. 

Cheers to you Lowell's for continuing to make Pikes Market that much more magical in my eyes from 11 years of age till now.

This Blog is dedicated to Rachelle, who was recently hit by a taxi driver on her way home from the market.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

And to Henry.

xoxo

DANDELION WISHES

I've always had a thing for dandelions.  When I was a little girl, there used to be tons of yellow dandelions in our front yard.  My parents always thought of them as pesky weeds, but I would spend entire days collecting them into little yellow bouquets, skipping around the yard with bundles of them in my hands. The white ones were always the best.  I'd close my eyes and think of what I wanted most of all, and then blow!  Then twirl around while all the little seeds danced around me in the wind. 

(Yes that is actually a picture of me!)

I love this new chandelier my husband and I just bought from Ikea!  Its a BIG, FLUFFY, GIANT DANDELION!!

I think like most people, I have a love/hate relationship with Ikea, and this was definitely one of those projects that make you hate it!  Though it wasn't too difficult assembling the light, It was a bare to get up on the ceiling and then after all is said and done, you still have to attach 180 of those little poofs to every end of wire.  Wooh!  I actually think this light is bigger then my dining table... lol

We hung it from a rosette on the ceiling, much like this one above and it looks great!

Though I still haven't figured out what were going to have to do to change the light bulb.............

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I guess I shall blow really hard and wish that thought away. 

CHEERS!

SNOW DAY AND NEW MARKET UPDATES

Hello friends!

Well today was a snow day here in beautiful Des Moines Washington.  Every time it snows at our little beach condo, we all get stuck inside our parking lot.  It really was a blessing in disguise, since I've been trying to kick this bout of Pneumonia now for over a month, it forced me to take a day and stay in bed.  Staying in bed is really hard for me to do by the way.  I did manage to get outside for a few minutes today and take some pictures of the snowy beach.

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I'm also happy to announce new vintage kitchen items in my Etsy store.
Go visit MY SHOP and take a look!

CHEERS!

SUNDAY BRUNCH ~ WILD WHEAT BAKERY

Getting your hands on a good Sunday brunch here in Seattle a lot of the time means waiting, sometimes lengthy periods of time to get a table at your favorite spot.  Though personally I am more then happy to wait a while to eat a fabulous afternoon brunch where I know the food is delicious and the people are nice.  But, on the other hand, there are those times when you really don't want to mess with that at all.

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Welcome to the Wild Wheat Bakery located in old town Kent Washington.  Might as well spend your wait driving a short distance in your car to get an amazing meal in an atmosphere that has A LOT of character and movement!  For those of you who are familiar with Old Town Kent Washington, you will know that the railway runs straight through it.  Wonderful Wild Wheat perches its self quaintly along side the tracks. 

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While you're enjoying one of their specialty breakfasts, you suddenly feel your feet a rumblin, and all the glasses start a clankin.......... Then......... TOOOT TOOOT!  Wild Wheat's large picturesque windows allow you to view the trains rolling by up close and personal, as well as frequently!

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Since Curtis and I live south of the Big City in beautiful Des Moines, Wild Wheat is just a hop skip and a jump from our house, and its one of my favorite haunts on a lazy Sunday.  Today I devoured yet again another Eggs Benedict, smothered in their house made lemon infused hollandaise sauce.  Perched oh so happily upon 2 slices of their divine hazel nut current bread and lots of little bacon crumbles.  It normally comes with a side of home fries, but I always opt for a bowl of fruit instead.  Mmmmmm.   Though I'm a huge fan of their Chai Latte, I took a picture of Curtis' Caramel Macchiato.  It was much prettier then my cup of Non-Joe.

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Take a look at some pictures of our brunch today.  For those of you who attended our wedding last August, this is where we bought all our fancy bread for our bread and jam table.

What are your favorite Sunday brunch hang outs?

Cheers!

WEEKEND SUN....... WITH A COLD

Well friends, the last two days here in the Pacific Northwest have been marvelously beautiful!  Unfortunately for me, I have been slowly nursing off a case of pneumonia and I just caught another cold on top of it..... *Sigh* Antibiotics are wonderful when you really need them, but they kill all your good antibodies too!  My husband and I were planning to take a small trip to Long Beach this weekend but given my over all poopyness, we decided to just stay home and rest up..... *Double Sigh* 

I did manage to get out of the house for a little while today and hit up some thrift shops.  I'm on a total old book kick right now, and I'm working on filling up this enormous full wall bookcase of mine.  I love the old colorful bounded books, and you can find some good ones at the thrift stores.  We also hit up Barns and Noble and I picked up a bright pink leather bound copy of Alice In Wonderland.

I guess, if I'm going to be sick, I just need to surround myself with color and old books!

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Here are a few pictures of what today should have been like, playing outside on a lovely early spring day!

CHEERS!

TO THE ONLY VALENTINE FOR ME

Today is Valentines Day.  Today I want to dedicate my blog to the only Valentine for me, my wonderful, amazing, handsome, gentile hearted, goofy husband, who has stolen my heart forever. 

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He makes the sun rise and set for me.  I love him more then parking meters love change.  More then Mexican jumping beans love to wiggle.  More then caramel loves salt.  More then Bob Ross loves happy little trees. 

He is the most amazing man I have ever met.

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Here are some of my favorite pictures of Curtis and I.  All pictures were taken by the wonderfully talented, CLEARY O'FARRELL

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY CURTIS

xoxo