PORT ORCHARD WASHINGTON

Some scenes from my recent visit to Washington.

THE CAT THAT I THOUGHT LOOKED LIKE A PUNK

I was out walking a neighborhood in Port Orchard when I came upon this cat.

This cat when I first saw it kind of made me step back a minute.  He looked like a bully to me. I noticed that there was a woman down the street with dogs.  It turned out that after I had taken some close ups of the cat these dogs ran up to me and were real friendly.  I exchanged a few words with the woman and she told me that the cat was hers and the dogs really loved the cat.  The cat would always go out on walks with her when she took her dogs out.

I guess first impressions CAN be deceiving because the cat was very friendly and loving.

THE PEACE ROOM

At my son's house in Washington - the kids have a "peace" room.  This is a place that I have to duck to get into but the kids can stand up.  At one end is a twin mattress on the floor and also a big beige bean bag to sit on.  It is definitely peaceful in there.  If one of them is having a bad day they can go in there to be alone and breathe and find their peaceful place again.


The kids bedrooms  (two bedrooms) are also on the second floor where this room is, as well as a large bathroom and a big craft room and a media area where there is a TV and couch.  .

Sometimes the kids decide to sleep in here - especially if they have company visiting and might need to sleep more people at the house and can use the kids bedrooms also.

My daughter in law painted every one of those bookcases and I can see why she has been having some neck problems.

Being a 4th grade teacher she and the kids have quite a collection of books.

This room is where the door to the peace room is.   It's an attic area over the garage.

A FAVORITE HOUSE I'VE PASSED BY MANY TIMES THIS LAST WEEK NEAR SHORES OF PUGET SOUND

Olalla Washington is a small community with one store, a post office, gas station and that's about it.  But it's so beautiful.  This house I've passed by a few times on the way to Al's Market.  It's about 5 minutes away from the house and just across the street from the water.

I've enjoyed my time here but it's coming to an end tomorrow when I get on a plane to come home.  I'll miss my grandkids. They are really special and my granddaughter is such a good cookie maker.  I'll be posting more later in the week and visiting blogs.

A CLUSTER OF HOMES - THE NEW WAY OF LIVING

This is a really nice area of houses but I don't think I'd like living this close to my neighbor.
These are in  the area right beyond this first house  and built in a circle where in the middle is grass.  They are very pretty but very close.  I can't imagine sitting out on my front porch and being so close to someone I may not want to have to talk too.  When I do sit outside I tend to do so for the nature around me not the people.  That sounds so bad, lol.  This area is near the train tracks - in San Luis Obispo.  It was a beautiful walk the day we went there.

The way I love to photographs birds - people would probably think I was aiming my camera at them on their porches.  I just would not fit in here at all.

A HOUSE I LOVE IN CLAREMONT

On Facebook every once in awhile I will see a list of something like - the top 10 towns to visit in Southern California - or the best town to retire in. ...or some other list.  So many times Claremont is mentioned.  The last one I saw recently I had been and walked through 9 out of 10 of the towns, several being near the coast such as Dana Point, Laguna, Balboa, Newport, ...and I'm getting anxious to visit them again.  Spring does this to me.

Walking through Claremont the other day when I walk by this house I look forward to seeing what new items the lady has  put out .  It appears she collects rocks and paints some of them; also some odd little creatures.  During autumn she hangs little colorful buckets off of her tree instead of bird feeders; ...the kind that little kids carry with them when they trick or treat.  I remember as a kid I just used a pillow case.

I had gone to the botanical gardens first to walk around and then over to the village and the neighborhoods.

She (I assume a female is responsible for the decor of the garden) also places planters between the driveways.

I really miss living off the mountain when I knew exactly what would grow in what season.  I have no clue up here. I walk around here in mountain neighborhoods and see what people plant and it always comes back every spring after the snow - but I have this mental block where I can't seem to actually believe if I plant something it will return after the snow is done with it.

My OCD is showing - ...having to get many photos of the same house.

 When my sister and I lived close together - we started a little hobby of painting scenes on rocks but it didn't last long.  Years later I would still find a few in the yard where i had placed them at one time.

I also like this house below.

BEAUTIFUL DAY - BEAUTIFUL FRONT PORCH - BEAUTIFUL BIRD

I decided to take myself down the mountain and just hang out doing a little shopping, maybe revisiting some areas I miss (near my old house) and generally being alone.  Don't know what the day will bring but I will be on the lookout for something magical.

These are some photos from a day long ago  when we visited this particular house in Redlands.

Also I have so many bird photos from the past that I love seeing again so will share a few here and there on this blog.

Spring is so here - and it's beautiful - and no wind.

When we sold and moved, I left so many things behind in the yard because I didn't envision myself caring whether I had brought them or not.  All I knew at the time was that I wanted to be done with the stress of readying and then waiting on the house to sell.  I left behind this bird bath and I hope some day I get another one.  I use to love sitting in the front yard watching the birds come by with their attitude as if to question why am I near their space.

I rarely go out by myself anymore - let alone down the mountain and out for the whole day!  Well...that's all about to change - in about 10 minutes.  

I use to love to head out with an "intention" of what I wanted to see or find and lo and behold I would!  Will never forget the time I wrote down what I wanted to see on a day trip.  I wrote "pink cadillac" and an hour later we are on the 10 freeway going east when a pink cadillac comes on the freeway from the onramp and merges into traffic right in front of us.  Luckily I had it written down.  Miracles happen every day - I just have to remember to look.  I even have a photo somewhere in my files (actual photo not digital) of this pink cadillac in front of us.  Wouldn't have a clue where it is today.