Seattle, WA ~ The Spice Girls Travel Club Spring Fling

First vacation on a plane in over a year! COVID really put a crimp in my 2020 travel plans!

Friday Connie and I travel to Seattle to spend a long weekend at Lisa’s. She lives in Kent which is a little south of Seattle. Deb, and Denise will be visiting too. We met Lisa on the Viking Danube River Cruise in 2016. She was traveling with her friend Deb. We stayed in touch afterwards and planned the Viking Rhine River Cruise in 2019 with Lisa and that time she traveled with her friend Denise. Lisa invited us to visit and stay at her house. Deb lives really close to her so she’s going to join us. Denise lives an hour north and she’s spending the weekend at Lisa’s too.

/History lesson over!

The weather forecast is rain. Not to worry, I packed some Arizona Sunshine! HaveUmbrellaWillTravel

Airlines suggested I bring my passport. Not sure why but that's easy enough.  Packing for rainy weather when you are a desert dweller has it's challenges, especially since we are already wearing shorts and flip flops in AZ.  I think I've pulled together enough options! 

All of the photos are either from my phone or Connie's, except the obvious cover aerial photo of Seattle that I snagged off the web and added lettering to. Captions followed by a (P) or (C).

Friday April 23, 2021

I'm packed and ready to go.  My ride to the airport arrives at 7 (thank you Diane and Jay).  I'm so looking forward to this trip!  

I've had some issues with my travel laptop.  It seems to be working at the moment so hopefully it survives this trip and I'll be able to updated daily.  Fingers crossed.  If not, I'll update when I get back home.  Wish me luck!  Please and thank you!  

***

The Travel Gods were kind, flight on time, luggage in two minutes.  Weather was beautiful.

Lisa and Denise picked us up and we went to lunch at Anthony’s Des Moines which is right on the water.  Deb joined us.  The view was amazing and the food was excellent. 

Deb, Denise, me, Connie, Lisa (C)

Then back to Lisa’s for cocktails and chit-chat.  Then Lisa and Denise put out shrimp, crackers with a variety of cheeses, cashews. Perfect dinner snacking after a big lunch.

SGTC Selfie @ Lisa's: Deb, me, Lisa, Connie Denise (C)

Saturday, April 24, 2021

We woke up to a little drizzle.  Morning coffee with the girls is the best vacation coffee.

Today we are going to Denise’s in Historic Snohomish.  We’re going to shop the shops and Denise is going to cook dinner.

*****

Lisa made breakfast: Egg'wich Turkey Sausage breakfast sammys. (The "buns" are made from eggs, with sausage, cheese), bacon, fresh fruit.  Then we headed up to Snohomish.  We went shopping, dodged raindrops, and supported the local economy.  ;~) We stopped at Proper Joe’s for excellent coffee.

Me & Connie enjoying a cup 'o Joe at Proper Joe's (P)

SGTC Selfie on the streets of Snohomish (C)

Then we went to the Pie Co. to and got an Apple Berry Crumble Pie for Lisa’s Birthday and then the bakery for a couple of baguettes. 

Best Pie EVER (IMO) 
Heated with vanilla ice cream!  (P)

We left there and headed to Denise’s for an early dinner.  

Me & Lisa at Denise's (C)

Her husband grilled steaks and she made Caesar salad and baked potatoes.  She gave us the grand tour of their property which is so beautiful.

Do you see the 'face' between the upper and lower pond?
Denise said she's never seen it before.
She is going to check the view from the road when she goes back home! (P)

View from the deck, looking straight out (P)

View from the deck looking to the right (P)

Loaded up on the Loader.
Her husband has a large collection of farm equipment
and a trailer for everything!  (P)

We left there and she drove up to show us their cabin.

View of the lake from the back of the cabin (P)

Then back to Lisa’s for more conversation followed by pie and ice cream. M-M-Good.

It rained most of the day but it was a steady light rain, no downpours!

Sunday, April 25, 2021

This morning it’s a little drizzly again.  We are going to breakfast and then to Pike Place Market.

****

We had breakfast at Gators and then went to Pike Place Market.  There was *NO*RAIN*ALL*DAY* .  We walked around and shopped for a while and then went to the bakery across the street to take some pastry to go.

Lisa, me, Denise and a display of
beautiful produce at Pike Place Market (C)

SGTC Selfie
We were trying to get the Ferris Wheel in the background,
right over my shoulder! (C)

Me, Denise, Connie, Lisa
and a photo bomb for a Schnauzer hinny to the left! (C)

We got back to Lisa’s and relaxed a while before starting dinner. 

When we were on the Viking Rhine River Cruise we really enjoyed (obsessed over) the potato pancakes at the Christmas Markets. We called it "potato pancake research". We were on a mission to find out which Christmas Market had the best ones. Connie found a recipe on line that sounded similar so we made them and they were AMAZING! We FB Video Chatted with Jay in Germany to show him our successful attempt at potato pancakes.

Peeling the spuds (P)

Shredding the potatoes (C)

Connie mixing the ingredients (P) 

Connie fried them to perfection (P)

Lisa also made a delicious  pork roast and fantastic fresh green beans with garlic butter. 

After dinner we went for a little walk around Lisa’s neighborhood.

Monday, April 26, 2021

We have most of the day today before we have to head to the airport.

We’re going to have breakfast at Lisa’s: Pastry, bacon, and of course, leftover potato pancakes!

This afternoon we’re going to stop by and visit Deb at her house on the way to the airport.

***

After breakfast we relaxed and talked until it was time to head out.  

We went to Deb's for about an hour.  She showed us around her house and we admired the mosaic rocks she makes.  We sat in the backyard for a while and then the sun was too strong for me so we went inside and visited for a while until it was time to go to the airport.  

***

Recap - we had a great time.  Lots of story telling. We ate a lot, however when I got on the scale in the morning I was down ↓one pound↓.  Shocking!  

Lisa has a beautiful home and an adorable yard and two of the sweetest senior Carin Terriers.

This is right outside Lisa's kitchen door. 
The yard goes the length of the house and curves around to the side yard.
I couldn't get decent pictures with the angle. Trust me.  It's super cute! (P)

Denise lives on an amazing property in the woods.  When she says she "lives in the woods" I always envisioned one of those elaborate tree houses, even though I assumed her house was actually built on the ground, which it is!  

Both Lisa and Denise we gracious hosts.  Denise said we need to make this an annual thing.  I would love that! 

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Next up on the travel list - Paul and I are going to San Antonio River Walk next month.  We had planned this trip for last May but COVID has other plans...