We may be adventuring at the grocery store

in the back yard

at the library

during the commute

or in a fountain at the mall.

I’m so blessed to have this constant [...]]]> Whenever you see me with my little girl, there is a good chance that we are adventuring.

We may be adventuring at the grocery store

in the back yard

at the library

during the commute

or in a fountain at the mall.

I’m so blessed to have this constant reminder to embrace the adventure in life, wherever we are.

I just had to fix up this picture with my favorite quote of hers from last summer.

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It is hard to forget the devastation of [...]]]> One of the most precious and valuable benefits of travel is that it takes you out of your comfort zone, and if you’re open to the experience, it provides perspective. Travel teaches us about other cultures, but it also gives us the opportunity to learn about ourselves.

It is hard to forget the devastation of Hurricane Katrina when thinking of New Orleans. The city and the people are still recovering from that natural and man-made disaster. But they are recovering, and New Orleans showed my friends and me a grand time while we were there last month.

But as we strolled outside the welcoming, touristy areas of the French Quarter, I was reminded that there is a hard-earned need to be a bit self-protective here.

It also made me think about how guarded I can be in my own life, sometimes sharing information in one area to draw attention away from another.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

The streets were lonely, but for my friend and I. No signs of life. No movement aside from the occasional breeze. The picture below was different just because there was another person on the street. The quiet was eerie. There was no question we had wandered outside of the tourist area.

This sidewalk seating area looked like a page from a catalog to me. Different in that there were signs of life with the chairs and tree, and yet, I wonder how often anyone actually sits there.

The shutters faced outward, to the world, to the environment, but we learned that most of these homes surrounded courtyards that were the gathering places of friends and family.

Just a glimpse here and there, and we could see that once past that tough shell, the interior was a friendly and welcoming place to those invited.

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My friends and I stand at the corner waiting for the light to change so we can cross [...]]]> We spent the evening walking down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, The Big Easy. It’s Friday night, and I’m told much tamer than the partying a few nights earlier on Fat Tuesday.

My friends and I stand at the corner waiting for the light to change so we can cross the street, while revelers around us brazenly jaywalk – behavior that seems foreign to this group of girls from Seattle.

We stop for drinks at Howl At the Moon, and when they are delivered in 36 ounce plastic cups, the server explains that the 3 for one special means everyone is automatically upgraded to a triple, and the cups are plastic so we can take them out in the street.

We look outside: Everyone does carry their drinks with them in the street.

Don’t worry, we adjusted. It wasn’t long before we were jaywalking while carrying open containers.  Talk about multitasking.

Beads hang from balconies, street lights, stop signs, trees, public art, and anything else that will sit still long enough to be draped with the twinkling strands in all colors of bling.

A sprinkling of rain and a sturdy breeze lends more sparkle and movement to a street that is already teeming with life; humans, pigeons, palm trees, flowers, moss, mules, dogs can all be seen in a single glance.

The next block we walk through is closed to traffic, and pedestrians fill the area between the buildings as they laugh, dance, and wander amongst the street performers and live music wafting from the insides of bars and restaurants, music so rich and textured it seems to hold a physical presence in the space as well.

Bright lights and dark corners, high contrast colors, bricks and stucco, trolleys and mule drawn carriages, trees and bling,

and ornate balconies populated with blow up dolls

conspire to create an environment that is, to me, both fun and foreign.

But some of those thoughts are happy thoughts. Warm, fuzzy, happy thoughts. Like the girls I met because I have cancer.

These [...]]]> The second anniversary of my cancer diagnosis is quickly approaching. Of course it has me thinking. A lot. Not all the thoughts are happy thoughts, but that just comes with the territory.

But some of those thoughts are happy thoughts. Warm, fuzzy, happy thoughts. Like the girls I met because I have cancer.

These are women I would have been proud to count among my friends even before diagnosis, but I can’t imagine a scenario in which I would have met any of them outside of cancer.

This weekend a group of us traveled to New Orleans to a conference for young women with breast cancer. We learned about treatment protocols, late effects of treatment, nutrition, dealing with the impact of cancer treatment in the bedroom, and myriad other topics, and we got to spend time with other women whose lives have been similarly impacted.

Good times, good music, good food, good company…

I think the people with whom we surround ourselves have a huge influence on our happiness. Sure, we all have those people around whom we have to tiptoe and walk on eggshells, but we can dilute their influence with so many more amazing people, people who lift us up and love us for who we really are. I’m so blessed to have such amazing friends – that they understand what I’m going through with cancer because they’ve been there too just makes it that much better.

I’m a very lucky woman.

Of course I still worry about how many years I have left, but even more important than the number of trips you make around the sun is your traveling companions along the way.

Doris was good friends with my grandmother, and I got to spend quite a bit of time with her, so I may be a little [...]]]> One of my favorite views of Seattle is from Kerry Park, cut into the side of Queen Anne hill, and adorned with the Changing Form sculpture by Doris Chase.

Doris was good friends with my grandmother, and I got to spend quite a bit of time with her, so I may be a little biased,

But I still think the sculpture is pretty cool,

and the perfect place from which to photograph the ever-evolving city I love,

as well as my ever-changing little girl.

Last week the wind was still cold, but it was also exhilarating.

Of course, being able to nuzzle into Daddy’s coat just makes it that [...]]]> I hate the wind, but Gem takes a different approach. She has a way of reminding me to look for another perspective.

Last week the wind was still cold, but it was also exhilarating.

Of course, being able to nuzzle into Daddy’s coat just makes it that much better.

I hope this made you smile.

Yes, that’s me. I do appear in photo’s on rare occasions (when someone [...]]]> This weekend’s adventure took us to Vashon Island, meaning, with all the emphasis my bouncing 2-year-old can provide, TWO FERRY RIDES. TWO! (That’s round trip to the island for those of you keeping score. I’ve already been questioned on the count.)

Yes, that’s me. I do appear in photo’s on rare occasions (when someone grabs my camera before I can hide behind it). And look – my hair is growing back! I need a stylist, STAT!

Vashon is full of art galleries, restaurants, farms, cafes, and some of the coolest little shops we’ve ever come across.

How cool is that fridge?

SWOON!

And what’s an island without a lighthouse?

And a stunning water view

from a cottage on the beach

On days like this, I feel like I could be an island girl.

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

We could go back and forth for hours, but we’ve found a better solution for filling our weekends with adventure. We just hop in the car and drive. We pick a road and see where it goes, the smaller and [...]]]> “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

We could go back and forth for hours, but we’ve found a better solution for filling our weekends with adventure. We just hop in the car and drive. We pick a road and see where it goes, the smaller and more out-of-the-way town that we discover, the better. One of our favorite little local towns to visit is Black Diamond, Washington.

We start with breakfast in the bakery, and maybe even pick up some treats to go on our way out.

Then we wander down the boardwalk to the museum.

I love a small town museum, with it’s antique fire engine

and jail.

Then we stop by to visit the old train

before we head in to the main part of the museum

filled with the details of small mining town daily life,

from the barber shop,

to pen and ink,

and from monkey wrenches (so that’s what keeps getting thrown into the works),

to Hard Hat Harry.

But one of my favorite parts of this museum is their collection of unidentifiable tools.

Any idea what these are for? Don’t worry. The old timers don’t know either.

Do you have any favorite Pacific Northwest towns to visit? Where should we go next?