Night Visions

Walk. Walk. Walk. Then walk some more. Yesterday morning we spent 2 1/2 hours touring the gentle hills and gardens of Butchart Gardens in Victoria. After seeing them in full splendor in September of 2008 we were a little disappointed. The gardens were beautiful as expected but the summer flowers were freshly planted and not fully blooming yet. Fifty five acres of carefully manicured botanical gardens and lawns were filled with people from all over the world.

The afternoon found me walking for another hour on the clean and friendly cobblestone streets of the town.

After a late supper we returned to the Gardens to see them in the evening light. I have bored you all in the past with the qualities of light but let me just say that the 2 hours we spent at dusk and after dark were awesome! There are lights placed around the gardens that give it almost a surreal atmosphere. Topiary sculptures that were not obvious during the day suddenly popped out under spotlights. A large fountain that I had missed on our first trip was suddenly alive with color. I was spellbound and could have stayed for hours.

Today has found us in the Olympic city of Vancouver. They have cool totem poles here but in all honesty, their Olympic Cauldron doesn't hold a candle to ours!

$1.00 (.96 Canadian!)

To market, to market

Shopping is one of my least favorite activities. I generally avoid any kind whenever possible. Except for this place.

When we began planning this trip I knew that the one place I wanted to return to was Pike's Market in old Seattle. We arrived early this morning just as the vendors were still setting up their shops.

I think what I like most about it is the colors that are everywhere, from the fruit and vegetable stands to the rows of fresh floral arrangements wrapped in white butcher paper. I told Zeus that if I lived here there would be fresh flowers in my house all the time.

We purchased a number of fruits to enjoy on the trip, knowing that they had to be eaten before crossing the northern border tomorrow afternoon. I don't think that will be a problem.

Of course, what would Seattle and Pike's Market be without the fish stands? I will probably have nightmares tonight.

$1.32 (paper dollar in the airport)

Payday Again.

Yesterday was payday again.

Total collected: $126.62

Only $2 in paper money, both in last week

Canadian coins: $.34

Collection time: Eight months, one day

Of the total amount there is $6.64 in coins that the bank either rejected or was not sent in due to the condition. The photo below shows some examples of what Zeus and I call "coffee coins". Broken coins are rare, most often found in cracks of streets in winter when it is cold. Bent coins are also found in the same place in the hot summer months. Bent coins are my favorite.

The lucky penny jar now contains $.34 in seed money. Totals have taken a severe dip since I began riding. Running is still on my calendar at least once a week and rarely do I return home from a ride without a few coins in the water bottle pouch. Generally, any outing will find some stray coins brought home in my left pocket, the one reserved for found coinage.

$3.13

Never a dull moment

This last week has been a blur. Every single day on the calendar was loaded with places to go and things to do. Early mornings and late nights were the norm. All of these activities were things that I enjoy doing. A number of bike rides were taken and new paths explored. (Future post to come.) We finally got to the pool yesterday to officially begin our summer holidays. (Another future post.) My cameras have been put through the paces on a number of shoots with some of my favorite people requiring many, many hours sitting in front of my computer culling through well over a thousand shots and editing, editing, editing. (Still a few more posts waiting to be written up.)

Zeus has been out of town for four days and is scheduled to return this evening. It's a good thing he hasn't been around because this house is a total disaster! Clothes piled up on my unmade bed, camera gear and computer equipment scattered all over the kitchen and great room, bike gear in all areas of the car and not a thing to eat in the refrigerator. As I returned home from my ralk this morning I noticed a few weeds that have sprouted up in the yard that even I am embarrassed about.


I have ten hours to put my house back in order, clean the car, pull the weeds, fill the fridge with food and hopefully get in an hour of rest on the patio. Until I return with the promised posts I will leave you with a few of my favorite images from the last week.




Have I mentioned lately how much I love my life?

$2.15 (that includes another paper dollar, two in a week!)

$.91

P.S. MoneyWalker, I haven't forgotten. The package is on my list of to-dos for this week.