Discovery Park, a morning along the shore of the Puget Sound.

Picture perfect weather, a morning walking along rocky and sandy beaches and up flights of stairs into the mixed woodlands of Discovery Park north of Seattle. 

The pleasure of the crisp sea air, the clear views across to the Olympic Mountains and looking for the wintering birds in these diversity of habitats made a wonderful outing today. We even had Mount Rainier in our sight. 

Grebes, mergansers and scoters out the sea, ducks in the fresh water habitat and the excitement of a new bird in the woodland, a Bewick Wren!

Walking along the trail with the Puget Sound in view, almost had to pinch myself appreciating that I am in this beautiful part of the world. 

West Point Lighthouse constructed in 1881, with its stunning setting on the Puget Sound, is still an active aid to navigation on the Sound. 

 

The trail through the mixed coniferous-deciduous forest of the Pacific Northwest.

American Wigeon in the freshwater area of the park.

Detail of the ubiquitous snowberry which is a North American shrub of the honeysuckle family.

Fred managed to get this shot of the Bewick Wren, I was so impressed as it flits and moves rapidly through the scrub.
Another new bird for our USA checklist.

The Glasshouse at Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle

"Glasshouses come in many beautiful sizes and shapes and are some of the most incredible buildings in the world. When you walk through them, you feel peaceful and inspired" Chihuly
So true, an inspirational space and a gift to spend a few minutes reflecting on its unique shape and this installation, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Looking out into the garden the glass tree stands proud against the city skyline.

 

Perfect fall colouring of the Chihuly glass tree, set on a raised mound of purple mondo grass.

Beauty of colour and form at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle

 

"Winter Briliance"

'Ice is one of my favourite materials to work with because of the way it interacts with light, it inspired me to create the icicle form' Dale Chihuly

This piece commissioned by Barneys New York in 2015 for their holiday winter display on Madison Avenue.

The contract with the Macchia Series it breathtaking.
These huge billowing bowls are riot of blazing colour .

Incredible detail and contract between the inside and outside of the Macchia bowls.

"Mille Fiori" inspiration from his mother's garden.
The black perplex surface reflects these remarkable forms and colour.

One of the Float Boot installations. These spherical forms are playful and joyful.

Chihuly glass ceilings, from Las Vegas to Seattle

 

"Persian Ceiling", lit from above the glass creations rest on a flat glass pane, it's an immersive experience in colour and shape at the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle.

A decade ago I was enthralled by the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. It is a visual extravaganza and the hand blown glass installation in the lobby is completely exquisite. I took it all in but I must admit did not focus on the artist! So imagine my surprise when I connected the dots during our visit to this gem in Seattle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass. How I love that life continues to surprise and delight me.

Our photo from a decade ago in the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel lobby.
The exquisite real flowers and artist Dale Chihuly's hand blown glass installation of over 2000 flowers called Fiori di Como. His interpretation of Italian flowers in the Spring. 

A weekend in nature

The weather does dictate what sort of activities to plan here in Seattle and the fall is certainly variable but this weekend was a pleasure to be out in nature.

We started by watching the chum salmon run along Piper's Creek. They come down from Alaskan waters into the Puget Sound and some make their way along the narrow waters of this creek. It's remarkable to be able to experience the salmon moving up into their imprinted breeding ground and it's the determination of the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project that makes it possible.

The stream trail passes by huge beaver dams, called lodges I believe- no glimpse of a beaver though- and we walked out onto the gravel beach along the Puget Sound. It is the Sound that defines the geography of Seattle and also its beauty. The scenery is magnificent and at one point the clouds cleared and we had views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains which are a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula here in the Pacific Northwest.

Family on the Puget Sound

Chum Salmon along Pipers Creek.

Fred did metaphorically roll his eyes when I suggested an early Sunday morning bird outing to the Washington Park Arboretum. To his credit though he got warmly dressed and picked up his camera. It's a decade since we were last in the USA when we spent 3 months visiting all the National and State Parks along the West Coast. So its exciting to get to reconnect with the birds here in Seattle - Fred has ordered me a book on the birds of Seattle and the Puget Sound, there is nothing I love more than listing!

And, a Fox Sparrow was added my global life list!  

Handsome male Hooded Merganser on Duck Bay

Birding with the Bird Connect Seattle group at the Washington Park Arboretum
American Wigeon, male Junco and a pair of Green-winged Teals

The Gadwall with its crossed feathers, black rump and frantic paddling action - wonderful to watch

The male Gadwall, with its subtle colouring, our new duck for our USA bird checklist

 

Halloween in Seattle

 

This is me at the end of Halloween! So many pumpkins and skeletons. 

Kids ready for 'trick or treat'.  
Early in the week joined the family for a Halloween event at the school. On the day the neighbourhood closed off a few roads and it was mayhem as kids ran around in the cold and damp early evening. Braziers were lit, smoke pumped out of houses, and ghoulish sounds were the norm. We ambled up and down the street, lost the kids in a creepy tunnel and headed home for tea!

Some houses were subtle, a pumpkin or two and others - well....

The most remarkable collections of pumpkins seen on one of our walks around the neighbourhood. 

The Japanese Maples, Seattle

The Seattle Japanese Garden is a tranquil urban sanctuary. 

We took a slow, mindful stroll along the gravel pathways taking in all the details, the rocks, the water, the lanterns, the bridges, the plants, the tea house and of course the magnificence of the maples in fall. Fred's photos are wonderful and I decided to share them all.

 

The joy of a Japanese garden is it's connection to nature, to the beauty of the slow seasonal transition and somehow, to the impermanence of life.

 

Winter in Seattle: A pescatarian story to start

 

Fish!, a revisit

Well here we are starting our time in Seattle with the family.  

We have been finding our feet, slowly getting over the jet lag, acclimatising to the fall weather, navigating the suburb, finding our way into the family routine and bridging the time since we were last all together.

Fred and I rode the 1 Line from Roosevelt Station into the Seattle downtown yesterday, getting our tourist mode together, and starting with the familiar. A revisit to the historic Pike Place Market, a recalling of the book, Fish!, I used for leadership lessons some 25 years ago and watching the fish fly from hand to hand as the fishmongers celebrate in their unique way.

My only visit to Seattle was in the early 2000 with my friend and work colleague at that stage, Sharon Jansen. She had planned an introductory visit to David Whyte on Whitby Island so we based ourselves in Seattle. The two clear memories I have is the dinner we shared with David at his home and appreciating the remarkable culture created by the Pike Fish Market team. The fishmongers were able to elevate themselves above the wet, cold and smelly conditions they work in, to choose an attitude of playfulness, and to focus on connecting with their customers. 

And here I was, standing in the crowd and seeing the exact same disciplined focus on their culture. Quite remarkable.

We amble along the newly opened urban renewal project in Seattle, the Overlook Walk, connecting the Pike Place Market and the Seattle Waterfront. The clam Chowder in a sourdough bowl was good!

Bosporous Strait, Istanbul

Fred's zoom lens hard at work as we sailed up the European coast of Istanbul and back down the Asian coast. A vast, sprawling city heaving with people. Loved the perspective of the city from the sea.

Istanbul from the Bosphorus Strait

Majesty of the Hagia Sophia

Galata Tower

Detail of the vast Dolmabahce Palace

Maiden Tower off the Asian coast of the Strait

The Blue Mosque from the Bosphorus Strait

 

Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul

The Sultanahmet Square is a place for finding a bench; people watching; eating our simits; listening to the 'duelling' imams singing from both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. 

The At Meydani Park reveals the fascinating blend of the history of Istanbul reflected in the Egyptian Obelisk, the Delphi Serpent Column and the minarets of the mosques. A history that spans many centuries, from Roman Emperors to Ottoman Sultans to modern day Turkey.  A history of religions that have shaped this city. 

As I sit Fred talks about the history in detail, I sort of listen but mostly I am just observing the ebb and flow around me.