Category: The Seattle Times

Someone really didn’t want Christmas to be over. (Paul is in charge of our household’s calendars.)

We thought we’d hit Kringle’s Filling Station near Greenlake during the break, and lots of other kids on break had the same idea too. Kitschy and fun. I drew the line at the $4 hot chocolate, though, even if it does look like it’s coming out the gas pump. My kids wouldn’t be getting the…

Now that school is out, they wanted to go to… school. To the new playground at school, specifically, on a day off so they could have the place to (mostly) themselves. The elegant building across the street is the old Queen Anne High — built in 1909, it was converted into condos 15 years ago.…

Our highly-anticipated, annual salt dough ornament day. Ingredients: 4 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of hot water.

It’s here! Queen Anne’s Rosebud Motel is back with a surprise addition for this year: The Moira’s Rose’s Garden 4856. My story is in The Seattle Times here. Best wishes, warmest regards.

Last year’s Fair drive-through holiday light show was what it was, but the Fair really stepped it up for this year’s in-person, walk-through event. I was shocked what a good time we had. Tons to do, and everyone was really kind to the kids. I felt good about how they checked vaccine cards, required masks…

Swanson’s always does the best job getting all decked out for the holidays. We love going to see the trees and ornaments every year. No reindeer this year, but the dino-themed model railroad was cute!

You know about Little Free Libraries, but do you know about the Little Free BAKERY? The sweetest lady in Magnolia gives away made-from-scratch treats. My photos and story in The Seattle Times.

We hit the holiday trifecta in Ballard – 3 free, fun things less than a miles apart: 1. Olympic Manor, off 85th, is a mid-century development that’s been known for its amazing holiday lights since it was built. They took it out of the official covenants with the energy crisis in the ’70s, but residents…

Presenting our gingerbread shacks! (It was supposed to be a gingerbread mansion, but the kit arrived shattered, so… The kids didn’t mind.)