Bucket list for things to do in the Seattle area.

I thought I would share my bucket list for things I just have to do when I visit the states again. This summer on June 23rd I will arrive in Edmonds, Washington, and spend about two weeks there before going to Disneyland on the 9th of July.

1. Visit the spa. I have a spa I have visited several times in Lynnwood that I really enjoy. It is called the Olympus spa and I try to visit it every time I’m back. For those interested in visiting sometime this is the link for it https://www.olympusspa.com. 

2. Visit friends. After living in Lynnwood for six years I have a lot of good friends still living nearby and when I visit I always try to get together with as many of them as possible.

3. Visit the zoo’s. In the Seattle area there is a lot of different animal parks that I enjoy visiting. This time we will visit Point Defiance zoo and Woodland Park zoo.

4. Visit Pike place market. There is always something new at the market to see and I love shopping for handmade things, flowers and donuts there. I also found a great place for gelato last time I came there with my cousin and I hope to find it again this time.

5. Glazed and Amazed in Edmonds. The kids love to go there to paint pottery that they can bring home with them. And we always make a day out of it visiting a small toy store and the frozen yogurt place down there.

6. Sounders soccer game for my husband. 

It isn’t the longest bucket list, but it is what we deem the most important things for us to do. Especially hanging out with family and friends. 

Only 18 days left till we leave on our vacation. 

Working on the barn

When you own property  there is always work to be done. This year we decided together with my dad that we should do something with our barn. The walls made of wood where rotting and falling apart and they needed to be tended to immediately. No paint could solve the problem either. So after discussing the problem and then finding metal siding laying in the barn we decided to get the metal siding onto the walls. 

My dad is extremely handy and came to help us. He is 72 years old, but in good shape. Together we raised scaffolding made out of reclaimed wood up to four stories tall. I only got onto the second floor, but my dad got onto fourth floor with ease. Within a week had managed to get siding on one wall due to fairly nice weather through the period. 

After we were done with the first wall, we took down the scaffolding and moved it to the next wall where we built in in steps. At least it didn't need to be as tall there. We discovered that the second wall were only 37 years old, but in the years it had only had about two layers of paint and that is not enough to keep it in shape when you consider the harsh weather conditions it is getting right there. Hard sun in the summer, lots of rain in the spring and fall and plenty of snow and wind in the winter. 

At the moment we are just about half way done with the second wall, but due to rain and wind we have had to take a small break for now. 

My dad on his way up to the fourth level. 

Looking down from the second level.

Seeing it from the side. 

My dad on his way up the scaffolding on the second wall. 

The walls are now covered in siding in several colors. The first wall is red, orange and black. And the second wall is dark green. 

A long time ago

A long time ago I started a blog and it kept me sane for three years while living in the states dealing with my youngest daughters illness and my homesickness. Then for two years I was quiet before I for a brif time wrote 25 posts in 2014 ending it while on vacation in the US.

I don’t know why I stopped writing other than somewhat feeling embarrassed that I wrote a blog and overwhelmed over the demands I put on myself in regards to the posts I wrote. 

Now I am thinking I should get back to writing again as a way to keep track of my thoughts and my days. I am not working at the time being and to keep myself busy now I think writing again would be good. Maybe also finding back to my camera again and play with taking pictures would be good. 

It seems like I had 58 followers at a time and I hope some of you are still out there. It would be nice knowing that there is someone out there reading this, but for the most part I will be writing for myself and my own wellbeing. 

Wellcome back.

Carrousel

Sometimes my life feels like a carrousel.

It goes round and round with its ups and downs. 

Today we went to the zoo and the kids got to ride on a carrousel there. 

We have been busy while being on vacation. 

Shopping and sightseeing. 

Visit to the beach.

Birthday party and hanging out with friends. 

It is hectic.

I'm having a hard time finding time to everyone and everything. 

I think I'm up rather than down. 

Turning around faster and faster. 

Tomorrow we will divide up.

My cousin and I will be downtown. 

Sightseeing and visiting the art museum. 

I am just hoping to be able to visit with more friends. 

 My carrousel keeps turning around. 

Not willing to stop anytime soon. 

The trip

Family

I have some very good friends.

For me they are family.

They want me in their lives. 

They accept me for who I am

and when I'm down they try to bring me up.

They love me for who I am 

and does not try to change me. 

My family is a mix of blood relatives

and friends who have chosen me.

I am blessed.

Sunshine

So far this summer the weather have been dreary. 

We had a week or so with sun and warm temperatures. 

The rest of the time it has been gray and rainy. 

We are so excited to go to Seattle.

The weather service reports really nice weather when we come. 

We are in need of some sunny weather. 

I wanted to go out running today.

The rain and wind made be stay inside. 

Found this quote on Pintrest.

It reminded me that I need to carry my own sunshine on the inside. 

A smile in my heart.