An Ape, a Rainbow and a Hostess Gift

Every summer should end with an epic trip home - especially if you grew up in Seattle.  It's the only time you might actually see some sun (no need to get defensive, Seattleites), and even if you don't, you've at least gotten three months of it somewhere else.

After a year of non-stop Goodnight Gorilla I was excited to finally take j to a zoo - but I've been holding out for Woodland Park (think 'habitats' in place of cages). The Gorillas were fine, but it was an Ape that swooped down from a tree to show j some love.

Love Connection at the Woodland Park Zoo

 And here's a quick summary of the rest:

Short cloud break before we were covered in fog again (Orcas Island)

If you ever want to find a silver lining, you got to have a cloudy day
(we listened to Kacey Musgraves non-stop)

Best place to stay with a kid: Pebble Cove Farm, Orcas

Bouchart Gardens - on my list of places to see for over 20 years!

Victoria stole my heart with fleurs everywhere.

In Canada, the toddler playground has pygmy goats and limitless brushes

The Seattle leg of the trip was pretty short, but the best part was staying with an old friend.  You know you've got a connection when you can cover 1. What you believe about god, and why it's important to figure that out; 2. What country makes the best legos; 3. What love language you speak; and 4. How and when to potty train, all in one conversation.  What gift do you bring for her, when in addition to the spare bedroom and good company she throws you a party and makes her seven-year-old play with your toddler for hours on end?

Well.  I'm really into these Kokkas - I can't get away from this fabric line.  So I put together a hot pad/trivet and some napkins:

This is my favorite way to do napkins now: sewn pillowcase style (leaving a three-inch hole), turned inside out and topstitched. So much faster than a traditional mitered corner,

 and cuter,

and reversible, so you can mix it up!

All-in-all it was a great trip, but even restaurants and ferries can get old.  We knew when it was time to come home.

And while we couldn't reschedule our flight for that day, we did get back here eventually.  Now it's all 60 degrees and bags of apples at the grocery store.  For those of you keeping track, I have about two weeks to finish my 40 sweater, so stay tuned!