Thanksgiving in Seattle

Vivian and Stephen offered their Thanksgiving feast a week early so they could attend their sister-in-law's wedding on the east coast.  For us, one of the highlights was seeing Yuri again.

But first, the calm before the storm.  We had a light lunch, topped off with getting the first crack at the day's cheeses.  Steve knows how much I enjoy cheeses: the harder, the better; the softer, the better; the stronger, the better. 

This year's homemade pickles go well with the cheeses.  People would eat all the pickles Vivian was willing to put on the table.

Yuri is getting teeth very nicely, growing like a weed, and by now is likely ready to crawl.  We noticed how much stronger his back and torso were than in August, reminding us of how quickly children develop.

Neither man nor dog showed fear, just curiosity.

 

After all of the stimulation, it was time to recharge the batteries for the next round.

Alyssa and Bill chatting folks up at the breakfast table on their wedding morning. Cool as cucumbers.

A Vancouver Visit by Bill and Alyssa

Singapore Laska (coconut milk, fish, sea food etc.)
The new car (and scarf) ready to head back to Seattle:
At the Banana Leaf:
Alyssa trying to warm up:
On Friday, Alyssa picked up Bill (from San Juan Island) in her brand new blue Honda and headed to Vancouver for a weekend visit. We had just returned from Tofino 30 minutes earlier, so we took the easy route and walked over to Dunbar Street for some Indian food at Handi's restaurant. After a stroll back home, we chatted into the evening before crashing. For Saturday breakfast, I picked up my favourite poppy seed rolls and some almond croissants from the Patisserie Bordeaux, both of which go well with espresso. Bill and Alyssa then explored Vancouver's Granville Market and Stanley Park most of the day while we poked around at home and did errands. For dinner, I rustled up a pasta dish involving lots of Gorgonzola cheese, smoked B.C. wild salmon, a red bell pepper, green beans and a pile of mushrooms. All this was washed down with a B.C. Shiraz made by Lafrenz. After dinner, a friend took me to hear a men's choir from Sweden and the rest wisely stayed home, read the Sunday NYTimes, Scientific American, and The Economist before stumbling towards bed (before I got home).

Sunday, Bill and Alyssa had a good walk through our neighbourhood while Janice and I listened to a sermon that needed serious editing and a worship service introduction that rambled rather too long. While Janice (Sec/Treasurer) attended a pot luck and church meeting afterwards, Bill and Alyssa took me to the Banana Leaf. Bill had been trying to find a good Laska in Seattle and was pleased to see that this establishment offered two. After several more hours of chatting in the living room, they decided it was time to face the border lineups.

So, it was a terrific weekend. I got a ride in the new car and a chance to hear their plans for the big wedding this June.