Double rainbow

So I was walking to work this morning and was wondering why everyone was taking pictures.  Then I turned around.  Co-workers John and Sarah had to remind me to walk but not into cars!  Very distracting!  Also a beautiful bright orange sunrise.  Everyone started out in a little bit better mood today.

Bloom by Kelle Hampton

Kelle Hampton is the blogger-mom phenomenon who touched many thousands of people with her blog Enjoying the Small Things (Nella's story on my blog/link list). Nella is her daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome.

Kelle's blog went viral with her description of Nella's birth and the shock and sorrow of learning about the diagnosis of Down's Syndrome, followed by joy and love.  One of my favorite episodes in the book is Kelle describing Lainey (older daughter) meeting Nella for the first time.  Kelle was worried about all the ways that Lainey would also be affected by the diagnosis but her fears proved groundless.  Kelle says that Lainey taught her what unconditional love looked like that day.

Between her honest writing about almost every aspect of her life and her beautiful photography (Kelle is a professional photographer too), Kelle's story is captivating.  The book fills in a few gaps I don't remember from the blog but both are beautiful and unforgettable.

Ballard Locks and Botanical Gardens

What a photo op day!  Easy to spend an entire afternoon watching gill net fisherman, walking gardens, sitting on beautiful terraced lawn and of course watching the boats go through the locks. Biggest group of boats I've ever seen went through all at once and the entire length of the locks was opened to accommodate them all.

 

 

 

High Flight

Jim read this at his Father's internment service Thursday.  Seemed extremely fitting since Mac worked on numerous planes during his career as an aeronautical engineer starting during WWII.  He wanted to enlist during college but was told his services as an engineer were more valuable. Rest in peace Mac. We love you. High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

More wildflowers

This time of year, apparently don't have to go far to see wildflowers. These are on the walk from bus station to work.  Most of the year, they look like big tall weeds.

Wildflowers at Artist Point

Artist Point

Picnic on Skagit River