Kitty and I have been having a contest the past week trying to determine which is more disgusting - coughing up hair balls, or coughing up phlegm balls.   We’ve both been hacking away trying to remove our respective gunk - and I really think my phlegm gobs are vile (and who decided it should be spelled that way??)….  but I believe kitty’s hair balls win the grossout contest.

Probably more than you wanted to know, but hey - what are blogs for, anyway?  : )

Margie is in town for a Neways meeting tomorrow night.  She came up a day early to hang out, see my place and, most important, meet kitty.   It’s been great being able to laugh and visit and enjoy the beautiful autumn day together.   

After a delicious dinner at Azul, I dropped her off at the nearby Extended Stay America….   where she was able to get Chris, the kid behind the counter, to join her in singing several show tunes.   It started with songs from Oklahoma, then West Side Story, then Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - and ended with Les Mis.   If only I’d had a video camera with me, I’d be posting it on YouTube right now.

Tomorrow we will make the mandatory pilgrimage to Molbaks.

In a word:  Spectacular.

In another word:  Stunning.

A few more words…. colorful, beautiful, rainy, misty, gorgeous, tasty, charming, friendly, delightful, funny (or maybe that was just the company). 

On Day 3 of our Girls Weekend, we spent 3 heavenly hours wandering the paths of the gardens, pausing to take photos - which was sometimes a bit of a production in the rain. 

And my dear friends never complained about my pain-in-the-butt camera bag on wheels.  They even offered to pull it around for me.  True friends.

We were lucky enough to visit on a day with minimal crowds, due, in part I’m sure, to the rain.  But the overcast skies and light rain really brought out the colors of the garden.  Our first glimpse of the Sunken Garden (above) drew gasps.   It was literally aflame with color - and the misty trees provided the perfect backdrop.   

Tip #1:  When visiting Butchart Gardens, don’t bother to bring an umbrella even if you KNOW it is going to rain. 

We finally persuaded Michelle to swap out her functional and yet obstructive blue umbrella in favor of the “oh, what a great idea” clear umbrellas provided at various locations all around the garden.  

Whoever came up with that idea should get a bonus.

Tip #2.  Wear a waterproof jacket rather than one that soaks up the rain like a dishrag;  especially if you find yourself sans umbrella, hauling around a camera in one hand and pulling a camera bag in the other.   Otherwise you might look and feel a bit like a drown cat. 

And bring good natured friends who are willing to hold their umbrellas over you and your camera when you take photos.

There was an entire wall of dahlias, winding paths under golden and crimson trees, waterfalls, ponds, statues, and ivy covered arbors, which I imagine would be full of rose or clematis blossoms in other seasons.   

At one point there was a path with several arbors, making for a nice photo opportunity.   Some woman kept standing right next to the first arbor, staring off into space.  We waited and waited for her to move so we could photo the path - but she just stood there.   So I took her photo.  She reminded me a bit of Audrey Hadley. 

The Japanese Garden was a group favorite, and where we decided to monopolize a cute bridge to take a group photo.  I pulled out the tripod and we posed for a good 10 minutes trying to get a good shot of all of us, which was a bit of a challenge. 

I was having issues with my damp red shirt clinging in all the wrong places and an ill-advised recent haircut.  Kristin wanted to take off her jacket, but realized she was wearing a “Grinch” sweatshirt underneath.   One of the Hunsaker sisters noted, “Nothing says Butchart Gardens like the Grinch.”   (They kept us in stitches with their witty one liners).  

Notice that while Kristin and I look a bit damp and bedraggled, Chris looks ever stylish  in her coat and red scarf and Michelle is a complete fashionista - even her hair is fluffed and in place!  How did she do that???  (Maybe by staying under an umbrella when it rained? ) 

We finished off our day in the garden with our first “Afternoon Tea” experience.   The charming dining room was surrounded by windows looking out onto a lovely garden, and the fire in the fireplace added just the right warmth and coziness we needed on a rainy day.  

Click here to see the menu. 

Michelle ordered a peppermint tea, not on the menu - and the rest of us all went for the TeaBerry blend.  Excellent choice.    Tea was a forbidden drink as I was growing up and something I always assumed would taste yucky.   But as an adult, I have found I love good tea….  and this blend was exceptional.  

Finger sandwiches and desserts covered 3-tiered serving trays. General consensus was that the mango-curry chicken salad with cashews was the best sandwich, and the cucumber the most boring.   All of the desserts were yummy. 

The tea and treats were great - but the ambiance and the company made it a perfect afternoon.

If you actually made it to the end of this post and still would like to see more photos that I took at Butchart Gardens, CLICK HERE.

And be sure to check out both Chris & Michelle’s blogs for their photos and write-ups from our weekend getaway.   Kristin, when are you going to start a blog?

I’m still sorting through pictures from our girls weekend in Victoria and my recent visit from Ashley & Kennedy (so much fun and I miss them already!) and I promise to write more about both of them soon…

In the meantime -

Kristin was here again today, and we decided to see if we could get close to a beautiful red tree I’d been admiring from the road the past week.  

There is no way photos can do justice to this stunning maple, but here are a couple anyway.   

We both professed our undying love to the tree several times as we took its picture and admired its beautiful moss covered branches, glowing leaves, and carpet of red and green underneath.

Isn’t it glorious?

While standing under this crimson canopy, we could hear some splashing in the nearby stream.  I went to investigate and saw three very large fish - probably 18 - 24 inches long - and just as crimson as the tree.

Was really rather exciting to see these sockeye salmon swimming upstream.  They were actually just “hanging out” in this section of the stream, swimming just enough to stay in the same place - with an occasional jump or splash.  

I love living in Washington.

After a delayed flight and then being caught in a “security breach” at SeaTac, Michelle & Chris (whom Michelle keeps calling Erica) were finally reunited with their luggage and found Kristin & I at door 14 last night.  Hugging and laughter ensued.  Laughter continued through the entire ferry ride to Bainbridge island and drive to our lovely hotel in Poulsbo, WA.   Kris & Chris hadn’t seen each other for nearly 30 years, so we had a LOT of catching up to do.   We’ll get to it after a good night’s sleep.

Day 2:   Note to travelers:  The Holiday Inn Express in Poulsbo, WA is a delightful place to stay.  Michelle oooohd and aaaahed over the fluffy white towels, and the continental breakfast was a big hit.  Especially the waffles.  Michelle will be calling 1-800-Holiday to give her review and report.  We drove to Port Angeles, stopping to take photos of some tractors at a charming farm in Sequim, then boarded the ferry to Victoria.  More laughter.  So much, in fact, that several older men who were sitting next to us got up and left…  what a surprise….

We spent the afternoon exploring down town Victoria, posing and playing in the gardens at the Empress Hotel. 

This is such a charming city with beautiful architecture, friendly people, and baskets of flowers hanging nearly everywhere.  The virgina creeper covering the hotel walls were just starting to turn to flaming fall colors.

We almost ate at the trendy “Earls” but due to being seated directly under a booming speaker, we decided to seek out another eating establishment.  We ended up at the delightful Irish Times Pub, where we were seated in a cozy little library.   

More laughter ensued….   particularly when Kristin flashed us her bra to illustrate a story she was telling - and then I disovered a gentleman at the next table had caught a glimpse.  I asked if he enjoyed the show, and he started clapping.   We all had tears from laughing to hard, and I nearly fell out of my chair.  You know, there is just nothing like letting your hair down with girlfriends and sisters.

Tomorrow:  Butchart Gardens!

Kristin & I are leaving to pick Michelle and Chris up from the airport very shortly. 

We will greet them with crisp Washington Cameo apples picked just a few days ago, and caramel dipping sauce.    We will take the ferry to to Bainbridge Island and stay in Poulsbo tonight.   Thrilling updates and photos to follow.