A Visit to SOYattle
August 1-5, 2007
Seattle is Tucson's alter ego. An ocean to our desert, cool and damp to our hot and dry, wealthy, Nordic and urbane to our gritty Latin funkiness — no wonder so many of my friends bounce back and forth between these polar opposites. Just as there's a Walgreen's on every corner in Tucson, in Seattle you're never more than 50 paces from a Starbuck's. During a three-day business trip, I visited several dozen of them (or so it seems), and every one of my guests ordered a decaf latté with steamed soy milk.
That left two days to explore Kathy's home turf. My guided tour began with a visit to the gardens of West Seattle. Mark shows off the benches he's making from salvaged wood.
More proof that the right plants can make even a very simple home look spectacular.
Kathy's house is waist-high in lavender and hydrangea.
Her current household includes two bunnies, three kitty cats ... and now some very well-fed squirrels.
Kathy and Mark showing me around the Greenlake Park neighborhood.
Dinner in the cafeteria at REI, complete with its own waterfall and a killer view of downtown Seattle.
Kathy's true love isn't really Seattle, it's nearby Vashon Island. We took the morning ferry and spent a full day biking around the island.
Discarded exercycles form a makeshift sculpture garden in front of an abandoned hardware store. Somewhere between the arrival of the first espresso shop and the departure of the last hardware store, there's a great place to live ...
During our rest stop at Point Robinson Lighthouse, Kathy liberated the toe clips on her new bicycle.
During our rest stop at Point Robinson Lighthouse, Kathy liberated the toe clips on her new bicycle.
We also visited Doug, who was house-sitting a home with one of the most beautiful private gardens I've ever seen.
The owners also make their own wine from a small vineyard on the site.
The return ferry ride and another memorable glimpse of Mount Rainier, which towers over Seattle like a giant snow cone.
Kathy and Mimi at the Fremont Farmers' Market.
Kathy and Marion.
Looking West: Kathy and her parents in Federal Way.