Sneak peek at WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo! This is our favorite splurge for the holidays, and we love that it’s an entirely new show every year. Yes, tickets are pricey, but the money goes directly to animal care and conservation projects.
This year’s favorites: a giant peacock that fans its tail (it sounds like it’s farting) and flowers that blow smoke rings!
There's a guy two blocks over who grows giant pumpkins in his front yard. I've always been curious about his tradition, so when my editor asked for fall pitches, I suggested the pumpkin man.
Here's a link to my story for The Seattle Times.
Some burning questions:
What does he do with the pumpkins after Halloween?
He digs holes in his yard and buries them.
Why doesn't he eat them? Or send them to the Food Bank?
They're bred for size, not for flavor. They taste like cardboard.
What if you want to try growing giant pumpkins too?
Just knock on his door and he'll give you seeds for free.
Part I: Brunch by Paul. Blueberry scones fresh out of the oven!
Part II: Red bean soup and grass jelly from Meet Fresh, which just marked its 6th year in Bellevue. What did I do with my money 7 years ago?
Maris Farms: Did I drive all the way out to Buckley, Wash., just for this slide? Yup. Gone are the days when the boys would be entertained by a wheelbarrow and a couple of pumpkins, now they want alllll the bells and whistles at the pumpkin patch. The mega slide, candy cannon, zip line and fishing were big hits. The view of the sun setting on Mount Rainier on our way out wasn't so bad either!
Stocker Farms: Our favorite so far. This one felt a lot more commercial and polished than the others, in a good way. You don't feel like you're on a farm that happens to have some activities, it's all rather nicely organized and presented. The kids liked that there were LOTS of activities within a short distance. I liked that it had lots of pretty photo ops and a restroom trailer, not just port-a-potties.
Went to check out the Joyce J. Scott exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. We took a hurried lap through and there's so much to unpack, so we'll be back! Exhibit runs through Jan. 20, 2025.
Few visitors make it up to the corner of the 4th floor to this wood-paneled 16th century Italian room. It's a treasure box of a room, one of my favorite spots in the museum.
We also did a block printing workshop with a teaching artist. Such a fun project! Our elementary school does not have an art teacher.
Happy Halloween from Seattle!
Every year when I'm ankle-deep in crafting debris, I question my sanity, why I don't I drop $20 at Target and be done?? But that wouldn't be as much fun. Made everything from stuff lying around the house, which means I'm eco-friendly. And a hoarder.
Overlook Walk might just change your mind about downtown Seattle. Come see it for yourself! I wrote about 7 fun freebies at Seattle's newest park for Seattle's Child.
Best way to celebrate Double Ten Day is with a strawberry milk bubble tea and a passionfruit green tea!
Just four ingredients, to make the most amazing giant bubbles:
1 tablespoon guar gum (order from Amazon)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup dish soap (Dawn Ultra works best)
1 gallon water
Combine everything in a big bucket.
Legoland > Disneyland, 100 percent.
Disneyland is for adults on their phones all day buying $220 lightsabers. Legoland seems like it was actually designed for kids. Lots of playground areas, building activities, and overall a much, much more relaxed vibe.
Legoland's rides are very tame, which is fine by me, I'm a big chicken anyway. Probably best for 12 and under, or Lego fans of any age. The Lego theming is INCREDIBLE.
A few takeaways...
Miniland has Lego builds representing DC, San Francisco, NYC, Vegas, and San Diego of course.
