One final summer photo dump, because memories of those warm August pool days are what pull me through the wet, gray days ahead…
That said, less pleasant than those warm August pool days were those HOT June days when PNW heat records were shattered and we pulled out every stop imaginable in an effort to stay cool. We slept on air mattresses in the basement and waited in line for a portable AC unit (no luck) and drank iced tea by the gallon. Also, there were sprinklers…
And popsicles…
And kiddie pools…
And the incredible kindness of neighbors, who invited us to use their own pools, small and large.
Count lunchtime swim breaks as another perk of working from home!
We spent an ultra-hot Saturday at Rattlesnake Lake, bouncing back and forth between our shady blanket and the icy lake. It seemed that about half of Seattle had the same idea and so the lawn grew increasingly crowded as the day wore on, but there was plenty of open water for us to stretch out on the paddle board.
Juliette recently completed an assignment at school where she had to note favorite family traditions and “paddle boarding with Mama” was near the top of her list. One of my favorites, too, kiddo.
Juliette climbed off the board before we reached shore and bobbed along behind me in her life jacket.
Nintendo break! But even the shade was HOT, so we didn’t stay out of the water for long.
Though the drive and the parking and the schlepping of stuff always feels like a bit much when we head to Rattlesnake, we always leave feeling like the effort was well worth it.
Colman Pool was another summer happy place – they started selling only limited tickets for one-hour time slots due to the pandemic and so the pool was wonderfully un-crowded. We spent several afternoons there working on Juliette’s swim skills and bobbing around with buddies.
Plus, the walk/bike ride to the pool from where we park our car is not too shabby.
In other noteworthy news, West Seattle is finally on the boba map with the recent opening of ShareTea. Juliette and I have already filled multiple punch cards.
Shane started playing pickle ball on Monday nights with a couple of friends and has become a bit obsessed with the game. He’s a pickle ball evangelist now, asking everyone we run into if they play or if they’d like to play.
Juliette is still honing in on her technique, but she shows definite promise.
We squeezed one more tip to Jack and La Verne’s vacation house on Marrowstone Island at the end of July. We were all thankful for the buddy time and for the lovely beachfront walks.
These three play so well together…
And with that, the sun has set on another glorious PNW summer – these sweet freckles are already beginning to fade! But this girl looks damn cute in rain boots and a beanie…
