365 Inspirations—279: Beautiful Fall Day in Seattle

Pictures speak louder than words today. It was hard to get anything done with weather like this! Here are some pictures from the weekend in Seattle:

Fall leaves on our drive to the park where we walked

Kayakers at Discovery Park, Seattle

Feeling the sun and Fall on our walk

Okay, it wasn't all fun and games, but I will say that I spent the majority of time outside and did very little to get ready for the teaching week. This means I'll have ALOT to do tomorrow. I did do a few things besides enjoy the weather. I washed my car! It was a perfect day for car washing. Sunny and in the 70s in October! Now it's raining outside at almost midnight. The weather changes quick in these parts.

Did you enjoy your weekend? How was the weather where you live?

365 Inspirations—21: Beach Walking in Winter

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

—Jacques Cousteau

I like to walk on the beach any time of year and winter can be a great time to go beach walking. We've been stuck under a cloud of fog for about a week. Last week, as I was driving home from my classes at the college, I couldn't see more than two feet in front of me while driving because the fog was so thick.

Finally, the sun broke through yesterday while I was in yoga class. We were doing our last few "Ommms" to end the class and the place filled with light! My husband and I went outside after the class and he said, "This is a day we should not miss! Let's go to Discovery Park."

We had a bite to eat at the huge grocery store near the yoga studio. They have an outstanding salad bar. Then we headed out to Discovery Park in Seattle. One thing I absolutely love about living in Seattle is the fact that we are in a city, yet it often feels like we are in some remote location on an island somewhere when we go to the parks in the area. The truth is, all the photos in this blog post were taken in Seattle!

The sun was high and the fog was finally gone. It seemed like all Seattleites were finally breaking free from their cocoons they had been in. People were wandering around along the seaside just staring at the mountains, ocean, and beach in awe. 

I walked slowly along the shore, soaking in the sun. I listened to the waves roll in. They were big round rolls that didn't break until they got to the shore. A flock of seagulls squawked above my head and I could see both the sun and the moon at the same time.

The weather in Seattle is mild. We usually get quite a bit of rain in the winter, but often only have about a week or so of snow each winter. The weather was around 45 degrees for our walk. We were happy to finally see the sun again and we were particularly happy to be beach walking in winter!

Do you like to go to the beach? Where do you like to go? Have you ever been beach walking in winter?

365 Lessons-Lesson 266: Walk through the Pounding Rain

When the rain comes (rain being a metaphor for anything difficult) the tendency is to run for cover. Why not walk through the pounding rain? Why not walk out in the midst of it all exposed? What could happen to you? Maybe something unpredictable is in your cards; a turn of the tables, so to speak.

This morning at around 9am, my husband was eager to go walking. I looked outside at the clouds of doom and raindrops already starting to fall and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball in my bedroom with warm, fuzzy socks on.

Instead, I threw my non-waterproof raincoat on (sin in Seattle) and headed out into the elements. In the car driving over the Ballard Bridge, the rain was coming down in sheets. This was not walking weather, yet we were on our way.

Once at the park, there was no turning back. We were hiking and that was it. The rain started to let up a little as we got to the beach. All the sudden, amongst the barnacles, broken clam shells, seaweed, and a mad circle of seagulls, I saw too little eyes peering up at me on the beach. I almost stepped on this tiny, little thing.


What was it? Could it be a baby Harbor seal? The mother had left it on the shore in search of food. The little guy looked scared. It made little squeaks at us. I knew not to touch it or move it. If the mother smells human hands on her baby, she will abandon it. I was worried, however, that the mother had forgotten where it was. It was so far up on the shore now.

A sudden break in the rain had revealed this angelic creature to my husband and me. I couldn't help but take it as a sign. Seals, as you may have read from earlier posts about my book writing adventure, have a important meaning to me.

I had to go out in the pouring rain to find this jewel. My jeans were now thoroughly soaked, but we kept walking. We were committed to the walk and no sleet, hail, lightening, thunder, or hurricane was going to stop us.

Lately, I've been a bit saddened. I haven't heard from several blogging friends who used to comment regularly on this blog. Where did they go? Are people still reading it or am I writing it just for me. Should I stop writing it? Should I put it aside? Do I have anything more to say? All these thoughts go through my head and then I remember one very important thing.

I've committed myself to this walk. Let the rains come, I'll continue on. When things get difficult or boring or monotonous or I feel like I'm at the end of my rope and I'd rather turn back, go inside and hide under the covers, that's the time to continue I've learned.

The seal was a hidden jewel in the rain today. Something I wouldn't have seen if I decided to stay indoors. When we least expect it we will find that everything we were hoping for is already there, waiting for us in the pouring rain.