November 2019 A Seattle Winning

November 2019 A Seattle Winning

The November Fall was very mild and pleasant in the PNW. You do get some awesome skies as small weather systems begin to move through. There was one system that brought some snow to the mountains and some thought there might be an early snow season allowing the mountain resorts to open early, but not much moisture of any kind after that, actually pretty dry for November. The high  temps in the lower 60's with lows dipping into the 40's. Sunset walks along the shores of Elliot Bay will often yield some fine pics.

& the Moon

I am pretty familiar with the vessels that ply Elliot Bay and the Port of Seattle, but may be seeing these three for the first time.  This is the Sound Guardian on the left, a King County Vessel that is charged with constant research on the health of this part of the Salish Sea. On the right is the Fishing/Processor ship Arctic Storm returning from a long stint in the Gulf of Alaska. November marks the end of the fishing season for much of the Alaskan fishing fleet.

The SoundGuardian is King County’s current research vessel, built to continue decades of marine and freshwater monitoring.
See: https://youtu.be/hcJnbJ_xR9o
&
see:https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wlr/sections-programs/environmental-lab/soundguardian.aspx

The New Arctic Storm
see https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2018/06/12/arctic-storms-pollock-new-build-is-first-step-in-fleet-renewal/

This looked so much like a fuel barge but it was a ship and smaller than most Tug pulled fuel barges that carry and supply bunker fuel to the ships in the Port of Seattle
see http://www.professionalmariner.com/American-Ship-Review-2019/Global-Provider/

We were so lucky to be able to attend this years the Earshot Jazz Volunteer Appreciation at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle. The party featured a Brazilian Fusion group: 

Amendola vs. Blades w/ Skerik, Jeff Parker & Cyro Baptista

 The first song out I said "I think this is the baby og Weather Report and the Mahavishnu Orchestra" But it proceeded to go way beyond those constraints.  The Percussion of Cyro Baptista was obliviously the feature of the night, this guy is extremely creative.

As we continue to dip into our ancestry we are also renewing connections with extended family. I have enjoyed several emails from my cousin Nancy Steakley Hildelbrand. Her daughter Emily is over in Europe making waves in the art world, wondering if there is an ART Gene?
see: http://emilyhildebrand.com/

We stopped in Pioneer Square to get this photo of the giant MLS Cup on the way to the MLS Championship game Seattle Sounders VS Toronto FC. Many Thousands showed up in Pioneer Square to participate in the pre-game activities, We had to use our 70's concert techniques to navigate the ever increasing crowd.

The team that wins gets to add a star on their uniform. This will be the Second Star for the Seattle Sounders.
See: https://youtu.be/Mx5JEJclI6w

Largest attendance ever at Century Link Stadium with Standing room only tickets sold for the first time ever!!! Around 69,000.
See: https://youtu.be/nOOcgrHRf1o

Wow, this building was just built, it does not have any occupants yet but the Christmas tree is up way before Thanksgiving.
Later we learn the street level is a Target with condos above.

We got SNOWBALL out just one time in November  but it was a fine day.

A sunset walk along the shores of Shilshole Bay after the sail.

Time for a Parade for the 2019 MLS Champions the Seattle Sounders!
See: https://youtu.be/q3qMcK8zRjw

The Players are in the first bus and the second bus has the owners and their families.

From the left midfielder  Lodeiro, Winger/Forward Morris, and Frei GK.

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback and one of the owners of the Sounders holding the Trophy
see: https://youtu.be/kvjgIPjkDjs The Sound Wave

By the time we got to Seattle Sounders the only standing room way up here.
See Russell Wilson kick off the Rally: https://youtu.be/MCyvG-zAjt8
The Sounders take the Stage: https://youtu.be/6Vi1I3OsIU0

A Star for Everyone.

Tony, a sailing student from three or four years ago called me up and asked for a refresher on a sailboat he recently purchased and was moored on the North East shore of Lake Union.

I walked out on the docks to find Tony but did not notice anyone moving around at this small private marina amoung the house barges along the shore.

Instead they were just around the corner at an even smaller private dock. Patrick on the left works for a Bio-Drug company and Tony on the right is an Attorney in a nearby town where he practices criminal law. This was Patrick's first sail but he was a quick study.

There was just enough wind for about a two hour session as it begins to  get dark increasing early in November, around 4:30 this day. We struck the sails when the wind died and motored back to the little dock in the dark. I miss my volunteer Sailing instructor gig at the Center for Wooden Boats, Teaching adults sailing is so much fun.

The Canadian Nave makes regular visits to Seattle. 

A play about Rosetta Thorps Life was getting a lot of attention at the Seattle Reporatory Theatre

Brother Dave is coming up to check this play out, I'm guessing he will bring it to Zachary Scott in Austin, Texas.

Continued Bad News on Climate Change, And this is just one County! Finally Climate Change better known as Global Warming is coming to the forefront of many politicians and citizens alike. 

This is the Monday before Thanksgiving, we were just walking back to our condo from the Seattle Center. You can see the wind blowing the water behind me, a cold Yukon blast funneled into Puget Sound by way of the Canadian Frasier River valley is just beginning, the wind feels ICY.  This cold air continues for the rest of the week through Thanksgiving. Wonder what this means for December?

A Full October 2019 and the Evolution of Halloween

A Full October 2019 and the Evolution of Halloween

Looking back October was a Full Meal Deal for sure. Even though Fall showed up two weeks early we fell into the standard practice of adding a layer of clothes and enjoyed the nice Fall weather. We celebrated a belated Admiral's Birthday dinner at Palisades; Enjoyed taking Fall pictures during our walks around Seattle; some sailing; a boat project; Seattle Sounder soccer matches; volunteering at our favorite music event of the year, Ear Shot Jazz Festival; visiting with Chris and Cathy, friends from Texas;spending time with all 4 Grandkids;  and then our end of month trip to Texas and New York. 

The Evolution of Halloween as evidenced by This Zombie Cat and the similar things we saw while in New York.....a long way from Casper!

Fall colors are big time in the PNW.

Mighty fine friends from Kehma, Texas, actually Canadian transplants, visit Seattle. We spend the day at the Seattle Sculpture Garden, Seattle center, Pikes Market, and the Seattle Water Front ending with a fine Happy Hour at the E.
Chris and Cathy are retired except Cathy has this excellent retirement gig as a Nurse Educator who gets called to anywhere U.S. to ply her craft. Then they take all the money she earns and go anywhere Planet Earth. They are now cruising South America for a month.

Gold Tape on my Head? 

Fall from the water.

Mount Bakerout on a clear day.

Skipper Big D at the Helm!

You can always find a Sea lion or seal hanging out on a navigation buoy.

Humm, we saw this ship when it was entering the Lake Washington Ship Canal, now it's headed out.

Its nice to have a 360 Bridge

So many different ways to build a ship.

He will have to back all the way down the channel to the Sound, there is no where for this guy to turn around till he gets to Shilshole Bay.

A cool sunset on the way to a Sounders Game

The best way to get to the Stadium, March with the Supporters!

The Sounders are finding a way to win at the most important time.

Happy Birthday Admiral!

Elliot Bay Marina in Fall colors.

A cool way to memorialize 

This is a screen shot from the Marine Traffic App. As you can see there is plenty of company out on today's' oceans. Almost every very colored speck is a commercial ship. A few are recreational vessels. At any rate you are never alone on the High seas these days and you better keep a sharp eye out!

The refrigeration unit just was not doing it anymore so the October boat project was to replace the unit.

If you know how to forage mushrooms then your a step ahead.

Bell Harbor, Cruise ship season is almost over.

We only got to volunteer for three events, but we definitely hit the best!

A new front moving in.

The last cruise ship of the season.

How do you get here?
LOVE
My Sisten MaMa GinGin with sons Zack and Josh Grandkids  Lux and Luna

We visited the new Trader Joe's in Downtown Austin where Zack works,
pretty awesome place to work.

The changing Austin

The Old Seaholm Power Plant transitioned into upscale shops and condos.

The new Austin Public Library, first time for us to visit even though it was built several years ago.

Very cool inviting spaces.

A roof top lounge area with Austin views.

Austin must be taking notes from Seattle construction, build a six story one block square hole in the ground first.

Thank God! Taco Deli is now at the Austin Airport. Please come to Seattle!

Clara chose to be a little Pig for Halloween.
Maybe Casper is still around?

It was a No Brainer, reading bedtime Harry Potter books with his dad for the last two years.

Cleo hanging with The Zombies.