Dahlia's in bloom

Last summer I picked up two Dahlia bulbs at the Olympia Farmer's market for $1 a piece. We didn't get anything last year but this summer we have a full garden! Thank heaven for baby bathwater!!

Color everywhere

Here are a couple of the many wonderful bouquets of flowers we got while in the hospital.

Ken and Sydnie also brought a live bouquet that has been distributed around the house

And finally, here are some of the flowers that we have planted around the house that have been blooming lately...

All together, it has made it wonderful being around the house. We really appreciate all of it.

What the Hail!!!

Sunday was suppose to be the first day of summer! The white stuff isn't fertilizer, that is some serious hail!

And it kept raining and hailing...

Then it came down even harder...

Colby was a bit happy when he realized he wouldn't have to water last night.

Palm Sunday

Our weekly ritual of going to Home Depot is never a let down! I have had my eye on their palm trees but they have been way to spendy so I was extremely happy when we walked in there and they were marked down to $9.88!! I did have to beg a bit and promise to try to keep it alive for at least 6 months but I think in the end it was well worth it :) Colby was surprisingly happy with it once it was in the house. He just kept saying "really the sign should have say buy one pot get a free fern" Well we had to buy a pot, ya know it would look silly in the living room in a plastic tub...

The flowers we received at our housewarming party have been growing like crazy. I do agree miracle grow, truly does work miracles on plants!! However it also helps weeds too... Colby and I spent the morning weeding the garden beds as well as pulling all the unwelcome raspberry bushes that want to take back the hillside! Ah, the simple joys of home ownership!! Our backs are a bit sore but it sure is nice to be working in our own yard!

The Nation's Capital (just not ours)

Well, I have never been to Washington DC, never seen the White House, and I've never seen Congress but now I can say I have at least seen one capital in person. I spent the weekend in Ottawa and I had a few hours to kill before my flight today. It's amazing the similarities between here and Seattle, some 2500 miles away.

I first strolled along the street my hotel was on. It is called the Byward Market and if you put a cover over it, you could name it Pike Place Market. There were lots of vendors set up with temporary and semi-permanent stands selling flowers, trinkets, and clothing. The biggest change, of course, was instead of fish vendors everywhere, it was people hawking real Canadian maple syrup.

I walked a few more blocks past the Canadian Revenue Agency national headquarters (their version of the IRS I assume) and the U.S. Embassy and looked at the Rideau Canal Ottawa Locks. Reminded me quite a bit of Ballard.

After I passed the locks, I walked up to the parliament building and got there just at Noon. This was very interesting because their clock tower has a huge bell and chimes that played for almost 15 minutes. You can walk right up to the building and sign up for a tour without a second thought. I'm sure it's much different back in the states with background checks required weeks or months in advance.

As you walk around the parliament building, hidden behind is the Library of Parliament, a very unique attachment and a little area called the "stray cats of the hill". The little fenced off area had several cats, dozens of squirrels and a raccoon living there. I can only attach a picture of the sign because I couldn't possibly expect to do it justice with my description:

Just behind the parliament building is a cliff that overlooks the water and beyond to the french speaking side of the city. I took many great pictures but here are two of my favorites:

As I headed back to get my car, I stumbled upon the Canadian Tulip festival. The tulips were beautiful although from what I hear, the festival was laughable when compared to it's counterpart back in Washington.

These thoughts of Washington remind me of how much I am ready to be home back in the Great Northwest and, wouldn't you know it, they are calling my flight. Hope you've enjoyed my little tour of central Ottawa and I'll see you soon!!

Walk thru and closing date!

Happy Cinco de Mayo to everyone!!
The last two Cinco de Mayo's have rocked!! Last year we had our bachelor and bachelorette parties. This year we may not have hung from the chandeliers but we did have an amazing day!

Firstly, we got our Closing date scheduled!! YEAH!! We will be closing on June 9th, I was so excited I went out and bought a rug for the kitchen. Crazy celebration as you can imagine!!

Secondly, Ken (Father/Father-in-law) received very uplifting news, all the cells from the transplant are new!! DOUBLE YEAH!! This means as of now the transplant was very successful, and we are now on the uphill swing! Next post I will include a picture of Ken in all his baldness glory :)
Thirdly, the Christmas cactus Colby got me about two years ago bloomed for the first time!!

Thought it looked much prettier in the living room