Last week my Aurora Motels shooting partner, Ish and I drove south to check out the stretch of Hwy 99 from Fife to Tacoma. Ish said Fife reminded her of her hometown Easklake, Ohio.
Got Judge Judy?
The light was strong and golden, slowly lowering closer and closer to the horizon. We shot until the middle gray-blue took over the night. Fife was filled with photographic treasures, including numerous mom and pop motels, a drive-up smoke shop, 24-hour donut shop, and a big fancy Bingo hall. I got one shot I am totally in love with, a little map of the United States I saw through the window of an antique clock shop.
For this years 4th of July Justin and I took a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island to visit my mom and Matt. There were lots of kids and families on the boat. Everyone was heading to the Bainbridge Island street fair.
Vendors lined the streets leading down to Waterfront Park. Justin got me some handmade hairpins to match my patriotic outfit.
Hairpins
We met up with Sonia and Matt at the classic car show. My favorite car was a Spyder, with diamond studded seats.
Spyder
Sonia’s favorite was the Mercedes.
On our way back to their house we drove by the new event center, The Manor House. I wanted to check it out and see if it would be a good place to have a wedding…
Manor HouseJustin and I at the Manor House
We spent the afternoon lounging on the porch, soaking up the sun. After a long walk down to the beach we returned home, where Matt grilled up steaks and hot dogs and mom showed off her new stove.
We dinned al fresco, returning inside for dessert as the sun sunk further into the sky.
Justin and I took a trip to my Grandparents house this weekend. Despite seasonal allergies we really enjoyed ourselves! We kept busy eating, watching tv and exploring the beautiful scenery of the Olympic Peninsula.
Over the years my Grandma has honed her talent for orchids; the current blooms are quite spectacular.
Her basil is also doing surprisingly well, considering the number of cold, gray days we have had so far this summer.
We arrived late in the afternoon, so happy hour was upon us soon after our arrival. Crown was on sale at the Longhouse gas station/super store, making the official cocktail of the trip Crown and Coke. Grandma took a child’s portion, so her blood sugar stayed level. The rest of us got a good buzz going on the delicious syrup.
Crown and Coke
Justin came prepared for Italian style feasting, cutting fettucini noodles from scratch.
Grandma cooked her famous red sauce, as well as the ever present salad. The guys won’t eat salad, so that meant more for us! Fresh radishes from her neighbors yard added a hot pink splash of color to the greens.
Grandpa let me try one of his pickled eggs. I love my Grandma’s pickled vegetables (or vinaigrette, as she calls them), so I assumed the eggs would be just as delightful. Unfortunately, I found the egg to taste far too strongly of vinegar. Grandpa told me I must have been eating it wrong; apparently there is a real art form to eating pickled eggs, where you shake the egg off just right so you don’t get a mouthful of vinegar. I was unaware of the technique when I served myself the egg from the jar; guess I will have to try another one on my next visit!
We can pickle that!
After dinner we were all totally stuffed, and in need of some exercise and fresh air. Grandpa invited Justin and I on a nature walk down by the bridge. Grandmas feet had been bothering her, so she stayed home to clean up and watch her novella.
Grandpa Blue Eyes
The night was beautiful, the sun staying up late. We started our hike on the Discovery Trail, but true to Frank Peterson style, were soon off the beaten path and into the woods. Slugs and snails covered the path, reminding Grandpa of the time a friend of his ate half a banana slug on a dare. Just to keep things interesting Grandpa kept talking about all the cougars that were running about in the woods. In case we did encounter a cougar, Grandpa was ready with his pistol.
We could have walked till dark, but the blooming weeds and tall grasses got the best of me. Sneezing the whole way up the trail, I lamented having left all 3 boxes of tissues in the car.
Hello everyone! For those of you hoping to see some of my Motels work live and in person, your wishes will soon be granted! My photograph of the Ranch motel in southern Oregon will be on view at the Photo Center Northwest all month as part of the Volunteers annual exhibit. Ranch is one of my favorite images, and staying at the Ranch motel is certainly on my list of things to do before too long….
Ranch
Seeing my picture in print, and mounted on the wall in mat I cut myself has giving me the fever to make more images for display. Stay tuned for more images in the 3rd dimension….
