Slimy!

Slugs are fairly common on Mackinac Island. Big slimy leopard slugs that can be up to six or seven inches long.

I often see them trying to cross the road on damp mornings during the summer months. (The squished ones are really gross.)

I found this one crossing my yard on his/her (slugs are both - they're hermaphrodites) way to have a snack in my garden. I relocated it to the back of the empty lot across the street where it can nibble on the greens to its heart's content. I'd rather it not munch on my flowers.

Want a Piece?

 

As you can tell from their faces,  Seattle's Gum Wall was not on of my kids' favorite stops. I was OK at first. All that gum was kind of amazing - it was everywhere, on everything. And this actually isn't all the gum. Apparently, in 2015, they removed over 2,000 pounds of the stuff from the walls of the alley.

As we walked we saw simple gobs of gum smashed into the bricks,  little sculptures made from  gum, and even gum used to post little messages on the wall. Other really creative people used multiple pieces to spell out words. 

I was just fine as I wandered around thinking, "I wonder how much all that gum weighs?" and "I bet the acidity of the gum isn't good for those bricks," until S and I posed for this picture:

As I opened my mouth and got close, I instantly regretted it. Even at over a foot from the wall, the air was so saturated with the sickeningly sweet smell of gum, I could actually taste it. Ugh! It was so gross! Luckily we were already on out way down the alley and out to fresher air.

Seattle Aquarium

We loved the Seattle Aquarium. Partially because we're just geeky people, but also because the sea otters completely stole our hearts. They were just about the most adorable things I've ever seen. Don't believe me? Check out their live Otter-Cams here.

Another wonderful exhibit at the aquarium was Life on the Edge: Sea Life in Puget Sound Tide Pools. Both S and K spent a lot of time there. Since the sea anemones in the sound are not poisonous like their warm-water relatives, we could touch them. K loved how sticky their tentacles felt.

S loved touching the sea stars and the spiky sea urchins. 

Both kids also had a great time posing with each and every statue we found within the aquarium. (Don't worry, there were no real germ-infested kisses.)

I know it seems expensive to visit places such as the Seattle Aquarium, but if you go to Seattle with kids just bite the bullet and go. The aquarium may be on the small side, but we loved it and found the it well worth the entrance cost.

Irises

Earlier this summer, the irises were blooming in the garden and they looked so pretty. The shapes inside were so interesting,

and the sunlight lit the flowers' interior in such an interesting way, I couldn't resist and took about a zillion pictures.

There's just something about flowers blooming in the garden that just makes me smile...

Fireworks!

The Island's fireworks this year this year were really good. They started out a little on the slow side but built up into a wonderful finale. Well, three finales actually. The technicians  kept psyching us out, but when the horns sounded after the third one, we knew they were over. It was a great way to end a fun-filled day.

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

Our day is going to be filled with good friends,

games, a picnic, and of course fireworks.

How about you?

Seattle: Kerry Park

We were a little surprised to be treated to sun on our first day in Seattle. Ying Ying and Miguel thought it was a prefect day to check out the view from Kerry Park.

It was a lovely little scenic overlook with an amazing view of Seattle, as well as art to appreciate. Which, of course, meant the kids had to climb all over it.

Plus, down below, the kids discovered a wonderful little playground. And who can resist new playground equipment? Certainly not my family - we had to try every single thing! It was great fun.