Blue Heron at Green Lake

Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron on the hunt

Intense concentration

I saw this great blue heron on the shore of Green Lake.  It was so focussed, so intent, that it ignored me completely.

“I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contained,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth. . .
     — Walt Whitman, from “Song of Myself”

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.”
     — John Boswell

Yesterday’s sunrise was a welcome rush of golden, if fleeting, moments.

Enjoying the sunrise at Green Lake

Empty diving platform in winter

Yesterday's sunrise

Not just a song by the fictional band Low Shoulder anymore! I’ve co-opted the title for the post because I was actually outside in “nature” today. More on that later.

Yesterday, after the hotdog, there was a lot of Wii playing. And I mean A LOT. I’m actually a little sore today. Which is a good thing, I suppose. The excessive Wii playing brought on the need for more food. We didn’t feel like cooking, so we hit up Panera for sandwiches. I got half a chicken salad sandwich and a cup of the black bean soup (which I order every time I go – the sandwich may vary, the soup never does). It was fantastic! It’s been too long, dear friend Panera!

I got a drink with a friend and saw a movie after that, and because I’ve been staying up late, I’m sad to say that I had to make a third meal an hour after I got home. Microwave french bread pizza that I heavily doctored with garlic, oregano, cayenne, ROSEMARY, olives and mushrooms. After cooking, topped with grated parmesan. It was unhealthily satisfying!

Today, ugh. Complaints of a female nature. I fully blame SS for this condition. You and your damn estrogen. Although, you did cook me two meals today, so that along with the satisfaction that you are also suffering (loves you!) makes me feel extremely vindictive *evil smile* as well as a little better.

As I said, all I had to do today was show up and I got free food! The half sandwich I had at Panera yesterday was so tasty that it inspired SS to make a version of it. Instead of bread, we piled the chicken salad into “lettuce cups” (read: pieces of iceburg lettuce), and paired it with chips and salsa. It was pretty brilliant once we added some more mustard. I really do love plain yellow mustard. You’ve all heard me go off on Jimmy John’s for not actually having it as a condiment (come on…), but I don’t know if I’ve ever explained just how much I LOVE mustard. As much as rosemary. I used to literally make mustard sandwiches as a kid. And they were SPECTACULAR! I digress.

After a lovely walk around Green Lake (wasn’t it a gorgeous day out?!), SS got down to making dessert while I sketched some stuff. Due to our delicate conditions, brownies (with milk! Milk’s healthy…) were the first order of the evening. Once those were wolfed down, SS started on a more sensible dinner. Greek chicken with tzatziki, asparagus with balsamic, mashed sweet potatoes – w00t! That’s all I can even say about it. w00t. For serious.

If I had some moneys, I’d totally hire SS as my personal chef so we could make inappropriate jokes and eat amazing stuff all day every day. Oh, and I’d hire the both of us a personal trainer. For the brownies. Oh, the brownies.

I’m Tracy, the resident movie maven of the Belles. I’ll be dropping a lot of movie references in my posts (please tell me you just got the Emerald City reference), so it’s best to get used to it right off the bat! Much of what I’ll be covering in my Seattle section will relate to venues in which to experience theatrics or cinematic adventures.

I was lucky enough to see some great movies over the holiday break, but I’m glad I’m back because my hometown doesn’t have Avatar in 3-D IMAX! I expect to see a lot more movies in the upcoming weeks, as well, but Avatar again especially.

One of my favorite things to do in Seattle, outside of film, is participating in Jillian’s trivia with my good friends. We aren’t a particularly stellar team, but I just love having a day of the week where I have drinks with friends and make some spectacularly awful (or genius, depending on who you ask) guesses.

I also love to hit up bookstores for random events like midnight release parties (the Barnes & Noble in University Village does them up right, and they have a slamming film score section), readings and signings. Last year, I got to meet my favorite blogger, Heather Armstrong, at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park!

I don’t have huge plans for my birthday (which is in February), but I’m going to be doing some research on cool events, and will be certain to cover it. I’m really excited for Emerald City ComiCon this year, mainly because I’ve never been. I always get pumped for SIFF, and will be more involved than ever. I’ll be volunteering for events that raise money for SIFF like the Hop Scotch Beer Festival and Oktoberfest throughout the year.

I’ll be trying out kayaking this summer, but will probably sign up at Green Lake, because I’m far too novice for the open ocean. I used to take ballet, and want to branch out a little, so I’m trying to convince a friend to take a jazz or contemporary class with me.

I’m a whole lot of random, but the largest chunk by far is film, so I’ll be playing to my strength. How do you spell Fired Up?  F! U! Everything’s shiny. Don’t worry, this isn’t Lord of the Rings. I’m not going to end this 17 times. (Quote count? 4.)

Location: Seattle 

Focus: “A blog for Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood”; original content posted by site founders; links to other sources

Started: May 2009

Staff: Founded by co-editors and Green Lake residents Amy Duncan and Madeleine Carlson. Ms. Duncan, who also is the advertising director, is a former Seattle Public Library librarian, Ms. Carlson used to work for CNET — she’s the site architect.

Funding: advertising supported

Site: mygreenlake.com

From About:

We are two Green Lake residents who felt the need for a neighborhood blog. All the other cool neighborhoods have ‘em so why shouldn’t we? Come here to read about and comment on anything and everything having to do with the Green Lake neighborhood (and sometimes adjacent areas) in Seattle, Washington.

From Ms. Duncan:

My Green Lake is a source of news, observation, community building, and event information for residents, business owners, and all others with an interest in the Seattle neighborhood of Green Lake and its much-loved park.  Original content posted by site founders; additional neighborhood information quoted from other neighborhood blogs, SeattlePI.com, SeattleTimes.com, and other local sources.

Sample posts: “A look back at 2009 in Green Lake”; “Organizer of Green Lake Pumpkin Run charged with indecent exposure in relation to West Seattle event”; “Green Lake Community Center to close ten Fridays for Parks and Recreation furlough days”

Tree skeleton, Volunteer Park

Bare trees along the path at Green Lake

Winter reflections, Green Lake

“Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked against the sky,
How beautiful it is?
All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness
There is a poem, there is a song.
Every leaf is gone and it is waiting for the spring.
When the spring comes, it again fills the tree with
The music of many leaves,
Which in due season fall and are blown away.
And this is the way of life.”
     — Krishnamurti

Three… Maybe Seven Pints UBH

We jumped across the street to Zak-n-Zoe to grab some dog treats for Samba and Link, who practically towed us up the hill earlier and waited so patiently for us outside of the Alehouse. Zak-n-Zoe is owned by two fellow beer lovers Nadja and Cary and it was hard leaving them behind, but I guess some of us have to work — even on sunny Sundays. As we were leaving, we were joined by Tom’s wife Meaghan. What? Are you kidding? We’ve got ourselves a PACK! (I began to have visions of UBHs future where as we walk, more and more people join, sort of like that weird old Coca-Cola ad or something.)

At Über, we checked with the vice maestro (Gabby?) and she let us bring the dogs in. We sat in our usual spot on the couch and layed into our sandwiches. I was unable to resist the wookie-approved Breakaway IPA — probably my favorite IPA of all — way to go Skip! Mandy introduced Meaghan to the Duchesse de Bourgogne, got a Scaldis for Tom, and treated herself to a glass of Cascade Blackberry Nightfall. We talked and drank and took some cute photos of the dogs playing.

We managed to get there just as it was getting dark and it was comforting to know that the car wasn’t more than about 30 yards away over by the PCC across the street where we started almost five hours ago.

We were only able to fit in 3 of the 7 places this time, but hopefully — no, definitely — we’ll do this one again sometime in the spring or summer when the days are longer.

I’m going to Red Mill now.

Baxter Creek, a new development located above the Rainbow lands, overlooks Green Lake and offers staggering views of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.  Let me pause a moment re: the view: I have lived in Whistler for 16 years and hiked and biked all over it, when I saw the vista offered at Rainbow when I toured it last Summer, I was absolutely blown away – you just have to see it to believe it.

Baxter Creek will offer homesites just over 6700 sq ft to 22,000 sq ft lot sizes so the home buildables will be 2358 sq ft to 3498 sqft.  The first phase will be 23 homesites, with a total of 48 homesites with 41 townhomes to be built within the two phases.

At the presentation by the the developer they mentioned that they are also looking at having a communal outdoor space with swimming pool, hot tubs and firepits for exclusive community gatherings.  The view from Baxter Creek will be spectacular and it looks as though the development will be another first-class build and positioned as an exclusive area.  Any questions, call me, Marion Anderson at 604 938 3885.  Check out Baxter Creek development information at www.baxtercreek.com

The frost on my car window looked like falling stars.

Morning reflections in a neighbor's outdoor ornament

The last maple tree with leaves -- like a dying flame

Slippery footing on this icy log

We’ve been having a string of days with temperatures below freezing.  Here are a few photographs from my frosty morning at Green Lake taken shortly after sunrise at 7:47 a.m.

The park maintenance man

approaches the locked restroom,

carrying a blowtorch.

Mature Amanita Muscaria

The underside resembles a ballerina's tutu

Gorgeous gills

Amanita muscaria

I found this large mushroom at the base of a birch tree near Green Lake.  It had already fallen over (or been knocked over), so the stem was broken.  I brought it home to photograph.  It is really quite exquisite.

Botanical Plate Amanita Muscaria

I found this botanical print at http://www.meemelink.com/prints%20pages/prints.Fungi.htm.

First full moon this month -- December 2nd

There will be two full moons this December, on the 2nd and 31st.  (The second full moon in a month is called a “blue moon.”) Yesterday morning I finished my run around Green Lake just as the moon was about to set, so I ran back to the house for my camera.  I wanted to take advantage of the clear skies to photograph the moonset over Phinney Ridge and the lake.  It was a wonderful morning to witness the moon setting just as the morning sun was brightening the day.

Waiting for the moon to set and the sun to rise

The full moon descending in the western skies

Moonset over Phinney Ridge

Full moon touches the horizon

A late November morning at Green Lake

Rosy pink dawn at Green Lake

“Live each season as it passes.”
     — Henry David Thoreau

Another month has passed, and soon autumn will dissolve into winter. The days are so short.  Sometimes you have to get up early to experience the best light before the thick gray clouds take over the day.  This is late fall in Seattle.

Green Lake Playhouse from across the lake. This is a really small theatre that is a fun venue to watch plays.

Duck napping on Green Lake in North Seattle.

Who’s It for?

First time buyers and previous homeowners.

What questions will be answered?

1. Pros and Cons of Owning versus Renting

2. What is the overall process in buying a home?

3. How do mortgage lenders qualify you in this new lending environment?

4. How does the NEW First Time and Repeat Buyer Tax Credit work and do I qualify?

5. How to position yourself so you can buy a home, even if now is not the right time for you.

6. How to improve your credit standing.

7. How to choose both a Real Estate Professional and a Mortgage Planner.

8. Buying foreclosures or short-sales. Are they worth it?

9. What mortgage programs are available with low down payment requirements?

Much, much more…

Will I be I be sold to in this workshop?

Absolutely not. If you want to consult with us, that is great. If you want to take the information and use it somewhere else, that is fine too.

I can’t make this date and time. Are there other workshops?

Yes. We have two-three locations. Please call Robert at 206.919.1755 or Chik at 425.771.2095 for alternative dates, times and locations.

www.mynewdigs.org

Background:  Signs have cropped up around the Tangletown neighborhood (a/k/a the delightful intersection of Green Lake and Wallingford, USA) that indicate visitors are being watched and their license plate numbers are being recorded.  They are homemade in the best possible sense of the word.  And they are posted by neighbors who have had it with the crime in this neighborhood.  The signs, as well as a very interesting article and follow-up article, not to mention a very respectful and dynamic conversation, are posted at Wallyhood.org.

I know.  You are busy.  You want me to summarize.  Sheesh.

The neighbors have noticed a disturbing increase in drug deals in the 5000 and subsequent blocks of Wallingford Ave. N., along with the surrounding neighborhoods.  Open and obvious deals.  They have contacted SPD, who can’t do much unless the miscreants are caught in the act.  By the SPD. 

As a resident of said neighborhood-ish area and a general big mouth, I would like to add my voice and address some of the concerns that have been raised by the posting of the signs and the recording of license numbers.  I will try to do so in a  loving and tender way, but please remember that I am a bitch by both nurture and nature.  Ok?

First, it is simply not illegal for my neighbors to keep an eye on their ‘hood or record license numbers or other identifying information.  It is not unconstitutional.  It is private action taken by private citizens from their private property. Of course, the SPD must be very careful with information gained by such measures, which is why they won’t take any action without catching the miscreants in the act.  Furthermore, I know of no Constitutional provision that protects your privacy while you are engaged in illegal activity.  No, not even in your house (see, e.g., Bowers v. Hardwick, overruled by Lawrence v. Texas).

Second, if my neighbors were just getting worked up about a few unfamiliar cars in the neighborhood, I’d probably tell them to get a hobby–one that does not involve getting all up in other peeps’ bidness.  But, lest you forget, the paranoia is not without reason.  Do you remember or know anything about the following?

• A high-profile home invasion and rape in the neighborhood;
• A recent armed home invasion in the neighborhood;
• Muggings!  Muggings! in the neighborhood; not to mention
• Car prowls.  And more car prowls.  IN THE FREAKIN’ NEIGHBORHOOD!

Third, assuming that the drug activity is real and not imagined (and trust me, it is real), no one has the right to engage in illegal activity in any place at any time.  I reject the notion that this neighborhood and its residents are “NIMBY” types who are simply forcing the problem to move elsewhere.  The activity (along with all of the other crimes mentioned above) are not permitted anywhere, and we should all be vigilent, no matter where we are, and actively discourage such behavior wherever we find it.  The signs accomplish that objective just by their presence around the neighborhood.  How do I know?  Because my fellow neighbors are nervous about parking in their own neighborhood because of the signs, so I can only imagine that non-residents, particularly non-resident criminals, are also nervous.

Fourth, maybe you don’t agree that drug possession or dealing should be criminalized.  And maybe I don’t either.  Irrelevant.  It is currently illegal, it begets further illegality, and no one should have to suffer it gladly or otherwise.  Decriminalization, right or wrong, is an entirely different subject and cause.  Until that issue is resolved (do NOT hold your breath), all citizens have the right to expect compliance with and enforcement of the law.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my “friend” from the “suburbs” just pulled up outside, and I need to go “talk” to him for a minute or two.

Too soon to make jokes?  Ooops.  My bad.  Sorry.

Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to Part 1 of the Green Lake User’s Guide.  I would like to first introduce you to Green Lake’s outside loop. 

Ms. Outside Path

Ms. Outside Loop is a running and walking path.  She is a stunning path, even though made of dirt and gravel.  She is barely 4 feet wide, but she is 3.2 glorious miles long.  She is a beauty when the sun shines, but she’s an unbelievable mess when it rains.  Think Tammy Faye Baker/Messner (rest her sole).  She winds her way along the outer perimeter of Green Lake Park, through groves of trees, along A-roaring Ave. (also known as Aurora Ave. and Highway 99), past the bathhouse (no, not that kind of bath house mom), through Green Lake City Center (also known as malfunction junction), past grandma and grandpa, around the Par 3 golf course, and back to the rowing center.

In the introduction to this, the definitive guide to using Green Lake Park, I told you that I am a runner.  An old runner by Olympic Games standards.  Just ask my tendons and joints.  As a result, Ms. Outside Path is my mistress.  I love her.  She is gentle on me in a way that her sister, Ms. Inside Path (aka Ms. Pounding Pavement), is not.  Not to mention, she has a lot less riffraff.

And by riffraff, I probably mean you.  Let’s take you one by one, and call you out for your inconsiderate, crazy, spastic behavior.

Single walkers/runners:  Listen, Henry David Thoreau.  This isn’t Walden Pond, and YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON AT GREEN LAKE.  Welcome to city living, where we have to share.  For chrissakes, walk in a straight line.  That way, I can pass you without bracing for impact.  Stay to one side of the path.  In fact, let’s obey road rules.  And by road rules, I mean American road rules.  Keep to the right when you see anyone coming at you.  I don’t care if you are afraid that a car is going to leap over the curb and turn you into “path kill” (in which case, please up your Prozac and move you and your OCD to Ms. Inside Path).  And would someone please tell me I have nice legs or whistle at me when I pass?  Do you think I’m out here running for my health?  Uh, wait . . . .

Group runners/walkers:  God dammit.  Does this look like Hands Across America to you?  Listen to me hard: No group of twos, threes, fours or dozens has the right to stretch across the paths at Green Lake when someone is coming toward you or approaching from behind.  Especially on Ms. Outside Path, where two is a crowd and three is you picking yourself up off the ground after I run over your ass.  SINGLE FILE BITCHES!  I don’t care if you are a “team in training.”  And if you are, then someone oughta train you to stop being a douchebag.  Scoot the fuck over.  If you insist on Hands Across America and you are moving at a slower pace than I am (and you are, trust me), it is far safer for you to step into the grass at your pace than it is for me.  Uneven surfaces are the runner’s broken ankle.  And do not look at me like that, because I will shoulder-check you, Ms. Real Housewife of Seattle.

Walkers of Dogs:  I run with my dog.  I use a leash that is worn like a belt with a 3-foot lead.  He is a good boy, and he has a job to do:  to motivate me to get away from this computer, to keep me company on my run, and to keep me calm so I don’t go postal and taser you and your stupid mutt.  We are not running because we are prey.  (Oh no.  I am definitely predator.  Just ask any of my boyfriends. wink wink)  So, we don’t think it is cute when your dog growls at us, barks at us, or pretends to chase us.  Especially when you are “walking” your dog on a 100-yard lead. 

I love dogs.  My dogs.  Yours are footballs.  On the 5-yard line. After I’ve just scored a touchdown and tied the game with 3 seconds left in the 4th quarter.  AND THE CROWD GOES WILD!!!

Yuppy Assualt Vehicles (“Y.A.V.”):  Great.  You bred.  And now you, your spawn, and your Y.A.V. have found your way to Green Lake.  Your Y.A.V. is special because it is named BOB and  has big wheels and “outdoor tread.”  You’ve been stuck in the house as pregnant as an elephant or as mammorific as a dairy cow for the past year and today, by god, the world owes you.  If the world gets in your way, well then the world is going to have Y.A.V. tread marks on its face.  And you are not alone, because you have joined a parenting group.  And you and your fellow post-partums are going to storm Green Lake, and you don’t give any more of a shit than is in that brat’s diaper about anyone else at Green Lake.  You have montessoris to discuss.  You have husbands to blame.  YOU HAVE BABY WEIGHT TO LOSE!

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love my mother and I love babies.  But baby-mama, move the fuck over.  Or strap that brat to your back (Baby Bjorn, anyone?) and walk.  Single file (see above).  Better yet, get thee to the Bravern.  Take your husband’s credit card.  After all, that sonovabitch did this to you.

Cyclists:  You know who I am talking about.  You’ve seen them on Ms. Outside Path, and you have made fun of them.  These are the people who are WAY TOO RUGGED to ride on Ms. Inside Path.  These people are “mountain bikers,” and they need terrain.  They are riding a 15-speed Huffy from Wal-Mart in a pair of board shorts, Teva’s, and a T-shirt that says, “It’s not a bald spot.  It’s a solar panel for my sex machine.“   They need to get in a workout before the tailgate party at U-DUB, dude, and you are nothing more than a speed bump with eyes, so get off the path for the fat man whose seat is too low.

Look, “cyclist.”  Give us a fuckin’ break.  In 15 minutes, some hot EMT is going pull up in an ambulance, cut that stupid t-shirt off of you, put a pair of paddles on your manboobs, and yell, “CLEAR!”  Green Lake isn’t a mountain.  Quit putting our lives and yours at risk.  

And on that happy note, we close this chapter of the Green Lake User’s Guide.  The moral of the story?  Share and share alike, or, as I like to say, “Quit hogging the path, jackass.”

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Turtles at Green Lake. A few years ago I recall seeing maybe 5 or 6 turtles residing on the lake. This day I counted over a dozen, including many youngsters. Must be a good habitat for the turtles to live and even thrive in. Very exciting.

Green Lake has a really nice path for running/walking around the perimeter of the lake. The distance around the lake on this path is just under 3 miles.

Colorful duck cruising along the shore at Green Lake.

Test posting to see if things are working. Sorry about repeating the image. I uploaded this image after resizing it in GIMP, a freeware photo editing software package.

Lily Pads on Green Lake.

One of five designs to choose from.

Join us on Sunday, Oct 11th for a block party on Stone Ave! This is a “stepping out” neighborhood party for the Street Painting project on Stone Ave N, between 80th & 81st.  Come and help choose our street painting design! Meet neighbors and friends of Green Lake!  Have even more fun with coffee and donuts while playing with chalk in the street.  Check out more about the street painting project here, but come on Sunday and join the fun!