Bleak week? The University District Farmers Market is Saturday mornings 9am to 2pm on “the Ave” (University Way) just north of 50th. It is incredibly open year round and focused solely on what’s being grown by area farmers. This market creates a much appreciated dash of wholesomeness and community smack dab in our city. It’s the hub of our weekly routine and a bright spot for launching the weekend. The normally grimy street becomes sacred and purified and we eat our fallen goods right off the ground. It’s “hello” to everyone and different musicians up and down the block. We often meet a neighbor or two and might even brunch at Tandoozy the Tandoori oven Indian food stand. Now the weather has begun to turn and in light of current events, some spirits are tempted to go with it. And then, behold, even on the darkest rainiest coldest day, your favorite farmers are there with fresh bread, flowers, radishes, salamis, apples, and smiles. Lake knows how to make it a perfect day! After he charmed the pants off everyone there, he chose himself some flowers to buy, and carried them home by Lake self.

Lake has songs for every occasion. The entertaining the kid-friendly late 20’s crowd at the table next to ours at Tsukushinbo Song (Wheels on the Bus), The getting ready for bed song, (Row Row Row your Boat), and the everything in between song, (ABCCCC Song). Last night his ABC song surprised me with how flushed in it had become seemingly overnight… ABCDEFGGGG,LMNOP,QRS,wxyz!

Lake even has his own composition of humming “Doot doot” song, a good catch all for all other song-worthy occasions: bus or car riding, dinner-prepping-kitchen-dancing, or waking up to greet the day. When was the last time you or I woke up singing? So it’s a perfect day, and it’s just starting! I’m glad I get to spend it with you… in full song!

Lake had an appointment with Tracy Wayman, DDS. Dr. Wayman is a lovely family dentist situated at 4814 Interlake Ave N who rides his bicycle to work , practices national and international philanthropic dentistry, and has the gentlest touch and the brightest demeanor. His philosophy is naturopathic with regard to preventive care, education and a collaborative approach. The idea is for Lake, (and others) to have a lifelong positive experience with dentistry. He did great and got the standard homework: Floss between those back teeth!

Lake has come a long way! Now, I reminisce about our last First Dentist Visit… at two months old! He accompanied me to my visit at that time mainly because we were inseparable but also because the dentist office has always encouraged early exposure to the dentist office and chair to normalize and create a positive memory.

When we asked Lake how his experience with the dentist was he answered his standard reply: “purty go-ood.” A perfect day, then! I’m glad I spent it with you, Dr. Tracy Wayman and team!

Blog du chat. Un chat de la Persians est très très furbaby. Le chat est petit, grey and old, mais so so beau-ti-ful. Meow miue little chit-chat!

Voila! “Persian Cat. He is Persian Cat. Missy Persian Cat,” Lake proclaimed çe soir.

We made it a family day for a Sunday Drive to Bellingham and environs. We spent a beautiful day soaking in the autumn sun and bucolic views of Marietta, Everson, and Sudden Valley. Visiting with dear friends (their chickens!) and some of the nicest farmers around. I try to go every year with Katie and her girls to the organic heirloom edible squash farm at 6992 Nooksak Road in Everson. It’s a hidden gem for sure! Lake had a blast this year petting the kitty and the dog, admiring the shaggy steer, choosing a complimentary pumpkin (“that’s Lake’s pumpkin) and getting little red wagon rides from the Farmer Compton.

Lake said, “so many trees” as we walked through the forest of Whatcom County…

After a lovely and contemplative walk around Geneva Lake of the Stimpton Family Nature Preserve, Lake investigates the flora with botanist Katie. As dusk was falling we said goodbye to our friends and a quick hello to our cousins who live nearby. As we were having tea and catching up on life we noticed the coaster on the coffee table: I Heart ❤️ B’ham. It’s true. As my undergrad alma mater and host to lovely people and scenery, I do “heart B’ham!” After today we may have a few additional devotees!

The second half of the week for Mami heralds commuting to Harborview Medical Center on First Hill by bicycle and the UW Health Sciences’ shuttle. On Fridays Lake and Luisa make the commute too by shuttle at midday. We celebrate Aloha Friday (“hello la Friday” per Lake) all together with my coworker and friend Clarence, aka “Uncle Clarence.”

It’s fun for Lake to walk to the shuttle and ride the bus to “going to see Mama” like a big person. Karla is one of the extremely nice shuttle bus drivers who is often picking Lake and Luisa up. This morning she complimented me on the progress of Lake’s language skills. He purportedly tells Karla he is “riding the bus with his seatbelt for safety” as Luisa dutifully buckles him in. She tells me he is talking in full sentences and it takes him a while to get it all out, as he deliberately enunciates each and every word.

A perfect Aloha Friday, I’m glad I spent it with you keeping up our traditions. Hello la! Aloha!

Lake, Luisa and I were walking home from dinner after dusk. Michael was working late at the hospital. Lake was riding up in my shoulders. Such beautiful clear evenings! Lake spotted a big bright celestial body in the night sky to the south. He got very excited and burst into song. He really exalted:

Twinkle twinkle little Dar

How I wonder what you are.

Up a up a world so far

Like a diamond in the sky…

A perfect day! I’m glad I spent it with you!

It is clearly the harvest season and every one is pumpkin patching for photo ops, sun, fun or food. We were generously invited to visit with Karen and Mark Rupert of Newfoundland Club of Seattle fame. Not only do they have four gigantic dogs but also four gigantic apple trees and an invitation to pick to our hearts’ content. I couldn’t have been happier! Unlimited pounds of big dog love and apples! Lake was slowly warming and thrilling to the big dog prospects. As we all munched on our fresh picked apples during the drive home Lake said, “want a Newfoundland at our home.” That’s a strong endorsement! We hope to share more Newfoundland adventures with you again soon!

A perfect day… I’m glad I spent it with you! (Shown above: Michael and Langley!)

We’re celebrating three years of marriage today! Three full years with many changes and adventures. We manifested Lake and that is the true miracle. We are continuing to learn, grow, forgive, and love one another. Seattle keeps changing and so do we. The restaurant where we had our first date, Rain Sushi, is no longer in existence. It later morphed into a Japanese restaurant which we occasioned to frequent for nostalgia. We thought of going there tonight, however it’s been newly minted Kokkaku, a steak house, and with, Michael vegetarian, it wasn’t the right fit. So we went out to the lovely Nishino in Madison Park while the good angel Tom Yuoderian and Lake played at home. Feeling blessed with a perfect anniversary day! I’m glad to spending life with you my dear husband and friend, Michael! And Lake is the all-out bonus!

Bedtimes with Lake have generally always been special bonding time together between us. First with cuddling and breastfeeding, and then beginning last month (September 6th officially marked end of breastfeeding era) exclusively with cuddling and lullabies. He would invariably request Baby Boats. I grew up on Baby Boats and it turned out Baby Boats is most certainly his jam, too. Sometimes he would sprinkle in requests for: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Dar,” but it was often a red herring for his true special request of the one and only Baby Boats.

This weekend we’ve had a complete upset. His new favorite is the ABC song! Newly minted “Lake Bake” is coming in a close second. Lake Bake is a song I made up Friday night. It is set to the tune of Frère Jacques and goes like this:

I love my Lake Bake

I love my Lake Bake

Yes, I do.

Yes, I do.

I love Lake Bake so very much.

I love Lake Bake so very much

Ding Ding Dong

Ding Ding Dong

He loves it. Tonight as he went to sleep I heard strains of him singing “…Din Din Dong.” I had just completed singing five ABCs, and about 12 rounds of Lake Bake, tucked him in and then left the room (…with “Big Door Open,” meaning the door is open wide, versus “Door Closed” or “Little Door Open”, ie open just a crack).

Also between Friday evening and Sunday evening his grasp of the alphabet expanded notably. Saturday was ABCC CCC. Today was nearly doubling his vocabulary at ABCDE8. He’s running strong!

Lake is pictured here running Saturday evening at Discovery Park (Christened “Big Daddy Tom Park”).