2014 Begins in My Happy Place...

2014 begins in my Happy Place...

(Photo credit: thisoldheartblog.wordpress.com)

Bonjour 2014 ! Bonne année, les amis !Another year of blogging starts this month...Junior and I were alone during the second half of the Holidays.He had to work on a school project for National History Day. But we took quality breaks to enjoy the cold, sunny weather.This weekend, we drove to my favorite local town, Edmonds, WA. I have written about it before, remember?Edmonds is my Happy Place. I return often, and this friendly locale always cheers me up.This time, the budding photographer and I took a long walk on the bluff, overlooking the Puget Sound.It was a perfect day; the weather sunny and crisp (ok, cold!) Follow us, let's leave downtown and head for the water. That's the WA. Ferry terminal and the mighty Puget Sound you see in the distance...

As you get close to the water, there's a peaceful street. It is lined with pretty bungalows, some quite old.There are sidewalks, where locals walk their dogs.

There are benches, where one can rest; take in the splendid Northwest views; dream or meditate...

Their name was Lamoureux, and they were in love until the end: Perfect!

Everywhere you look, especially on such a glorious day, endless vistas...The Olympic Mountains; the Puget Sound; the Olympic Peninsula and Whidbey Island in the distance...

Young photographer, shooting away (with a film camera, always!)

Let's head down to the beach...Even on such a cold day, we spot a group of divers; exploring the renowned Edmonds Underwater Park, a marine preserve and sanctuary...They are crazy, bless their souls. The Puget Sound must be frigid this time of year!

It is hard to picture the magnificent Edmonds shoreline lined with fourteen saw mills, spewing dark smoke into the sky.But that's the way things were in the late 1900's.Today, mills have been replaced by promeneurs (walkers;) dogs; and the occasional seagull...

It is really too cold. Let's head back into town...What should we do first? Lunch chez Chanterelle, a local favorite?A visit to an art gallery or a boutique?Choices abound. Strolling is always an option.Everyone walks in Edmonds. This ain't suburbia, you know!

Mural...

Yes, people stroll in Edmonds.It's *almost* like in Europe.And talking about Europe, a visit to Edmonds is not complete without...... a stop at my friend Rick Steves' Travel Center. Junior had never been. He was impressed.It was quiet chez Rick on Saturday. Was there a Seahawks game? I have no idea...(best time to do fun stuff in Seattle is during Seahawks games, when everyone else is glued to their TV sets...)