the dome, a tea room, and a bay

We got a dusting of snow yesterday and today the sky is blue but the chill remains.  It's been a cleaning, organizing, restoring order sort of day.  And that's fine by me.

Wrestling season is over around here.  It was quite a season!  We wrapped it up at the State tournament in the Tacoma Dome over the weekend.  Blake didn't do what he had hoped and was sorely disappointed.  There is nothing, NOTHING, I can say that will make it feel better.  Not this.  And it breaks my heart.  But he'll be ok.  Every loss is a lesson.

During a break in the action at the Tacoma Dome we went for a little walk in search of coffee.  What we found was a tea parlor, with real tablecloths and napkins.  We felt so out of place but the owner made us feel welcome.  We each ordered a dessert (cheesecake for him, apple pie for me) and cups of coffee (with sugar cubes and real cream in a tiny pitcher!).

We aren't fancy people.  I don't even own a tablecloth!  So this was something pretty special.

The bathrooms were gorgeous.  You know I'm taking pictures of fancy bathrooms!

 

 

 

If you ever find yourself in Tacoma at Freighthouse Square be sure to stop in at Olive Branch Tea Room.  You'll probably get a hug from the nice lady in the fancy jacket.  And no, this isn't an advertisement.

 

 

Last week I ventured out to the beach.  All alone I walked on the rocky shore of a fairly calm bay.  The water lapped in gentle waves, pulling small pebbles out with it.  I had been struggling with some personal things (had been, have been, continue to) but there on that beach I breathed deeply and just let everything be.  It is when you walk along a shore or in a forest or anywhere in nature that you come to peace with the fact that you don't have control and you don't really need it afterall.  Just be with what is.

 

I had taken my camera with me and there in a state of observation I just enjoyed seeing.  Here are a few pictures from that day, unedited.  You can find more pictures on my website (link below).

 

From the dock in Bowman Bay:

 

 

 

The pattern and texture here was fascinating:

 

 

 

Here, a large fallen tree balanced perfectly on a gnarled driftwood:

 

 

 

I really like photographing windows:

 

 

 

Bowman Bay:

 

 

 

You can find more pictures in my photography journal over on my business website.  Stick around and explore the site.  Let me know what you think!