Visiting Ellen

As has already been shared, last Wednesday was a day set on our calendars for quite some time, one we'd really looked forward to since it meant just spending a day being together without a cooking agenda. The thing that made this day special for me was visiting Ellen (aka our adopted American cousin) for the first time.

So, early in the morning six of us drove across the border and met at the Bellingham Amtrak station. 

It was supposed to be seven of us, but our Kathy was too sick to come. 

And since I've mentioned her, I will also say that if Manitoba were not so far,

Char and Betty would have been there too.

As train rides are not the norm for us, you can see that there was a sense of excitement 

about getting on the train and checking it out.

It is a relaxing way to get places and did not seem to take any longer than driving ourselves.

At the Edmonds Station, Ellen stood waiting with her sign . . . just in case we'd miss her.

Goofy girl and so much fun!

She had rented an 8 passenger vehicle to take us about for the day. 

Our first stop was an early lunch at the Queen Mary Tearoom, 

truly an old British experience in decor and very tasty food. 

Kind of funny to go to a tea house and not have the traditional high tea, 

but we all opted for fruit with sandwiches or salads.

After lunch, we spent a couple of hours at the University Village shopping Center, 

browsing through some home goods/decor type stores

 and admiring the beautiful open air walks lined with the prettiest hanging baskets.

After Ellen realized we were all too eager to cut down on shopping time to see her house,

this was the next stop for us . . . and one I enjoyed very much! 

I love homes that have the added character of several renovation stages behind them

 and little displays that speak of making it your home, 

a place where family and friends are  loved and cherished. 

This is what I saw at Ellen's.

Her bedrooms, now empty like most of ours,
hold memories of when they were filled with kids,
 now grown yet welcome back for little retreats again and again.

Her Dear (as she calls him) obliged us all with a photo op

on her porch steps before we headed out to eat again. 

Too soon, our seven thirty train came to take us back.

Following the gorgeous Washington Coastline

we talked about marriage and life,  

most surely entertaining  the quiet passengers stuck in our cabin.

And the sun set on yet another beautiful day 

before we headed back across the border and home.