Monday Funday

CHOCO-LOTTA: This morning, we headed to Fremont, a neighborhood just northeast of our place, and to one of the most interesting places in Seattle, the Theo Chocolate factory.

 First step of the tour: Donning a super fashionable hairnet!!!!

Theo Chocolate is unique. They're not just chocolate melters or molders. Every aspect of the chocolate manufacturing used in Theo's products is carefully controlled by them. From far away farms in the chocolate belt to fabricating and wrapping the bars in Fremont, they use rigorous third-party certifications, to ensure their organic, fair-trade certified chocolate is top notch. Their dedication to quality is discernible in the amazing flavor of the chocolate they produce.

This picture of cocoa beans in buckets does not convey that fact very well. ;)

I will have the kids write a synopsis about all they learned today. In the meantime, you'll have to settle for this pretty bad photo of the chocolate making process.  

Their production facility is in a 100+ year old building. In former incarnations, it was HQ for the Seattle Trolley Company, and Redhook brewing's first beer making plant.

REINDEER GAMES:  After the chocolate stop, we headed to Swanson's, a nursery near Crown Hill, and a 'must see' holiday destination for us ever since moving to Seattle.

Two big draws: They have a pair of live reindeer!

This one looked like it  a) Was intent on removing the rest of the velvet from its antlers or b) Really, REALLY doesn't like Christmas trees.

 We also had to see if the kids could squeeze into the ol' red sleigh for a photo opp!

 As you can see, they've been red sleigh riders for a few years running, now!  (The photo below being heavily Photoshopped.)

There's always a miniature train set up at Swanson's. This year's display had a Rankin-Bass theme. Hooray!

SOUPER: We continue to prepare for the fundraiser we're helping organize. It's going down (or up, hopefully) on Thursday. People can take home an original work of art (a pottery bowl) andenjoy a bowl of soup for a donation to help the homeless and hungry. We've been cooking up a storm, testing soup recipes. Annabelle chose a lasagna soup to try.

 It was a good choice. :)