In and Out

BUMBLING: We have a gorgeous thistle plant in our front yard, and many, many flowers all over this new-to-us place. Likely because of that, we have more bumblebees than we can count. More than I've ever seen in one spot. There are dozens and dozens and dozens at any given time in our yard. 

Above, two are nearly hidden in the thistle. 

PARKED: Yesterday afternoon, our field trip took us to a lovely waterfront park in Renton. I'll let CJ tell you more about it. 

The Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park is a park located near my house. The Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park (referred to from here on as "Coulon Park") is a fifty-seven-acre recreational area with a one-and-a-half-plus-mile-long-trail, two tennis courts, a playground, and a man-made beach with water to swim in. Coulon Park is best known for its swimming area, which is very popular in the Summer.

Gene Coulon, the park's namesake, was once the superintendent for Renton's public parks. Coulon was responsible for recruiting Ron Regis, the current superintendent of Renton's public parks, to the Renton park volunteer service.

Yesterday, I visited Coulon Park. I went to go swimming in its water, located on the shore of Lake Washington. At Coulon Park's swimming area, you can take a swim test, in order to pass a set of buoys. I took the swimming test three different times, and succeeded on the third try. During the second try, I nearly asphyxiated due to a lack of air.

The water at Coulon Park is of varying temperature (from warm to very cold), and the water is great for swimming. I spent around an hour in the swimming area, and enjoyed my visit.

The park has lots to see and do. We visited just part of it yesterday.

There are nice tennis courts ...

and some marshy areas along the waterfront. The ducks, in a row, loved those.

We saw two turtles, too (one of them jumped in the water just before I snapped this shot).  

There's a little peninsula in the park. There, we found wild bunnies foraging. I barely captured one in part of the frame below. 

But wildlife wasn't the only thing to look at. The park is right next to a Boeing plant, so along with boats, we also saw some airplanes!

All in all, it seems like a lovely park, and I'm sure we'll be back there many times. 

SILVER AND GOLD: We continue to work on the 'new' place. One of the first (and easiest) changes we've been making is swapping out some light fixtures.

For many a year/multiple decades, this gold fixture illuminated the dining room.

We swapped the gold out for something silver - a "Sputnik" light, as the style as called.

Complete with dimmable, Edison-style chrome-topped bulbs, we love it!