NURSERY STROLL: This holiday season is not normal. Not by a long shot. None of the fun seasonal things we've done in past years are an option. There's no merry-go-round at Westlake Park. No Space Needle Santa. Winterfest at Seattle Center is virtual. No clam lights at Coulon Park in Renton, no Santa at Chuck's Hop Shop. There's no Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmount Hotel and no amazing gingerbread display downtown. Sure, some of these events are being held virtually, but there's only so much joy of sitting at home looking at websites instead of going out and actually experiencing these fun attractions. The no that might make me the most sad is that we won't be getting our annual photo in the red sleigh at Swanson's Nursery. The kids have been doing that for 12+ years now. However, Swanson's was still open, and available for visiting via a ticketed appointment. So, Friday afternoon, we headed to the northwest tip of Ballard/Crown Hill and paid a favorite spot a visit.
We were so glad we went. First of all, the nursery was doing a terrific job regarding pandemic safety. There was hardly anybody there, which was great. The grounds were decorated so nicely, with lots of lights, baubles and bulbs.
The plants, as always, are just so gorgeous. I wanted to take almost every last one home with me. We came home with a cool lemon-lime tropical plant that I've already put in a planter out front of the house.
There was no red sled, but the expansive train set up was there (outside instead of inside this year).
The cute kids' playhouse was decorated for the season.
I thought the use of tubular pool noodles to make lollipops was ingenious.
We appreciated the greenery, including camellias in many colors.
It felt good to get out of the house and stroll amidst some beautiful grounds. It helped that it was a beautiful day, sunny and not too cold.
SILVER BOUGHS: Our trip to the pretty nursery helped get us into the spirit to finally start decking our own halls.
First up: The vintage Pom Pom aluminum tree!
Also on the 'to do' list for CJ and Annabelle was completing some of the items on their Elf agenda. We received the kits we ordered from the city of Renton. They are actually pretty cute and clever.
There are crafts to make, physical challenges to tackle, and, of course, some sharing and caring things to complete.
Here's CJ completing the jumping jacks requirement. It was pretty funny watching Annabelle and him crawl on the floor and tiptoe, as well. The kit is clearly intended for kids who are a little bit - or a lot bit - younger. :)
If they are successful, they will receive an Elf School Diploma next weekend during a drive through ceremony. Stay tuned. :)
SHARING AND CARING: Speaking of the spirit of the season, CJ and Christian have been busy sharing info about a couple of nonprofits near and dear to our hearts, Teen Feed and Birthday Dreams.
Christian was featured in an in-house Seattle Public Utilities' story. In the article, he talked about our involvement in a monthly Teen Feed service.
And last week, CJ put the finishing touches on a 5-minute video about his volunteering. It was made as part of an application for a scholarship, but I think it's a good stand alone piece, showcasing some community service work he's been involved with for years now. Here's a link to the story: https://youtu.be/7i9zM142b5E
Embedding videos doesn't seem to work any more in Blogger, but I'll give it a try in case that bug has been fixed.
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