Wild Flowers & Cityscapes

Usually wild flowers around here bloom in May & June...since we've had such a wet spring, they held off blooming until July this year.  The best field I've seen around Auburn just happens to be on the side of a freeway entrance.  My loving husband was kind enough to stop and let me climb out and get a few shots, even though I'm sure we both looked incredibly silly trekking around Auburn Way with camera in hand near the entrance to Hwy 18.

"Red roadside wild flower if I'd only picked you, took you home set you on the counter..." 
Blake Shelton "She Wouldn't Be Gone"


This song gets stuck in my head every time I drive by this patch!

Tonight, while Rico was off playing Disc Golf  (think golf, with weighted frisbees and free courses!), I drove up to Beacon Hill to practice some night photography.  I found Dr. Jose Rizel Park on North Beacon Hill.  It wasn't crowded at all, though it was kind of in a shady neighborhood (I accidentally stumbled onto a homeless camp while looking for a good spot to set up my camera - no one was home, luckily).

 My prime location :)

 Qwest Field with the green arches

The above photo is my official entry in the Landscape photo challenge over at:

If you look closely, you can see the light trails of 2 airplanes in the sky.   I also really like the starburst on the lights (no editing to create those!).

 ISO 100, 25sec, f/16

ISO 100, 25sec, f/16

Night out in Seattle

We had an absolutely decadent dinner at Ipanema's Brazillian Grill tonight. This was our first time ever there and it was awesome and drool-worthy! There are two major parts, the sides and the meat. The side/salad bar had an abundant assortment of fresh veggies, breads and salads served family style (it's designed so a vegetarian could visit and enjoy dinner as well) . Once we sat down with our salad plates, along came the parade of meats. I tried 7 different steak types all by myself! They come around with huge hunks of meat kabob style and slice off pieces for you to try. ::see below picture::

I've never had Filet Mignon before, but oh my heavens, it was good. I do believe it has surpassed my love of Prime Rib and Sirloin! ::wipes chin:: It's hard to believe but when I was a kid, I would rather eat hot dogs than steak. Oh the shame of it!
Oh, I tried buffalo for the first time too - it's pretty tasty! If any of my family ever visits the West Coast, we'll definitely have to take them there (hint, hint!!). After dinner, we drove to the Space Needle to take some pictures.
After the Space Needle, Rico surprised me by driving over to Alki Beach. I've never been to Alki at night but it's got a gorgeous view of the city. I don't have the patience for night photography, so most of these shots are Rico's doing.
You can see the cruise ships in port in the below pictures:Qwest Field is the blue arches on the right of the pictureSo far, this has been the best birthday week ever! Now, I have to come up with something equally as awesome for Rico's 30th in January!!! Any ideas?!