Michigan State vs Univ of Washington tailgate with RevelXP

Sometimes things turn out even better than you could have hoped for. I put out a lot of hype calls, texts and emails trying to bring my friends together for a tailgate on campus at Michigan State for the MSU vs University of Washington Huskys game 9-16-23. Our Husky friends Matt & Sally had taken us to the football game when MSU played Univ of Washington in Seattle last year, so this was part of the master plan. Return to Michigan State and revel in the fun of being on campus again, but how? 

It was all a dream until I found out that REVELxp was a company that was founded on making tailgating easy. They handled all of the logistics that were hard for me as someone coming from out of state. They provide the reserved space; They put up the tent and fill it with a couple big tables and folding chairs and a few coolers full of ice. They hung a banner (they printed) so my friends could find me. They met us at a designated drop off spot and unloaded our car into a golf car and drop our load to our designated tent. (Am I dreaming?) At the end of the game, they make it all go away. Incredible. It was just what we needed and I can't say enough positive things. 

These 2 great friends of mine Tricia (and Tim) and Alicia (and Alan!) also went above & beyond to make our tailgate a success. They brought a huge bar of mixed drinks, a grill for hot dogs and tons of tailgating supplies. Things I never would have been able to come up with flying in. They are the best and I think they had as much fun as I did. What a great reunion. Tons of our friends from Junior League dinner club came with bells on.

Lots of my friends brought food or drinks to make the party great. Btw, REVELxp also offers catering. It's expensive, but it does allow you to guarantee that you'll have some bites for your guests. We had sandwich platters and chicken wings to fill people up. And we were able to get all of the drinks in cans at the local Meijers the morning of the game. 

Our Junior League of Birmingham, MI dinner club (started in 1997) came out and it was so wonderful to see so many of our friends again. I was levitating. I stood for 3 1/2 hours, didn't eat or drink and it felt like a wedding reception. I knew everyone there and I didn't want to miss a moment.

I couldn't pack a lot in my suitcase, but I did manage to bring football stadium tablecloths (cute!) and tiny beer can dessert picks with me. Don't they look darling in my friend Karla's brownies? They are my kind of beer.

Another whole part of this event was getting my Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters together. Many of these women, I hadn't seen in about 25 years and I had only been writing on Facebook. The photo above shows 22 women from my time as a Theta at Michigan State. It was fabulous.

We were known as the "4 H" 

You can see from the image above that our UW friends Matt & Sally made sure that the Husky fans they knew (that had also travelled) felt welcome to come tailgate with us. It was so fun seeing everyone together. Dan & I had stood in a sea of purple in Seattle the year before, so it was wonderful to host this year and include everyone.

Liz and I met our first year volunteering with Junior League in 1997 and have been kindred spirits ever since.  

There was a great banner so tailgaters can tell which tent to go to. This was just as we arrived - I'm so glad we took a photograph. Smartest thing we did in 2023 - host a tailgate and get all of our friends and family together. Yes, my brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews came too. It was a awesome.

The game was a disaster. University of Washington won 41 to 7. It looked like we had sent our Tennis Team to try and play them. Horrible. But, our seats were great, the weather was beautiful and we had a blast! 

And, University of Washington went on this season to be in the National Championships, so clearly they were an excellent team. 

This was the best thing I planned all year. If you get a chance to do a reunion tailgate, I highly recommend it.

Cherry Blossoms on the Quad

I couldn't have timed Heidi's visit any better. The cherry blossoms were blooming on University of Washington campus (a big deal every year) and we had blue sky and sunshine in March - pinch me!

The Quad at University of Washington is an area of campus planted with 90 year old cherry trees that were moved to this area of campus in 1962 to allow for more visitors. The university even has a live-cam set up so you can time your visit to align with peak. It was very cold when we visited but the blooms were enchanting. Dan dropped us off and then found a parking spot. Here is a map of campus (below) to help you find them next year.

Here we are! Dan and I ran to find Heidi on Michigan State's campus the night we got engaged to tell her the news, so we've all known each other a long time. It was so fun to be back together again and able to reminisce. 

We walked around and imagined looking at the blooms through the classroom windows even with the tree canopy. I would never be able to concentrate.

#UWcherryblossoms #springblossoms #friendintown #cherryblossoms #seattle

 

Master Gardener Plant Sale at UW Center for Urban Horticulture

Look what I got! Omphalodes cappadocica "Starry Eyes", a St. Ola Geranium, and a Geranium "Rose Madder"- I planted them in my front garden where I can tend them. You can also see that I got a stevia to try near my herbs on my deck.

Last spring I had a wonderful afternoon shopping the Master Gardener Plant Sale with my new friend Erica (you saw us judging the Northwest Flower & Garden Show together). This year the sale will likely be postponed due to Social Distancing Requirements. Stay tuned to this website for 2020 information. I still want to tell you about this great event and encourage you to put it on your "Future Fun" list.

The sale has an extensive plant selection and is a terrific place to buy plants because there are Master Gardeners on site to counsel shoppers and make recommendations. 

"You are sure to find a huge selection of plants: many varieties of veggie starts, herbs and tomatoes, perennials and grasses, and natives and ornamental shrubs and trees...Master Gardeners have been propagating and potting plants since last fall to ensure that you have a huge selection of perennials, fuchsias, unusual heirloom perennials included, along with ornamental plants including trees and shrubs, and natives." - Master Gardener Foundation of King County website

I want to share a terrific resource I found on the Master Gardener website - a link to a pronunciation guide at Fine Gardening magazine. It is fantastic. I made Erica laugh the other day when we were looking at a garden and I called said a plant looked like was "Needum more coloris," implying it was a choice the landscape designer made to enhance an overly green area of the garden. I do not know the Latin names of plants and I think that is okay. However, I do think this pronunciation resource is very helpful to anyone that is interested in gardening and I thank them for posting it. 

Erica was very interested in buying rare tomato starts at this sale and I enjoyed hearing her speak with Master Gardener Marcia Dillon about particular tomato qualities, flavor and performance. Passion and enthusiasm are wonderful qualities and I love when I meet someone and hear their voice soar. When you are the third wheel in a conversation and you find yourself wondering if you have enough sun for tomatoes, you know you've found yourself an expert.

That is the beauty of gardening and gardeners. Come rub elbows with some fantastic Master Gardeners at the annual plant sale outside the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture. I know you will start to look forward to it, just like I am.

#gardener #lovemygarden #gardensofinstagram #plantsale #plantsofinstagram #mastergardener #seattlegardens #seattleblogger #plantlove #beautyofeverydaylife #everydaylife #getoutside #plantsale

Seattle: University of Washington: Clouds of Cherry Blossoms

I love flowering trees and have been hearing about the cherry blossoms in the University of Washington's quad being in bloom from several sources lately. The sun was out and I decided to swing by campus and try to find delight.

I walked around campus until I found this spectacular grove of trees. I thought that the trees looked like a crowd of debutantes in white dresses with crinolines.

Every bud on every tree lining the large walkway was in full bloom. The area was cram-jam with admirers and it was remarkably quiet for the number of people on campus. The crowds' mood was a mix of happiness and reverence. These trees are 80 years old and the idea that people would come out to enjoy this flowering walkway was initiated long ago.

Bright green grass, peeks of blue sky and clouds of cherry blossoms. That's a weather report we deserve after a long wet winter.

Lake Washington: I Can Canoe, Canoe?

We finally got out on the water in Lake Washington...in a canoe! The whole trip was inspired by my love of water lilies. Whenever I drove over the 520 bridge near the University of Washington, I could see them!

This is my favorite bridge because on a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains this clearly. As you drive closer to shore, on the right, you can see the University of Washington football stadium. You can rent canoes close by.

Yes, we were having a good time on a beautiful Saturday morning. Renting a canoe at the University of Washington requires no reservation, costs $12/hr and the only requirement is that you can swim. They provide nice life jackets, paddles and help you in and out of the canoe from the dock. It was great.

What a day! We saw lots of ducks and birds. I was hoping for a turtle, but no luck.

There were water lilies everywhere and it was beautiful. The overall feeling was peaceful. No noise. No talking. Just paddling in a natural area just minutes from downtown Seattle. Isn't that wonderful?

We did see lots of ducks and this one Blue Heron (below) trying to look inconspicuous.

When I told someone I know that we went canoeing on Lake Washington, he seemed almost annoyed. After a minute he said that he had lived here for years and never done anything like that. He felt that his days were routine. I told him all he needed was $12 and some ink on the calendar. As my grandmother used to say, "You've got to make your own fun."

The Burke: Washington State Museum of Natural History and Culture

I have been doing my best to participate in social events hosted by organizations that I belong to. I can think of no better way to make friends and learn about my new turf. The Junior League of Seattle hosted a private evening for sustainers (alumnae) at The Burke, the Washington State Museum of Natural History and Culture one evening this winter.

We were honored to have Dr. Julie Stein, Executive Director of The Burke give us a tour of some exhibits and an overview of the big plans for building a New Burke museum over the next five years. She is incredibly personable and clearly passionate about bringing education and inspiration to the public. I am looking forward to many more experiences at The Burke. I couldn't resist including this photo (above) where the dinosaur seems to be gabbing along with the girls.

The Burke is a research and collections-based museum loaded with thousands of examples from our natural world. One exciting benefit of the new Burke is that the building has been designed to make far more of their massive collection of artifacts accessible to the public. My favorite piece on display was this 50 million year old fossil flower. Delight goes waaaay back.

The evening included wine and appetizers and was a really wonderful venue to meet others volunteer-focused women and be inspired. Notice that most of the serving platters and utensils are made of bamboo: sustainable and very Seattle.

Museums are traditionally quiet and after these women had busy work days and a dash of Seattle traffic, standing among the flora and fauna of yesteryear gave the gathering a relaxing feel.

I really enjoyed exploring The Burke and channeling my inner Wilma Flintstone. Some exhibits are replicas to give us a sense of scale, while other are actual artifacts discovered in the Pacific Northwest. Don't wait for the New Burke, I recommend you take time to visit The Burke now and enjoy a quiet glimpse into the past.

Seattle: Amazon Books in 3D

It was a happy accident that I was able to shop in the one and only brick & mortar AMAZON bookstore. Yes, you read that right, online giant Amazon is going old school and testing their model for a bookstore near the campus of University of Washington. 

It is a smaller footprint than the big box bookstores of yesterday, but that's okay. It is geared toward today's reader by displaying reviews and ratings from amazon.com.  Who better to curate the list of what is being read and how readers are responding to it. 

Have you made your own Goodreads reader profile? Goodreads is a reader community (owned by Amazon) that allows you to store the titles of books you have read, are reading and want to read on a virtual bookshelf. It has saved me many times when I want to recommend a book to a friend but I can't remember the author or title. You have days like that too, eh? Goodreads is also loaded with reviews, reading recommendations, as well as a friend component, which allows members to connect and see what their friends are reading. It is a wonderful tool.

It appears to me that Amazon is harnessing their online sales information and their Goodreads book reviews to offer customers a selection of books that are currently being enjoyed. The categories and layout felt like I was looking at a "Best of" list by category and I liked it. Picking up a book, reading the back cover, flipping through it and glancing at the reviews. Book buying in 3D. All over again.

Seattle: Fans can Boat Gate at the University of Washington Huskies' football games

Seattle, Washington has more spectacular views than I can count. I've been telling people that the area is like a national park with a city inside, but even that description pales in comparison. The photo above is a view of Lake Washington from one of the hilltops near Capitol Hill.

This photo is from the same vista, just focusing a little to a left so that you can see the University of Washington ("U-Dub" - "u" for university and "dub" for the sound of the letter "w") Huskies' football stadium.  It is one of the few stadiums in the country where you can boat gate. Picnic on your boat and then ride a shuttle boat over to the campus to watch the game in person. So neat! You can read an article about the stadiums where this is possible here.

I was driving around town exploring on this particular Saturday and was listening to the Huskies' football game on the radio. When I stopped to take this picture, it was fun to see the boats on Lake Washington near the stadium and realize that they were boatgating! 

Seattle: University of Washington Medicinal Garden

When I heard that the University of Washington had its own Medicinal Garden managed by the biology department, I couldn't wait to visit. I love the idea of utilizing the properties of plants to aid the human body. Ginger for inflammation. Aloe to soothe the skin. I have quite an herb garden and I started imagining what I could teach the neighbor girls if I did a little more research.

I stopped by the campus on the beautiful spring day and enjoyed wandering the paths, trying to "name the plant" and then check my answer on the plaques that identify each species. 

The university offers tours of the Medicinal Garden and Greenhouse for groups of all ages from school age children to garden clubs. I think this is a wonderful way to welcome the community to campus.