photo by Ballard Avenue

She's gorgeous, she loves the piano, she likes to nuzzle your hand, and then she tries to rip it off your wrist. Life with her is a high stakes game.

photo by Ballard Avenue

Yes, there's little in this world quieter than a monastery and seminary during Christmas break, but had our timing been a little better, we might have heard these bells ring. Change ringing is pretty cool. These bells are driven by motors and chains, which is not quite proper, but nonetheless they must ring a glorious sound over the valley.

photo by Ballard Avenue

Sitting high above the valley is Mt Angel Abbey, founded in 1882 by Swiss German Benedictines. It's a pretty quiet place, as you would expect. About all we heard was the wind.

Sung by the choir and parishioners of Gloucester Cathedral.

photo by Ballard Avenue

A sunny winter day in the valley.

photo by Ballard Avenue

Elektra gets some solo lap time, never an easy thing to do with Elliott around. He gets jealous and this is what happens.

photo by Ballard Avenue

Green Lake Park. Why was the sky so blue? The arctic wind blew all the clouds away.

We're going away for a few days but will return with fabulous snapshots of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Stay tuned!

photo by Ballard Avenue

This cat was enjoying the warm sun at Ballard Baptist Church a few weeks ago. Remember the sun? Remember warm?

photo by Ballard Avenue

This is what lies at the bottom of the hole in the road you saw yesterday. I can't imagine what it was like for the occupants of this car as they discovered the hillside wasn't nearly as stable as they thought it was. Luckily, they weren't badly hurt, but that car's not coming out of there anytime soon.

photo by Ballard Avenue

The narrow road down to Golden Gardens Park is always a bit dicey, but after last week's heavy rains it's become downright nasty.

photo by Ballard Avenue

This photo of the lovely Mephista is provided as a community service to everyone overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Don't you feel yourself calming down already?

A little French waltz for your listening pleasure. The musicians are part of Rouge, a cabaret act in Seattle.

photo by Ballard Avenue

We saw a nurse log in West Seattle a while back, and it looks like we've got another up on 34th Avenue. I sure hope City Light does something with it before we get a row of little poles sprouting up in the spring.

photo by Ballard Avenue

At about 1/2 " a month, it took nearly two years to grow what you see here, and it's all now safely on its way to be made into wigs for chemotherapy patients. We'll be using a lot less shampoo around here now.

photo by Ballard Avenue

It's a sunny day, but much too cold to be losing your gloves. If you see someone with one hand jammed into a pocket, direct them over to NW 64th Street.