Dearest Liz came from the far reaches of Massachusetts to stay in the smurf cottage. remember the children's book about the little house that got the city built up around it? that's our house.

So the most generous brother in the world sent john and i on a treasure hunt for our anniversary. the treasure was a bed and breakfast house on a hill in...Tacoma...who knew Tacoma was a destination town? blueberry pancakes, television, a huge bathtub, a view. it was tremendous.



then, that very same brother who lives on another coast sent us on another treasure hunt, this time to a fancy train ride that took us through a maze of suburbia -- did you know there are still osprey nests and hobocamps in suburbia? -- and we arrived at a winery for drinks. we shared the table with a couple celebrating a 75th birthday. they didn't want to have to sit backwards (but they did), and they loved their steaks (they really didn't understand our vegetarian Indian food. that's ok.). we watched the sunset over lake washington through the windowed roof. it was a complete treat.

everybody should be able to demolish a house, just to get the growls out. this is collin and stacey's house in West Seattle some months ago, when demolishing was our favorite pastime. now it's a sweet home that almost has a bathroom. almost.