I wasn’t feeling too terribly motivated to get out this morning and go for a run, so I decided to make it interesting and went on a little treasure hunt… for chimneys!  Slow Runner Girl actually gave me the idea as she found the most gorgeous chimney on one of her runs (see it here), but granted, Lake Stevens doesn’t have near the cool stuff that Dublin, Ireland does… still, it was fun to search.

Nahhh, not a terribly interesting chimney, but at least it’s brick!

Another brick chimney, right up against a greenbelt. I’m guessing the picture was so bright because the sun may have been shining directly into my face. Still not too terribly interesting.

As you can see, I kind of struck out in regards to chimneys, but what a beautiful day to be out and getting a stretch.

If you look wayyy down the street there, notice how it goes up?! Because the Pacific Northwest is hilly!! 😉

The lake sure was beautiful. I had half a mind to jump in, it was so inviting.

I would’ve crossed this log when I was a kid… nowadays, too many things can break… like a hip!! 😀

The Veterans Memorial in downtown. I was standing on a HILL when I took this.

On a side note, today would’ve been my father’s 87th birthday, born July 3, 1929.  He’s been gone for 18 years now… gone, but of course, never forgotten.  Please, no sorry’s… I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of him. 🙂

He served in the Korean war as a paratrooper. After jumping out of airplanes for 2 years, I don’t think “afraid” was in his vocabulary.

Southern Arizona fancy dress… a bolo tie and a western shirt. If he wore his bolo tie, then he was dressed to the nines.

And in other news… James and I are childless this next week.  AJ has gone to Boise to stay with his grandparents, then we’ll pick him up again in Missoula next weekend and bring him back home.  I think I’ve already saved $100 on the grocery bill, haha!  (Miss you, Child!)

For my American friends, happy 4th of July!  Stay safe out there and be smart if you enjoy lighting off fireworks.  As well, this is the worst day of the year for birds and all wildlife in the U.S., so please be mindful.  Enjoy your holiday!