Beyond Rainier Vista

The area beyond Rainier Vista, which lies just across the street, is filled with modest houses from every decade of the 20th century.  We often walk there with Jetta.  There are no sidewalks on this ridge, which I have only heard called Chubby & Tubby Heights, after a store at the base of the ridge on Rainier Avenue S, that was once locally famous.  Chubby & Tubby was replaced by an apartment building called The Claremont.  I like to call this area Leticia Ridge, after a street that runs along the east slope.  Rainier Vista presses up against the west slope.  From the east slope, you can see the Cascade Mountains.  These photos were taken in November 2011.

Stokely

Stokely

Stokely moved to Ell Alley on December 29, 2013.  He rents our previously unoccupied 3rd bedroom (the north bedroom) & has the hall bathroom to himself.  He was thrilled to have plenty of room for his hair products.  He had been living in an apartment on Beacon Hill.  He is a member of the Celtic fusion band Ockham's Razor & has a real job, too.

Grauchen

Grauchen lives directly across the north alley from us, in a garage where she has a cat door, a bed & a heater.  She spends a lot of time outside.  We see her often.  She is a friendly kitty.  Perhaps she will hang out with us in our garden, in the future.  For now, she stays in the alley.

New Year 2014

Bradner Burn on New Year's Eve 2013.

Dinner at Kokoras Greek Grill.

Ockham's Razor at A Terrible Beauty on New Year's Eve.

Dim sum at Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant on New Year's Day 2014.

Steve & Rusty after shopping.

Dinner at Ell Alley on New Year's Day 2014.

New Year 2014 was filled with fun events for the denizens of El Alley.  Stokely moved into the 3rd bedroom on December 29.  He plays in the Celtic rock band Ockham's Razor, which performed at A Terrible Beauty in West Seattle on New Year's Eve.  Jordan, Rusty & Steve started the night at the Bradner Burn, held at Bradner Gardens Park in Mt Baker.  It was their 2nd year at this event.  It was not raining & not very cold, almost perfect weather for Seattle.  They had dinner at Kokoras Greek Grill in West Seattle before going to hear Stokely play his hurdy gurdy.  On New Year's Day, Steve, Rusty & Jordan had dim sum at the Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant in Rainier Beach, which was a very busy place.  They moved on to Renton to take advantage of the New Year's Day Sale at the St. Vincent de Paul Super Store, where they bought a number of precious items for their beloved home.  That night Jordan prepared a whole tilapia fish, with red cargo rice & stir-fried vegetables, for their first dinner of 2014.  It was a happy new year's extravaganza!