Picnics and voyeuristic crows

Last Monday my friend and I decided that, what with the Seattle area's beautiful warm weather, we should spend some time outside. We stopped at QFC to grab some food and then headed a few blocks south to Bellevue's Downtown Park. 

We mostly stuck to traditional picnic foods - chicken strips, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes - but Lily convinced me to try some tuna sushi too. I'm quickly falling in love with sushi! I was surprised that QFC had such a fresh selection too. Lily spread a Columbian blanket for us to eat on, and we hung there for about an hour. (On a sort of creepy note a lone crow watched us the entire time. It started out perched on a maintenance building ten yards away and slowly edged towards us. I'm not a huge bird fan [as most people know] so I think I fixated on the voyeuristic crow a bit too much!)

I can't remember the last time I've spent time at a park or went on a picnic. When I was a kid I'm pretty sure I could name all the decent parks in the area, and although I've never been a staunch picnicker I ate home cooked meals outside a lot more. Because Lily and I also went and saw Pixar's Up (whose adorability factor almost sent me into convulsions) I felt like I was sort of revisiting old childhood pleasures. After seeing Up (which I can't discuss too much for fear that I'll begin gushing over it) Lily and I went to another park to read, play on the jungle gym, and record new greetings for our cell phones. I had such a great time just sitting outside and reading and trying to climb a tree - everyone must have moments like that, where we're reminded to step back and enjoy the simple things in life. I spend so much time these days planning for the future or rehashing the past that I rarely take the time to appreciate my surroundings. 

I think the Seattle area - and Washington State in general - is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Seattleites are surrounded by lakes, abundant greenery, rolling hills, and statuesque mountains. I guess the conclusion I came to was that this summer I need to make an effort to explore these amazing sceneries and surroundings more often. I've rediscovered the calming affect nature can have on me, especially when I'm reading (another past time that I've ignored for too long!) 

Hopefully my future postings will cover such enjoyable excursions! I want to check out Gas Works Park soon, so maybe I'll enjoy another picnic and another afternoon of welcome realizations.