#24: Searching for Spring

This month, the kids and I set off for a repeat visit to Patty's Egg nest.  Ever since our last visit back in 2010, I have had a $5 off coupon in my pocket and thought I hate to let it go, I figured it was about time  to cash that puppy in. Plus, with inflation and all I suppose that prices have only gone upwards/   Patty's is just a mile or so downhill from our current abode, but I figured we'd all benefit from a nice hike through Carkeek Park, the crown jewel of Seattle's northside parks.  I figured it would add about 90 more minutes to the walk, and that we'd all be plenty hungry for flapjacks.
 

We hiked up Mary Street and into one of the feeder trails that slice into the southern underbelly of Carkeek.  This particular trail has some landmarks that we enjoy; a lean-to teepee we built last spring, fallen logs that look like dragon heads (and that we beat on our way into the park), an overpass that has great echoes and serves as an imaginary castle gate, and a huge blackberry patch that serves up delicious berries every August.  

I took Yuken in the backpack, Pacifica took the camera, and Issei took out a couple of hard oak wooden swords.  We searched for signs of spring, took pictures, and beat up the dragons, and eventually hit the actual Carkeek trail.  I had skied the trail--or tried to--some weeks back, but it was of course all clear now.  As we headed further east we spotted a couple of banana slugs snaking their way down the trees, and crossed a couple of funky, moss-covered bridges.  Eventually we came to an old apple orchard, where we stopped for reserve snacks and a water break, then pushed forward the last mile to our destination.  

When we finally left the woods, we were all happy and hungry.  I could taste the pancakes and smell the bacon...but when we saw the line of folks dripping out into the stripmall parking lot, my heart sank.  The kids and I walked into Patty's and saw that it was worse than expected; the head of the line was a cluster of 20-odd churchgoers, fresh from prayer and patient as saints.  We, on the other hand, were hungry, impatient, and spattered with mud.  I ran through an inventory of pancake places in the area, but on foot and hungry I figured the odds of us arriving before the kids hit bottom was slim to none.  

I asked anyway...but the kids would have none of it.

We settled on the QFC grocery store--a modest-sized affair that the Egg Nest, a nail salon, gamer workshop and a Mongolian BBQ have sprouted around.  Inside, I deposited our backpacks and loaded a cart with my three kids, and headed straight for the donuts. We each picked our favorites...and though I was tempted to grab two, decided against it.  Then to the yogurts, some milks, a baby-sized roll for the baby, and a box of strawberries.  The older kids pointed out that the strawberries weren't washed, but luckily the lady at the sushi stand was there to give them a thorough soaking, and the Starbucks had a nice cup of hot coffee for me.  

We sat down and tucked into our meal, and though we did not have the chance for a cheap toy from Patty's treasure chest, I heard no complaints. Yuken enjoyed his first strawberries, Issei ate all of the sprinkles off his donut, and Pacifica talked us all into giver her bites of our yogurts.  Before we left, I tucked my $5 coupon back into my wallet, saving it for another day.