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June 29, 2025

Bellingham Weekend

We are on our way home after enjoying a relaxing weekend with son Ben and family. Friday morning was clear enough for Bill and I to enjoy our traditional walk along the bay in Fairhaven. The rain and mist settled in the afternoon, but we were cozy under the deck...

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June 24, 2025

Flanders Fields

After our morning tour of Bruges, we traveled to the city of Ypres, now known as the “City of Peace.” We learned about the Belgian battles of WWI, then known as The Great War, in the interactive Flanders Field Museum. to learn about the Great War (WWI). The museum had...

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June 22, 2025

September 25: Bruges

This morning’s city walk was delightful – Bruges did not seem very crowded for a medieval European city. The rain stayed away; the city tour guide was amusing. From the 13th to the 15th centuries, Bruges was the most important trading center of northern Europe, based largely on its thriving...

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June 11, 2025

September 24: Bruges

We arrived safely in Brussels—no flight incidents. We were exhausted of course. After the drive to Bruges we checked in to the elegant hotel Cassleberg and slept all afternoon. Our hotel was elegant, comfortable, and conveniently located near Burg Square and Markt Square. We attended our welcome drink and briefing...

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June 9, 2025

Bruges to Lucerne, Fall 2024

I’ve been working on my notes and photos from our fall trip, a dream cruise from Antwerp, Belgium, to Basil, Switzerland, with extra time in Bruges, Belgium at the beginning and Luzerne, Switzerland at the end. I’ll be posting these over the next week or so. September 23: Here we...

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April 20, 2025

Choices

” . . .how much survives will depend on ourown deliberate choices.  . . ” Ross Douthat Walking through the open areas of Alton Baker Park with Bill this morning, I was struck by the subtle waves of purple threaded through the grasses, the most expansive display of native camas...

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March 27, 2025

Spring

We walked in Hendricks Park yesterday. The rhodies’ blooms have been delayed by a week of drenching rain, but the triliums were lovely.

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March 15, 2025

Deleted

Just deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts.  This is it, folks. This is where I live. Also find me on BlueSky: @shielapardee.bsky.social

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