Seattle day...no, wait! Make that Tillicum Village.

I know I haven't been writing.  Things have been happening though.  You see, I have to work.  Yep, the blog don't pay the bills.  So those things have been happening largely while I am at the 9-5.  Or the 11-11 as might more closely reflect reality.  Anyway.

Our lovely and talented niece Deanna has been with us for a few days.  The day she got here I was working.  She didn't get up in time to see me off the next day, so I didn't see her then either.  That day she went with Sarah and the kids to Ruthie's house and they kayaked and had fun and amazing adventures.  Your faithful blogger/photographer wasn't there for that one...had to work.  When I did get off, Deanna went hiking up Mt. Ellinor with Sarah and Ruthie while I stayed home with the kids.  Sarah isn't quite the attention who...uh...hound, that I am and didn't feel the need to broadcast her actions to the world.

So, today we all went on an adventure.  Through a small mix up, could have happened to anyone really, we ended up on the wrong ferry heading to the wrong destination for the day.  You know, not everything works smoothly all the time.  This isn't scripted television or anything.  Things happen.

But we eventually got turned back around and headed in the right direction.  And that direction took us on a ferry to Blake Island and Tillicum Village.  This is rumored to be the birthplace of Chief Seattle (if that is his real name.)  The ferry ride was nice heading over.

Our valiant steed for the trip.

"I think I could drive that!"

Deanna is so sweet and so good with the boys.

The boat crew say they know this guy.  He built and singlehands this unbelievable boat.

A little wet, but happy.

Deanna is used to Houston temperatures.

They stopped to say hi to these guys who said hi back.

We arrived at Tillicum Village.  This is a interpretive center on Blake Island. Blake Island had a long and circuitous journey to state park status. Now, it has campgrounds and trails and the Tillicum Village.  The village is a Native American style longhouse with the requisite gift shop.  They serve a dinner and a show about tribal beliefs and customs complete with dancing and storytelling.  It is really pretty cool.  I am a fan of native history and wish it would have gone into more detail, but it has a demographic to appease.  Pretty good food though.

Neat totem pole

As you arrive you are handed a mug of steamed clams.  Not everyone loved this.

Say what you want about the authenticity of the decorations, they were colorful.

Well that looks tasty in a traditional sense.

Smelled pretty tasty too.

There was a woman attending a craft demonstration booth with some pretty impressive weaving going on.  I'm no expert at weaving, but check it out.

"Yes" I hear you say, "That is some impressive weaving."

Neat masks too

"Hey Deanna, they made a picture of your dad!"

Then it was time for dinner and the show.  The food was fantastic.

The show was a video screen with a famous Native American storyteller with a Mexican last name.  Strange.  Still, they had three dancers who came out and performed the dancing and drumming that the storyteller talked about. It was interesting and engaging enough that even the kids never complained.  After, the dancers came out and talked with the crowd and posed for pictures.  Pretty cool.

Obligatory food porn picture

Show was too dark for pictures.  No flash requested and honored. 

My family wasn't interested in posing with the dancers so I used someone else's.

We mucked about for a bit before the ferry ride home.

Pretty rock beach with Ranier hiding in the background.

Aww, ain't they cute!

Smile!

Be weird!

Eventually the boat sounded the whistle and it was time to board for the ride home.

That's when the sun started to set, the sound turned to molten silver and all this happened.

And it was all yellow.

Beautiful Olympic mountains in the back

The lovely ladies of the boat.

The water was awesome. 

How is that for a sunset?

Everybody else went inside for a while, but us guys.

Our friends were still there when we went back by.

Just before we arrived we passed the outbound Seattle ferry, which is much larger.  Last time we crossed its wake, anyone up forward and outside was soaked.  Most of us laughed it off, but it wasn't really a pleasant experience.  This time, we all moved back away from the splash zone.  All except this one little girl, about 10 years old.  She stood in the front gripping the railing.  When we hit the wake, the front of our smaller boat was again soaked.  Each wave brought a fresh peal of laughter as she stood in the very cold spray.  She was just to in the moment enjoying it as wave after wave of cold Pacific water washed over her, that it made me smile.  What an awesome moment.  She turned around, dripping wet and smiling.  Her brother came up and started teasing her so she gave him a great big hug.  Awesome.

How can you not love this beautiful lady?

And the rest of the weirdos.

Bremerton at sunset.