Brother Sebastian, one of 44 Benedictine monks in residence at St. Martin's Abbey, enjoys spending quiet time in the cemetery.

Mount Rainier looms over Hicks Lake in Lacey on a sunny day in May. Hicks Lake has a boat ramp and a small beach area for fishing.

Sven Shibahara, 8, wipes something off his foot in by Hicks Lake in Lacey, a town with abundant public-access lakes. Sven and Devon Nishiyama, also 8, were runing in and out of the ice-cold water.

Fon Morcus owns the Evergreen Ballroom, the last ballroom in Washington state. He is standing in front of autographed albums from artists who have played there.

Mary Conley Law, the registrar at St. Martin's for the past 20 years jokes with women's basketball coach Tim Healy, left, and athletic director Bob Grisham, center. They are watching a fast-pitch softball game from the back of a trailer they used to transport a fence to the field for the game.

St. Martin's College started with one student and today has about 1,500 students. This building, Old Main, was built in 1913.

Norma's Burgers was moved from Yelm, where it was called Top of the Box, six years ago. 

One of the Benedictine monks walks back to the monestary after dinner. The monks either eat together in silence while a book is read to them, or they eat in the student cafeteria.

Llamas are a labor of love for the McWhorter family. Their Moonbeam Llamas include baby Woody, who gets attention from Kelly McWhorter. Each llama has a distinct personality.

Sandra Dee Sommerfeld, left, and Rose Blocher, are two of the "burgermasters" at Norma's on Martin Way, just outside the city limits. 

Shirley Rasmussen gets a send-off from Arthur Louis, at Panorama City in Lacey, one of the largest retirement commnunities in the United States.