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Transported
Over wrought
Built square
Keeping in, keeping out
Shaded
Medicated
Well read
Wet
Stone
And a new season
Of chutes and ladders
Big butts and bridges
Cold feet and smiles.
The Fork in the road
Fork the man
Fork the condiments.
Are we just rats
With no escape
Conned into luxury
Dreaming of beauty
Dreaming of what might be
Or just looking, playing, spinning silly yarns?
Tags: Poetry
Back when I got home from my Shiva Rea yoga retreat, and I nearly drove the hubster nutty singing the praises of Bellingham and all its treasures, we scheduled a trip to prove I wasn’t hallucinating or a liar (tee hee), in what seemed a very far away time, at the height of summer. That far away date came in the blink of an eye, like so much in life, this past weekend, and I couldn’t be more pleased at the timing. Who knew in April that we’d be tearing our hair out at the comings and goings of plumbers, tile layers, and contractors and in dire need of a break from the house? Who also knew that it would be very Portland hot while we continued on our Goldilocks streak of weather in Bellingham? Someone very very kind, I should think, and to whom I extend my sincerest thanks.
We left in the pre-dawn light Friday, the hubster sleeping a little while I mastered the cruise control and softly sang Radiohead tunes (Not just once, not just twice…) and enjoyed the exquisite beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I love this place: the light, the trees, the smell. It’s home. We arrived first at Mount Vernon, a cute town about a half hour south of Bellingham and to the aforementioned Goldilocks weather after some heavy fog had me waxing poetic and slightly panicked, “If only you could see how beautiful it is right here Buddy. Mountains almost like Switzerland and sweet farms and the bluest sky!”
The shots down to the Telephone are the very Mayberry feeling Mount Vernon. This is the train station, probably the most modern building we saw.
You look mahvelous considering you’re nearly 130 years old. Hardly any wrinkles!
I love neon, even in daylight.
This place looks very quaint and sleepy but is actually quite large inside and packed with people eating delicious smelling food and the biggest cinnamon rolls we’ve ever seen.
The photo does not do it justice. It was tasty, but not as good as our favorite Grand Central Bakery variety. Since it was also very sticky, and I was dumb and didn’t request napkins, I washed my hands PWT style in a nearby fountain. No shame or class!
A sweet statue on one of the main streets, First Avenue, I think.
I love sights like this, old school and simple in their beauty.
Welcome to Big Rock Garden in Bellingham.
A small park , tucked in a residential neighborhood, it has a wide variety of sculptures of varying styles and material – a gem of a place.
It’s not terribly easy to find, unless you take the one sign quite literally, which we didn’t and had a bit of a ramble next to Lake Whatcom.
I don’t know why, but this makes me think of Aldous Huxley. Take your soma!
This was the hubster’s favorite. My sci-fi guy.
We were the only people at the garden and felt as though we were trespassing in some sacred place.
One of the many beautiful buildings I didn’t photograph last time.
Our next album cover: Encumbered Tracks
The G-Man enjoying the window seat at The Chrysalis.
No matter the hour, the view is lovely.
Wouldn’t you agree?
These views, though not from our window, were also quite nice, and just steps away.
Lovely!
Sometimes, as you’ve likely read, I believe that I don’t have enough, that I am not enough. Time, love, money, friends, clothes, flowers, patience: insert a noun here and wonder how to multiply it. Thankfully, most times, I realize that I have plenty, more than enough even. An abundance to share, put out at the curb with a “free” sign, and send out to the rest of the world. I am rich, if only in my own mind. That’ all that matters. This weekend is a perfect example of that. Three perfect days, almost endless, with fun, food, friendship, laughter, and hard work.
To start, we rose early on Saturday for a splendid outing, caravaning to Hood River for glorious vistas, one cool car (a Ford Cobra), books (I bought two: Dashiell Hammett and Aravind Adiga – hoping they are good), sunshine (I wore sunglasses and actually felt hot for a moment!), the best company (Lori, Bert, and Beanie), and, of course, super yummy food (thanks to Lori’s family – Apple Valley BBQ – plus honey and jam for home). As if this weren’t enough, we made a stop to wash our dirty car before heading across town to Old Town Pizza. We sat in chairs worthy of napping, sipped beer, an Arnold Palmer, and ate a rather fine pizza pie (most of it, anyway).
Sunday we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Huzzah! (The photo is actually from a couple weekends ago.) A blur of not much, we ate leftover pizza for breakfast. We went for a walk. I baked bread (as a delivery vehicle for the honey and jam purchased Saturday) and hot dog buns and must admit they look rather, ahem, phallic before putting in the oven. They were yummy, despite the imagery, though not as soft as Franz. We watched a movie (Jack Goes Boating – very good) and ate a bowl of popcorn.
Yesterday called for a fancy looking breakfast, which I made (recipe below). It was also dry enough to mow the very long lawn, so the hubster was in charge of that. I dead-headed the iris, pruned the glory bower, weeded (we have some very healthy clover), moved a few plants in the garden, and planted two agastache (hyssop) for the pollinators. This was followed by a long bath to clean my farmer feet and hands, another hot dog, the finishing of a book (That Old Cape Magic – just okay), the baking of a batch of cherry walnut brownies, and an early bed time. Plenty, all of it good.
Saucy Breakfast Sandwich
equal amounts butter and white flour (rice or wheat)
milk (I used rice)
grated cheese (I used a jalapeno gouda. Any soft cheese that you like will do.)
salt
pepper
cayenne pepper
Sliced bread (I made a variation of this bread {1/2 whole wheat flour, rice milk, no herbs or raisins}, use an English muffin if you like), lightly toasted
egg, prepared any style to go on top (I made ours my favorite way)
bacon, sausage, sautéed mushrooms (or see ideas below)
This can be adapted to serve as many people as you like and the reason I’m not specific with the ingredients. Since there were only two of us, I used 1 tablespoon each butter and flour. Melt the butter over medium heat, whisk in the flour. Allow this mixture to cook for a minute before slowly whisking in the milk. I used about 2/3 – 1 cup. It thickened, but was still a little runny. Sprinkle in the grated cheese (I used about 1/3 cup), and stir until it is smooth. Taste it, and add as much salt, pepper, and cayenne as it needs. Cover and keep warm (very low heat, if any) while you cook your eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, whatever you like. Place a slice of toasted bread on a plate, pile on the goodness, and pour the sauce over the top. The sauce was enough for three sandwiches, with very generous portions. Look at that pool!
Some ideas:
Mexican: jalapeno jack, sliced avocado, roasted peppers (jalapeño, bell, poblano), pinto or black beans.
Italian: fontina, tomato, fresh oregano, red pepper flakes
Spanish: Petit Basque, roasted tomato and red pepper, smoked paprika instead of cayenne, a splash of sherry in the sauce
French: gruyere, finely chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, tarragon, a splash of white wine in the sauce
Enjoy!
Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes
Good morning all!
I hope today is the beginning of a bright and beautiful week for you. Yesterday was a glorious day of firsts around here, many of them captured in the above photo. It was sunny and warm enough to dry laundry outside! Sunny enough for a little happy hour of lemon bars and sparkling lemonade on the patio! Sunny enough to walk to dinner wearing sandals and a dress – no down vest required! Hallelujah – we’d waited so long that’s it’s truly worthy of all the exclamations! Seriously, this is the first time in my nearly thirteen years as a Stumptown girl that the wet weather has gotten me down. I spent many a recent day pining for warmth and light, so when two days in a row came, and on a weekend, no less, I was pretty jazzed.
On our way out the door to dinner, we found this bit of sweetness left by a neighbor. I don’t know which I love more, the act of kindness or lilacs! I have one in the back, just behind the clothesline, and its blossoms are just beginning to open. Happiness!
Now to the second bit of the title: mussels, my favorite gift from the sea. My love for them is pretty serious, so don’t go messing with the menu, people. I’ve made special trips to places to indulge only to have my spirit squashed like a bug at their absence. This place used to have mussels but now has only crap burgers and too loud Grateful Dead on the hi-fi. And I like the Grateful Dead! It’s just that everything is exaggerated when food disappointment is involved. The hubster will vouch for me on this. There’s a certain look in my once sweet eyes that means we gotta get outta here. I’m not happy. Thankfully, I have enough sources that I need not rely on one place and can get my fix in practically every area of town. Should you share my love for mussels here are the best PDX preparations:
Lauro Kitchen – served rather dramatically in a cataplana (a cool looking copper pot) with peppers, onions, and sausage.
St. Jack – A very French preparation with ultra crispy crusted baguette.
The Observatory – there’s Sake in there, and it’s damn good! (An aside – the whitefish spread is pretty spectacular, too.)
North 45 – This place takes mussels as seriously as I do, with a half dozen or more preparations on the menu at one time. Deciding is not easy.
Here’s hoping it’s a wonderful week for you and yours, one without the heartache and destruction of weather disasters. My thoughts and prayers to all who lost so very much.
Tags: Portland, Restaurants
It’s been awfully rainy in Portland, even by our standards. We’ve gotten more than five inches in the first three weeks, when, on average, we get about 3.75 for the whole month. Wet! So when the sun busted out during dinner last week and made my plate look so pretty, I had to take a picture. It’s the small things in life…
Tags: Portland
