But, Spring has come to Seattle! We have already had a few 50*+ days and some warming sunshine. I am once again getting the desire to leave my little cave of a room and explore. Some such exploring was aided by the arrival of my dear friend Haley and her husband Andrew.
I love rain. I really do; I love the way it can turn the whole sky anywhere from a pearly grey to a violent violet. I love hearing it on windows and roofs or trickling down a gutter. However, unless it is a warm rain, I hate it getting me wet. This, of course, makes winter in Seattle a very unmotivating time (for me). Being indoors too often can leave me feeling disenchanted with a location. But, Spring has come to Seattle! We have already had a few 50*+ days and some warming sunshine. I am once again getting the desire to leave my little cave of a room and explore. Some such exploring was aided by the arrival of my dear friend Haley and her husband Andrew. Unfortunately the day they arrived was nothing but rain, so we stuck to coffee shops to stay warm and dry. The next evening we met for dinner at a hidden little gem beneath Pike Place called Il Bistro. The restaurant is very small and rather cellar-like, but comfortable and pleasant. Their mushroom ravioli is absolutely to die for and our server was nothing less than perfectly affable. For dessert we headed to Molly Moon's for Earl Grey ice cream to accompany the watching of The Rescuers Down Under. It was a very grown-up treat for such childhood nostalgia. The next day was spent playing tourist- walking around Ballard, visiting the Fremont Troll, Bottleworks, Red Mill Burgers and Golden Gardens Park. It was definitely a fun little spring break, even though I did have to work. But more importantly it reminded me that there is still so much to be gleaned from this area. My excitement for the coming months is ever growing. Same with my list of things to accomplish before another winter takes over my mind and sends me back into hibernation.
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I recently read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan; the book has been around for a while, longer than I have been seriously interested in food, so I am a bit late to this discussion.
Yet the issues this book raises are still issues, meaning that the discussion must continue. I hope this will spark your interest in the book and encourage you to join in this discourse about the way we as humans (and in a large part, as Americans) interact with food. I absolutely recommend you read this book, even if you find yourself scoffing at the argument by the end of this post. We all eat; therefore, we all make an impact on how our food is produced and where it comes from. Most young children naturally ask these questions: where does this come from? how is this made? As adults we learn to bypass these inquiries and just accept materials as they are. The Omnivore's Dilemma seeks to reverse this. You should know the answers and by the end of the book you will. The book is divided into three parts, the first discussing corn, the second grass and the third foraging. The foraging chapters were by far the most pleasurable to read, for they hinted little at politics and the like and focused mainly on alternative ways to obtain food. The grass chapters were interesting because they revealed the work that must go into the land if it is to be natural and profitable. If you haven't yet heard of my new life plan, you won't understand why I believe this advice to be pertinent. (Ask me about it sometime.) Yet by far it was the chapters on corn that were the most arresting. Pollan uses his book as a sort of basic platform from which to educate people on GMO's and industrial food practices. Much of the section is devoted to the corn that is used to feed cattle. Did you know that cows cannot digest the corn they are fed? The corn must be mixed with hormones, antibiotics and supplements. If a cow lives off of corn for too long (slightly more than 150 days) the cow will die from complications of his diet. Which, if not caught soon enough, are complications that will pass into humans.* Pollan is not a vegetarian, something that is extremely obvious to anyone who takes the time to read the book. What he does advocate, however, are animals that are raised humanely and on the type of food they were built to thrive on. One thing he talks about a lot, especially in conjunction with a visit to Polyface Farm he describes, is that animals deserve the chance to thrive, not just exist, even if they are fated to end up in a kitchen. By the final chapter I was more convinced than ever that our relationship with food has to change and that it is going to take more work than I thought. But small changes always matter, especially if they are for the good, so I encourage you to read this book and think about your own contributions. *Pg 78 The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan In December I was lucky enough to be invited to join a friend for a fundraiser dinner. It was a chef's dinner at local restaurant Lark, a place I will definitely have to revisit, benefitting the PCC Farmland Trust. I had absolutely no idea who the trust was or what they did, but my god, the dinner was absolutely fabulous. I decided right then and there that anything that could get a fundraiser to be so enjoyable had my support. Actually learning about what the trust did helped too. I signed up to receive their e-newsletters and went about my business. In one of said newsletters was an announcement about a tour of a farm called Camelot Downs. I signed up for one of the spots, requested the day off and decided it would be an adventure. Located on Whidbey Island, Camelot Downs is a small farm that raises colonial animals. Colonial animals are breeds that were introduced between 1620 and 1820 and have not been crossbred. Their main animal is the Southdown Sheep, rumored to be Henry VIII's favourite sheep for eating; this also is where the farm gets its name. The owners of the farm, Lois and Gary, welcomed us all into their beautiful home, stacked high with knick-knacks, hunting decoys and wildcat skins. Gary gave us a very informative little speech about what they do on their farm and why small, different farms are important. He spoke from an old wooden chair on his porch, coffee cup shaped like a bullet casing in hand (he is ex-navy) and wood smoke pouring over us all. When he finished Lois took us down to visit the sheep, birds and guard llamas. It was freezing cold but the five-day-old little lambs and thickly wooled sheep didn't seem to mind too much. They baaed at us, ran around a bit and generally acted cute. The tour ended with some hot cider and lunch at a local restaurant. Lois joined us and during the meal we were regaled with tales about running a farm. It was a fun day and I hope to return to Whidbey to visit some more of the farms there (only when it is warmer!) and also to see more of the PCC Farms in the future.
Remember when we were kids and a gingerbread house meant a milk carton covered in graham crackers? I'm quite a bit older than I was the last time I tried to make one (high school, actually) and my technique has improved quite a bit since then. Granted, this was a kit, so I didn't have to try and bake my own gingerbread or try to get crackers the right size without breaking them along the seams. Still, getting the frosting to do exactly what you want it to is difficult no matter what age you are or how ready-made your house comes. I actually got to make this for work so hundreds of people get to admire it every day, instead of just me and the cats. Although the likelihood of a small child ruining it by pulling off the candy is about the same as the cats knocking it over trying to get a taste. Merry Christmas to all!!!!
A few weeks ago my Dad and stepmom, Dorian, came to Seattle for a short visit. We didn't get a lot of time together but we sure made good use of what we had. One of my favourite parts of the trip was a side-journey we took to the local Chateau Ste. Michelle. I usually prefer a good beer to wine, but I appreciate the history and process of each variety. And since last year was my first introduction to a brewery, I thought this would be a nice introduction to a winery. We started off with an explanation that yes, I am over 21, and therefore eligible for the tasting. I opted to try all four of their proffered white wines, while Dad and Dorian shared some of the reds. The sweeter the wine the more I like it, so their Chenin Blanc and Muscat were my two favourites. After the tasting we took a tour which was far too short. It wasn't a bottling day and since the vineyards are actually in eastern Washington, there wasn't much to see. Not that this prevented me from getting a few good photos in. After the tour there was another short tasting during which ice wine was hailed as a great breakfast wine. Someday I will put that tidbit of knowledge to good use. Then it was out through the gift shop where we failed to purchase anything and into the grounds. There were a few vines lining the drive that I wanted to check out since we weren't actually going to see a full vineyard. I ate a purple grape right off the vine; the pulp was very sweet and very tasty but the skin and seeds were a real problem for me. No wonder I like white wines more. It was a fun little experience that I hope to repeat many times. I would love to add wine culture to my resumé of interests- maybe when I have a little bit more of an income. Speaking of which, I got a tiny promotion at work to Holiday Keyholder! It doesn't really mean that much more responsibility and I don't think there is a pay raise, but it is a nice complement from a job I really like.
Yesterday I took a little solitary road trip across the state and back. I left very early in the morning, about 7:45, which is a good 3 hours before I normally even wake up. The sky was still heavy with a fog that clung to the tree tops. I-90 east runs along quite a few state parks, so it was a beautiful drive. Sometimes the passes would be shrouded, like the picture above, and sometimes the morning sun would just cut right through. It really is a gorgeous drive. About halfway to Highway 12 I stopped in Cle Elum for my morning coffee. I wasn't expecting much out of this little town. It ran nearly parallel to the freeway and seemed very much the small-town, one-main-street kind of place. (There was a taxidermist.) I did, however, manage to find a cute little coffee shop of the mountain-decor variety. There was a nice fireplace inside, cozy furniture and even sun-facing tables out front. I very much wanted to stay and sit in the crisp air and read a little bit with my americano in hand but felt like I was intruding on the little group already gathered out front. So instead I continued on, eventually passing out of mountainous Washington and entering brown, dry, hilly Washington. I turned off I-90 and followed 82 until it transected highway 12. Luckily 12 ran alongside a creek, so the scenery was much improved. By that point the weather was just fantastic so I turned off next to Rimrock Lake and got out to walk around a bit. I wasn't at all cold in just a tank top and had a great time walking along the dry parts of the lakebed. After that I continued on, window down, soundtracks blazing, my voice singing along. This driving route is particularly interesting because you get to see the diversity of Washington flora. The more east you go the more scrubby and brown it gets; but then you come back west and at first you get pine forests that are green but still dry, like the kind in Colorado, but after a certain point you suddenly realize that you're one step closer to the coastal rainforest because there are now ferns at the bases of trees. Another great thing about the drive along 12 is the view you get of Mt. Rainier. Thankfully there are plenty of places to pull off and be touristy. The tail end of the road trip was not as much fun as the rest of the time. I had to put my window back up, untangle my hair, ignore the fact that I had missed lunch and deal with the traffic between Olympia and Seattle. But not even those things could ruin the overall feeling of rebooted happiness I got from my trip. Being alone with nature (and a two-ton piece of machinery), especially on such a perfect fall day is all that is needed for personal fulfillment.
I have the majority of this week off so I am planning on spending it as if I were on vacation. Today this meant accompanying Christye on her job and going to the zoo. There were four of us in our happy little animal-seeking family: Me, Christye, Michael (Christye's boyfriend) and Lydia (resident infant). Although the morning was rainy and the sky grey, our afternoon was pleasantly muggy. Luckily the rain held off while we took a stroll, coming back just as we were getting back in the car. One of the best parts of the trip was a little detour at the Willawong station; $1 gets you a little stick with some seeds on it. The birds will fly off their normal perches and land right on the stick to feed. Lydia was very sweet and not at all shy. Although she did keep alternating between throwing her shoes on the ground and putting them into her mouth. My favourite part of the day was when Christye asked her to sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat and she said, "row, row..." then stopped. Adorable!
Now I can say I've been to the Woodland Park Zoo, urban center for the animal kingdom. Too bad zoos are pricey- I could walk there if I wanted to. That's alright though; most of the time I just wonder how the weather is affecting the animals. Do they by instinct know what kind of climate they should live in? Do the giraffes long for it to be warm and dry? Do the mountain goats wonder why there is never snow but plenty of moss? Sorry it's been so long since I posted last. My life, while decidedly tame, has also been rather crazy the last couple of weeks. I just moved into a new place with three new roommates and two kitties.
My new house is in Wallingford, a nice little neighborhood to the west of UW and the apparent home of one Dave Matthews. The main drag is a fantastic stretch of coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and weirdo little shops. Not to mention one location of a local favourite, Molly Moon's. I tried their Salted Caramel ice cream and I am telling you, it was a fantastic experience, like being given permission to caramelize a stick of salted butter and eat it with a spoon. Fall has also decidedly started its descent upon the city. The sun has begun to set a little earlier and the misty days are a shade colder than they were before. But today it is a balmy 75 in Seattle- perfect for sitting on my new porch with an iced americano and a book. In case you are not aware of the fact, I LOVE fall. It is absolutely my most favourite season of all time. Back-to-school fever (even though this is my first year not actually attending school), apples, pears, cider, golden sunlight, ruby leaves, the smell of fires, savoury dishes, sweaters and a dash of nutmeg in my coffee are all things that bring a little extra joy to my days. I am looking forward to sharing this wonderful season in this great new location with all of you. Happy Labour Day weekend to everyone and as a final send off, I give you this picture of a mural in Wallingford: This morning I woke up to a clouded-over sky and a hanging fog. The early alarm was made worth it by the faint smell of salt water that clung to the air. I drove to University Village and discovered a nearly empty parking lot, so I secured one of the coveted shady spaces should the overcast clear by the time I got off work.
I made sure I had plenty of time to run by the UVillage Starbucks so I stopped in. It was a chilly morning, so I ordered my drink hot and took it outside. No one else had ventured out but my sweater and americano kept me warm. I enjoyed a farmer's market peach - one of the best I've ever eaten - and relaxed. My day at work started off slow enough; I helped make the day's display food, a cookie cake, and then set about helping a coworker with one of the displays. Now although it won't sound like very much to you, I made about 12 'cello's, which are wrapped products. A lotion, a hand soap, two pumps and a wire rack, all put in a plastic cellophane bag and tied with the classic Williams-Sonoma green ribbon. Let me tell you- for someone who has spent their whole life tying their shoes with the double loop method, learning how to make a pretty bow is a time-consuming process. I fretted over every one. But with affirmation from my many friendly coworkers and plenty of attempts, I think I'm getting the hang of it. The rest of my work day consisted of reinforcing the method by which to do a return, learning how to repack an ice cream machine into its box, and staying on hold with another WS store while they're checking to see if they have a product you have run out of while the customer stands there staring at you. After work I had my first ever apartment viewing. The apartment turned out to be not as nice as I had hoped, but the manager was very nice and accommodating, so it wasn't as nerve-wracking as I was expecting. More apartment hunting will fill the next few weeks- let's hope I can find something good (and cheap!)! The apartment I was looking at is at the bottom of a hill between where I work and where I live now. I had walked there so I decided that since I had to walk all the way back up the hill I might as well find another Starbucks and use my Treat Receipt to refresh myself after the climb. Turns out the walk was much further than I had anticipated. I did make it, eventually, and that Iced White Chocolate Mocha could not have tasted any sweeter. My legs are protesting the frequent hills; the good news, however, is that this week is the first time I've bought gas since moving here a month ago. It is days like this one that provide confirmation I did the right thing by moving here. The heart-warming smell of dewy vegetation, good coffee, a rewarding job and peace of mind are all reasons I love this place. |
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