Simple does it

 

I rigged up this simple birdbath with a flowerpot and old earthenware casserole dish. They fit together perfectly, and birds love it because the rim of the dish is unglazed so they can perch while jumping in and out. Those fancy ceramic birdbaths are pretty to look at but too slippery.

 

Speaking of fancy, not a single hummingbird checked out my new blue glass feeder. In fact, it seemed to scare them off! 

Part of the problem is hummers greatly prefer flowers, given a choice, and we have a buffet going in the summer. I put up this tried and true cheapo feeder from Amazon, and noticed one finally sampling the goods yesterday. Maybe they'll eventually take to the blue. 

 

But life is not all peaceful trivialities. This alarming fire broke out yesterday afternoon (pictures from Amanda) just outside of Winthrop near Pearrygin Lake State Park. The area is heavily populated so the location is really scary. 

They are hitting it hard with the big air tankers and hopefully soon under control. More thunderstorms over there today-- rain good, lightening not. 

 

 

Summer's lease

 

Seafair is coming up this weekend in Seattle. We heard the Blue Angels fly into to Boeing Field yesterday, and they'll be screaming around overhead for the next few days. 

I have mixed feelings about what we once called the "military industrial complex," but seeing them perform still gives a visceral thrill. Flotillas of pleasure boats turn Lake Washington into a big sloshing bathtub of fun during the hydroplane races. (Been there, done that.) 

We have August stretching ahead, but Seafair weekend feels like the summer climax in Seattle. Suddenly the sunrises are later, sunset earlier. It's still warm, even hot, but there's a different slant to the light in August. Back-to-school shopping in the stores and good luck if you still need anything summery. 

The oriental lilies, blooming now, are the last of the big, showy flowers. 

Note to self: plant more gladiolas next year. 
 

Swim meet

 

 

Just to give you an idea of the skill level, that's Maya (in the pink cap) racing 200 meter freestyle in the 11-12 year old girls age group. Especially after the pool closure, the performance is amazing, a real tribute the dedication and consistency of the coaching.

The Killer Whale Swim team posing at the Sunday afternoon awards celebration. 
 

From The Methow Valley News: 

“It’s very exciting,” co-head coach Katie Leuthauser during a practice session. Leuthauser, a science teacher at Liberty Bell High School, has lost count of the number of years she has been coaching the summer swim team, but thinks it’s somewhere around eight or nine years. This is the second time she has found herself, along with longtime coach Bo Thrasher and assistant coach Chuck Phillips, rebuilding after a shutdown, dating back to the COVID pandemic summer of 2020. Last year’s closure had to do with infrastructure failure that prevented operation of the community’s only public swimming pool."

It was an easy drive back to Seattle yesterday. I left early and the perfect driving weather certainly helped, but after 5 years, maybe I'm getting used to those long hours in the car. My 2,000+ eclectic playlist set on random passes the time when there's no passenger to drive crazy! Who could tolerate jumping between Mahler adagios, Coltrane and Joni Mitchell? Etc.

Well, summer is winding down and August busy for everyone, packed with last minute vacation trips and other events. So I'll be home now for the next few weeks. 

Chip seal

 

Some of the worst streets in our area were repaired last week. Way to go, Town of Twisp. We've been driving and walking on potholed asphalt and rutted gravel for years. A big upgrade for our little backwater neighborhood.

According to WASHDOT, chip sealing is the application of a "protective wearing surface to an existing pavement." 

It costs much less than new pavement overlays but does the trick. Liquid asphalt is sprayed on the road using a special truck, then immediately overlaid with gravel, which is then compacted with giant rubber tires. 

According to my neighbor, an extremely noisy process so glad I missed it.

I'm leaving tomorrow, and probably won't get back to the house for a few weeks now. 

There's an old quote: "Summer should get a speeding ticket." 

 

Apricot sunrise

 

Our neighbor Bruce brought over this beautiful box of apricots, just picked from their tree. 

I don't have canning apparatus here, so decided to make freezer jam early yesterday morning. A peaceful activity in a quiet empty house, with the sun just coming up behind Mill Hill. 

Of all the food you can preserve at home, jam is the simplest: equal parts sugar and fruit. But jam is also tricky, because the fruit needs to cook down until it reaches "gel" point.  

Using powdered pectin and following the recipe on the box is essential if you're making jelly, which sets up stiff. For jam, it isn't necessary, because fruit has natural pectin (you just don't know how much.) 

Anyway, after simmering about an hour, I did the "frozen plate test" and the consistency looked good. Soft but not runny. 

I'll make a second batch today. I can't waste a single apricot, and how good that jam will taste, come winter. 

Yesterday was a big day. The swim team championship meet was held at Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp, and the park filled up with families from all around the region, camping out for the day. 

The matches ran nonstop from 8 am until 5. Yes, everyone was exhausted! What a day for the Methow Valley Killer Whales swim team, especially after the sad closure of the pool last summer. 

Nova and Maya each competed in about 10 different heats throughout the day. Just imagine the stamina and drive. It was amazing, watching them and their friends swim so fast and so expertly. 

Where are the photos and videos, you might be wondering? Well, the girls asked me not to post pictures of them on the blog anymore without prior clearance. Fair enough! I'll see if I can get permission to share some of the highlights.

Peaceful

So peaceful and quiet here, it feels like a million miles from the constant noise, traffic and construction in Seattle. A doe with her triplets are frolicking along the river in front of the house. 

And the "Lullaby of Leaves" in the cottonwood trees yesterday afternoon. One of the prettiest songs ever written, especially sung by Ella. 

Unfortunately, my friend Karen and I crossed paths yesterday-- she was headed west to visit relatives in Seattle. She sometimes stays on her sister's houseboat which sounds (and is) pretty cool, but coming from her quiet life on the river, she said the big city hits you like ton of bricks, especially the constant movement and din of background noise on Lake Union. No kidding. 

I had a big surprise yesterday afternoon. A gentleman knocked on the door and introduced himself as the previous owner of the house. We had only met once, very briefly. He and his wife moved to Nevada after we bought the house five years ago (yes, that long) but he was back in the Valley for a visit and saw my car in the driveway.  

We had such a nice chat and I learned more about the history of the property. He was happy and surprised to see the place he built so well-kept up and pretty. He said his wife had loved this house, and I told him I did too!

That's about it. The weekend is filled with swim activities, and the big championship meet goes all day tomorrow. I am hoping to see my busy granddaughters for a bit today.