Fields of gold

 

 The locals can’t explain the super bloom of wildflowers this spring. What a gift, especially the Arrowleaf Balsamwood, carpeting the hills and valleys in gold as far as the eye can see.

We had a nice hike with family and friends yesterday morning high above Pearrygin Lake, with sweeping views of the North Cascades in the distance.  The Western Meadowlarks were singing their hearts out.

 

We all missed Nova, who was working at the boutique in Winthrop all day. But I got a little Maya time.

It was a perfect Mother's Day, with sweet times and thoughtful gifts from Amanda and John, like this cute vase he brought over from Seattle (now filled now with valley wildflowers.)

As you all know, I like cooking, especially for appreciative others. We had lamb, saffron rice and a big garbanzo bean salad. The wine poured freely and pie for dessert.

Right before dinner, I texted these photos to our neighbors down the street and said hey-- come over and help us eat all this food. 

They showed up on short notice (which would never happen in Seattle) so we suddenly had a party going. I love the spontaneity here, and how the best things often come together without much fuss and bother.

School and work today for the family. John is headed back to Seattle now but I'm staying a few more days. Our irrigation system needs some upgrades, and I plan to meet with a local company who might take the job. 

Under the radar

 

 

I took the North Cascades Highway scenic route yesterday. The recreational traffic was light and the drive pleasant, except for so many logging trucks racing west to the Darrington Mill, loaded with enormous trees from the wilderness areas. The empty ones were racing east, passing the slower cars. I've never seen that before in the park, what gives?

Well, in the hammer blows of daily bad news, this one easily slipped by. In April, an emergency executive order for the "immediate expansion of American timber" rolled back environmental protections on more than 112 million acres — or nearly 60% — of our national forests. 

Hard to wrap your mind around a loss like that. Everyone (and no one) owns our national forests. Some logging is necessary, but the largest and most valuable trees will go first under this plan. 

National forests are what make our country special! Not just for recreation and wildlife, but mature forests are the world's best defense against climate change. 

In happier news, everything is fine here. The river is up some from last visit, but not much. Locals are saying this might be as high as it gets. The snow pack is low in the North Cascades this spring, and yesterday almost all the snow was already melted at pass level.

 

Changing views

 

 

By the 1940's, logging was big business in Okanogan County, and the Twisp Wagner Mill was the largest employer in the Methow Valley for many years. The mill burned to the ground in the 1970's (above) and the fire almost took the town with it. 

You can read more about historical Twisp in this HistoryLink essay.

It's hard to believe all this industry and activity once happened directly across the Methow River from our neighborhood.

The area is now a large, empty expanse of quiet land, privately owned but not posted, so frequented by loose dog walkers, bicycles, teenagers, and the occasional transient car camper. We can see the shenanigans from our front window, but by large, a peaceful view by day and dark at night.

This is valuable property that will surely be developed for housing or something else. But happily for now, the local owner is hanging on to the open land. 

Speaking of Twisp, I'm going over tomorrow, and for a change of scene, plan to take the North Cascades Highway for the first time this year. It opened for the season several weeks ago.

 

National Tourism Day

 

 

Such a sweet tune from the 1956 movie, "Around the World in 80 Days." 

Back when international travel was only for the rich and privileged, and it was unheard of for entire families to fly to foreign countries on vacation. In the 1950's, we never went farther than Philadelphia or New Jersey, and even that was pretty darn exciting!

Today is the deadline for the Real ID, and despite all the advance warning, causing long security lines this morning. We are covered with passports (and I have a passport card with a truly hideous photo) so we don't have to endure the DMV experience to get a Real ID.

We seldom travel far in the summer, because honestly it's finally nice in Seattle and we have the Twisp house to get away.

But here's some exciting news-- yesterday I scored tickets to a performance in August at The Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel conducting Tchaikovsky. Complete with fireworks.

We fly to Burbank and have reservations at nice tourist trap hotel for 4 nights "in the heart of Hollywood" as they say. Close enough to walk to The Bowl and skip the rental car this time, we'll take Uber or public transportation. Why not? A classic LA experience that's long been on our wish list. 

Food and flowers

 

Cinco de Mayo is one of those  holidays adopted by Americans, like St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest, mostly for eating and drinking. Steak fajitas here last night. Few people know or care that it commemorates the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. 

I like Cinco de Mayo week because the grocery stores always have specials on produce like peppers, mangoes, avocados, sweet onions and Roma tomatoes, most from Mexico and apparently about to get much more expensive. 

Sorry there hasn't been much to talk about lately except cooking and flowers. I guess it could be worse. 

Here's some news: today is the warmest day since last September, getting close to 80 in Seattle. The garden seems especially lush (or maybe I just forget from year to year) and I got to work yesterday cutting back the spent bulb foliage and bluebells to give the other flowers some breathing room. 

 Some folks have all the fun...

Four seasons

 

This is a beautiful time of year in West Seattle, with the scent of lilacs drifting everywhere you walk. There are several bushes on each block and also lining the alleys, planted decades ago by homeowners who took pride in their little houses and yards.

These lots are scraped clean of vegetation to make way for big box houses, but many older yards are still filled with blooming trees and the types of woody shrubs that aren't planted much anymore-- like vibrunum. That's the white flower above that looks like a small hydrangea.

In Margaret Renkl's NYT essay this morning "I Brake for Robins," she writes how "small local landscapes are becoming ever more crucial in the context of a world on fire. When we cherish and tend what we have the power to tend, we make a place where vulnerable creatures at least have a chance. About 135 million acres in this country are in residential landscapes, a powerful entry point for environmentalism."

If you are lucky enough to have outdoor space, consider the innocent birds and creatures that live there. End of lecture.

Speaking of seasons, yesterday we heard Vivaldi's Four Seasons at the Symphony, frequently referred to as an "old chestnut" because it is so well-known and possibly overplayed. That said, there is good reason why people love it, so you could more kindly call it a "timeless classic."  

Instead of a guest soloist, it was played by the Symphony's own Associate Concertmaster, Helen Kim. This is always popular with the local audience. Of course every note not just memorized but played perfectly. It was brilliant from our 4th row seats.