The pause that refreshes

Coca Cola was invented by the Atlanta druggist John Pemperton on March 29, 1886.  Wounded in the Civil War and addicted to morphine, he began experimenting with coca leaves and brewing up "wine" as a possible cure.

The customers at his soda fountain were the lab rats. Made of sugar syrup and carbonated water blended with coca leaves, the drink was marketed as a "valuable brain tonic." Essentially a cocaine cocktail, no surprise that "Pemberton's French Wine Coca" soon became popular.

I like a plain diet Coke occasionally, but that's the extent of my soda drinking. They also make something called Coke Zero that is disgusting. It is supposed to taste more like the "real thing." John won't touch any diet drinks for all the right reasons.

March is going out like a lamb, on the dry side and a little warmer than usual.  By next week, we should have tulips.  Tomorrow is my birthday and John got tickets to see the new show "Marie, Dancing Still."  It's a story about the Paris ballet dancer who inspired the famous Degas sculpture.


We seldom see Broadway-type musicals and the Fifth Avenue Theater is beautiful, so I'm looking forward to it. Afterwards, dinner at Shucker's Oyster Bar at the Olympic Hotel.  Unfortunately, I caught a cold, courtesy of my darling granddaughter last weekend, but nothing a few oysters can't cure.

Have a nice weekend.
Welcome, lovely April.

Fragrance

"The Perfume Maker"

Ernst Rodolphe

Aromatherapy and essential oils are in, but personal perfume is definitely out.  In the ladies restroom line at the Symphony, people sometimes complain about the "horrible stench" of perfume in the hall, making them feel sick.

Oh, dear, could it be me? Well, no...other than a bit of perfumed hand lotion, I never use fragrance in public anymore. I still love my old Oscar de la Renta, a light fresh scent (at least to me) but now I'm paranoid about wearing it anywhere.  Even my doctor's office is posted as a "fragrance free zone." It is true that some fragrances can cause allergic reactions in some people.

But around the house I can smell as good (or bad!) as I want. And who needs chemical air fresheners when you have fresh flowers?

I bought this pretty jasmine plant at Trader Joe's covered with buds just starting to open and already filling the house with fragrance, possibly the most perfect scent of the flower kingdom.

Although hyacinths come in a close second. I cut a few stems for the bedroom, truly the scent of Spring.

In the days before Fabreze, air fresheners and weird scented candles from Ross, people used potpourri. In the 70's, I remember mom making it with dried rose petals, a gentle natural scent that didn't last long but looked pretty in a bowl. Potpourri has been used since ancient times, in a variety of ways, including just scattering flower petals on floors.

"Potpourri"

Edwin Austin Abbey

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Bunnies

My bunnies were hopping around in the backyard last week. They usually hang out in front, by the hedge. It looks like "Peter" and "Cotton" made it through the winter fine and dandy, thank you very much.

I'm not sure where they go to stay safe and dry at night, but maybe under our old shed. Some animal (bigger than a rat, smaller than a racoon) made a little tunnel going under there.  I suspected a possum, but it could be these guys.  Hey, if they're wily enough to thrive in this tough town, good for them. I'm happy to assist with some affordable housing.

We finally had welcome rain last night.  The soil is quite dry, as we've had 3 inches less moisture this month than normal.  But then, what is "normal weather" anymore?  The garden is picking up steam and the forsythia and hyacinths are blooming. I always bring the first ones inside for the beautiful fragrance.

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away 
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

From A Prayer in Spring
by Robert Frost

Charlotte's Web

 Nova outside the Merc Theater

Downtown Twisp

The book Charlotte's Web, published in 1952, is considered a classic of children's literature and so enjoyable to adults as well. The story is about a runt pig named Wilbur, and the intervention of his farm friends, in particular the spider Charlotte, to save him from slaughter. On a deeper level, the story touches on themes of life and death, friendship, sacrifice and miracles.

Everyone really enjoyed the play on Saturday night.  Big kudos to the local talented kids for great acting, and also the dedicated adults for putting on a first rate production.

 Nova played two parts in the show, a baby gosling and baby spider (below on the left.)

Charlotte dies in the end, as barn spiders do in the fall, but the animals save her egg sac which then hatches in the spring.  The hundreds of baby spiders drift away, except for three that remain in Charlotte's old doorway. Wilbur is saved, and future generations of spiders keep him company and always remind him of the original wise Charlotte.

And check out this beautiful young actress in her stage makeup. If there was any doubt that time indeed flies...

On Saturday, the snow began to disappear before our eyes in the strong spring sun. Amanda drove us out to see the acreage they just purchased outside of town for a future home site, with great views of the valley and river below. We didn't quite make it to the top of the hill-- a view picnic to look forward to next time!

Headed home

Our budding actress Nova, in front of the Twisp theater.

We're headed home today after a great weekend visit in Twisp.
More news and pictures coming soon.

Oh, Martha

Ross, TJ Max and Marshall's stores are all about recreational shopping, i.e. retail therapy, impulse purchases. Hopeless places if you're looking for something specific, or heaven forbid, trying to buy the same thing twice.

I grabbed this box of Martha Stewart scone mix for $3.99, which seemed a bit expensive, but I figured "just add water."  I didn't read the fine print. Nothing is that simple with Martha.  She called for eggs, heavy cream! and a stick of butter.  And a 15 step recipe.

They were very tasty although a bit crumbly for spreading. Not that they needed any more fat. I'm sure Martha would say "tender" as she gloated and patted herself on the back.

Speaking of scones, John and I are going to do something new together for the first time. In May, we're taking a cooking class at the community college.

Yes, you read that right.  We're registered for "high tea" class, which includes an afternoon of making scones, lemon curd, cultured butter and chocolate bundt cake. Followed by shared tea. The class is taught by one of the chocolatiers at Frans Chocolates, so she should know her stuff.

John is already boasting that his scones will be the "best ever made."  Well, the jury is still out.  In 26 years of marriage, the only cooking I've seen around here is reheating leftovers in the microwave. On the other hand, compared to yours truly, he is pretty good at following exact directions, and will no doubt make himself the teacher's pet.

Tomorrow morning we're headed to Twisp. We're looking forward to seeing the kids and the production of "Charlotte's' Web" at The Merc Playhouse. Nova has two animal parts in the play, including a few lines. We have a budding actress in the family.  You might remember she was in the school production of "The Secret Garden" and last year she played an orphan in "Annie."

Anyway, I'll post some new pictures soon. 
Have a good weekend.

The Vernal Equinox

The Captive's Return

Henry Ryland

 

The Spring Vernal Equinox arrives today at about 3 pm, meaning there is (almost) exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime.  Spring felt more like summer yesterday and it hit 79 degrees, which was the warmest winter day on record for Seattle. About the same again for today. 

I was working outside, of course, and it was discombobulating seeing the blinding hot sun beating down on what is still a bare winter garden. A few crocus blooming, that's it. It won't be that way for long. The windows were open to air out the house, and I pulled a steak out of the freezer.

Plenty big enough to share...

However, a tricky grilling challenge for the chef, as one of us leans toward rare and the other well done. But marriage is all about compromise, and judging from the leftovers, everyone was happy.

On to the next record

I just kicked the jade plants out of the house for the summer.  They look pretty unhappy but will soon take off growing in the strong light.

Just a few weeks ago we were shoveling snow, and yesterday it hit 75 degrees, a record for the warmest winter day ever in Seattle. Today, the last full day of winter, it will be even warmer, easily breaking the high of 63 degrees set back in 1951. Just to put these temperatures in perspective, mid to upper 70's is the average high temperature in Seattle in July.

Spring is suddenly bursting out in our neighborhood.  
 

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

A.E. Housman

Major Bach in Minor

Bach Mass in B Minor

Seattle Symphony
Benayora Hall

Considered the greatest of Bach's masterpieces (out of 1,128 finished works, that's saying something) the score to the Mass in B Minor was completed near the end of his life.  Two decades in the making, some parts were taken from pieces he composed for other occasions.

The re-use of existing music with new words was common and accepted in the 17th century. However, other themes in the Mass stretch back hundreds of years, and some of the movements were completely original at the time. For example, the ethereal harmonies in "Et incarnatus est":

That sounds like Mozart, many years later. 

But the real enigma surrounding Bach's work is how a devout Lutheran, who spent most of his life writing Protestant music, came to write a magnificent Catholic Mass. I leave that question to the musicologists, and millions of words have probably been written on the subject. The simplest explanation is Bach was thinking of his legacy, and desired a wider audience and recognition.

For me, here's what is so amazing about Bach's sublime music. Composers in his time were not artists on pedestals, working only when inspiration struck, but craftsmen, required to crank out music on order and regularly for their patrons and employers.

Appropriately, the performance yesterday was dedicated to the victims of the New Zealand mosque shooting.

Excerpt from the program:

Bach transcends the ecclesiastical boundaries of his own denomination to create a tremendous song for all of Christendom, and to the extent that religious sentiments have some universality, for all of mankind.  It is also one of the great musical achievements of its age or any other, a work that continues to inspire awe and reverence among listeners even in our more secular era.

The Mass was over 2 hours, a endurance feat for the chorus, soloists and orchestra. And for some members of audience. But it was wonderful to hear such a great masterpiece performed so well.

The flute and tenor duet near the end was one of the special highlights.

Dumbstruck Day

Ironically, March 15 is "Dumbstruck Day."  A day to be totally dumbstruck over the overwhelming things you see, hear and read. Oh, the news this morning. Another vicious act of hate and violence, this time in one of the most peaceful countries on earth. 

We're headed into a glorious week of weather, long overdue. Yesterday we finally broke the cold spell-- 39 consecutive days with below normal temperatures.  I seriously overworked myself in the garden, a Spring tradition. Today I'm taking it easier, maybe get a pedicure or something, and try not to think too much about anything. 

For us corned beef and cabbage lovers, St. Patrick's Day is Sunday. Not exactly health food, but a treat. Like tofu, corned beef ignites strong feelings of like/dislike.  I got a great deal at Safeway, and bought an extra one for the freezer. Hard to beat a good corned beef and Swiss sandwich, or homemade corned beef hash and eggs. Just my humble opinion.

We have a symphony on Sunday that includes a big Bach choral work.  That type of program really brings out the crowd, and with the holiday and nice weather, downtown will be busy.  Maybe we'll take Uber for a change.

Let's just call it Spring

Not quite here yet, but the weather is finally starting to warm up. The official start of Spring is next week, and boy, we are ready. What a hard winter for the entire country, battered by storms, including the desert Southwest.

Anyway, we can soon put it behind us, and look forward to another scorching hot, record dry summer.  Ha! Spring is typically a long, slow season in Seattle, but the transition to summer will be quick this year.

It should hit the glorious mid-60's next week, and that pent-up plant growth will take off like a rocket.

What a mess in the yard after snow, windstorms and freezing temperatures.  Moss, slime, branches and broken bricks. I spent yesterday afternoon scraping and sweeping the "patio."

Still wabi sabi, but better. It looks about 100 years old, because it is. When we first moved here, those bricks were completely covered with sod, and I scraped it off on my hands and knees.

This went through my mind yesterday, once again on my same old knees, on the same old bricks, almost 40 years later.

Sure, we could have new pavers put in, but when all is said and done, it fits in with the "rustic" feel around here.  A fancy new patio would just make the run down deck and lawn look bad. And then what to do about the old shed?  Where would you stop?  Maybe we'll leave that for the next generation.

Finally, I re-potted the big jasmine. A reward, for miraculously surviving another winter. Soon it will perfume the deck with its glorious fragrance.

And topping off a day of hard work (14,000 steps on my FitBit) grilled lamb chops and veggies. A classic Spring dinner.

Wordless Wednesday

"Sprinkling Moon Dust on the Universe"

Edwin Blashfiled

Scenes from a sketchbook

The "Bob Ross Method"

On Saturday I took my final drawing class at the community college, and was surprised how much I learned by the end of that beginner's course.

Of course, it helps when you start out knowing nothing! My idea of drawing was coping illustrations from coloring books.  I have a pretty good eye for detail, but I've never had any formal art instruction, so all the standard drawing tricks and techniques were totally new.

Remember the beloved Bob Ross programs on PBS?  Our instructor stood at an easel at the front of the class, drawing and explaining while we tried to imitate what he was doing in real time, using just three pencils and an overworked eraser.

For example, I learned about the the different parts of a shadow: the highlight, midtone and cast shadow...

Basic perspective....and how to draw simple shapes. 

And my biggest breakthrough was blending the graphite, for more three-dimensional art. 

All you need are pencils and these simple little blending tools.

By far, my biggest challenge was getting proportions right, the most important first step. I have a long way to go on this monkey, but in the past, I would have jumped into the details first.

Our final project was a complete picture, and the instructor handed out this drawing he made.  My first reaction?  I'll never be able to draw a bird so realistic. 

Well, not so fast. Like many things in life, if you break it down into careful little steps, the whole eventually comes together.

And here's my bird, after about 2 hours of work.  Not perfect by a long shot, but certainly better than anything I've done before.

Spring forward

The Ballad of Daylight Savings Time

What's with this daylight savings time,
It steals our snoozing, sleeping time
Roll out of bed and take a breath
And feel like microwave-reheated death.

Seven o'clock? That just can't be
It's way too dark out there to see
Coffee? Yes, I need two cups
To get my sluggish body up

And hit the road before the sun
For Monday's way-to-early fun.
It's lunchtime? HUH? I just got here
My head just now is barely clear.

Afternoon meeting? How can that be?
I thought it was one...HOW IS IT THREE?
The end of the day has almost come
The day flew by...it's almost done.

Five o'clock? well that's just fine!
I LIKE this daylight savings time!

Rick W. Cotton

This might be the last time we have to go through the clock change ritual. The Washington State House of Representatives voted 89 to 7 Saturday in favor of making daylight saving time permanent and the Senate will vote in the coming days on the issue. More than two dozen states are also weighing whether to abolish the twice-yearly time change.

I'd prefer to stay on standard time. I'm a morning person, and at our latitude, the summer evenings are naturally long and light without human intervention.  But don't you agree, we should finally put this nonsense to rest?

Anyway, if time is meaningless and relative, just pick one and stick with it.