Birthdays and Snow Moon

 

Looking at some old family photos yesterday, I was stuck by the fact that our dad's mother was born in the late 1800's. It's amazing I can remember a grandma so well, who lived two centuries ago. How many people can say that? Pretty neat. She passed away in the 1970's. My goodness, lucky me, I've lived a long time. (And if I can stay marbled, hope to keep going for a while longer.)

About the time Grammy was born, the first phonograph was invented and Edison formed the first electric company in Manhattan. The lights came on for a handful of rich people, but it would be another 50 years before even half of American homes had electricity. She was born in a world so different from ours, it might have been the Stone Age. But definitely a slower and sweeter age in many ways.

Well, there's a helluva big moon setting right now behind the Olympic Mountains. It's shining through a little slot in the clouds like a giant lamp. This is the February Snow Moon. Another cold morning in Seattle and the snow in the mountains still piling up by the foot. Spring is late this year.

Have a good weekend.

Venturing out

When the world comes back, will I be able to keep up? What a quiet and secluded life we live. 

I went to the Macy's store yesterday with a return, rather than sending it back in the mail. I haven't been to the mall in over a year, and was curious how things have changed at my old stomping ground.

It was early and the parking lot was almost empty. The few people shopping inside were all wearing masks, including the little kids.  I honestly expected to see more closed stores, but many have managed to somehow hang on.

However, a noticeable lack of merchandise in larger stores like Penny's and Macy's: sparse racks and tables, empty floor spaces. Once you went to the flagship store for the best selection, now it's online. 

I walked my usual store circuit and got quite tired. Maybe it was the mask, or just the weariness of this new shopping world, but I've lost my old mall stamina! Still, it was nice doing something familiar. I found a few Easter things for the girls, etc. and had a good time.

And here's someone else venturing out again.  That's Dad at the grocery store "Sprouts," shopping with my sister Marji for the first time in a year. She put him right back to work at his old job pushing the cart. 

They also managed a trip this week to Floyd Lamb Park to check in with their bird friends. Bit by bit, a slow return to normal.

Can't decide?

 

The weather just can't decide if it wants to be winter or spring. We had a hailstorm yesterday, and it even snowed again in parts of the Puget Sound lowlands.  It won't stick around, but enough already. We just can't get out of the chilly 40's.

Nothing new to report today, just another uneventful Wednesday in a long string of them. It's exactly a year now since the first case of Covid was announced in King County. At the time, no one could have imagined what the next year would bring, which is probably a good thing.  

Our family feels very lucky getting in on that first wave of vaccinations. I read on the NYT that about 6% of Americans are fully vaccinated now. Still an exclusive club, but won't stay that way long as the pace of vaccination is really picking up.

It takes a while to sink in, but suddenly the anxiety of going out and doing ordinary things is gone. I might catch something else at the dentist or grocery store, but the chance I'll get seriously sick from Covid is now about nil. Speaking of that, on Friday John gets his first haircut in a YEAR. Now that's news.

The first

I don't buy strawberries in the winter, and it always seems like the first ones from California taste better than any that come after. I have a dentist appointment this morning and that's my excitement for the day, other than some sliced strawberries on my cottage cheese.

A world of contrasts

Saturday felt almost springlike in Seattle. By that I mean, no wind, no rain and the temperature reaching 50 degrees.  Hey, we'll take it.  I did some yard work (too much, actually) and put a few primroses here and there to brighten things up.  

Talk about cheerful, hopeful sights, a flock of busy robins pecking in the rotted leaf mulch for worms and insects. I always complain about that fall mulching chore, but what a healthy thing for the soil. One of my spring pleasures is pulling it off and surprising the worms.

This looks like a summer afternoon, not a chilly February morning. The big potted jasmine is none the worst for wear, as I covered it with a fleece blanket through the cold weather. In the summer, the tropical flowers smell so good on the back deck. 

It's hard to believe that just a week ago, the yard was buried under a foot of snow. When it decides to come out, that February sun has some oomph.

But winter continues full force up in the mountains. All three major passes (Snoqualmie, Stevens and White) are closed this morning due to heavy snow and avalanche danger.  If you have to get over to the "other side," you have a mighty long drive ahead: south to the Columbia Gorge and then north to Ellensburg.

Look at our ski bunnies in the chairlift line at Loup Loup Ski Bowl on Saturday. Cross country? Downhill? Ice skating? These girls are becoming winter athletes. It's wonderful they have all this practically in their backyard.

 

Salad rolls and pot stickers

 

That's a cute picture of the kids celebrating Chinese New Year with a special dinner. Love those happy faces and miss them so much. I can't believe we haven't seen them since last summer.

The snow is almost gone from the yard. Finally. Usually by mid-February, we have some pleasant 50 degrees days, but we're stuck with daily rain and chilly temperatures probably through the end of the month.

I heard on the news this morning that "45% of people in Washington state are depressed." Goodness. But I'm not surprised. March and April will surely be much better months as we turn the corner on so much negativity.

Speaking of turning a new leaf, yesterday afternoon I pulled my closet and drawers apart and made a box for the charity store. So many dusty clothes I haven't worn for over a year, and most likely never will again. 

My depressing pandemic uniform is stretchy black yoga pants with a long sleeve shirt (winter) or black tee-shirt (summer.) I also weighed myself for the first time in months and got a rude surprise. No wonder those old jeans feel snug. 

There is something about pants with zippers to keep you on the straight and narrow. I caught a reflection of my bundled up self on a walk in hat and hood, and I looked like the Queen Mother in Scotland.

Have a good weekend and wherever you are, I hope the weather isn't too horrible.  We can't really complain about 40 degrees and rain.

All in the prep

 

The Sous Chef prepped all in the ingredients for the stir-fry last night. After that, the actual cooking part is just a snap. 

Quite precise and time-consuming, did you know a complex chopping job like this requires selection of razor sharp Japanese knives?  They look more like samurai daggers and swords to me. (I am not allowed to touch them, nor do I want to.)

Yes, I'm getting spoiled. After giving the detailed chopping instructions, I can come back hours later and the job is done!  Everybody is happy. It's better anyway if I don't watch, as I might start screaming at the extreme fussiness :-) In the old days, it would have been a rough chop with the favorite paring knife.

OK. Almost a week now since we had the second Pfizer shot, and the implications are just starting to sink in.  Namely, that our chances of dying or getting seriously ill from Covid have suddenly dropped to about zero. It's an overwhelming thought to process.

After a year of social isolation and doing only the most necessary errands, I can go back to some ordinary pleasures like a trip to Marshall's or the grocery store without so much anxiety. Of course, I'll continue to wear a mask, social distance etc. etc. This isn't over yet, but folks there's a light on the horizon. I've never been a cheerleader for Big Pharma, but thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

My sister and Dad in Las Vegas also got their second doses yesterday. As for visits, I read this advice recently: "If you and your elderly relative are both fully immunized, the benefits of a visit far outweigh the very slight risk."  We are so lucky.

How fun is that?

Both Nova and Maya are on the Methow Valley cross-country ski team. As special treat yesterday, they got to ski 6 miles from Sun Mountain Lodge all the way down to the town of Winthrop. 

Amanda had the day off work, so she skied along with Maya's team and took these pictures. Nova was with another group of bigger kids.

A beautiful day with beautifully groomed trails. And almost all downhill. Wow.
 

The coach gave the kids a fun little tow ride at the end. Amanda said she's former Olympian cross country skier. You have to be strong to drag a gaggle of little girls.  

That's our Maya at the end of the line.
 

Sweet

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the last chance to binge on rich, fatty foods before Lenten fasting starts tomorrow. Ash Wednesday, already the start of Easter season. We put a dent in the Valentine chocolates and coconut cake. Our small remaining pleasures seem to revolve around good food and drink.

Last year in New Orleans, when the virus was about to bring the world to its knees, the partying went on. Now we have a new word for that: super-spreader event. If we knew then what we know now, would it have made any difference? The cynic in me says, no, human nature being what it is.

The cold weather across the country is pretty bad, especially for folks not prepared for it. Even far south in New Orleans, it will only be in the 30's and 40's today. That should put a natural damper on the Mardi Gras.

I've always wanted to see New Orleans. Suddenly, there seem to be many places in the world I'll never go. India and Africa, for example. A year of staying home seems to shrink the travel ambitions. It suddenly doesn't seem worth all the trouble and risk.  Hopefully that changes, after we start to venture out in baby steps.

On the positive side, the thought of a once routine little travel treat, like an upcoming trip to Las Vegas or southern California, makes me feel giddy with anticipation.

We're well above freezing, but the snow is taking its own sweet time to disappear. There was just so MUCH of it! We haven't moved the cars since Friday; the side streets are still covered with deep slush.  

I walked two blocks to the mailbox yesterday for some fresh air and enough was enough. Dog poop everywhere, since no one picks up after them when they're frolicking in the snow.  Sorry, I can't paint a pretty picture of Seattle right now.
 

Snow pictures

Another Seattle snow, another bunch of yard pictures.  

By Sunday afternoon it was up to my knees, with large drifts from the north wind. A considerate storm, coming in over the long weekend. The smart ones stock up at the grocery store, park their cars and wait until Mother Nature decides to melt it off.  

You-know-what would freeze over before the snowplows reach thousands of miles of Seattle streets.

If you live in a cold part of the country, you might think snow driving is the same old game everywhere. Well, you are wrong. 

Nothing compares to the classic snow rush hour nightmare in Seattle. Steep hills! Congestion! Ultra slippery wet snow! Totally unprepared drivers! Those who have lived here long enough might even remember the epic snowstorm of Dec. 1996. I spent 12 hours in the car inching my way home 25 miles from work and still have a touch of PTSD from the experience.

We are primed for spring in February, but the surprise snowfall was beautiful. The snow-covered streets full of neighbors out with happy children and their fancy toys: snowboards, sleds, cross country skies, snow shoes. Everything suddenly looks so high tech.

Anyway, a fun break for the cooped up families. Seattle deserves a pat on the back. Even the teenagers hanging out in groups were all wearing masks.

We got our second Pfizer shots late Friday afternoon. Again, so lucky, this time getting in right under the wire before the clinic closed for the weekend. We were tucked up at home by the time the snow started.  

I was really anxious about side effects. I didn't feel that great after the first shot, which is supposedly a piece of cake by comparison. But was pleasantly surprised, with just a slight headache and fatigue. Tylenol and a couple of naps did the trick.

 However, after both shots a mysterious little lymph node above my collar bone popped up. It was alarming, but I checked with Dr Google, and it's just another common side effect from the immune system working overtime.

Cold bunny

We got about an inch of snow yesterday in Seattle. The hospital called and rescheduled my early morning vaccination appointment to late afternoon today. They also changed John's to the same time, which was nice. Now we don't have to make separate trips down to Burien.  

It's impossible to explain to people in other parts of the country, but even a couple inches of snow creates a traffic nightmare here. The highway patrol probably didn't want all those Tier 2 geezers, desperate to get their shots, slipping around on the roads this morning. Ha ha.

The more impressive snow storm arrives late Friday night and keeps going into Saturday. Things could get interesting, but bring it on. We have absolutely nowhere to go.

 From past experience, I don't expect to feel real perky tomorrow. I promised John a coconut cake for Valentine's Day, and promises must be kept. I'll bake this morning to kill some time before our afternoon appointments.

Pork chili weather

 

Pork chili makes a nice change from ground beef. All you need is a heavy Dutch oven and time at home. And we have plenty of that these days. 

I bought a nice pork roast this week and decided not to make the gravy and mashed potato thing.  So I had the sou chef dice it up while I took a long walk. He loves jobs like that! He is slow but precise.

That ultra lean pork loin doesn’t work for a dish like this. You can cook it forever and it just gets dry and crumbly. A bit of fat helps the meat braise succulent and tender. 

 

After I browned the pork, added a big pile of diced red onion, green pepper, jalapeno peppers and garlic. A small amount of pork stretches out into many servings. This is a healthy, wholesome winter dish.

 

Then add a couple tablespoons of chili powder (be sure it's fresh) salt, pepper and two or three cans of tomatoes, depending on how much pork you have. Cook slowly with the lid tightly closed for at least 2 hours. It takes patience, but smells delicious. The pork chunks eventually become fork tender. At that point, add a couple cans of beans (or not) and simmer a little longer.  

We resisted eating it last night, because like homemade soup, chili is always much better the next day.

 

OK, weather report.  Things can change fast here, but at this point it looks like bulk of the snow storm will hit Friday afternoon into Saturday. The snowfall prediction ranges wildly, between 1-15 inches in Seattle. We haven't heard anything yet about our vaccination appointments being cancelled or changed.  Fingers crossed. 

  

Waiting Wednesday

"Light of Spring"
Carl Holse

"Reverie"
Winslow Homer

"The Tall Windows"
Wilhelm Hammershoi

"Awaiting His Return"
William Ladd Taylor

"Cape Cod Morning"
Edward Hopper

Use it or lose it

A few weeks ago, I missed a typo on the blog and a friend gave me a heads up. That was nice. A good friend is someone who tells you when there's spinach stuck in your front tooth.  Spellchecker doesn't work in the blog title field, but that's a poor excuse for an embarrassing misspelled word for all the world to see.

Then I did it again a few days ago (excitment instead of excitement) which made me worry. I know how to spell that word. Don't I? After all these years, I've become so lazy and reliant on spellchecker I just start typing and when the red line appears click the auto correct, without even trying to spell the word.  After a while, you can't remember if the spelling is "privilege" or "priviledge."

So I found a spelling app on my phone called "Scholar" and started working up through the levels. I was surprised how many fairly simple words (see below) I stumbled over in the multiple choice questions at first. Thankfully that dusty part of my brain seemed to kick in again and I'm up to level 16. That's somewhat reassuring and fun. I always liked spelling in school.

Lots of scary snow talk in Seattle this morning, but still impossible to predict exactly where and when. Stay tuned.

Snow? Really?

 

I thought we might actually squeak through this winter without a big freeze, but alas, not to be. Temperatures go down in the 20's at night this week, and barely above freezing during the day.  Fortunately there isn't much moisture in the atmosphere, but what does come down will be in the form of snow.  

Sure snow is pretty, especially in December when you have no place to go, but not mid-February, when our thoughts have already turned to spring in Seattle. Even an inch of snow creates a traffic nightmare here. 

All I care about is getting to the hospital in Burien early Friday morning for our second shots. We haven't heard otherwise, so assume we still have appointments. My car is worthless in the snow, but we can always take our trusty old Honda "Little Beep," a veteran of several Seattle blizzards.

Did you have a good weekend?  I hope you had something good to eat and drink. As usual, the half-time entertainment left us clueless. Who is this entertainer? What does the show mean?  I sound just like my mom.

The wrong kind of excitement

That's what you get for complaining about being bored. There's a construction company working across street this week doing something with the underground gas lines. We're don't know exactly what but it's a big project. Lots of heavy equipment, dump trucks, backhoes and jackhammers roaring around and banging.  

Sez me to John, I should go out and tell them "be careful you don't break something at our house." He gave me that look, but these were prophetic words. About 11, a man knocked on the front door and said they accidentally "hooked" (his word) our gas line. It wasn't ruptured, but had to be replaced.  OK, sez us. Not that we had a choice in the matter.

This set into motion an avalanche of construction on the street and in our yard. Many highly paid people standing around looking at their phones! Unlike the sewer line, the gas company owns the line and is responsible for maintenance. Nothing is free of course, we pay through our taxes and bills.

\

 

Anyway, bursts of activity interspersed with even more nerve-wracking periods of silence. Where they on break?  Was there some problem? Meanwhile in the yard, they dug under the meter about 4 feet deep.

 

 

Surprise. Inside the messy hole, the gas line running right over the top of an old sewer line to nowhere. Apparently, when they built these houses over a 100 years ago, gutters fed directly into the sewers, which went directly into Puget Sound. Honestly, the layers of archeology in these old houses.

 

They dug the hole near the side of the house by hand, thank you. They used a backhoe to dig an even bigger hole in the cement-hard dirt on parking strip.

 

They finished about 5 pm, filled the holes, finally turned off gas to the house. That was a bonus- we thought it would be off all day. I started to get nervous as they packed up to leave. The gas company still had to come out and activate the meter. No cooking, hot water or heat in the meantime.

 

We ordered take out from the Thai place up the street (what a good idea) and sat down in the chilly living room to wait. About 7, I got impatient and called the gas company emergency line, which incidentally has the best customer service in the world. Of course they don’t want houses blowing up. She checked with the technician while I was on the line, and said he was delayed but on his way.  By 8, everything was back to normal.

 

On a positive note, you could hardly tell they were here.  He even replanted the mondo grass and replaced the bricks.

And out on the parking strip, threw some grass seed over the sandy dirt. No idea what the green graffiti means.

If you find these things interesting, that faint yellow line on the grass shows the path where the new gas line shot through underground. The old defunct line still comes in from the street to the right. More archaeology for future generations to ponder.

What a day.