Winter hues

 

Our weather last week was dominated by a strong high pressure system. In December, that usually means cold, clear nights and foggy mornings. 

On some days the sun, so low in the sky and weak, still manages to burn off the clouds, making for blue skies and spectacular winter sunsets outside our front door. All this is about to change, and we're headed into typical rain for the holiday weekend.

Speaking of winter color. Inside, we're still enjoying the last of the cut flowers and this beauty blooming right on time for Christmas. The amaryllis bulb came from Home Depot only six weeks ago. 

Other than a quick lunch on Saturday, we hardly left the house. John was happy puttering around the basement. It seemed like a shame not to plunge into the urban holiday scene, or do last minute shopping with thousands of other people. On the other hand, the effort required getting around Seattle gives one pause. I'll be out and about plenty this upcoming busy week.

Yes, lunch. My fried oysters, a Christmas tradition and real biguns, at that. Our usual place, the Sunfish, was closed, so went to the old Seattle standby, Spud on Alki. 

We ate upstairs as usual, overlooking the street and beach. It was early for lunch and empty. I felt the ghosts of Sam and Marge, John and Wilda, our dear parents now all gone, sitting right there with us in the booth.

Whenever they came to Seattle for a visit, we always went down to Alki for fish and chips. My mom especially would get very excited, talking non-stop. She loved the Puget Sound view and fried seafood. I could almost hear her familiar voice chattering on and on. I'm ashamed to admit it once annoyed me at times, but now I'd give anything to hear her voice again. Time and loss changes us.