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. 

  

East of Eden

 

 

I'm leaving the coastal garden paradise and headed east to spend the weekend along the river. The girls have a home swim meet Saturday and those are always fun. Their Methow Valley Killer Whale team is HOT this year! Maya was in the local paper sports section this week, she's been doing so well in her age class. 

 

 

Speaking of "East of Eden," 23-year old James Dean, brooding on the set. He carries the film with an amazing performance, filled with angst and charisma as only he could act. A wonderful movie based on an American classic novel.

 "All great and precious things are lonely."  John Steinbeck, East of Eden. 

Farewell, little guy

 

 

"Doodles"
2009-2025

With a heavy heart, my sister Marji said goodbye this week to her dear old Dachshund. He was her companion for many years, through thick and thin, filling the house with his big personality. 

Dachshunds are well-known for bonding closely with their owners, and when Dad came to live with Marji in 2016, they soon became buddies.

 

Having grown up on a farm where animals were kept outside, Dad was never a "dog person." That soon changed. I do believe Doodle's winsome (and persistent) ways helped him move on from his sad loss in Colorado and regain his health. 

Under Marji's care, Dad started a new life in Las Vegas and we were blessed to have him to the ripe old age of 99. 

Also known for their intelligence, the opportunistic little dog soon learned that several Honey Nut Cherrios "accidentally" fell under Dad's chair each morning at breakfast. And at lunch, three mini carrots came down from heaven while Dad was eating his sandwich at the counter. You might ask, who trained who?

Dad loved to read and nap all afternoon in his comfy recliner, and Doodles decided that quiet lap was the best in the house. Doodles was Dad's companion to the very end, keeping watch on his hospice bed.

Everyone loved Doodles! He was always doing something comical! Maya and Nova still talk about him after their visit to Aunt Marji's house long ago. 

 

But life goes on and happily, Marji has still has her sweet-tempered Homer for canine company.
 

 

Monday, Monday

 

 

 

 

 

We're trying out a new yard service. The Leyland Cypress, as you can see, has grown too far out into the alley. This company does regular yard work for someone across the street, and they knocked on the door Saturday asking if we wanted our laurel hedge cut. 

We already have Jesier for that, and I'm not about to dis him after years of faithful service. But there's always plenty of other work in this yard, so he gave me a bid and said he would come back Sunday morning (he didn't show.) 

He did show up this morning, worked for a couple hours, then took off. It's 2 pm and the cuttings are all over the alley. Anyway, if he wants his money he knows where to finish the job. Not real impressed with his communication. 

Oh, yes. The bid included trimming dead fronds off the bottom of the palm tree, about 30 feet up there now.

 

Traffic was terrible around Seattle this weekend and we stayed home, other than walking up two blocks to watch the West Seattle Grand Parade. In the old days (there I go again) it was filled with beautiful floats, marching bands and drill teams from across the city, including the beloved Seattle Chinese Community marching girls (below) in their splendid costumes.

The group has been absent from the parade in recent years, which is a shame. Most of our parade is now local businesses and non-profits advertising themselves. But people still enjoy it, especially the newcomers to West Seattle who think it is heaven here. Maybe it is? 

  

Carrying their weight

 

 

Amanda sent some pictures yesterday on the backpacking adventure. That's Nova and Maya above, the strong girls really carrying their share these days.

Some sections of the rugged trail involve navigating around impassible cliffs, with ropes and makeshift ladders to help with ascents and descents. Very challenging, on your hands and knees in places while carrying a fully loaded backpack. 

They've been backpacking on the Washington coast since the girls were quite young. 

 

Family memories are made of this...

Always something in the big city

 

Our street has been chaotic all week, filled with utility workers and parked up with massive trucks. 

How much stuff can you hang on those ancient Seattle City Light poles? Yet they're stringing even more heavy cable lines to support the dense (and getting denser) population in West Seattle. No wonder we have so many power outages these days. 

I told John, it's starting to look like Bonneville Dam from my seat at the kitchen table. Such is progress.

Anyway, coming home from Safeway yesterday with $120 of groceries (granted, 4 bags) I had to park in the next block and schlepp past a worker who was just standing there, as they seem to do most of the time. Much "pondering" goes with these high paid jobs.

"Guess I picked the wrong day to go shopping," sez I. "Sorry about that" was the reply and he went back to his coffee. Life in the big city.

 

Speaking of groceries, what to eat on the hottest day of the year? How about salad and barbecue chicken? I am partial to boneless, skinless thighs for the grill because they don't dry out as fast. 

 

The house is unpleasantly warm by the end of the day, but I had boiled some orzo in the morning and put together a cold salad. I threw in the kitchen sink, including goat cheese crumbles from Trader Joes. A good product (barring any recalls) and a nice change from endless feta in salads. 

 

And one reason why Trader Joes is so successful--customers making impulse purchases, like these new fried shallots in the eye-catching shiny package. Not much difference from old French's Fried Onions in the can, but their clever marketing makes everything sound fancier. 
 

Hitting the trail

 

Setting out for Shi Shi Beach yesterday afternoon.

 

Methow Valley News news

 

Byline: "Methow Valley Beauties." 

The local valley newspaper ran a color photo spread this week covering the 4th of July activities, and what a good time it was in town. That's Nova (on the left) with three of her friends at TwispWorks after the parade.  

Speaking of the family, they are currently backpacking a 16-mile stretch of wilderness on the Washington coast. The logistics of such a trip coming from all the way from the Methow Valley are complicated (not to mention carrying five days of food for a hungry family.)

Today they park their car at Ozette Ranger Station, then the trailhead shuttle service transports them and their gear around the peninsula to Shi Shi Beach, where they begin the hike. 

An almost unworldly beauty exists on the wild and remote Pacific coast, and it can only be reached on foot. Over the years, they have done several different routes along the coast. Of course, no cell phone service, so we always look forward to the camping pictures when they return to civilization.

 Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park

 

 

Fires

 

 

Amanda sent this picture from Twisp yesterday of a smoke plume far off in the distance. There are several fires burning in the North Cascades right now. The weather in Central Washington has been hot, dry and windy, putting everyone's nerves on edge. 

It's still nice and cool in Seattle this morning, but we have a heat advisory for tomorrow and Wednesday. Ninety degrees is uncomfortable here, with the general lack of air conditioning and the simple fact we are not used to it.

I mostly spent the weekend recovering from the Shingrix vaccine I got on Friday, being one of those unlucky people who get that "strong immune response." This included fever in the middle of the night and random jabbing pains all over my body. I've also had that scary and harsh reaction from the flu and Covid shots. Fortunately it doesn’t last long.  

By Saturday afternoon, I was just plain old tired. Apparently the reaction to the second Shingrix shot tends to be much worse. Now there's something to look forward to in a few months. 

By Sunday I had enough energy back to make a fresh peach pie. No photo this time. Just type "pie" into the search box and see how many pie pictures a person can post over 15 years.  

 

 

In garden news, six months after the brutal hacking, the jasmine is back from the dead. Yea! As Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, "There is the dearest freshness deep down things."

 

 

 

I was just outside and the garden smells like heaven from the lilies. The delicate flowers won't last long in the heat, but the tomatoes are sure happy. With daily watering, we should have a big crop from just two pots.