Lamb Tikka Masala

 

This was a treat last night, made with some precious leftover roast lamb I had stashed in the freezer. 

The Patak brand jarred sauces are good, especially doctored up with a few slices of our outrageously hot homegrown Serrano peppers, also from a bag in the freezer. 

I hear Costco has a good Tikka Masala sauce, but probably sold by the gallon.

With weather chaos across the country today, we've thankful for our boring winter weather. The 24 hour temperature range for the next week is 40-45 degrees. Ho-hum. In damp Seattle, that feels bone-chilling, but it sure beats an inferno or deep freeze.

 I'm off to my volunteer job today, after a long holiday break.

Pretty impressive work

 

Considering it was done by crows. This is our back yard. They are tearing up everything from parking strips to manicured lawns in Seattle. A rather sad sight as you walk around town. 

Why? The European chafer beetle is a gourmet treat for crows and an invasive pest that arrived in the Pacific Northwest about 10 years ago. The beetle's life cycle is about a year, and nine months of that time are spent as big, tasty white grubs.

One natural solution is to apply Nematodes, which are microscopic creatures that act as parasites on other insects. These tiny harmless creatures are the most numerous multicellular animals on earth. 

They say it's also helpful to aerate the grass and keep it healthier. Our neglected "lawn" is mostly moss and weeds. My excellent gardener is coming out to see what he can do. I won't drench the property with chemicals, but maybe he can help get it somewhat presentable again.

Each summer usually brings another big outdoor project here, and rebuilding the rotting old deck is also on the radar.

 

Connoisseurs of comfort

 

 

What snow? What cold? The cats sure have it made at Amanda's house, with nothing to do but eat generously and sleep by the wood stove all winter. Maybe take in a little reading. I've never seen such self-satisfied animals. Are they telling us something?

As they say, home is where you make it, and we are back at the old Seattle abode. We traveled between storms and other than the first 45 miles leaving Twisp, the roads were bare and wet.  Our snow plower even showed up just as we were loading the car on Saturday morning. We could have made it out of the driveway, but it was a nice gesture.

Now that we left, the weather pattern is trending warmer and drier across the state. "Warm" is relative over in eastern Washington, but there haven't been any sub-zero temperatures yet. Still plenty of time.

It's pretty typical when the rest of the country gets hit with brutal winter weather (sorry you guys) we're the contrarians. We haven't even had a freeze in Seattle, and my favorite invasive weeds are poking up their heads in the flower beds. Talk about different worlds.

Walkin' in a winter wonderland

 

The snowy streets of Twisp this morning. I have not seen any plows out yet, but this is pretty light stuff for the Methow Valley.

Maya came by the house for a little visit, then I walked her the four blocks home, probably my total exercise for the day. Honestly, if you don't partake in winter sports, life is really lazy round here in the winter. We have been mostly laying around the house and eating. 

Such a nice dinner last night hosted by our friends down the street. Lots of good conversation, food and wine.Today I'm making crock pot bean soup with the leftover ham for a last family meal before we head home. 

It's hard to believe that as the crow flies, there's only 70 miles between white frozen Twisp and green wet Seattle.

The provider is in the office

 

We stopped to visit Amanda today in her shared office on Glover Street. She divides her time between the Family Health Center Clinics and this office, which is for telehealth visits and the tons of "charting" that goes along with this job. 

Anyway, it's a warm, peaceful place and best of all, just a couple blocks from home. We're so proud. Click here to see her new FHC profile. 

Well, the snow has started falling with a winter storm warning for tomorrow. Needless to say, we are staying put until Saturday or when the snow plower sets us free. I find this more exciting and fun than John! 

We're headed off to dinner with our friends, a quick 3-minute walk down the street. Life is good.

Up the lazy river

 

 

Hope you got the new year off to a good start last night. We watched a couple of movies and I woke up at midnight, listening to firecrackers going off around town. Maybe some gun shots too-- this is the wild west compared to Seattle.

Things have been lazy today with a calm start to the year, just watching the deer lounge in the snow as we lounge around inside. I got in a town walk with my friend Karen this morning, and they invited us to dinner tomorrow. They are lovely people, and making new friends at this stage of life is such an unexpected gift.

Tonight, we're looking forward to a belated Christmas dinner here at the house with baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cornbread and (of course) a gigantic salad for the girls. Amanda is bringing one of those delicious flourless chocolate cakes.

Well, turns out yesterday was our only bit of sunshine in the valley. There's snow in the forecast through the weekend, with quite a bit piling up on Friday in Twisp, meaning getting back to Seattle might be at the whim of our plower.  Oh, well.

Happy new year to all!