On Fire



Smoke from the wildfire 90 miles away made
the sun orange in TriCities this morning.

Ellensburg (Cle Elum), Washington is on fire today.

The last I heard, at least 60 homes have been claimed and the fire was at "zero containment". Out of control with winds kicking up. It's bad.

One of my friends at work has family there and she has been receiving photos via cell phone throughout the day. It gets really real when someone you know is affected.  Luckily, her family's home escaped burning, but how I don't know. The photo I saw showed everything around the house burned. The car didn't make it. It was parked near another building and it perished.  It can be replaced.

My friend and I chatted a little about how awful it must be to see your home gone within minutes in something like this.  No time to think about what to grab. All those photos? Shoot, I might be able to grab a box but I don't have everything in one place. Perhaps I should get around to doing that.  Who ever thinks it's going to happen to them?

I got to thinking about what I'd grab if I had to vacate my house within a few minutes. I couldn't really wrap my head around it. I'd certainly make certain my hubby and animals got out with me. And my purse. Whatever pictures I could gather up. Vital records. My camera. Medications.  What else?  Some stuff can be replaced but what about the things that can't. 

How do you replace years of memories made in a home?  You simply can't. The best you can do is hope your memory serves you well and maybe you have some snapshots in the box you grab on your way out the door. 

I know there are lots of people thinking about those who lost their homes today. I heard the townspeople were gathering resources and taking all the displaced animals to the fairgrounds. Oh, the animals .....

It's a sad day in Washington state.

love, susan 

Yeah. No.

I love outside-the-box things. When we were in Seattle on Friday, I snapped this picture quickly as we tried to escape the crowd inside Pike Place Market. I'm not sure where this couple got married, perhaps it was while standing right there, but the fish market was just right inside the opening behind them.  Yeah.  No. But I do love those cowgirl boots!

While at the market, I also passed by two Tibetan monks who were on a corner doing whatever it is Tibetan monks do. I heard a woman ask them, "May I take a photo of you?", to which I heard them reply simultaneously, "Yes".  I was tempted to raise my own camera and steal a shot. But ya know what? Some things just don't seem quite right. I thought buddists were silent and would be camera shy. Yeah.  No. Guess not. What do I know? No offense to any of my buddhist friends. You know I love ya!  

Walking through the market in Seattle is an experience.  There are street musicians, tourists, fish mongers, monks, beggars, and floral arrangers. While I love watching people and could literally sit in one spot and do it all day, I can't stand it when I don't have at least a 12-inch radius of air space around me. My anxiety level hit the roof and I was soooooo happy when my friends suggested we walk down to the pier.  Yeah.

While down at the pier, I noticed a long line of people waiting to get on this funky Ferris wheel that had enclosed seats. It was 75 degrees on Friday and I can't imagine the capsules had air conditioning. The wheel went around very slowly, sort of like a human rotisserie. Yeah.  No.

<------ Here is the original shot of the Ferris wheel before I edited it to look like a 1960's shot.  I think the edited pic looks much better, do you? 

I didn't have space to put the Snoqualmie Falls photo in my blog post yesterday so I'm posting it today because I would just hate to leave it out.  I'm looking forward to going back there someday with Gene after the construction is complete. They are building a recreation area at the bottom of the falls which I think will be super nice. North Bend looks like a neat town to visit, too.



The construction equipment added nothing to this
already too bright photo. Oh well.

Well, that's about all I have on that Seattle trip. I want to go back again sometime with Gene, maybe in October. We haven't been there together before and I think it's time we went.

Enjoy every moment of your day wherever you are.

love, susan 

Epic Day in Seattle

Tabby and Kristy

When was the last time you went on a road trip with friends? I highly recommend it!

It's been a long time since I've spent a whole day with someone other than the love of my life.  I have to say that if I had tried to imagine how much fun it would be, I would have short-changed myself.

My friends Tabby and Kristy picked me up at 9:00a.m. and we rolled down the road to Seattle as planned, heading for a mutual friend's first-ever art showing in north Seattle. We had no expectations of what we would do for the time between arriving and the start of the art walk, which made it even better ~ in my humble opinion. I'm a girl who loves to fly by the seat of her pants.



Kristy

We stopped in a little town called North Bend which is about 40 miles south of Seattle. Kristy knew of a waterfall where we could spread out the fabulous picnic lunch we brought. The Snoqualmie Falls area is under construction but it didn't seem to stop people from enjoying the view.

We dragged our coolers out and placed them on freshly varnished, clean pinic tables. Our friend, Tabby, was amazed at the length we had gone to prepare an awesome taco salad. It was Kristy's idea and it was a goody! I brought real glass bowls and utensils to dine with and it was better than any gourmet meal we could have spent too much money on.

We packed up and Kristy took the wheel to take us on in to Seattle. The GPS on our phones was really helpful in getting us down to the Pike Place Market. It was crazy there so we only walked through a short portion of it and headed down to the Ye Old Curiousity Shop on the pier. I recall going there when I was about 12 and it was exactly as I remembered. The mummified man is still standing in the same corner some 40+ years later.

It was a warmer than usual, sunny day in Seattle and there were tourists everywhere. We walked until we were sweating and with my swollen feet got back to the truck to head to the art walk in north Seattle. While pulling out of the parking garage I spotted a person leaned up against a building, looking as if they were closer than half-way to dead, nodding on a heroin hit, no doubt. I'm not sure I'll ever get the image out of my mind. As much fun as we were having, I felt a deep sadness that was hard to shake.

We enjoyed traveling to another part of Seattle that is away from the chic and trendy downtown. The neighborhood was middle-class, working people and we felt really comfortable walking up and down the street. Lots of funky shops like the 50 Cent book store where 90% of all the books sold for 50 cents. There was a fabulous upscale antique store which contained refinished antiques for very reasonable prices.

35 originals

At 6:00p.m., the group of folks (about 15 of us altogether) who had traveled from Tri-Cities to support our artist friend, descended upon the Naked City Brewery. The place was packed full of Friday-after-work-let's-grab-a-beer people and soccer players. Turns out they were holding a street soccer tournament on the blocked off street.

Heidi & her family

When I walked in and saw Heidi's artwork displayed, I was amazed. She was invited to bring her work to Seattle not all that long ago and I knew she had to hustle to get it framed but when I saw the work hanging up for the first time, I know she spent a lot of sleepless nights putting it together. She gathered the frames from yard sales and friends who had frames sitting around collecting dust. The matting and framing is as artistic as the drawings. I am blown away by it! The last word we got on our texts is that she had sold quite a few pieces. I am not surprised.

We headed out of Seattle about 8 o'clock and had an uneventful trip back home. Laughter kept us going the entire 3 1/2 hour drive home.  Fun day! 

Today ... I'm resting.

love, susan

Seattle or Bust



I spotted this chipmunk on the
MacKenzie Pass last weekened

Another road trip .....

I'm heading for Seattle tomorrow with a couple of good friends for the day to attend a mutual friend's first art show. While seeing our friend's art display will be epic in nature, I suspect the entire day will be filled with laughter, non-stop talking and adventure.  Eight hours in a vehicle together makes for the perfect coffee shop on wheels.

I haven't been on a road trip without Gene except for a spring trip to Seattle to visit Jane via the bus. I spent that entire trip with headphones stuck in my ears listening to Rob Lowe tell his life story. It was pure bliss.

I have become more than comfortable out on the road. Last weekend, while in Port Orford, Gene and I had breakfast at a sweet little local diner called Paradise Cafe. We visited while eating with a young couple from Phoenix  who were on a long road trip. They had traveled to Canada and were making their way home. They were traveling much like we used to do, only staying in motels when they were road-weary and needed a good, hot shower and a full night's rest. That morning, they were headed to San Fransico by days end. As they were talking, I remembered the many trips Gene and I have taken where we stopped and took showers at a local city pool or YMCA.  This couple had spent the previous night with their tent pitched out on the beach. It's kind of a rare thing these days to talk to people who do that.

Tomorrow we're taking a picnic lunch and a thermos of coffee. The weather in Seattle is forecasted to be clear and 75. How could I be so lucky?

love, susan

Cousins' Reunion 2012

2nd cousins & Gene

We spent last weekend on the southern coast of Oregon in the little fishing town of Port Orford. It is 519 miles from our house to theirs and it is the third time we've made the trek. 



Port Orford is Oregon's best kept secret!

Plan C

Mt. Adams

What a beautiful day for a road trip. We had planned to travel one direction to visit good friends but one of them fell ill and had to cancel. I know my friend worried about it but I assured her that Gene and I always have a Plan B, C, and D.  Today we went with Plan C.

We got up this morning and originally planned to head towards Leavenworth, WA (Plan B) but after letting the coffee brew along with our thoughts we decided to go a different direction and headed to Mt. Hood.  Gene's younger daughter and family would be there camping so we decided to head that way and if we had time, we'd stop by and say hello.

That's how we roll. 

Wynter, Cathy & Jeremy

We left the house without eating breakfast. A box of Triscuits and Wheat Thins got us to The Dalles so we could enjoy lunch at our favorite Thai restaurant. I tried the house curry today and it was delish. They put peanut butter in their sauce. It was like having lunch and dessert at the same time.



Mt. Hood (Oregon)



We arrived at Mt. Hood and were lucky to find the kids had just returned from a 2-mile hike to have lunch before they headed to the lake. We were prepared to leave them a note on their windshield "We were here".  Instead, we got to walk with them down to the quiet lake where no motorized boats are allowed, and watch them launch their 3-man raft. We visited a little and headed down the road. It was fun to surprise them with a quick visit.

From there, we headed to a state park where there is a waterfall literally in the middle of some very dry country. We visited this waterfall last year and it's among my favorite spots. I didn't get a great pic of it because the sun was glaring down on us.

Wind mills in Washington state generate power!

On the trip home, I stopped and shot a pano of the windmills, which Gene raves about everytime he sees them. It's hard to get a good shot with my little point & shoot but you might be able to click on this pic and get a bigger version of it on your screen.

All in all, it turned out to be another stellar day that resulted from making plans and changing them promptly. 

Do you ever change your plans? 

love, susan

193 More Miles Under My Leathers

It's a rare day when I see my guy run out of energy before I do but I'm afraid the heat got to him today.  Getting home after a fun-filled Saturday, we got a late start out the door at 10 this Sunday morn. We  were headed to Wenatchee but decided it best to turn back towards home at Moses Lake.  We stopped at various places along the way to get gas, eat some Mexican food from a taco wagon and hydrate. I was extra happy I brought two containers of frozen water and Powerade along. We needed it today. While we were sitting in the shade of this old, closed up building in Eltopia, a kid rode by on a dirt bike and waved at us. He circled back and stopped to chat.  He was breaking in the new Suzuki 125 his mom gave him for his birthday. He just got it today and was riding it back and forth on this long stretch of rode that surely has no traffic. We had a nice exchange of conversation with him. He just turned 14 and he knew alot about motorcycles. I loved the randomness of it.  Oddly enough, it was the highlight of our trip. 

Gene picked up the camera and shot me with it.

Another 3-day weekend here and almost gone. Sigh.  Hope you had your best weekend ever. And, if you didn't, it's something to try for next weekend!

love, susan

Let's Groove Tonight

We boogied on down last night at the Earth Wind and Fire concert out at Maryhill Winery's amphitheater. What a concert!   

We hopped on a nice air conditioned bus for a 2-hour ride to Goldendale. We had never been to the amphitheater before and when we walked past the ticket line and over onto the grounds, the venue was breathtaking. I was glad we had general admission as we were able to bring lawn chairs and a cooler. We found a nice spot next to super nice people and enjoyed a bagel sandwich with strawberries and grapes washed down with tonic water before the show. I noted that many of the other concert goers were way more elaborate in their picnic munchies. The people to the right of us were chowing down on shrimp cocktails with cheese & crackers. The folks to the left had a beautiful cole-slaw accompanied with nice chunks of cantelope and get this .... they ate theirs on real plates with real utensils. Wine people. I'd call them pretentious but really it's all about the experience and secretly I was envious that I hadn't given my picnic lunch just a little more thought.  Next time.

We sat for about an hour and 15 minutes before the concert and just watched people. I've never been to a concert at a winery before. It's a very different crowd. Lots of beautiful women in pretty summer dresses and sandals. Men in khaki shorts and nice polo shirts. There was obviously a large number of peeps from the Portland area. You can just pick them out. Tres chic. I loved it.

The band came out shortly after their scheduled time and simply started playing that music we all know and love. They played non-stop for 15 minutes short of two hours. The only time they stopped the music was to introduce the band. There are 3 original members at the front center stage and the rest are younger, upcoming musicians who rocked the river last night.

There are some bands who should just hang up their guitars and sit in rocking chairs but not this one. They played all their hits and when they played "September", everyone in the audience stood up and never sat down again.

It was truly a feel-good couple of hours. Gene and I never stopped smiling and it kind of restored my faith in humanity for awhile. This band had nothing but positive, uplifting music back in the day and after 41 years of touring, they still got it.

Go on, get your groove on!

love, susan

Tamales Equal Love

The other day I was sitting at work thinking about what I had at home to throw together for dinner. I remembered a friend had brought over a dozen frozen tamales. I had ordered a dozen but forgot to pay her them for them so those tamales became a gift.

My name is Susan and I am a former tamale hater.  Having grown up in Alaska, we just didn't have them and I remember the first time I tried to eat one when I was in my 20's. I thought it was vile. My mom always loved them but for the life of me I cannot figure out where she ever got the idea to eat them. Tamales are so non-Alaskan. Mom died a while ago and it would definitely be one of those questions I would ask her now. 

The thing about tamales is that they are not just something you plop on your plate and eat like a piece of chicken. Tamales are an experience.  At least they are for me.

When I was working at the County Attorney's Office in Yuma, Arizona, there was a tamale war at my work every November. "Susan, do you want to buy some of my Tia's tamales? They are the best, you won't want to buy anyone else's".  Seriously.  And, because I believe in fair tamale trading, I bought them from anyone in my office who approached me. While I did have my favorite, I will go to my grave with the name of that particular tamale maker.

What I think you have to understand is that tamales are made with love. A long line of love. Generations of Mexican women gather at some one's house and make these lovely gifts. It is a long process. I won't pretend that I know anything about it, cuz I don't. They don't mess around with making a dozen or two. Many people make enough to sell to their friends at work. Tamales are a traditional dinner around the holidays and when I lived in Arizona, it was a good reason to look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Women who make tamales always have a way to make theirs special. I'm not real picky about what's in them. In fact, I recently had a vegetarian tamale that was filled with pepper-jack cheese and corn. I loved it. The corn was a nice touch that gave it a distinct flavor. Some women place a green olive in their tamales. Warning: the olives almost always have the pit in them. I found this out the hard way. Usually those who place the olives in warn us gringos about it. I have also had tamales that had a few small bits of potato in them. I'm not crazy about those but I imagine adding the potato makes the filling go a bit further. My real preference is for the spicy pork or beef tamale.

When I say the tamale is to be experienced, I feel I must describe what I mean by that. Most of the time, when buying tamales they will be frozen. Not to worry, freezing them does them no harm. As a matter of fact, in my opinion they are better after having been frozen and reheated.

You take the beautifully wrapped gift out of the freezer bag and place it in a casserole dish with a splash of water on the bottom, leaving it in the corn husk it's wrapped in.  I place a cover on my dish and zap it in the microwave for 5 minutes. If you have more than 2 you may have to increase the heating time.

Now comes the part I really love. I unfold the corn husk carefully, trying not to burn my finger tips, knowing I am about the eat the most wonderful concoction. So, it's worth a little burn when you get a whiff of the lovely aroma coming from the steam of the tamale. I make certain to scrape all the masa off the husk. It would be rude to waste it.

So now you've got your tamale laying there on the plate begging for some kind of hot sauce.  I prefer a bottled sauce we discovered last year that we can only find at Fiesta Foods. Tamales do not require a bunch fluff on top.  In fact, I believe it would be a great insult to add much more than a drop or two of Talapia hot sauce or a tablespoon of salsa. But that's just me.  I know tamales don't have feelings but if they did, they would be hurt with too much added junk.

Once the tamale is consumed, you're left with only the wonderful smell of the corn masa on your hands. You might be feeling extra full and thinking that you maybe should have only eaten one, but I guarantee it is nearly impossible to eat only one, if you're a tamale lover like me.

When I eat tamales now, it takes me back to Arizona in an instant. I miss the culture we learned to love there. I miss my Mexican girlfriends vying for me to buy their tamales.  I miss knowing that I was invited into a culture I don't know very much about except that it is all about love.

Thank goodness for tamales. My world is a better place for them and having frozen ones in the freezer has been a life-saver this last week.

love, susan

Hidden Talent

This oil painting was done by my co-worker's daughter last weekend. She has never painted before and decided to give it a try.  When my co-worker showed it to me, I had the same reaction as everyone else.  Wow, talk about some hidden talent!

Chrissy is in her early 20's and according to her mom, has never shown any interest in drawing or painting until recently when she and her mom started playing a game called "Draw Something" on their phones.  The app gives you a word and you draw it and then send it to the other person for them to guess what the word is.  Chrissy's mom has been showing us the awesome and creative drawings Chrissy sends her.

According to a recent article online, the company that made "Draw Something" just sold for $180 million dollars. Wouldn't you just love to be the person who came up with that idea?  Do you suppose that person had some hidden talent? I think so.

This all got me to thinking about hidden talents.  I am of the belief that every person has some kind of hidden talent. Mine is remembering names and numbers. I'm much better at names than digits. I have a technique I learned a long time ago and it has never rarely failed me. I suppose it's hardly a talent, maybe more of a gift.

Do you have a hidden talent?  What is it?

love, susan
  

Where Do Butterflies Go?

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.   

                              ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

This butterfly had an antenna missing or we would not have had a chance to really examine his beauty. The place where we  camped was filled with amazing butterflies and beautiful moths. They would arrive in the morning and flitter around until early afternoon, leaving us to ask where do butterflies go?

  
When we arrived at the Tucannon River campsite, I was careful to leave all my expectations at home. We had never been there before, however, we have been a lot of places and camped in some areas that are truly hidden treasures. It wouldn't be fair to make comparisons.

What I always discover while camping is that if I sit quietly, 

happiness does really find me.  

 

One of my very good friends made a comment at camp that might possibly be the most profound thing I've heard in a long time.  I was telling her the one thing I dislike about camping is the cooking.  I try to think of things that I can make ahead and simply reheat at camp. She agreed with me that the worst part is the cleanup but she added, "yeah, but if you just do a little cleanup here and there, it's not so bad".   

She's so right. 

So, I have all this stuff to put away from camping.  I guess I'll go do a little bit.  :-)

Hope you had a happy weekend wherever you are.


love, susan