the first crab of the season

We celebrated the Feast of St Dungeness last Saturday. Fresh off the boat we thanked the crabs for giving us the meal.

Dashiell helped us consume, there are only two people foods he likes: melon and crab. He was so happy.

We picked all the claws clean.

 

A loaf of Night Heron Bread, a salad and a bottle of wine and we were satiated.

this piano deserved a party

In a shop tradition we gathered together to toast the finished restoration of Douglas's Hardman. This was a very long project but it is finally complete. 

We are all a bit sad because the piano and Douglas are going to be moving to Denver, but we will all just have to visit. 

the blogger returns

2023 was the year of Haikus and overalls. But 2024 will be the return of the blog. So many things to talk about. 

Haikus are still alive

I am wearing overalls

as I compose this

But the year started with trips to Millerton Point, North Beach, and Salmon Creek. So far so good.

the land of enchantment in april

To me New Mexico is October but a combination of covid and Southwest Airlines schedule changes found us booking a trip in April. And of course there is the Spring caddis hatch on the Rio Grande. The two of us are just not tourists but we are always on the lookout for fish. Look closely to find the fisherman. 

 

Somehow we found ourselves in Santa Fe on Palm Sunday in the middle of a procession complete with Archbishop and bell ringing. Brought back memories of all those meatless Fridays.

 

If I find a labryrinth I'll walk it. 

 

From Santa Fe we headed north to Taos, where the wind blew and the temperature dropped but we had the Sacred mountain outside our door and the Harwood Museum and Mooncat Fibres less than a mile away. Good thing they were close, it was 37 out with a windchill taking it down to 24 and we are wimpy bay area residents. Whose idea was it to walk anyway?

 

 

 

After three days in Taos, complete with two breakfasts at Ricky's (not on the tourist list), we headed to Dixon.

 

Dixon was our home base for five days with daily excursions to Pilar, on the Rio Grande. In search of the elusive caddis hatch and brown trout. After several attempts that yielded neither, and despite what the fishermen say, they need to catch fish, we discovered a magical hour in the late afternoon when the sun left the canyon.

 

 

Looking forward to an October return, although April was certainly enjoyed.

end of the year wisdom

The most important thing I learned in 2021 was always bake your chocolate chip cookies on sheets lined with parchment paper. Otherwise those pesky melted chips make cleanup difficult.

I'm ending 2021 with a batch just out of the oven. That's it for advice. It's been some year. I'm putting the tea kettle on to brew up some tea to go with a warm cookie.

the november report or agnes versus the squirrels

 Aesculus california has been a favorite plant of mine to propagate, perhaps because it requires very little work other than collecting the seed pods. I have two favorite spots, Devil's Gulch at Samuel P Taylor State Park and at White House Pool alongside Lagunitas Creek. It's a wonderful excuse for a trip to west Marin. This year was a very special one in that my next door gave me three pods from a tree growing in his front yard, one of my children, and I am now attempting to propagate my buckeye grandchildren. So this is where Agnes and the squirrels do battle. Evidently squirrels are the only animal which can eat these buckeye pods without ill effect. In past years I have a couple gone missing. Not this year!

 

Last Thursday morning when we left to go grocery shopping I noticed several missing pods. By the time we returned home, complete carnage. Fortunately I managed to secure the grandchildren before they disappeared as well. My neighbor reported they stole all of his that he trying to propagate.

 

 

This prompted a return trip to collect more. And further protective measures. And we even bought sunflower seeds to feed our begging squirrel friend who finds us on the back porch, but I have to maintain my vigilance against thievery. Stay tuned for further reports.

the october report

As the yard turns it's fall colors, nicely washed by the atmospheric river I think the month began a day earlier on September 30 when I met a unicorn on the ferry. I was introduced to Uni by a fellow passenger who asked if I would like to meet her. My new friend led Uni over to me and asked if I would like to pet her. Of course. After being told of the very soft fur, the rainbow tail and the silver boots I realized who I was meeting. When asked if I see her, I replied yes. Because, I quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes". I've tried to keep the magical vision in my heart. And so the month of October started with baseball, another slight quilt change, and proceeded to go by with rain, high surf, and an early celebration of Diwali.

I decided flying geese were appropriate for the fall.

Point Lobos on October 26th

Wishing all a celebration of light over darkness.