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.

met my goal

 

To me the beginning of September is Fall. And a new quilt was in order. I pieced the top this past winter and it just seemed like a good Autumn quilt. The Bearpaws above the bed came out of an ancient stash and seemed a good companion piece. Now to consider the next quilt project.

where did july and august go?

July came in with great promise, the Farmer's Market opulence well on display. Hope for a return to some normalcy, live yoga, trips to San Francisco by ferry.  But, alas, August brought with it a return to screens and reconsidering of travel plans. But the backyard is filled with a friend who enjoys his peanuts. 

And the garden seems to be charming me with blooms of my walking stick iris.

summer

 

 

Well I missed Solstice by a couple of days but the new summer quilt is finished and on the bed. Phew, it really is turquoise! The throws on the end of the bed and the pillows do tone it down a bit at least. And I forgot how much I like the quilt on the wall. 

I did discover that today marks the Strong Sun Moon:

"When Summer comes, it not only brings longer days and the blooming of crops, it also brings with it June’s full moon, which is the strong sun moon.

Also called The Moon of Horses, Honey Moon, and The Lover’s Moon, as with any full moon, psychic energy flows freely during this full moon. This is a good time for magick, an excellent time to work with all the different elements." (from the Moonlight Shop )

Also Called the Strawberry Moon:

"The Strawberry Moon, typically the first or last Full Moon of a season, marks the strawberry picking season in North America.

The thing is, each Full Moon has its name. These names usually have nothing to do with our natural satellite’s actual color, like the pink moon. Instead, ancient cultures have named Full Moons based on the behavior of the plants, animals, or weather during a particular month — and we still keep using these names.

June’s Full Moon alternative names are the Rose Moon, which denotes the harvesting of roses in Europe, and the Hot Moon, because it comes with the beginning of hot summer weather in the Northern Hemisphere." (from Starwalk)

easing our way back into the world

 

 

A ferry ride, a walk to North Beach, and an outside table at Sotto Mare. The octopus salad, clam chowder, and glass of wine, were thoroughly enjoyed. We topped off the lunch with Gott's softserve before boarding the ferry for home. Our feet, knees, and hips were tired. We are out of practice and will have to do something about this. More field trips!

spring

March came and went with it's lions and lambs. Anniversaries were celebrated and a trip to the coast was enjoyed. Meeting with vaccinated friends has been a great pleasure, attempts to ease back into a social life.

April seems to be moving quickly, the days just seem to disappear but as the garden blooms, art has bloomed on the fence as well. I have been quilting for forty six years and it's seems like time to just pull some things out of the cedar chest and view them. 

 

 

Marigolds have been started, six flats, and I think I've just dented the ounce package of seed I bought. 

 

february is phyllo dough month

 

 

This month almost slipped by with no postings, but not because it hasn't been an eventful month. I'm declaring it phyllo dough month. I have made Chicken Florentine, Spanakopita (twice), sesame crackers, and phyllo wrapped salmon. I am hooked and on my second box. With great pleasure I walk to our local Al Jazeera Market to buy it, coming home via Haight Avenue and saying hi to Bosco.

 

 

Bosco is our local front yard pig celebrity.

simple pleasures

 

 

Twice a week I buy flowers at the Farmer's Market. They are food for the soul. And tomorrow is a momentous day, Mike and I get our first covid vaccination. Here's to hope for the Spring, dreaming of having friends gathered around the dinner table, sitting close together.

2020 in review

The only trip to Cafe Trieste of the year, alas.

January

 

The ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, what a ride.

February

 

Nothing really to say about this.

March

A peaceful truce in the kitchen.

April

A peaceful cat in the garden.

May

The first of many fruit pies. This was a birthday gift to a good friend.

June

The garden was more than happy to show it's appreciation for all the attention it received this year.

July

The prayer flags disappeared up the tree to the squirrel nest. I like to think my squirrel buddies are being kept warm by them as the weather has turned cold.

August

Neighbors were adding their comments to the big cat. More items have appeared and I have my suspicions as to the perpetrator. My next door neighbor and I joke that we have front yards that people do not steal things but rather add things, that's life in Mayberry, Alameda.

September

Finally, air clean enough air to get out on the bay.

October

 

This is Eddy, my granddog, who lives in Truckee enjoying the first snow.

November

 

 

 

And Covid or no Covid, my yogi friends and I managed an exchange of cookies, candy, scarves, and FRUITCAKE. This is no ordinary fruitcake.

December

 

What a year! Good health to all!