Simple pleasure #9

Seattle, Washington
Friday, December 26, 2014

I had another wonderful swim at Medgar Evers Pool this afternoon. This is a simple pleasure that I missed during our five years abroad. In Mongolia, there was only one public pool--and it required swimmers to produce a lung x-ray to rule out tuberculosis. I never made it there. In addition to the x-ray hassle, swimming is not that enticing when it's -30F outside. And in Jordan there was always the consideration of "women's swimming times" vs "men's"... The wonderful pleasure of a clean, accessible pool! And, of course, the lockers are the SAME ones we used in high school--more than 30 years ago. The locker fee? It's still a quarter...

8 other simple pleasures...

Happy Yalda!

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, December 20, 2014

Tonight we celebrated Yalda, the Persian Solstice. Not sure how traditional the meal or activities were, but we had lots of candles to light up the long night and a plate full of traditional Persian treats. And Frank's ghormeh sabzi was delicious!

More Christmas baking

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, December 20, 2014

Once again the house fills with the smell of Virginia's Greek Bread--the family tradition continues...

The (approximate) recipe is here...

I think my saffron "expired"

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, December 13, 2014

Today is Luciadagen and yesterday I made luciakatter once again. This year things didn't seem quite right in the taste and color departments. I think that's what you get when your saffron travels too much between continents...

Beary Christmas!

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

This afternoon A and a friend decorated gingerbread bears to share with their classmates. I decorated a few, too, but theirs standout as the ones groaning under the weight of excessive frosting, sprinkles, and more left-over Halloween candy...

Gingerbread Zoo

The final product...

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, December 7, 2014

Several hours and numerous artistic disputes later, A and I finished our Gingerbread Zoo. Next year, I will measure and cut more carefully--but frosting and candy can cure almost anything...

From Halloween to Christmas

Next up: gingerbread houses!

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, December 6, 2014

A dressed as a "recycling center" for Halloween--see below for her candy collecting/sorting apparatus. This morning, in anticipation of making a gingerbread house, she sorted out all her uneaten Halloween candy. It's somehow fitting that A should chose to "recycle" her candy in this way. After all, the gingerbread house won't care if the candy is stale...

A "closed system": from Halloween to Christmas...

Satisfaction guaranteed

Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, December 2, 2014

In truth, I am not one for fixing mechanical things. If it involves any kind of fabric, I can mend it. No problem. But two of our locks were not working properly, and it has long been time to deal with them. First, I got a primer from my (very patient) uncle on how to get the things OUT of the door. The next day I removed them, took them to the locksmith for fixing, brought them home, AND re-installed them correctly. It was incredibly satisfying to put the keys in and find that they all work...

And he's here at last!

Seattle, Washington
Monday, December 1, 2014

After much anticipation and preparation, Santa Rabbit arrived at last.  There were concerns that he might go back to Jordan, instead, to look for us. But, hooray, he found us!

Rabbit pantheon

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, November 22, 2014

As the season for decorating cookies is now upon us, A set out to honor the Rabbit Pantheon with her latest creations. From left to right that would be Nibbles, Nutmeg and Santa Rabbit. And speaking of Santa Rabbit--he is due to arrive in just eight days!

Ladies luncheon

Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Enjoyed the company (and food) of three lovely ladies this afternoon. The continuing joys of being home!

Kiitos kaikesta...

St. Martin's--a few days late

Seattle, Washington

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Armed with lanterns and singing St. Martin's Day songs, we spent the evening wandering the neighborhood with German friends. We were a few days late but no matter. Lanterns from Germany and a homemade version served the purpose equally well...

Danke schön, K!

 

Bò 7 món

Bò 7 món: the second course

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, November 1, 2014

Frank and I finally got out for bò bảy món at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant--to celebrate Frank's (no longer) new job. Bò bảy món (or Seven Course Beef) is a wonderful Vietnamese dinner consisting of seven beef dishes...

You can read more about Bò 7 món at Wikipedia...

"A bag full of autumn"

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, October 19, 2014

A and I spent the late morning wandering the smaller paths of the Arboretum. She was intent on gathering "a bag full of autumn," which in her case meant interesting leaves and sticks. I concentrated on capturing images of the stuff we couldn't (and shouldn't) bring home.

A taste of Thailand

A lot of this fruit you can't eat...

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, October 16, 2014

A trip to the nearby International District provided a delicious reminder of our time in Thailand: Jack fruit. A wonderful treat in rainy and gray Seattle weather...

...but these bits are golden treasure

Mid-morning rabbit report

Nutmeg: She prefers a cardboard treat

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Came down to the basement this morning to find Nibbles chewing furiously on the metal bars of her pen--but getting nowhere of course. Nutmeg, on the other hand, was working away at one of the windows on the cardboard "Animal Castle." I cut them some more birch branches and let them get back to their crazy nibbling.

A fine fall day

Seattle, Washington
Friday, October 10, 2014

All the kids in Washington State had today off, and I found two of them who wanted to spend the entire afternoon raking up leaves--and piling them in the back of the old red truck. And then jumping in them, of course.

8 simple pleasures

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, September 14, 2014

We've been home now for more than three months, which is long enough to be able to reflect on the simple (and serious!) pleasures of being home after five years abroad. Below, a list:

1. Spending time in Seattle's wonderful public libraries. After five years with a kid--and without public libraries around--I will never take them for granted again.
2. Being back at the wonderful Odessa Brown Children's Clinic: great staff and doctors only BLOCKS away!
3. Being able to drink water from the tap!
4. Seattle's parks! Five years without a single decent public park was hard...
5. Jogging--in shorts! (Mongolia was too cold, and Jordan was too conservative)
6. Walking my kid to school!
7. Being allowed to TALK to my kid's teacher (it was forbidden at A's school in Jordan)
8. A decent grocery store only 5 minutes away...

Yes, we had a great adventure AND it's great to be home...

26th & Howell

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, September 11, 2014

Out jogging today when I came upon this neighborhood treasure--a fantastic ceramic-tiled fence and some other wonderful sculptures... Pass by sometime. I think you'll love it!

An old love, re-kindled

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Courtesy of my aunt's bike loan, I had my first bike ride in five years today. It felt WONDERFUL. The lovely September sun was a bonus, but I'm happy to be riding again in ANY weather!

Toby cake

Seattle, Washington
Monday, September 1, 2014

There was a request for one more "Thomas" cake for this year's birthday. And so it came to pass: Toby, Engine #7. He seems to be pulling a fruit car of some kind...

On the lake

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, August 24, 2014

We rented canoes at the UW's Waterfront Activities Center this morning and enjoyed the endless water lilies, blue herons, turtles, and ducks. I had forgotten what good fun there is to be had paddling in and around the Arboretum and Foster Island... 

Ah, the decadence of the West

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, August 21, 2014

There is something about living in the Middle East for two years that gives one a new perspective on things. Strolling past Garfield High School on my way to swim lessons I noticed this sign--and marveled at the strangeness of being home.

Beach combing

Lopez Island, Washington
Saturday, August 2, 2014

Having been forced to abandon much of her shell/rock/potsherd/sea glass/stick collection in Jordan, A was keen to start afresh now that we are home. She focused her attention today on collecting the tiniest of shells. No doubt her vast collection will be up to full strength before long.

Blackberry heaven

Yes, that's an adult hand

Lopez Island, Washington
Saturday, August 2, 2014

A (nearly) side-by-side comparison test reveals that Lopez has the biggest, juiciest blackberries around. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week A and I picked enough blackberries near our houses in the Central District to produce two cobblers. But late this afternoon we set out to pick berries here on Lopez and were rewarded with huge juicy berries that proved far superior to those we found in Seattle. In fact, they were so good the berries never made it into a cobbler...

The Locks

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Spent some time on a hot, sunny Seattle afternoon down at the Locks today. Ships bobbing up and down in the locks, lovely gardens to romp in, and squawky seagulls to amuse the girls. And a heavenly breeze to keep us from overheating...

A new roommate

Seattle, Washington

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Yesterday we got the beginnings of A's new roommate. The finishing touches will go on next week, but A is super-excited to have her "undersea world" come into being. Thanks for your lovely work, S!

Urban camp-out!

Seattle, Washington
Saturday, July 19, 2014

Last night we joined 50 or so other families at the Magnuson Park Urban Camp-out. It was good fun to put up our tents in the park just feet away from the lake, learn all about bats from a naturalist, make s'mores over a campfire, and wake up to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore. Thank you, Seattle Parks Department!

Return of the Kitchen Gods

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, July 13, 2014

Slowly, slowly the move-in proceeds apace. Yesterday I found the Kitchen Gods (left by the previous owner who is from Mexico) and restored them to their place of honor in the kitchen. With the gods now in residence (and the pots and pans as well), I think I am ready to commence cooking—and baking!

A tea cozy in search of a pot

Seattle, Washington
Thursday, July 10, 2014

Today I unpacked my teapot and was amused to realize that I had just finished dragging my favorite tea cozy around the world for five years. In those five years I never found a teapot to use it with--until I got back home and found the faithful old brown teapot that belonged to my grandmother. More signs that we are truly home.

Indoor camping

Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, July 9, 2014

I often likened our three years in Mongolia to indoor camping: making do with a few appliances, the lack of hot water in the kitchen, limited and unfamiliar ingredients, etc., but the challenges of moving back home have caught me off guard at times. After rummaging through several boxes of kitchen stuff, I just couldn't quite find the can opener this evening. There I was, reduced to using my Swiss Army knife, one click at a time. This, too, shall pass, and I will try to savor the comfort of knowing where ones can opener is--and rolling pin, even!

Old-time Yakima

Yakima, Washington

Saturday, July 5, 2014

This afternoon we set out to ride the old-time Yakima trolley. The car itself is actually from Portugal but is of a similar model to the one which trolled the streets of Yakima from 1907 to 1947. Good fun on a hot, sunny afternoon in Yakima. Hey, I even got to drive the thing – for 30 feet or so…

A heavenly cobbler

Olympia, Washington
Tuesday, July 1, 2014

We are visiting friends here in Olympia and attending day camp at the wonderful Hands-on Children's Museum. Yesterday's dinner was crowned with a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler that will linger in my mind for some months to come. Even A, who prefers her food "un-mixed," declared it to be delicious.