Mighty Proud

On repeat, perfect for wandering an old railroad line with the sun setting.

Foraging!

I've got the great luck to live in an area with lots of green spaces, and they are especially lovely right now. And bountiful! A few evenings ago, feeling the roaming urge, we wandered out in the twilight and gathered bagfuls of wood sorrel and salmonberries to feast on. Talking and gathering while the sun sinks and the sounds of frogs and night stirrings begin is lovely.

The berries made their way into a smoothie right away! The sorrel made for great pesto from this recipe, although I would add basil and walnuts the next time, because the flavor was a bit sour on its own. I've also found sorrel makes a nice addition to chicken and rice soup!

At the moment more berries await preparation, maybe as a sauce for ice cream or a panna cotta...

Posies

Finally the flowers are out! Everywhere I go they catch my eye... They call from neighbors yards, just begging to be liberated.. Kidding. Mostly.

Sometimes I come home from a walk with a bundle of posies that tells the story of where i roamed.

Olympic Sun

Oh the world of difference a little sun makes... We've been soaking it up like a man just saved from the desert. Except its generally wet enough to drown standing up.

But not lately, and we spent some lovely time in Olympia to celebrate. It was so nice to see something different! 

Priest Point Park is one of my all time favorites, very close to downtown, and we stopped for a lovely while.

People like to play Zombies vs. Humans here, which is about what it sounds like, spread throughout this park. No flesh eating today though, just glorious relaxation.

Closing Time at Pikes Place Market

On a recent trip, I found myself with a bit of time to wander Seattle with a camera. Roaming eventually found me in Pikes Place Market, just as they were tucking away for the night. Markets are fascinating places all through the day, from the deserted building blooming suddenly with vendors to the little stories told by the things left at the end of the day.

One of the flower sellers packing up wore this beautiful swirling skirt of butterflies. I wish I knew her story... 

 Everyone seems in a cheerful mood as they pack up, and embark into a city still flooded with golden light.

Gossamer Leaves

Skeleton leaves are ones that have had all the softer parts worn away by frost and only the delicate framework is left. I love that- such a beautiful fragile seeming thing that is marked by survival. There is a collection of these at my house, dried in a flower press and kept in a book, and gracing my mantle. One also found a place in this pendant, a simple, secondhand glass locket that has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I'd love to fill it with dragonfly or butterfly wings too... from deceased specimens, of course!

The Auctioneer

 For the past several weekends, my boyfriend and I have been haunting the car auction a few hours away. Its a long trip, but its also nice time together and and excuse to get really good food that can't be found at home! We've also been stopping at an enormous Korean grocery store, which is a real treat on a weekly basis.

Squid, frog legs, periwinkles,cactus fruit, longans, seaweed and salmon lovely enough for sashimi have all made their way home with us recently. The little bit of the fun and exotic go a long way to brighten the last few days before glorious spring.

 The auction itself was awesome to be a spectator for. Several hours before it starts, people begin showing up, wandering amongst what looks like a graveyard of cars. Soon they begin to hum back to life one at a time as they are started up. A long, smooth stretch of hoods bursts open like flower petals and the chill air wobbles with the heat of warming engines.

 Most of the cars were donated, and I wish I knew the stories of their owners... Volkswagen vans, and sporty red Hondas butt up against slick cars that aught to hold Mob bosses, sporting the same peace sign stickers. The buyers are just as diverse, laughing and debating intensely in varying languages. I miss this when back home- its seems like English and Spanish are all that is represented there.

When the auction starts, everyone piles into beat up metal chairs and hunches forward as the cars are pulled to the front. Interested buyers surge forward, then prowl intently round the vehicle, poking beneath, smelling, asking the all important, "Stick or automatic?"

The Auctioneer steps forward and after a humorous, rue full and lenghly discourse of the effect of the economy on car prices, begins selling. He weedles, charms, flirts with the customers, groaning at the low bids, goading competition between interested parties. When a car ceases working and has to be pushed off to the side, which happens several times, he shakes his head as if we are all in this together, "Oh cars!".

This weekend we finally found one, a little black truck of the useful, and not decorative variety that I still like the looks of very much. I'm hoping its a great one (: