At the end of the day ... it ain't over just yet!

This morning I was reading an article by Dr. Maya Bailey, “Real Estate Marketing Strategies—Are You Sabotaging Your Own Success?” and after reading the following line I stopped in my tracks!

“… and that sensations that are labeled fear can just as easily be labeled excitement as you find the growing edge of your comfort zone and move beyond it.”

Five years ago I sold my home in Southern California. Five years ago I quit a fantastic corporate office placement at Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), hugged and kissed my family and long-time friends and bid them “Adieu!” Five years ago I moved up to Birch Bay, not knowing anyone, not having a job, never having been to this area except to drive through it one time with my sister, Mel. Yes, I was fearful, and I was excited, and some even told me they thought me brave—yeah, right! But, I wanted to grow and confront and deal with different questions and answers. Simply considering a change, much less actually doing it, definitely thrust me out of my so-called comfort zone.

Now, at age 62, I feel I did the right thing five years ago.

As I look to the unknown that is my future, I know I will recognize fear, not allow it to immobilize me, convert it into excitement and anticipation, and keep growing. I’m not extraordinary. People everywhere deal with their fears, or don’t. It’s a choice, no?

Springtime Kite Flyin'

Today we had temperatures in 60s ... a veritable heat wave! From snow two days ago to out on the tideflats flying kites in the sunshine this afternoon! Just lovin' Birch Bay in the springtime!

I'm getting this uncontrollable urge to go wash my Miata! Oh my! I had best go lie down until that urge passes! Just kidding ...

Where least expected ...

Whilst out walking about, snapping pix of tulips and daffodils and seasonal whatnot, came across this common weed that had found just the barest amount of dirt in which to sprout and thrive. I marveled over the odds of a seed catching hold in that inhospitable spot between asphalt and concrete curb. I found something appealing in the purple spears radiating out from its center root, and the discoloration of the surface of the asphalt.

This fading magnolia, too, was lying discarded in the road, certainly not at its best, but there’s something elegant and graceful still in its few remaining petals and creamy texture.

Beauty and inspiration in the least expected of places.

APRIL is Open House Month

I have a listing with which I'm participating in a major Century 21 advertising campaign this afternoon ... APRIL is Open House Month ... and with the forecast of late spring snow, I was concerned THIS might be what it would look like this morning; everything in Birch Bay covered in a blanket of cold white. However, the Gods look favorably upon me this morning and it's in low 40s, but NO SNOW in Birch Bay!

It's a GREAT day to hold an Open House!

Snow forecast overnight ... NOOOO...tell me it ain't so!

Two Tulip Today

Two equals Five plus Shadow

Morning Sounds

I enjoy lying snuggled under the covers, easing into the sounds of the morning. Of course, work schedule dictates whether or not I can indulge myself, but if I can, I do. The sound of the laughing ducks out back on the pond make me smile; the twitter of the chickadee, the strident drilling of the red-headed woodpecker. Sometimes on a particularly windy day, I can hear the roar of wind and waves on the bay.

Living where I do is a radical noise change from Southern California, where I would hear police sirens and helicopters overhead almost nightly, with their eerie spotlights tracking some person of interest. Traffic noise was a constant. Lying in bed in the morning there, I would listen to the din from the freeway clogged with commuters rushing to work. I would fantasize the freeway roar was surf and crashing waves. Now, I hear the real thing, although most of the time the sedate water in our shallow bay bears little resemblance to the roar of the Pacific Ocean.

But, this morning, as I lie here welcoming the new day sounds and peaceful quiet, other sounds come back for a visit.

French men amicably talking and laughing down on the street. C'est magnifique!

Clacking of wood geta in a neighborhood Shinto temple, chanting, resonant temple bell, pigeons.

Japanese typhoon rattling our wooden house so that I thought it was going to break apart into a million flying splinters and kill us all.

Noh Play with clacking wood instruments, drum, samisen and highly formalized singing.

My mom's voice telling bedtime stories.

Our newborns' first voices. How they changed, cracked and became strong men's voices.

Flamenco guitar in Barcelona, syncopated clapping, castanets, vigorous dance steps.

A beloved, breathing soundly in sleep next to me. Suki Z. Dawg's is the only breathing going on next to me these nights.

Voice of a total stranger in a BDalton Bookstore, who upon finding a sought after book of love poetry, read aloud one of the poems to the 10 of us lucky enough to be in the store. What a fortunate woman, his wife.

The soft, whisper of snow falling one night in a little town in Utah.

Metallica ... LIVE! Oh, man!

Urgent unzippering and quickened breath ... oh, my! I well remember that sound; making me warm just thinking about it!

I had just arrived on Staten Island, NY from CA on an art scholarship, and threw open my dorm window to gaze out at the Verazzano Bridge all lit up at night. Someone, somewhere in the darkened borough was belting out I Pagliacci. Wow! Now, thatsa sound!

At this very moment, it has started gently raining, silencing all the birds and memories. My own breathing is all I hear.

Time to get my rear in gear!

Soul Food, Sorta

I know it's not the psychology du jour, but food and emotions are inseparable. I can't help myself. When I’m feeling in need of a little emotional comfort, there are certain temperatures, tastes and textures that cheer up my mouth and in turn, my attitude. I eat a healthy diet most of the time, but a little comfort food now and then is better than an apple a day in keeping the doctor away. I'm not taking any chances, I also ate my apple.

Emotional case in point, tonight I had a craving for scalloped potatoes. My mom, Lord love ‘er, prepared this dish for me and my 4 siblings on many an occasion. It was quick and inexpensive to feed this to her horde of perpetually hungry children and was usually served with boiled weiners. Mom was not a good cook. I don’t hold this against her. None of us do. She gave us her lovin' best, and we adored her for that! However, I like MY recipe A LOT better:

6 medium potatoes, peeled
1 bunch fresh green onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
salt
freshly ground pepper
a wee bit more shredded cheddar cheese
paprika

Boil potatoes until fork easily pierces potato. Slice or grate potatoes--I like them sliced, just like mommy made them—and then combine with green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt & pepper. If you plan ahead, store them overnight in the refrigerator in an ovenproof casserole. But if this was a whim of the moment, you can also bake them right away.

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cover top of casserole with a little more cheddar cheese and sprinkling of paprika.

Bake uncovered for about 45-60 minutes, until potatoes and cheese are lightly browned. Love that crispy brown.

This is a super side dish with baked salmon, served with a dry white wine. But I love it by itself, or with a crispy fresh romaine and red cabbage salad.

Oh mama! Thanks for the memories!

The Granny Code Violated

I’ve shot literally a gadzillion photographs of Birch Bay sunsets. I’ve always been awed and fascinated by the play of light, the colors, the cloud configurations, the seasonal influence, the different personalities of the setting sun; even before I moved up here five years ago. No sooner do I shoot a sunset then I am compelled to share it with a friend or relative! None are safe. Total strangers have been plied with my sunset photos. I’ve sent sunsets to The Northern Light and even had one published.

It struck me that I don’t do this with photographs of my grandkiddies; photos which I now and then receive from their doting parents in California and Colorado. I don’t have the stereotypical Grandma pocketbook album of children running, children in uniform participating in various sports, no little ones in Easter finery, none with their dogs or horses—oh, yes. Some even have horses. No sharing of photos of kiddies blowing out birthday candles, none with their cute little bare baby bottoms! No photographs proudly foisted upon co-workers, bank cashiers, hair stylists, grocery store clerks. Nope. None.

Perhaps I’ve violated some Code of Granny Conduct by choosing sunsets over grandchildren.

Oh, by-the-way, have I shown you my latest? Here it is! Enjoy!

I certainly do!

I experienced an ebullient moment of discovery this morning! 7:30 AM and I was desperate for a cup of freshly brewed coffee. I could taste it, my body craved it, but knew I was completely out of coffee; beans or ground! I was resigned to not being able to enjoy any of that aromatic elixir, and I knew I couldn’t go buy any provisions for a week or so.

Driven to drastic means brought on by caffeine deprivation, I reached to scrape any residue from the inside of the coffee grinder. Please let there be enough for one lousy cup o’joe! I was a desperate woman, I tell ya!

There is a silver lining to this forgetfulness we experience at a certain age. Although for the life of me I can't remember doing it, at some unknown earlier point I must have ground some coffee beans and left them in the grinder container; perhaps because the other canister was already filled.

So, to find the aromatic stuff … OMG! Ecstatic! I was leaping around my kitchen whooping with glee! Climaxed, I did! OK, well perhaps that is a wee bit over the top. NO! It was orgasmic to find coffee!

Oh my! I can’t wait to discover what other silver-lining things I’ve forgotten! Wheeeee!

Did someone mention crab?

It got me to thinking about a delicious Dungeness Crab Quiche recipe given to me by a handsome friend, former innkeeper in Bellingham. Crab season comes later in the year here on the bay, so tuck away this delectible delight for future use. This is a quick and delicious way to use up your leftover crab meat!

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

1 tablespoon butter

2 green onions, sliced

6 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups light cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

freshly ground pepper

dash of cayenne

2 cups flaked crab meat (canned crab meat can be used)

1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Bake pastry shell for 7 minutes or according to printed directions. Remove from oven.

Reduce oven heat to 400 degrees.

Saute onion in butter. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add sauteed onions.

Pat crab meat dry. Scatter crab and cheese in pastry shell. Pour in egg mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the center is set. Remove from oven and cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6. Great with sliced fresh pear. Complemented by a Northwest Riesling or even a Chenin Blanc.

Enjoy a little taste of the Pacific Northwest, compliments of Jon!

A little bit crabby

I woke up much too early this morning. Dietary indiscretion after dinner last night tasted MAR- VELOUS at the moment of consump- tion, but too rich for my simple body to take to kindly. I now suffer the consequences. So, I'm a wee bit crabby this morning and didn't sleep well.

Since I can't sleep, might as well write, eh? I'm a neo at this blogging biz, and will make a muddy mess of things for a time until I hit my stride and/or decide why the heck I'm writing this and why anyone else would care why I'm writing. But it feels good to stretch and try something new and different.

Crab ... Dungeness Crab here in Birch Bay ... tastes mighty fine. Wouldn't it be delightful to discover a tasty voice amidst the seaweed and clam and knock-your-eyes-outta-your-head sunsets? Time will tell. It always does.

Sunset du jour

I'm enchanted by the sunsets. Every day, a new and different one to delight the senses!

The Mermaid Walks

Sunlight filters through blue skies and clouds over the bay. High tide and a bit of a breeze ruffles the usually calm bay with whitecaps. More rain is on its way, but for the moment we enjoy a bit of a reprieve. Time to squeeze in a quick walk on the beach. Too bad I don't have Suki Kabuki Tuki Tuki along for the walk. For a froo-froo doggie damsel, she loves to sniff all the seaweed, crab claws, beach flotsam of all manner of stink and reek; even rolling in it with a mischievous grin! That's m'dog!