Here's to ART in Blaine and Birch Bay ... Salut!

This past Saturday I attended the first annual Art at the Winery at the Dakota Creek Winery in Blaine, WA. Kudos to winery owners Ken and Jill Peck for putting on an excellent first time art show! From the well-directed parking, well laid out art exhibition, live music all day, and free wine tasting, to the congenial festive atmosphere, it was super! The sunshine was dazzling—the next day it rained katz-n-dawgs—and there was an amazing turnout of patrons and visitors. Obviously sunshine, art, and wine made for a winning combination!

There were over 55 artists exhibiting at this initial art show, and from the comments I heard, I know more artists will be drawn to exhibiting at the show again next time. I will be!

I was pleased to speak to so many of the exhibitors at the art show who live in Birch Bay. I’ll be sharing some interviews with sculptor and painter Jim Agnello, lampwork beadmaker Sabrina, and my multi-talented neighbor Kim Wilson who works in watercolors (and designs and cares for the most gorgeous garden. It’s a delight for Suki and I to walk past Kim’s exuberance of color and textures.) I’ll be adding to the shout out about other artists residing and working in Birch Bay!

So, when all is said and done, it was great fun to see the beginning of, hopefully, Ken’s and Jill’s annual art/wine tradition at the Dakota Creek Winery!

Dakota Creek Winery is located at 3575 Haynie Rd, Blaine, WA Open 1-5 Thurs-Sat (360) 820-4752. They specialize in producing limited quantities of premium wines made from hand-picked grapes from Yakima Valley, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills and Columbia Valley. For more information www.dakotacreekwinery.com

Taking GOLD in Birch Bay ...

When I awoke this morning I noticed the heater in the bathroom had kicked on, and I was happy for the warmth. A couple of weeks ago I noticed Canada geese starting to “V” overhead, honking their passing. I noticed my maple starting to color. I’ve noticed the days dawn later and later and sun sets earlier; gone are the 18 hours of daylight. Out walking with Suki this morning, we ooh and aah at all the incredibly beautiful gold fallen to the road

.

And unto the world a girl child is born ...

Just received a call about an hour ago. I was in a meeting and the following wonderful news was left on my voicemail:

“Hi Mama, or I should say, Grandma! Sierra was born at 5:25 p.m. and she weighed 5-lbs 11.6 oz and is 17-3/4” long. A beautiful, beautiful little girl! I love you, Ma! ‘Bye!”

Couldn’t reach him, but I have no doubt that he is busy with his darling wife Kim, his son Nathan, and Kim’s mom, Robin, whose cell phone he used to call me from the hospital with his joyous news.

My youngest son, Owen, and his family are down in Fruita, CO and I’m way the heck too far up here in Birch Bay, WA. But my heart is right there with them as they celebrate their new arrival: Sierra Grace West.

I am so thankful for my growing family ... my grandkiddies Mikayla, Shelby, Alexxis, Nathan, Cole and now Sierra Grace are incredible human beings. I marvel at their fresh insights and individual personalities. OMG! How did I get to be this old?????

I couldn’t be happier than I am right now and everyone is safe and sound and life is unfolding just as it should!

Something for everyone ...

I have been warmed to the core lately by the generosity of people around me.

From Bill who brings in his gorgeous homegrown dahlias to share with the office, to Carolyn and Duke whose home I am selling who shared with me their freshly picked from the garden beets, to a neighbor of mine, Jim, who brought over a couple of bags of crab he had just caught and cooked ... to the young lady in the checkout line at Haggen who paid for the groceries of the man in line behind her who forgot his wallet and then declined giving him her name and number so he could repay her. The fellow, Lowell Jackson, wrote a letter to the editor of The Northern Light about his experience. He went on to say the lady told him,

"Do this for someone else if you find the opportunity."

There are ample opportunities to be generous with our time, our smile, our resources, our friendship, our thoughts and our actions. Choose to be generous and just see if it doesn't make YOU feel better, too!

(Thank you, Lowell Jackson, for sharing your experience. It brightened MY day!)

Let the season commence ...

Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister) season opens tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. Don’t you dare get in the way of all the boats laden with crab pots that will be speeding out to rigorously protected spots in the bay and strait. Around the bay, crabbing is practically a religious experience and is fraught with tradition. There's a different feel to the community in anticipation of crabbing, beach crab feasts are being planned, everyone spectulating about whether it will be a good season or not, you just can't help but be pulled into the spirit of the season!

My mouth waters just at the thought of freshly steamed crab dipped in melted butter. Oh, Baby! Crab recipes from commonplace to exotic will be enjoyed across the Bay once folks start hauling in their crab.

I can’t say that I was a big fan of crab before moving to Birch Bay. But, then I hadn’t experienced Dungeness before. Now I’m a convert! What delectable flavor!

Dungeness Crab was named after the Washington town of Dungeness, where the crab was first commercially harvested. I understand it was the first shellfish to be commercially harvested on the North Pacific Coast.

But enough about dry, dusty ol' history.

Bring on the crab!

Night Sounds

I didn’t get home until late last night and Suki was anxiously mincing around just inside the door, leash in mouth, tapping her toenail on the face of her Sienna Miller watch, impatient to go for a walk and relieve her little (ahem.) I jest. But I took her out nonetheless.

It was about 9:30 p.m., a delicate but very crisp crescent moon visible in the darkened night sky. There was very little movement of air; still. My four-legged pal and I appeared to be the only ones out at that time of night; the scuffing of my shoes on the roadway the only sound to be heard.

We stopped to sniff and gaze out on the then dark pond; Suki sniffed and I gazed. Four or 5 Mallards flew up from the pond and made their way over our heads. In the silence, their wings made a whistling sound as they flapped on their way to the other side of the bay.

In the peacefulness of that intimate whistling moment, total joy washed over me. How blessed I am to have a little more time to enjoy that serene pond before I move … whenever it is that I’ll move.

Moved to tears ... of relief ... ?

As I look back to the move saga exploding into being with the receipt of the first letter notifying me the owner wanted to occupy the house I'm in, I’m amazed that it has only been about 15 days. I think I’ve stressed and agonized enough for at least a month or two.

I’ve thrown out stuff; I've packed stuff; friends have brought me more boxes for what I need to pack; I've sold books and taken clothes to consignment stores and Goodwill; and around it all I've continued to try maintaining a busy work schedule.





Other friends have offered Jeeps, Forerunners, trucks and even a Jag to help me move my boxes once they’re filled.

Another friend brought to my attention a house for reasonable rent, constituting a move from north end of the bay down to the south end of the bay; another friend graciously offered sharing her home with me. I looked into renting a studio apartment.

Yet another dear friend provided me with a checklist of what to pack first, because I was so overwhelmed I was having difficulty deciding even what to do FIRST.

So many people have gifted me with support and offers of assistance with the move. It has been incredibly heartwarming to know I have a safety net of friends willing and able to pitch in and help!

Even with all the kind offers, I was still slammed for time to get everything choreographed and still dance the real estate dance! I was just putting one foot in front of the other and hoping it would all work out, somehow!

Here the saga of the move takes another radical turn. Just last night the homeowner called me to say his daughter has decided to honor my previous lease agreement because she can't make her move from CA as she hoped, and so I have until next July to move.

Well, now. I THINK I’m relieved. Yes, of course, I’m relieved to know I now have TIME to sort through everything and put order to the chaos AND have time to earn a living. But, I’m still in emotional full gear! What a roller coaster ride!

So, the sorting and packing continues and I’ll still move, but on my terms. This entire experience has been a blessing; nerve-wracking, but a blessing nonetheless. It gave me the kick in the pantaloons I needed to de-clutter and get rid of stuff I’ve been hanging onto for much too long.

More soon; have an appointment to go interest someone in buying a Birch Bay getaway! Wheeee!

Facing realities, not relatives ...

I was going to chronicle my experiences moving and I’d best get at it; chronicling AND moving!

I moved up here away from all family and friends. No big, right? Well, over these five years, friends and relatives have sent photographs and I had them plastered all over my kitchen, mostly on my refrigerator. Each time I’d go into the kitchen, or get something out of the freezer, or put foodstuff into the refrigerator, I would see and think about those I love … School photos of my grandkiddies, Shelby walking her mare Savannah, Nathan’s first pre-school photo with a boo-boo on his little forehead, 86-yr old Aunt Helen standing in front of her brand new Mustang (she’s since sold that and bought a brand new Pontiac Firebird,) Terry playing with Sam with a measuring tape, the Whimmen all smiling and posh, Ann BF and her horde at Christmas, a clever note from Katrin, Paul and Rebecca in all their finery, Mel at Buchart Gardens, Joanie, Dale and Chrissy in Santa hats, Alexxis in her Little League uniform, Owen huggin' Kimmimossa, his squeeze and mom of Nathan and Sierra, Anneke and Chuck at Burningman. While talking on the phone, I would look at my rogues’ gallery. It was a comfort. They kept me company. They made me smile.

Yesterday I removed my tribe from the refrigerator. And, to my surprise, I mourn their loss. Isn’t this peculiar? I can’t see their smiles, I can’t see their eyes. Nothing has changed. They are all right where they’re supposed to be. But, I’m now alone.

I’m adjusting. Change is adjustment, isn’t it. I’m fine with this, but I was surprised at that initial reaction to the loss of the faces I know and love.

♥

I need to establish a rhythm to my moving preparations. Everything is chaos and a mess as I decide what to keep, what to toss, what to pack long term, what to set aside for immediate use. YIKES! And RIGHT NOW is my busiest real estate time of the year … now is when I attempt to gather as many nuts as I can for the winter--and real estate is still a bit dicey! YIKES!

And last but not least, Suki refuses to lift a dainty paw to help! She just wants to be cuddled, fed, go for walks, and play, and sleep.

Hmmm, I could go for some of that, too! Woof!