Dogwood blossoms

Tomorrow is Arbor day. I meant to send out cards, since I am the only arborist many of my friends know. I feel responsible to inform them of the important holiday. I have neglected my duties. I will try to make or find an e-card to send.

Having lived in San Diego the past 4 years, I forgot what Spring is like. It is amazing, things grow so fast. It seems each day more is green and lovely. I got to drive to Sequim, WA today. I drove up the 101 HWY, through the edge of the Olympic National Forest. I went up for some work near Gardiner, WA, but went further to Sequim to have lunch with a friend, Sue, who has recently moved to Port Angeles. Oooooh and don't get me started on the DELICIOUS lunch we had at the Alderwood Bistro, mmmmhhhh. As I have been enjoying spring I have most enjoyed the Dogwood tree. In books on the meaning of trees and flowers, it says the Dogwood signifies ‘I am indifferent to you’. This is unfortunate. Native Americans took the arrival of the white flowers as a signal it was time to plant crops. It is also the state tree of Virginia. They also say in a pinch it can be used as a primitive toothbrush. As you chew on the end for a few minutes, the fibers separate and become soft, forming a brush.

That is all I have to say for now, I want to go and make a card for Arbor Day. By-the-by, Arbor Day was started in the state of Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton on January 4th, 1872. He was a legislator/farmer who proposed that an annual day be observed especially for the purpose of planting trees. He felt that Nebraska was particularly barren of trees. On the first Arbor Day observed, over a million trees were planted in Nebraska. Having since been adopted by all states, it is observed the last Friday in April.

Sharing my table

Sharing my table is a delight, even though it is small and folds up and away. A visit from friends has been my first opportunity to host since moving here. A delightful description is given at <http://popcornandapples.blogspot.com/>. We had a very late dinner of oyster stew, which really turns out to be a chowder, so I don't understand the designation of stew.


We ate well. Rosey's on Rogers was a venue I had been waiting for a chance to try. We all had the special and delighted in the intermezzo, a light lemon & mint sorbet.

By-the-by, I have found that, when out to dinner with friends and the food is fine, I catch myself humming. The way you hum when you feel full of happiness. Maybe that is why I feel akin to Winnie-ther-Pooh, who also hums when happy. I had a beau who thought it slightly offensive that I hummed when we ate. He particularly disliked it when we were with company. I don't think he ever understood why I hummed, even though I tried to explain it. He must not have been a hummer.


Now, more of our adventure...we rode the ferry Klickitat from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island for a VERY blustery run about Fort Casey. The wind blew and the ferry rocked, and truthfully I was uneasy. The next day, as I returned to do work on Whidbey Is. the ferry attendant informed me that the ferry had a crack in the hull and would be out of service. Egad, what a shave with disaster. <http://www.spu.edu/casey/>

As I go walking...

I left the house at dusk to walk to the food co-op. The dumb dogs were out on Coleman so I walked the back way and got caught up in blackberry brambles, oh well. Blood oranges are in season. I don't like regular oranges, but for some reason I lOVE blood oranges. I got several. I got lots of groceries, well, not so many they couldn't be carried home in one well stuffed bag. As I walked home it was chilly, but in that cheerful way that adds rose to your cheeks and nose. The film of clouds made a rainbow aureole around the moon which was 37% of full. The stars peeked around clouds and I was happy. I love walking around in the evening. In San Diego, the area of town I lived in was too dodgy to walk about in. It made me so grateful to be in a new place. I am going to research blood orange recipes, make dinner and then indulge in some coconut milk ice-cream. I am anticipating much pleasure from it.

p.s. On the google homepage you have the option to track the phases of the moon. I like that.

p.p.s. I found a great recipe. A version of a fennel salad I already know I love. Slivered fennel bulb, olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper.
http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/special/1999/batali/fennel.htmll

There is also a great article to listen to on NPR about blood oranges. .

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7344360

Another Valentine

So Valentine's Day is coming. Most years I have great ideas for a card (inspired by love for my Valentine), sometimes I have had no good ideas. This year I was walking down to the beach with my nephew when the epiphany came. I am sure he wondered why I was giggling to myself. Like most of my most amusing antidotes, they are only amusing to myself. I was reflecting on past cards and since I was surrounded by the conifers of the great Pacific North-west I remembered a pop-up card I had done once of a pine tree for a friend that said "I pine for you". Well, I started thinking harder on that phrase and how I could visually represent that better and came up with my card for this year. "a little botanical word play for Valentine's day." I Pine Fir Yew. hahahahahaha