Wild Salmon is King in Seattle ~ It's Copper River Season in the Puget Sound

Photo: AP / SL

Last Friday, Alaska Airlines flew into Seattle with the first wild Copper River King Salmon of the season.

What is Copper River salmon like?

The first time I had Copper River salmon was about 35 years ago. In Seattle, the first weekend in May is Opening Day. Sure it's also Kentucky Derby, but in Seattle, it's the Opening Day of boating season. The Friday before, the boats start lining up in Lake Union to go through the Cut between Lake Washington and Lake Union.

From 1992 to 2000, my sons rowed, first Junior Rowing champions and then on to the University of Washington Crew ~ a national powerhouse. I've spent many years standing on the Montlake Bridge watching the shells fly through the Cut to the finish line. Yes, Opening Day in Seattle is our first outdoor festival of the summer.

My friend, Gwynne always has a spring party that weekend. I was new to Seattle and was utterly clueless about fish (except brook trout, the occasional bass and canned tuna). So, really what did I know? And, having lived most of my life in the desert southwest, I really didn't know from wild salmon.

So, I get to Gwynne's party and the buffet on the dining table is groaning with food. Smack in the middle of the table was an enormous whole salmon. Oh uck, I thought. Fish! (and not in a good way). I was picking my way around the side dishes when Gwynne came up and said, "Let me help you dish up some salmon."

"Oh, thanks," sez I. "I'll get some later."

"Nonsense," sez she. "If you don't get some now, there won't be any left."

Inwardly, I'm thinking, "Oh, jeez." Outwardly, I said, "thanks, that would be great." I have to say I gasped when I saw her cut off about three inches of fish. No way in hell I can hide that under a lettuce leaf. She stood there in intense anticipation. Oh crap! Caught! I'm really going to have to at least make a good show of eating this. I'll look for a potted plant later. So, I take a small forkful and carefully put it into my mouth.

Oh! My! God! It was utterly delicious.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It's salmon," she said.

"No, salmon is fishy and tastes like cat food. This is wonderful. Really, what is it?"

"It is really salmon. It's from Alaska. QFC brings it in every spring from the Copper River."

And, here we are today. The first Copper River Kings are now in Seattle. It's such an elegant fish. Deeply red, extremely moist and flavourful. Once you've had Copper River King or Sockeye, every other salmon gets in line behind.

I am reminded of the importance of wild salmon in the cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. Everything about this place we love is a direct result of the birth, life, death and rebirth of this magnificent fish.

And, our wild stocks are in desperate peril. It's ironic that the arrival of Copper River Kings to the shops in Seattle occured just as the Seattle Times published a front page article about the dangers of fish farming in Canadian and US waters. Alexandra Morton has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the dangers of this filthy industry. She has documented the existance of a virulent virus found in farmed stock that is finding its way into wild runs as they pass by the salmon farms.

Will her work do any good? I don't know. But, lots and lots of groups are working to protect this indicator species. If we give up on wild salmon, we're screwed. What are we going to eat? Radioactive tuna?

If we care about the future, we must protect wild salmon. Everything our children need, wild salmon need. If you care about wild salmon and can't think of what to do with $100, $500, $1000, support a nonprofit working in this important area.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018296338_viruslady27m.html

http://www.greatwildsalmonrun.org/

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/boeing/article/Alaska-Air-delivers-first-Copper-River-salmon-3568964.php#photo-2952881

http://copperriversalmon.org/

Day 39 Everyday Grateful ~

Getting ready to iron napkins.

What can I say?

Ironed napkins are another thing

that keeps civilization together!

Lovely.

The Impromptu Dinner

Today, Kim made dinner.

She's a traveling nurse who will be here for three or four months. This afternoon, she arrived laden with shopping bags from various stores in Bellevue.

The thing about living here is if someone is cooking and someone else walks past the kitchen, a dinner party is about to break out. The dinner that started out for two ended up dinner for six. And, boy howdy, it was just wonderful.

Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Songbook.

Everything fresh. Everything from scratch. Inspired. Delicious.

Pork Salsa Verde (slow cooked)

Refritos

Spanish rice

Fresh corn salsa

Pico de Gallo

Black bean salsa

Crumbled Mexican cheese

Corn Chips

Fresh corn tortillas

Red wine and sparkling pomegranate juice

 

At 4:00, we thought we would be eating on the back deck. By 6:00, it was too cold. The dining room table was cleared of my sit-upon project for Linsi's wedding reception; plates were placed, napkins folded, wine glasses filled and toasts all around.

What a lovely day.

Friends around the dinner table.

Staying in Florence? The Most Beautiful Bathroom in the World!

A while ago, my sons and I stayed in Florence at the most wonderful boutique hotel E*V*E*R! It wasn't that it was so chi-chi or uber-designed or architecturally astonishing. It was just so fully realized and immaculately presented.

I love living in a world knowing that lovely hotel is in it.

I remember in a previous post, I waxed poetic about my pink dogwood overhanging my back terrace saying something like I have complete confidence that the path into heaven is lined with pink dogwood eternally in bloom (or, something like that.) Well, if God or any of his heavenly hosts were staying in Florence, they would certainly stay at The Lungarno.

First of all, it's across the bridge from Palazzo Spini Feroni ~ the Palazzo Ferragamo and shop. Nice neighborhood! I mean, really now, how horrible can that possibly be? Right! Not at all.

We had taken the train down from Milan and arrived in the mid to late afternoon. Well, the Bear (my adored oldest son) is all about Prosecco when we visit. So, we hung out in the lobby toasted each other and laughed up a storm.

The lobby is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! The seating is extremely comfortable and everything is upholstered in cream/white linen with navy blue fringe piped around the cushions and a generous deep navy border around the bottom of each piece. Quiet, summery, inviting.

For me , the art is the showstopper. All original, pen and inks, charcoals, black and white water colours. All interesting and wonderfully presented. It also feels personal. Like the person who curated had an intelligent eye. Each piece felt selected on its merits. Handsome.

When we went up to our rooms, the wonder continued. My bedroom was not large but so immaculately appointed it left me breathless.

But, the bathroom! Oh, dear God, it was so exquisite. First of all, it was small. I mean weensy. Not that one would swing a cat, but, well, there wasn't room for that. As I've mentioned in my other posts, my bathroom is weensy, too ~ 5' 0" x 8' 0". Shower, toilet, vanity. My bathroom at the Lungarno also included a bidet so it was slightly larger than mine at home. And, that is where all comparisons end.

Marble! Marble wainscot. Marble floor. Marble moulding around the door frames. Marble base. Marble shower. Marble vanity. Beautiful. Heavenly. Marble.

Not certain of the kind but reminds me of crema marfil. It's deeply creamy. If you ever think of marble as edible. This is the one!

The towels thick and white. The linen towels crisp and white. The spa robe? You get the drift . . . yah, thick and white. The fixtures and fitting? Matte nickel ~ either by age or by design.

 



The bedroom walls were a true butter cream. The mouldings, wainscot and millwork were white. Did it have the best view in Florence? No, but I loved looking out at the old ivy covered walls. It was very much like a secret garden. Romantic and atmospheric as hell!

So, if you are planning a trip to Italy and Florence is on your itinerary, think about staying at The Lungarno. Is it expensive? Yes. But, if you stay in pensiones and small out of the way places on your trip, this is the place to splurge!

Day 38 Everyday Grateful ~

Coffee with my next door neighbor, Chuck

Started out bright blue skies. Now a little cloudy

Group of us having dinner this evening.

A perfect Seattle day. Lovely.

http://www.lungarnocollection.com/en/the-collection/florence/hotel-lungarno/5-stars-hotel-in-florence

Plants in Architecture ~ The Acanthus

A thousand years ago, I was visiting a dear friend who is a genius architect at his office. He met me as I stepped up to the the door.

"Do you know what that is?" he asked as he pointed to a shiny large leafed plant in a handsome pot beside the door.

"No," I said. "I like it. It reminds me of a fatsia. Great leaves. What is it?"

"Acanthus."

"Acanthus? Why have I heard of that?"

"It's the stylized leaf used in the Corinthian column capital."

"Oh! How! Fan! Tastic! It's wonderful! Is it hard to grow?"

"Nah, super easy. And, when it blooms, a large stock shoots up into the air. Handsome as hell."

Now, this is what I've learned when someone says "super easy."

It means they are good at it. They are so good at it they can jeté and pirouette with ease as you struggle.

Over the next few decades, I planted acanthus. Here. There. Over. Under. Nothing. Not once.

Jeez. I decided to put acanthus into the clematis category. Another plant I can't seem to grow. And, worst of all, when I see it at a friend's home festooned over the gate in a glorious bower of blooms, she always says, "oh, it's easy." Talk about salt in the wound!

Anyway, I finally gave up planting acanthus in my beds and tried (one last time) to plant it in a pot in my courtyard.

Little by little, it didn't die. Of course, it is a perennial so it does die back in the fall, but this spring? It's back and it looks damn fine.

When I was field tripping with my goddaughter, Linsi, I saw a wonderful acanthus in a perennial bed. Once you see it, you will see it often.

So, if you are looking for a showy, handsome plant ~ think acanthus. A plant with a rich, storied architectural history.

I'd say it was easy to grow but it did take me twenty
years! 

Day 37 Everyday Grateful ~

Started out misty.

Ended up blue skies, fluffy clouds.

A perfect Seattle day. Lovely.

A Summer Garden Reception ~ More News . . .

So, on Wednesday, Linsi (my goddaughter) and I went field tripping.

She is very interested in having a completely casual wedding reception ~ sort of like a beautiful picnic.

"Are you thinking picnic as in people might sit on the grass, kindah picnic?" I asked.

"Yes, casual, tropical, bright, kids, friends. You know, friendly," she replied.

"So, what are you thinking these casual friendly people will sit on?" I wondered out loud.

"Mmmmm, I don't know. What do you think?" she said lobbing the ball firmly back into my court.

"Well, we'd need several sit-upons, as in many. We need something "theme-y" and not expensive. We don't want to blow a lot of dough on something you won't use again. But, we also don't want our sit-upons to be depressing. We want them to appear to be thought out. and part of the greater whole."

In the back of my mind, I went over all the options I could think of that were festive and not a lot of dough. We really couldn't "buy" anything. No heading to Goodwill or other of that ilk. Then, I remembered my friend Sally and her and my friend Liz who is the queen of all things found, salvage and one-of-a-kind. I recall she had mentioned she had a basement full of fabric she was selling by the pound.

I sent her an email:

Hey Hun ~

   Do you still have fabric by the pound? If so, I'd like to come by to see about making some table cloths and sit-upons for my goddaughter's wedding reception.
   Let me know ~
XOXO
H

I'm up to my eyeballs in fabric but we are in SF this week. Call next Sunday. Liz

Hi Dear – I’m back and looking to unload a mountain of fabric. Come visit and we’ll have a cup of coffee while you peruse the offerings. Liz

Hi Ho Hun ~

   Are you available on Wednesday (sort of anytime but not real early and not real late ~ traffic, yah know) for Linsi and me to come look at your fabric? We field tripped this weekend to the meadow where the reception is planned and have some ideas for using your fabric.

   Whaddahyah think? Available?

   Tah ~

Heidi

Come do your part to unbury me of fabric. I think I have lots of stuff you can use for tablecloths for your niece's wedding. Liz;-)

Absolutely. I have nothing scheduled so you name the time.
Liz

 

 

And, so we did. What a really fun field trip.

When we arrived at Liz's home, I was reminded again about how wonderful it is to see the artfulness of others. Everything was fully realized. The approach to her home is a generous and friendly; spunky and vibrant; personal and interesting.

And, boy howdy, does she have fabric! She surmised it was from a person who quilted. Sort of 2 yard pieces in a wide array of patterns and colours. Lots to choose from.

Linsi set the tone. She and Brandon got married on the beach in Hawai'i. She gravitated to classic tropical cotton prints.

We made a first cut selection. Then, we went over all the ones that she liked at first blush and decided on the patterns and colours that best represented a tropical theme to her.

With our final selections weighed and paid for, we loaded everything up and brought them to my house. Can you say "work party"?

The concept is to make 48" square sit-upons. Pattern top / solid back scattered around the meadow under market umbrellas and use the patterned squares as table toppers over plain floor length table cloths. The jury is out but the potential is promising.

I'll keep you posted!

P.S. Yes, don't worry. We're going to have chairs, too!

Day 36 Everyday Grateful ~
Started out misty.

 Ended up blue skies, fluffy clouds.

A perfect Seattle day. Lovely.

A Summer Garden Wedding Reception ~ The Planning Continues . . .

Well, the planning for my goddaughter's wedding reception this summer continues. There was a bit of a hiatus since last I posted. Linsi is a baseball coach at a regional community college. She's been up to her nose in sports, recruiting for next year, working her second job and setting up her newly married life. Lots of things on that girl's plate.

Yesterday, we took a field trip to the meadow she has reserved for their reception. It's in a lovely older area of the north end of Seattle. The glen is surrounded on all sides by smaller bungalows. The residents were there for the yearly clean-up. Trees were being trimmed, brush was being cleared, the sun was doing its shiniest best and Linsi and I were going over the options.

The approach to the reception is lovely. The streets are narrow and deeply wooded with intersections that gently curve. No aggressive 90 degree angles here! No sidewalks either which may or may not be a good thing.

The path to the meadow is an unpaved, gentle slope shaded with old cedar, firs, rhododendron, Oregon grape, salal, Madrone trees. We may hang colourful banners along the path.

Serendipitously, the work party had cleared a path to the meadow, so the access will be easy and obvious. No need for the magic marker sign with arrow and balloon.

  

By the end of August, the grass will only be green along the edges where the trees shade the grass. So, we will be dealing with a nice toasty wheat coloured surface. 

We don't know what we will do with the very cool 50's backstop. Something fun, no doubt. I'll keep you posted.

Once everyone is here, Linsi and Brandon plan to have a small ceremony of sorts at the beginning of the reception in the mythical tent we are trying to obtain. That requires an entrance of sorts. We like the two old trees as the focal point of that entrance.

 

 

Now, that we have time, full attention and the lay of the land, it's going to be full-tilt, nonstop flurry of activity to get this ready for their big day the end of the summer. This reception will be just like Linsi and Brandon ~ friendly, casual, festive and fun. Not too much Martha but lovely none the less, I'm sure.

Day 35 Everyday Grateful ~
Slept in, read in bed, misty Seattle day. Lovely. 

Water is a Human Right

"The human right to drinking water is fundamental to life and health. Sufficient and safe drinking water is a precondition for the realization of human rights."

— United Nations 'General Comment' on the Right to Water. November 27, 2002

"The simple fact is, this model of privatization doesn’t work. You cannot marry the profit motive to something like water or air which people need to survive. We have to take this notion of fresh water out of the market place and say that it belongs to the earth, it belongs to all species, it belongs to future generations, and no one has the right to commodify it for personal gain.

— Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, March 2004

When I ran for Congress, I was endorsed by the Sierra Club. Running for office and learning the details behind the issues important to my district was a profound and deeply moving experience. It made me love Thomas Jefferson and the citizen legislative process even more. Of course, I became even more an environmental zealot. And, it solidified my belief in the importance of our environment in the well-being of society. So, I recycle, buy used / salvage first and do what I can in my Western life to be mindful of the effect I have on my surroundings.

Which brings me to bottled water.

It took me a while to tumble to the importance of companies encouraging distrust in municipal water supplies in this country. If people feel the tap water is not safe to drink, their anxiety makes them the perfect consumers. The large multinational corporations fan the flames of that fear and offer the solution. Safe. Pure. "Bottled" water. Water you can trust . . . for sale, of course.

Sheesh! It's always about money.

I willingly drink my tap water. It's delicious. I've been known to come in my front door, head directly to my kitchen, throw my keys on the counter, turn on the tap and drink directly from my hand. When I'd come home from college and do the same thing, my mother would say, "we do have glasses, you know."

Which brings me to artesian well water.

Many years ago, a friend of mine told me about an artesian spring in Seattle. It's part of a local water district. People would line up to fill their jugs and take them home. Well, apparently the local water district wasn't too happy to have people not paying for water so they capped the well.

And . . . the old adage proved true!

When you have a point to make with someone, the universe has a bigger point to make with you or as I like to call it . . . the cosmic banana peel. The capped well refused to stay capped. It continued to flood and make for a very unhappy water district. So, the water district capitulated. And, better than that, they built a nice little cover so people could come to the well in any weather, at any time of the day or night and take the water.

Oh, and yes, it's still free.

As I filled my three 5 gallon jugs this morning and brought them home to my cooler in the pantry, I was reminded again how rare clean water is and how difficult it is to find in many parts of the world. I am more in awe of the lengths people go to get clean water. Five gallons of water weighs about 42#. Imagine walking miles there and back to bring fresh water to your family.

Another reason not to commodify water.

Do I still drink out of the tap? Absolutely.

But, I love knowing there's a little well that continually flows; a little well where the water is clean, clear and . . . free.

Day 34 Everyday Grateful ~
Fresh water at the well, 

the morning with Linsi planning 

her reception and lunch. 

Ramses came along for the ride

 and got to spend some time

 in a fenced yard! 

A good time was had by all

Sunny, bright, still. Happy.