Ogling The Gargoyle

The last few weeks for us have been about Washington. We went to Seattle for the U-District Street Fair and turned right around and drove to Spokane for ArtFest.

ArtFest is one of our favorite shows to do. Set in a beautiful park, surrounded by stunning Victorian architecture, it is a camera addict’s dream.

On the first day of the show, I met a budding photographer and we instantly hit it off. Groom watched the booth while she and I ran away from the circus with our cameras and practically drooled over all the turrets, transoms, and entablatures.

The next day we did it again, ogling the gargoyles, gables and cobblestones. 

What felt great about the experience (besides playing hooky from the booth), is that we were both open to how the other one viewed the world. The lens was our magic door. I watched what animated her while she noted what sparked my attention. 

There was no competition, only pure inspiration at play.

While I can’t speak for her, I feel that she helped me raise my game, and for that I offer a Thank You.

Eating Like There’s No Tomorrow

On the eve of what has been predicted to be “May 21 Judgment Day,” we’ve actually planned more for the U-District Street Fair, which also starts on Saturday, than to be caught up in an end-of-the-world scenario.

However, if today is the last day of life as we know it, then Groom and I spent it eating as if there was no tomorrow.

Based on the recommendations of people who live here and are in the know, we walked for miles today (well, at least for blocks and blocks), eating our way from neighborhood to neighborhood.

We started near the University of Washington (Husky Territory) and walked to Green Lake. On the way, we stopped at Irwin’s Bakery and tried one of their apple and pecan scones.

The footpath circling the lake charmed us and folks were in a collective good mood, something we attributed more to the first sunny day in Seattle to climb the mercury ladder hitting 70 degrees(according to the news report) than to people struggling to fit one more day of exercise before the impending apocalypse.

The sky dazzled blue, the sun took center stage and we continued from Green Lake to Ballard where we feasted on quiche, chocolate croissants and coffee at the beloved Café Besalu.

Leaving our vehicle safely parked in the hotel’s garage, we also used Seattle’s great bus system to get around in addition to bi-pedding it. From the Ballard neighborhood we cashed in our transfer tickets to catch a ride to Fremont where we took Kimmmm’s advice and sampled chocolate at Theo’s. We figured what have we got to lose (except all the extra calories) and bought the ghost chili pepper chocolate bar. So hot, it can turn one into a ghost. Sounded like a perfect day for such a claim.

I don’t know if this will be our last post or if there will be anyone left to read it, but it’s sure been a good ride. If we are here tomorrow, well then come on down to the street fair and say hello.

Hair of the Goat

We made it safely to the Emerald City this afternoon, what Seattle has been nicknamed since the early 80’s. The first thing we did after checking into our funky U-District flat was to hunt for something to eat.

Following the tantalizing aroma to Garam Masala, an “exotic Indian cuisine” restaurant on University Way, what else could we order but goat curry? It was mighty delicious. And this sign, also recently spotted, is pretty funny in light of our controversial lunch choice.

From the Ave we met up with friends and they took us to Ivar’s on Lake Union where we sat outside near the water, sipping coffee, catching up and watching the boats sail by. Some days I love my job.

The weather turned on the charm and behaved perfectly, bringing out the smiles in everyone we passed in this heavily populated area of what is also known as “Rainy City.” Hey, I thought that was Eugene!

Lucky Number 13

I know, I know, we’ve been remiss. It’s been days since either Groom or I have written an entry, but if we had, it would look something like this…

Dear Diary, we packed the van.

Dear Diary, we unloaded the van.

Dear Diary, we’ve laundered the clothes, cleaned the house (again). Made more jewelry, rinsed the dishes, prepared for our housesitter, bought groceries, packed up our stuff, loaded the van.

Well, you get the picture and see why we would never bore you with such snoozy details. 

 In case you’re still awake, we’re almost ready to hit the trail again, heading for Seattle this time to sell our jewelry at the U-District Street Fair, where as you can see by this sign, you can find anything including “Psoriasis and Exzema.” Apparently it is free and lasts forever.

And with the iffy-mixed weather reports, all I can do at this point is invoke the well-worn and beloved ancient Saturday Market incantation, “sun, oh sun, sun I hope.”

Tastes Like Chicken

Last week, after a friend’s goat stepped on my head (I have video proof!), I wasn’t too sure about goats…but after this week’s adventure, I can honestly say I like goat. Especially with curry!

We discovered this by traveling to Bill Gatesland, home of the Sea Hawks, the Huskies, Seattle Grace and Dr. Frasier Crane.

Spontaneously boarding an articulated bus (note, if you want some extra fun, try sitting in the bellow seats, they’re super bouncy), Groom and I rode the public transport to the Fremont neighborhood where we sauntered past an Indian Restaurant. Our stomachs growled us into submission (was that yours or mine?), so we stopped to read the large menu board posted near the sidewalk. We both saw it at once.

We looked at each other. “Dare we?”

We dared and it was delicious! Goat meat is not gamey like I’d feared. It’s less fatty than lamb, so it was a perfect combination of texture and flavor. Lip smackety good.

Groom and I are such nerds. Our definition of fun is going to the Planetarium at OMSI in Portland on the way up, having sushi lunch with Bee Bugg, almost getting kicked out of Whole Foods in the Pearl District (they thought Frida was a food spy! Hee-larious), and viewing a Coffee Exhibition at the Burke Museum.

We attended John Fluevog’s birthday celebration on Friday the 15th and each got a pair of shoes. Whoo hoo, mine are bright orange. On Saturday, we hung out with the highest-ranking non-fiction writer on Amazon.com (you can look that up if you want to see who it is) and together were shanghaied into a conversation by complete strangers about the Northwest disappearing into the sea within the next 18 months. Yeah, that was fun.

The other fun thing was the U-District Street fair. The weather in Seattle was positively gorgeous, a miracle in and of itself, but sales were down from last year. Sigh, I know. Want to know by how much? One dollar. I’m not kidding, so I’m doing a little jig.

You’ve heard the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers,” well, here’s another springtime observation. When the sun finally comes out after a long spate of rain, so do the people and who doesn’t love the first of the summer B.O.?

Parades of humanity flowed past our booth, the unwashed masses in their blinding white skin suits, several of them offering their bodies for cash. One guy held a hand written sign advertising you could punch him in the stomach for five bucks while other bright individuals were letting folks staple crisp green Lincolns to their foreheads with a staple gun. Ka thunk, ka ching!

Which might explain why I had a dream that Jane Seymour (the actress, not one of King Henry’s the VIII’s harem) was Miley Cyrus’ mother. I do not know what a Hannah Montana is, but I’m pretty sure Jane S. and Billy Ray did not make it.

But I did catch that episode of My Name is Earl, where Joy, who is White-Trash American, falls in love with Ms. Seymour’s open heart necklace sold by Kay Jewelers and just had to have one.

Every day is a learning opportunity and I learned something new just today. People skills.

Or the opposite of people skills. A woman came into the booth wearing a Jane Seymour open heart necklace sold by Kay Jewelers and recognizing the design, I asked her, “Is that a Jane Seymour open heart necklace sold by Kay Jewelers?

The woman smiled and nodded, her hand instinctively touching the pendant hanging around her neck suspended from a chain, pleased that I had noticed. People skills.

Hey, I saw that episode of Earl,” I told the customer. “Joy sure wanted that necklace bad.”

Oopsey, she was not flattered.

But I was when a very handsome man in a sharp suit gave Groom the full body sweep with his eyes. “Oh my goodness, did you see that?” I squealed, “He was soooo checking you out!”

“He was not,” Groom deferred. (Pause...)“But if he was, did he like what he saw?”

“Ho baby, you got the Dude glance.”

There’s no phobia taking place here, just a milestone. Over the last ten months, Groom has lost 60 pounds and can fit into something other than Diego Rivera’s overalls. With his designer zapatos and form-fitting togs, he finally got the urban seal of approval from a well-dressed fancy man in downtown Seattle. I think my husband is becoming a Metro-sexual.

It’s been fun to watch people’s reactions to him, especially those who haven’t seen him in a while. As the Art Fair season has just begun, we’re at the starting point of visiting our annual destinations and the difference is quite evident.

A woman gasped when she saw him and boldly ordered him to lift up his coat (to his T-shirt) so she could “see his belly.” She gave it a love smack with her hand and after making certain the weight loss was intentional, congratulated him.

We ran into an artist who had also lost a significant amount of weight and while oohing and aahing over her, she confessed Groom had inspired her into it. You go girl!

At the Burke Exhibition, we learned that goats discovered coffee. Shepherds, while watching their flocks by night, noticed how the herd caught a buzz after eating the red berries from a flowering plant that smelled like gardenias.

I’m a little sleepy, so I think I’ll grab a freshly brewed cup of that red berry juice.

“Tossed salad and scrambled eggs, they’re calling again, good night Seattle…”