Lake Fair

I don't think I've done a post in about two weeks! That is because I've been working seven days, then having one off for most of this summer. Sadly that isn't likely to change for a while. 

A week or two (three? What year is it?) ago Chris and I did get a lovely day to ourselves, and we made the most of it. We took a trip to Olympia, Washington. and it turned out to be Lake Fair! The fair was colorful, both literally, and in the charming eccentricity of people we love about this area. We wandered through absorbing it all, bits of music, laughter, excited voices... And the smells! Cotton candy sweet, rich hamburgers and sausages, and the elephant ears combined intoxicatingly with the fresh summer air.

We wandered around the lake in the perfect sun, and watched tiny schools of fish dart below the clear water. The farther we walked the more the music of the band mixed with birdsong and its own echos across the lake.

After that we rode the ferris wheel and looked out over the whole wonderful scene! I didn't really appreciate ferris wheels until I got much older, now I love them. For the sake of pictures not least of all!

The whole downtown was festive and bright that weekend, and shop owners even decorated the sidewalks outside their shops.

We wandered down the salty, fresh smelling waterfront for a while to dream about houseboats and the adventures you could have in them. It was one of those days where it is a pleasure just to be outside, especially with the person you love! Not much else would have been necessary.

But to that we added delicious Vietnamese food we can't get at home, and gluten free pizza! Another treat I must usually forgo, there is an amazing shop called The Bearded Lady Bakery, that has a great array of gluten free treats. Half of the luxury lies in choice, usually if there is an option other places it is only one, and not a very good one. Needless to say I took forever. The winner was this plum and lavender cupcake- heavenly!

To top off a wonderful day, we actually came up here to see The Tempest at the Little Olympia Theater! It was marvelous, they have a stage that you sit around in a semi circle quite close to the actors, so you had a great view of their faces. It helped with being able to hear the beautiful language of the play, which it would be a shame to miss. It was also very humorous! You could tell the actors were having a great time themselves.

Have a wonderful day! 

Elizabeth the Queen, Book Review

Biographies are a passion of mine. Generally I have stuck with figures father in the past, but recently I picked up Elizabeth the Queen, and am so glad I did! It is fascinating to learn about a person in such an unusual situation in life, and in history. The book is full of the kind of broad background information that really gives context to a biography, without being dry. The length of her reign itself adds interest, because you don't often get to hear the full story of someone who lived in both World War II and the present, without ever having been able to fade into the plain everyday life most people do. Prior to reading this book I also knew little about the United Kingdom's political structure, and the function of the monarch within it. Because of the way the book was written this was no encumbrance to enjoying it. In fact I learned a great deal! The same applies to the Queen herself, of whom I knew only what the news conveyed, and that as usual was nonsense.

This is a book I can whole wholeheartedly recommend! If  you are a lover of history, or just of people, this is a book you may really enjoy.  

Bricolage

bri·co·lage

ˌbrēkōˈläZH,ˌbrikə-/

noun

1. (in art or literature) construction or creation from a diverse range of available things.

   "the chaotic bricolage of the novel is brought together in a unifying gesture"

   • something constructed or created from a diverse range of available things.

     "bricolages of painted junk"

   
   
2. The above is a good description of the contents of this post. A little bit of everything from this busy very week! Which includes-

A box of marvelous family photos from my grandmother. It is fascinating to see the way features pass from person to person, and the changes life makes to that canvas.

Hooray for summer! I am trying to replace as much of my normal diet as possible with peaches, while they are in their glorious peak.

We are trying to absorb all the other joys of summer too, with lots of long walks, and ice cream! Ice cream sandwiches made with sugar cookies and homemade raspberry jam, specifically.

 All the sun makes me feel like wearing the brightest things I own.

Have a wonderful day! 

Electric

This song is running through my head and I don't mind at all...

Sparks

Happy late Fourth! If your neighborhood is like mine, there are still fireworks going off here and there! We had a barbecue at my house, and it was a blast. It turns out that you can see several fireworks shows nearby from my yard, and all the streets around were full of fireworks too. We had some of Chris's amazing kabobs, which recipe I may need to steal for this blog.. And even some sword and squirt gun action (not simultaneously).

It reminds me one Fourth of July when I was a kid, and all the quiet suburban streets by Seattle turned into galaxies of short lived stars for miles and miles. The kids all colluded in mischief and accidentally set a roof on fire. It was quickly put out, but no one likes to give my brother bottle rockets still. You could hear everyone's music blending together and smell the barbecues mixed with the pine trees that warmed in the July sun all day.

Near the end of the night a helicopter swept overhead to land at the elementary school to take someone to the hospital. It was surely frightening and sad for someone, but what stood out to a child's mind was being swept up in a wave of a hundred running children down the street, passed the fireworks, the music the smells, gaining in number until we slammed against the fence to watch as it took off again. We wandered more slowly back then in glowing smoke to lay in the back yard and stared at the stars.

I think this will always be one of my favorite holidays, and if yesterday indicates there will be many more great ones to come.

What did you do for the Fourth?

The Spice Road

Last weekend Chris and I took a trip to Olympia, Washington. It is wonderful, colorful city and one of our favorites. Luckily it is also not too far away! We went specifically to get a supply of exotic spices, from Buck's 5th Avenue. This amazing store has caught my eye on many previous trips but had always been closed, but just from the outside it seemed fascinating.

The store did not disappoint! We came home with a variety of curries and some lovely, fragrant raspberry tea. The shopkeepers were enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and had a number of ideas for the different spices.

It was a treat for the eyes and certainly for the nose, with the many spicy scents mingled together, and separate as you peruse the jars.

They let us go upstairs to look at the area where they host cooking classes from different countries (drool!) and a small but fascinating gallery. These were done by the lady facing us above.

Aren't they marvelous? I love the expressions.

We wandered for a bit, finding murals around every corner...

And found the Radiance shop, which has a plethora of delicious teas I could spend hours perusing.

We also roamed down to Burial Grounds. We came here on our first date, and its been a favorite since. They have a number of delicious and unusual choices, with amusing names like Ultra Violence (creme de cacao, ibarra  and orange) and Rigor Mortis (chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallow). I got a Molotov, with cinnamon, chocolate and chipotle, and some ghost chili oil. As always is was excellent, I love the combination of bitter coffee with sweet chocolate and a little burn from the chilies.

When I lived in Olympia, I liked to use my day off to grab a coffee, then go to a park I hadn't seen yet. It was handy because I was a nanny and could scope out good new places. There are a number of beautiful and unique places I've found this way. Chris and I like to keep up the tradition when we can, so we picked a random park nearby and checked it out. 

Decatur Woods Park turned out to be a gem. There were many cherry, pear and Indian plum trees, enough that this may have been a farm before it was a park. The trails are not long, but there are many beautiful flowers and tree shaded spots with open fields, wonderful for a picnic. 

Definitely one we will have to explore again! What is your favorite place to take a daytrip?