Category Seattle
Morning at water’s edge
Most mornings before logging on to work from my living room, I walk down to the edge of the lake and sit for a while. I observe the rowers and the play of light on the water and the internal shifts—physical, emotional, mental—as I finish waking up and prepare for the day. It’s a peaceful […]
Wildfire season
The wind shifted yesterday and now Seattle is buried beneath a layer of smoke from the wildfires on the other side of the Cascades. The look and strong smell of the smoky city strangely reminds me of India, more than anything, since Delhi had been so smoky while we were there. I feel grateful yet […]
In which Justin makes a pie
I mentioned on Saturday that Carol shared her apple pie recipe and then managed to procure a bag of the ever-so-coveted Gravenstein apples for us. The harvest was weak this year so they’re harder to find and more expensive than usual, but Carol has her connections! They weren’t pretty, but you don’t need pretty for […]
Waterfalls!
For this sunny Labor Day we joined (what felt like) literally everyone else in Seattle for a short hike to the Twin Falls. Despite the crowded trail, the trip was worth it. The falls were lovely and the late summer weather couldn’t have been more golden.
Another birthday!
When Amy proposed a picnic in Seattle to celebrate her birthday I offered my roof as a backup if none of the parks worked out. But then the lure of real furniture and a grill led us to scrap plans for the park and lean in to all the rooftop had to offer. Amy and […]
Fountain!
I’ve got the fountain in my back garden running again! I will spare you the gruesome details of all the slugs the size of my fingers that were forcibly spewed from the water shaft when the new pump kicked into gear… Instead, let’s focus on the delight that gurgling water brings to a garden. It’s […]
Birthday!
Yesterday was Justin’s birthday—now he’s officially older than me for the next three months. He celebrated by taking the day off work and using my kitchen to bake kouign-ammans, which are these delicious Breton pastries that involve lots of lamination and basically all the butter. This was his first time making them, and they turned […]
Beach camping
Beach camping on the Washington coast in August is very different from what I was used to in Virginia. Cloudy and cold instead of hot and humid. Crabs and sand dollars instead of wild ponies. Sunsets instead of sunrises. But Amy was still with me. We had had a yearly tradition of camping on the […]
In the air again
Off to Denver for a quick weekend with Amanda! The airport is eerily (dare I say gloriously?) empty, and my heart is full of delight. Boy have I missed traveling! Consider: It has been five months since the last time I flew, which is the longest interval in at least three years. This summer will […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 