To Market, To Market

At the first of the month I joined the Nisqually Land trust in a Scots (scotch) Broom pull on the Van Eaton property in Eatonville.  We were blessed, yet again, with fair weather for the duration of the three hours duty. 

Most of the short greenery is Scots Broom.  You can see people in and around it.

This property we have visited before and the previous two work parties had largely cleared out the majority of Broom.  The remaining plants on worker referred to as "Old Growth" Scots Broom.  Boy was he right!

The plants were tall and their bases, stout.  It was quickly apparent that we would have to tackle the plants in teams of two and three.  We used root jacks to up-end some of the brush shrubs.  Other plants required saws to pare down the bases so the jacks could get around them.  Many we had to grub into the roots with hands and tackle them below the ground level.

The soil was very soft, a saving grace.  There were several volunteers from the high school and one found this little Salamander during her efforts.

She was careful to place the little one safely out of harms way.  The students were very interested in the conservation work along the river.  Leaders from the Land Trust were very willing to spend extra time answering their questions. 

After the work party I paid a visit to the Olympia Farmers Market.  Along the way I spotted Santa and his hitch of eight RainDeeres

All the usual vendors were busy.  This market has many local food stalls.  The apple vendor had many varieties I have never heard of

The meat looked wonderful, very well marbled and not stuck under plastic

The biggest crowd, understandably, at Wagner's Bakery.

I worked with Mr Wagners sister many years ago.  My first experience with home made sauerkraut was his.  It converted me to always adding caraway seed to my store bought kraut.  For this I thank him.

Last Sunday I went into Seattle early to see the runners for the Jingle Bell Run.  Once again there was a huge crowd

but I was disappointed to not see as many people in really far out costumes this year.  Overall it felt sort of quiet and not quite as jolly.

Pike Place Market was really busy, far more so than it was last year.  The vendors were hard at work and ready to pounce on anyone taking notice.  I found some unique preserved strawberries that I am going to try in my favorite scone recipe. 

The market is such a wonderful, visual place

Who can resist the neon

I could not resist stopping and watching the donut machine

and had to breeze through DeLaurenti http://www.delaurenti.com/

The craft folks were just setting up.  I always find things I would really love to have ( I don't NEED another purse) and little hidden surprises, like this hand painted column,  everywhere.

Its Christmas Time in the City

What a month.  I feel like time slipped by so quickly.  There have been a few events but overall simply hectic days at work and super low energy perhaps brought on by the unrelenting dark dreary days and eating and drinking things I really should not.

Girls Weekend with my sisters was a bit early this year.  We went to hear the Seattle Mens Chorus and for a change of pace visited the Pike Place Market.  I love the market, it is so visual.  When we went it was chock full of people, which can be part of the fun, but hard to take photos when stuck in the milling herd.  As usual we ended our evening out at Olivers, where I officially had my first vodka martini.  I am a Scotch gal myself, so this was a leap.  It promised good vodka and olives as a reward.  My review;

I could be converted. 

Best part of the downtown adventure was walking to and from everywhere (comfy shoes this year) and seeing the lights.

The following weekend I got up early to go view the Lunar Eclipse.  I was sure I was going to have to climb or drive up someplace high to get above the unrelenting fog we had been having, but amazingly enough when I got up and out, the sky was clear and the moon was dazzling.  I selected a park overlooking Lake Washington where I could sit in my car and enjoy the sight without being in the 20 something degree weather.

I don't have a camera that can do justice to night sky photography so I was very pleased to get at least one passable image.  At the moment of totality, I mean smack on the moment, the marine clouds rolled over the moon and totally hid it.

The following day was the Jingle Bell Run in downtown Seattle.  Typically my sisters and I are having girls weekend on the same weekend so I grabbed the chance this year to go down and take pictures before the race.   This fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation draws a lot of participants and dressing up is the fun.  Many teams have a theme and everyone wears little jingly bells.

I grabbed the opportunity to check out the windows at Fox's as I needed a "window display" for my monthly scavenger hunt on Flickr

Could not resist taking photos of the carousel

or the Bon star.  Ignore the huge MACYS on the side of the building,  It is forever to be called The Bon Marche or simply The Bon.

While everyone was at the race I grabbed the opportunity to visit the market while it was quiet.

 Breakfast at Lowells.  Yummy coffee, creaky wooden floors.  I wish I had a better chance for a photo op.

then a wander through the market while the vendors get ready for a busy day.

 

A final pat good-by to Rachel the Pig then it was off to get started on making Christmas caramels

all 10 batches

I treated myself to two more holiday shows.  Stuart McLean was at the Paramount on a Tuesday night and then I had a last minute chance for a Nutcracker ticket with some folks from work.  I loved Stuarts show, it was, as usual, filled with his wonderful storytelling and lots of music.  I think Sunday on the radio ( our local KUOW / NPR station), he promises the story "Dave Cooks the Turkey".  Some stories never grow old.  Check him out at http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/home.php

The Maurice Sendak Nutcracker is my favorite of all the productions.  It is as visual as can be and I spent a lot of time simply taking in the sets and costumes.

We did Toys for Tots at work.  I was chairman for my building.  Two truck-loads of toys and $1200 in donations.  Amazing.  I love going out and buying toys for this event.

Last weekend we had a Scotch Broom pull with the Nisqually Land Trust.  Their new property on the city limits of Eatonville needs some attention.  This historic property was that of the Van Eaton pioneer family and still holds a barn build by the teenage sons well over 100 years ago.  Scotch Broom is highly invasive.  With the wonderful root jacks, it can be pretty easy work.  Here is a before and after, what a small group can do within a few hours.  Notice the log on the left

So here we are.  The final days.  I ran into my sister while out scouting for the Crab Boil spices my brother recommended.  I have crab for Christmas Eve, my sister has mussels.  Look at that check list, two pages!

 Christmas Day is Cioppino and I will bring the crab for that as well as making appetizers.

Dinner

Mr Cioppino, who has a pretty big attitude

Best wishes to all for a lovely Christmas.