Flower World in the Spring

Flower World was doing a brisk business on Saturday, as everyone is coming out of their winter stupor to re-discovered the world once again!

There were tulips and bulbs and baskets filled with pansies and violas, as well as some hardy fuschia baskets with no blooms on them yet (a little risky to put outside until all danger of frost is past).

I loved all of the vibrant colors, and here are a few examples of what I saw as I shopped for my dahlia bulbs.  I'm trying out a whole bed of these lovely tubers this year.  I chose five varieties that do well here in the Pacific Northwest climate.

 

 

 

 

Shamiana

Saturday night was a night for Indian food, so we headed to Shamiana in Kirkland.  We've been dining there for over 20 years, and the food and ambience never disappoints.

We had our usual meals of Coriander Ginger Chicken and Major Grey Chicken Curry with pulao and garlic naan.  We chatted with our server, and enjoyed watching the sunset over Lake Washington.  It was a perfect evening!

 

 

 

 

Polly the Dog

Polly has been a part of our family now for two months, and she has settled in nicely.  She's a funny and affectionate girl, and is very laid back and serene.  Here's a shot of her taking a little rest in the middle of the floor, not worried about the activity going on around her.

Time with Kaila

Last Sunday, I spent some quality time with Kaila after delivering her cedar Hope Chest to her home in Mukilteo (it was a Christmas gift that needed me to fill it with family remembrances and written histories).  It was a lovely Sunday afternoon, and we left Dave and Don to watch the golf tournament while Kai grabbed her razor scooter and I put Polly the dog on her leash.

We walked over three miles through lovely neighborhoods, and got caught up on each other's activities since Grandma Elly's 85th birthday last month.  Easter and Kai's 9th birthday are coming up soon in April.  We do love Easter!

 

 

The First Rhodies of the Season

It's always a thrill to see the slumbering shrubs suddenly come to life as Spring approaches!  Here is a huge pink rhododendron at Country Village in Bothell last weekend.  It was full of blooms.

My own pink rhodies look beautiful along the driveway, and the daffodils are almost flowering.

A Place to Relax at the Yakima Fruit Stand

Isn't this an inviting place to sit for a few minutes on a spring and summer day and take in the lovely colors of the flowers and the fresh fruits and vegetables?

 

 

Spring and the Yakima Market

I always show up at the Yakima Market in Bothell on the first day they open--I consider it the 'real' first day of Spring!  This year, they opened March 5 at 6 a.m., and I was there at 7 a.m.!  The owner said that it isn't really Spring until I show up!

Each year, they make improvements to the stand, and this year the layout was outstanding.  I bought a hanging basket of purple pansies, they are growing quickly over the rim of the pot. 

Here are some shots of this lovely market that keeps me in flowers, fruits and vegetables until late Fall each year.

 

 

 

The History of "Cobbler"

The cobbler is a later variation of the pie, which dates to 9500 BC, in the Egyptian Neolithic period (also known as the New Stone Age).  The use of stones for grinding grain improved the baking process of cereals,including the creation of flour that provided a more reliable source of food. 

 Early pies were in the form of Galettes, wrapping honey as a treat inside a cover of ground grains.  Common cereal grains of oats, wheat, rye and barley were domesticated about 12,000 years ago by ancient farming .  These grains and oats became a staple of the pies and cobblers described here.

These galettes later developed into a form of early sweet pastry or desserts.  Although pies often were filled with meats, they later were filled with fruits and honey.

Wagon trains in the 1800's made use of cobblers as first a main dish and then later as a dessert.  Southern cooking in the US had many examples of fruit cobblers, often filled with cream and eggs, creating a fruit and custard dessert.  The word 'cobbler' described the process of using whatever ingredients were available, 'cobbling' them all together into a dish that was baked over an open fire.

Today, many cobber recipes are handed down from generation to generation, creating wonderful home-made desserts that distinguish themselves from our many mass-produced desserts. 

Here's a wonderful peach cobbler created by a friend of mine on a Sunday evening before she contemplated another week of work at a Fortune 100 company.  It's her way of living "The Slow Life" on a Sunday evening.  I can't wait to taste it tomorrow morning.

Kelly's Tulips--2014

As I drove into the neighborhood last evening, a burst of crimson red and white greeted me from the community flowerbed near Paradise Lake Road.  John and Kelly found these lovely tulips on sale, and grabbed them up as a tribute to Spring in Maltby.  Even though they won't last more than a week, they reminded all of us that lush colors and sturdy green stalks are simply lying dormant during the fall and winter months, waiting to appear again once the earth turns toward the sun.

Welcome, Spring!

A New Quilt

While driving through downtown Bothell on Saturday, I saw this beautiful, handmade quilt outside an antique shop.  Since I had errands to run, I didn't have time to stop and look at it.  I was hoping it would still be there on Sunday.

Sunday morning, I drove to Bothell and walked through the tiny downtown area to the shop.  It's a relatively new antique shop, filled with wonderful things.  I had a great time looking at everything, and I was impressed with the quality and the colors of the quilt, which was still waiting for me.  I left the shop with the quilt in tow, and it looks wonderful in my 'ocean room', which doubles as my home office and guest bedroom.

 

 

A Trip to Los Angeles

In the midst of our cold, dark, rainy and snowy weather, a friend of mine took a short four-day trip to Los Angeles, California.  She sent back pictures of the beach and the 80-degree weather she was experiencing.  She even sent a picture of Elvis' star from the Hollywood Star Walk!  Ah, visions of spring and summer!

 

 

Dinner at Tuscano's Italian Kitchen

Saturday night, we met our friends Ben and Michelle at Tuscano's Italian Kitchen in Monroe.  It's a new restaurant in the area, and we were curious to check out the menu.  While we were waiting for our friends, we got to know the new owner, who told us about the menu and welcomed us to the restaurant.

We had a lovely two-hour dinner and conversation, and it was fun to get to know both Ben and Michelle better.  We've only known them for a little over a year, as all of us are the newest members of our church.

We started our meal with wine, bruschetta and a Caprese salad.  Our entrees consisted of various salads, pasta carbonara and linguini with prawns.  We finished with a rustic apple crostata topped with vanilla ice cream.

It was a wonderful evening of good food and life stories.  We plan to do it again soon!