Wet Sewing

Today was fairly routine. I had Sew Lab and worked on a top in slinky that friend Sally helped me design with Pattern Master. It turned out well. I'm going to make a coordinating skirt. The group I sew with has been together so long that we remember what colors each person favors, what styles look good, preferred hemlines, and even what patterns each other has made. This group knowledge is helpful. If I want advice on something, I know who to turn to. That is true for more that sewing knowledge, too.

I have been watching the biomass explode here at the house. With our long, wet days the weeds have really taken off. I haven't been out weeding in the cold and rain. It will take lots of work to get on top of things again when the sun comes out. I'll enjoy my sewing in the mean time.

May Storm

I have not had the chance to blog much recently. I was busy with the cooking school for two weeks, then had to get caught up with things around the house. I miss writing daily. It is a good way to make sense out of life. In school I learned the value of always summarizing at the end the points I tried to make in lessons and talks. That is what people are likely to think about when they leave. Blogging is like that for me, so I'm going to try to write more regularly.

I suppose the most significant thing that has happened since my last entry is that a friend of ours, Ken, died. He was just six years older than me and died of prostate cancer. He lived a good life, had a loving family, lots of children and grandkids, and many friends. He had a great sense of humor and always seemed to be available when friends needed a helping hand. He went out with style, accepting his fate, surrounded by people who cared for him. His memorial service was special, like his life. It was at the Ballard Elks lodge, right on Shilshole Bay--a gorgeous setting. Over 200 people attended. First, his family presented a slide show of Ken and family and friends. Then people told stories about him. Finally, we ate, drank, and were merry as he had requested. It reminded me of a wedding, but nobody danced. It was a special send-off for a special person!

I guess Ken's service made me imagine what my friends and family might say about me when I'm gone. I'm thinking that keeping this blog is a way for me to pass on some thoughts and a record of who I am. My sons and husband don't read my blog now, they say, but some day they might want to look back and think about what I have to say about these days.

Vegan Cooking School

I have started attending a two-week vegan cooking school sponsored by "Vegan Fusion". I found out about it after I signed up to be on the mailing list for Blossoming Lotus Restaurant in Kauai. This was my favorite restaurant and we went there four times the last time we were there. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed 1-1/2 years ago. The chef, Mark, has spent his time writing cookbooks and teaching. He has started traveling and teaching. This is his second 10-day comprehensive workshop. We are meeting in the kitchen at Fremont Abbey. It is a quaint facility compared to PCC Cooks--the cooking school where I volunteer. However, it works most of the time. There are 8 participants. Four of us are local, four have come from far away to attend class: Colorado, Eastern Canada, the Caribbean, and France via Vancouver, B.C. The three who have traveled the farthest are professional chefs. Two work on yachts. It's fun hearing their stories about life as a cook on a yacht. The other professional does catering in Colorado. My cooking partner, Marie, is originally from France and often speaks French with the other professionals. I could pretend I'm Julia Child at the Cordon Bleu.

Mark begins each session by having us prep the vegetables for the day, to clean and chop them according to the recipes. Then each of the 4 teams of 2 cooks a recipe from the class manual with Mark's help. He explains variations that can work. We have made some wonderful, creamy things. So far we have made soups, salads and dressings, and beans and grain dishes. My favorite things include Shitake Sea Vegetable Chowder, Coconut Vegetable Soup, Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing, Carob Mole Dressing, and Asparagus Risotto. Many of these recipes have used coconut milk and ground up nuts for thickening. Soy sauce, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast are also used liberally. Many more treats are to come!

Dueling Nice People

I have met many friendly, helpful people in Tucson. Most of the behavior that annoys me has been in traffic. Even that hasn't been as bad this last trip in May. There seems to be less congestion with fewer snowbirds. Last week in Tucson I went to Pier 1 Imports. I got in the check-out line with a couple of people in front of me and a couple behind. The lady being helped had a complicated return, so the checker asked for an additional checker to come open up another lane. When she arrived, I stepped aside so the person in front of me could go to the new lane. She said, "No, that's OK. I'm not in a hurry." I told her I didn't mind and that she was first. We went back and forth a few times, then finally I went first, saying that I appreciated her thoughtfulness. I remembered an old saying, "Never deny another person the opportunity to do a good deed."

I was in a grocery store in Kirkland the other day. Two new check-out lanes opened while I was standing in a long line. The people behind me rushed to be helped in the new lanes, ignoring me. I missed Tucson then and the slower pace that I have usually found!